CK Summer Camp and a misting tutorial

It's that time of year again . . . Creating Keepsakes is hosting Summer Camp on the Creating Keepsakes blog this week!  There are challenges, prizes, downloads, tutorials, and lots of inspiration.

I was asked to create a layout using color mediums.  Of course, I happily obliged!  I used a stencil and spray ink to create the ombre background on this layout.

Supplies: Cardstock: American Crafts and Bazzil Basics Paper; Vellum paper: TPC Studio; Stickers and badge: American Crafts; Stencil: The Crafter’s Workshop; Die cut and stamp: Elle’s Studio; Spray Ink: Canvas Corp.; Ink: Clearsnap; Glitter: EK Success; Die-cutting machine and embossing folder: Sizzix; Dies: Cottage Cutz and Sizzix; Adhesive: Beacon Adhesives, and Tombow; Font: Franklin Gothic; Other: Corrugated cardboard and museum board.
It’s so easy to create this colorful ombre background.

1.  Grab a large stencil.  I used one made by The Crafter’s Workshop.

2.  Gather several coordinating colors of spray ink and a sheet of cardstock.

3. Place the stencil over the cardstock and start spraying from the top to the bottom, using varying shades from the same color palette to create an ombre look.   Note:  Although there are 6 bottles of spray ink shown in the photo above, I ended up using only 4 different colors, ranging from blue to aquamarine.

 

Here’s the finished product.

If you’ve worked with mists, you know that they tend to warp the paper.  To flatten the paper, I let it dry completely, then I placed it under something flat and heavy overnight.  Sometimes I even iron my misted papers (on a very low heat setting, obviously!).

Variation:
-Make your own decorative stencil using an electronic die-cutting machine.
-Instead of spray ink, you can use regular ink (apply over the stencil using a dauber), scrapbooking chalks, paint, etc.

Now head on over to the Creating Keepsakes blog where you can find details about the Color Mediums Challenge and the prize you can win!  Be sure to visit the Creating Keepsakes blog daily this week to see all the fun challenges, prizes, downloads, and inspiration!

Tombow Blog Hop and a GIVEAWAY!

If you've arrived here via the Tombow Blog Hop, then you're in the right place!  If you came here via a different route and you want to join the Blog Hop, head on over to the Tombow USA blog to start at the beginning.

I'm thrilled to be the Guest Designer for Tombow this week!  Tombow MONO Adhesive tape runners (regular, dots and clear) are my go-to adhesives.  I can only guess how many of them I've gone through over the 8+ years I've been scrapbooking. 100s of them, I'm sure!

Here is a layout I created using a variety of fabulous Tombow products.

I used the Stamp Runner, Dot Pattern Adhesive and my faithful MONO Adhesive Permanent to adhere the photo, the paper strips, and the lace.  I used the Foam Tabs along the bottom edge of the paper strips to give each layer dimension.  I fussy-cut the flowers and leaves from patterned paper, then I adhered the outer edges of the petals and leaves with the Foam Tabs to give them dimension.

I adhered the chipboard frame and the roses with Mono Aqua Liquid Glue.  For the title word "LOVE", I colored white chipboard alphas with a pink Dual Brush Pen, then I coated the letters with white glitter.

Of course it wouldn't be a blog hop without a giveaway, right?!?  Simply leave a comment here for a chance to win this Tombow prize package:

This giveaway will include: MONO AdhesivePermanent, MONO AdhesiveRemovable, NEW FastenerTabs, and NEW Foam Tabs.

The more blogs you comment on along the Hop, the more chances you have to win! Be sure to check out all the blogs below to see what kind of craftiness they have in store! The winner will be announced Friday, July 12^th  at 3:30pm ET on the Tombow USA blog.

Debbie Fisher: http://debbiedee.blogspot.com/

Melissa Cash: http://www.inkclinations.blogspot.com/

Jennie Garcia: http://earthyscrap.blogspot.com/

Marie Browning: http://mariebrowning.wordpress.com/

Stacy Cohen (you are here!!): http://stacycohen.blogspot.com/

Tombow Blog: http://blog.tombowusa.com/

Thanks for playing along and good luck!!  

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!  I have a 4th of July post up on the Creating Keepsakes blog today. I found a bunch of  red, white and blue Pinterest images to inspire your craft endeavors.  There are also some downloadable and printable 4th of July badges on the CK blog.  Go check it out!

In honor of the holiday, I created a red, white, and blue card featuring some adorable Queen & Co products.

 

Supplies: Cardstock: American Crafts; Patterned paper: Stampin Up!; Pinwheels, straws and twine: Queen & Co.; Stickers: Carolee’s Creations; Other: Lace and ric rac.

I hope you have a fun-filled 4^th of July!

Another My Creative Scrapbook kit layout and a tutorial

Ahhhhhh . . . sweet summer!!  I really love this time of year.  The kids are out of school, we get to sleep in, and life feels a little less stressful than normal.  I'm on a laid back summer schedule and I'm definitely taking some time to relax and smell the roses (and sunscreen!).  I guess that's why I haven't blogged in a couple weeks.

I realized that I forgot to post one of the layouts that I made with the fabulous My Creative Scrapbook June LE kit. It features paper and die-cuts from Crate Paper's DIY Shop collection.

I created a tutorial showing how I made the layered patterned paper waves on this layout.  
 

1.  Cut a piece of cardstock that is the approximate size you want your wavy paper block to be.  I cut mine to 7” wide because I wanted it to align with the edges of my 5” x 7” photo.  

Grab a pencil and a flexible ruler (if you have one). 

2.  Draw horizontal curvy lines from top to bottom.  Note:  You don’t need a flexible ruler to draw the curvy lines; you can easily freehand draw them.

3.  Cut along the curvy lines.  These pieces will be your cutting templates.  It helps to number them so that you can choose the order of the patterned paper pieces to cut.

4.  Use the wavy sections as templates to trace and cut the curvy sections from patterned paper.  This is a great way to use up your scraps!!

5.  Once you’ve traced and cut all the curvy sections, you can ink or stitch the edges, if desired.

6.  Cut another piece of cardstock the same width as the first piece you cut and use it as the base for the wavy paper pieces.  Adhere the wavy paper pieces to the cardstock starting from top to bottom, slightly overlapping each piece.  Cut off any excess cardstock on the bottom.   You can always go back and add some more wavy layers if you want to make your paper block taller.

And VOILA!

I handstitched along the edges of my curves. And of course I had to add some pretty flowers.

I hope you enjoyed this scrapbooking tutorial!