ATC: Floral, SMF April 2010

Welcome Back 

In today’s post,  my latest Artist Trading Card. Created for last month’s Stamping Mad Forum challenge. 

Floral ATC

Stamps: Elusive Images 

Colour: Adirondack Dabbers, Adirondack inks. 

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon 

Billie

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Tim Holtz’ Shabby Chic

Welcome Back  

Earlier in the year I bought a copy of Tim Holtz book, A Compendium of Curiosities. Here are a few pieces that I created using his Shabby Chic technique.  

Shabby Chic v1

 

Two colour Shabby Chic experiment

 

Stamps Used; Elusive Images 

Colour; Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Dabbers  

DO check out Tim Holtz book for lots of superb techniques, its guaranteed to make your Ranger wish list grow and your inspiration sky rocket.  

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon  

Billie

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Fantasy Film; Embossed Book

Welcome Back

Today, I would like to share with you, a picture of my latest book.

Coptic Stitched book with Fantasy Film Paper within an inset panel.

This one features Fantasy Film and coptic style binding.

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie

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Stampbord ATC & News

Welcome Back

Here is my latest Stampbord project, an ATC

Stampbord Project

This one features

Stamps; Crafty Individuals, Making Memories Magnetic font (Rummage)

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress ink, Ranger Adirondack ink

Ranger Acrylic Dabbers.

Stampbord News

I also have some very important news to share with you all. Back in April I was contacted by Ampersand Art, the makers of Stampbord, who invited me to create a project for their How To section. I am very pleased to say that I accepted and you can find out more on their news page. My project will be published in September.

Links

Stampbord

Stampbord News

Ampersand Art

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie

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Making Memories Magnetic Stamp Sets

Welcome Back 

Now that I’m getting into Art Journaling, it is difficult to find rubber stamps that have the right phrases. I have individual wood mounted alphabets, but these are tricky to line up nicely. Whilst searching in the local Hobby Craft store, I found Making Memories Magnetic Stamp sets. 

Like other font systems you need to buy a hand tool, to mount the stamps onto, but it is a one-off added cost. The hand tool has three space options for stamps; single letter, one line and two line.Once you have a hand tool, to mount the stamps on, you just choose the style that suits your project. I chose the Rummage font. 

Making Memories Magnetic Stamps

 

Rummage is a slightly distressed version of a classic typewriter style font. When I’ve had a play with this system, I’ll write a proper review. Hope it works well, as there is a good-looking date set and a few word sets that look good too. The stamps and the hand tool, all come in their own metal storage boxes, making them easy to stack and store. 

Links

Here is a link to the Magnetic Stamp system I’m talking about, on the Making Memories site. There is also a video demo of the date stamp set on the site too. 

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon 

Billie

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The Virtual Crafting Challenge; May 2010

Welcome Back

The Virtual Crafting Challenge theme for May 2010 is:

E

Great I hear you say, but now what? Well for those of you who would like a few ideas to get you started, here are some  colours, products and techniques to help you choose, where you could go with this month’s theme. Feel free to use your own ideas for the letter E.

Colours

• Ecru
• Eggplant

Techniques

• Embossing
• Enamelling
• Etching
• Engraving

Surfaces

• Stampbord, I realise it doesn’t start with the letter E, but this is a great surface to etch and engrave into

 

The most important thing about this challenge is that you have fun and explore. Don’t feel pressured to have a finished item at the end of the month. Explore different styles and techniques either in person, if you have the supplies, or through research, looking online.

You learn so much more when you take away the rules and just PLAY. Adapt this challenge to a creative style that interests you. Enjoy

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie

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Tutorial: How to Use a Sanding Block, to Distress Paper & Card

Welcome Back   

Earlier this week, I introduced you to the humble sanding block. In today’s post I will share a few tips for how to get the best results from using one, when you want to distress card and paper.   

Sanding Block

Techniques with a Sanding Block

Choosing the Right Cardstock

Sanding blocks, are best used with cardstock which has a white core. That way, when you scratch into the coloured surface of the card, a different colour will show through.

Examples of white core card are;

• Cor Dinations  
• DCWV (Die Cuts With A View) Match Maker card, which also has a white core.  I have had great success using this, and this is what was used in these samples.

To determine if you card has a white core, look at the very edge of the card. Even card in a stack, will show white on its cut edges. If you tear coloured card and see white in the middle, that is, the white core. It simply means, that the card only has colour on the top surface, rather than all the way through it.  

Distressing card 

• Take a sheet of textured cardstock, that has a white core. 
• Holding the sanding block flat and level with the card, sand over the surface.

This will remove some of the colour from the surface of the card. Especially effective, if the cardstock has a linen or textured finish, as that will give highs and lows, where the sanding block hits the high points and missed lower areas of the pattern.   

Flat cardstock, distressed using a Sanding Block. Before & After.

Embossing 

• Another way to sand, is to run your card through a die cutting machine with a textured folder.
• Then, sand over the raised area of the resulting embossed (or raised) pattern.
• Tap off any access dust, resulting from the sanding to reveal the white card.
• You could ink or paint with dabbers in another colour, over the newly exposed white card.

Get clever with it, by selecting a single direction and sanding only in that direction. This gives the appearance of a light source. An alternative to highlighting with a white pen    

Embossed cardstock, which has been distressed using a Sanding Block. The sanding reveals the white core of the card.

Edging 

You can also simply use the sanding block to expose a white edge to coloured card. To do this;

• Hold the sanding block at an angle to the card stock.
• Swipe the sanding block along the edge of the card, as if you were filling your nails.

This gives a more controled effect. It gives more depth and dimension to a project. Useful if you want to give the appearance of matting and layering, without adding bulk to a project.   

Sand the edge of cardstock, to create the look of a faux mat. It frames your image and also adds dimension to your projects.

In the example below, I have used all of the above techniques combined in a card.  This card was created from a single sheet of 12 x 12″ scrapbook card. Sometimes less is more, you don’t have to have piles and piles of stash to create intricate designs. Just a few bits n bobs from the cupboard, and a little ingenuity.   

A finished card, featuring the techniques described in the tutorial.

Have a play, it’s a lot of fun and it’s the best way to discover what your tools can do. Don’t always strive for a finished project, just play and see what turns up    

Links

DCWV Die Cuts With A View, manufacturers of Match Makers cardstock and many others.  

Coredinations; Manufacturers of cardstock with white core, and also different core colours to the surface. Excellent for use with sanding blocks   

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon   

Billie

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