Wednesday, February 27, 2019

TAG CARD:SUNDAY PLAY DAY-CINDY'S CHALLENGE #1

Sunday Play Day - Cindy's Challenge

Floral Tag Card

Who is Cindy and what is she challenging me for? Cindy is a very close friend of mine, my bestie. She likes to see that I'm on my toes and this week I'm dragging them! Today is NOT Sunday! But I did the challenge on Sunday Fun Day!

The challenge she gave me was to create a Tag Card, using Becky Roberts' Floral Tag Card idea, she found on the Splitcoast Stampers Community Gallery. Here is a link to Becky's blog: Inking Idaho. I put a little twist on my card and I have not shown it to Cindy yet! Let's take a look!

Foundation

I started with an 8 1/2"x 11" piece of 65# Neenah Bright White cardstock and cut it in half to make two 8 1/2"x 5 1/2" pieces. One of them I scored at 4 1/4" and folded it. The other half I cut into two 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" pieces of cardstock. 

1. Set aside one 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock for the base of the card.
2. The folded 8 1/2"x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock will become your tag card!

Neenah 65# Bright White cardstock

4. I used a manila shipping tag originally 
3 1/8"x 6 1/4" and cut two inches off the bottom leaving a 3 1/8"x 4 1/4" tag. You will be using this for a template.
5.  Place the tag into the bottom left corner of the 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" card putting one side of the tag along with the fold and another along the bottom. Hold the tag in place. Trace the tag very lightly onto folded cardstock with a pencil. (This line will be erased later.) Remember to mark where to punch the hole!
6. I used my paper trimmer to cut the remaining two sides and then scissors to trim the corners.

Trimmed shipping tag

The tag has been traced onto folded card

Trimmed cardstock into a tag shape

At this point, you should have the main components to create this card. The tag will be the actual card, to add a sentiment and note inside!

Decorate!

Decide where on the back (single-sided 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock) you want to place the tag. Trace very lightly, in just a few spots, around the perimeter of the tag.

1. Remove the tag so we can work on the card back.
2. Choose a stamp set that will hang over the edge of the tag when placed atop of the back like a large floral image. 
3. I used my Misti for this step. Use washi tape to attach the back to the inside of the Misti. Place your stamp or stamps, in the design you chose.


Three leaves and 2 flowers


4. I stamped my design in Versafine Clair Nocturn and used clear embossing powder for the outline. (Erase your pencil line after embossing your outline, before you color.)

5. Now add the tag to the front of the back with a washi tape donut in the center of the back of the tag and inside the tag to keep it closed.

6. Use Post-It Notes or paper scraps to protect the back from getting stamped again. Stamp using the same ink and emboss.


Remember to use your powder tool before embossing.


7. Color the design on the back first with Copics, colored pencils, or any medium of your choice. Then color the tag with the same colors, finishing the design embossed partially upon it. 


Coloring tag to match the back.

Adding the finishing touches!

Assemble the tag onto the back, making sure to match the lines in the design. I chose to add some dimension and stamped an extra flower to put in the center of the design. I also added a die-cut word, the color of the flowers. (To get the color you desire, color a piece of white cardstock to be the color of your choosing. Proceed to die-cut this piece.) To elevate the word, I cut two extra white words and stacked them with a Quickie Glue Pen. 



Mat the back to patterned paper then onto colored cardstock. Mat a piece of white cardstock for the inside of the tag. (TIP: If the right shade of your color isn't available in your stash, Color solid the edges around a white cardstock piece, 3/4 of the way in with the accent color you chose.)

Create your own perfectly matched colored cardstock!

Decorate the inside of the tag and add the sentiment. Put a piece of patterned paper behind the front panel to hide the Copic marker which had bled through.


Decorating inside gives a special touch to your card!


This tag had to have a ribbon to finish the look. I used the darkest shade of coral Copic I had used for the flowers and colored some Hug Snug Seam Binding with the chisel tip. I threaded it through the hole in the tag when it was dry. 

Perfect colored ribbon!

To add some glitz, I put a few Moonshine Confetti around the center flower and covered the flower with Wink of Stella glitter pen.

HERE SHE IS!

Look at the left where the tag edge is! Can you see where the design ends on the tag and beginsThat's AWESOME! So there, Cindy, I rocked your Challenge! And not only once, but TWICE!

Mother's Day Tag Card and Hello Tag Card

Always sign the back of your creations! I hope you found this inspiring! Make Cindy's Challenge a part of your creative week!

Thank you, Cindy! I really enjoyed the Challenge! And I look forward to the next!

Artistically and Lovingly Yours,


http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoriEllenDesigns
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/LoriEllenDesigns

Below I have a list of some of the items I used in making this card. I added some of my favorite tools also. Clicking on the picture will take you to more information.

I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY SHOPS so I am not selling items. Feel free to comment or contact me with any questions!

65# Neenah Bright White Cardstock

Simon Says Stamp More Spring Flowers Stamp Set

Simon Says Stamp Moonshine Confetti

Hero Arts Hello Stamp and Die Set

Copic Sketch Markers Basic Set


Hug Snug Seam Binding, White


VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink



























Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Explosion Box: G45 Botanical Tea



G45 Botanical Tea Explosion Box

No, you don't have to take cover. This is one of the projects I've been working on this past two weeks and the reason why I haven't posted much on my Facebook Page, my blog or the Facebook Groups I belong to. This is not meant to be a tutorial but more of a 'show & tell' session.

I used the Graphic 45 Botanical Tea-Deluxe Edition 12"x 12" paper pad. I have hoarded this gorgeous paper for 10+ years! Most of the solid cardstock I used is from Darice Coordinations 12"x 12" cardstock in Seafoam Blue. The individual rose and greenery stamps, some of which I watercolored, were from the Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Flowers Stamp Set. I do not know where the flowers are from. They are the perfect color and were a Valentine's Day gift from my husband. Make sure that a strong double-sided adhesive is used especially if it is to be used. It has moving parts.

Without further adieu... 

Part I



Part II



Thank you for watching my very first published video! (It really was difficult to hold the box and show you all the parts with ONE hand!) 

I hope you find this inspiring! Challenge yourself right out of the box! (a baby-step at a time)

Artistically and Lovingly Yours,

Lori Ellen Designs
loriellendesigns@gmail.com





Tuesday, February 5, 2019

CARD CHALLENGES-SKETCH & ANYTHING GOES!

Wednesday Card Challenge & Sketch Challenge-

All Rolled Into One

I belong to several Facebook Groups that do Card or Papercraft Swaps once a month. 

Example: I signed up to create a card according to the Sketch that was provided to everyone. At the end of registration, I was paired with another who had entered. I sent her the card I made. In return, another person had my name and I received a Sketch card from them. 

Simon Says Stamp has a Wednesday Card Challenge every Wednesday. They have a theme and sometimes, two at the same time. This week's Wednesday Challenge (1/30-2/5, 2019) theme is Anything Goes. This means I can make any card I wish. But they have added a twist! They are looking for entries that use items from Ai: Art Impressions! I just happen to have several stamps by Ai that I have not used yet and now I have a chance!

Having a sketch to use to plan out the design was helpful. What I decided to do was enter the card into the Wednesday Challenge and then send it to my partner of the Sketch Swap in the Facebook group I belong.



You can find information about Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge here:

SSS Wednesday Challenge

On to the Card!
I started with stamping the image from Ai's Doggie Kisses stamp set with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink onto 100# Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I then colored the images with my Spectrum Noir alcohol pens. Memento's black ink will not smear or bleed when colored by alcohol markers.

Looks like his friend isn't doing so well!

I used my Big Shot to cut these guys with a circle and a rectangle dies. I decided to use the 'doggie giving kisses' image instead of the butterfly shape on the sketch. (Thinking outside the box!)



TIP: Using washi tape to hold yours dies in place while going through the Big Shot is a good idea. Try putting the piece of washi on the back of your hand first and then adhering it to the image and paper. This will remove some of the tackiness and there will be less chance of ripping your work!

I used the bandaid stamp that came with the stamp set and created a background by randomly stamping the image in black and red ink on a piece of white cardstock. I used a rectangle cut from this for the blue rectangle in the sketch. 

After laying out my elements, I realized that I still needed the band that goes across the bottom third of the card! I found some red/white baker's twine and cut a slit in the fold of the card. Feeding it through carefully, I wound it around three times and tied it in a knot in the front.






I added the square with the sentiment embossed in white and the circle for the butterfly! 




I made this card special by cutting a 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" panel. Normally this would be the folded card base but it was just a single layer. Instead, I created a card base the size of the normal mat, 4"x 5 1/4". I kept it a side-folding card and placed it like a mat onto the panel I had just cut. This created a card with a back flap larger than the front.



The inside is decorated with scattered red bandaids and the sentiment "Sending Doggy Kisses To Help You Feel Better!" This card would cheer me up!

I enjoy the humor and quality Ai: Artistic Impressions is known for! They are fun to color as well! I used alcohol markers here but colored pencils would work just as nice!

I'm sending this one off for my Sketch Swap at the facebook group I'm in. If you'd like to know where to find some fun swaps or have any questions pertaining to how they might be run or even about the card I made, leave a comment below or on my Facebook Page:

Lori Ellen Designs Facebook Page

I'd also love to see what you do with this sketch! I know this week's Challenge is now over and I have another to check out...but it was fun creating this card!! And I love the extra inspiration!!

For more inspiration and pictures of some of my earlier cards, please visit my Etsy shop! There is a link below. Please feel free to leave comments or ask any questions that you may have. I will try to help if I can.

LoriEllenDesigns Etsy Shop

Until next time,

Remember, great things happen to those who create!


Below I have a list of some of the items I used in making this card. I added some of my favorite tools also. Clicking on the picture will take you to more information.

IAM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY SHOPS so I am not selling items. Feel free to comment or contact me with any questions!


Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad


Sizzix Big Shot


Ai: Doggie Kisses Stamp Set