Card Making: 3d Card Frame

I did it! I cut my first shape with my Craft Robo Lite! Whoooohoooo!
Well, to be honest with you, I had it standing on my desk for a month but was intimidated to use it...LOL!
I've been using the program without the actual cutting, just making shapes and trying to understand what it will cut...I definitely have to read the manual, step by step, but I'm too lazy for it, so I kept fooling around and I did the card template, hoping it would be ok.
So, today I thought to give it a try and I was overwhelmed when I saw that it did what I hoped it would do!
I have to make one adjustment to the file because I used the same size for the front and for the back while (I found it out after the cut) the back must be a little shorter so that the front is more recline backwards. As soon as I correct it I will post the GSD file that I made.
I also used a Basic Grey pp from the "Nook and Pantry" collection and the sweet Tilda. This time I colored her with Prisma pencils, I have to say that I prefer my copics but I'll try next time to combine them, like coloring with copics and adding accents with pencils, I've read about it somewhere but I can't remember where.
For the little bushes I just cut scallop circles on green cardstock and then used distress inks in green for the edges.
Last step I added the happy birthday, I cut a tiny cake from the pp, covered with Sakura Stardust pens and adhered it with a foam dot.
I like so much this pink oh so girly birthday card, my friend will love it!

If you like this kind of cards, here's another one I made a few months ago.

Crafter's Net: CHA Top PIcks

New products are coming down like rain in the 2010 winter CHA, so here are my top picks!

For Slice:

Hands-free accessory - ain't that handy or what?
Fusible Web makes fabric cutting  a piece of cake!

For Cuttlebug:

6" x 13" spacer mat, cutting mats and adapter mat, at last!

Tim Holtz die cutting machine and more 

We R Memory Keepers "Cinch", a kind of Bind it All, interesting tool.

Sizzix Eclips die cutting machine

And here's an odd product from Spellbinders, the Presto Punch, well, not a winner in my humble opinion!

Enjoy!

Crafter's Net: Basic Grey Fabric

Quick post:

check THIS out, Basic Grey goes FABRIC!
Yummmyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!
I see fabric flowers everywhere...LOL!

Baby Layout: September 2009

Pink and green once more with a sprinkle of yellow here and there. The background paper is K & Company and I used green cardstock in order to make the details: for the thin scallop lines I used the scallop blade in my Fiskars paper trimmer and the frame for the main photo was made with the Fiskars "Threading Water" border punch and then I made the little bows with an American Crafts ribbon.
Then I stamped the little faces on a piece of white photo paper (Inkadinkado asian themed clear stamps set) but I made a mask because I only wanted to use the heads (I know it sounds weird, LOL!), I also masked the inside of the hair because I wanted to color them and then I adhered them with 3d foam on the dark pink scallop circles.
Finally I added the journaling (I just realized I mispelled the month, LOL!) and the title, it was made with American Crafts "Giggle" white foam alphas that I colored with my copics.
I really like the little faces!

Baby Layout: August 2009

Once more I used my favorite color combo, pink and green. The backround paper is K & Company and used cardstock mats in order to enhance the focus on the large photos. The creative element that I like the most in this layout is the journaling spot I made: after positioning the photos, I took a piece of patterned paper and a ruler and drew the shape and rounded the corners with a corner punch. Then I used a Tim Holtz mini mask and distress inks and last step I added the white faux stitch around it.Then I added the date using the Cuttlebug "Harmony" alphabet and the green flower (Prima from the "Whispers" collection). The little button on the flower was clear and I colored it with a Copic marker.

A cute Sketchbook! #2

I really liked this sketchbook so I made another one (background paper from the Cosmo Cricket "Earth Love" collection.)!
LOL!
I also noticed that I have to buy some O'wires, the only color I have is red!
LOL LOL!
Now, in order to give some meaning to this post
LOL LOL LOL!
I'll give you a tip: when you do something with the Bind it all, at the point that you cut the covers, always cut them larger than your actual pages, particularly in width, let's say half an inch, especially when you 'll use many pages in your book/album etc. This way the outcome of the binding is better looking. Of course this is also a matter of personal taste, but in my case I prefer it this way.
And another tip, about blending the colors with your markers: this time I colored the Tilda starting with the darkest color, then blended the color with a lighter shade and then blended the total with the lightest shade. I found that this way I color faster and probably don't waste as much ink as I do when I start with the lighest shade. On the other hand, putting a very dark color on "dry" paper may have as a result a not so uniform blending, because the paper is not already soaked with a lightest shade and that means that it will absorb all your dark ink, so if you use dark shades, that's something to consider.
Now, about this sketchbook, since I'll use it mostly for coloring with markers, in order to avoid soaking through the next page and wasting it, I used the idea of the repositionable Zutter pages:  I punched a page and then used the scissors and cut the paper between the slots and the edge of the paper. This way I can secure this scrap paper behind the page I'm coloring and when I'm done I can remove it and put it behind the next page.

A cute Sketchbook!

It's been a while now that I wanted to make a small sketchbook for stamping, experimenting with color combinations, etc.
So I made this one!
For the covers I cut chipboard pieces and covered them with paper. For the front cover I used a Basic Grey patterned paper from the "Nook and Pantry" collection. In order to make the frame I used the Sizzic "Ornate Frame" die on white paper and colored it with distress inks but the result was a little flat so I added some touches with my green copics. Then I wanted to emboss it with some sparkly clear embossing powder but I discovered after the embossing that it was accidentally mixed with some white embossing powder (I can't imagine how!!!) so the result was a little surprise! Then I added the colored Tilda, I also touched the roses with the red Sakura Stardust pen for a little sparkle, and finally added the little flowers and the "label".
Cute cute cute!

Candy Time from Eleni

Eleni's blog "My Magnolia Creations" is celebrating its first birthday and has some candy for you!
Check it out!

JYC 2009: Cover

In order to make the cover I cut two pieces of plain grey cardboard in 7x13 inch pieces. I painted using red distress ink, but then changed my mind and wanted it green (LOL!). So, I used Ranger's white paint Adirondack dabber after adding a bit of water in the bottle because I wanted it less thick and painted the whole thing in small circular movements going up and when reaching the top going down and so on. Then, while the paint was still wet, I sprayed the whole with a water and Ranger's Perfect Pearl mixture.
Here's a photo:

Then, I positioned the Winter Crystal Tattered Angel's screen (it's the first time that I use it and really liked it) and covered the whole thing with Ranger's Distress inks in green shades. And here's the result:

LOL!!!!!

Then I wanted to make a window in the cover so I used a round frame to draw a circle and then cut it.

Next step, I thinned a bottle of Ranger's Rock Candy crackle paint with water, mixed well and covered the front and back cover, using not the brush but a piece of foam to spread the paint.
Here's a photo:

Whent it was dry I made holes around the window and threaded red ribbon through them and finally added a bow. Last step, I added the title (Basic Grey chipboard letters that I painted with Ranger's Distress inks and then added Ranger's Rock Candy crackle paint) and added the hole on the right and the red ribbon for the closure.

And here it is:

For the binding I used the Bind It All and the biggest O'wires available, not the smartest thing to do because the album is very chunky, next time I want to do something fat I 'll propably do a gatefold album.

The binding was ok but I wanted to make sure that the pages wouldn't fall out, so I did some extra wiring: I used a nail to make a tiny wire:

and then catched the loops of the O'wire with it:

If you want to try this, it helps to tie one end of the wire to a table leg and then use the nail in circular movements, so as to make the tiny wire.

JYC 2009 officially over, can't wait for next year!

Sunshine Award!

I just received a sunshine award from Thekla! Thanks girl!

So I have to post it, give it to 12 favorite bloggers and link to their blogs and notify them, so....drums please....the award (in random order) goes to...

Joanna

Irini

Lena

Melenia

Zeffy

Eleni

Vicky

Vicky

Xenia

Venea

Eudokia

Chrisothemi

JYC 2009: Day 37

The last prompt was about the conclusion of this journey, and I thought this little waving girl (Dover publications free sample that I printed in BW and colored with my copics) would fit just right.  I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder on white cardstock for the bacground and then I printed and wrote my journaling on the back of the little cards but for copyright reasons of the manufacturer (duh...) I messed them a bit on Adobe Elements so they can't be copied as they are (...).
Last step was the title, I used Basic Grey alphabet stickers that I colored white.
JYC 2009 almost ready, the only thing left to do is the cover!

JYC 2009: Day 36

Prompt 36 was about putting the tree, decorations, etc away. So I took some photos, "cooked" them a bit with filters in Adobe Elements, adhered them together and then I adhered them on green cardstock in order to make the mat.
Then I did the red folder for the journaling tag: I used the Nestabillites Labels 1 die in order to cut the upper part of the cardstock and colored the edges with distress inks. Then I used the negative scrap paper of a snowflake die cut as a mask for the snowflake, where I first used distress ink in dark green and then I sprayed it with a Perfect Pearl and water mix (as seen on a Jennifer Mcguire video). For the tag I used two layers of cardstock and on the back I sprayed again with the Perfect Pearl water mix and then adhered a printout image on top.
Finally, I attempted to make the date using twine, well, we'll see if it will remain in place...LOL!

JYC 2009: Day 35

Today's prompt was about organizing next Christmas by writing down things that we want to remember.
I kept it simple, but I really like the bookplates: I cut them on white cardstock colored lightly and in random with pink distress ink, stamped with Versamark using a stamp with a branch design and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. Then I colored again with deep red distress ink, so that it filled the spots that were not embossed and the result is almost a crackle/marble effect. 
Then I used a clear Copic Atyou Spica pen on the tiny Prima flowers for a little sparkle and added the little embellishment on the left, it's a BW image (Dover Publications free sample) that I colored.
Last step, I added the title using ready made Basic Grey adhesive alphabet, it goes without saying that I used Sakura Stardust pens on them!

 

JYC 2009: Day 34

Today was the first day at work after 2 weeks off, so the truth is that I don't feel any christmassy at all, but I thought to keep going with the JYC.
That being said, this prompt was about our favorite moment of the holidays and we "had" to use a special paper, ornament, etc. so I used a large chipboard ornament that matched an adhesive paper snowflake from the collection I've been using (Figgy from Basic Grey),  I also used Ranger's Liquid Pearls around the photo and also in order to make the little pearls.
On the journaling spot I used a mini mask by Tim Holtz and distress inks.
Final step the title, I used ready made Basic Grey adhesive alphabet that I covered with Sakura Stardust pens and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 33

Prompt 33 was about moments of innocence during the holidays and the challenge was to use only white color. I used a photo where my niece is sleeping, I didn't do any journaling because I think that the image speaks for itself! Then I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the cardstock, cut the frame for the photo using nestabillities dies and white DCWV cardstock with glitter, stamped the butterflies (they are from the Hero Arts 2010 collection, it's a clear stamps set called "Antique Engravings") with Versamark on white glossy photo paper and heat embossed with white embossing powder.
Tip: if you want to heat emboss on glossy photo paper, be careful with the temperature: you have to use the heat gun on low temperature and for a few seconds each time or else your photo paper will melt. So I heated it for 5-6 seconds, let it cool for 5-6 seconds, heat again for 5-6 seconds, let it cool, and so on until the picture is overally embossed.
Final step, I added the title, I made it using the Cuttlebug Harmony alphabet and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 32

Prompt 32 was about resolutions for the new year and the challenge was to use something that we don't regularly use, like a color, etc, so I did a dark color combo. About the resolutions, I made seven pockets in the patterned paper and inserted a tag, each one with a resolution for 2010. Then I used the Fiskars Threading Water punch and made the borders, I also used Ranger's Perfect Pearls in order to make the little dots, and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 31

Prompt 31 was about the New Year's Eve (obviously). We also "had" to use sparkle, so I 've gone wild with stickles! I made a mini album, I made a frame for the cover using the nestabillities rectangle dies and DCWV glitter cardstock. Then colored the cute Tilda on the left, added the journaling and the title and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 30

This prompt was about looking back to the events of 2009, so I made a kind of timeline, but the events are picked rather in random because I did it really quickly and didn't have that much time to contemplate on 2009. I used stickles for the titile and when it was dry I coated with Ranger's Glossy Accents, it seals the stickles and it gives a nice glossy and 3d look, and...ready!

JYC 2009: Day 29

In this prompt I journaled about the vasilopita that we make on the 29th, I distressed the edges of the cardstock for a worn look and also used (what else?) distress inks. The ribbon is American Crafts but I toned it down with a Copic marker. The christmas images are printed images from Dover publications free samples, and...ready!
Just to add that this year my niece Rania found the coin in her piece!

JYC 2009: Day 28

Prompt 28 was about what we indulge in during the holidays, so here 's a quick layout. I did the journaling on the back of the tags and used the tiny printed images (Dover publications free samples) and brads that I colored red with my copics in order to secure them in place in combination with the green twine and..ready!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all, 
hope all your wishes will come true!