Little Black Dress....

Today I wanted to share a couple of the newest stamps from Just For Fun Rubber Stamps....  It's sort of a fun play on paper dolls only you get to be the designer!!   There is the Pleated Skirt and Skirt Tops .  (you can click on the links to be taken to the stamp images)

The Pleated Skirt stamp is a half circle with various fold lines that is stamped on the back of the desired paper.  Once cut out you can fold and crease in various ways to make an endless supply of flirty skirts for all your cards, lo's, tags, etc.   The Skirt Tops finish off your design - one side has a sleeveless/strap style the other top has fun little cap sleeves.

I've tried to make some of these dresses without using the stamp and they never seemed to turn out as good as the photos I see various places.  These stamps take all the guess work out.  You just stamp, trim and fold.  Far easier and much quicker.

Here are several examples of what I made with them....it's hard to stop at just one or two let me tell you.

Depending on the fold you choose the skirts can be very dimensional and full to medium sized pleats to completely flat.  It's totally up to you.  I left many of these skirts simple but you could go wild with embellishments, trim, fringe, etc.  The possibilities are just endless!

I will be making more of these in the near future - 

they are just too much fun to play with!

Card 'n a Box Template

Today I wanted to share the template and instructions for making your own Card 'n a Box from the Club Scrap blog hop yesterday....

As I was looking around for various ideas I saw something similar but it was much smaller and it was an origami project...very complicated, lots of folds and basically lots of work.  As I did a bit more looking it turned out that similar projects while not as complicated as the origami they were still far more involved than they needed to be.  Extra parts and pieces that fit together but no really necessary .

So I did a bit of re-engineering and came up with 

a "KISS" (Keep It Simple Stupid) template 

for basically the same thing with far less work.

Here's what I came up with....

Starting off with the outer case.  This is where so many examples I saw were really complicated - most were made with 2 or more parts fitting together when all you really need is a single sheet of cardstock, a few scores and you're set.

Score 1" line on both of the long sides and one in the center horizontally.

Cut the 1" score marks on either side of the center fold.

Add a piece of double stick tape to both flaps on each side and adhere them to the corresponding flap.  That's it!  Your case is done!  If you're using pretty print cardstock as I did no further decoration is needed.

Next, the drawer...it's basically just a straight forward tray...  1" score lines along each of the 4 sides, cut 1" at each corner as shown.

Since this tray was going into the sleeve I cut out a half circle in the front so it could be pulled out easily.  A bit of tape on the cut & folded corners and you're set to go.

The tray slides in the case easily and is ready to be filled!

I made the card and mounted it on a matted panel and attached it to the top of the box and it's done!  So very easy but such a nice little gift.  I also thought it might make a fun organizer if you used heavy cardstock - you could make several and stack them up to hold pre-cut card mats or panels, bits of extra cardstock, small embellishments, etc.  Really any small bits that need organizing.

Another idea I had was to make 6 or 12 of these cases, stack 'em up and use them to store birthday and/or holiday cards in monthly drawers.  

So many ideas from one simple design.

Hope I've inspired you to give it a try!

Club Scrap Cantina Blog Hop - Card 'n a Box

Welcome welcome to the Cantina Club Scrap Blog Hop! This months kit - Cantina is simply beautiful...bright bold colors accompanied by several really fun stamps inspired me to make this fun creation that I'm calling Card 'n a Box...because that's just what it is! 

A card....

Which when opened creates this lovely 3-D stand up card.

But even better...under that card is a little box with a pull out drawer that holds A2 size cards and envelopes - or whatever else you'd like to pop inside! I placed 5 cards inside along with their envelopes and surprisingly enough there was actually room for several more.  I need to get busy and fill it up.

I'll have the measurements and directions posted tomorrow so you can make your own Card 'n a Box.

It's time to hop on over to 

Julie's Blog - Cape Cod Scrapper

and if you get lost along the way you can find the complete listing at the

Club Scrap Blog

Supplies Used:

           

Club Scrap Cantina Kit - July 2015      Backgrounds n Borders UM Stamps

         

Cantina UM Collection

IMAGINE Crafts featuring Tsukineko - Memento Dye Inks, Memento Dual Tip Markers, Tear It! Tape

Gelli Plate ATC's & Give-Away!!

Hey Peeps!  I hope you're all having a wonderful week so far.  It has finally stopped raining here long enough for the guys to start baling straw.  It's tough going because it's turned off so stinkin' hot and humid here in Indiana but at least they are able to get something done without rain!  

As you may (or maybe you don't) know the ATC swap deadline is quickly approaching.  I thought it would be fun to create some ATC's using monoprints made using the Gelli Arts gel printing plate!  So I dug out my Gelli plate, paints, bray and papers today and made WAY more prints than I intended to.  But at least I had lots of painty fun!  

Since I use a variety of papers to make my prints I mount them onto either a chipboard ATC base or an old playing/baseball card.   I use Club Scraps book binding glue which I simply brush a thin coating over the ATC blank and place it on the back of my monoprint.  It dries quickly and more importantly doesn't wrinkle like many glues do.

NOW, I thought it would be fun to have a little give-away today as well!!  Gelli Arts is offering a "fun size" gel printing plate now...it's only 3" x 5" and it's just too stinkin' cute!  It's advertised as being perfect for tags but it's also an ideal size for ATC's as well!

So here's what you get...an assortment of 20 tags, 3 really nice ATC blanks from Art Squares and a brand new 3" x 5" Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate!

All you have to do is post a comment 

(or send me an e-mail) by 8-9-15!

Good Luck and Happy Printing!

Line...

What do you think of when you hear the word? A drawn line? A slice of color behind a die-cut line? A series of images stamped in a line?  Well, that was the challenge this week at CASology - Week 156 - Line.

I took up the challenge and here's my "Line" creation....

I actually went with 2 lines which is unusual for me...I like to use things in 3's but I figured if I was going to challenge myself with a CAS card I might as well challenge myself by using 2 instead of 3 as well.  Of course I think it would still look better with 3 but hey, that's my own little quirk - LOL!!

To create the lines I used IMAGINE Crafts fun new "TEAR IT!" tape - it's like the other double stick tapes out there but you can tear it off the roll instead of having to cut it.  Way quicker and easier to use.  

I tore off 2 pieces of tape and adhered them to the card panel, 

Sprinkled on teal fine glitter and rubbed it around with my finger tip to make sure I covered it all.

And it's ready to be stamped and embellished!

CASology Challenge

#156 - Line

Supplies:

IMAGINE Crafts featuring Tsukineko: Memento Dye Ink - Teal Zeal, Tuxedo Black, Angel Pink; TEAR IT! Tape; 

Unity Stamp Co - Queen of the Universe set

Niji Waterbrush

ClubScrap.com - Cardstock

Martha Stewart - Feldspar Glitter

Double Stick Foam Tape

JFF Design Team Call - Still open!!

WE WANT YOU!!

*2015 DESIGN TEAM CALL**

Just For Fun Rubber Stamps Design Team Call!!

Just for Fun Rubber Stamps is having a Design Team Call!  We are looking for a few friendly, enthusiastic stampers ready to stamp “Just for Fun”.

Member Benefits:

• A welcome package of Just For Fun Rubber Stamps plus a selection of new releases as they become available.
•  A $50.00 bi-monthly stipend for stamps of your choosing.
•  Design Team Member Discount of 40% on all of your Just For Fun Rubber Stamp purchases. 
• Compensation (in the form of extra stamps) for projects published in print magazines where Just For Rubber Stamps are the main focus and named in the publication.
• You will receive a Design Team badge for you to post on your blog.
• A personalized page on the JFF Blog which will include a photo, bio,     and links to your own blog, online galleries and more.

Member Requirements:

·        You must be able to commit to a 6 month term.

·        Have the ability to take quality photographs of your completed projects.

·        Regularly promote Just For Fun Rubber Stamps in on-line galleries or forums, on your own personal blog (if you have one), and on Facebook or other social media sites such as Pinterest, Twitter, Flickr, etc.

·        Create at least 2 (two) projects per month to be posted on your assigned days on the Just For Fun Blog.  These projects can include but are not limited to cards, tags, ATC’s, Scrapbook Layouts, etc. and must exclusively use Just For Fun rubber stamps. 

·        Make at least 3 (three) A2 - 4.25” x 5.5” size cards per month to be sent to Just For Fun Rubber Stamps for use on display boards at various conventions across the United States.
NOTE: These cards can also be used for your blog postings.

·        Participate in one Blog Hop or Design Challenge per month.

·        Support your fellow Design Team Members by commenting and sharing their blog postings.

How to Apply:

1.  Become a follower of the Just For Fun blog.

2.  Like us on Facebook – Just For Fun Rubber Stamps.

3.  E-mail the following information to: ronijj @ gmail.com with “JFF DT Submission” in the subject line.

·             *   Full Name, e-mail address and links to your blog and any galleries you belong to.

·             *  A short bio about yourself and how you would describe your stamping style.

·             *  Tell us why you would like to be a member of the JFF team.

               *  A list of current (and previous if applicable) design teams you are or have been a member of.
          NOTE: Membership on other design teams is not a requirement.

·             *  Include photos of 3-5 recent projects you have made that highlight your style.  

    Due to the high/rising costs of shipping the call is open to USA residents only. 

Deadline for Applications is August 22, 2015.

Minion Inspiration

Yep, you read that correctly - this month in honor of the new Minions movie the Club Scrap Artist Team was challenged to take our inspiration from these two fun Minion photos...

and here's what I created....

All of the papers are from the current kit - Cantina.  The flower and sentiment stamps are from the July 2006 kit - Surf's Up!

To make my little minion I simply cut him from a piece of yellow cardstock, added the eye and die-cut a hole out of a circle which was inked with Silver Delicata ink and embossed with clear embossing powder to give it a metallic look.  All of the hibiscus flowers were stamped on various papers from the kit and fussy cut.

This was so much fun!!

Here's the inside of the card...

Supplies:

ClubScrap.com - cardstock, stamps

IMAGINE Crafts featuring Tsukineko - Memento Dye Ink - Cantalope, Rose Red, Bahama Blue, Tangerine; Delicata Silver; Clear Embossing Powder

Spellbinders - Circle Dies; edge die

Label Die - unknown

Watercolor Poppies ATC

You know how much I love to use vintage text and papers in my art.  Well today I wanted to share an ATC card I'm making (for the swap) that incorporates some lovely old paper...

Watercolor Poppies...

I started off by gluing the papers to the back of a playing card using Creative Medium.  I have a bit of vintage 1880's ledger paper and some pages from a Greek (I think) book from the 1700's.

TIP: When working with vintage paper ephemera you will need to let  the paper/glue dry fully before you work with them or the paper could tear and or crumble since it's very old and fragile.

Once dry, trim the excess paper and sand the edges (optional).  I like to sand because it gives you a nice clean edge and the inks soak into these sanded areas better.

I then stamped and embossed the image using VersaFine ink and embossing powders.  Now you could color the image in any number of ways...from Copics/Spectrum Noir markers, colored pencils, watercolor paints, PanPastels, etc.  The list just goes on and on but today I decided to use Memento Inks and my waterbrush.  I love the look of the layers of ink/water on the images.

Once you're finished, let the ATC dry.

To spice it up a bit I inked the edges of the ATC with Delicata Golden Glitz Ink which adds a subtle shimmer and a warm golden glow.  And because I still felt like it was missing something I added a few spritzes of Bronze irRESISTible Texture Spray in the corners.

And here's how it turned out!!

I love watercoloring...it's just so much fun.

Supplies:

Vintage Ephemera, Playing Card - my stash

IMAGINE Crafts featuring Tsukineko: Memento Dye Inks, VersaFine Ink, Embossing Powder, Delicata Golden Glitz, irRESISTible Texture Spray, Sponge Dauber

Unity Stamp Co - Poppies

Sharing a Rainbow!

I had my long awaited ear appointment with the ENT dr.... sadly they didn't offer much encouragement.  They said I can try another round of drugs (which I start tomorrow) and it *might* help...if it didn't then I could have tubes put in which again might help but no guarantees.  Not sure if I want to go through with that type of operation after I read up on it on the internet.

So I've not got anything fun and crafty to share with you but...

I am sharing a couple rainbow pictures...

A double one at that!

Sunday night we had a really bad storm here - near the tail end of it we were still getting quite a bit of rain but I noticed that the sun was shining in the west so I went out with my camera to see if I could find a rainbow and I did!  

These photos were taken in our back yard...it was so big (and close) I couldn't fit the whole thing in a single photo no matter how far I backed up....  So I took 2!

Hope you've all had a great start to the week...

Suede Travel Journal....

YES - I love making journals and books of all sorts so I what tickled when IMAGINE Crafts gave us a travel theme to work with.  I instantly knew I wanted to make a travel journal our of some wicked suede that we picked up recently.    

It's included in today's post over on the IMAGINE Crafts blog along with a few other lovely Travel themed creations.

The complete instruction and supply list can be found here:

Suede Travel Journal

Here is what it looks like when it's all finished and ready to close.....

I filled the journal with all sorts of fun pages and pockets...

I wanted the extra 2 flaps to keep everything I tuck inside of it to stay where I put it, safe and sound...

And it's got a wicked wrap around strap that is secured to a post.

I hope you give it a try and make your own!