Spring Break, Vintage Stuff & Rainbows

Hi Friends!

Today was a fun day...last day of Spring Break for my son so we decided to end the week by doing something we love....Antiquing!! We went to Pierceton, IN...several little shops with lots of fun vintage goodies to scope out.

We both found some things we couldn't leave behind...ds found an old book (and he found a few for me including a dictionary!!) and a reproduction Remington Firearms sign. I found a fun clicky thing that people used to keep track of how much they were spending at a supermarket ~ I remember my Mom using one when I was little. I also found a couple of tiny toy baking pans ~ way cool and very alterable!

BUT....

My find of the day was this....

A vintage Sanford's Blue Stamping Ink!!!

It still has ink in it too!!

OH Man I can't tell you how excited I was when I found this...Vintage Ink AND BLUE to boot!! It was actually my second trip through our last stop. Bob was out looking through the larger outside goodies which I wasn't interested in so I figured I'd make one last quick pass around. BINGO!

The cap is actually made out of wood and has a cork bottom. Sort of scares me cause I don't want to accidentally knock it over and turn everything blue - LOL!!

And yesterday we had terrible storms on and off all day.

Well, last evening we were rewarded with a beautiful double rainbow!

You can barely see the 2nd on the right of the bright rainbow but it was there.

Too pretty not to share.

Didn't get my special project done today but it will definitely be Monday.

I can't wait ~ it's turning out so cool!

Remember...

If you haven't signed up to win a copy of my book over at Kristin's web site you still have time!! The last copy will be given away tomorrow.

The link is to the right under Give-A-Ways.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

Circle of Friends - Streuter Colored GlueFoil

Did you know that Streuter's new COLORED GlueFoil can be die-cut and embossed?!?!

Well it can ~ it's thin enough that you can even use paper punches and border punches on it!!

Way cool and so versatile.

Today I have a fun and quick lay-out to share. It was made using a variety of colors of GlueFoil that was die-cut using Sizzix circle/circle frames, Nestabilities Circles (for the larger circles) and then some were embossed using Cuttlebug embossing folders! To highlight some of the designs I sanded the raised designs a bit.

Circle of Friends

and a funky angle to show the embossed dimension....

To assemble I started ironing the circles from left to right and continued to build upon the previous layers. All in all it took about 15 minutes to assemble the layout from start to finish.... Of course it took me an hour and a half before hand to decide where all the circles went ;)

LOL!!

You thought I was a fast scrapper huh ;)

I am so excited about a project I have to share with you...it's one that goes hand in hand with a rubber stamp feature but I can't share one without the other. I'm hoping to finish it up tonite...if so, I'll share it tomorrow ~ if not it will be Monday.

Get Inked Kit - April

Here are a few sneek peeks at the Get Inked Kit for April at Queen Kat Designs!

The theme was flowers and I included a pansy, gerbera daisy, daffodil as well as a few other fun images/sentiments. The goodies in this months kit are all Ranger: Embossing Pearl (violet), Embossing Puffs (purple) and Wonder Tape!

I was going to direct you to the site but it's already sold out this month!!

Each of these cards highlights a different aspect of the ep's or technique.

To see the entire card be sure to check out the April Get Inked Album @ QKD!!

BFF Altered Book/Mini Album Challenge #3

Today is #3 in our Best Friend altered book/mini album challenge!

The BFF sentiment is...

3. When you smile, I will know you are plotting something that I must be involved in.

and

The Challenge is...

add a bit of shimmer to your pages.

I did this by using Perfect Pearls and the Northern Lights technique!

Supplies:

Perfect Pearls

Perfect Ink Refresher

Water

Heat it Craft Tool

Black Cardstock

Instructions:

1. Make a cream paint by combining Perfect Pearls and water. I usually just make this on my Non-Stick Craft Sheet. Just squirt a bit of water, add a tiny scoop of PP's and mix.

2. Saturate the black cardstock with the Perfect Ink Refresher.

3. Immediately paint the PP cream paint onto the cardstock, mist with water and tilt your paper in various directions to float the Perfect Pearls over the entire sheet.

4. You may further move the Perfect Pearls around with the Heat tool while you are drying it.

5. (Optional) For added texture and interest I like to crumble the paper up before it has completely dried....the I finish drying it.

After it's dry you can use the paper in a variety of projects!

BFF Page #3 down and in the books!

I hope you can find some time to play along!

If not you could still use the Northern Lights technique in a variety of projects ~ cards, scrapbooks, ATC's, Gothic arches, collage or altered art projects, etc.

Pussy Willow ~ Bird Nest Canvas

Yesterday I shared how to make Faux Pussy Willow using Grapevine Wire and Flower Soft. As promised, I put that pussy willow to use in a little canvas collage I made today!

Here you go....

A New Beginning...

I used 3 willow branches two above and one below that the nest is "sitting on". The background is a mix of Sapphire Distress Ink and Pearl Perfect Pearls mixed in water on white cardstock. The next is brown paper raffia formed into a next holding a real bantam chicken egg

I think I rather like using the Flower Soft for this...it's very fun and lots less frustrating than trying to find the real thing ;)

Mystery Technique ~ Flower Soft Faux Pussy Willow!

YES, a couple people guessed correctly!

Victoria was the very first guess and she got it right off the bat!!

Wooo Hooo!!!

When I was a little kid I LOVED Spring time because we had a pussy willow shrub in the side yard. I loved to "pet" the catkins (the fuzzy things) because I thought they felt like kitty toes - LOL!! When I found that old postcard I knew I had to give making my own faux pussy willow branches a try!

So here is what I did....

Flower Soft Faux Pussy Willow

A bit about some of the supplies I used...I started off using the butterscotch colored wire because some varieties of the pussy willow has a yellow cast to it. You could use brown, copper or plain wire ~ it's totally up to you. The wire I used for the branches is some awesome stuff. I found mine at Michaels but I'm sure they have it many places in the floral section.

Supplies:

Flower Soft - Ivory

Butterscotch Coated Wire or Plain Wire

Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue (or Flower Soft Glue)

Grapevine Wrapped Wire (found in the Floral areas)

Instructions:

1. Cut several pieces of wire 3-5" long. You will need two pieces for each catkin you want to make.

2. Twist two wires together...

Turn and twist the opposite two wires together...

Turn one more time and twist the original wires together then bring all of the wires together and secure at the bottom. You're basically making a little oval cage for the glue & Flower Soft. Be sure to make several sizes since real catkins come in all sizes.

When you're finished twisting the wire it should look similar to this....

3. Now coat the entire end in glue as shown...

4. Coat with the Flower Soft. I like to add lots so the catkin is very full.

5. Let the glue/Flower Soft dry standing up. I use a foam piece that some decorative brads came in for this step.

6. Cut a length of the grapevine wrapped wire. Saturate with water and let it soak in for several minutes. This will help with the next step.

7. After the grapevine has softened up, carefully unwrap the grapevine from most of the wire. Leave the bottom 2-3" in tact.

8. Place a larger catkin along the base of the wire. Re-wrap the grapevine around the catkin wire and the base wire tightly. This will hold everything together and cover the catkin wire.

9. Continue wrapping and inserting additional catkins (working from large to small) up the branch. When you do so remember to vary the placement of the catkins. They don't naturally grow in a straight line up the branch.

10. When you reach the top...snip off any extra branch wire". Secure the grapevine to the branch using the Super Thick Tacky Glue. Hold with a cloths pin if necessary until dry.

CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!

I am SOOOOO excited about this...

it looks so real!

Tomorrow I'll try to have a few branches done so you can see them all together and if I have time I'll add them to a project of some sort.

So what do you think?

Pretty Cool Huh???

Happy Easter & Mystery Technique

Sending you all wishes for a very

Happy Easter!!

Before you go...here are a few more vintage postcard images to add to your must use file.

Take a good look at each postcard...

the next Mystery Technique is included in one of them ~

Can You Guess What It Is?!?!?!?

I can't tell you anymore or it will be too easy!

Take care and see you all Monday friends!

Ink Stained Card Sketch 4-2-10

TGIF!!

Seems like it's been a long week here ~ ds's Spring Break started today so I guess we were waiting for that.

I have had several requests for more specific collage card sketches. Sketches that show exactly where to place things to make it look more "collage" in style without it looking un-put together. I guess that's how to say it ~ anyway, I normally don't think about collage ahead of time ~ it just sort of happens so this was a challenge for me - LOL!!

I hope you like the results and it makes collage cards a bit easier.

Ink Stained Card Sketch

4-2-10

Collage Card

My card has an Easter feel to it since of course Easter is just a few days away but you could substitute any embellishment or other bits you have on hand. The 3 smaller images could be stamped images or Vintage Postcard images (like the ones I share on Sunday's). I stamped the background and inked/distressed lots of edges but again...totally optional.

If you give this sketch (or any other posted here on Ink Stains) a try be sure and post a link to it so we can all ohhhh and ahhhh over it!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Easter Basket Template

Today I have a fun template to share....

You can make an Easter Basket from one 12x12 sheet of cardstock!

Quick and oh so easy...just a few snips and you'll be set to go.

Easter Basket Template

Now, I'm just going to show you how to assemble the basket using plain white cardstock so it's easy to see the score lines, folded flaps, etc. BUT since we're using cardstock it is PERFECT for stamping, inking, painting, incorporating all sorts of cool techniques and embellishments.

The sky is the limit to spruce these little babies up!

They are perfect to create a personalized little basket for each person on your Bunny List ;)

Instructions:

1. Cut a 2" strip off of one side of your cardstock.

2. Score and cut all lines as directed.

a solid line _________ = Cut Lines

a dash line - - - - - - - = Score Lines

3. Apply a dab of adhesive on the 3/4" flap on both of the short ends.

4. Fold these ends over and secure.

5. Apply a bit of adhesive on the 3/4" flap on both of the long sides.

6. Stand the short ends up and position the square end flaps on the inside of the long side. Fold the side flap over ~ this flap will secure the ends in the upright position as shown.

Repeat on the other side.

You should now have a nice basket bottom!

7. Fold and attach handle to the basket and you're done!!

Told you...

quick, fun and easy!

So now there is no excuse for not having a fun little basket of goodies for all the special little (and big) names on your list.

Happy Day ~ on Ranger's Home Page!!

Happy Thursday Friends!!

Another of my cards is on Ranger's home page this month :)

It's my Happy Day UTEE card...

Here's a little peek

Be sure to check out their site for a complete supply list and instructions on how to make it.