Doodle Ready ATC Cards From LC Boxes

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I haven't mentioned this yet but, I started Weight Watchers (again) on January 1st. I only mention this because I have eaten at least one Lean Cuisine every day since and I can't bear to toss the boxes!  That's good, FREE, white cardstock!  So they are my first "go-to" cardstock when using all my new dies.  This week I cut out lots rounded corner cards (about ATC size) using a Sizzix die, that I can use for doodling and/or adding bits and pieces that I have piling up... like the leaf below and the stamped doghouse on the card below... I just like doodling on something that size because any larger blank white paper intimidates me... I figure anyone can fill up this much white space, right?

After I got several cards done (doodled on) I decided that I wanted to hang them together but I didn't want to punch a hole in the top, just in case I decided I wanted to use them for something later.  Sooooo, I punched out a fancy little piece using Spellbinders, Parisian Accents (seen in the middle of samples below).

I only added glue to the back so I could easily remove it without messing up the front of the card... 

I'm showing you a close up of this next card because I love the gingko leaf.  I made that by putting aluminum tape to the front of a piece of box then cut it out...the die has built in embossing lines.  Love it.

Below is a  quick card I made using one of my cards... quick quick because the work was already done.

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Learning the Hard Way!

I made this card ALL WRONG!  See those little dark dots on it?  Well, those are smashed "crystals"!! (who knew they were plastic and they could be made to be so flat?!)   Lesson learned, don't run them through a die cutter!  The problem was I ran the blank cardstock through the machine just so I could see a new embossing folder, then I added the crystals, very cute.... but then it all went a muck,  I decided that I wanted to add a window using a Spellbinders scalloped oval ... mistake!  But, live and learn.  I guess I could have peeled them off and added more but I decided to go the cheap route and just added some Stickles on top of each, along with adding it to all of the dots inside the diamonds.  Unfortunately, you can't see any of that :-(  it really does add a cute little sparkle to the card.

Linked to:

Make It Monday #150: Window Screen Cards

Tim Holtz's Brick Wall Die

It all started with this die:

It is a Tim Holtz die from Sizzix.  LOVE IT! LOVE IT!  

BUT....

when you cut it out it is the martyr between the bricks which makes perfect sense but not so much when you try to use it... not to me anyway.  The problem is, if you just lay it down on paper it will be higher than the actual brick, and that isn't "real"... not in the South anyway... here the brick sticks out further than the martyr.  Problem... so, I look all over the web in search of something someone else might have done to fix the problem...nothing...not even on Tim's personal blog.  Well yesterday I had a "suddenly, WELL DUH!" moment.  I cut the die out of a Lean Cuisine box (have lots of those these days) and used it like you would use any stencil you buy.  I don't have any of the paste that is made for 3-d embossing so I improvised with what I had: (a LOT of)

I slathered it on nice and thick with my finger, then instead of smoothing it out with something I patted it to make it rough, more brick like.  Then because I have no patience I took my heat gun to it and that caused it to bubble up a bit, even better! 

The two pictures below are just WEIRD because they make it look exactly opposite of what it actually is!  

- The very top of the first picture is one I made with just paper and in this picture it actually looks that I would want it to look!...but not in real life.

- the middle is just the "stencil" right after I used the tile adhesive and it gives the appearance of raised bricks!  NOT!...just the opposite

- the bottom was the PERFECT results but in the picture the bricks look recessed... ???

Closer:

Now.... how I used it and pictures that maybe show it a little bit better:

Well heck, not really ... you'll just have to take my word for it I guess, the bricks stick out about 1/8".

The solid strip of "concrete" across the top is actually 1 bump cut from a piece of corrugated paper and colored gray.

OH! and I colored the bricks with BIC permanent markers.

Products Used (with links to where to buy them):

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Make It Monday #148

Today I worked on a card using a technique introduced on the Papertrey Ink Challenge this week.  

Make It Monday #148: Generation Stamping with Line Images & Multiple Colors

There is a video showing what they wanted anyone participating in the challenge to do, and using their stamps was required.

The technique produces the image in the middle of the card below.  It requires line stamps and lots of re-stamping with three different colors for each element.

I only have the one line stamp set that I just got yesterday.  

Stitches & Swirls Stamp Set  

I'm not too crazy about using the technique with this stamp set but I do LOVE the set!  I was able to make the background card using three different stamps from the set and I could tell that there is real potential there, I'm looking forward to doing more with them.

I will add the "link-to" product list to the bottom of the post when I have more time.  That really does take more time than I can give it tonight.

The main reason I do these challenges is that there are TONS of new stamps being made available tomorrow (Jan 15) and I want most of them!  I need to win the random selection to get some store money!!!!

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String....

Today I did a REALLY QUICK something for a challenge that was sent to me this morning from  {capture the moment} ... all about 

"Brown paper packages, tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things..."

Thankfully I already had my brown paper packages tied up with string!  A while back I wrapped some 4x4 canvases that I have sitting by my front door ready for a quick RAC.  They are all different because that was part of that play day.  

This one is wrapped with a brown paper bag that I then drew lines on with a sharpie and a white marker, quick and easy!  I already had the black ribbon but I added the b/w bakers twine today along with the label that I printed out on my PC.  It is a label design I made with CorelDraw to be ready for a Sizzix label die (Sizzix Framelits Die Set 6PK - Labels, Majestic #2)  I ordered earlier this week...but it isn't here yet, so I hand cut it.  None of the dies I have from Papertrey Ink would have worked with what I had so I had to go generic this time.  I LOVE Papertrey Ink products but I haven't gotten that many (ok, I've spent over $100 with them just since I started this madness)... they don't have sales so I have to shop carefully :-)

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Cheery Lynn Designs - Quills & Ink Pot

Since I am having such a hard time forcing myself to be creative these days I have decided to start doing some online challenges... this one is HERE:

The die is Cheery Lynn Designs "Quills & Ink Pot"...however, I did a tiny bit of modifying because I tried cutting it out of some old glitter ribbon I had in my stash and that was a NOT!  It left an impression but didn't come close to cutting it out!  I cut them out by hand using the impression as a guide then cut a few chunks out to help it look more like feathers.  It cuts paper fine, but not that ribbon for sure!

I just used my PC to do the text (Billy Argel Font) and hand drew the frame because the card looked too plain without it.

Supplies:

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Simon Says Stamp LEAF COLUMN OUTLINE Die

I'm so sorry that I have gotten SO LAZY these past few months!  Not only am I not posting as often as I probably should but I am taking my pictures with my iPad now and it shows!  AWFUL colors!  But, it is what it is, you can get some idea of what they look like anyway.

I made this card because I wanted to do the Simon Says Challenge shown later. The challenge was "bling" and unfortunately the glitter doesn't show up in any of my pictures.  While it isn't a requirement that you use one of THEIR products I wanted to... problem is, I only have a couple of their exclusive products because they haven't had even one sale since I started buying dies and I promised myself to only buy things on sale while such great sales are going on on other sites. I do have a HUGE Simon Says "want" list growing though! Anyway, their product is the leaves.

These are really two separate dies, the black, and the white outline.  In order to get the glitter filling I cut label paper using the solid die, then covered the sticky side of the label leaves with red glitter.

I also used the die and stamp I used in my last post last time, I LOVE that stamp, because it makes it look like lots of layers while only being one.  I stamped it on kraft paper then used a red pin and a couple of darker browns for the outside brown.

Unfortunately, the red background paper and the ribbon were from my stash and there is no way to link them, sorry!  But here is everything else I used:

LEAF COLUMN OUTLINE Die	LEAF COLUMN BACKGROUND Die s169	Holiday Labels No.14	Spellbinders Nestabilities Dies, Labels 14	Tsukineko Small-Size VersaFine Instant Dry Pigment Ink, Onyx Black
BIC Mark-It color collection permanent marker, Fine Point, Assorted Colors, 36 Markers	Guided Brown Kraft Printer Labels

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Spellbinder Tags and Waltzing Mouse Holiday Labels No. 14

Well, I FINALLY got something made!!  I have been collecting dies  over the past couple of months and TODAY I finally made something with a few!!  And I'm pretty certain that the only reason I finished this card today is that TODAY was my friend's birthday and I HAD to have a card!

See, the thing I learned about myself a long time ago is that the fun I get from any new craft is in the collecting of the tools needed to do it, then once I have all there is I move onto the next thing.  I am not too sure what is up with me these days but I have had zero desire to be creative.  None.   But, I LOVE all the thin dies that are out, so now I sit here with hundreds (literally) of dies and I figure I had better do something with them!  I am ready for most any occasion for sure!

I actually found my inspiration for this card on Pinterest that linked to its creator, Claire Brennan HERE.  I LOVED the color scheme she used so I felt like I just had to have the stamp set she used (and designed herself).  The only place you can currently buy her stamps is from her ...in New Zealand! And I am here to tell ya the exchange rate hurts!!  I paid way too much money for a set just to get the one stamp I wanted! The good news is, she does have a distribution point here in the US so I got it very quickly!  ...And then, of course I had to buy the Spellbinders die set she designed the stamps especially for, right? She doesn't sell those and they weren't available anywhere locally so I ordered them from Amazon. And I used the BIC markers I ordered from Amazon to color the wooden house, the trees and red and green parts of the stamp (all non black areas). Unfortunately, I took the picture with my iPad as it was getting dark so I had to keep adjusting and tweaking the color so it could be seen.  There is actually a lime green border next to the checkered border, completely gone here! Sorry. It really was/is much nicer in person.

Anyway, here is most of what I used:

Wafer Die Storage (Part 2)

I just wanted to give a quick update to Tuesday's post: 

Tuesday I said:
----------------OU! OU!  I just found (and ordered) larger clear case CD holders...the size of DVD cases - 7 1/2 " long by 5 1/2" wide...  They should be just what I need for the extra long dies from Cheery Lynn.  I am showing you the Amazon version below just for the picture, but DON'T buy from Amazon... go directly to the online store because shipping is MUCH MUCH cheaper buying direct.  That and you aren't forced to buy 10 at a time, you can buy as few as 1 if you want.  I bought 20 and shipping was $7.80.  If I had bought from Amazon shipping would have been $20!!!  From the same company!  That's not Amazon's fault, the company just doesn't offer combined shipping rates through Amazon. .... OOU!!!  Best part yet, I just got a notice that they have shipped already!  5 hours after order and they are on their way via FedEx!  YES!

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UPDATE:

I ordered the above directly from the company and got them THE VERY NEXT DAY!!!  I LOVE that kind of service!

I had hoped that the longer Cheery Lynn dies would fit straight up and down in the larger case, but they don't... I have to angle them every so slightly, but that's ok, I can still fit quiet a few in a single case. (all that I have, for sure)  I don't understand why they make some of the dies as long as they are ??? completely unnecessary.

And, because I knew I was only going to put the longer dies in the larger cases I decided to just run three lines of glue across the case (about 1" from top and bottom then right down the middle) ... PERFECT!...and so much quicker.  It is enough to hold the die tight but not so much that you feel like it will bend when you take it out.  PERFECT!
------------ One more thing, I just went back to Amazon and ordered something else (SHAME!)... I got a flip CD display holder thingy for easy die viewing.  It will be a little less portable but I'll just look for another box it will fit in and add a handle to that... COUNTRY REDNECK style :-)

Wafer Die Storage - Using What I Already Have

Well, I am onto ANOTHER new thing.... Wafer Dies.  And I think I'm going to post all about it on this blog since my other active blog is about doodling and I want to continue with that there, for the most part.  My real final goal is to combine the two but in the meantime, I'll post here.

While using the Wafer Dies is somewhat new... it really isn't, I was buying wafer dies years ago, before they were so popular and the choices were really pitiful.  Naturally, I have no clue where all those dies ended up...so I have started a whole new collection....the fun part of any new craft :-)

To start things off I bought a new Cuttlebug V2.

I love it because it is so small and portable I can sit on the sofa, watch tv and cut to my hearts content...all my others are large, desk types.

Before you buy a bunch of extra stuff you don't need I want to share a couple of DON'Ts with you.

I love to read all the feedback on any product I am about to buy on Amazon. Unfortunately, this time I ended up buying an extra cutting plate that I DO NOT NEED!  Argh!  Apparently V1 had a cutting plate that V2 does not have.  So far, it was a complete waste of money.

Another complete waste of money is a storage thingy with magnetic sheets, (Artbin Magnetic Storage).  Thankfully I only bought one set of refill magnets to see how they work ... and they didn't!  The dies fell off with little or no prompting and I would have filled it up almost immediately.

So, MY answer to the whole storage problem was to use what I have already.

- The clear CD cases (I bought a bunch way back when I was storing rubber stamps)  I have the standard size, not the thin...I was going to order more and get the thin but I'm afraid that you couldn't use both the top and bottom for storage, it would be too thin...

 - "The Best Glue Ever" - a glue that stays super tacky after it is dried.  Just for the record, I don't agree that it is the best glue ever, but it is excellent if you want the stays tacky kind of glue.

 

I just applied the glue to both sides of the case in a polka dot pattern.  I don't know, I suppose I could have just drawn lines but something in my brain said dots were better ???  I think it makes it easier to take the dies out without a lot of effort and less risk of bending them  ???  You could always try both ways to see which you like best.

Let the glue dry completely before putting your dies in the case. (the glue dots will be completely clear)  You can see in the picture below that the dies stay in place and it is MUCH CHEAPER than magnetic sheets!

I also think that this glue is better than double sided tape because I have bought dies that use the double sided tape to hold them in place in the packaging and I had a hard time taking the tape off the die.  Then, if you don't get it all off it sticks to the cutting plates and bending becomes a problem again.

I don't know if I have mention this before but probably my most favorite crafting supply EVER would be my 8.5"x 11" label sheets.  I use them for EVERYTHING because you can cut any shape or size you want!  LOVE! LOVE! And that's what I used to label the CD cases. Cut in half down lengthwise then cut 1/4" strips...perfect!  The link is Online Labels, the best (spelled cheapest) source I have found.

OH! And they are in a cardboard box that I just happen to have, but I think they still make CD case holders.  ???  I don't know, as fast as technology changes it might be a good idea to get them while you can!

There are tons of solutions out there on the web and I may have to switch to something different when I buy A BUNCH more but so far this is the PERFECT solution for me because it is portable and I have easy access and easy clean up.

OU! OU!  I just found (and ordered) larger clear case CD holders...the size of DVD cases - 7 1/2 " long by 5 1/2" wide...  They should be just what I need for the extra long dies from Cheery Lynn.  I am showing you the Amazon version below just for the picture, but DON'T buy from Amazon... go directly to the online store because shipping is MUCH MUCH cheaper buying direct.  That and you aren't forced to buy 10 at a time, you can buy as few as 1 if you want.  I bought 20 and shipping was $7.80.  If I had bought from Amazon shipping would have been $20!!!  From the same company!  That's not Amazon's fault, the company just doesn't offer combined shipping rates through Amazon. .... OOU!!!  Best part yet, I just got a notice that they have shipped already!  5 hours after order and they are on their way via FedEx!  YES!