Stampbook Saturday - Simply Stamped Project Life

Hi there! Sarah back today with some stampy scrapbooking - project life style.

I had an epiphany recently. As much as I love and admire those amazing, detailed, week by week project life albums I see around the net - that's just not me. I'm not organised or dedicated enough right now to make that kind of album. That's why my supplies have been sitting gathering dust (and there are cheaper ways to collect dust)

So I've decided to approach my album in teeny tiny scrappy style. No theme, each little pocket will tell its own story. Each insert I'll treat like an Artist Trading Card and hopefully I'll end up with an eclectic, fun to look at memento. I'm also going to break the rules (are there rules about these things? I feel like there are) and journal on the back - for one good reason. I HATE my handwriting. It's like someone gave a platypus a pen to play with. Every time I hand write on something I end up disliking it (and I'm too lazy to type/print on the cards). So any journaling is going to be hidden!

The cards I'm sharing today are quick and simple. I have thousands of photos like this from when Jackson was younger. No date, no reason other than cuteness. I wanted to dress up some pre printed project life cards with stamps. This one uses Mixed Media Backgrounds and In Stitches. I also added some quick embellishment with washi tape, sequins and some machine stitching.

This card I used You're a Hoot and In Stitches again. I love that little owl peeking over the card, I could see a few more baby themed cards getting this treatment!

So there you have it. Simple, quick, and at least I made a START on my album! It's going to be disorganized and a little weird...but that works out well for documenting my life!

Thanks for the comments this week - big hugs!

ABC Friday - Christmas Treat Bag Cover

Hi friends! Sarah back today with Anything But a Card Friday. Today I'm going to show you a quick tutorial on how I make these Treat Bag Covers.

Inside is a cellophane bag filled with whatever yummy goodies you like - chocolate kisses in my case! These are fast and easy to make - they make wonderful stocking fillers!

I've used the wonderful new Snowman Soup set for my Treat Bag Cover. I fussy cut my decorations, but now I have my hands on the matching dies these will be even faster to whip up!

Want to see how easy it is? Let's get going!

Cut a strip of cardstock 3 1/2" by 11". Score at 4 1/2, 5 1/2 and 10". 

Cut a window using any shape you like. 

Cut a piece of paper to fit or stamp a design onto the front of your treat bag cover. I like to cut a frame for my window by die cutting a shape larger than the window, then cutting out a smaller oval on the inside so a small border will show when these are layered together.

I've layered my die cut oval behind my window, then adhered a piece of vellum cardstock for a frosted window look. Acetate works wonderfully and gives a clear view of the goodies inside. I also like to line the inside of the cover with a bright paper that will peek through.

With the flap closed, use a strong punch like a crop-a-dile (or punch multiple times with a normal hand punch) to cut two holes for threading through twine or ribbon.

For a finished look, I like to use large eyelets - make sure you only put these through the first layer or you won't be able to open the cover! Decorate with a pretty border and more paper or stamped designs.

That's it! Punch holes in your cellophane bag and tie it all together with the bag enclosed in the cover. Decorate as desired. I've used a die cut poinsettia, edged with frosted stickles. 

I've used the holly and present images from Snowman Soup, colouring with Copics, adding stickles to the gift and glaze pen to the berries. 

Once you make one of these, you can easily adapt them to any size you wish. You can also forgo the window and use a larger coloured image to decorate the front of your cover. If you make one, please let me know, I'd love to see!

Hugs,

Sarah!

Wednesday Trends - Distress Markers

Hi There She Goes fans! Sarah here to talk about a trend I love - coloring with Distress Markers from Ranger.

Like any form of watercoloring, using distress markers can give you a look from soft and subtle, to rich and vibrant. My first card today I was going for a softer look.

I LOVE the Sock Goblin line. They are so adorable, but best of all I love that the shading is cross hatched right on the image. It makes shading simple. I consider myself coloring challenged, so this is a big help!

I was hoping to make a video for you today, but I have a bad cold so that wouldn't really be fun for anyone! Luckily it's super simple, so here are a couple of photos.

Stamp your image on watercolor paper. I'm using the adorable Wilbur. I like to use Brilliance Black ink, then heat set with a heat gun. I find I get a good impression with this ink. You can also use Stazon or archival ink, or use embossing powder to seal your image.

You'll also need a water brush or a thin paintbrush and water.

Scribble on some color where you want it to be darkest. I'm using Antique Linen here.

Use your brush to blend the color up to where you want it to be lightest (this is a really light color so it looks almost non existent here!)

When the paper is already wet, you can scribble on a non porous surface - I use a stamp block because I always have one on my desk - and pick the color up from there. I'm using Scattered Straw here.

Paint on the darker color. If you go over the line, or it bleeds a little, it's easy to fix...

Just scribble the color off your brush, and push the color back where it belongs. 99% of the time I can fix mistakes like this. It's important to remember to let each area dry before moving on to the next to avoid bleeding as much as possible.

I've colored the rest of the image the same way...

Where you want the darkest shadows, apply the marker directly to the wet area...

and blend. I'll often use a little unblended marker right where the shadow would be darkest.

I finished Wilbur using Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Shabby Shutters and Peeled Paint markers.

Here's another card I colored using the same technique for our latest release using the fab Happy Fall.

For this card I went with more saturated color, and also created a bit of a glow around the image by outlining, then pulling outwards with my water brush. 

You'll notice the white highlights on the pumpkin - these were added with the Picket Fence marker, which has a great opaque ink.

You can definitely adapt this technique to other water based mediums - I have had good results with stampin' up! markers as well.

On this card I colored Amalia's Daisy the same way, using SU markers and LOTS of water to get the water stain look. You can really enhance that effect by wetting the image well, then quickly hitting with a heat gun to make it dry fast.

I hope you enjoyed this little look into an alternative to (amazing) copics, if you try it out, please let us know, we'd love to see!

Hugs,
Sarah

TSG232- Pattern Power

This week our challenge is brought to us by Sarah!  She has challenged us to make a card or project using patterns…dots and stripes specifically. She wants us to use both on our cards or projects!!!

~ Sarah

~Tracy M.

~ Vera Y

~Torico

~Jenny

Tangii

Wendy

To be eligible for the giveaway, create a NEW card or project using the Pattern Power challenge, and then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (November 11th). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store!

By participating in this challenge, you may also find yourself in the Trendsetting Spotlight that shines on the TSG Blog every Thursday. We will be on the lookout to find challenge cards that stand out and show Trendsetting qualities. TSG stamps are not required to participate in the challenges but are appreciated :) 

You do not need to have a blog to be able to participate in the TSG Challenges! You can simply add the URL link from your project after it has been uploaded to your online craft gallery. If you upload your card to an online craft gallery, please use the keyword TSG232 so we can check out your beautiful work!

The winner of TSG231 is:Carmen 
Here are your random numbers:

15
Timestamp: 2013-11-08 00:17:40 UTC

Week In Review: October 27th- November 2nd

What is Week In Review (WIR)?- WIR is where we showcase cards made by the Trendsetters and myself throughout the our release peeks week. Not only to you get to see gorgeous projects made using TSG stamps, but you also have a chance to WIN one of these cards! Leave a comment on this post and next WIR I will choose a winner using a random number generator. That person will then get to pick out their favorite card and the Trendsetter that created it will send it to them :)

Last Week's Winner Is:sammi

Here are your random numbers:

8
Timestamp: 2013-11-03 05:59:18 UTC

Jessie(Henna Swirls and Happy Fall)

Wendy (Happy Fall)

Danielle (Happy Fall)

Stampbook Saturday - Altered Frame

Hello everyone!  It's Danielle and I'm back today with a Stampbook Saturday project.  It's a bit late but that is because it took me a bit longer than anticipated to finish it, hopefully worth the wait. :)

A while back I purchased some fun frames to alter and I decorated the smallest one for Halloween.  I liked it so much that I just new I had to decorate one of the larger frames for Christmas.  And here it is:

To start I painted the frame green with acrylic paint.  After letting dry overnight I sloppily added some black paint here and there.

Once the black paint dried I stamped some watermarks from Mixed Media Backgrounds in Archival Ink. I also used the bottom of a marker dipped in the same ink to add a few dots here and there.  Next I added some chipboard letters that were painted and then coated with Glossy Accents and glitter to the top of the frame to spell out "Merry."

Then it was time to decorate: I cut some leaves from corrugated cardboard tiles and sponged the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.  Next I created some pom pom flowers from burgundy wool-blend felt. Then I stamped the tree image from Seasons Greetings multiple times to create a couple of layered trees.

All the pieces were adhered to the frame after tying some twine in a bow around it.  For a final touch I stamped a couple of the words from the set in Archival Jet Black Ink.

Still wasn't done.  I added some rhinestones here and there and a bit of Glossy Accents to the stars on the trees.

I also added Black Soot Distress Glitter along the edges of the frame, using Glossy Accents as an adhesive.

And that is it.  Here is a final picture of the glittery chipboard letters.

Hope you enjoyed my take on a stampbook project! :D

For You Tags

Hello everyone!  It is Danielle checking in for this week's ABC (anything but a card) project with a set of tags.  For those of you who follow my blog you probably I'm sure you're not surprised. ;)

I made four smaller tags using some of the little images from Happy Fall. They were stamped in Jet Black Archival ink on watercolor paper and then colored with Distress Markers.  I added a bit of Diamond Stickles for sparkle and a few rhinestones for accent.

For two of the tags I used leaves and for the other two I paired the birds together.

Thanks for stopping by and check back tomorrow for another project.  :D