StarLitStudio

what's in a hogwarts backpack

I wanted an eerie background for what I would expect to find in Harry's backpack, and decided to airbrush two colors together and try it.


Lockhart's Potions and Spells was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto white cardstock (Papertrey Ink) cut from Spellbinders Labels Five.  I had a mask of this image created earlier (using Eclipse tape) and placed the mask over the stamped image.

With the mask in place, Copic W3 andYG95 were airbrushed - grey first, then the green.

Removed mask to reveal the eerie look.  

Image was colored with Copic markers.  Labels Five cut and embossed Licorice cardstock - used foam dimensionals for each layer.

Black pearls are from Ellen; patterned & purple paper is Cosmo Cricket's Haunted kit (name of paper is Haunted Macabre). Card base is Memory Box Paprika.  Bippity sentiment is Lockhart Stamp Company.  Added Glossy Accents to the crystal ball.

Interior sentiment is from Savvy Stamps.  Finished size is 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".   Now if I could just brew up a spell to do all the laundry...

rock candy cupcake icing

** If you haven't already please go enter yesterday's blog candy stamp giveaway!**

Lockhart Stamp Company's Single Cupcake gets the yummy icing treatment with Rock Candy Distress Stickles - reminds me of sweet sparkling sugar!

Lockhart Cupcake was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, masked, then airbrushed using Copic BV000 while the Nestabilities Pinked Circle remained in place.  Matted with Cranberry cardstock.  A white gel pen from Ranger added the highlight on the cherry.

To add a hint of color to the icing before hitting it with the Rock Candy Distress Stickles, I colored it with Copic RV0000.
I'm now officially hungry.   For a cupcake.

Birthday Wishes sentiment is from A Muse, and this layout is from an old Stampin Up catalog.  Brad and paper are Basic Grey Lime Rickey, and the tiny pin is from Tim Holtz. 

Card base is Memory Box Cranberry and measures 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".  Black grosgrain ribbon is May Arts.

Interior sentiments are from Hero Arts and instead of tossing the leftover Lime Rickey paper I used it here.  The solid 6x6 papers that are in the back of those Basic Grey 6x6 packs are great for lining Memory Box envelopes. 

best witches

I mail about ten Halloween cards each year to long-distance family - the card's job is to house current school photos of my three children...

I'm sharing one of these cards with you today that is simple to mass produce and uses an easy airbrushing (or you can sponge) technique I learned from Debbie Olson - I just kept the Long Rectangle Nestabilities die in place and it creates a beautiful edge.

Lockhart Stamp Company's Witch's Broom image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then airbushed with Copic YR31.  I brought the gun closer to the image in the corners.  Broom shaft is Copic E55 & E57; broom head is Copic YR14 and YR24. 

Martha Stewart's cobweb border punch was fun to play with - I punched one side of Licorice cardstock then the other to create a complete cobweb. 

The dangling spider is Memory Box Web Crawler, and drew the dangle with a black pen.  (I stamped the cobweb image on the envelope front.)

Pumpkin is created from a small, very ancient spiral punch (used Dill cardstock) and an oval punch (both punches are EK Success).  Ovals and card base are Paprika cardstock; cardbase measures 6-1/4" x 4-1/2". 

Pumpkin oval edges were inked using an ink blending tool and Distress Walnut Stain ink.  Stem was hand cut.  Patterned paper is Reminisce Verbal Creep. 

My dear husband Ron informed me I was not allowed to decorate for Halloween until October 1st.  I'm into Halloween this year!  

distress crackle rock candy sympathy card

 

Texture so yummy you'll want to touch...

One of Tim Holtz's newest products, Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint, is featured in today's project.  Tim has a video tutorial using Rock Candy Distress Paint, and in today's post I'll show how to create three easy sympathy cards. 

Sadly, sympathy cards are depleted from my stash faster than any other type of card; I create them in batches.

Using one of Christine Adolph's images from Stampington & Co - Elegant Stems #C8412 - I stamped three times onto Papertrey white cardstock using Ranger Archival ink in Jet Black. 

I stamped just the circle portion of the image three more times, punched out using a 3/4" circle punch, and sponged Distress Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain using a blending tool.

Next - airbrushing.  I have the compressor from Ellen's store, but started out with her beginner's kit and got hooked...  Airbrushed Copic BV04 over the lower portions of the images.

Airbrushed Copic YG95 next...

And lastly airbrushed Copic YR24.  You'll note the airbrushing was not neatly done.  It doesn't have to be for this project, so just have at it and dive right in.

Tore apart the white cardstock into three images.  I left the 'exposed' rough torn side on the left, top and bottom sides.  The right side will be covered up with a gauzy-style ribbon.

Using a blending tool and Distress Walnut Stain, fully ink up the edges and blend inward just slightly. *Note - I went back and inked up the right sides - the white cardstock shows through the gauze ribbon too much.

Liberally and roughly apply Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint to each image.  Do not try to cover the whole image - just most of it...leave a bit of cardstock naked to hit with ink later (next step).  Allow to air dry completely.  Or, allow to dry about 50% - 75% of the way then take a heat tool to the wet areas until dry. 

side note:  Don't try using a heat tool to speed dry Distress Crackle Metallic Paints - only use a heat tool with the 24 colors, Picket Fence and Rock Candy included, and only once the crackle has set up about 50% to 75%.  The Distress Crackle Metallic Paints will bubble and become unsightly if hit with a heat tool.

After the crackle paint dried I worked Distress Vintage Photo ink into the cracks using a blending tool, then wiped away any excess ink with a clean, soft cloth.  Click on the image to zoom and view the beautiful cracking this product provides.

If you're asking about dry time for this product, I live in northeast USA, New Jersey, and it's August - high humidity.  With the ceiling fan running, dry time was about 10 minutes.  The cardstock was curled but just slightly.  Recommend adhering directly to cardstock, or if you want to pop the image using dimensionals, first mat to a piece of good cardstock to provide stability.

Trimmed 1" ivory gauze ribbon lengths in half lengthwise using pinking shears.  The pinked edge simply adds to the texture of this style ribbon.  Using light adhesive, stabilize cut ribbon, then sew a zig-zag stitch using ivory thread and a sewing machine.

I added a smudge of Distress Dusty Concord ink to the 3/4" punched circles after determining more purple was needed.  And I aint' even Prince.

Three sympathy cards made in record time.  Love this look of visible texture.  Finished card size:  4-1/4" x 5-1/2".

Card interior features a sentiment from Verses Rubber Stamps and Hero Arts.  A strip of leftover airbrushed cardstock and 7gypsies Catania add interest and color.

flower soft spring lilacs

 

Ellen Hutson created an amazing tutorial post in her CLASSroom blog featuring one of her latest products - Flower Soft.  Today's project was created after reading her wonderful tutorial.

 

To create dimension for the vase, the Lilacs in Pitcher image from Lockhart Stamp Company was stamped in Rich Cocoa Memento ink onto Begonia (Memory Box) cardstock, then highlighted with Copic RV34, then cut out.

 

Vase was curled around a pen barrel to add further dimension.

 

Punched a rectangle from white cardstock using a Nestabilities die, and keeping die in place I airbrushed using Copic YR31.  This technique creates a nice, quick, crisp edge.

 

Stamped Lilac image with Rich Cocoa Memento ink, then 'colored in' flower stems with liquid adhesive. 

 

Using my fingers, I separated the Flower Soft flora and sprinkled generously over the adhesive.  Gently pressed flora into adhesive; tapped off excess and allowed to dry a minute.  Leaves on the image were colored with a complementary green Copic marker.

 

I utilized Ellen's technique in this detailed post of hers for creating stamens.  Flower Soft white wire stems were colored with a green Copic marker, then adhered over the stamped image using a few glue dots. 

When adhering the vase, I used the Flower Soft liquid glue and adhered the sides and bottom only of the trimmed vase.  The bed of wire stems and glue dots holding the stems in place created a nice 'puff', giving the vase an incredible 3-D appearance.   

Decorative cardstock is Basic Grey Porcelain, coordinating brads, and a Memory Box 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" Peapod card base.  Best wishes for a great weekend!

ingredients:  Memory Box cardstocks and stamps, Basic Grey 6x6 decorative paper pads and complementary brads, Neenah Solar White cardstock, Lockhart Stamp Company images, Memento ink pads, Flower Soft and all accessories, complete line of Nestabilities dies, Copic Markers and all related accessories including airbrush equipment - Ellen Hutson; May Arts ribbon - StarlitStudio.