StarLitStudio

baby on the way

 

Today's post is all about no waste - create two pockets from one sheet of 12x12 and four pull-out portions of the pocket from one sheet of 8-1/2" x 11".  Please read on for the how-to!

A neighbor and friend told me this week she and her husband are expecting her third child - happy times!  See what New Jersey cold and snowed-in weather creates?  hee!

When the baby arrives my friend will have three children under the age of three.......and I only thought I had my hands full!

My friend's congrats card started simply, then evolved into a neat but simple pocket card (click link for template) - it's simple, easy, and you get two pockets out of one sheet of 12x12 double-sided cardstock.

Finished pocket card measures 4-1/2" x 6".  I used a size A6 envelope (4-3/4" x 6-1/2").

Copic marker colors were pulled using colors from one of October Afternoon's newest lines, Ducks in a Row.  Lockhart Stamp Company's Ice Cream and Pickles was stamped onto a Nestabilities long rectangle die cut piece of white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, colored with Copics, then matted with black cardstock.  The last mat layer is white cardstock, cut with a Nestabilities long rectangle scallop die that was then run through a Cuttlebug swiss dot embossing folder (see pic below). I popped the black layer using foam dimensionals.

 

The interior pull-out portion of the card is a piece of white cardstock, measuring 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".  The decorative cardstock header measures 4-1/4" x 1-1/4".  Perfect pull-out size as you can get four of these from a sheet of 8-1/2" x 11" cardstock.  No waste and no scraps baybee!  The adorable Lockhart image was stamped (Adirondack Aqua - Ranger); sentiment is from A Muse.  Happy times ahead!

ingredients:  Memory Box cardstocks (Licorice used), Lockhart Stamp Company images, Memento ink pads, complete line of Nestabilities dies, Copic Markers and all related accessories including airbrush equipment - Ellen Hutson; October Afternoon papers - StarlitStudio. white cardstock - Papertrey Ink.

lined envelope tutorial

My latest compulsive activity   is lining envelopes, and I've discovered a few shortcuts that I wanted to share.

 

I use mostly Memory Box envelopes, and Memory Box offers a clear, sturdy template that I've altered a bit to gain speed and save paper when creating the lining.

 

To alter the Memory Box envelope liner template, simply insert it completely into a Memory Box envelope - the bottom of the template will fit snugly against the inside bottom of the envelope.  

Using a ruler, draw a line over the envelope fold - where the flap meets the envelope - and use a black Sharpie marker.  Punch two small holes along the Sharpie line (I used a Cropadile but an anywhere hole punch or other hole punch will work too).

To create a lining, and to conserve paper, line up the template only to the bottom of the word 'box' on the reverse of the desired lining paper- see photo above.  You don't need to use the entire lining template unless you want to.  Using a pencil, trace template on the back of the desired patterned paper. 

 

Don't forget to mark the two punched holes in the template.  Cut out the lining.  I cut two envelope liners out in the photo above.

Using a paper cutter, slice the lining along the marked holes.  Apply adhesive to this side (with the pencil marks) so the pencil marks are concealed.

It is easier to apply adhesive to the lining, versus the envelope.

Adhere the lining to the flap, and the inside envelope front. 

I have found the envelope closes easier with the gap present over the envelope flap fold... it is easier to adhere these two smaller lining pieces to the envelope versus one large liner, and it is easier for the recipient to slit the envelope open this way, too.

ingredients:  Memory Box template and all Memory Box products include decorative papers, cardstocks, stamps and more:  Ellen Hutson

binding rings info

Happy Sunday everyone - today's post is informational.

We received a question from Lyn, and wanted to post the answer here in the hopes it helps you too.

Binding rings:  These are metal rings from 7gypsies that we carry in the store, available in a variety of colors and sizes.  Lyn wanted to know how many pages would fit in each size binding ring. 

To answer Lyn's question we created three mini-albums to see how many pages each size binding ring would hold, to show you their capacity.

The books we constructed consist of two heavyweight rectangle coasters for the outer covers and Papertrey Ink cardstock for the interior pages.  Papertrey cardstock is pretty thick, so if using another cardstock brand that is not as thick you might be able to get a few more interior pages with each size.

7g small binding rings (1-inch diameter - black ones used here) - approx. 25 pages

7g medium binding rings (1-1/2" diameter - red ones used here) - approx. 50 pages

7g large binding rings (1-3/4" diameter - cream ones used here) - approx. 70 pages

Mini albums like these would make great dream journals, and great gifts as journals for several folks on your list.  Use for card and paper crafting ideas, sketch pads, or just to keep in the car with a crayon or two for wee ones' during trips.  Simply cover the front and back with decorative paper and embellish as desired. 

If you feel the binding rings need dressing up, you can add ribbon, or string a few charms - even tie buttons to them!  The only limit is your available time. Best wishes for a great week!

notebook cover

Debbie Olson created an incredible layered soldered piece including tutorial on her blog, and in my amazement (it is incredible!), holding my breath then fainting, I recovered and was determined to try this!!!

I combined one of Debbie's layered creations with an altered notepad for a birthday gift.

Altered 5x8 notepads make awesome gifts (I buy them in bulk at Staples).  One of these with a gift card tucked inside provides a multitude of gift solutions for just about everyone on your list for any occasion.  I've adapted my double notebook closure template to a simplified version here:

5x8 one pocket closure template

I like using double sided cardstock for these notebook covers, but single sided cardstock will work too!

Cut and score a 12" x 8-1/2" piece of patterned cardstock (Tres Jolie used) according to the template.  Then cut a 5" wide x at least 3" to cover the header of the pad and adhere.

Create the pocket and adhere to a 5x8 notepad.   

You can add a pen easily:  elastic, eyelet, eyelet setting tools and E-6000 adhesive (or similar adhesive like Gorilla Glue); mini-pens purchased in bulk at Staples - I covered the pen with cardstock.

Fold elastic piece snugly around pen, punch hole for eyelet.  Remove pen and set eyelet.  Adhere eyelet tails to back of notepad then cover entire notepad back with cardstock.  You can find elastic by the yard at Walmart (fabric section) or craft stores.

To create the cupcakes, stamp Lockhart Best Cupcake once on a piece of 1x3 white cardstock and color all but icing with markers; stamp again on white cardstock scrap, color icing tops and cut out. 

Open up a 1x3 Ranger Memory Frame.  Layer 1x3 colored cardstock unit, then a piece of 1x3 glass.  Using mini Glue Dots adhere colored icing cutouts, then another piece of 1x3 glass.  Insert the whole sandwich into the Memory Frame and close.  Adhere to notebook using pop up Glue Dots or foam adhesive.   Cherry bling is from Ellen's store.

When the notebook is gone the framed piece can be removed and saved.

Thank you for stopping by and hope this template is useful!

sources:  copic markers, Ranger Memory Frames, bling, the entire Lockhart Stamp Company line and exceptional customer service - Ellen Hutson, LLC.

thank shoe

Quick questions: When making cards, do you need:

(1) instant gratification? ...which means stamping and not sitting, thinking about what to create - I want to create something....NOW!
(2) a professional look and feel - my friend Tracie Wolf told me once that "...there is a difference between homemade and handmade." I've never forgotten that.

(3) speed. I really love looking at complicated and uber-fancy cards, but I often don't have the time to spend on them. Let's make them quickly, and make them awesome!

So, if any or all of the above fits you, read on!

The template I am sharing with you today: it uses two different sheets of 6x6 decorative paper to quickly create three cards. So, if you have two different sheets of 12x12 you can create a dozen cards rapidly.

This template will not make scant use of the decorative paper. It is not a conservative template by any means. This template USES it and uses ALL OF IT. No scraps!

Let's get started on this bright and sunny Monday afternoon!

two 6x6 for 3 cards template

This template requires minimal cutting. This saves time.

Also, it is totally up to you and your design where the score line for these cards go - for these cards I created for this tutorial the score line is along the long side of the card, but you could just as easily create them all with the score line along the short side, or mix-em-up!

Step 1. Gather materials. Ribbon, brads - use what embellishments you like/have on hand and that coordinate with the paper you'll be using. Pick two different 6x6 papers and solid cardstock for your card bases. Cut and score solid cardstock and form three A2 card bases (4-1/4" x 5-1/2").

























Step 2: How I made the shoes embellishment:
A. Stamp party shoe image onto cardstock in a dark dye-based ink.

B. Then stamp over it with the Millinery Rose image in a lighter dye-based ink.

C. Use a watercolor brush and water, and color in areas of the party shoe with the darker ink - the Millinery Rose image will vanish in these areas!

D. Cut out Party Shoes.

Step 3: Cut up two - 6x6 papers according to template.

Step 4: Adhere 6" long skinny strip to 6" strip from other paper - as shown in photo. See those two, long, skinny pieces on the left? We're going to put them inside two of the cards in step 6.




















Step 5: Adhere the strip unit onto a card base, and trim...




















...putting the leftover piece inside that card. Stamp and complete card inside.

















Step 6: Place the two really skinny pieces (two pieces: 3" x 3/4") inside the two remaining card bases...

...like this. Stamp and complete card insides. This makes the insides look 'finished' and brings the flavor of the card front into the card inside.




















Place the big, leftover patterned pieces onto the two card bases that remain (see photo below). Your three card fronts will now look like this:

Step 7: Cut two colors of coordinating solid cardstock for focal points on the cards. These cardstock pieces measure 2-3/4" x 2" (flax/green), and 2-7/8" x 2-1/8" (pink). Adhere together, creating a matted focal point.







Step 8: Add ribbon loop and brad to each focal point. Place a foam dimensional on each shoe cutout.

Your card bases will now look like this (note the cute shoe cutouts ready with foam dimensionals, at the photo bottom):



















Step 9: Adhere party shoes and stamp 'thanks' sentiment - done!


















Depending on your time and available embellishments, you can dress these up with more ribbon, buttons, glitter, layers!

Thank you for stopping by and we'll be back tomorrow (that clear card - finally!).

Party Shoe and Millinery Rose (Lockhart Stamp Company), Memory Box cardstock (Cotton Candy, Flax, 6x6 papers from Sprout) - all from Ellen's store. Olive satin ribbon - May Arts; brown brads - the store; thanks sentiment - A Muse; interior thanks sentiment: Verses Rubber Stamps.

spring tulips

For us out here in the country in New Jersey, spring starts when the crocus peek out of the earth at my neighbor's mailbox, and the forsythia burst into bloom around the neighborhood!

These Lockhart tulips are a wonderful image not just for spring, but for birthdays, get well, anytime you want to send pleasant thoughts - and they are also Ellen's Stamp of the Month at her store!

Memory Box folks love the environment - their cardstock is acid-free and archival, and it is printed with soy-based inks too.

Memory Box 6x6 patterned paper packs are easy to use - why? Because Ellen's store lists the coordinating solid Memory Box cardstocks that go with each pack - this removes guess work and saves time - just pick a color on the list and go!

To make things even easier and speedier, I write the solid colors onto a Post-it note, and snip open the 6x6 pack at the base - this keeps all the 6x6 papers together.

How I made these cards:
Step 1: I started with three card bases - I used Cotton Candy from Memory Box, and two sheets only from Memory Box Sprout - 6x6, ribbon, a layout - I am using Valerie Stangle's layout from my journal,* new hardware embellishments from 7gypsies (spirals and paper fasteners!).

I will share my template later this month, showing how to use two sheets of 6x6 decorative paper to make a series of cards...without creating paper scraps! I think paper scraps breed at night (:D), and I try not to make them, so I'll share it later this month!

*The post tomorrow will highlight and explain my card layout journal for you!

Step 2: I selected what color markers to use by holding the Sprout paper up to the marker chart. If you need a Copic marker chart here is my template (features all the Copic markers Ellen carries in her store).

Step 3: Stamped Tulips image three times onto white cardstock (Solar White-Neenah) pieces using a Palette pad in Burnt Umber. I cut Memory Box Meadow cardstock into three slightly larger pieces to mat behind the stamped images.

In this photo, the leaf colors are on the left, lightest shade to darkest shade (left to right), followed by the tulip colors (purple), then the pot/container colors, then the shading colors to outline the image with. Try this method with any marker!

Step 4: Using some of the scraps created from making the card fronts I stamped the Lockhart bee on them, and adhered them inside the cards with a happy birthday sentiment.






Step 5: Colored in each image using the lightest markers (leaf, flower & vase). Note how I colored in the whole image - each flower, each leaf - with this lightest color.






Step 6: Colored in each image using the medium markers - using (leaf, flower & vase). Note how I only used a small amount of this darker color within each flower, leaf, etc. I also used BV31 and colored around the whole image, including the outer square border too.




Step 7: Colored in each image using the darkest markers, using only a teeny tiny bit (flowers and vase only).







Step 8: This is the best part: taking the lightest markers from step 5, go back and blend! I used a custom marker to blend out the BV31 shadow. I found this custom marker from Debbie Olson's blog - mine is made from a plain Copic blender pen, adding 12 drops of BV31 reinker. Magic!!




Finished cards. I opted to omit the brads used in Val's layout. Accent was made by tying a single knot around the last spiral of the mini spirals, mounting the spiral to the matted, stamped image, then pressing the paper fastener into place over the ribbon knot using my thumb and index finger; two taps with a craft hammer makes it perfect!

Thank you for stopping by and see you tomorrow!

floral dress trio

I love flowers, but am not a stickler as to color 'rules'. In other words, I know roses are not blue, but if I want to color a rose blue I'm gonna do it! LOL!

I used to twist balloons professionally years ago. When kids would ask for a particular animal, I loved asking them 'what color?'.

I mean, a teddy bear does not have to be brown or black. It can be pink or purple or teal!

So with that in mind, I decided to use three sets of marker colors for this gift card assortment: mauves, greens and yellows. And I let the colors fall where they lay.

Six (6) Key Lime Memory Box cards and envelopes were used; two images per card and envelope. Lockhart Stamp Company's La Fleur Couture images were used here.

After creating the cards quickly using Nestabilities dies and coloring the images with Copic markers, I tied white gossamer ribbons on each card and ended with a knot. For a handy knot-tying video, here is Val creating her signature knot!

I decided to gift box these six cards and envelopes. I created a template for Splitcoaststampers a few years ago that I use frequently. This template will house six A2 sized cards (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") and envelopes. If you can not access that link please use this one for the template.

Using Crate paper (retired?) I followed the template and quickly created a nifty gift box! Timesaver tip: try using a double sided cardstock for this gift box.

A BIG SECRET: I sell Basic Grey magnetic snaps in the store. I am going to tell you how I save a few bucks when using these handy accessories! Only use one - and use a brad or brads as the other magnet!

You can see what I am talking about in this interior photo of the gift box - the splayed shanks of the brads create one magnet, and only one Basic Grey magnetic snap is the other magnet - a nice, secure closure.

Hope you have a great day and thank you for stopping by!

ultimate pocket card

This pocket template is titled 'the ultimate pocket card' in my sketchbook not because it is anything special, but because of this card I did two years ago on Splitcoaststampers. I loved how that card turned out, and wanted to do another, but with a gigantic circle punch out on the side.

Starting with the pocket, cut a piece of Russian Sage cardstock 6-1/2" x 8-1/2". Score 8-1/2" side in half at 4-1/4". Score in 1/2" each side along 6-1/2" as in photo. Punch 1/2 of a large circle punch along the pocket opening. Chop off 1/2" sides leaving a hanging area and affix adhesive to these flaps. Create the pocket! :)

Cut two pieces of white cardstock to 4-1/8" x 5-3/8". Cut one of these pieces down to 4" x 5-1/4". Stamp on the smaller piece. You'll need to mat the smaller piece onto the larger white cardstock piece (or color of your choice) once you've colored Dottie the Bunny with Copic markers, as the markers will bleed and show through the cardstock reverse.

A trick: giving the cardstock insert of pocket cards an extra layer gives them a bit of extra heft - this gives the card a sense of quality. It is like a wine goblet - a goblet with a bit of weight emits an air of quality. Same with your cards.

Decorate the pocket with a strip of decorative paper, a scallop section of white cardstock and a bit of ribbon.

Next, stamp Dottie the Bunny onto the smaller piece of white cardstock in black ink. Position the stamped image so that she will peek out when the insert is placed inside the pocket. Lay a large Post-it note below Dottie, low enough so the carrot leaves will not touch her.

Insert YG91 Putty into the Copic Airbrush System and spray a light horizon line right along the Post-it note. Changing colors is as easy as changing markers. That was a huge selling point for me - speed. You can always sponge this area too!

Then, stamp Organic Carrots using the first and second generation (or repetition) stamp with green inks. Use only the leafy part of the carrot. This idea is from Sharon's incredible post here!

Remove Post-it note. Neato! :)

Select what colors to use on Dottie. I do this the same way Trudee did in her post here. (I also store my Copics the same way she does!) I lay the patterned cardstock up to my Copic marker grid. My Copic marker grid template if you want it is located here (it is an Excel document). This grid displays every Copic marker from the Gotta Have It All Copic Marker set from Ellen Hutson's store. Just swipe the space using the chisel tip. I wrote in my fave BV31 and YG23.

Now more fun - airbrushing! I tore a few sheets of white cardstock into sloping shapes, and used these as fun and easy templates for clouds. I saw this done on TV (back when I watched TV) many years ago and I remembered it! To create a random pattern I moved the templates after one swipe with the airtool and varied how close I got to the cardstock with the airtool. The closer you get the darker the color gets.

I added a strip of the decorative paper reverse to the base of the card insert, punched two eggs too (punch source: Impressrubberstamps.com) and outlined them with a Copic marker so they would 'pop'. Mat onto larger white cardstock piece to conceal the Copic bleed through.

Here's a photo showing Dottie inside her pocket. Hope you enjoyed this 'brush with air' post!

stamps: Lockhart Stamp Company Dottie Bunny & Organic Carrots, Savvy Stamps Hoppy Easter sentiment
ink: Ranger Adirondack pads in Lettuce & Pesto, Archival pad in Jet Black
paper: Wild Asparagus (I used both sides), Neenah Solar White cardstock, Memory Box Russian Sage cardstock
accessories: Copic markers, Copic airbrush system, slit punch (Stampin' Up), 3-1/2" circle punch (it's pink-from Papertrey Ink), delicious celery satin ribbon :)