StarLitStudio

framed fox glove

Next time you make a card, think about framing it!

Hi everyone!  Today let's talk masking and watercoloring.  Masking is covering an area that you don't want stamped, while you're stamping - if this is confusing I hope this post will help.  Watercoloring is what I do when I get bored with markers.

I started out making three cards...picked the best one and placed it in this cleverly distressed frame (Michaels) - instant, decorative focal point to dress up a bookshelf.  The other two cards will make great birthday or thank you cards.

This card layout is from a card Julie Ebersole sent me a few years ago.

To begin, I started with an A2 (5-1/2" x 4-1/4") Cranberry cardstock (Memory Box) card base with the score line on the short end.  I call this an Album Fold.  Score card front 3/4" in from the edge, as shown, and place a big Post-It note (or a few overlapping smaller ones) along the score line on the card inside.  You've just masked the inside of your card.  Sponge the 3/4" edge with desired ink. 

When done, fold the 3/4" front flap back and your card front will look like this.

Using the same Post-It note, line it up on the card inside about 1" to 1-1/2". 

Repeat the sponging, and stamp image (Hero Arts used here) then remove the Post-It note, or mask.  Ain't that neat?

Add two brads to hold down the 3/4" sponged flap, and your card front will now look like this.

Next - watercoloring.  I use a good watercolor brush, reinkers, water, and a little white plastic palette I found at Wal-Mart.  You watercolor the same way you use markers - lay down a light color followed by a darker color then blend.

Using three pieces of white cardstock (each measured 2-1/4" x 3-3/4") I stamped Lockhart's Fox Glove once on each piece of cardstock using black waterproof Ink (Ranger Archival).  Next, I first drew a black line using Copic Multiliner to establish a horizon.

Using just water, I painted the background, then watercolored with a pale wash of Cloudy Blue (all reinkers are from Ranger's Adirondack line).

When I say 'wash', this means I place a half-drop of reinker into a well on the palette, and add a few drops of water to 'wash out' the color.  For a pale wash use mostly water and little reinker.  For a darker wash use less water.  Rarely if ever do I ever use the color of a reinker 100%.

Then added in a wash of Stonewashed so it looks like this.

Next I did the same with the leaves - applied a pale wash of Lettuce.

Then applied a darker wash of Lettuce.

I did this same technique of light color followed by a darker color for the bucket, ground, frame and flowers.

I opted to distress the edges of the cardstock on my colored images.  This picture shows, from left to right, the colored cardstock piece, followed by the sponged edges (Distress Antique Linen), followed by the frayed edges using Tim's distress tool and Distress pad Vintage Photo sponged edges to further enhance the aged look I'm going for. 

I matted these distressed images onto Cranberry cardstock, then again onto Licorice cardstock using foam dimensionals.  Punched two holes in the upper left & added ribbon.

It still needed something.

You know that wadded up unprinted newspaper filler you get in mailed packages ?  I ripped a piece off, and distressed it using DTP (direct to paper technique - swipe at the paper holding the pad in your hand).

Then stamped on it using the same Hero Arts stamp from the card inside, and tore the stamped part out.  Tore it again in half and used it behind the Foxglove focal point.  It's thin and lightweight and perfect (and free!).  Hope this post was helpful and explained how I watercolor & thank you for stopping by!

Picked the best of the three and framed it - these are the two that will get mailed!

supplies:  Lockhart Stamp Company stamps - their entire line (with new images coming soon!!), Memory Box cardstocks (all styles & sizes!), Copic markers and black pens in a variety of milimeters - Ellen Hutson

Hero Arts stamps - their entire line including new Winter images! - Stampin' Treasures

brads, Tim Holtz's distressing tool, blending tool - StarLitStudio

sparkle inchie cupcakes

a little vacation...

We took some time off for a family vacation to Long Beach Island.  We stayed at Harvey Cedars, which is closer to the northern end of the island.  Everyone had a good time. But...it's good to be home.

I was unable to do anything creative except sketch ideas.  So I'm about to explode!

Next post - CUPCAKES!!!

I've given birth!

...to a store, that is!  After much intense work, sweat and a little swearing (to myself, of course), the hard work of these past few weeks has given fruit.

I've been working for weeks - into the wee hours at night - to bring you a new webstore! 

We have bid the confusing Ebay system good bye and hope you enjoy a streamlined, organized shopping experience at www.starlitstudio.net.

Please stop by when time permits – we’d love to have you sign up for our monthly store newsletter.  Also, please use coupon code NEWSTORE10 for a 10% discount off your order of $40 or more until the end of this month. 

We’ve added a selection of Webster’s Pages, and adding hundreds of ribbons over the next 48 hours.  Same speedy service and shipping as always.

Thank you for shopping with us on ebay.  We hope you enjoy the true shopping cart experience of starlitstudio.net!

With many thanks and best regards,

Cindy Lyles

StarLitStudio

Color Wash Birthday

When I saw Tim Holtz demo at CHA last month, the rage seemed to be his Color Wash technique.  I had seen Tim demo this technique on his last DVD, bought all the Adirondack Color Wash bottles in every color, then never opened them (don't laugh - I'll bet you've done this too!).

So when Tim broke out the Color Wash bottles I squealed inside (like I wasn't already) with anticipation and excitement!  Here's what I learned:

A first quick note about Ranger's Adirondack Color Washes - these are textile dyes.  That means if you get them on your clothes (or sofa or cat or other artwork laying about) it is NOT coming off.

The last quick note about this product is it is MESSY.  I wear aprons when working without exception.  If you come by during the morning, afternoon or evening you will be greeted by me wearing one!  So go find yours or get a garbage bag with a hole cut in the top & sides for your head and arms.  Trust me - you'll thank me later.

Start by spritzing your cardstock layer (I chose a tag) with a nice layer of water.  Don't over-saturate the tag but don't be skimpy either.  Spritz until the surface is covered by a thin layer of water. 

The water allows the Color Washes to blend.  Without the water layer there will be no blending of color.

After spritzing the water immediately layer on desired Color Wash colors.  The blending effect is amazing and very kewl to watch!  To dry you can speed it along with a heat tool or craft iron.  Tim blotted his too toward the end of the dry time as he was heat drying it.

Next I prepared my mica tile (USArtQuest).  Mica is a mineral found in the Earth that is heat-resistant and acid free.  Commonly used in the electrical industry, we crafters have adapted it for our use!  You can paint it, punch it, die-cut it and, as I did here, run it through a sewing machine, and more.  In this photo, I peeled away a layer (the lightest color).  You can get many layers from one piece of mica.  Reminds me of playing with shale in the hills of Pennsylvania as a kid.  Reserve the balance of the mica piece for future projects.

In my attempt to overcome my masculine card deficiency, I decided to create a masculine birthday card.  I stamped the Lockhart Adirondack Chair using Ranger Archival Ink directly onto the mica piece.  Layered a few torn pieces of 7gypsies paper (inked edges first - Distress Vintage Photo) onto the Color Washed tag, then inked all the edges of the tag. 

Using a small bit of adhesive I stabilized the stamped mica piece to the tag...then ran the whole thing through my sewing machine.

Added a few more snippets of 7gypsies paper to the card front (Memory Box Eggshell cardstock base) and decided to punch a hole through the mica, added a black eyelet and threaded a bit of dark brown waxed linen through it and attached an hourglass charm.  Birthday Wishes is a Hero Arts stamp.

Hope this inspires you to get messy!  Thanks for stopping by!

sources:

Lockhart Stamps - their complete line, with more new images arriving soon!! plus Adirondack Color Washes - Ellen Hutson, LLC

Hero Arts Stamps - their entire line - Stampin' Treasures

DMD tags, 7gypsies papers, charms, waxed linen, Ink Blending Tool - StarLitStudio

The snippet of verse running horizontally is ancient product from Heidi Swapp.

Lighthouse Fragment

Masculine cards are difficult for me - it is very easy to create cards for the female species...but when it comes to making cards or art that is masculine in theme - well, it's harder than I'd like it to be.  I found this striped paper (Everyday Tango - My Mind's Eye) at Archivers in Chicago, and it reminded me of New England.  And it looked masculine to me...

While in Chicago, my friend Kendra announced she was making an Archivers run - and I RAN to her car!! 
We don't have an Archivers or anything like it near here, so it was sheer heaven - thanks Kendra!!

I began by stamping the beautiful Lockhart Lighthouse onto a piece of white cardstock, then traced around a Tim Holtz Fragment, then colored in with Copic markers.

Once colored, I applied Glossy Accents to one side of the Fragment, 'pressed & twist' the Fragment and held down into place.  Dry time:  about 10 seconds.  For more on how to use Fragments and how I 'twisted' it, please see Tim Holtz's video demo here.  By slightly twisting the Fragment once it hits the paper, it aids in spreading the Glossy Accents throughout the entire piece.  Eliminates any areas of non-coverage. 

This works only if you are going to trim the Fragment.  Why?  Cuz this method leaves Glossy Accents residue on the cardstock surrounding the Fragment - not purtty.

Trimmed the cardstock close to the Fragment, then adhered to a quality card base of Memory Box Sapphire.  I love how Memory Box cardstocks are white on the reverse - this way I can have a very dark outer color for my card base and eliminate the need for a piece of lighter colored cardstock on the card interior.

Added a 3/4" silver Paris clock with Butterscotch Waxed Linen, and stamped 'a day to celebrate' (Hero Arts) in black ink.

This is a Valerie Stangle layout.  Many thanks for stopping by!

sources:  Lockhart Stamp Company (new images arriving soon!) - their entire line, plus Copic markers and Memory Box cardstock - all available with speedy shipping and wonderful customer service at Ellen Hutson, LLC.

Hero Arts stamps are available at Stampin' Treasures - your source for Hero Arts stamps!

Glossy Accents, Waxed Linen, Paris clocks, Fragments - StarLitStudio

crackle butterfly

          I'll be hand delivering this card...it is a very special thank you to my neighbor down the street that absolutely adores butterflies.

If you wanted to mail a card like this, you'd need to use a piece (or two) of bubble wrap - the 3/16" bubble size...and a bubble-lined mailer due to the glass bottle.  Places like Staples or Office Depot sell the bubble and the bubble-lined envelopes. 

Glass message bottle was filled with stringed pearls (Michaels Craft Store) and tied with a snipped of 4mm wide dainty silk peach ribbon. 

Grungeboard butterfly is from Tim Holtz's Elements pack - I painted it with Old Paper Distress Crackle Paint, and the flourish with Distress Crackle Paint in Shabby Shutters. 

Nestabilities dies in ovals were used on Memory Box Wisteria cardstock and a scrap piece of a Fabriano notecard.

Once the Old Paper crackle paint dried on the butterfly, using a blending tool and a Tattered Rose Distress pad I altered the base color of the Old Paper crackle.  The outer edges of the butterfly were inked with a Walnut Stain Distress pad.

With Tim's Crackle Paints you can alter your colors - it aleviates the need for planning "oh what is my base color...what is my overlay color..." - nada!  Tim's Distress Crackle Paints can be toned using his Distress Pads. 

Before I forget - the shimmery patterned paper is from Paper Adventures.  

Glossy Accents was used to adhere the flourish and pop-up style Glue Dots for the butterfly.  Superglue was used to adhere the bottle firmly to the butterfly.

Hope this card inspires you to try Tim's Distress Crackle Paint - it is without a doubt an amazing and fun product!!  Tim's a genius.

Nestabilities dies and Memory Box papers - Ellen Hutson, LLC

glass message bottle, Tim Holtz Crackle Paints, Glossy Accents, Tim Holtz Blending tools and replacement foam, Grungeboard, Fabriano notecards - StarLitStudio

joy fold thank you

My very dear friend Valerie Stangle developed a card fold years back that was coined the 'Joy Fold'.  The amazing Beate featured the Joy Fold tutorial last week on Splitcoaststampers (Val's original card here).

Starting with a Memory Box Blue Poppy card base I added in retired Crate papers from their Carnival collection.  Because the daisy edged sheer ribbon is a PITA (pain in the you-know-what!) to tie into a knot I got smart and adhered the ends under the decorative paper. 

I stamped the Lockhart Itty Bitty Dragonfly with Palette Noir onto white Papertrey cardstock, colored with Copic markers and punched out using a 1-3/8" circle punch.  Fits perfectly into these tags from Staples.

To mount a clear stamp on a curve, I followed this Hero Arts video featuring the talented Lisa Spangler. 

The 'just wanted to say...' and the interior 'Thanks' with the dots are all from Hero Arts.

The vertical Lockhart Rose Vine Millinery stamp is featured twice - on the card outside and inside.  The Joy Fold card style is quick to master and I hope I inspire you to try one!

sources :  Lockhart Stamp Company -their entire collection, plus Copic markers (individual and wonderful designer sets) and all Memory Box papers...and more!  - visit Ellen Hutson, LLC

your source for Hero Arts Stamps - 2008 Winter preorder NOW! - Stampin' Treasures

ribbon - StarLitStudio