StarLitStudio

embossed egg Easter card

 
Hello card making friends - today's card was inspired by embroidery pendant jewelry -

I gathered several papers - shiny gold foil cardstock, Bazzill Hilary Mono, Neenah Desert Storm, Alexandra Renke Cherry Blossom 10.2240, a white feather, a mother-of-pearl button, white thread and a natural wide woven ribbon (May Arts, #468-1).

Alexandra Renke Egg Embroidery Hoops - this die set of 8 dies cuts a bunch of diecuts - interior and exterior shapes that can be cleverly combined. 

Using Memory Box's newest Blooming embossing folder and an egg-shaped diecut from Bazzill Hilary Mono cardstock, I spritzed water on each side, waited a few seconds for it to soak in the paper, then embossed.

Once embossed I heat set the diecut to dry/cure it.

Adhered the embossed diecut onto a gold cardstock diecut embroidery egg base, then trimmed the 'hoop hardware' from the Desert Storm stitched egg frame piece, adhered, creating the focal point of the card front.

Added ribbon, machine sewing and button with white hemp cord.  Finished size is 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches.  I also created this layout but embossed Bazzill Card Shoppe Mulberry, and a large egg diecut from the larger Renke Egg Hoop die set and Gold Palm Fronds 10.2154 paper.  I like the look of the white Nymo thread on the mulberry version, versus the thicker hemp cord.

Card interiors were created using an I-pad, Apple Pencil and the Procreate app with my handwriting.  I save these as a .jpeg, then print out onto Bazzill Card Shoppe Marshmallow using a laser printer.

This lovely creature stops by just at dusk right outside my studio window, often with its mate.  Country living out here.  It's been warmer here in New Jersey and thankfully a bit of the snow has melted.  Best wishes for a wonderful weekend!

 

 

 

slimline envelope with gusset - button and string / washer and string closure

Step-by-step instructions in today's post.  This gusset style envelope is ideal for highly dimensional slimline cards.

I'm using P13 The Four Seasons - Autumn paper to create a slimline envelope featuring a 'button and string' closure, also called a 'string and washer' closure, with a gusset.  My recipe uses one sheet of 12x12 double-sided patterned cardstock paper, linen thread, a charm for the end of the thread, and two eyelets.  My envelope's orientation is a portrait format.

If the pattern/design of the 12x12 cardstock you are using looks better in a landscape format, just turn it one quarter turn from what is shown and proceed.

Start by cutting the 12x12 paper into two (2) 4-1/2 inch wide panels, with a leftover 3-inch panel (shown here on the left).

Trim one of the 4-1/2 x 12 inch panels to 9-1/4 inches (shown on the right), score the other 4-1/2 inch panel at 2 inches and 11-1/2 inches, and cut the 3-inch panel at 9-1/4 inches.  Yes I wear camo crocks and an apron indoors lol.

Take the 9-1/4 inch x 3-inch panel to a scoring board and with right side of cardstock facing you, score at 3/8, 1-1/8, 1-7/8 and 2-5/8 inches.  Flip over and score at 3/4 and 2-1/4 inches.

Cut in half at 1-1/2 inches.  These are the gusset sides.

Adhere 1/4 inch wide Scor-Tape to the wrong side outer scored sections as shown.

Fold each in half along center score line, right sides together in a valley fold, and trim the ends at an angle as shown.

Complete folding along all score lines: mountain, valley, mountain - as shown; repeat with other piece.

Get the 4-1/2 x 12-inch panel with two score lines: adhere 1/4 inch wide Scor-Tape to the 1/2 inch section, and corner round the two inch flap.  Scor-Tape is the best tape for creating envelopes in my opinion.  It's an adhesive bond between paper so strong that you'll destroy the piece trying to separate joined papers.

If you are wondering why the panels vary in height by 1/4 inch (one is 9-1/2 inches and one is 9-1/4 inches) this is to ensure the flap closes cleanly.  After making literally over a hundred of this style envelope I gladly pass this helpful tip on to you. 

Get the 4-1/2 x 9-1/4 inch panel.  Find half-way: 2-1/4 inches, and mark it.

Using a two inch circle punch, center on the mark and punch about 1/4 into the circle punch as shown.  This is optional but adds a nice detail.

Adhere the two 4-1/2 inch wide panels together.

Find a leftover piece of cardstock and punch two 1-inch circles.  I often use the obverse side of the cardstock for these circles if it helps with contrast against the envelope.  Mark the center of one, hold together and punch eyelet hole through both (shown in photo).  Attach charm to end of a 24-inch length of linen thread.  I use a knot my grandfather taught me to attach a hook to fishing line.  Google uni-knot.  You want about 18 inches or more of linen thread length once the charm is attached.

Attach the 1-inch circles using eyelets: attach one 1-inch circle to the very center of the envelope flap first, then the second 1-inch circle to the body of the other panel second.  The second 1-inch circle is positioned approximately 4 inches down from the panel top.  I used a Big Bite tool for the second circle; alternately you could use a self-healing mat and eyelet setting tools.

Attaching gusset sides: Be vigilant of the gussets' pattern direction/orientation before proceeding. Remove one Scor-Tape liner from one gusset side and adhere to envelope.  Tuck folded portion inside the envelope.  Remove other Scor-Tape liner and attach to envelope, completing one gusset.  Repeat for other side.  Be sure to remove one liner of one gusset piece at a time to avoid heartbreak - to repeat, this adhesive is strong and repositioning is not an option.  

If this step is confusing to you, please refer to this video, and start at 6:40.

Using the linen thread, tie a knot around the second 1-inch cardstock circle/eyelet located on the body of the envelope, being mindful to try and leave the shortest tail possible.  Carefully trim tail of linen thread from the knot you created so the remaining tail nub is hidden under the 1-inch circle.  Sweeeeet.

Completed slimline envelope with gusset featuring 'button and string' or 'string and washer' closure.  Charms can be customized to the occasion, the recipient's style, or coordinated with the patterned paper.

This is a great envelope for highly dimensional slimline cards that are being hand-delivered, or enclosing with a gift in a corrugated box to be shipped.

This button and string or washer and string style envelope is not allowed to be sent as is through the United States Postal Service.  I have used the gusset style and omitted the 1-inch circles/eyelets/linen thread/charm.  I simply adhered the two inch flap closed using Scor-Tape, then addressed and applied postage stamps as the weight and surcharge dictated.  The USPS surcharge (today is September 12, 2020; different USPS rules may apply in the future) applies for these envelopes due to their thickness exceeding 1/4 inch. 

Think of it this way - you are not simply mailing a card, you are shipping an art piece.  

Thanks for stopping by today!

Flower Garden stamps by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous - card with video

Lovely cardstock papers from Tim Holtz Etcetera 8x8 paper pad was used for this shabby chic, vintage style card.  Finished size is 4.25 x 5.5 inches on a kraft cardstock base.

Stampers Anonymous Flower Garden stamps and dies were used; Bazzill Easter Grass Card Shoppe cardstock was used to die cut the stem.  Holtz linen ribbon, Picket Fence Distress Crayon, idea-ology quote bands.  

A time-elapsed, brief video of the making of this card is here:

Happy Weekend!!

Easter eggs with oxide butterflies

Fun times with Distress Oxide Inks!

 

The ingredients above on Bristol Smooth cardstock created the look below:

The experience with Distress Oxide inks is a consistently relaxed and pleasant experimentation, producing amazing results that are never replicated.  

That sentence says it all.

When spritzed with Distress Mica Spray (Tarnished Brass used) and heat set a delightful shimmer appears.

Memory Box Cascadia Butterflies die used - small butterflies were set aside and used on another project.

Lightly inked edges of butterflies with Distress Ground Espresso ink.  Layered butterflies using rolled Scor-Tape (technique here) to pop the wings of the smaller one, then wrapped the unit with hemp cording, knotting the ends to resemble the butterfly's head.

Covered wooden eggs with vintage sheet music strips and Distress Collage Medium Matte, and allowed to dry.  Filled a Mini Mister 1/3 with water and 1/3 with Distress Antique Linen reinker, cap and shake well.  Placed eggs into a box and sprayed, then allowing to dry.

The bases are vintage Coats and Clark wooden spools with silk thread.  Finished size of each - about three inches in height.  Happy Friday!

Poppystamps Wandering Vine Squares card

Simple and easy watercolor card - today's post will detail its process.

 

Using white (Bazzill Card Shoppe Marshmallow) cardstock die cut the Poppystamps Wandering Vine Squares.

 

Place diecut on a 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 piece of heavy Strathmore Bristol cardstock and run thorough die cut machine using same sandwich used for die cutting.  

 

This will gently emboss the diecut image into the watercolor paper, providing a guide for coloring the squares.  

 

I used Mijello Mission Gold Watercolors - purchased on Amazon.  You could use any watercolor paints, reinkers, Copic markers, colored pencils with or without Gamsol, and so forth.  Try and stay within the square outlines.  The square frames of the die cut are forgiving, and will hide/cover most mistakes made at the edges of the colored squares.  

The sentiment is from Penny Black's newest release - a clear stamp set - Happy Wishes.

 

To pop up the white die cut, I used rolled (one inch size) Scor Tape (technique learned from Kittie Caracciolo) and a Ranger Non-Stick Mat.  The Ken Oliver Mat is so repellent this Scor Tape technique will not work with it - tape does not stick to the mat.  Ranger's mat is excellent for this technique.  

 

Snip the rolled Scor Tape into tiny pieces and adhere to larger areas of die cut back.  I used tweezers for this and pretended I was doing surgery.

 

I added a tiny butterfly die cut using Memory Box Mini Butterflies and Bazzill Pauly Poo cardstock, then a few 2mm, a few 3mm and a 5mm clear bling.  Thank you for stopping by! 

 

 

 

alcohol ink bookmark

Metal bookmarks from Prima Marketing feature an acrylic cabochon - excellent for highlighting a small piece of alcohol-inked Yupo.  

Yupo (I used white Yupo) is a non-porous surface that works well with Ranger's alcohol inks.  These bookmarks make fantastic gifts and sell well at my local artisan market on Saturdays.

Ranger Alcohol Inks used:  Rust, Mushroom, Lettuce, Pesto, Turquoise and Denim.  I used E-6000 and adhered the cabochon to the inked Yupo.  Allow to dry to completely then trim around the cabochon.  Adhere to metal bookmark using E-6000 and allow to dry 12-24 hours.

My technique uses small spurts of heat, drying the inks intermittently using Ranger's Heat Tool, which I embellished with alcohol inks years ago.

dyed seam binding & embossing paste tag

Ornate notebook measures 5x8 inches and here's how I created the tag:

#8 white tag, white embossing paste and a stencil (Memory Box Flourish used).  I allowed tag to air dry (took about 25-30 minutes).

Apply Distress inks using an ink blending tool - spritz with water and dry with a heat tool - helps to blend colors into recessed areas.

Squash same Distress ink pads used on the tag onto craft sheet, spritz generously with water and mop up with white seam binding.  Dry seam binding with heat tool or allow to air dry - when dry seam binding looks like this...

...add it to the notebook cover, and the end result is this...

Forest Bird die with Dream stamp, lace, pink waxed cord, feathers & Wallflower patterned paper.  idea-ology curio knob & bird cage (graphic 45 key inside).  

new studio shelf and altered tags

Bob built another cabinet I designed to hold products I use frequently, making them simple to locate.


Here's the Distress Wrinkle-Free technique - process of altering tags with color - just add water and presto!

Heat tool was altered a few years ago with Ranger alcohol inks then sealed.  I love this tag progressing...


add sparkle with Perfect Pearls mist.

all dried and so purtty and sparkly...


I love edging tags with Brushed Corduroy...


Any ink left on the craft sheet is re-spritzed with water then sopped up with white seam binding - traditionally I heat set and fluff and scrunch - sometimes I just let it air dry.


end result - 5x8 notebook (October Afternoon Apple Cider)


more 5x8 notebooks (October Afternoon Milk Money & Apple Cider lines).  Hey it was up to thirty degrees Fahrenheit today - heat wave goin' on!  

tutorial: my handmade notebooks

This tutorial details how I create covered notepads - these sell well at my local artisan market to customers wanting them for gifts, and for themselves!  There are many, many ways to cover notepads; this is my method.  

Design highlight:  the lined notepad is easily removable and can be replaced with a new pad quickly.

Notebooks are designed to fit Papertrey's lined notepads that measure 2.5 x 8 inches, 25 sheets each.

Papers and embellishments - I'm using Doodlebug's Happy Harvest line today.  

Tools and materials.  The exquisite pincushion was made by my very dear friend Karen.

Cut two pieces of sturdy cardboard (or chipboard) - each piece measures 2.75 x 8.25 inches.  Cover cardboard with patterned paper - each piece measures 3.75 x 9.25 inches.  Notch corners.

Apply adhesive to edges and fold patterned paper over cardboard.

Adhere two strips of 1/2 inch red-line tape about one inch from the top and bottom.

Cut two, 5-inch lengths of elastic ribbon, adhere one end to middle of tape and wrap around covered cardboard piece - meeting ends in the middle neatly as shown.  Set aside.

Score a 6 x 8 piece of patterned paper at 2.75 and 3.25 inches.

Add two lengths of 2.5 inch wide Scor-Tape from edge to edge.

Adhere to covered cardboard piece one at a time - easiest to do as shown in photo above, for lining everything up.

If you flip the unit over at this point this is what you see.

Adhere other covered cardboard piece, flip over and this is what you have.

Slip a notepad behind the elastic ribbon loops - how nice!

Ready to doodle!...okay let's do the front.

Adhere a 2.5 x 4.5 inch piece of coordinating patterned paper to notebook front (this is optional) as a design element (see finished notebook at top of post for a better visual). Affix one Basic Grey magnet to notebook front about half-way down, near the edge as shown.

Score a piece of 8-5/8 x 1-1/8 inch patterned paper at the following inch marks:  2.75, 3.25, 6, 6.5, 7-5/8.

Taper end for a professional look, fold under and adhere just the tapered section under.  It simply creates a finished edge.  

You will eventually adhere the magnet mate directly beneath this finished end.  I recommend completing the next steps below first, then positioning (not adhering yet) the second magnet on top of the first using a scrap piece of cardstock to separate the magnets.  Apply Glossy Accents to second magnet. Press finished end of strip into the Glossy Accents and press firmly.  Use scrap cardstock to carefully lift (and separate the magnets) the finished end of the strip up and away, continuing to press second magnet into the strip until adhesive has dried.

My 'scrap-cardstock-piece-method' of adhering the magnets prevents the second magnet from getting accidentally glued to the notebook front.

Apply a strip of one-inch wide Scor-Tape to the cardstock strip on the side away from the tapered end, leaving the finished end and next, small section free of adhesive.  Adhere strip starting at the notebook front, covering the magnet already in place, working around to the back, lining it all up.

Unless you don't mind 'naked buttons' dress them up with a length of burlap string or waxed cord - I recommend avoiding knots - this allows the button to lay flat.  Use a Craft Glue Dot to hold the string ends versus a knot.

(photo is looking at notebook back) Apply a drop of hot glue to finished strip end...

...and adhere (the non-naked - lol) button.  The second magnet should now be adhered to the strip directly under the button as mentioned above.

Sign your work so they can email you for custom jobs. 

Add a focal point to the front upper portion of the notebook.  This is a Happy Hedghog doodlepop from the Happy Harvest line.

I usually take a random leftover strip of patterned paper - 7 inches in length is preferred - wrap around two additional lined notepads and adhere strip to itself - these replacement pads accompany the covered notebook.

More cuties.  Oh these are too much fun to make.  Above use bottle caps crimped in my die cut machine and the Happy Harvest Doodads.

Another cutey.  The concept of being able to replace the notepad is very appealing to folks in my area - hope you like it as well!  Any questions please email me and thanks for reading!

pocket card for kids' thank yous

Today's pocket cards were designed to house thank you notes written on loose-leaf notebook paper from my three kids for the gifts they received from long-distance relatives.   These pocket cards utilize 6x6 papers.

The how-to (using Doodlebug North Pole products):

Front unit (holly print):  4-3/4 x 6 inches - scored 1/2 inch in on three sides.  If using directional paper score the top of the pattern versus the bottom.

Back unit (red polka dot):  3-3/4 x 6 inches

Flap (red polka dot with scallop edge):  3-3/4 x 2 inches - scored 1/2 inch from non-decorative edge.

Cut ribbon (I used 1-inch wide silk) to 20 inches.

Adhere scallop-edge flap to back.  You are viewing the interior of the pocket.

Stabilize ribbon in place with a very small amount of adhesive.

Flip back unit over - you are now looking at the back of what will be the pocket card.  Stitch ribbon in place with back facing you.  This way, the yucky (underside) stitching will be hidden when we attach the front unit.  

Trim ribbon between stitch lines, cutting neatly and closely to the stiching.  

If you don't feel stabilizing the ribbon by machine sewing is needed you can simply adhere ribbon in place with strong adhesive.  I like the idea of firmly stitching it in place, and having it hidden and sandwiched between the layers.

Apply Scor-Tape to scored edges of front unit and adhere.  Note how the front unit conceals the stitching that secures the ribbon.

Tiny jewelry tag (Papertrey Ink stamp) was tied around a Doodlebug Doodle Pop sticker.  Best wishes for a great weekend!