Ever take WAAAY to many photos and then feel overwhelmed when you sit down to scrap? I know I’m not alone here, but I found an easy solution to this. Print your photos out as a collage then paste the collage strait on to your patterned paper, add a few embellies and you are done!
Paper: Basic Grey, Stamp: Inque Boutique, Die Cuts Cricut (opposites Attract, Base Camp)Paper: Basic Grey, Die Cuts, Bingo Cards, flowers: Lindsay Weirich, Software: SCAL
I used my Cricut and SCAL software to make the die cuts on the layouts. I designed the chick in inkscape and you can cut it with your cricut if you have SCAL software.
The bingo cards are a freebie also, I offered them before but in case you missed them you can download them here.
I have been trying to make crocheted flowers, I used my first attempts on this page, all of the paper is by Basic Grey. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!
I just started watching the show “The Lazy Environmentalist” and it got me to thinking…”Can I be even greener in my crafting?” Here is a card I made with some thick plastic packaging:
Stamps: Stampin Up!, Paper: K&Co., Die Cuts: Cricut
I used the cute Sock Monkey set from Stampin Up, stamped it with SU! basic black on Georgia Pacific Cardstock and water-colored him, with M Graham co. paints. The paper is by K&co (there are the cutest sock monkey patterns in there!) and I cut all the shapes out with my Cricut and accent Essentials cartridge. Now that’s some Chic Trash! Happy Crafting!
Looking for a fun way to make a background for a card? Try using mists and sprays on cardstock then cutting up the cardstock for card bases. Here I used my home made sprays to cover the cardstock then I placed a sheet of plastic wrap over it and let it dry:
Stamps: About Art Accents, White Cardstock (sprayed) Georgia Pacific, Pattern Cardstock: DCWV (once upon a time stack)
I used watercolor and water mixed in a spray bottle to make my color sprays (If you don’t have watercolor you can use re inkers) and I put fine pearl ex plus gum arabic/water (or use hairspray) and watercolor in other bottles. All the stamps on these cards are by About Art Accents and the paint is by M Graham & co. (2 of my faves there!) I love the effect and it’s Oh so Thrifty! To read my in depth article on making shimmer spray click here. Also the new issue of Vamp Stamp News features sprayed backgrounds, get your copy today!
Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
Do you love die cuts? Do you love free stuff? Want the fame and fortune of a guest design team member…well, not so much fortune, but a little recognition anyway 🙂 Then check out the Guest DT call at Creative cuts and more, you will be glad you did!
Stamps: The Rubber Cafe, Die Cuts/Cardstock: Creative Cuts and More, Pockets/ribbon: The Dollar TreeStamps: The Rubber Cafe, Die Cuts/Cardstock: Creative Cuts and More, Die cut felt: Queen & Co.,Pockets/ribbon: The Dollar Tree
I used the leftover pieces of cardstock that came with a color-block template that I ordered from creative cuts and more to make these bitty cards and my cheapo pockets I got from the dollar tree in the teacher supply section. I also used stamps from the Rubber Cafe. Easy, Quick, fun. Now that is my kind of craft! Thanks for stopping by, Till next time happy crafting!
I was inspired by the gals over at Caardvarks to make a window card. I filled a zip-to baggie with hair gel and taped it to back of my window. on the inside there is a gradient blue panel that I made with a kaliedacolor ink pad, brayer and homemade shimmer spray. Here you can see the card closed and open:
Does anyone else have Beach Boys songs stuck in their head?Here you can see the inside of the card, I sealed the baggie with my "Hot Marks" tool and I'm hoping for the best 🙂
I have had the fortune to try out a Wacom pen tablet. My friend Micki lent me her tablet and I can’t stop playing with the darn thing (hey Micki, do you think you could explain to my husband why I haven’t had time to do any laundry this week LOL!) The digital stamp on this card I made by drawing it right on the tablet, what fun! To see more of my designs click here.
I colored the digistamp with Bic Markits, I wish I cut out the inside of the pail's handle though.
I know it is one of my first attempts with the tablet, I am used to drawing by hand and scanning it into the computer, what do you think? I also drew the sun in inkscape and made a svg file that you can cut with your cricut if you have Sure Cuts A Lot software. I have a scut file for the card base too and I did not forget my cricut peeps who only have the free trial of DS you can make this card with Design Studio using the George cartridge (I think there is a sun die cut on the George card as well that you can use in place of my sun svg.)
Thanks so much for stopping by! I’d love to hear any comments on the files or tips for using a wacom tablet, or if you just want to say “hello”! Till next time happy crafting!
Stamps and papers: Lindsay's Stamp Stuff, Clipboard, box: AC Moore, Tin: Dollar Tree, Ribbbon: Target, Markers: Bic Mark It
Here are some close up shots:
Here is a close up of the box, I painted it buttery yellow before embellishingI die cut the flowers with my Ellison Daisy die from red, white and blue cardstock and curled the petals before adhering with hot glue.The cool thing about the clipboard is that the papers and stamped element are just clipped, not glued on so you can redo it for each holiday!
This is quick and cheap to make, the stamp is $1 and the card kit is $2 but remember they are digital so you can print them as many times as you want! The clipboard and round box were from AC Moore for $1 each and the tin container with a candle was from the dollar tree. A decor piece for $6, not bad huh?
I used my Bic Mark-It markers to color the stamped image (Adobe Orange, Summer Melon, Rambunctious Red, Prairie Berry, Oceanview Blue, Misty Blue, Deep Sea Blue and Midnight Navy). I like to color a section with a lighter shade then outline it in a slightly darker shade so it will blend plus it is quick! I also used a Prismacolor marker {Brick White) for the white stripes and outlined it in Tiki Hut Tan. All the Bic Mark its can be found in the 36 pack, I get mine at Sam’s Club for $13 (yep, I’m a frugal crafter!) BTW I have no affiliation with the Bic company 😉
Before we check out the offerings of my fabulous designers I just wanted to tell you that I will be away from my computer from Sunday the 28th to Tuesday the 30th so if you need stamps ASAP please order them by Saturday. Orders places Sunday-Tuesday will be emailed on Wednesday the 1st.
Now on to the designers! Remember one of our “Rockin” DT members has a stamp to give away today, just check out these crafty blogs to find it:
Ahhh Summer (at least that;s what they tell me, it’s been raining for 5 days strait!) Nothing says summer to me like cold crisp watermelon and I’m gonna show you a very easy way to paint (yes I said paint, now hold on, don’t freak out I swear it is easy) some realistic slices of the good stuff like I did on this card. I used this weeks sketch at 2 Sketches 4 you for inspiration:
Stamp: The Rubber Cafe, Paper: Arches, Paper Pizzaz, Basic Grey, Tools: Score Pal, Score Bug, Cricut & SCAL software
Have you seen the cute Lori Renn stamps they have over at The Rubber Cafe? They took a bit of getting used to for me because they are rather large but that makes them perfect for scrapbook pages or as a focal work on a card. I hand wrote “let’s get” and stamped “Together” then wrote “for a B-B-Q” I love how it turned out because getting together is the best part of a barbecue IMHO 🙂 I added a little texture buy using a Scor-Bug and Scor-Pal to make my stitching and I cut my Label, knife and fork with my Cricut and SCAL software. Did ya notice that I embossed the edges of my label? Check out yesterday’s post to see how.
Now on to the painting. You will need a sheet of watercolor paper (I’m using Arches 140# cold pressed but use whatever you have, white cardstock will work in a pinch just don’t pre-wet it) a 1″ wide paintbrush, and paint (I used Sap Green and Alizirian Crimson by M Graham & co.), plastic wrap and a jar of water.
step 1. Draw a circle on the paper (mine was about 8″ wide) you can use a compass or just trace a bowl. Wet the paper inside the circle with the brush. Dip one corner of the paintbrush in the green and paint around the edge.
watermelon painting step 1
Step 2. paint the middle of the circle with juicy red watercolor (the color will dry a shade lighter so don’t be shy with the color) if it starts to run into the green paint use a tissue or paper towel to blot the paper between the colors. Don’t worry if it looks sloppy, it will turn out just fine 🙂 Quickly take a piece of plastic wrap and press it to the red paint and smoosh it so it created interesting patterns and let dry for a couple of hours or over night. The longer you leave it the more dramatic the results will be. I left mine on for a couple of hours.
step 2: press plastic wrap into the wet paint for interesting texture.
To finish: Cut out the circle and cut it into slices (very easy with a paper trimmer). I used a teardrop punch and black cardstock to make my seeds. I think these would also be cute as place cards or as a pot luck dish marker.
when dry trim the circle and cut into wedges.
Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you try this technique on one of your next craft projects. Have a great day and til next time happy crafting!
When I saw the cupcake challenge over at the Pink Persimmon blog I knew I has to do it! I never met a cupcake {stamp} I didn’t like and while I am vegan (egg and dairy cupcakes are few and far between) I can enjoy all the cupcake stamps I want and best of all they are calorie free!
Digital Stamps: (cupcakes) Lindsays Stamp Stuff, Rubber Stamp (happy birthday) Stampin Up, Die Cuts: Cricut (Accent Essentails) Cardstock: DCWV
I love the embossed edges of the cardstock. I did that by cutting a 3 1/2″ scallop square (shift lock pressed) with my cricut and the Accent Essentials caridgete then I cut the same shape with the shadow button also pressed then used a bit of glue stick to stick the smaller shape to the back side of the larger and I ran it through my Big Shot manual die cutter with a couple sheets of rubber gasket. Here is a diagram of the sandwich I used. I don’t have a cuttlebug but the sandwich should be similar, The cardstock method works great in the big shot, you will have to experiment a bit with other machines.
Here is the sandwich I use to emboss with cardstock in my Big Shot/BigKick. You may need to adjust it a bit for other die cut machines but use this as a starting point. If you are not getting a good impression you can shim it with a sheet or two of cardstock between the rubber and the bottom plexiglass cutting plate.
Now here is a cool trick. Say you have some digital stamps all printed out or stamped images from a friend, you can still cut them into shape with the cricut (this method works on photos too!) first load your mat and scratch paper into the cricut and cut the shape you want. Unload the paper and remove the cut shape and lif up the leftover piece but do not remove it all the way. Center your stamped image that you want to cut under the empty cutout, remove the scrap paper, load the mat and cut the same shape again! Easy Peasy. However if you are using a traditional rubber stamp it is easier to cut first stamp later 😉
Thanks for stopping by…I think I might have to whip up a batch of vegan cupcakes (or stamp a few more at least)…till next time happy crafting!
No, not the make-up silly, I finally got a card of the cover of Vamp stamp News July 2009 issue! My card is the purple one on the bottom. If you subscribe to VSN you should get the issue in your mailbox within the week or look for it in stores in a week or two! I’m very excited as it was one of my 2009 goals to get work on the front cover of a magazine!
Stamps: About Art Accents
I have a couple of projects to share today. I was cleaning out my OOOLD pattern paper the other day (and believe me I had some doozies in there) when I came upon a lovely print that I just had to use immediately or else I would forget I had it with all of the lovely papers that find their way into my craft room (or lately my hard drive) so I made these Oriental fans:
Stamp: About Art Accents, Tool: Scor-Pal, Paper: unknown
For this fan I cut my 12″x12″ sheet in half and used my Scor-Pal to score lines 1/2″ apart and I accordion folded it then used my crop a dial to punch a hole to run gold cord through and I wrapped it around the handle. This is an excellent craft to do with kids because it doesn’t take much time or supplies and they can leave it as is or embellish it. I stamped the Geisha from About Art Accents with Burgundy Versafine pigment ink and colored it with my Prismacolors and blended it with goo gone; you see I’m very sloppy when I color and blending with the goo-gone hides that fact a bit 🙂
Stamps: About Art Accents, Tool: Scor Pal, Paper: Autumn Leaves and other
On the round fan I also used stamps from About Art Accents (check out their website because the are running some good specials right now and if you email them before you order they will adjust the shipping on small orders) I just stamped and trimmed the images and used hot glue to attach them to the fan. Here is how to make the fan. Cut 2 3″x12″ strips of paper and accordion fold them every 1/2″ (I used a Scor-Pal to do this) and glue the strips end to end then glue a popsicle stick to each end of the long strip. Join the popsicle sticks together and wrap them with gold cord. The paper should fan out in a circle but will not want to lie flat. When you hot glue the stamped items on it will make it sturdy. I also hot glued a stamped circle to the back for added stability.
I think I will recycle this craft come Independence Day. Make one of these fans today and just try to resist the urge to say “I Declare…” when you fan yourself with it LOL!
Have a great weekend and until ext time happy crafting!
The Frugal Crafter Blog 