Stamp School 13: Intro to Alcohol Markers!

Hi friends! Today we are going to look at a product that you may want to try for enhancing your stamped cards: Alcohol markers. These have been the darling of the stamp world for a few years because you can get a beautiful blended effect and also because you can spend a long time on an image to get it just perfect. Coloring is very relaxing. I have spent as much as an hour coloring a really detailed image with markers. Because of that I would tend to stamp out a few images and color them while I was watching TV I the evening or while my kids were coloring. Today we are going to color an easy design perfect for a Christmas card.

During the demo you will be able to see how the markers blend, how to fix mistakes and learn tips for getting good results from your markers. The stamps I am using are from our sponsor Art Neko, be sure to mention TheFrugalCrafter if you order to get 10% off your order or free shipping on orders over $50, whatever discount is greater!

Video!

Supplies

• Stamps: Star Sprinkling Angel, Snowflakes (some of these stamps are found in larger Christmas sets from ArtNeko, look at those before buying to see if you want the other stamps in the kits because it brings down the individual stamp price.)
• Dye ink: Memento
• Distress ink (Tumbled Glass, Vintage Photo, Wild Honey)
• Cardstock: Neenah (white) brown, maroon
• 6″ paper doily
• Distress ink in vintage photo, tumbled glass, wild honey
• Gelly Roll Stardust pen
• ribbon & buttons
• Alcohol based markers (Copic, Promarker, Sharpie, Bic Markit, Prismacolor, Spectrum Noir, Tria or others)
  * OR you can use watercolor markers but be sure to stamp with Archival ink so it does not smear. Also, if using watercolor markers you can’t go over the paper as much as we do with alcohol markers.

If you are thinking of trying alcohol ink markers I urge you to see if you can borrow some from a friend before deciding to invest. Also expect a learning curve. I have not used mine in a while and I was a bit out of practice. Also I am fond of quick projects so I don’t often reach for my markers but on the other hand there is something really relaxing about spending an hour coloring an image. One way to get started is to buy a 36 pack of Bic Markits or Sharpies then a few really light shades of some art markers so you can blend and get a range of shades. Below is a playlist of many alcohol marker techniques that you might find helpful:

I was not intending to cover alcohol ink markers in stamp school but so many of you asked me if I would so I hope that gave you a good foundation on them. So, what do you think? Do you use alcohol markers? What do you like about them? Do you have any tips for beginners? Leave that info in the comments below and help your fellow stampers out. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Christmas Card Batch in a Flash & Giveaway!

Hi Friends! Every year I make a lot of Christmas cards and I have to organize my supplies or the cards will never get done. This year I used divided bento style containers from EasyLunchboxes to organize my supplies for assembly line card crafting.

I like my Christmas card stuff to be portable so I can craft with the family upstairs or take my supplies with me to a crop and these boxes and tote are perfect for that. See what I mean in today’s video AND learn how to make this cute (and quick) card:

Do you want your very own set of 4 lunch boxes and cooler bag? Well, of course you can buy them directly from EasyLunchboxes they even offer free and reduced shipping though their Amazon store (they are the #1 best-selling lunchbox on Amazon BTW) for US and Canadian residents OR you can win them! To win you need to have a peek here in their shop, then come back here and leave a comment telling me something you like about their products.

That’s it, pretty easy huh? I will select a winner at random December 12th. This giveaway is open to US residents.

I want to thank EasyLunchboxes for sponsoring this giveaway. Their products are sturdy, durable and BPA free so you can feel good about storing your food in them too!  They would also make a nice Christmas gift! I want to thank you for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

AAC & WOYWW!

Hello friends! I feel like I was very efficient today which was really weird because it was a snow day, we got the call at 5:30am that school was cancelled due to sleet and icy roads. I think you have to be efficient in December, there is so much to do! I decided I was going to snap a photo of my craft table every day and post it on instagram (I just joined last week, my username is lindsayweirich if you want to add or follow or whatever the heck you do there.) I thought, what a great time to get back in the habit of What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday, the weekly craft snoop set up by Julia from the stamping Ground, so this week you can see the beginnings of my Christmas card designing.

I make a bunch of cards (usually around 75) and I have some assorted ones done in small batches but this will be a batch of 25. I really need to “get my skates on” if I am going to get these done and mailed on time. There is still the matter of a cute holiday photo including my three kids, two cats and dog…I have a feeling that is going to be slipped in the envelope right before it goes in the mail, that is the kind of year I am having folks, it is just going too quick! I hope you have a moment to sit back with a cozy beverage and relax, you can even hang out with the crafty ninjas while you sip and enjoy this weeks Ask a Crafter!

I will share the finished Christmas cards soon because they will be a quick to mass produce design and I am pretty convinced that nobody on my Christmas card list reads this because when I ever mention what I do all day they reply “Oh, you have a blog?”  We all need quick and easy this time of year I think! Thanks so much for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Layered Ribbon Season’s Greetings!

Hi Friends! I love the color combo turquoise and crimson. There is something about the crisp contrast and cool undertones that make me think of winter. I used single faced satin ribbon in red and turquoise from Offray.com, white cardstock and stamps to create the chic season’s greeting card:

I like to have large spools of ribbon on hand for holiday crafting. Now is the time to stock up at Offray.com because you can use this coupon code FRUGAL15 to save 15% on your first order through 12/31/14!

Here is how to make this card:

You will need:

• 1 1/2″ Navajo Turquoise Single Faced Satin
• 3″ Red Single Faced Satin
• One sheet of 8 1/2″x11″ white cardstock
• Stamps
• Dye ink in red and turquoise
• Damask (or your choice of design) embossing folder
• Adhesive: foam squares and double-sided tape

Directions:

1. Cut a sheet of 8 1/2″x11″ cardstock in half the long way (you will have two 11″x4 1/4″ pieces.) Fold one piece in half to make a top fold card. Trim the other panel to 5 1/4″ x 4″. Reserve the rest of the sheet for stamping.
2. Use an embossing folder to emboss the 5 1/4″x4″ panel. Accent the edges of the panel with an ink pad.
3. Stamp Snowflake, label and sentiment and cut them out neatly.
4. Wrap the 3″ red ribbon around the embossed panel and adhere to the back with tape. Tie a turquoise bow around the panel over the red ribbon then adhere the panel to the card base with foam squares.
5. Layer the stamped & cut out images on the card as shown with foam tape for dimension.

I hope you enjoyed this chic seasons greeting card. Thanks to Offray for sponsoring this post. Don’t forget to use my coupon code FRUGAL15 if you go shopping at Offray.com. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

*Details: Use FRUGAL15 during checkout on Offray.com to receive 15% off one order. Offer expires 11:59 PM eastern time on Wednesday, December 31, 2014. Discount excludes applicable tax and shipping costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Discount cannot be applied to previous purchases. Subject to change or cancellation without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

Let’s GEt a Jump Start on Christmas Cards! Stashbuster!!!

Hi Friends! Let’s use up out stash and make Christmas cards! It feels good to use up what we have rather than buying new. Today I am going to share a way to revamp your old pattern paper and use up washi tape and give you some ideas for duct tape too! If you don’t have washi and duct tape simply cut pattered paper into strips and adhere them with glue. It will be just as cute!

The duct tape and backing paper I am using is from Oriental Trading Company and the pen and adhesive are from Tombow. Do you want more quick and simple Christmas card ideas? Let me know in the comments and if there is interest I will make more! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Got Wreaths? Let’s Paint one!

Howdy friends! Today I have a quick and easy painting tutorial for you using watercolor pencils. I also wanted to let you know about a wonderful Maine company that makes fresh wreaths, centerpieces, and garlands. They are also the founders of Wreaths Across America providing wreaths on the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. Worcester Wreath is offering 10% off your total order on their website and as a bonus will donate 25% off your total order sales to out local school for school supplies, field trips and other necessities not covered in the current school budget. Use the coupon code CDSPTG at Worcester Wreath Co. if you are in need of beautiful, fresh and sustainably harvested balsam products and to get your 10% discount and help our schools. My deepest thanks if you do. On to the card!

Painting this is very easy, here are the colors of inktense pencils I used but feel free to substitute for the colors and brand of watercolor pencils you have:

# 0520 Carmine Pink
#0510 Cherry
#0600 Shiraz
#1330 Vivid Green
#0250 Cadmium Orange
#0230 Golden Yellow
#1520 Hooker’s Green
#1220 Green Aquamarine

To finish the card I stamped a sentiment from the Christmas Song clear stamp set from Oriental Trading Co. Have fun with this easy project and til next time happy crafting!

Paint a Pinecone Christmas Card!

Howdy friends! This card does not need to be for Christmas but I just got these beautiful Christmas Song stamps in the mail from Oriental Trading Company so I thought “why not?” Wait til you see the size of this stamp set, it comes on an 8.5″x11″ storage panel punched and ready for my binder and it is chock-a-block full of stamps for $16! The sentiment is from that set along with so many pretty lines from other Christmas songs, I can’t wait to play with it some more. 🙂

This card is so easy to sketch and paint. I drew the pine cone from one I found in my yard, I’ll give you tips on sketching from life as well as how to accent your watercolors with watercolor pencil and watercolor crayon in today’s video:

If you have any questions or requests for future painting videos just leave a comment and if you would like a more in-depth painting tutorial please consider one of my Learn to Paint with Lindsay printable PDF tutorials in my shop. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

DIY Frame Embossing Templates {video!}

Happy Friday friends! Boy, have I got a fun project for you to try this weekend! Making Your own embossing frames! These are cardboard frames you can cut and use with your embossing folders so you only emboss a section of your card and leave the rest flat for stamping like I did on this card:

Check out this video to see how it is done!

Here are some more examples:

I’m going to keep it short and sweet today, I made up a couple more batches of earrings yesterday and I need to package them up then load up the van with my craft fair stuff. I am feeling the panic I always do before a show “Did I make enough stuff? Will anyone buy it?!?”  But in the end I know I will be fine, even if I sell nothing I’m only out the $15 for the table and I will have lots of new inventory for next time. Wish me luck! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Calling all procrastinators! A freebie for you!

Let’s see a show of hands…who intended to, but has not made their Christmas cards yet? That many? Wow! Well don’t fear because I have 2 easy card designs that you can copy. Make them today and mail them tomorrow..well, tomorrow is Sunday, OK mail ‘um Monday.  The first card features the likeness of our favorite holiday Grinch:

I made an SVG die cut and printable sheet for the Grinch eyes, you can download it for free here. All you do is cut a sheet of green cardstock in half and fold (you get 2 cards this way) then glue on the eyes in the center of the card base. Draw on a smile, nose and angry eyebrows and glue a green feather on the forehead if you have one.  Your recipient is sure to get a chuckle when they open this card!

This next design is more traditional. Again, cut a sheet of red cardstock in half and fold in half to get 2 card bases. Then I used a rotary wavy cutter to cut 1.5″ strips of felt (I used a wave rather than a scallop blade so both sides of the cut would look the same and I would not waste felt…yeah, I know it is only .25 cents a sheet but still, why waste?) If you don’t have felt you can use paper, or cotton balls, whatever! Use a hot glue gun to attach it down the center of your card. Add a strip of black cardstock for a belt and a gold buckle. I used a large square punch to punch my gold paper then cut around it with scissors to make a buckle. I dressed it up with holly die cuts and a red sequin.

These cards are quick and inexpensive and fun to make with the kids. I hope you give them a try this year! BTW, use thick and tacky glue and not hot glue if the kids are helping! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!