Izbzee

Christmas - it's a card

This is my project for the Creative Cutting Challenge this week. 

 

I used the Gumball Machine file by Cindy Pointe, found here.  It's a fun, layered file offering lots of potential and creativity.  You're not limited by the layers found in the file.

I used the top, bottom and orb layers in the file to create the card basics.  It was so easy to get what I needed to create this shaker card.  I also used the orb layer in the card base.

 

The elements for the "shaker" were from a file of a cardinal I had (maker unknnown) and a very old punch in my drawer that makes a border of holly and berries.  I cut the cardinal layers 2x to create a bird that was nearly the same both front and back as the window opens all the way through the front of the card, as the sentiment on the inside back can be seen through the window.  All cut elements for this card were done on the Sizzix eclips2. 

I colored the card front using Stampin' Up! markers (old version- some colors may be retired) in the eBrush using the AD adapter and a foam cushion, a Stampin' Up retired flourish stamp and inkpads. 


I cut multiple layers of cardstock to create the shaker and transparency for the window and used my Xyron machine for the adhesive on the layers, but not the transparency pieces.  Using a very fine tipped bottle of glue, I added some squiggles and dots of glue and generously sprinkled some "fairy dust" and let that dry before adding the top layer elements to the card.

It's an easy card to make and again, you're not limited to a holiday or novelty card...I see some birthday cards for our younger grandchildren, a birthday card for a friend who loves snow globes and a just because card for someone needing a lift. 

If you'd like to join us in the this week's challenge, the last for 2014, we'd love to have you share your project on the Challenge blog.  Be sure to follow the rules for entry and don't forget to check out what the rest of the team is doing and leave a little love on each of their blogs. 
Carolyn--Granny Ma's Creative Blog
Cindy--The Creative Pointe
Jan--Izbzee (you're here)
Marina--My Perfect Life
Tina--Tina's Scrap Corner
Valou--The Enchantment of Scrap
Vicki--Izzaboutchu!
Heather, Guest Designer--My Artistic Adventures
Victoria, Guest Designer--Paper Squirrel
Happy Crafting! 

 

Related articles

We Gather Together

Sugar-Free Wreath

Keeping tabs...

with deep greatitude

Are you ready for another DT project?  I've bben holding on to this one for a while.  AND, I know - you're thinking I misspelled that word in the title of this post, but no; it has great meaning to me.

Journals and mini-albums are on this year's gifting list. This is a gift and should be arriving at a new home shortly.  I hope they like it. 

I'm enjoying making this mini-albums and journals.  They do make great gifts... just saying.  :)

I used the recipe and divider cards file from here as the cover and divider pages in this journal. It's the same file used in this post: keeping-tabs

You'll need white cardstock for your covers and section divider cards
journaling paper ( I used some plain copy paper -- cut to size with a paper trimmer)
eBrush (SN adapter)
Spectrum Noir markers

But before we got to that point, my favorite part of creating these days!  PAINTING!   I used the eBrush to create the background for the cover.



Carefully, trace and cut 3 copies of your stencil -- I'm using Birch Landscape from memoryboxco.com. Once they are cut, adhere them in a stack.  ( I used the Xyron to do this job). 

The inside dividers are also ebrushed with stencils, texture paste and stamped.   I used a free background paper I found online (http://MelStampz.blogspot.com) several years ago.

 I used the Xyron machine to add adhesive to the layers of the title and secure on the front of the journal.  I used the bind-it-all following manufacturer's instructions to secure all the pages.

It's a fun and quick project. 

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the team has been up to.... visit Craftwell's blog for all the updated posts. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Hope you're inspired to create something too.  Happy Crafting!  And wishing each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving filled with *Greatitudes (memories that bring you joy and remind you of all that you are grateful for). 

Trimming the tree - part 1

The holidays offer lots of opportunities to create trimmings for the tree, tags for gifts or something special for a friend or family member. 

Every year, our family celebrates Christmas with a dinner and ornament exchange.  Although I can't be there again this year, I want to be a part of that.  So this is what I decided to make.

 

You'll need a 3 x 3 burlap "canvas" (mine is from CanvasCorp)
paper
electronic cutting machine and software and pen tool
3D poinsetta SVG file (there are quite a few out there)
cardstock
Craftwell eBrush
Markers - Spectrum Noir  and Rose Art Glitter markers were used for this project
Embossing machine and folder

I used my eClips to cut the poinsetta - the Merry Christmas was a leftover from a friend's previous project - but you could make something similar.

Once all the flower pieces are cut, emboss if desired, then get your markers and spray, I started with a lighter red and then deepened the color adding another layer of color to the white card stock.  The largest layer is the "leaf" and I sprayed it as well with a couple of layers of color.  You can use a dark color and just lightly spray a first layer, then color along the edges for a bit deeper and richer effect.



I added some additional curling lengthwise and curling the edges downwards.  Stack and glue each layer from largest to smallest.  Add an embellishment to the flower center.  Add the tag with a bit of hot glue and use some hot glue to secure the flower.  Add a hanger, some ribbon or jute twine.  As a final embellishment, I sprayed the flower with a bit of red glitter pen.  Adding just a little bit of sparkle to the final project.  

Thanks for dropping by today.  Happy crafting! 

 

 

Related articles

6 Weeks until Christmas! Oh MY!

Fluttering Fall leaves

Boo! Trick or Treat Banner

Leaves in Ice

Welcome to my 1st Craftwell eBrush DT project for the month of November.  The leaves are nearly gone from the trees, but the memories aren't.  I hope you'll enjoy this project just as much I did creating it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

this is actually, a BEFORE the finished project shot -- but, If the background looks familiar, it's a leftover portion of the background done for Fluttering Fall Leaves post on October 27th of this year.  You can find the details here.   The colors seemed little bright, so I decided to see how  adding a layer of vellum and modge-podge might work to mute the colors just a little.  I liked the look and it does look a little like some leaves encased in ice. 

 

I have my daughter Andrea to thank for naming this piece... Leaves in Ice

 

The process:
eBrush
Spectrum Noir markers
Transparent Stencils - leaves from several kits available at  SVGCuts.com
White foam core (about 10 x 12 inches)
Quote cut into stencil form
Vellum
Electronic Cutting Machine (I use the eclips 2 and eCal Software)
Cardstock for quote stencil
painter's tape

Spray the leaves using a stencil, the eBrush and  rich earthy colored markers.  If needed, use the leaf cut from your stencil as a mask.  This process adds a little more dimension and a few of your leaves will look like they're laying on top of each other in randomness just like they do in real life.  You can use the marker to add depth along the edges or just adjust your spraying to be more on the stencil and just a breath of color on the edge of the leaf itself.  Fill your piece as desired.



Even though Alcohol markers dry quickly, you may find your art just a bit tacky, depending on the humidity.  let it sit for a couple of hours before moving to the next step.  However, you can prepare for the next step while your artwork is drying. Take a sheet of vellum (I used white) and tear into small strips.  Modge-Podge the bottom of the vellum and apply directly to the foam core - your brushed side up.  Carefully, apply a coat of the Modge-Podge to the top of the vellum  as you add each pieceand continue until the entire surface of the foam core is covered. (Note, don't get too much spread over to your art work, our your marker may smear a little).  Add another layer of Modge-Podge if desired to ensure that all the edges have been secured once the entire surface has been covered.  Once this step has dried, you can trim any excess vellum from the edges with a craft knife, scissors or razor for clean edges. 

Prepare your stencil with your quote on it.  I used some painters tape to center and secure it to my prepared surface.  Once again, using the eBrush, I sprayed and completed the quote.  I did use a blender pen to remove the color from the letters that needed some open spaces that weren't included in the stencil.  That worked very well in removing the color from those very small areas.  I also added a hit of white gel pen in a few areas to highlight the letter so it wouldn't blend too much into the background.



Remove the stencil, if there is any tackiness - let it dry a little longer before mounting in a frame or adding ribbon to hang your project.  I'm choosing to just let mine sit unframed on the mantle for the time being.  It's certainly caught the eye of many of our household visitors and I love seeing it there. 

I can see this project also being applied to large tags or pennants  on canvas or burlap for a Fall decor banner.  Hmmm, another project may soon be in the works here....

6 Weeks until Christmas! Oh MY!

Here's my challenge design for the Creative Cutting Challenge - Christmas, not a card #43!


With Christmas just a few weeks out, it's CRUNCH  time to finish up some gifts - though I'm not sure who this will be going to yet. 
 
I used the Skinny Tree from this set available at Cut and Create - Thanks Cindy, it's a fun file to use.

The tree file has two layers.  The base and the top layers.  I did remove the star from the top of the tree after I cut it with the eclips.  All paper in the project started out white and was painted with Craftwell's eBrush.  I love the look and depth in my finished piece.

My finished project measure 8.5 x 11 and fit perfectly in the gold certificate frame I had in my stash.You'll need:
5 -6 pieces of 8.5 x 11 in white cardstock
eBrush (SN and SP adapter)
Spectrum Noir markers (DG3 and EB4 [trees])
BIC Mark-It markers (dk blue, med blue, light pink, med gray, and dark gray [background]
electronic die cutting machine and software

You'll need to resize the Skinny Tree file to w: 3.001in  h: 6.323in.  Then break apart.  You can delete the top layer star from your mat and move the top parts of the tree and arrange on the mat as desired.  (I got 2 trees on one sheet of paper)  When you've got your trees cut, trim the stars from the tree base layers and set aside. 

Add another page to your mat and  choose a font you would like to use and spell out your words and size as needed aligning the left edge of each word leaving a small margin on the left edge starting with the largest word at the top of the page, and your smallest word at the bottom.  HINT:  Check your background frame and see how much of a margin you need to leave before you align your words to the cutting mat.  Cut 3 of each word.  Hang on to one of your sheets of paper to use as a placement guide.* 

I wanted some additional dimension, so I put 1 layer of each word  through the embosser using a snowflake embossing folder.  To make things much easier to stack, I ran all the layers through the xyron; stacked them and had all the words ready to place on the background when it was time.  While you have the embosser out, run the trees, tops and bottoms through as well with an embossing folder of your choice.  I used a Sizzix folder called Snow Globe I got on clearance recently. 





Now the "painting" begins.  I love my ebrush -- and it makes coloring so much fun.  "paint" your background as desired.  I kept it simple, but you could dress it up a bit by using a stencil and mask and paint on some addiitonal trees or even a few houses on a hill.  Set the background aside and paint your trees.  It's best to paint them at an angle for a little more dimension and highlighting the embossing and add some depth at the same time. 



Carefully, fold the tree base in half lengthwise using a valley fold (right sides together).  Carefully using a bone folder, round the tree top layer pieces as shown above.  Apply  a very thin line of glue to the wrong side of each top piece and glue in place .

Carefully secure your background to your work area and then place that sheet of paper you saved earlier after cutting your words -- and noting your margins, secure that piece on top of your background.  You'll now get your lettering down in a straight line and placed exactly where you want them.  When you have your words in place, carefully remove the guide.  You may find some of the letters are really snug, but you should be able to remove the guide without moving your letters. 

Place the trees on the background as desired and adhere.  I used some pop up dots on the tree in the front to allow more dimension.  Remember your margins on the right side as well.  I place the bottom right tree so that the right edge was lined up with the edge of my background piece.  Secure your trees and place your piece in the frame and secure.  

Don't forget to take a peek at what the rest of the Design Team has created!  Join in the Linky party too!  Rules are HERE! 

Thanks for dropping by!  Hope you'll check back often... I've got several projects lined up and waiting in the wings! 

 

We Gather Together

It's a brand new month, the first Monday and so that means it's time for the Creative Cutting Challenge #42 - Thanksgiving

The file I'm using for this card is Grapevine from the Creative Pointe store.  It's easy to use and so adaptable - I chose to only use part of the 'vine' and keep the focus on the cluster of grapes.  I cut the elements on my Sizzix eclips2 using all white paper for those elements of my card. 



Coloring of the vine and cluster was accomplished  using the eBrush and some markers.  Once those elements were all colored, I added some glitter for just a little more dimension and bling I set them aside while I worked on the watercolor background.





Using a versamark marker in the ebrush, spray using the stencil you choose.  I chose a doily I found online.  Once you've sprayed, you may need to huff a little before you add the embossing powder.  Using a heat gun, set the embossing powder.  You can now watercolor your watercolor paper.

I lightly spritzed the paper and then using the ebrush sprayed the paper.  the closer to the paper you spray, the deeper the color.  You can wipe the color off of the embossed areas for a crisper image. 

Some additional samples of watercolor with the ebrush can be found here and here.     

 

Once you are satisfied, let the paper dry.  If it curls a bit, you can put it under a couple of books and it should flatten out.  Just make sure that the paper is completely dry. 

Adhere the watercolor paper to the card base.  Add the grapevine elements and for my sentiment, I chose to use a clear tag from an old set I had in my stash.  I used a glue dot to adhere it and then added a gem I colored with one of the markers. 

 Thanks for dropping by.  Wishing you a week filled with crafting and creating.  Don't forget to check out what the other DT members have been up to and join in the linky party.  Rules and details can be found here.