Izbzee

Getting a start on some Halloween projects

This idea has been formulating for a couple of months.  Lots of different iterations, but I do like how the "idea" ultimately came together.

 

I asked Sandy Stark at Simply Crafty SVGs for the design of the egg shape***. She graciously accepted and created the SVG file for me.  Sandy's design skills were spot on and the design worked perfectly. 

The teeth were made using basic shapes from the eCal library (triangle and horizontal rectangle, Union)

All of the leaves were cut from heavy white crepe paper using a template created in the eCal3 software and cut with the eclips2 using a heart shape from the library and the knife to cut the shapes in half and the close path command. 

Since the eclips doesn't cut crepe well, I invited a friend over to cut the crepe since my tendonitis is still in flare mode. Wires were glued to the crepe paper pieces before coloring using a technique from a Lia Griffeth you tube video. The leaves were colored using the eBrush and Bic Mark-it markers.  

The tongue was a hand cut shape.  A  highly texture paper would work, or you could use some paper twist or heavy floral crepe paper and have it work. 

The Feed Me sign was made using a font from Creative Fabrica - Halloween.  (affiliate link)

An 18" dowel was attached at the back of the head and the wired leaves added using floral tape and hot glue.  Secure in the pot (10") and add any finishing touches. 

As you know, I love to add lights and music to a lot of my pieces, and this one was no exception.  An InviteByVoice sound module with push button was added with a little  bit of an instrumental version of "Feed Me" from Little Shop of Horrors recorded on the module.  A string of fairy lights under the lip of the pot and through the center were added as well. 

 

I hope you enjoyed this bit of whimsy and fun!  Thanks for stopping by.  Have some fun in your creative world this month! 

***NOW AVAILABLE IN THE SIMPLYCRAFTYSVGS SHOP!*** 
https://www.simplycraftysvgs.com/shop/holidays/halloween/venus-flytrap/

Revisiting Sunny Sunflowers

I love sunflowers!  And this post always brings a smile to my face.  I got a little "inky" from all the eBrushing, but it was truly worth it.  Originall published April 2015, I'd like to share this one again. 

 

I'm so excited to share that I'm on the Craftwell eBrush team for another term.  I wanted to start off this term with some sunshine!  And sunflowers  seem to fit the bill!  They have always been a favorite of mine and it's been a pleasure to watch them turn their heads towards the sun in our gardens in years past.  My friend, Diann, is fabulous photographer and it was her photo that has inspired this project.

This project, cards and box to store them in,  is based around a stencil created using a file from SVGCuts.com  (my box files can be found here and here)  Once I got started ebrushing the flowers, I couldn't stop at just one!  So I made up a set of cards and a box to store them in.  Cards are standard A2 (4.25 x 5.50) size.  8 cards and envelopes will fit into the box easily. 

Plan on using both the negative and the positive elements from the flower petals cut.  I added a square (basic shapes) around each of the 2 layers of petals available in the eCal shapes library.  Cut with your cutting machine (I use the eclips2)I also added a circle similar in size to the center of the flower petal shape and cut that as a separate element to be used during the stenciling process.   You'll want to resize as needed, just be sure to resize all the pieces you'll be using to make sure everything fits. 

Since the negative area of the stencil has lots of little pieces that are not connected to each other, you may want to use a little bit of repositionable glue on both of those layers as well as the circle.  You'll find you'll get a crisper edge. Set aside until needed. 

Choose your colors (I used Spectrum Noir's LY3 and OR1, EB5, EB8 and GB3).  I also used GB3 and EB3 along the outside edges for additional contrast on my finished card fronts and to add details on the flowers.

Using the eBrush and the LY3 marker in the SN adapter - with the top layer of your stencil secured on your cardstock, make sure your marker is in the sweet spot and spray lightly.  You may choose to deepen the color with a second layer... it's purely up to you.  Watch the video below to see how I used the other pieces of the stencils to work on my sunflower. 

Here are a few more pictures of this project.

Both layers of the stencil have been used and the center has been sprayed and some of the detail work completed.  You can use a white paint pen (mine was a Sharpie) to add a few highlights.

The sunflower cardstock is cut to 5.00 x 3.75.  Additional layers are cut slightly larger.  To a few of the other bases, I added a dark brown before applying the standard card base.  Most of my top layers began at 5.25 x 4.00 and trimmed if needed. 

These will make a beautiful gift for a special friend of mine. 

Thanks for dropping by.  Stay tuned, more to come! 

Revisiting some Summer fun!

It's nearly the 4th of July and Watermelon time is here! I thought I would re-share this post from 2014!  This was my first project using the eBrush as a design team member! 

The end of the holiday season offers a bounty of paper coasters for a minimal cost at the neighborhood dollar stores in our area.  Most of the designs don't catch my eye, but the $.25 a pack makes them worth the purchase.  And here's my latest upcycle of one of the packs in the stash!

Materials needed:
1 pkg - paper coasters (my package had 6 coasters in it)
White cardstock
Craftwell eBrush
Markers, permanent -- for this piece I used Spectrum Noir (two shades of red, green) - if you use a water based marker, you may experience some bleeding when you apply the sealer to the surface...just saying!  :)
Adhesive - permanent bond (waterproof if using a liquid glue) - I used Xyron's permanent adhesive.
Electronic Die Cutting machine to cut your stencils/masks (I used my Sizzix eclips and eCal software)
Zig Marker - black
Waterproof Sealer (for this project, I used Collage Pauge from Aleene's/Duncan Enterprises)
foam brush
emory board or 220 grit sandpaper

Gather all the materials you need.  Open your software; using basic shapes, resize your first circle to 4 inches in diameter.  Create another circle slightly smaller (about 3.350 inches making sure that keep proportions is checked. )  Center inside the 4 inch circle. When you cut these circles, you'll have your "mask" for the outer green and white of your watermelon, while you fill in the watermelon center using your eBrush.  Make another circle at 3.495 inches (keeping proportions checked).  This will be your mask for the center of the melon and the white portion.  Cut your masks.  You'll also need enough 4 inch circles to cover each coaster.

Grab some fine grit sandpaper or an emory board and roughen up the printed side of the coaster -- not a lot, but you do want a little bit of tooth to hold the adhesive when you apply the 4 inch cardstock circle to the top. Wipe any dust off of the surface.   I used my xyron 510 to adhere the cardstock.  Trim edges if necessary. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you used a liquid glue, be sure your surface is smooth and there are no bubbles. Let dry thoroughly.

Center the 3.495 inch circle on your coaster.  Using the eBrush, and a green marker fill in the outer edge.  Use a smooth side to side movement starting off the edge of the coaster and moving towards the center (which is now covered up with your mask).  When you have completed that process and are satisfied with the color and depth, carefully remove the circle and place the other mask on the coaster.  It should be even with the outer edge of the coaster and cover slightly more than the green area you just applied.  Using a lighter red marker, lightly spray the center of the coaster.  I found that setting the nib so it was slight off -- so I got some splotching, I sprayed the entire center.  You can use the side to side method or as I did, used a circular motion to imitate the interior of a natural melon.  I changed markers once I was satisfied and completed using circular motions. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add a few seeds to your slice.  Embellish with a white gel pen if desired.  Once the paper has thoroughly dried, apply at least 2 coats of sealer to the top and sides of the coaster.  Let dry thoroughly between coats and if you can, wait at least 24 hours before stacking or using.  (The humidity is horrible here right now, so I'm giving mine an extra 24 hours before using. 

I have a feeling there will be some oranges, limes and lemons coming soon!  How about you?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Join the new CraftwellUSA  Facebook page!  They've got goodies to share as long as supplies last! 

playing with eCal3

There are lots of commands I haven't used previously, but it sure was fun to do a little playing to create this sun.... and the best part is that I can size as needed  -

 

Supplies:
Cardstock, white 110lb Neenah; Bazzill texture, yellow; unknown smooth, blue
Tombow markers
Craftwell's eBrush with TB adapter
WRMK's Foil Quill, fine tip pen with D adapter for the eclips
Spellbinder's Black Foil
Sizzix eclips2 and eCal3
Scor-Tape, 1/4 in wide

I also used some black foil and the foil quill to add the "You Are So" to the vellum cloud piece. 
Tombow markers and the eBrush added the fun coloring to the word "amazing" and some highlights to the sun.

Object to path is a great tool to use for things other than text.  Adding a series of shapes (narrow triangles in this case) to another shape (the circle) is so simple and made quick work of the sun. 

 

The cloud piece was made using a horizontal rectangle and half circles and the Union command. 

More playing time coming in the next few days! 

 

Moving Color with the eBrush

 I'm happy to be sharing this post with CraftwellUSA as a guest blogger this week.

This can be addicting! 

Prep your paper - apply a very thin layer of gesso and let dry.

I generally Gesso several  full 8.5 x 11 sheets and then cut to size once the paper has dried. 

Other things you'll need:
eBrush and marker adapter
Markers (I used Tombow dual brush markers)
background stamps
inks
painter tape
small water mister
embellishments, digital stamps (optional)

Once you've prepped your paper, if desired, apply a piece of tap around the edges of the paper.  Press the edge down to keep the color from bleeding into the edges For a little interest on in the background, stamp as desired.  

Set up the eBrush and seat the marker.... begin spraying.  Below is a video that shows how I accomplished this piece.

 

Hope you've carved out some creative time this week!  Enjoy and try something new! 

 

It's been a bit of a dry spell, and hopefully, the posts will be back again on a fairly regular basis - February illnesses hit us hard. 

eBrush and paper Applique

I'm excited to be able to share a project I've been working on for the last few weeks.  It's a paper quilt project!  I'm also excited to post as a guest designer on the CraftwellUSA blog -- showcasing their eBrush.  The eBrush has been one of my favorite crafting tools to use since I bought my first machine the year it was introduced on HSN!  I enjoyed being a part of Craftwell's eBrush design team for several years.  Thanks for asking me back to share a part of this paper quilt series with you. 

Just a few supplies are all that are needed to create this fun 7 piece panel for part 4 of the paper quilt sample.  I've listed them below.  

You will find part 1 of this sampler here.  Part 2 is here and part 3 is here. 

Once your images are cut*, and your background panels are cut (I used some parchment resume paper I purchased from an office supply store a while back), you can start coloring.  I've also incorporated some stamps and ink on the background panels and one or two of the appliques. as you'll see in the images below.  If you choose to use the Skitch A Day patterns, I have altered the dress in this week's sketches after coloring.  

Using the eBrush, spray the color as desired on each of the appliques.  Make sure your marker is seated correctly for an even spray.  Use a side to side motion to fill the image.  You can add a little shadowing along the edges if you'd like. 

If desired, add a faux stitch using an ultra fine Sharpie. 

The beauty of this project is that all of the pieces are interchangeable at this point.  I can frame each skitch individually or as a group.  The materials needed are pretty basic as well. 

Supplies: 
Paper (white cardstock for the appliques and parchment resume paper for the backgrounds)
Paper trimmer (to cut the backgrounds)
*electronic die cutting machine (optional) you could hand cut each of the images using the patterns in the weekly packets
eBrush, marker adaptor
Tombow markers were used in my samples, but other brands can be used as well. 
Glue (Lineco book binding glue)
Stamps (for backgrounds and adding texture and dimension to the paper "fabric.")
Ink pads (I used browns that blended with the parchment colored paper -- and stamped off so the colors weren't too dark. 
Stencils (I created the stencil used in this week's projects -- using basic shapes in the eCal3 library)

Click on the images for full size. 

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Thanks for dropping by today.  Hoping your creative time is well spent and brings you joy! 

paper quilt - week 3

These have really been fun!  Rather enjoyable!  Here's a peek at week 3's Skitch a Day (from the Gourmet Quilter) doings.

Once again these are all done in paper.  I used the eclips2 and eCal3 to cut the "appliques."  An old SU background stamp adds a little interest on the background pieces and all coloring is done using Tombow markers and the eBrush.   Details and faux stitching added using an ultra-fine sharpie where needed. 

Here are a couple of my favorites from this week's seven (click on the pic for a larger version of the image):

I'm looking forward to next week's 7 "skitches" and hope you don't mind taking this journey with me in 2019! 

Carve out some creative time in your schedule for some "play" in a medium you love to work with -- or try something new! 

If you're interested in an eBrush, you can find more information at http://craftwellusa.com and click on the Shop tab. 

This sale is good until February 6th.  Don't miss out! 

paper quilt - week 2

Another week of creative play using the eclips2, eCal3, the eBrush and Tombow markers. and let's  not forget to throw in a background stamp and a mini dotted stencil just for fun!

These were fun and I enjoyed coloring them using the markers and eBrush.  Adding a little detail here and there too.  Here's a closer look at a few of the images.  You can click on the images for a closer look. 

Remember, all the appliques started out as white cardstock -

Hoping you're enjoying some creative time this week!  Check back with you soon! 

 

paper quilt - week 1 completed

Just a quick post to share all 7 of the completed sections for the Skitch-a-day quilt class.  These were so fun to "paint" using Craftwell's  eBrush. Tombow markers are used in this project. 

I created this simple mat  for display purposes using a piece of poster board that I cut using the eclips2 and eCal3 software.  All shapes for the appliques were also cut using the eclips2. 

All skitches (a Gourmet Quilter design) are cut using white cardstock and colored using Tombow markers and the eBrush by Craftwell.  Stitching lines added using an ultra-fine Sharpie.  One of the things I have enjoyed about doing these is that I can create my own fabric using a palette of colors in my marker stash! 

STAY TUNED:  Weeks 2 and 3 are  now completed!  Can't wait to share! 

#eclipsecalmaker

Quilt Class Sampler

Okay, I bit the bullet and purchased the SkitchADay class from the GourmetQuilter.  At first, I was wondering if I'd bit off more than I could chew on this one... but I'm thinking it might just be doable -- even if I don't make the quilt in fabric right away, I can create the 'skitches' in paper. 

Every week a series of 7 applique sketches are sent your way.  I decided to do the cutting with the eclips and eCal software -- so I changed the sketches into pngs using PhotoShop and imported the images into eCal3.  Perfect cuts!

Rather than searching for the perfect paper for each of the appliques, I decided to make my own.  For week 1 I chose to use the eBrush and some Tombow markers and a black ultrafine Sharpie for the stitching lines. 

Here are three of the images for week 1.  I have to tell you it was definitely a relaxing evening of coloring!  I'm thinking some gelli prints would also be fun to incorporate into this  -- but for right now, I'm loving the way the eBrush is bringing my "fabric" designs to life! 

 

 

You'll need:

White cardstock
Background cardstock (I'm using some parchment paper from Office Depot/Office Max)
SkitchADay quilt class (week 1)
photo editing program (PhotoShop Elements)

eBrush and adapter for the markers you'll use (TB adapter and Tombow Dual Brush Markers
Small spray bottle with water to mottle colors on the "fabric" if desired.
Glue
Paper Trimmer

Cut your background pieces as described in the instructions. 

Prepare your images -- make sure they are in png format with a transparent background.  eCal2 and eCal3 will automatically add a cut line around the outer edge of each of the images without having to trace the image. 

Cut using the eclips.  This was so easy!  I was able to get 6 of the 7 images on to one 8.5 x 11 sheet of white cardstock. 

Set up your eBrush, adapter and markers.  This was fun and I enjoyed coloring in my images and putting them together and then "appliqueing" them to the background. 

Hoping to have them ready for display very soon...however in the meantime, I'm ready to cut and color a few more!