Izbzee

Celebrations!

We've just celebrated the 4th of July here in the states.  It was a near picture perfect day here in the Mountain West! 

This month is also host to several birthdays and I'd like to share this card made for my Father in Law using the Going Fishing Truck from @SimplyCraftySvgs.  It's very easy to cut, put together and adding additional embellishments is super easy using the blank extras found in the file.

This is a great reminder of many fond memories of Gpa's old truck.  Making lots of trips to and from the river, the lake, a camping trip or two, and even to classes at the Burley College of Southern Idaho campus.  Lots of good memories, not only for me, but for the kids and T.

Paper is from AC Cardstock
SVG File from SimplyCraftySvg's*
FORD - my design in stencil form reverse embossed on a blank cut.
Markers and ink pads for additional shading and texture
Project cut using Sizzix eclips2 and eCal3

 

*no affiliate links used in this post.

More birthdays coming and I'm busy at work on a couple more -- hoping to share soon.   

 

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! 

 

It's been a fun week!

Thanks for stopping by this week during the #eclipsecalmaker Bunny Hop for 2019!  Hoping you spent a little bit of time in your craft room too! 

Here's a quick recap if you're wanting to review the week. 

 

Links to the posts below.
Tag #1

Tag #2

Tag #3

Tag #4

Tag#5

 

Again, thanks for joining us!  Be a maker in your own creative way!  Ready, set, PLAY! 

Bunny Hop Day 4

We're at day 4 of 5...  and it's a given that no bunny hop would be complete without a bunny crossing tag!  Here's mine:

You'll need:
Kraft / Oatmeal cardstock (FSJ)
Chocolate cardstock scrap (FSJ)
blue textured cardstock scrap (Bazzil)
Sizzix eclips2 and ecal3
Hoppy Easter craft file from Creative Fabrica
Burlap ribbon (stash)
Twine (FSJ)
blue ink
TombowUSA marker in brown
Foam pop up dots (1/4 inch squares)
blending tool and felt
Glue (lineco)

CUTTING & ASSEMBLY:
Select the tag from the Basic Shapes Library.  Size as desired.  Copy and paste a second tag to the mat.  Open the Hoppy Easter craft file and ungroup, break apart.  Highlight the bunny.  and move just the outer shape to the bottom of on of the tags.  Center and nudge for placement as needed.  Delete the rest of the Hoppy Easter file from the mat.   Cut the Craft paper tags, and cut a third tag using the blue texture paper and trim as desired. 

Using the Text Tool and Tool on Arch command, create the bunny crossing text - I'm using Bodini in this instance.  Fill is selected on color palette and stroke is set to none.  Make sure the text is then set to print 2 cut print.  Drop a half circle on the mat and size to the same width as the tag. Move away from the tag and set layer to back. Move the text to the top of the half circle, size  and center.   Drop a heart just under the text and open the Spring folder in basic shapes and click on the raindrops.  Ungroup or break apart.  Select the small raindrop.  Size and move to one side of the heart, turning as shown in the picture above.  Copy the raindrop, flip it horizontally and move to the other side of the heart.  Set the stroke to none and the fill to none.  for the three shapes you just added to the half circle.  They will disappear.  Click on preview and you'll see that they will cut, but not visible during the print, print 2 cut portion of the process.  You're ready to print and cut.  Follow the directions on the software screen for best results. 

Cut two small strips of the chocolate paper - just bit enough to go behind the rabbit cut out and the heart and raindrop cuts on the half circle.  use a bit of glue to secure to the back of the cut tag and the half circle. 

Glue the second tag to the back of the first covering the chocolate paper.  Ink the edges of the blue paper before adhering to the front of the tag.  Ink the rest of the tag as desired.

The rabbit cut has a dot added for an eye using a marker and if desired, you can edge the cut with a marker  so it stands out a little more.  Rub a little ink on the cut too.  Set the rabbit slightly off center of the cut using some pop dots.  Apply some pop dots to the half circle and secure in place.  Add a burlap ribbon tied with some twine to finish. 

Again, thanks for stopping by.  Hoping you're having some creative fun of your own this week!  Hope you'll check in tomorrow for the final day of the hop.  And don't forget to check out all of the creativity on the FB page! 

Bunny Hop Day 3

Welcome back!  So happy you stopped by for day 3's tag.  I just love this one!  Hope you do too!

You'll need:
White cardstock
Chocolate cardstock
Tombow Markers
Ink (light green and sky blue, oatmeal)
Easter Grass (Sizzix eShape Store)
Tombow markers
Flower shaped sequins
Clear and white seed beads
Glue (Lineco)
Foam pop dots (1/4 inch)
Scissors
Blender Tool and felt
Sizzix eclips2 and eCal3

CUTTING AND ASSEMBLY:
Size and cut the shapes from the Easter Grass file and a tag from the Shape Library.   

Color the background of the tag using the ink and blender tool.  Set aside.

Put the basket together.  I glued the vertical splines at the bottom only and did a over/under weave.  Make sure the top edge is open and not glued shut. 

Color the "grass" using markers.  I crumpled mine up a bit and glued to the back inside of the basket.  You can't really see it, but it's there for a little bit of filler.

Using the brown/oatmeal ink, add a little bit of color to the edges of the bunny pieces.  Color the pads of the feet with a bit of pink.  Glue the pads to the feet and add the tail using a piece of the foam pad.  Glue  the body to the grass, tucking the bottom of the body into the basket.  Add a pop up to the feet.

Glue the basket to the tag.  Glue a few sequins to the basket and add some seed beads to the sequin centers. 

You can see a little more detail in this image -- the weave on the basket is pretty tight and the seed beads are a perfect fill if you're not stitching the sequins to the paper. 

The Sentiment was created in eCal3 as a print 2 print.  Super easy and the font is Bodini.  Just fill the font with the desired color and set the stroke to none.  Size the font, make sure it is set to print*; add a rectangle (Fill is white and stroke is set to none and layer to the back).   Print and cut according to the step by step instructions in the software. 

*Check preview to make sure the sentiment will print and the rectangle cuts. 

 

Hoping you have some more creative time set for this coming week.  Don't forget to stop by the FB page for more inspiration and if you'd like to participate, we'd be happy to have you join in the fun too! 

Bunny Hop Tag 2

It's day 2 of the hop -- have you stopped by the eclips/eCal page yet?  You'll love all of yesterday's tags and enjoy the ones that will be shared today.

Here's my tag for today.

 

You'll need:
White cardstock (8.5 x 11)
Green Textured Cardstock (Bazzil)
Green watercolor print paper (Bazzil)
Ink
Tombow Dual Brush Markers
Sizzix Shapes Library (Bunny, Boot, Tag)
Xyron X (permanent adhesive)
Glue (Lineco)
Foam pop dots (1/4 inch squares)
Ribbon
Sizzix eclips2 and eCal3

CUTTING AND ASSEMBLY:
Select the tag shape from the library.  Size as desired.  Draw a line the same width as the tag and apply the Wave effect and place on the tag.  Group.  Copy and paste to cut 2 from the green papers.  Cut a tag (hide the wave line) from white stock. 

Place the bunny on the mat, using the knife tool cut the bunny just below the paws. Select the top portion of the image and close path.  You can delete the other portion of the image.  Copy and paste the head to cut 2.  Create a small flower, stem and leaves using shapes from the library.  Select the boot from the library and size to fit the rabbit.  Make sure it will fit on the tag.  Cut the boot, flower, and two rabbits from white card stock.

Using the white tag as the base, choose one piece from each of the two green cuts.  I used the plain textured stock for the top portion of the tag and the print for the bottom of the tag.  Before gluing in place, using the blender tool, blend a little color to the edges of the pieces.  Glue in place.  Be sure to rub a little more color along the edges to hide the white paper a bit more. 

Pick one of the rabbit cuts and put through the Xyron.  Apply to the other rabbit head. Add an eye and nose using markers. 
Color the boot and add some dots to the boot and line the sole with a darker color.  Using some ink, add a little more color along the edges to cover the white. 

Fold over the front ear and glue the rabbit to the boot.  Secure the folded ear to the front of the boot with a little bit of glue.  Add the flower after you have colored it.  Add some pop ups to the back of the boot and secure to the front of the tag.

Add your sentiment as desired.  Add a ribbon hanger.  And it's all done. 

Thanks for stopping by again today!  If you missed yesterday's post, just scroll down the page a bit for yesterday's tag.

Hoping you have some creative time scheduled  this week and  be sure to stop by the Facebook page for a little more inspiration from other #eclipsecalmakers. 

Bunny Hop 2019 #eclipsecalmaker

Today on the eClips/eCal FB page, we're launching 5 days of tags with a Spring Bunny Hop theme.  Come join us and see what other makers have been creating.

Here's my first tag... simple and quick!

You'll need:
Kraft/oatmeal card stock (6 x 6))
Chocolate cardstock (6 x 6)
Foil Quill, standard tip and machine adapter
Silver heat activated foil
White cardstock (4 x 4)
Hoppy Easter Craft File (Creative Fabrica)
Easter Grass (eShape store)
Sizzix eclips2 and eCal3 software
scissors
Tombow markers (green)
Silver gel pen
Oatmeal Cookie Ink
blender tool with pads
foam pop dots (1/4 inch)
Glue (Lineco)

Using a basic tag shape from the library, size as desired.  The sentiment is a free file from CreativeFabrica.    The coloring is very subtle on the kraft/oatmeal colored paper.  Open the file, break apart and remove the rabbit.  Re-group the image.  Size and place the image on the tag shape.  Set the Hoppy Easter image to print2cut and print following the step by step instructions in the software to cut. 

The rabbit is an old free digital stamp (unknown origin); set the image to draw in the software.  Remove the blade housing from the machine and replace with the foil quill.  Secure the foil as the manufacturer directs and heat the tip.  "Cut" using the pen settings in the cutting window.  Once the foiling step has been completed, remove the foil.  DO NOT remove the mat from the machine.  Cut the rabbit. 

Cut 2 of the grass svgs using the white cardstock.  The file, Easter Grass, can be purchased through the eShape store.  Color using a marker - I used Tombow Dual Brush markers for this tag. 

ASSEMBLY: 
Using the Oatmeal ink and the blender tool, blend along the edges of the tag.  Outline the lettering Hoppy Easter using the silver gel pen. 

Glue one layer of grass to the bottom edge of the tag.  I wrapped the excess around the back of the tag.  If desired, you can cut an additional tag and glue to the back for additional support and to cover any excess grass.  Apply some pop dots to the back of the bunny and set in place.  Add the second piece of grass, gluing to secure. 

Add some complimentary colored ribbon, burlap ribbon in this case to the tag to hang. 

Thanks for dropping by today.

I hope you'll stop by over the course of the next several days and check out the remaining tags for this hop.  And be sure to stop by the eclips/eCal Facebook page to see more creative work from other makes who use the eclips and eCal software. 

Enjoy your time in your creative space this week!  Nurture your heart and soul! 

 

fairy tales

Life gets a little crazy around here with birthdays in the spring and with 10 grands I need to come up with something a little different for each.

Since I started the year with Holden's interactive card, I figured I'd best get designing a few more for the rest of the grands that have birthdays coming up on the calendar.  It's going to be a busy Spring!

This card is inspired by a card I saw on Instagram (MFT Stamps).  Reminds me of a fairy tale.  How about you? 

eCal3 has a gradient tool and it makes it easy to add colors to make the perfect sky!  You can save your presets too!  Fill a rectangle using the gradient tool and set it to print to cut.  Create a shadow layer, set as print 2 cut cut layer.  I made the castle turret using basic shapes and using the pattern fill, and also set that as print to cut.  I used one of the unicorns from a Crafting Desert Diva digital set -- resized to fit.  You can also fill the hills and trees using patterns from your digital paper collection OR use scraps from your patterned papers.   All pieces are cut using the eclips2.  Have a stash of foam squares for added dimension ready -- you'll need them!  I used the eBrush  and Tombow USA markers to add a little shading to the clouds and to the 'hills." 

If desired, create a sliding tab mechanism and attach the braid to the slide.  Pulling the slide will pull the braid up a bit inside the turret.  Pulling the end of the braid lengthens the braid for the interactive component. I added a couple of layers of primary colored card stock to add a little bit of contrast and secured to a card base. 

I know the stamping is a little messed up....  dang it all!  Will try a little more blending to see if I can fix it for a more shaded look. 

Thanks for taking a few minutes out of your busy day and stopping by.  Hope you have some creative time scheduled on your calendar and soon!  Enjoy!  We'll be back again soon... there's more Spring birthdays ahead!