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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! 

for the record

 

 

Vinyl is making a comeback!  And I was excited to see some creative pieces recently showcasing them.  Die-namics has a cool set of dies -- but they were too small for the 6 x 6 card I needed to make.. so eCal3 and the eclips2 to the rescue.

Using the basic shapes library in eCal, I created the record, the needle arm and "knobs" very quickly.  To make the record look a little more realistic, I added additional scoring lines and covered the cardstock with some black 651 permanent glossy vinyl. 

Fill a half circle with an image.  Place on top of the circle for the label, weld, then use the print2cut feature in eCal.    Print and cut. 

I created a cover and base for the card.  there's a bit of dimension there -- enough to place a recorded sound card by Invite by Voice in the base part of the card.  Create a small hold that allows enough light to activate the card.  Sound clip was purchased at Amazon. 

To make it a little more interactive, I added a pull string that turns the record. 

Our youngest grandson loves it!  He enjoys listening to one of his favorite songs!  Nice thing is when he grows out of this song, we can re-record and add a new one for him. 

There's another one of these floating around the house -- made one for Valentine's Day for the hubs.  He rather likes it and had fun making it play too.... I purchased a track of a song we use to tease each other with during our "courting" days and recorded it to a light activated sound card as well.     



Hoping you have some creative time planned over the course of the coming week. Enjoy the time and joy creating brings to you and yours!  We'll see you again soon! 

 

 

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!