Izbzee

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! 

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 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! 

2018 - going, going, gone

2018 has been a full year.  Lots of good things have happened overall and even the not to great stuff wasn't all that bad when you think about it.

I've really enjoyed my creative time so much more this year.  A few artsy and fun classes from penwork to gelli plate/art and general play with paper, clay and fabric.  Grateful for it all. 

I've decided that for me, it would be fun to recap the year with a few pictures of some of my favorite projects....  you can check the archives by the year and month for the whole year's worth of fun.   

January the Valentine Ornament box.  File from Lori Whitlock - Halloween house adapted for the holiday. 

February a little clay play.  Love using Sculpey, stamps, mica and more.  This was among my favorites for some mixed media play and design team work for Mixed Media Supplies. 

March Lots of pastel colors and a touch of non-caloric chocolate for this fun dimensional card from Simply Crafty SVGs  was a favorite for the month. 

April  A sweet shadowbox card using G45's Secret Garden.  File from SVGCuts.com

May  ATC sized gelli prints -- and digital stamps.  So much play fun! 

June  quick and easy card using a digital stamp from RGStudio360. 

July -  July porch decor using a recycled shelving side panel...

August - we got an early start with October crafting with this paper quilt. So much fun kicking up a few heels! 

September  The Geodesic Pumpkin from SVGCuts was a perfect addition to the mantel for September and October! 

October  brought more than a change in the weather.... it's also anniversary time for our youngest son. We went a little overboard on this year's card, but it was so worth it! 

 

November I couldn't pick just one project for this month, so I'm sharing two!  The first was a fun 12 Tags of Christmas challenge.  All of the details for this one including a video can be found here. 

Dreaming Tree also put out a bevy of great files to work with in 2018... among my favorites was this cutie! 

December   Our Gnomie tree - I love my laser etcher and I've loving having found a new way to showcase some digital artwork using wood pieces from my stash!  

I hope you've enjoyed this review of my year. Crafting is my respite -- my discovery for the year.  I've loved taking the online classes and exploring more ways to develop my talents and play.  I'm grateful to my family for their generosity in time, space and respite. 

We look forward to a fabulous 2019 -- carving in creative time each week. Hoping you're doing the same! 
My word for 2019 - Inspire

Noel

Loving the layers in this card  - the last version of our cards for this holiday season. 

Created in eCal3 and cut with the eclips.  The flower measures an inch! 

You'll need:
eclips2
eCal3
White cardstock for all the cuts
12 x 12 Colored stock for card bases ( cut to 5.5" square card base)
Poinsettia SVG (a file in my SVG folder, no attribution given)
Spectrum Noir markers (DR5, DR6, JG6)
mini domed jewels (stash)
Glaze (FSJ)
Lineco glue
Scor Tape
Glue dot

Cut all the elements.  Weld the letters together for the base.  Cut another layer of letters -- I chose to unlink them and cut separately.  Glue the letters to the welded layer.  I started with the L and left the O to glue on last.  Set aside to dry.

I used the markers to color the flower.  Blend both reds together on the bottom layer, use the darker of the two reds for the middle layer and the lightest red for the top layer of the flower.  Glue the layers together and using a drop of the glaze, add the jewel.  Set aside to dry. 

Cut card bases.  I'm using a 5.5 inch base for these cards as they will be hand delivered.  Glue the letter layer to the base, using a glue dot, attach the flower.  Add a sentiment to the inside of the card.  Use a clear adhesive sticker to close the card and deliver to your recipients! 

Thanks for stopping by today!  Wishing you all the best as you continue to create during the month!  #eclipsecalmaker

Ornament card

I saw this idea on a Gelli Art video shared recently on their blog.  I just had to make a few.  I love gelli printing and figured it was worth the price to get a couple of small circle plates -- LOVE THEM and it was good retail therapy to boot!  LOL

 

 

You'll need:
Paint (colors of your choice)
brayer
stencils and other texture supplies
Gelli plate (circle, small)
Oatmeal/kraft color cardstock - FSJ
twine, ribbon
adhesive (Lineco)
white cardstock
Silver Sharpie
Mixed Media Supplies mica

eclips2
eCal3
printer/scanner (optional)

Create your prints using the gelli plate and paints.  Set aside to dry.  You can print directly onto your card front as shown in the video or stamp several onto a sheet and scan and then trace in eCal to cut. 

Create the ornament top using the basic shapes library and cut on white cardstock.  Color with the silver Sharpie.  My marker wasn't as juicy as a new one, and I was able to get the ridge lines with ease.  😊

If you printed directly to your card front, glue on the ornament top and add the twine or ribbon to finish off.  I used a stamp on the inside, but you could certainly print before you add your gelli print to the front of the stock. 

Because I desired some cleaner edges on most of my prints (I got a little heavy handed with the paint on a few of the prints), I cut my prints and glued to the front of the cardstock bases.  I added some mica to all the fronts for a little more bling even though it doesn't show up well in this image. 

Thanks for stopping by as we close out 2018.  I'm looking forward to more creative time in 2019!  #eclipsecalmaker