LESS and MORE

No need to decide if a stamp is best suited for a simple design or something elaborate.  Have fun exploring the possibilities of both less and more!

 

Penny Black’s beautiful background, Bed of Roses, illustrates how one design can offer a range of variations.

 

A white Les Petites card creates the base for this elevated platform of roses stamped in London Fog Memento ink on white cardstock.

A small heart punch offers a view of sparkly red micro-fine glitter placed behind the cut out.  Pearl beads tinted with Metallic Gold StazOn and edging done in Delicata Golden Glitz add touches of gilding. 

This miniature mixed media heart is constructed from shaped layers cut from a recycled cereal box. 

Fussy cutting a random assortment of roses from the background pattern provided a colorful applique for the design.  Interference Red and Sparkle Gold Jewelz Watercolors from USArtQuest give the flowers a dazzling iridescent flair.

Have a fabulous day,
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Bed of Roses 40-190

Penny Black Les Petites 90-001

Copic Markers

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: London Sky Memento, Onyx Black VersaFine, Jet Black StazOn, Clear Embossing Powder

Fiskars: Shape Template – Hearts 1

Offray: Ribbon

USArtQuest: Jewelz Watercolor Palette

Other: Acrylic Paints, Gesso, Crystal Glitter, Recycled Cereal Box

Yuletide Wishes (Mini Mixed Media)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Wishing you a Christmas filled with 

love, joy and peace!

A Mini Mimi Size: 1-3/8 x 3 x 3-3/8

Holly-Jolly Hugs,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  Mimi’s Winter Friends30-133, All is Bright 30-137, Pointille 3860J, Crystalline 30-018

Copic Markers

Wood Block: 1-3/8 x 3 x 3-3/8

Other: Acrylic Paints, Gesso, Mod Podge, Crystal Glitter 

A Thank You With "Sweet Buds"

Even though Valentine’s is celebrated for just one day, bunches of love sprinkled with red and pink hearts can be shared each and every day!

 

As with these “Sweet Buds” from Penny Black’s new Valentine collection, I saw so many ways to use this image during the year.  This “thank you” sentiment from Flower Gallery is a classic and one of my favorites.

TIP/HINT:  Using a colored ink for stamping flowers gives a softer alternative to the traditional black ink.  In this sample, the flowers were stamped with Lilac Posies Memento and then colored in a similar hue.

You can also see daily "thank you" inspiration all this week on the Penny Black Blog.

May love fill your heart each and every day!

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Sweet Buds 4292H, Flower Gallery 30-031

Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock: Grand Canyon 03-001, Blue Lagoon 09-001

Copic Markers

Dimensional Foam: 3M Scotch

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Bahama Blue Memento, Lilac Posies Memento, Teal Zeal Memento, Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Offray: Organza Ribbon

Mixed Media Mash Up II

Jill Foster (Inspired By) and I had such a fun time with our first Mixed Media Mash Up challenge that we couldn’t resist teaming up for another installment!

As before, we selected common elements that would be used by each of us for the challenge.

The elements for this challenge are:

• A 4 ¼ x 5 ½ canvas or wood base
• Any stamp from the new 2013 Penny Black Valentine Collection
• A hand-drawn border

From this side view, you can see that I set up my design on a wood base with a vertical presentation.  Butterfly Symphony was the new Penny Black Valentine stamp selected for the second challenge element.  Coloring with Copics added the intense, vibrant colors.  

I loved working with this size board/canvas as it inspired me to take an idea I might use for a greeting card and translate it into mixed media. 

The design was “mixed” and “mashed” with another Penny Black favorite called Free Flight.  The sentiment combined with the postage made a nice collage element along with some text (beautiful) cut from an old book.

A hand-painted border in black and white adds a transitional framing layer.  Additional layers of stamping, inks and paints add great depth too.  Here you can see glimpses of All Over Pattern, Puzzle Parts and Scroll Script.

I finish my mixed media pieces with a "signature" which is a little "e" hidden somewhere in the design.  

This sneak peek from Jill’s canvas only shows a fraction of the colorful creativity packed into her design!  Click “here” to see the full reveal!

You can also revisit our first installment of Mixed Media Mash Up “here”.

Thank you for visiting,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Butterfly Symphony 30-148, All Over Pattern 40-109, Puzzle Parts 30-114, Scroll Script 3863H, Free Flight 30-117

Copic Markers

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Memento Markers, Memento Ink Pads, StazOn Ink Pads, Clear Embossing Powder

Other: Text Paper, Gesso, Acrylic Paints, Mod Podge

With Love

Love Flourish - Another heart-stopping stamp design from Penny Black’s new Valentine collection!  

Love Flourish was stamped on white cardstock with VersaMark Watermark ink and heat embossed with white powder.  Random hues of Dandelion, Cantaloupe and Lilac Posies Memento inks were sponged on the image and then the heart was trimmed by hand.   

The next layer is a (2 5/8 x 3 ½) piece of Blue Lagoon cardstock stamped with Inspiring in Teal Zeal Memento.  This was then matted with black cardstock edged in Delicata Golden Glitz ink.  The white cardstock (2 ¾ x 5 1/8) was dry embossed and then stamped with the sentiment from Gratitude.  The card base was created from Fuchsia Fantasies cardstock.  For added dimension, foam tape was used between the heart and the teal strip as well as between the teal strip and the front of the card.

I have "mixed" news!!!  This Friday I am teaming up with Jill Foster to share a new Mixed Media Mash Up!

See you soon, 

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Love Flourish 40-186, Inspiring 40-113, Gratitude 30-105  

Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001 & 01-003, Blue Lagoon 09-002, Fuchsia Fantasies 13-002  

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Dandelion Memento, Cantaloupe Memento, Lilac Posies Memento, Teal Zeal Memento, Delicate Golden Glitz, VersaMark Watermark Ink, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder, White Embossing Powder

Provo Craft: Cuttlebug Textile Embossing Folder

Other: Crystal Gem 

Just My Type

Love is in the air with Penny Black's new Valentine release!  Check out all the fabulous designs in their new catalog "here".  

There are so many wonderful possibilities to use this vintage typewriter called My Type throughout the year.

 

This card was created from Penny Black’s adorable little Les Petites cards and Coral Reef Mix and Match Cardstock.

 

For the message, a small slit was cut in the typewriter to hold the paper page.  The one-line sentiment was stamped in stages so it could be stacked into a smaller area.

Here is a look at the whole set…

My Type (40-189)

Think of all the fun things you can "type" into this design!

Be back soon with another new design...

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: My Type 40-189  

Penny Black Les Petites 90-001

Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock: Coral Reef 15-003

Dimensional Foam: 3M Scotch, EK Success

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Satin Red VersaFine, London Fog Memento, Memento Markers 

Snowy Holiday Greetings

Returning today with sparkly snowflakes…..

This swirling collection of wintry delight is from Penny Black's A Bright Tomorrow.  The snowflakes were stamped in VersaMark Watermark ink on a Labels Seventeen die cut from white cardstock and heat embossed with white powder. 

Nautical Blue Memento ink was sponged on top.  The excess ink resisted by the heat embossing was wiped away with a soft cloth.  The sentiment from Hello Winter was stamped with Satin Red VersaFine on a Ribbon Tag.

The snowflake panel was elevated on top of another Labels Seventeen die cut which was accented with paper piercing.  After the card was assembled, the snowflakes were accented with glitter.

Have fun collecting your snowflakes for snowballs, snowmen and holiday greeting cards!

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: A Bright Tomorrow 30-130, Hello Winter 30-141

Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001

Dimensional Foam

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Satin Red VersaFine, VersaMark Watermark Ink, Delicata Golden Glitz, Nautical Blue Memento, White Embossing Powder, Jumbo Sponge Dauber

Spellbinders: Ribbon Tag Trio (S4-323), Labels Seventeen (S5-025)
Other: Crystal Glitter

Holiday Greetings

Today’s holiday cards share similar color palettes of rich reds, warms yellows and hues of green.

With the fantastic elements in Penny Black’s A Wish for Peace transparent set, a festive holly wreath was stamped, colored and trimmed for a dimensional element over the sentiment.

The top of the card is a portion of a Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Two which was distressed with Peanut Brittle Memento and stamped with second impressions of the dotted twigs in Pistachio and Peanut Brittle Memento inks. 

Diamond Pattern stamped on Rose Garden Cardstock in Crimson Red VersaFine creates the base of the card.  A Black Gaze Pen is wonderful for accenting tiny dots throughout the pattern. 

This next design combines Penny Black’s Christmas Cheer and A Wish for Peace transparent sets.

A Reverse Wonky Rectangle die cut adds a fun shape to the design of the card.

 

Separate ornaments were stamped, colored, fussy cut and attached with dimensional foam.

The background design was obtained by inking a white piece of cardstock with Peanut Brittle Memento ink.  The holly was stamped twice in Pistachio Memento.  TIP/HINT: Using both the first and second impressions of the image adds depth to the design.  Copic markers were used to color the leaves and then  highlights were added with a white gel pen. 

Have a festive day,
Elizabeth

Joy To The World Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: A Wish for Peace 30-136, Diamond Pattern 40-169

Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001, Rose Garden 14-003

Copic Markers

Dimensional Foam

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Crimson Red VersaFine, Peanut Brittle Memento, Pistachio Memento, Delicata Golden Glitz, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder

Sakura: Black Glaze Pen

Spellbinders: Labels Twenty-Two (S4-346)

Sending Christmas Cheer Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Christmas Cheer 30-140, A Wish for Peace 30-136

Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001, Sticks & Stones 02-002, Spring Meadow 06-003, Rose Garden 14-03

Copic Markers

Dimensional Foam

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Love Letter Memento, Peanut Brittle Memento, Pistachio Memento

Sakura: White Gel Pen

Spellbinders: Reverse Wonky Rectangles (S4-307)

Snowflake Charms (Tutorial)

Here is a way to capture beautiful, wintry snowflakes without them melting!

These little charms are made from Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko’s Sheet Metal Circles and Penny Black’s All is Bright transparent stamps.

They are “charming” for holiday ornaments, card embellishments, decorative gift bag tags and jewelry adornments!

Instructions

 

Apply a few drops of Matte GlazOn to a Sheet Metal tag

and spread to cover with a mini squeegee.  Let dry.

 

Place a few drops of Cotton White Opaque StazOn on 

an InkBlusher and lightly dab the tag to cover.  Let dry.

 

Apply a few drop of Matte StazOn to a clean InkBlusher 

and dab over the Cotton White StazOn Ink.  Let dry.

Slightly distress the edges of the tag with an InkBlusher and Hydrangea Blue StazOn.  

Stamp snowflake design in the same color ink.  Let dry.

 

Spray with GooseBumps Clear Texture Spray and let dry.  

Remove protective backing and accent with ribbon.

Special Event News….. Starting today, Penny Black is having an exciting sneak peek week on their blog of their new Valentine designs.  Stop by for DAILY fun and giveaways!

Enjoy,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: All is Bright 30-137

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko:  Sheet Metal Circles, Hydrangea Blue StazOn, Cotton White StazOn Opaque, Matte GlazOn, GooseBumps Clear Texture Spray, Mini Squeegee, InkBlushers  

Peace and Joy (Gift Box: Same Pattern With New Design)

Using the same box pattern/instructions (slightly enlarged) from the previous post “here”, a whole new design was created!

While the previous box design captured all the elements of a one-layer concept, today’s feature shows an alternative with added dimension.

 

To keep the banner and ornament as focal points, a randomly designed background was created for the box top.  A piece of Sea Breeze (08-001) cardstock was stamped with Diamond Pattern and Winter Berries in Teal Zeal Memento ink with golden highlights added with the dotted scroll from A Wish for Peace stamped in Delicata Golden Glitz.

The sentiment for the banner was stamped in Delicata Golden Glitz and highlighted with Peanut Brittle and Toffee Crunch Memento inks.

 

Two impressions of the ornament (Hanging Treasures) were made with Delicata Golden Glitz on white cardstock and heat embossed with clear powder.  After trimming the ornaments, for layering purposes, the elements were colored with Grape Jelly and Teal Zeal Memento markers.  All the layers and attachments to the box were made with dimensional foam.  A small crystal gem and gold glitter were added for sparkly embellishments.

Enjoy letting your favorite box pattern be the platform for endless design possibilities!

Have a beautiful weekend,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Diamond Pattern 40-169, Hanging Treasures 40-165, Winter Berries 4273K, A Wish for Peace 30-136

Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock: Sea Breeze 08-001

Dimensional Foam

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Delicata Golden Glitz, Teal Zeal Memento, Peanut Brittle Memento, Toffee Crunch Memento, Memento Markers (Grape Jelly, Teal Zeal), Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge Daubers

Mark Richards: Crystal Gem

Crystal Drops...A Card & A Box

One great “recipe/technique” can lead to multiple creative variations!  

Today “Crystal Drops”, Penny Black’s elegant collage stamp, is used with the same masking/stamping technique along with Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko's inks to create a card and a box.

Echo/Shadow Stamping:  First Impression - Pistachio Memento; Second Impression - Delicata Golden Glitz

For the card, a small area was masked, inked and stamped.  

TIP/HINT:  For shadow/echo stamping, stamp the image once, clean the stamp, re-ink with a second color, and then stamp over the previous impression.

Dimensional embellishing accents were created from the sentiments from Hello Winter.

Using the same techniques, a box was designed to match the card.

Echo/Shadow Stamping:  First Impression - Nautical Blue Memento; Second Impression - Delicata Golden Glitz

The top of the box contains the same shading and “echo” stamping.    This time the masks were removed before the collage was stamped so the design could extend beyond the "inked window".

 

Here, tucked on the inside, a wintry sentiment was added from Christmas Cheer.

 

To finish, the bottom of the box was stamped with Christmas Story.

TIP/HINT:  Penny Black’s Cardstock is wonderful for creating boxes.  Great weight and the one-sided color makes it easy to create two-tone pieces.  In this sample, Clear Skies cardstock offers a fabulous option for the interior to be white while the outside portion is a beautiful blue.

This box was a make-n-take project I taught at CHA and welcome you enjoy these instructions for creative inspiration. 

Box Instructions

·    Mask the sides of a 4 x 4 piece of white cardstock with 1” strips 

of Eclipse Tape.  Highlight the center with Danube Blue Memento Ink.

·   Remove the masks and stamp Crystal Drops in 

Nautical Blue then again with Delicata Golden Glitz.  

Optional:  Add snowy highlights to the trees with a white gel pen or pencil.

    
·   Stamp the background (Christmas Story) on a slightly smaller 

square (3 15/16 x 3 15/16) of Clear Skies cardstock with Nautical Blue 

and the sentiment on the reserve side with Majestic Blue. 

·   Add ½” score lines on the sides of the cardstocks. 

Add slits then fold and assemble the box. 

There is a fabulous week-long holiday event underway on the Penny Black Blog.  You can click "here" to see the inspiration, videos and giveaways!

Enjoy,
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  Crystal Drops 4268K, Hello Winter 30-141, Christmas Cheer 30-140, Christmas Story 40-164

Penny Black Cardstock: Storm 01-001, Clear Skies 10-003, Rose Garden 14-003

Dimensional Foam

Judi Kins: Eclipse Tape

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Danube Blue Memento, Nautical Blue Memento, Majestic Blue VersaFine, Crimson Red VersaFine, Peanut Brittle, Pistachio Memento, Delicata Golden Glitz, Memento Markers (Pear Tart, Danube Blue), Clear Embossing Powder, Jumbo Sponge Dauber

"Tagged" (Tutorial)

With the holiday spirit growing and snowflakes falling, tags are wonderful accents to add festive greetings to gifts.

  

These tiny tags made with Penny Black stamps and Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko's inks were created in 6 holly-jolly steps.  

This was also a make-n-take project I taught at the last CHA convention.

 

Step 1

Cut a 1 ¼ x 3-inch rectangle from Olive Grove Cardstock.  

Round the top corners and punch a small hole at the top.  

Measure 1 5/8 inches down from the top of the tag and make a 1/8” slit on each side.

Step 2

Stamp Crystal Pattern on the tag with Pistachio Memento ink.

Step 3

Stamp the circular sentiment from Winter Wishes with Crimson Red VersaFine 

on a circular ring created with Spellbinders Standard Circles.

Step 4

Stamp the penguin from A Cool Christmas on white cardstock with Onyx Black VersaFine 

and heat emboss with clear powder.  Color the image with Memento markers and trim.

Step 5

Thread the tag through the ring and secure in the side notches.  

Place a small amount of adhesive under the ring on the back of the tag 

and insert a piece of dimensional foam under the front of the ring.

Step 6

Adhere the trimmed penguin to the tag with dimensional foam and add twine.

Smiles,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: A Cool Christmas 30-128, Winter Magic 30-134, Crystal Pattern 40-162

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Olive Grove 04-001

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Crimson Red VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder, Pistachio Memento, Memento Markers (Dandelion, Cantaloupe, Tangelo, Summer Sky, Lulu Lavender)

Spellbinders: Standard Circles Small

Holiday Stamp Collision - Finale

Time for the holiday stamp collision finale….

It was so much fun “colliding” these Penny Black stamps to create this card which can also be a tag.

Winter Berries 4273K

Santa's Hat 4283K

Hello Winter 30-141

Thank you for visiting this week.  Have a wonderful weekend...

Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black Stamps: 4283K Santa’s Hat,  Winter Berries 4273K, Hello Winter 30-141   
Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Fern Green 05-003, Sea Breeze 08-001, Rose Garden 13-003
American Crafts: Ribbon
Copic Markers
Dimensional Foam
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Peanut Brittle Memento, Teal Zeal Memento, Northern Pine, Delicata Golden Glitz, Sponge Daubers, InkBlushers, Clear Embossing Powder
Judi Kins – Eclipse Tape

Holiday Stamp Collision - Continued

Welcome back for another holiday stamp collision…..

These are the Penny Black stamps that “collided” for today’s card….

Christmas View 4274K
 

Hello Winter 30-141
 

Joy to the World 30-143
 

One-Scoop! 4285J

 

TIP/HINT:  Alter holiday stamps for year-round versatility as seen “here” with Christmas View.

See you on Friday with the finale collision!

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: One-Scoop 4285J, Christmas View 4274K, Joy to the World 30-143, Hello Winter 30-141   
Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Purple Mountain 12-001
Copic Markers
Dimensional Foam
Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Peanut Brittle Memento, Toffee Crunch Memento, Grape Jelly Memento, Spring Pansy VersaMagic, Sponge Daubers, InkBlushers, Clear Embossing Powder
Spellbinders: Standard Circles