Happy Easter (Stamp Tailoring)

Mo Manning’s illustration for Penny Black’s You Are A Peach instantly had me thinking of all the little things this girl could be carrying.

With Easter just around the corner, I "tailored" her finding a holiday basket filled with treats.  The peach was substituted with the basket from Spring Day and a bunny from Sweet Dreams.

A subtle pattern of hydrangeas from Flower Festival was stamped in Habanero VersaFine on the Summer Sun cardstock.  The Rose Garden cardstock was rubbed with Love Letter Memento and the soft glow on the white cardstock is Peanut Brittle Memento.

Tip/Hint:  Enhance the depth of elevated elements on a card by using different thicknesses of dimensional foam.  In this sample 1/16th inch foam was used between the card base and the Rose Garden cardstock and 1/8th inch foam elevates the fussy cut girl.

Happy Friday, 

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: You Are A Peach 40-124, Sweet Dreams 4245H, Flower Festival 30-095, Spring Day 30-099

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Rose Garden 14-002, Summer Sun 17-002

Dimensional Foam: 3M Scotch, EK Success

Copic Markers

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Habanero VersaFine, Love Letter Memento, Peanut Brittle Memento, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder

Say "Cheese"

A whimsical combination of Penny Black stamps.  The mouse from Big Ben was used to take the picture of On Guard with Houses of Parliament in the distance.

Tip/Hint:  To create the feeling of distance between two objects, stamp the farthest image in a lighter ink tone.  In this sample, the Houses of Parliament were stamped in London Fog Memento instead of black ink.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing a smile,

Elizabeth

Supplies: 

Penny Black Stamps: Big Ben 4218L, On Guard 4215K, Houses of Parliament 4223K, Make Me Smile 3637B

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Fern Green 05-002

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Summer Sky Memento, Bahama Blue Memento, Bamboo Leaves Memento, London Fog Memento, Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Thinking of You (CHA Make-N-Take)

Today I have a design to share that I created as a Penny Black make-n-take for the past winter CHA convention.

Tsukineko generously sponsored the inking products used for this project!  Inkblushers, their new sponge applicators, were used for pouncing their new Memento inks on the flower.

Instructions

• Stamp Damask Pattern with Espresso Truffle Memento on a Fall Festival card base.  Highlight with the same ink and a sponge dauber.
• Distress the die cut with Peanut Brittle Memento and a sponge dauber.  Stamp the sentiment in black.  Attach to the card base with dimensional foam.
• Stamp Mums the Word with Onyx Black VersaFine on white cardstock and heat emboss with clear powder.  Color by pouncing with Inkblushers and Love Letter, Morocco and Pistachio Memento inks.  Trim the flower and attach with dimensional foam.

Tuskineko also invited us over to their booth for a video taping!  It was so much fun working laughing with Jeff, John, Susan and Hope!  I will let you know when they have finished editing the film and upload the video.  

---Elizabeth 

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Mums the Word 4234K, Damask Pattern 40-110, Gratitude 30-105

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Fall Festival 16-003

Spellbinders: Labels Fifteen (S4-291)

Tombow: 3D Foam Tabs

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Love Letter Memento, Morocco Memento, Pistachio Memento, Peanut Brittle Memento, Espresso Truffle Memento, Inkblushers, Jumbo Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Resplendent Times Two

Today I have two cards featuring Penny Black’s Resplendent.

The first design is all about color and creating a varnished faux wood element and the second is a study in layers of white with a pop of color.

This is the lovely and elegant stamp..

Card #1

Instructions:

• A square card base was created from Dark Blue Lagoon cardstock.
• A panel of Light Blue Lagoon cardstock stamped with Paisley in Teal Zeal Memento ink and a thin black strip were elevated on top.  The same ink and a sponge dauber were used to add highlights to the edges of the card.
• After Resplendent was stamped on white cardstock with Onyx Black VersaFine and heat embossed with clear powder the image was die cut with Spellbinders Labels Three.  The entire piece was colored with Copics. 

• For the varnished faux wood, all the light tan areas were colored with a white Prismacolor pencil.  Thin black lines were then added with a Micron pen.   Peanut Brittle Memento ink was pounced on top using a dab, dab then “smoosh” method.  The black ink lines are meant to blur slightly, but "smooshing" on every application will cause too much distortion.  The entire piece was then pounced with VersaMark Watermark ink and heat set with clear powder.   The image was heat embossed with clear powder two more times.
• A die cut from black cardstock that was softly inked with Delicata Golden Glitz was used to mat the piece.
• The finished element was attached to the front of the card with dimensional foam tape.

Card #2

Instructions:

• A square card base was created from white cardstock.
• A small section of Script Foil White paper was stamped with Damask Pattern in Peanut Brittle Memento ink.  This was then attached to a piece of white cardstock distressed with the same color ink and the sentiment stamped in black.
• After the piece was matted with black cardstock it was attached to the front of the card with dimensional foam.
• Resplendent was stamped twice on white cardstock with Onyx Black VersaFine and heat embossed with clear powder.  The images were colored, trimmed and edged by applying Gold StazOn with a Fantastix. 
• The main flower was attached with dimensional foam and the flower head from the second image was used as an additional elevated element.

Tip/Hint: Take your favorite patterned papers and give them a unique twist by stamping another pattern on top.  (As shown with the Script Foil White paper stamped with Damask Pattern in Card #2)

Happy Spring …

Elizabeth

Penny Black Stamps: Resplendent 4238L, Paisley 40-106, Damask Pattern 40-110, Gratitude 30-105

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Blue Lagoon 09-001, 09-003; Storm 01-001, 01-003

Penny Black Papers: Script Foil White 60-005

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers

Prismacolor: White Pencil

Sakura: Black Micron Pen

Spellbinders: Labels Three (S4-189)

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Teal Zeal Memento, Peanut Brittle Memento, Gold StazOn, Delicata Golden Glitz, Fantastix, Jumbo Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Flower Garden Collage

When the Penny Black Design Team was tasked with selecting their favorite stamp to be showcased in a card my heart jumped then dropped.  How can you pick just one?!

I love Soft Wings (butterfly), but I also tucked in a few of my other favorite stamping elements.  You can see how the inside of the card was finished “here” on the Penny Black blog.

This is how I created each of the design elements:

Card Base:  Sticks & Stones (02-002) cardstock with the edges distressed in Peanut Brittle Memento and Vintage Sepia.

Black Mat:  Storm (01-003) cardstock edged with Delicata Golden Glitz ink.

Teal Mat:  Sea Breeze (08-003) cardstock stamped with Damask Pattern in Teal Zeal Memento ink.

Botanical Page:  Sticks & Stones (02-001) cardstock stamped with Flower Garden in Onyx Black VersaFine and heat embossed with clear powder.  Rip a small portion from the top of the image and distress the edges with Peanut Brittle Memento and Vintage Sepia VersaFine.

Paper Pieced Flower:  Flower Garden stamped on white cardstock in Vintage Sepia ink, heat set and trimmed. Highlights added with a white Prismacolor pencil and then watercolored with Pistachio and Lilac Posies Memento inks.  A small drop of gold StazOn inker was placed on a plastic surface and transferred to the edges of the trimmed piece with a Fantastix.

Medallion:  Scented Message stamped on white cardstock with Onyx Black VersaFine and heat embossed with clear powder.  The trimmed medallion was water colored with Elderberry, Teal Zeal, Peanut Brittle, Pistachio and Morocco Memento inks.

Butterfly:  Soft Wings stamped on white cardstock with Onyx Black VersaFine and heat embossed with clear powder.  The image was watercolored with Elderberry, Teal Zeal, Peanut Brittle, Morocco Memento inks.  You can view a video outlining watercoloring with Memento inks in this post “here”. 

Hint/Tip:  For added sparkle, complete the final blending of colors with Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz.  Thoroughly shake and mix the liquid and then pour a few drops onto a plastic surface and transfer with a brush.

Wishing you a creative day,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Soft Wings 40-099, Flower Garden 4242K, Scented Message 4239K, Damask Pattern 40-110

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001, 01-003; Sticks & Stones 02-001, 02-002; Sea Breeze 08-003

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Canson: Watercolor Paper

Prismacolor Pencil: White

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Vintage Sepia VersaFine, Morocco Memento, Pistachio Memento, Teal Zeal Memento, Elderberry Memento, Peanut Brittle Memento, Delicata Golden Glitz, Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz, Gold StazOn Inker, Fantastix, Clear Embossing Powder, Jumbo Sponge Dauber, Tuxedo Black Memento Marker

Olympic Countdown

Only 129 days left until the London Summer Olympics begin!

These Penny Black stamps were combined to make the card:



Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge
Love London, Warm Wishes





In keeping with the Olympic style, here are some “quick and fast” instructions….

A white cardstock base was dappled with clouds using a sponge dauber with Summer Sky and Danube Blue Memento inks.  A stamped and “fussy cut” Tower Bridge was elevated on top.  The piece was then framed with an oval die-cut window from Blue Skies cardstock stamped with Warm Wishes in Danube Blue Memento.  Strips of Olive Grove cardstock were stamped and decorated for dimensional horizontal elements.

Tip/Hint:  Large stamps such as structural buildings make great designer papers.  In this sample, Houses of Parliament was used to add a random pattern to the decorative strip on the top of the card.

Smiles,

Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black Stamps: Houses of Parliament 4223K, The Tower Bridge 4227K, Love London 30-093, Warm Wishes 40-074

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Clear Skies 10-002, Olive Grove 04-001

3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers

Spellbinders: Classic Ovals Large (S4-110) 

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Bamboo Leaves Memento, Summer Sky Memento, Danube Blue Memento, Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge Daubers

Other: While Prismacolor Pencil  

Moving Backgrounds Forward

Background designs are often thought of as a pattern that is set behind a prominent focal image to complement and enhance. 

Today’s project looks at reversing this practice and moves the background forward toward the “center stage” with small complementary accents.

Repeatedly stamping Penny Black's Lace Flower on white cardstock with Onyx Black VersaFine ink and heat embossing with clear powder created a prominent base.  Next, the design was colored and shaded to build up depth.

After matting with black and white cardstocks, small touches were added for visual interest.

A sentiment tag.

Crystal gems were colored with a black Sharpie for the flower centers 

and a ribbon was distressed with Stone Gray StazOn.

The richness of the warm gray cardstock was enhanced with a sponge dauber and Gray Flannel Memento with a touch of Delicata Golden Glitz here and there.  Frost Dazzle VersaMark ink was pounced directly from the pad on all the edges then they were heat embossed with clear powder.

Tip/Hint:  Consider stamping an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of cardstock when creating the background panel.  Trim the amount needed for the current project and have an additional pre-stamped section ready for future cards.

Thank you for joining me today!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Lace Flower 4241K, Gratitude 30-105

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001, 01-002, 01-003

Copic Markers

EK Success: 3D Dots

Making Memories: Ribbon

Mark Richards: Crystal Stickers

Sharpie: Black

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Gray Flannel Memento, Delicata Golden Glitz, Stone Gray StazOn, Frost Dazzle VersaMark, Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Easter Treat Tags

With Easter just around the corner I am preparing a few little basket treats.

These foiled wrapped trail mix bars were the perfect color to decorate with bunny tags. 

No die cuts required!  The frame from the Sweet Wishes set was stamped in black with Warm Wishes stamped for the background.  After trimming you have an instant tag!  The bunny and sentiment are from Spring Day.

Tip/Hint:  To convert a horizontal sentiment into a two-part stacked phrase, simply cut the acrylic stamp in half.

These are the Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstocks and Tsukineko Inks used for each tag:

Green Tag:

Cardstock: Spring Meadow 06-001

Background Ink: Spanish Moss VersaFine

Blending Ink: Tea Leaves VersaMagic

Yellow Tag:

Cardstock: Summer Sun 17-002

Background Ink: Persimmon VersaMagic

Blending Ink: Mango Madness

Blue Tag:

Cardstock: Blue Lagoon 09-001

Background Ink: Aegean Blue VersaMagic

Blending Ink: Aegean Blue VersaMagic

Tip/Hint:  Create coordinating attachments by inking plain white cotton string with the same ink color used for the tag blending.

You can see more Easter inspiration on the Penny Black blog “here” today!

Many thanks for your kind visit!

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Spring Day 30-099, Sweet Wishes 30-104, Warm Wishes 40-074

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Spring Meadow 06-001, Summer Sun 17-002, Blue Lagoon 09-001

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Deep Lagoon VersaFine (sentiment), Spanish Moss VersaFine, Tea Leaves VersaMagic, Persimmon VersaMagic, Mango Madness VersaMagic, Aegean Blue VersaMagic, Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Other: White Cotton String

Hello Friend

Just driving by to wave and say hello....

Have a fabulous day,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Miniful 4220K, Retro Pattern 40-086, Hello Friend 30-069

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Fall Festival 16-003

3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers

Spellbinders Standard Circles

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Summer Sky Memento, Habanero VersaFine, Jumbo Sponge Dauber

From Stamp to Embellishment

Silhouette stamps are wonderful for creating chipboard-like embellishments...

To create the thick tree embellishment, Penny Black's new Grandeur was stamped on white cardstock with Niagara Mist VersaMagic ink and the sentiment from Gratitude in Onyx Black VersaFine.  Clear embossing powder was sprinkled over the image and heat set.

After trimming the image, it was pounced with VersaMark Watermark ink and heat embossed with clear powder.  This step was repeated a second time.


The card base was constructed from two Labels Fifteen die cuts and edged with Delicata Golden Glitz ink.  A portion of a third Labels Fifteen die cut was stamped with Damask Pattern in Teal Zeal Memento.  The piece was first distressed with Peanut Brittle Memento and then Teal Zeal Memento.


From the photo you can see how the layers were assembled with the addition of a Classic Oval die cut and dimensional foam tape.

Have a fabulous Friday,
Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black Stamps: Damask Pattern 40-110, Grandeur 40-114, Gratitude 30-105
Spellbinders: Classic Ovals Large (S4-110), Labels Fifteen (S4-291)
Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Niagara Mist VersaMagic, VersaMark Watermark, Peanut Brittle Memento, Teal Zeal Memento, Delicata Golden Glitz, Clear Embossing Powder, Jumbo Sponge Dauber

Shoes & Friends (CAS)

Hello Everyone!

These chic new Penny Black transparent sets Hello Gorgeous and A Little Bird have a terrific mix of stylish and retro designs. 

For this card, I kept the design simple and added a few subtle textural elements.

In the center of the card, I dry embossed a small rectangle and distressed it with Memento’s new Peanut Brittle ink and a sponge dauber.  Dimensional foam was used to adhere the shoes to the card. 

Happy Wednesday,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Hello Gorgeous 30-097, A Little Bird 30-102, Too Many 3853F

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001

Copic Markers

Ranger: Crystal Stickles

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Peanut Brittle Memento Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge Dauber

One Stamp --- Many Components

Today I have a set of cards created with Penny Black’s Words So Sweet.  After creating a card using the full image, I used components of the stamp to create two smaller cards.

You’ll spot more new Penny Black images tucked here and there in today’s designs.

Here are a few quick instructions for the cards…… 

• Mask off white cardstock and apply Lilac Posies Memento ink with a sponge dauber.  Remove the masking strips
• Stamp Words So Sweet and the sentiment in Onyx Black VersaFine and heat emboss with clear powder.
• Color with Copics and add a second sheet of paper in the typewriter for dimension.
• Mat with Summer Sun cardstock.
• Stamp Fuchsia Fantasies card base with Paisley in Elderberry Memento ink.
• Attach matted artwork to the card base with dimensional foam tape.

• Create a card base from Summer Sun cardstock.  Stamp the front of the card with Warm Wishes in Cantaloupe Memento ink.  Stamp the sentiment in Onyx Black VersaFine.
• Stamp the flourish in Onyx Black VersaFine on a small strip of Fuchsia Fantasies cardstock.  Attach to the bottom of the card and add dots with a black pen.
• Stamp Words So Sweet on white cardstock and heat emboss with clear powder.
• Color the bird cage with Copic markers and trim.
• Attach the trimmed image to the card with dimensional foam tape.

• Create a card base from Sea Breeze card stock and highlight the edges with Teal Zeal Memento ink and a sponge dauber.
• Mask off an area on a white piece of cardstock and apply Cantaloupe Memento ink with a sponge dauber.  Stamp the highlighted window with Letter Background in Vintage Sepia ink.  Remove the masking strips.
• Stamp the sentiment in Onyx Black VersaFine and heat emboss with clear powder.
• Mat with Fuchsia Fantasies cardstock and attach to the card base with dimensional foam tape.
• Use the stamped typewriter from the previous stamped impression and color with Copic markers.  Trim the image and apply to the front of the card with dimensional foam tape.

Thank you for visiting!

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  Words So Sweet 4256K, Paisley 40-106, Wishes 30-103, A Little Bird 30-102, Letter Background 1999L, Warm Wishes 40-074

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Sea Breeze 08-002, Summer Sun 17-002, Fuchsia Fantasies 13-003

3M Scotch:  Dimensional Foam Tape

Judi Kins:  Eclipse Tape (used for masking)

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Vintage Sepia VersaFine, Elderberry Memento, Cantaloupe Memento, Lilac Posies Memento, Teal Zeal Memento, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder

A Perfect Match

Are you looking for a fast way to make coordinated patterned papers?  One of my favorite methods is to use the same stamp image with the same ink color.

For this design, I selected two Penny Black colored cardstocks and then stamped both pieces with the flourish from Flowers Sweet in Habanero VersaFine ink.  A quick, instant match!  The colored cardstocks lend a vibrant contrast while the stamped pattern adds a flow of continuity. 

To soften the matted layers, all the cardstock edges were highlighted with a Delicata Golden Glitz ink pad.

The circle of flowers from Wishes was stamped in Spanish Moss VersaFine ink and heat embossed with clear powder.  Memento Markers were used for direct-to-paper coloring.

The sentiment from Gratitude was stamped in Oynx Black VersaFine and heat embossed with clear powder.  The design elements were then attached with dimensional foam tape. 

To finish the card, a soft application of Peanut Brittle Memento ink was added to the edges of the card base.

Happy Friday,  

Elizabeth 

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Wishes 30-103, Flowers Sweet 30-096, Gratitude 30-105

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Clear Skies 10-001, Summer Sun 17-003, Storm 01-003

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Mark Richards: Pearl Stickers

Spellbinders: Standard Circles Large 

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Habanero VersaFine, Spanish Moss VersaFine, Peanut Brittle Memento, Delicata Golden Glitz, Memento Markers (100 Dandelion, 103 Cantaloupe, 200 Tangelo, 300 Lady Bug, 703 Pear Tart, 804 Desert Sand), Clear Embossing Powder, Jumbo Sponge Dauber