Celebrating with Lulu (Day 2 of 3)

Returning with a peek from another card using Penny Black’s adorable new girl called "Lulu".

 

To see the full reveal of my card and to read an interview with the illustrator, Alex Smith, please pop in "here".

See you tomorrow with one more Lulu design!

Elizabeth

Penny Black Stamps: Special Girl 40-223

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Summer Sun 17-002

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Summer Sky Memento, Jumbo Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Fun with Lulu (Day 1 of 3)

Today Penny Black is introducing a new illustrator, Alex Smith.

One of Alex’s new designs is a sweet girl called "Lulu".  Her playful adventures and her cute dog are sure to make you smile.

Lulu's Cupcake (40-222)

Lulu's Party (30-167)

Be sure to hop over to the Penny Black Blog (here) to see more of Alex’s creativity.

Lulu and I will be back again tomorrow!

Elizabeth

Penny Black Stamps: Lulu’s Cupcake 40-222, Lulu’s Party 30-167, Embellishments 30-161 (banner)

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm (White) 01-001

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Summer Sky Memento, Bahama Blue Memento, Jumbo Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder
Spellbinders:  

Just My Type

"Swinging" by today with Mimi and Miles.

 

Two 2-7/8 x 3-5/8 scalloped rectangles die cut from Rose Garden cardstock were used to create the card base.

  

For the sky background, a small rectangle was masked off and Summer Sky and Bahama Blue Memento inks were applied with a jumbo sponge dauber.  After removing the masks, the sentiment from “My Type” was stamped below with Onyx Black and Satin Red VersaFine inks.

Fussy cut images of the stamped design were used for dimensional layering.  

Tip/Hint:  Heavy-weight black thread is a great alternative to use as the rope.

Have a great day,
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Swinging 4297K, My Type 40-189

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Rose Garden 14-001

Copic Markers

Dimensional Foam: 3M Scotch, EK Success

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Satin Red VersaFine, Summer Sky Memento, Bahama Blue Memento, Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Spellbinders: Classic Scalloped Rectangles

Other: Heavy-weight Black Thread 

Expressive "Lettering" (Mixed Media)

With 26 simple alphabetic letters, self-expression is limitless. 

One evening, these letters arranged themselves in a most profound way.  As this quote floated and took shape in my mind,  I was flooded with visual imagery which revealed itself in this design.

This message has meaning and inspiration for me on so many levels.  I am not aware of this being an authored quote.  Researching did not reveal an exact match, but that is not to say it has not been thought or written prior to this post by another individual.

This is one of my favorite text fonts from Penny Black.  This transparent alphabet set entitled “Kate’s Alphabet” contains upper and lower case letters as well as numbers and is part of the new 2013 Take Flight Collection.

Here is a tour of the "wood-block" canvas.....

Love the font of Kate's Alphabet.
Hand drawn dots add a "rivet" effect to the ends of  the word banners.

Butterfly Symphony and Allover Pattern stamped with StazOn inks

Wood blocks have such a great thickness!
Fun to wrap designs around the edges or add text paper.

Gold  micro beads....another fun accent element.

More stamps, paints and beads along with my "e" signature which is incorporated into each design.

Thank you for visiting today!  Don't forget to stop by the Penny Black Blog "here"... there is still time to join in the week of giveaways celebrating the release of their new collection.

May all your dreams come to life….

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Kate’s Alphabet 30-168, Butterfly Symphony 30-148 (musical flourish), Allover Pattern40-109, Sentiments 30-025 (dotted lines, dotted circles), Salutations 30-014 (dragonflies)

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: StazOn Inks

Other: Gesso, Acrylic Paints, Mod Podge, Text Paper, Gold Micro Beads  

Altered Book Journal Cover (Mixed Media & Video)

I have two exciting things to share today.  The first is the completion of the cover of my altered book journal.

You can see the cover before the transformation “here”.

I have so many ideas floating through my mind and I can’t wait to start "renovations" inside the book.

This is a short video with my thoughts and musings of how I approached the project…..

Zooming in....

Kisses in the Sun 4306L (Butterfly)

Melle Papillon 4300K

Venetian Summer 40-217

Embellishments 30-161 (Washi Tape)

Edge to Edge 30-164 (Sentiments)

Longing 40-196, Verdant 4310K, Trailing Beauty 40-207

Charms 30-173, Embellishments 30-161, Kate's Alphabet  30-168

Another exciting piece of news to share:

If you are wondering about the rubber stamps used in this project, they are hot off the press from Penny Black’s new 2013 Collection.  They are debuting their new catalog “here” and have all kinds of fun planned for the release.  Be sure to hop over and take a peek.

Smiles,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  Melle Papillon 4300K, Kisses in the Sun 4306L, Verdant 4310K, Longing 40-196, Trailing Beauty 40-207, Venetian Summer 40-217, Indian Wheel 40-202, Edge to Edge 30-164, Love Chapter 30-163, Embellishments 30-161, Charms 30-173, Kate’s Alphabet 30-168

Image Crafts/Tsukineko: StazOn Inks, Memento Inks, Onyx Black VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge Daubers

Other: Acrylic Paints, Gesso, Mod Podge

Critter Love

Penny Black's cute critters are all in a buzz getting ready for Valentine's Day.

This card was inspired by the Valentines I used to exchange as a child with the "to" and "from" areas to put my friends' names.  The red polka dot base of the card is from Penny Black's Madison Paper Pad.  The scene was created with a combination of these stamps: Sweet Ride, Guess Hoo, Love is in the Air.

"Lots of Love" is another cutie that is perfect for delivering a wagon of love all throughout the year.  Tip/Hint: Images like these also make great "thanks a bunch" themed cards.

Thank you for visiting,
Elizabeth

Supplies:
Penny Black Stamps: Sweet Ride 4299J, Lots of Love 4298J, Guess Hoo 40-188, Love is in the Air 30-144, Loads of Love 30-146
Penny Black Les Petites
Penny Black Madison Designer Paper Pad
Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001, Blue Lagoon 09-003

Copic Markers

Dimensional Foam: 3M Scotch and EK Success

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Persimmon VersaMagic, Love Letter Memento, Dandelion Memento, Cantaloupe Memento, Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder  

Offray: Green Grosgrain Ribbon 
Spellbinders: Labels Eighteen (S4-310)

With Love...

Stamping in green and gold can add a light, springy touch to flower images.

 

Penny Black’s Daisy Heart "springs" to life by stamping the main impression in Spanish Moss VersaFine.  This is used as a building base to add separate dimensional flowers that have been stamped in gold.  Tip/Hint:  Stamp in VersaMark Watermark ink and heat emboss with gold powder as an alternative to using a gold ink pad.

 

The centers of the flowers were adorned with small pearl beads. 

Thank you for dropping by for a visit,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Daisy Heart 4291K, Air Mail 30-072

Penny Black Les Petites 90-001

Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001, Fern Green 05-002  

American Crafts: Ribbon

Copic Markers

Dimensional Foam: 3M Scotch & EK Success

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Spanish Moss VersaFine, VersaMark Watermark Ink, Gold Embossing Powder

Provo Craft: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Other: White Seed Beads, Corner Rounder 

You're So Sweet

It’s Friday!  Time to splurge and indulge with a confectionery treat.  Guaranteed not to have any calories!

 

Enjoy the recipe for this card:

• Trim a Penny Black Les Petites card to measure 3-¼” square and set aside.
• Cut a 2 3/4-inch square from white cardstock and punch a 1-3/8” circle from the center. 
• Draw a border around the perimeter and color.  Add Cantaloupe and Dandelion Memento inks with a sponge dauber inside the square.  Stamp the sentiment with Onyx Black VersaFine.  Tip/Hint:  The sentiment was converted from a two-line greeting to a linear greeting by trimming the acrylic piece in two parts so they could be re-positioned.
• Cut a circle from white cardstock larger than the window opening and ink with Danube Blue Memento.  Position and adhere to the front of the prepared card.
• Attach the prepared window frame with dimensional foam to the front of the card.
• On a separate piece of white cardstock, stamp the mouse with Onyx Black VersaFine and heat emboss with clear powder.  Color, trim and attach to the card with dimensional foam.  Optional:  Additional icing can be stamped and attached for an extra layer.

Have a sweet day!

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Loads of Love 30-146, Sweet as Honey 30-145  

Penny Black Les Petites Card (trimmed) 90-001

Penny Black Mix and Match Cardstock:  Storm 01-001 (white)

Copic Markers

Dimensional Foam: EK Success

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Dandelion Memento, Cantaloupe Memento, Danube Blue Memento, Sponge Dauber, Clear Embossing Powder

Spellbinders: Standard Circles 1 3/8

Two Stamps.....Two Ways

Rubber stamping has always been a common theme for me when creating.  From card making to mixed media, they offer endless design possibilities.

Today I am using two of Penny Black’s new Valentine stamps to illustrate how they were used for a simple greeting card and in a mixed media home décor piece.

 

Love Blossoms and the sentiment from Butterfly Symphony are the focal elements in this CAS card.

 

An elevated panel of trimmed hearts adorned with red micro-fine glitter adds a sparkling twinkle.

 

The same two stamps were used in this mixed media piece along with many other Penny Black favorites (listed below).

 

In this design, Love Blossoms are a part of the background collage created on a 3/4" x 5-1/2" x 7-1/2" wood block.

 

It was fun adding this corner element which added a diagonal overlay to the rectangular format. 

 

Tip/Hint:  To give the heart added dimension and fullness, Love Flourish was attached with Modeling Paste.

Be sure to take a peek at all the posts this week on the Penny Black Blog where they are featuring creative ways to use the same stamps.

Have a fabulous day,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Love Blossoms 4293F, Love Flourish 40-186, Butterfly Symphony 30-148, Free Flight 30-117, Salutations 30-014, Christmas Cheer 30-140, Sentiments 30-025, Clearly in Love 30-009, Social Butterfly 30-009, Pointille3860J, Scroll Strip 3863H

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001, Rose Garden 14-001, Fern Green 05-003

Dimensional Foam: EK Success

Copic Marker: G000

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Spanish Moss VersaFine, Delicata Golden Glitz Ink, Clear Embossing Powder, StazOn Inks

Sharpie: Red

Martha Stewart Glitter

USArtQuest: Duo Embellishing Adhesive

Other: Acrylic Paints, Mod Podge, Gesso, Modeling Paste

Altered Tin (Up-style Recycling)

Tiny tins make great gift boxes and look fabulous as home décor accents.

Here a small Altoid tin went from looking like this….

 

To this…….

 

Full instructions and a supply list are available in the March 2013 issue of Scrap & Stamp Arts.  Check it out for this project and many more fabulous ideas!

Here are a couple more peeks of how these Penny Black stamps were used to transform this tin.

                         

Twinkling 40-083, Letter Background 1999L, Trims 30-068

Inside the Lid

Flower Close Up

Thank you for stopping by for some “tin”spiration! 

Elizabeth

New Year....New Projects!

Happy New Year!

I am excited to venture into another year and the all the creative possibilities it has to offer.  I am looking forward to working on more mixed media and altered art projects.

The newest adventure will be an altered book journal.




This is the before photo.  My husband had two of the same book and shared the extra copy with me.  I am in the process of deconstructing, reconstructing and transforming it into a mixed media journal.  

No themes, no guidelines, no "have-to's" just lots of happy, colorful exploration!

I will post pictures as sections are completed.  At the moment, the cover is getting a whole new look.

See you soon with an altered tin!

Elizabeth