Holiday Hints with Penny Black: Day 1

So excited to be designing all this week on the Penny Black Blog with a special "Holiday Hints" feature.

Here's a sneak peek for today's project....

Click HERE for the full reveal.

Wishing you a day of "sheer" happiness,

Elizabeth

Take Flight 20 - Day 12

Penny Black's Take Flight Twenty is in full swing and I am excited to share my second project on Day 12.

This envelope project has lots of Hoo, Hoo, Hooraying to share with graduates!  To see the full reveal with a step-by-step photographic tutorial click "here".

Don't forget that besides twenty days of creative inspiration from all the designers, one lucky person has the chance to win 20 of Penny Black's new stamps!!

Hooray for Fridays!!

Elizabeth

"Little" Paper Art

Having fun with paper art today and sharing a few quick little projects made with Penny Black’s new Madison designer paper pad.

This mini gift bag measures a wee 2 inches!  Fancy with no fuss.  Once the bag was assembled, ribbon handles and punched borders were added.

Tip/Hint:  To create a “faux” metal charm, punch a heart from shrink plastic, coat it with silver StazOn and then heat to shrink.  After cooling, color with a red Sharpie.

Madison paper is great for envelopes.  The thickness is just right for folding and gives the finished envelope a luxurious weight.  Trace your favorite patterns, cut and fold!

With this card measuring 1 ½ inches square it can fit into the gift bag pictured above, used on a greeting card or tucked into a present.    

A flower punched from Penny Black’s Mix & Match Summer Sun cardstock (17-002) coordinates perfectly with the polka dot pattern.

This envelope is sized to fit a gift card.  The template was larger than the 6-inch square of paper, but hiding a segment attachment is easy when placed on a seam.

Tip/Hint:  To create a decorative button, paint a jumbo silver brad with white acrylic paint and while the paint is wet coat with glitter. 

The “arms” of the brad were clipped and it was attached with an adhesive tab.

I don’t want to spoil the surprise so you may want to check out the Penny Black blog “here”.  The week-long festivities are going to fabulous.

Smiles,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Madison Designer Paper Pad: 80-001

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

Penny Black Stamps: Sentiments 30-025

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Cantaloupe Memento, Brushstix

Making Memories: Jumbo Silver Brad

Other: White Acrylic Paint, Glitter, Heart Punch, Border Punch, Flower Punch, Ribbon, Shrink Plastic

Envelope Art & Blog Candy Winner

Hello Everyone!

Today is the day to announce the winner of my Halloween blog candy.  As you may recall from the original post, I will also be including a tiny card with the rubber stamp.

I started thinking that I just couldn’t send the card to the winner “naked” and it needed an envelope.



Since this was a small card and I didn’t have a template for this particular shape, I created a pocket envelope.

A 3 ½ x 5 ¼-inch piece of white cardstock was distressed with Weathered Wood Distress then stamped with Creepy Crawlies in black.  To add some contrast, Dusty Concord Distress was randomly applied to the webs.  The whole piece was then sprayed with Frost Sheer Shimmer Spritz.

The piece was then placed horizontally and scored at 1 3/8” and 4 ¼” from the left edge.   After the flaps were folded, adhesive was placed on the sides of the larger bottom section to create the envelope pocket.  The top flap was trimmed with decorative scissors and a decorative button was attached.  I didn’t have a matching button or beads so I dyed what I had on hand with Eggplant Alcohol ink to match the project.

Once the button was attached, I added a second piece of string with beads to be used as a closure apparatus.  This longer string is anchored underneath the button.  The string can then be wrapped around the envelope and looped around the button to keep the flap closed.  Other variations for closures could be Velcro, magnetic clasp, snap or temporary adhesive.



I think I have drawn out the suspense long enough.  Drum roll please…..

The winner is:

Enter a lower limit:
Enter an upper limit:
Random Number:

Congratulations Brenda (Infinite Possibilities)!

Please contact me at elizabeth.a.allan@gmail.com with your mailing address and I will pop the “Horror Team” in the mail to you so you can start stamping right away! 

Thank you to everyone who participated by leaving such fun and thoughtful comments.

With appreciation,
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Creepy Crawlies 40-069

Tsukineko: Tuxedo Black Memento Ink, Frost Sheer Shimmer Spritz, Sponge Daubers

Ranger: Weathered Wood Distress Ink, Dusty Concord Distress Ink, Eggplant Adirondack Alcohol Ink

Other: Black String, Button, Small Beads

Airmail - Decorated Envelope

Today I have a decorated envelope using the new transparent set called “Air Mail” from Penny Black.  It is perfect for creating decorative envelopes to mail your handmade cards! 

Plus, with all the wonderful images, you have endless possibilities of mixing them into card designs.

The framed address block was stamp with black ink omitting the bird in the lower, left corner.  Then the houses and the “to” salutation were added.

A little bit of Summer Sky Memento ink was rubbed in and around the houses and Copics were used for coloring. 

Coloring Tip:  Slide a piece of clean white cardstock into the envelope while coloring to prevent the ink from bleeding through the back of the envelope.  When finished coloring, remove the cardstock.

For the decorative border along the right side, stamp the bar code with black ink letting the “house portion” fall off the side of the envelope. 

For additional inspiration and ideas using Air Mail, stop by the Penny Black Blog today to see all of the design team’s work and join in the reader challenge to decorate an envelope. 

Tomorrow I have a special event to share with you and on Friday I will have a greeting card that combines the new Airmail set with Penny Black stickers.

Have a great day,
Elizabeth  

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Air Mail 30-072

White Envelope

Summer Sky Memento Ink (shading inside address block)

Copic Markers