Hocus Pocus

No tricks with Penny Black’s new Halloween collection – just all treats!! 

This fabulous witch called “Hocus Pocus” was colored with Copics and then trimmed.  She was then set aside while the other three embellishment accents (cat, bat and banner/Cat Spell, sentiment/Best Witches) were stamped, colored and trimmed.

Stamping Note:  All elements were stamped in Onyx Black VersaFine and heat embossed with clear powder. 

The background layers are portions of Spellbinders Label Twenty-Two die cuts. 

The top layer was created from white cardstock and then distressed with sponge daubers and Dandelion, Morocco, Tangelo and Grape Jelly Memento inks.  To add to the appearance that the spooky branches are in the far distance, they were stamped in London Fog Memento.

The branches “Winter Ledge” used in this design is a new Christmas stamp and is so versatile for creating all kinds of scenes and patterns. 

The distressed and stamped background was matted with black cardstock and attached with dimensional foam to a white card base that was inked with Teal Zeal Memento and Sea Breeze VersaMagic.

The design was finished by attaching all the Halloween elements with dimensional foam.

Hocus, Pocus….you're done!!

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Hocus Pocus 40-147, Best Witches 30-131, Cat Spell 30-132, Winter Ledge 4271L

Copic Markers

Dimensional Foam

Spellbinders: Labels Twenty-Two (S4-346)

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Dandelion Memento, Morocco Memento, Tangelo Memento, Grape Jelly, Teal Zeal Memento, London Fog Memento, Sea Breeze VersaMagic, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder

A Flash Friday Tip & Exciting Penny Black News

A piece of cardboard placed behind light-weight papers/vellums when heat embossing or drying inks adds great stability. 

It gives the paper a “backrest” so the air from the heat tool does not cause the piece to flip back and forth or over on itself.

And now the news flash......

I am excited to tell you that the new Penny Black Christmas and Halloween stamps are here and I will have new designs to share with you starting next week!  Have fun browsing through the new catalogs "Christmas here" and "Halloween here"

Have a wonderful weekend,

Elizabeth  

A "Beary" Happy Wednesday

Hello friends!

Today I have two cards with watercolored bears from Penny Black’s cute and cuddly Teddy and Company transparent set.

My favorite way to start a watercoloring project is to stamp the image in Onyx Black VersaFine and heat emboss with clear powder.

TIP/HINT:  Striped ribbons offer both vertical and horizontal visual interest.

Thank you for visiting,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Teddy and Company 30-034

American Crafts: Ribbon

Canson: Watercolor Paper

Prima Flowers

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder

Watercolors

Stamp and Go!

Create this card in 15 minutes or less!

Here’s how:

• Stamp the dots (Pointille) on a 2 3/8 x 3 ¼-inch piece of white cardstock in Wheat VersaMagic.
• Ink the flower (Allegro) with Orchid Pink and Bamboo VersaColors and stamp over the dots.
• Stamp the sentiment (So Blessed) in Onyx Black VersaFine.
• Edge the piece with a Delicata Golden Glitz ink pad.
• Mat with a 2 ½ x 3 3/8-inch piece of white cardstock.
• Punch a hole in the middle of the flower and insert a silver brad that was tinted with Cherry Pink StazOn.
• Tape ribbon loops to the back of the design and mount to 3 3/8 x 4 ¾-inch top-folded card base with dimensional tape.  (Design Option: Dry emboss the lower half of the card base with dots.)

TIP/HINT:  Tinting the brad at the beginning the project will give it time to dry so it will be ready to use when accenting the flower later in the project.  

Have a great day!

Elizabeth 

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: So Blessed 40-132, Allegro 30-033, Pointille 3860J

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001

American Crafts: Ribbon

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Orchid Pink VersaColor, Bamboo VersaColor, Wheat VersaMagic, Delicata Golden Glitz, Cherry Pink StazOn

Making Memories: Silver Brad

Provo Craft: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

A Flash Friday Tip

Isn’t funny how those indiscernible little pieces of lint or fuzz show up AFTER you make your stamp impression?!

When you come across these invisible challenges an easy way to quickly remove them is with a simple tape loop.

A couple of taps across the stamp will pick up any tiny particles that may be clinging to the rubber design.  

Tip Variation:  My sister uses the same idea but with a small lint roller.

Happy Friday,

Elizabeth 

An Invitation

Whether you are hosting a casual outdoor BBQ or an elegant dinner party, these events always start with the same thing ---- an invitation!

Here’s a fun way to invite family and friends to your special gathering.



Published in Scrap & Stamp Arts, June 2012.  Detailed instructions are available on pages 32-33.

This invite was created with Penny Black’s “Victorian Homes” illustrated by Mo Manning. 



Inside Text



Tip/Hint:  Adding extra spacing between sets of computer generated text printed on white cardstock makes for easy aligning and trimming with a Spellbinders die.

Design Variations:  Alter the text on the inside of the card for a congratulatory new home greeting or for change-of-address cards.

Have a fabulous day,

Elizabeth

CHA Highlights

The 2012 Summer CHA Convention proved, yet again, to be another spectacular show!  The convention center was filled with fabulous exhibitors, colorful art and the friendliest retailers/artists/attendees!

Here is a peek of the Penny Black booth:



The 8 by 20 foot wall showcased all the new stamps along with card samples.  There are 15 new Halloween designs, 54 new Christmas/Holiday designs, 1 new sticker collection and the debut premiere of two new products!!  (More about all this wonderfully exciting news in upcoming posts.)

Penny Black’s make-n-takes were offered at a long rectangular table that was positioned toward the back of the booth and I am looking forward to sharing those projects with you soon!

Many, many thanks to all of you who sent me off on my travels with good wishes and to those who visited the booth and shared a hug!  Your kindness, support and enthusiasm made this event extra special.

Elizabeth