Hello Friend

You can’t help but fall in love with all the Penny Black characters and their activities.  They are always doing something fun!

These hedgies were stamped on a square piece of white cardstock and then the backgrounds were chalked and water colored.  Another set of hedgies was stamped on watercolor paper, colored and trimmed so they could be placed on top of the first impression.  To add just a bit of dimension, I only put foam under the middle of the sentiment and used glue on each end.    

To avoid extra handling fees for a square card, place a piece of double-sided tape vertically inside standard sized envelope at one end to form a “pocket”.  This will keep the card from shifting and will only require one postage stamp for mailing.

Have a great day,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  You Make Me Bob! 4130K, Hello Friend 30-069, Paisley Outline 40-048

Penny Black Online Store

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine

Tombow Dual Brush Pens

Canson Watercolor Paper

Blue  & Yellow Chalks

Sneak Peek & Upcoming Events

Hello Everyone.

I have lots of fun and exciting April news to share with you today.

To begin, I will be designing for the Penny Black Blog during the week of April 18.  It is such an honor to be a part of their design team and so much fun to use all their wonderful stamps.  I have four cards designed that also use their new "Mix & Match" Cardstock. 

The following week (April 26-29) I will be a guest artist for Tombow.  Each day I will have a stepped-out tutorial to share with you that you can view here as well as on their blog.  Lots of pictures and "how-to's" for each project!

Then, to finish the month, I will be teaching at Bonnidee in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, April 29, 30 & May 1.  There will be three different Penny Black classes (each offered twice): Florals, Hedgies and Mimis.  Here is a peek at one of the Mimi cards that we will be creating....

All three classes will focus on water coloring with Tombow markers along with some of my favorite tips, tools and Penny Black rubber stamps.  If you would like more information about the event, please contact Bonnie at 514-697-1184.  (Seating is limited and pre-paid registration is required.)

Off to practice a few of my French phrases.

Au revoir -
Elizabeth

Teeny Tiny Easter Tags

These are a few gift tags and mailing boxes I created for Easter goodies.

I made the tags very vibrant so they would stand out when tied to clear cellophane treat bags.  All the different colored ribbons were created from plain organdy ribbon colored with Copics.  Even after coloring, the ribbon keeps its original sparkle and shine!



Tag sizes:  1 x 1 5/8, 1 ¼” Sq., 1 ¼ x 1 3/4



The tags were modifications of Cuttlebug Sliders (basket with chick), Paper Punches (chick in the egg) and Spellbinders Circle (cabbage bunny) Nestabilities.  A slot punching tool also made it easy to add decorative holes for the ribbons.

I also mixed up the backgrounds used for each tag:  stamped Paisley Outline, simple white gel pen dots and ink distressing.

And, for goodies that are being mailed, the sides of little white mailing boxes were festively stamped with the grass from Sweet Home in Olympia Green VersaFine ink.

Have a “hoppy” day –

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Garden Friends 30-021, Paisley Outline 40-048, Sweet Home 40-054

Penny Black “Mix & Match” Cardstock:  Clear Skies 10-001, Rose Garden 14-001, Summer Sun 17-001

Penny Black Online Store

Copic Markers

Sakura:  White Gelly Roll Pen

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Persimmon VersaMagic, Lilac Posies Memento, Olympia Green VersaFine

Ranger: Detail Clear Embossing Powder, Glossy Accents (used for adhesive)

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

  

Enjoy Your Day ATC

An ATC (Artist Trading Card) with a twist….



Finished Size:  2 1/2 x 3 with side fold

Instead of a flat ATC, I incorporated a fold and made a small card.
Mimi and her star are both popped up with dimensional foam and the star is accented with yellow stickles.  The wave pattern is from one of my favorite transparent sets called “Trims”.  These ATC's are great for those pretty pieces of leftover cardstock.

If you feel like creating a “little something” check out the Penny Black Blog where all this week they are creating ATC’s.   Angela Kennedy is the hostess and her work is fabulous.

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy your day.

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  Amongst the Stars 4148J , Betsy Bluebell 30-053, Trims 30-068

Penny Black “Mix & Match” Cardstock:  Clear Skies 10-002, Fuchsia Fantasies 13-002

Penny Black Online Store

Copic Markers

Tsukineko:  Onyx Black VersaFine, Bahama Blue Memento

Ranger:  Yellow Stickles, Detail Fine Clear Embossing Powder

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Offray:  Sheer Organza Ribbon

Prom Embellishment

My girlfriend’s daughter will be attending her senior prom in a few weeks and I thought this would be a fun scrapbooking page embellishment to give her.



Finished Size: 1 3/4 x 3 inches

To gear the image more toward a formal dance, I used the upper portion of “Bride & Groom” and exchanged the bouquet for a single-flower wrist corsage.

The frame is from “Mimi in Paris” and I used the center space to personalize the occasion while the Paisley Outline gave the teal cardstock a fabric texture.

I had “Dreamboat” out on my desk and noticed that the stars were the perfect size for a little background pizazz.



A view of the elevated elements.



This fashionable girl would also be lovely used alone to make elegant bridal shower invitations.

Thank you for taking a peek.

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps:  Bride & Groom 4167K, Mimi In Paris 30-071, Dreamboat 4173J, Paisley Outline 40-048

Penny Black “Mix & Match” Cardstock:  Storm 01-003, Sea Breeze 08-001

Penny Black Online Store

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Silver VersaColor, Clear Embossing Powder

Ranger:  Glossy Accents (glue for tiny frame and rose pieces)

Copic Markers

Sakura:  Black Glaze Pen

3M Scotch:  Dimensional Foam Tape

Tombow:  Permanent Stamp Runner Adhesive

Fishing Friends - Framed Globe Art

I couldn't resist building up this adorable image and placing it under a globe.  I thought this would be perfect for a little boy's room.

I used the medium globe kit from Globecraft Memories and cut the back plate down to fit the size of the middle frame ring.  It's so much fun having the kits so versatile so you can use them in all sorts of combinations.  

To give the frame a "leather" look, I painted the plain chipboard with Red Pepper Adirondack Acrylic paint.  To move the drying time along, I used a heat gun.  With this paint you don't have to worry about it blistering when heat is applied.  To soften the color, Vintage Photo Distress ink was pounced on top and then sprayed with Copper Sheer Shimmer Spritz.  It is hard to see in the photo, but it was then stamped with Paisley Outline in Vintage Sepia VersaFine.  The little decorative dots were made with a black glaze pen.

Here you can see all the stamped layers on the "Fishing Friends" under the dome ---

I got so caught up with all the cutting that I even made paper pieces for the patches, backpack flap, pocket, heart and the cuffs on the overalls.

To accent the water, I sprayed my pieces with GooseBumps.  I love this clear texture spray.  Not only does it give you a fabulous shine, you can still bend sprayed pieces without the texture cracking.

With the dome and reflective glare during photography, it was hard to capture the stickles on the water and the stardust gel pen on the fish scales.  It is one of those "I wish you could see this in person" projects.  I am still thinking about adding a sentiment or ribbon, but at the moment I am enjoying it "clean and simple".

To see some of my other globe art projects click here and here.

If you are interested in the supplies used or links to see images of the rubber stamps, I include those at the bottom of each of my posts.

Happy fishes,
Elizabeth


Supplies:

Penny Black (stamps):  4140K Fishing Friends, 40-048 Paisley Outline

Penny Black Online Store

Globecraft Memories: Medium Traditional Oval Frame Set

Copic (markers):

Fish: RV00, RV32, YG01, YG03, YG05, YG07, YG09

Overalls: B00, B21, B23, B24

Bear: E30, E31, E33, E35, E37, R20

Flowers: G24, G28, R27, R29, R39, BV08, Y17, Y38

Backpack: T1, YG03, G12, W0

Rock: W0, W1, W2, W3, W6, W8, 110

Cup: W1, W2, W3, W6, 0

Water:  BG02, BG05, BG11, B23, B24

Tsukineko (inks):  Onyx Black VersaFine, Vintage Sepia VersaFine  

Tsukineko (other):  Jumbo Sponge Daubers, Memento Marker in Tuxedo Black, GooseBumps (clear texture spray), Copper Sheer Shimmer Spritz

Tombow:  Stamp Runner Permanent Adhesive

Sakura:  Yellow and Black Glaze Pens, Stardust Gelly Roll Pen

Ranger: Red Pepper Adirondack Acrylic Paint, Antique Photo Distress Ink, Crystal Stickles, Waterfall Stickles, Detail Fine Clear Embossing Powder

Craf-T Products: Yellow, Orange Chalks

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam 

Dimensional Daisy Thank You

A friend recently surprised me with a small box of art supplies.  I hope my thank you expresses how special and thoughtful she is.

Before attaching the light tan cardstock to the square white card base, I distressed the lower third with Vintage Photo Ink and stamped the Paisley Outline over the top using the same ink color.  I also added a piece of brown satin ribbon with polka dots.  The sentiment and flowers were stamped on white cardstock with black pigment ink and heat embossed with clear powder which was then matted with dark brown.  Brads were inserted in the top two corners then the piece was mounted to the front of the card with dimensional foam. 

For the Daisies, I used the top portion of Garden Poems....

After making the initial stamped impression on the card, several more impressions were made on watercolor paper so multiple layers for each flower could be created.  

Since the card was being mailed and I didn't want the daisies to become flattened, I inserted the card into an acrylic box before placing it into a manila envelope.  These clear boxes make beautiful packaging for gift sets with multiple cards and envelopes or for cards with dimensional layers. 

You can see how the additional room keeps the artwork from being pressed.

I found these boxes along with clear envelope sleeves here at ClearBags.  There is a tremendous selection of sizes and styles to choose from.

Thank you for your time to visit.

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Garden Poems 3869K, Paisley Outline 40-048, Beautiful Ways 4177H

Penny Black "Mix & Match" Cardstock:  Sticks & Stones 02-002 & 02-003

Penny Black Online Store

Tsukineko: Onyx Black Versafine, Clear Embossing Powder

Tombow: Dual Brush Pens, Stamp Runner Permanent Adhesive

3M Scotch:  Dimensional Foam Tape

Ranger: Yellow, Orange Peel, Fruit Punch Stickles; Glossy Accents; Vintage Photo Distress Ink 

American Crafts:  Brown Satin Ribbon with White Polka Dots

Gold Mini Brads

Corner Rounder