Shadow Monster

Happy October!

Even shadows join in the festive Halloween fun!

Featuring Penny Black's Shadow Monster

Today’s card incorporates features from two designing principles: one layer and line of movement.

The line of movement can be seen occurring from the top left down to the bottom right.  While the girl and shadow are one image, additions of the button, sentiment and the overhanging pumpkin pail strengthen the visual line.  Also, a two-tone card base with mitered corners in the upper right and lower left further enhance the line of sight.

To give the upper left corner a little more weight and create a starting point for the eye, paper piercing was included as well as a heavier button and bow.

Although this card has several layers with the main artwork being matted and then attached to a card base with dimensional foam, it does use one-layer designing principles as outlined in the design variation.

One-Layer DesignVariation:  This card can easily be altered into one layer without changing the amount of fun spookiness contained in the design.

• Start with a white card base and stamp the Shadow Monster in Onyx Black VersaFine and heat emboss with clear powder.  Tip/Hint: Heat embossing is helpful in eliminating the need for a mask for the shadow monster since inks being added in the background can be easily wiped from the embossed surface.
• Mask off all four sides of the card.  Create a partial mask to protect the portion of the girl’s head and arm that are exposed inside the masked frame.
• With a sponge dauber, add Dandelion and Cantaloupe Memento inks.  Gently wipe any ink from the embossed area with a soft towel or tissue.
• Remove the masks, color the girl and stamp the sentiment.  Accent shadow with glitter.
• Optional:  To mimic the effect of the button, use a reverse circle mask and ink the exposed area with purple ink.
• Optional:  Ink the edges with Gray Flannel Memento ink.

As Halloween approaches, make sure to keep an eye on your shadow!

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Shadow Monster 40-151, Best Witches 30-131  

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Fern Green 05-001, Forest Glen 07-003, Summer Sun 17-002

Copic Markers

Dimensional Foam

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Dandelion Memento, Cantaloupe Memento, Tangelo Memento, Gray Flannel Memento, Clear Embossing Powder, Jumbo Sponge Daubers

Other: Glitter

A Little Winter Magic

It is fun to imagine Fairy Stardust sharing his magic and adding festive sparkle to winter snowflakes….

The shape of the card was inspired by the swirling snow and all the graceful curlicues.  The scalloped card base was die cut from Madison designer paper and edged with Turquoise Gem VersaMagic.

The second circular layer of white cardstock was distressed with Oasis Green VersaMagic with the swirls stamped in Turquoise Gem.  Dimensional foam was used to attach the piece to the prepared card base.

Fairy Stardust (illustrated by Mo Manning) was stamped on a separate piece of white cardstock in Onyx Black VersaFine and heat embossed with clear powder.  After coloring and fussy cutting, a small sentiment banner was attached before the piece was applied to the card with dimensional foam.

To finish the design, “a little winter magic” (glitter) was added to the snow swirls.

Stardust wishes,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Fairy Stardust 40-180, Winter Magic 30-134

Penny Black Madison Designer Paper Pad 80-001

Copic Markers

Dimensional Foam: 3M Scotch & EK Success

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Crimson Red VersaFine, Oasis Green VersaMagic Turquoise Gem VersaMagic, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder

Spellbinders: Standard Circles, Classic Scalloped Circles

Winter Fairy

Here with more from Penny Black’s new Winter Wonder release.    

Winter Fairy (illustrated by Mo Manning) is full of magical cuteness! 

The design components are all within three fun and easy layers!

Layer 1 (Card Base):

Dry emboss the front of a white Les Petites card with Swiss Dots.  Trim a strip from the right front edge and replace with paper from the Madison designer pad.  Ink the edges with Peanut Brittle Memento ink. 

Layer 2:

Die cut a Label Eighteen from Madison designer paper and distress the edges with Peanut Brittle and Nautical Blue Memento inks.  Stamp the sentiment in Onyx Black VersaFine.  Attach the piece to the front of the prepared card with dimensional foam.

Layer 3:

Stamp Winter Fairy on white cardstock with Onyx Black VersaFine and heat emboss with clear powder.  Color and trim the image.  Paint Sparkle Psst Sheer Shimmer Spritz on the snowball and the frosty ice on the fairy wings.  Attach to the card as shown with dimensional foam.

Enjoy!

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Les Petites 90-001

Penny Black Madison Designer Paper Pad 80-001

Penny Black Stamps: Winter Fairy 40-179, All Is Bright 30-137

Dimensional Foam: 3M Scotch & EK Success

Copic Markers

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Peanut Brittle Memento, Nautical Blue Memento, Sparkle Psst Sheer Shimmer Spritz, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder 

Provo Craft: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

Spellbinders: Labels Eighteen (S4-310)

Marzipan Greetings

Hello and happy Monday!

This week I have a collection of cards using Penny Black’s new stamps from their Winter Wonder release.  A spectacular assortment of wintry delight!

Today’s card features the festive and zippy dog from Marzipan Greetings.

The card base is a white Les Petites in which the top portion was shaded with Teal Zeal Memento.  Tiny dots from a gel pen were added for a snowy effect.

Another layer was attached on top that included the tree and rolling horizon.

 

Tip/Hint: To create the greenery around the tree, place a negative circle mask around the branches and add Pistachio Memento ink.  Remove the mask and trim.

A separately stamped and colored car was fussy cut and attached with dimensional foam.

Thank you for visiting today…

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Marzipan Greetings 30-126 

Penny Black Les Petites 90-001

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Storm 01-001

3M Scotch Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Crimson Red VersaFine, Teal Zeal Memento, Pistachio Memento, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder

Judi Kins:  Eclipse Tape

Sakura: White Gel Pen

Pirate Kai

As Halloween draws closer, little ones will be dreaming of their costumes and what to wear.

This trick-or-treater called Pirate Kai is one of Penny Black’s newest Halloween stamps illustrated by Mo Manning and is so much fun to color.

For added dimension, extra layers were added to the parrot, bones and pumpkin pail.  The sky and ground elements were created with Memento inks. 

Tip/Hint:  Add diversity to large stamp images by using them for small accents.  A large leaf from Foliage Fancy was fabulous for applying textural enhancements to the grass in this design.    

Have a wonderful weekend,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Pirate Kai 40-150, Foliage Fancy 30-138, Mimi Halloween 30-077

Copic Markers

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Dandelion Memento, Tangelo Memento, Nautical Blue Memento, Grape Jelly Memento, Pistachio Memento, Olive Grove Memento, Northern Pine Memento, Sponge Daubers, Clear Embossing Powder

Sakura: Black Glaze Pen (for "faux" brad), Black Micron Pen (for "faux" stitching)

Spellbinders: Standard Circles Large (S4-114)

Other: Paper Piercing Tool, Dimensional Foam

A Contemporary Birthday Greeting & Tutorial

Today I have an Artist in Residence Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko project.  This contemporary "grid-block" greeting was created with autumn tones, but the color palette can easily be altered for birthday wishes any time of the year.

Below are step-by-step instructions which are also available in this printable pdf format “here”.

INSTRUCTIONS

Create a 3 7/8 x 5 ½-inch top-fold card from white cardstock and place on a protected surface.

Shake Bamboo Fireworks to mix thoroughly and unscrew the cap.  Dip a paintbrush into the bottle and “flick” the liquid onto the card for a bold, graphic splatter.  Set aside.

Cut a 2 x 3 ¼-inch piece of white cardstock and section off ½- inch squares using 1/8- inch wide strips of Eclipse Tape.

  

Load one end of the Ink Sweeper with the first color from the Kaleidacolor inkpad and apply the ink to the first square.  Turn the Ink Sweeper around and ink the other end with the second color from the Kaleidacolor inkpad and apply the ink to the second square.

Tip/Hint:  Using additional pieces of Eclipse Tape or scraps of paper to protect the other squares while inking is helpful.

Continue in this fashion until all the squares have been inked.  Three Ink Sweepers will be needed to for this project. 

Remove the masking strips and stamp a flower in each square using the corresponding colors from the Kaleidacolor inkpad.  Stamp one flower in Onyx Black for a contrasting design element.

Mat the geometric element with a 2 1/8 x 3 3/8-inch piece of white cardstock that has been edged with Pearlescent Rust Brilliance and an InkBlusher.  Attach the matted artwork to the front of the prepared card with dimensional foam.  Stamp the sentiment in Onyx Black VersaFine and heat emboss with clear powder.  Add a crystal gem to the flower stamped in black.

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It is DAY 3 of Penny Black's winter sneak peeks and giveaways...don't miss out! Click "here" to join in the fun. 

Have a great day,
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Sentiments 30-025

Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko:  Onyx Black VersaFine, Autumn Leaves Kaleidacolor, Pearlescent Rust Brilliance, Bamboo Leaves Fireworks, Ink Sweepers, InkBlushers, Clear Embossing Powder

Judi Kins: Eclipse Tape

Other:  Dimensional Foam, Double-Sided Adhesive, Crystal Gem

"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