Warm Wishes Card

Christy Ink & Paper 10 Comments

This is one of my first designs for Memories Live On.

I love the paper on this one. The swirls are so whimsical and pretty. I also feel like I’ve finally broken away from traditional Christmas colors. It’s hard to stop myself from constantly reaching for reds and greens. The blue really adds some warmth, I think.

The design of this card was inspired by Card Positioning Systems (CPS) #185. Of course, it ended up looking nothing like the sketch. I knew when I picked up the paper that I wanted that one swirl to overlap. Originally I had planned to place the ribbon in the middle of the blue paper, but the white swirl on white background didn’t look quite right. Moving the ribbon just made everything fall into place.

I can’t decide if the white stripe on top needs something. It looks better in person than in the picture, but I’m toying with the idea of stamping a sentiment up there. I’ll probably leave it alone, though. Had I thought about it ahead of time, I would have embossed it for a little more interest.

Oh, and that little silver bow? I cut the paper and ribbon just a hair under 4 inches to fit on the card, and realized too late that they were too narrow. The string is there to cover up an ugly little strip of white. Proof that there’s no such thing as a mistake in art. 

Materials:
Paper: Christmas Carols and Cards by Dear Lizzy + American Crafts
Gingerbread sticker: Mittens by Dear Lizzy + American Crafts
Misc. Ribbon, buttons and sentiment.
DMC Metalic Silver floss

Other Supplies
Fiskars Rottary Paper Trimmer
EK Success Cutting Mat and Razor Blade

EK Success 3D Dots
Zots – Small clear adhesive dots

Glue Glider – High Tac

Snowfamily Card

Christy Copics, Ink & Paper 218 Comments

This stamp took a deceptively long time to color. Like…wait for it…2 and a half hours. It looks so easy, right? Red, Green, Black, a little orange and brown and some bluish highlights.

Yeah, here’s my color list:

BG0000
C1
N1
N5
N9
YR04
YR07
R24
R27
R29
G20
G21
G28
B00
E31
E35
B00
Colorless Blender

It’s actually not that bad. The most time was taken deciding what colors to make each hat and scarf. Unfortunately the shading on the snowpeople isn’t showing up as nicely as it does in real life, but that took a lot of time as well. I’m not particularly good at “coloring” white, so that’s an area I’ll have to continue to practice on.

You can tell I got a little impatient by the time I got to the far left snowman, thanks to the bleeding of the reds and blacks. The scarf was originally intended to be red and white, but I had to use green to cover up my mistakes.

Sorry for the dark pictures. I got a late start.

It was worth it though. Aside from the couple little bleed marks I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out. So happy, in fact, that I’m entering this little guy in not one, but two challenges this week.

Caardvarks: Clean and Simple Stamped Card
Copic Creations #35: Shading On or Around an Image

Materials:
Blue Cardstock – from my stash
White cardstock – Neenha
Straight ‘n’ Narrow Ribbon – White, colored with Copic BG0000

Other Supplies:
Fiskars Rottary Paper Trimmer
Cuttlebug embossing folder – Swiss Dots
Copic Markers – Listed above
Hero Arts Stamp – H099 Snowpeople Border

No New Projects Today

Christy Uncategorized 7 Comments

That’s not to say I haven’t done any new projects. I just don’t have pictures of them at the moment. Why? Because this is what my desk looks like, and I just don’t feel like clearing it off to take pictures :o)

Disapproving dog does not approve of my mess.

I have four cards and a pile of crocheting to show off…eventually.

Greeting Card Album

Christy Ink & Paper 13 Comments

Here’s another one of my wedding projects. We got so many beautiful and thoughtful cards from our friends and family, and I didn’t just want to throw them in a box somewhere and forget about them.

I got the inspiration for this from Creating Keepsakes’ Fast and Fresh Scrapbooks 2010 issue. The sample in the book is for Christmas cards, but I thought of my wedding cards as soon as I saw it.

I wanted to keep the album cover simple and elegant, so I didn’t go very heavy on the embellishments. The color scheme matches our wedding colors of plum, celery and ivory.

The picture is a replication of my great grandparents’ formal wedding portrait. My husband and I were married in the same church.

Materials:
Bazzil cardstock: Boysenberry Delight (inner covers, not pictured), Pear Crush, and Walnut Cream
TPC Studio cardstock: Mr. & Mrs. Words
Heavy cardboard (I just cut up the packaging to something)
Celebrate It Polyester Ribbon: from Michael’s, I don’t know the name of the color.
EK Success 3D Dots
Binding Ring

Other supplies:
Fiskars Rotary Paper Trimmer
Martha Stewart Crafts Scoring Board
Cropadile (hole punch)

Glue Glider Perma-Tac adhesive
Martha Stewart Craft Punch

Mini "Album" Photo Folders

Christy Ink & Paper, Tutorials 13 Comments

This is one of my favorite crafts; I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. The design is inspired by a card file make-and-take I did at a local craft store. I adapted the size to fit photos instead of cards, and I find it makes an amazing little “album.”

It’s perfect for those sets of pictures that you want to keep together, but don’t have the time or energy to put into a full-fledged scrapbook. I made one of these for each of my bridesmaids, as well as the ring bearers and flower girls in my wedding. It would also be perfect grandmother’s brag book. I’m experimenting with using plastic instead of paper to make it more durable.

Unfortunately, I made these before I even thought about starting a blog, so I don’t have pictures of the step-by-step process. If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer them in comments.

Step One: Foundation

  • Cut a sheet of cardstock to 10 1/8 inches by 6 3/4 inches. Score 4 3/4 inches from each end. I find that a light, solid color works best for the backing.
  • Cut 4 mats of coordinating cardstock to 6 1/2 by 4/14 inches. Glue to inside and outside covers of folder.
  • Cut 2 spine mats to 6 1/2 inches by 1/2 inch. Glue to inside and outside of spine. 
  • Cut 2 spines to 6 5/8 inches by 3/8 inch. Glue over spine mats.
  • Cut 2 covers to 6 1/4 inches by 4 1/4 inches. Glue over mats on outside of folder (the envelopes will go on the inside).  

Step Two: Envelopes (make 2)

  • Start with a 8 1/2 by 8 1/2 inch square of double-sided cardstock. 
  • Using a scoring board, create an envelope 4 1/4 inches tall by 6 1/4 inches wide by 1/4 inch thick. I use the scoring board from Martha Steward Crafts with the envelope plate. Instructions may vary with different boards.
    • Choose the corner you want to be the top flap of the envelope (corner A) and line that up at the top center of the scoring board. Corner B is now on the right, C at the bottom, and D at the left.
    • Make 2 score lines, 2 5/8 inches and 2 7/8 inches in from corner D.
    • Rotate paper so Corner C is at the top and A is on the bottom.
    • Make 2 score lines, 2 5/8 inches and 2 7/8 inches in from corner B.
    • Rotate paper so Corner B is at the top. 
    • Make 2 score lines, 3 5/8 inches and 3 7/8 inches in from corner A
    • Rotate paper so Corner D is at the top
    • Make 2 score lines, 3 5/8 and 3 7/8 inches from corner C
    • Cut out the 4 triangles made by the intersection of the inside score lines.
    • Fold on all score lines to shape the envelope. 
    • Cut the tip of corner C to create a flat edge where it meets with corners B and D.
    • Create a slit below corner C that corner A will fit into. Punch a small hole at either end.
    • Tape or glue the envelope together so that corners B and C are on the bottom and C is on top. I find it easiest to stuff the envelope with scrap paper before I seal it so that everything lines up right and I can apply pressure without bending the sides. 

Step Three: Embellish
Obviously, this part is up to you. Since my paper of choice was a repeating pattern, I cut out one of the purses from my scrap paper and stuck it on top of the paper with pop up dots for a 3D effect.
The sky is the limit here. I do recommend that you use no fewer than 3 layers of cardstock on each side just so the folder keeps its shape.

My Materials:
We R Memory Keepers Paper – Girls Night Out (5 sheets)
White Cardstock – from my stash
EK Success 3D Dots

Other Supplies
Fiskars Rotary Paper Trimmer
Martha Stewart Crafts Scoring Board
Glue Glider – Perma Tac adhesive

Exciting News! (For me, at least)

Christy Uncategorized 8 Comments

I am now an official member of the design team at Memories Live On scrapbooking store in Cupertino!

Memories Live On is a fantastic store. It’s one of two in the area that I visit weekly (if not more). If you live in Northern California, you should check them out. They have a huge selection of paper, and all the embellishments you could possibly need. I’m always inspired when I go in there. They also have the best price on Copics that I’ve come across: under $5 a marker (now you see why I’m in there so much).

I’m really excited to start working with them. I pick up the materials for my first project tomorrow.

Today I spent mostly shopping instead of crafting.

First, I went to Michael’s armed with this 50% off coupon first posted by my friend A at Pumpkin Butts. It’s good until tomorrow, so use it while you can! Sadly (or not so sadly), so much of the stock is already on sale that my coupon only ended up taking $3 off my bill. I usually like to save the coupons for bigger ticket items. Oh well. My supply collection expanded by several spools of Christmas ribbon, a set of 5 border embossing folders from Cuttlebug, an EK Success punch, a new Distress ink pad (fired brick), and two bottles of embossing powder.

I also took advantage of the 60% off framing offer that they have going on. I have a gorgeous print from Christa Thatcher Photography. Christa is a fantastic photographer; go check out her work. I fell in love with a picture she took of the Lincoln Memorial–it reminds me of home and my days guiding walking tours in Lincoln’s shadow. It should be ready in 2 weeks, and I can’t wait to have it on display. I’ve already got a spot picked out.

After Michael’s is when I went by Memories Live On, armed with my samples. They loved my cards as well as the mini-albums I made for my bridesmaids and the booklet I made to keep all the cards we got for our wedding. I’ll have to show them off in later posts. I also picked up a new Spica pen and some buttons and jewels for my Christmas cards.

All in all, a pretty successful day.

I do have another Christmas card done, but between the mess on my work desk and the dead battery on my camera, I’ll have to post it later.