Knobbly Gnome Will Never Be Gone – Tutorial #163

43 Comments January 10, 2009 zindorfstamps

One thing I would like to do this year is to use every stamp I have once. That being said, it is a very unrealistic idea. I have way more stamps than can be used in a year or two or three. Even with having so many stamps I am unable to part with some very old favorites and I find I do use these stamps at least twice a year so they have earned their right to stay in my craft room. This set by Stampin’ Up “Knobbly Gnomes” is a set that will be very, very hard for me to part with. When I feel like coloring this is the set I turn to. It has become like an old friend. Just like the music I am listening to “Janis Joplin” while creating this tutorial. Somethings just speak to your heart. What speaks to your heart that others may find different or out of the norm?

Well let’s get started with the tutorial already. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Knobbly Gnomes & See D’s Silhouettes

Paper: Stampin’ up Whisper White, Blue Bayou, Really Rust

Ink: Stampin’ Up Sage Shadow, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze & Not Quite Navy, Palette Noir Black

Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Sponges, Circle Cutter, Black marker, Versamark Marker, Fine Detail Clear embossing powder and a heat gun

On a 4″ square piece of Whisper White card stock I stamped a gnome with Palette Noir Black ink. I chose this ink to use because it resist smearing when used with solvent based markers such as Prismacolor. I also heat set the Palette Noir ink a bit with my heat gun. Not sure if this makes a difference, but it makes me feel warm, lol.

Colored the mushroom and book pages with an Eggshell Prismacolor marker.

Colored the top of the mushroom with a Deco Peach Prismacolor marker.

Colored the very top of the mushroom cap with a Sand Prismacolor Maker.

Went over the Mushroom with the Eggshell marker again to blend the colors together so I wouldn’t have any harsh lines.

Colored his shoes and his hat with a Green Tea Prismacolor Marker.

Added Olive Prismacolor Marker to the right side of the hat and the dark parts of his shoes.

Went over his hat and shoes with the Green Tea marker to blend the colors together.

See a pattern here on how I do my shading?

Added Goldenrod Prismacolor marker to the Gnomes hair, patches on his pants, laces on his shoes and a bit on the top of the mushroom and in the dark areas of the book pages.

I try to use each color in two different areas or more so my color pallet doesn’t get too busy.

Colored his pants with Blue Slate Prismacolor marker. Let one coat dry and then added a bit more to the wrinkles on the pants image to darken them.

Added more Goldenrod to the book pages.

Colored his face and ears with Cream Prismacolor marker.

That being done I colored over the entire image with a Versamark marker. I start with the light colors first and color over the darkest ones last. This helps keep dark colors from smearing into the light ones. Clean the tip of your Versamark marker a lot by whipping it on your scrap paper until it comes out clean.

Note: Your image will be a few shades darker after you apply Versamark over it.

Heat embossed the image using fine detail clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Cut a 3″ circle from card stock and use it as a mask for the moon. I hold this mask in place as I sponge around it. When done with the circle mask I put it in a baggie for another project.

So with the Circle mask in place I sponged Baja Breeze ink around the moon mask leaving a flat area at the bottom of the card stock to represent the ground.

Let’s remove the mask and take a peak. 🙂 So far so good. Back on with the mask.

Getting darker yet in the sky area, sponged Not Quite Navy around the edge not covering the Baja Breeze ink entirely.

Remove the mask and sponged Sage Shadow ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Sponged Night of Navy around the entire edge of the card stock.

Assembled my panels and felt this piece was missing something so I decided to stamp some weeds in the foreground.

I stamped the leaves 3 times going over all the layers of card stock. This is never a good idea. You will end up with really big voids in your images. Note: be very sure you have a marker to match the ink you are stamping with so you can fill in those voids you will have.

Filled the voids in the stamped images with a Black marker. Sometimes you really need to be creative to figure out what is missing in the stamped image.

Well here is my finished card measuring 5.5″ square.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to get out one of your old stamps and put on some old favorite music that you haven’t heard in a while and stamp your heart out.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . .. . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Tranquil Bookmarker – Tutorial #162

53 Comments January 10, 2009 zindorfstamps

Happy Saturday! I thought I would start my post out with a little peak at my stamping attire in the morning, lol. If you have ever envisioned me as a well dress fancy person, well let me tell you, you are dead wrong. I would live in my flannel JP’s Twenty Four Seven if I could get away with it. I get cleaned up every workday and head to work, but the very moment I get home, the work clothes come off and the sweat clothes or the JP’s go on. I’m not above cooking dinner for my husband and I in my JP’s.

Yep, those are snowflake flannels, lol. I have way to much more on my mind to think about other than clothing. Like what stamp am I going to use today? Will I create a tutorial for my wonderful readers? Folks, I’m just keeping it real for you. 🙂

Ok, that’s enough about what a slob I am. Let’s get started on today’s tutorial.

Supplies:

Stamps: Innovative Stamp Creations “Tranquil” : http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Stampin’ Up Basic Black, Apricot Appeal, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango, Riding Hood Red & Kiwi Kiss

Accessories: Versmark Pad and Marker, Tim Holtz Charm Fragments, Ribbon,Brad, Flower, Brayer, Clear embossing powder and heat gun, Sponge, Fine tip Black marker, Ticket Corner Punch, Eyelet and Cropodile, Sharpie Gold Paint Marker

I’m going to start this tutorial by creating the embellishment for the ribbon first and we will set it aside to dry.

Brayered Tangarine Tango ink at the top of a piece of scrap paper.

Stamped the twig stamp in Kiwi Kiss ink. Stamped the two birds (I’m making two embellishments) in black ink.

Put Crystal Effects on the one side of the Tim Holtz Fragment charm and then put it Crystal Effects side done on top of the bird image.

Let these dry for a while and then I cut the paper away from around the fragment and used a piercing tool to open up the hole in the top of the charm.

Used direct to paper with Apricot Appeal ink and Chocolate Chip ink to give the back some interest.

Now for the Bookmark.

Stamped the block image by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Riding Hood Red ink before stamping it. I repeated this again for the second block image. They were both stamped on a 3″ x 5″ piece of Whisper White Card stock.

Heat embossed the images using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Colored over the block images with a Versamark marker so the white showing in the images would be heat embossed also. Covered the Versamark image with clear embossing powder and heat with a heat gun to emboss.

Stamped bird by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then with Basic Black ink before stamping.

Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped Twig by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then Kiwi Kiss ink before stamping it. I didn’t worry about it getting on my previously embossed images. When it gets heat embossed it melts away.

Heat embossed the twig using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered Apricot Appeal ink at the top half of the card stock.

Brayered More Mustard ink at the top of the card stock not covering the Apricot Appeal ink entirely.

Getting darker yet, I brayered Tangerine Tango ink at the very top of the card stock.

Covered the top 2/3rds of the card stock with a post it note to mask it.

Brayered Tangerine Tango ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Sponged Chocolate chip ink at the post it note edge and at the bottom right hand corner to create a shadow for the vase.

Removed the mask.

Used a ticket corner punch at the top two corners of the main image panel. Used a Gold Paint maker and dragged in down each edge of the main image panel.

Used a very fine tip black marker and outlined the top right side of the branch and the bottom and right side of the vase.

Adhered the main image panel to a Chocolate Chip panel and used the ticket corner punch on the Chocolate Chip panel’s top corners.

Used a Cropodile to add a gold eyelet at the top of the bookmark.

Added my ribbon through the eyelet, tied a knot in the ribbon and then added my embellishment to the ribbon end with a gold brad. I don’t like to see any Brad butts showing (except for maybe Brad Pitt butts) so I flipped the embellishment over and covered the brad but with a flower.

Here is the finished bookmark measuring 3 1/4″ x 5.5″.

Hope this tutorial inspires you to make some bookmakers you will be proud to use and give as gifts.

May your day be filled with enchanting stores.

Until my next post. .. . . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Golden Day – Tutorial #161

37 Comments January 5, 2009 zindorfstamps

Here is a tutorial using another bird from a stamp sheet by Katzelkraft at www.katzelkraft.fr I’ve seen this bird before in other people’s projects and I just love it, love it, love it!

This is my attempt as showing the suns reflection in a puddle. It didn’t turn out the way I had envisioned it, but I like it just the same.

Before we get started I wanted to let everyone know that I am teaching my Beginner and Advanced Brayer workshops at Marcos Paper in Dayton, OH the month of February. If you are interested you can get more information on Marcos Paper website http://www.marcopaper.com/classzindorf2.htm .

The beginner class will take the mystery out of how to use the brayer. You will come away confident in your new skill and with some really great projects too. If you have already taken the beginner class and want to take your new brayering skill further I encourage you to take the Advanced class. I have revamped the Advanced class and have come up with some great new projects.

Ok, let’s get started on today’s tutorial.

Supplies:

Stamps: Katzelkraft “Bird” & Stampin’ Up “Embrace Life”

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, River Rock & Always Artichoke

Ink: Stampin’ Up Basic Black, Adirondack Oregano & Butterscotch

Accessories: Brads, White Gel Pen, Clear embossing powder, Heat Gun, Brayer, Olive Marker, Versmark pad and Marker, Post it notes, sponges, 1/2″ & 1 1/4″ Circle Punches

Stamped bird by first loading the stamp with Versamark marker then loading it with Black ink before stamping it. I stamped it on a 4 1/8″ x 4 3/8″ piece of Whisper White Card stock.

Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Went over the white part of the bird’s chest with a Versamark marker.

Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered Butterscotch ink at the top and at the bottom of the card stock leaving it light in the middle.

Punched a 1 1/4 circle and 1/2″ circle from the sticky part of a post it note and used them as masks for the sun and the sun’s reflection.

Brayered more Butterscotch ink at the top and bottom of the card stock.

Removed the masks.

Ripped through the stick part of a post it note and masked the sky area of the card stock.

Tore another post it note and masked the water area.

Sponged Oregano ink on the unmasked portion of the card stock.

Added some black sponging on the unmasked area of the ground leaving a few light areas.

Removed the post it note masks.

Sponged some Oregano ink around the edges of the water area to soften them.

Extended the branch the bird is sitting on to the edge of the card stock with a black marker.

Stamped the plants with Black in a few times staggering the heights of the plants.

Colored the leaves in with an Olive marker.

Added White highlights to the leaves with a White Gel pen.

Used the direct to paper technique and streaked the left side of a River Rock card stock panel with Butterscotch ink.

Over streaked the panel with Oregano ink not covering the Butterscotch ink entirely.

Assembled the card and added brads. Here it is finished measuring 5.5″ square.

May your day be a golden one.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . . . ..

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Flowers and Flourishes – Tutorial #160

68 Comments January 4, 2009 zindorfstamps

For those of you who follow my blog, you probably know that I have been having heat embossing withdrawals, lol. I think I’m addicted to clear embossing powder and the emboss resist technique. I got my fix with this card.

Let’s get started. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Baroque Motifs, Oriental Garden & Best Blossoms

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Pink Pirquette & Basic Black

Ink: Stampin’ Up Pink Pirquette, Old Olive, Adirondack Raisin

Accessories: Versamark Pad and Marker, Brayer, Ribbon, Silver Brads, Old Olive Marker, Raisin Marker, Black marker, White Gel Pen, Fine Detail Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Small Paint Brush

Loaded my Lotus flower stamp with Versamark and then Pink Pirquette ink before stamping it on a 3.5″ x 8.5″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Applied fine detail clear embossing powder.

Tip, before heating the embossing powder I swept the embossing powder off of the card stock with a small paintbrush where the wording is. This will omit the wording later when I put dark ink around the flower. I also use this small paint brush to brush away stray embossing powder on the card stock before heating.

Colored in the stem of the image with an Olive Marker.

Colored over the entire image with a Versamark marker. I did this in order to retain the white parts of the flower where the card stock shows through. I also went over the stem with the Versamark marker.

Heat embossed the entire image using fine detail embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped a few flower in the upper left hand corner of the card stock using Versamark only. Sorry they are very hard to see at this point.

I heat embossed the flowers using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped some more flowers in the left hand corner of the card stock by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then Pink Pirquette ink before stamping. Heat embossed the pink flowers using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered over the top 1/2 of the card stock with Old Olive ink.

Brayered over the bottom half of the card stock with Raisin ink.

Brayered a bit of Raisin ink at the very top of the card stock.

Over stamped the small flowers with the leaf image using Raisin ink.

Let the ink dry for a moment and then I wiped the ink off of the embossed images using an old cotton dish towel.

Stamped the flourishes with Raisin ink.

Wiped off the embossed images again with a cotton dish towel.

Out lined the bottom of the Lotus flower with a Raisin Marker to create a shadow.

Sponged Raisin ink heavily around the outside edge of the card stock, behind the small flowers and around the Lotus flower.

Outlined one side of some of the flourishes and leaves with a black marker.

Outlined the opposite side of the flourishes and leaves with a white gel pen to create highlights.

Added dots in the small flower area with a White Gel Pen.

Assembled the panels, added ribbon and silver brads. Here is the finished card measuring 4″ x 9″.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to get out your clear embossing powder and do a little emboss resisting of your own.

May your day be filled with fragrant beauty.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Quiet Moment – Tutorial #159 and Blog Candy!

409 Comments January 4, 2009 zindorfstamps

Today’s tutorial has a bit of a different color combination going on. Sometimes I get in a rut and use the same colors over and over. Thought I would experiment and brighten things up a bit with this card.

I’m using a stamp sheet by Innovative Stamp Creations “Minibook Series: Be Thankful”.

Here is the link to Innovative Stamp Creations Website: http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html

I also have a stamp sheet of these to give away as blog candy!!!!

If you want to be entered to win this great stamp sheet all you need to do is leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite sunset/sunrise color combination. If you are getting this blog update by e-mail you will need to click on this link so you can leave a comment at the bottom of this post: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2009/01/04/quite-moment-tutorial-159-and-blog-candy/

I will use a random number generator to select the winner on Wednesday, January 7th. Good luck to all!

Now on with the tutorial.

Supplies:

Stamps: Innovative Stamp Creations “Be Thankful”

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Soft Sky & Basic Black

Ink: Stampin’ Up Summer Sun, More Mustard, So Saffron, Distress inks Brushed Corduroy, Black Soot, Walnut Stain, Mustard Seed & Weathered Wood

Accessories: Brayer, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch, White Gel Pen, Green & Brown Faber Castell Markers, Post it Notes, Sponges

Brayered So Saffron ink at the top of a 3.75″ x 4.5″ piece of Whisper White Card stock.

I wanted it to be brighter and warmer in color so I brayered over the So Saffron Ink with Summer Sun Ink. Yep, that’s better. 🙂

Punched a 1 1/4″ circle out of the sticky part of a post it note and put it on the card stock as a mask for the sun. If I would have masked the sun before any color was put on the White card stock, of course the sun would be white. I did it this way so the sun would not be so stark in color.

Brayered More Mustard ink at the top of the card stock only going down far enough from the top to go over the Sun mask.

Removed the sun mask.

Streaked Weathered Wood Distress Ink at the bottom of the card stock using the direct to paper technique. These Tim Holtz Distress ink pads are so very perfect for direct to paper techniques because the ink pad is raised up from the base of the pad.

I streaked the ink in order to try create some ripples in the water.

Brayered Eathered Wood Distress ink at the bottom of the card stock to blend the streaking in a bit.

Used the same direct to paper streaking technique with a Mustard Seed Distress ink pad in the middle of the card stock and going in to the Weathered Wood inked area a bit. That really warmed the water up some.

Be careful not to cover all of your Weathered Wood ink with the Mustard Seed ink. Remember Blue and Yellow make Green.

Masked the sky area of the main image panel with a Post it note and Sponged More Mustard ink at the post it note edge to create a little beach area.

Took the post it note mask off and flipped it around. Now I am masking the water and the beach area with the post it note. Sponged Brushed Corduroy ink on to create some mountains in the distance.

Added some Darker Walnut Stain ink to the bottoms of the mountains.

Stamped the Cattails with Black Soot ink.

Sponged More Mustard ink heavily at the top Right corner of the main image panel to create a little interest in the sky.

Outlined the right sides of the Cattails with a Brown Maker.

Outlined the right sides of the Cattail Leaves with a Green Marker.

Added a few highlights to the Cattails and a few dashes in the water area using a White Gel Pen.

Used the direct to paper technique again on the bottom left corner of the main image panel and on the right side of a Soft Sky Background panel.

Assembled card and here it is finished measuring 5 5/8″ square.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to experiment with color combinations today. I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

May your day today be filled with peaceful scenes.

Until my next post. .. . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

ISC Large Tree – Tutorial #158

45 Comments January 2, 2009 zindorfstamps

Hey how ya doing?

I’m off of work today, YEAH!!! Thought I would sneak in a tutorial before I start taking down the Christmas Decorations. The holidays are over so quickly.

Today I used a stamp from Innovative Stamp Creations “Maple Tree Paintings” Sheet. This is the largest tree stamp I own and I love it! Here is a link to Innovative Stamp Creations website: http://www.innovativestampcreations.com/ischomepage.html

They have what I call “Grown Up Stamps”, in other words, not cartoony. Love them!

Well let’s get started. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Innovative Stamp Creations “Maple Tree Paintings”, Stampin Up Holidays & Wishes

Paper: Stampin’ Up Sage Shadow, Whisper White, Blue Bayou

Ink: Stampin’ Up Blue Bayou, Sage Shadow, Baja Breeze and Adirondack Pitch Black

Accessories: Ribbon, Brayer, White Gel Pen, Sponge, Sage Shadow Marker

Brayered Baja Breeze ink at the top half of a 4.5″ square piece of Whisper White card stock.

Brayered Sage Shadow ink on the bottom 1/4 of the card stock. I love Shadow ink with any of the blue colors that lean toward green, such as Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy.

Brayered Blue Bayou ink at the very top of the card stock to give the sky some variation.

I wanted my tree to have a light side, dark side and dark trunk so I inked it up in sections.

I inked the entire tree stamp with Sage Shadow ink, the right side of the stamp with Blue Bayou ink and the tree trunk with Black ink and then stamped the tree. This didn’t hurt my ink pads because I went from light to dark with my inks.

Put a shadow underneath the tree using a sponge and Baja Breeze ink.

Decided to make the shadow darker so I added some sponged Blue Bayou ink. That’s better 🙂

Sponged some Blue Bayou ink on the left side of the trees leaves.

Sponged Sage Shadow ink on the middle and the right side of the trees leaves.

Added some White Gel pen dots to create highlights.

Using the brush side of a Sage Shadow marker, I tapped the marker tip at an angel in the trees leaf area.

Assembled the card and decided to add a sentiment using Black ink.

Here is the finished card measuring 5.5″ square.

I hope you find some time to get down and inky today.

May your day be filled with much peace and joy.

Until my next post. .. . . . . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Peaceful Flight – Tutorial #157

56 Comments January 1, 2009 zindorfstamps

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! 2009 wow! Wasn’t it just yesterday we were worried about Y2K?

The older I get the faster time flies by. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Well December for me was a month of reflection, relaxation and family. But I’m back to blogging. My schedule for posting is going to be different. I probably won’t be able to post before I leave for work in the morning. I’ve started an exercise program and if I don’t hop right out of bed in the morning and throw on the gym shoes, exercise just isn’t going to happen that day. So, that being said, 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. exercise, 5:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. stamping, get ready for work, commute to work, work from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., arrive home around 5:30, edit my photos and post to the blog. Hmmm, I need more hours in the day, lol. I guess my husband will have to do the shopping and house cleaning, yikes!

Any how, I will post as often as I can. I do want to hear from you, my readers. Let me know if you are using the tutorials, e-mail me a link to your projects. I love looking at them. As you can tell I don’t have a lot of time to browse the stamping galleries, so comments and links sent to me are a blessing and they encourage me to keep on keeping on, grin.

Yak, yak, yak, yak, yak. . . . . . . . let’s get started with the tutorial already!

Supplies:

Stamps: Cape Arago Rubber Stamps, www.capearagorubberstamps.com

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Basic Black & Blue Bayou

Ink: Stampin’ Up Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Blue Bayou & Adirondack Pitch Black

Accessories: 1 3/8″ Circle Punch, Brayer, Post it notes, White & Gold Gel Pens, Sponge

Punched a 1 3/8″ circle from the sticky part of a post it note and used it as a mask for the moon. I stuck in on a 3.5″ x 5″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Brayered Baja Breeze ink all over the card stock.

Removed the post it note mask and brayered a bit more Baja Breeze ink over the card stock. This tones down the brightness of the moon a bit.

Masked the top 2/3rds of the card stock with a large post it note.

Turned project upside down and sponged Blue Bayou ink right at the post it note edge. Creating the horizon line here.

Sponged more Blue Bayou ink at the right side of the card stock. See the “X” on the post it note. That is where the moon is. So the water needs to stay lighter on the side with the moon. Clear as mud?

Sponged a bit of Not Quite Navy ink at the right side, not covering the Blue Bayou ink entirely.

Removed post it note and flipped project right side up.

Sponged Blue Bayou ink at the left side of the card stock sky area.

Added Not Quite Navy ink to the left top corner.

Stamped the bird with Pitch Black ink.

Colored in the light areas of the bird with a White Gel Pen.

Colored the feet and beak with a Gold Gel Pen.

Added a few dashes in the water with a White Gel pen.

Put the card together with a few panels of card stock and here it is finished measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

I was a bit rusty from not stamping in December so yesterday I took a look at the New Year’s Eve challenges on Splitcoaststampers.com and here is what I created for two of the challenges.

Stamps used: Stampendous “Winter Trees”

Stamps used: Paper Trey Ink “Pond Life”

Well I hope you enjoyed the tutorial today and it encouraged you in some fashion to get out those stamps and use them.

May your day and new year be beyond belief spectacular!

Until my next post. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Season’s Greetings and Melting Snow – Tutorial #156

86 Comments December 11, 2008 zindorfstamps

Season’s Greetings to each and everyone of you! I have decided to take the presser of blogging off of my plate for the rest of the month of December so I can really enjoy the holidays. My next post will be after the New Year.

I’m going to leave you until then with a very quick to put together brayer card.

Let’s get started:

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Lovely as a Tree, Impression Obsession Branches of a Tree

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White & Not Quite Navy, Basic Grey Design Paper

Ink: Stampin’ Up Baja Breeze & Old Olive, Adirondack Lake Mist & Pitch Black

Accessories: Stampin’ Up Word Window Punch, Brads, Brayer, White Gel Pen ********************************************************

Brayered Baja Breeze ink at the top of a 3.25″ x 5″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Brayered Old Olive ink at the bottom of the card stock leaving a white section of the card stock showing.

Stamped the Lovely as a Tree Stamp with Lake Mist ink.

Stamped the large tree with Pitch Black ink.

Punched two Word Window Punches from Not Quite Navy Card stock to use as embellishments. I cut one curved end off of each one.

Assembled card and added White Gel pen to the large tree branches and white gel pen at the base of the tree on the ground to simulate snow.

Here is the finished card measuring 5″ x 6.5″.

May your holidays this season be ones you will remember always.

Until next year. . . . . .. . . . . . . .

Huge Huge Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Winter Wonderland Collage – Tutorial #155

36 Comments December 2, 2008 zindorfstamps

Today I thought I would try my hand at a collage type card. Collage cards are wonderful for young adults. This one is for my future daughter-n-law for Christmas. I’m safe showing this on the blog because no one in my family actually visits this blog to read my babblings, lol. They just think I’m a stamp fanatic who spends way to much time and money on my hobby. 🙂 They are probably right, but I’m happy here in my little stamping room and blog world. I have a feeling I’m not the only stamp fanatic out there!

I wanted to keep this card mellow so I selected all blue shades of ink to use. This project would have a complete different feel if I added even one color from a different color family, for instance red. Come to think of it, I would like to try this again with all shades of red.

Let’s get started on today’s tutorial shall we. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Close to My Heart “Winter Wonder” and “Festive Frills”

Paper: Stampin’ Up Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Stampin’ Up Very Vanilla, Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Basic Black & Not Quite Navy

Accessories: Versamark pad, Fine Detail Clear embossing powder, heat gun, Sponges, Post it notes, Ribbon, Silver Brads

Stamped the main image on a 5″ square piece of Whisper White card stock by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Black ink before stamping it.

Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Sponged some Very Vanilla ink over the embossed image.

Ripped a post it note leaving the sticky part at the top and used it as a mask.

Sponged Soft Sky ink around the post it note mask.

Added Some Baja Breeze ink right at the post it note edges to really define the mask shape.

Masked the top of the card stock with a post it note.

Sponged Blue Bayou ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Removed the mask and turned it around to mask the bottom portion of the card stock. I ripped pieces out of the post it note.

Sponged Not Quite Navy ink in the open areas.

Removed the large post it note mask.

Sponged Baja Breeze ink on the top of the card stock leaving some light areas.

I decided I didn’t like the hard lines made at the bottom with the Not Quite Navy ink so I added more Not Quite Navy ink around those areas to soften the hard lines and I also added some Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the card stock.

Randomly stamped the Berry Flourish using Baja Breeze ink.

Added some more Berry Flourishes with Blue Bayou ink.

Stamped the Winter Wonder stamp twice using Not Quite Navy ink.

Stamped the Snowflake using Black ink.

Sponged some Night of Navy ink around the out side edges of the card stock.

Assembled the card. Here it is finished measuring 5.5″ square.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to get out those stamps and try a collage card today. They are fun and simple.

May your day be filled with Crisp images and inks to blend.

Until my next post. . . . . . . .. . . . . . .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Morning to Night Coffee – Tutorial #154

34 Comments December 1, 2008 zindorfstamps

I’m a coffee drinker. I drink about a pot each morning and I drink it black. No fancy coffee for me.

This morning I decided to do a whimsical card using some old retired Stampin’ Up sets. I will never ever part with these sets.

This card is done in the emboss resist technique, building the scene from front (foreground) to back (background).

Let’s get started.

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Stardust, What’s Brewin’? and Levely as a Tree

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Basic Black & Baja Breeze

Ink: Stampin’ Up Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Really Rust, Night of Navy, Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze and Palette Noir Black

Accessories: Prismacolor Markers, Stampin’ Up markers, White Gel Pen, Sponges, Versamark Pad and Marker, Fine Detail Clear embossing powder and a Heat Gun, Copper Brads

Stamped coffee cup with Real Red on a 3.5″ x 8″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Colored over the coffee cup with a Real Red marker to create a shadow on the left side and to omit the heart design.

Colored the coffee in the cup with a Chocolate Chip marker.

Colored over the entire image with a Versamark marker and heat embossed it using fine detail embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped the trees by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Chocolate Chip ink before stamping.

Heat embossed the trees using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped the steam using Versamark only and then heat embossed the steam image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamp the Moon and the sun using Palette Noir Black ink.

Colored the moon and the sun with an Eggshell Prismacolor Marker.

Added Goldenrod Prismacolor Marker to both the moon and the sun.

I wanted a mellow card so I chose warm colors that were not bright in nature.

Added Sky Blue to the Sun image.

Added Goldenrod marker to the sun’s face.

Colored over both the sun and the moon with a Versamark Marker and heat embossed the images using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Sponge Baja Breeze ink in the sky area of the scene.

Sponged Not Quite Navy on the left side of the sky.

Sponged Night of Navy on the left side of the sky not covering the Not Quite Navy ink entirely.

Sponge Really Rust ink on the Right side of the sky.

Added White Gel pen dots for stars on around the moon.

Assembled card and here it is finished measuring 4″ x 9″.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to get out some of those old stamps and make new exciting scenes with them.

May your day be filled with things that give you pleasure.

Until my next post. . . . . . . . . .. .

Hugs,

Michelle

Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar

Frequently asked questions answers: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/