The Wave – Tutorial #114 and Blog Candy

154 Comments September 5, 2008 zindorfstamps

I have a stormy ocean scene for you today. I swear when my allergies act up and I’m not feeling well I always reach for shades of blue ink. The color blue must sooth me. 🙂

Maybe this card will sooth someone else too, so I’ll give it away as blog candy.

To enter for a chance to win this card, please leave me a comment on this post telling me your all time favorite rubber stamping tool, besides rubbers stamps, lol. I love reading your comments that tell me a bit about yourself. If you are getting this blog update by e-mail you will need to click this link to leave a comment on this blog post:

I will use a random number generator to pick the winner on the morning of Sunday, September 7th.

OK then, it is time to get on with this stormy scene tutorial. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Impression Obsession “Branches of a Tree”

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Basic Black and Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Pool, Denim & Cloudy Blue

Accessories: Brayer, Sponges, White Gel Pen, Circle Coluzzle Template

Brayered on Pool ink on the right side of a 5″ x 5″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Brayered Denim ink at the right and left sides of the card stock.

Brayered Denim ink at the top of the card stock.

Used a circle cut with a coluzzle that measures 3 5/8″ and sponge Denim ink lightly at the edge of one side of the circle. Move the circle up a bit and sponged again. I did this a total of 5 times.

Sponged Denim ink at the left side of the card stock to blend the sponged lines in a bit.

Tore a cliff shape from a piece of Whisper White card stock.

Sponged Cloudy Blue ink on the cliff shape.

Sponged Denim ink on the cliff shape not covering all of the Cloudy Blue ink.

Sponged Pitch Black ink on the cliff shape not covering the Denim ink entirely. I also sponged Pitch Black ink on the top of the cliff shape and along the top of curve shape.

Adhered the cliff shape to the main panel.

Stamped the tree with Pitch Black ink.

Sponged some Pitch Black ink at the top of the sky area to add some drama.

Used the circle mask again and traced one side of it at the top of each wave to create a highlight in the water.

Assembled the card and here it is finished measuring 5.25″ x 5.25″.

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to get inky today.

May your day be filled with calm seas.

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

Hugs,

Michelle

Note: 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/

Embossed Resist bird – Tutorial #111

37 Comments August 29, 2008 zindorfstamps

Hello! I have a tutorial for you on emboss resist, resist. That is what I call it anyway. 🙂

I used the embossed resist technique, but did it in layers. When creating a scene with this technique, you will want to keep in mind to work from the foreground to the background. Meaning you will want to stamp the images in the foreground before you stamp the images in the background.

Let’s get started:

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Always, Stem Silhouettes, Brocade Basics

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

Ink: Adirondack ink Pitch Black, Lake Mist, Oregano, Pebble & Aqua

Accessories: Versamark pad and marker, Black Faber Castell marker, Coluzzle Circle Template, Brayer, Fine Detail Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Ribbon, 2 brads, Sponge, Post it Notes

Stamped bird by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then Pebble ink before stamping it on a 5″ x 5″ piece of Whisper White card stock. Heat embossed the image with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Colored over the design on the bird with a Versamark marker and then heat embossed the image again with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped the Brocade flourish by first loading my stamp with versamark and then Pebble ink before stamping. Heat embossed image with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Filled in the White spaces on the leaves with a Versamark marker and the heat embossed the image again with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped the Brocade flourish again by loading the stamp with Versamark and then Pitch Black ink before stamping. Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun. Filled in the white spaces of the leaves with a Versamark marker and then heat embossed the image again.

Stamped the Stem Silhouettes three times using just Versamark and heat embossed the stems with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Masked half of the panel with a Post it note.

Brayered Lake Mist ink over the uncovered half.

Removed the Post it Note make and put a fresh Post it note mask on, this time masking the Lake Mist half of the panel. Brayered on Aqua ink on the unmasked side.

Removed the post it note mask.

Cut a circle with my Coluzzle to use as a mask and sponged Pebble ink around the outside of the mask.

Used a Faber Castell fine point marker and drew an outline around the circle mask.

Note: If I were to do this again, I would not have drawn the black line across the embossed images. We live and we learn. 🙂

I also used the same black marker to define the bottom sides of the Bird and Brocade Flourishes.

Sponged Oregano ink around outside edge of the panel.

Assembled card front and added a ribbon and two brads. Here it is finished measuring 5.25″ x 5.25″.

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial on emboss resist, resist and will want to give it a try.

May your day be filled with the sweet sounds of sing birds and sunshine.

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

Hugs,

Michelle

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

Willow Lake – Tutorial #110

36 Comments August 28, 2008 zindorfstamps

Hello everyone and happy Thursday! 🙂

Just a quick note before we get into the tutorial. I have scheduled a Brayer workshop on September 13th in Dayton, OH at Marco Paper to accommodate the people that wanted to get into the September 6th workshops but were unable to because they filled up so very fast. There are a few spots left. If you wish to sign up and have some fun while taking the mystery out of using your brayer, please contact Marco Paper at 937-433-7030 or 1-888-433-5239 or website at http://marcopaper.com/index.html

Today’s tutorial features stamps by Fire Cracker Designs by Pamela. Here is a link to their online store if you wish to check them out: http://www.safesecurestore.com/stores/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=firecrackerdesignsbypamela

I started this card brayering from an angle and really like the light effects it created.

Let’s get started. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Fire Cracker Designs by Pamela

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Bliss Blue & Old Olive

Ink: Stampin’ Up Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, Lovely Lilac & Bashful Blue

Accessories: Stampin’ UP markers, Faber Castel Grey marker, White Gel Pen, Brayer, Aqua Painter, Sponges

Brayered Bashful Blue ink at an angle, across one corner of a 4.5″ x 4.5″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

Flipped the card stock around and brayered a small amount of Bashful Blue ink on the opposite corner.

Colored the tree and ground below it with an Always Artichoke marker.

Colored the water lines on the stamp with a Bliss Blue marker.

Huffed on the stamp to moisten the color and then stamped it on my panel.

Stamped the Willow Branches with Old Olive ink.

Masked off the sky area with a Post it Note.

Sponged in a circular motion Bashful Blue ink at the edge of the Post it Note Mask. This creates my Horizon Line.

Squeezed the Kiwi Kiss stamp pad while it was closed to create a pool of ink on the lid of the stamp pad. Used the pool of ink to water color with an Aqua Painter the Willow Branches and the ground under the tree.

Added white Gel pen to the tops of the Willow Branches.

Used the fine point side of a Close to Cocoa marker and drew along the right sides of all of the Willow Branches to create some depth. Also colored in the tree trunk and around the rocks under the tree with the same marker.

Sponged Old Olive ink on the tree.

Used a gray marker to color in the rocks.

Colored the ground above the rocks with a Creamy Caramel marker, leaving some of the Kiwi Kiss ink showing at the top of the ground.

With a White gel pen, added some white dashes in the water area to create some highlights.

Sponged Lovely Lilac ink around the entire edge of the panel, being more heavy at the top left and bottom right corners.

Sponged Always Artichoke ink in the very center of the tree and sponged a bit under the tree in the water area to create a shadow for the tree.

Added more White Gel pen dashed so the water area over the Lovely Lilac ink.

Assembled card and here it is completed measuring 5.25″ x 5.25″.

You can fine a complete listing of all my tutorials at this link:

http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/

I hope you have been inspired to try using your brayer at a different angle to see what fun light effects you will achieve.

May your day be filled with the peaceful sounds of nature.

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

Hugs,

Michelle

Flourished Trees – Tutorial #106

38 Comments August 21, 2008 zindorfstamps

I’m feeling a bit foggy today, not enough sleep, allergies kicking in. That could be why I picked to do a foggy scene, lol. In real life, this looks a bit more foggier (is that a word?). 🙂

Photographing cards in the wee hours of the morning, when it is pitch black out, is a little difficult, but that is when I do my stamping and posting to this blog, so the photos are what they are. Thanks for understanding!

Well let’s get on with this foggy tutorial. 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Innovative Stamp Creations “Artsy Victorian” & Impression Obession “Branches of a Tree”

Paper: Stampin’ Up River Rock, Not Quite Navy & Whisper White

Ink: Stampin’ Up River Rock, Always Artichoke, Not Quite Navy & Bordering Blue, Adirondack Lake Mist

Accessories: Versamark Pad, Brayer, Fine Detail Clear embossing powder, Brads, Ribbon, Not quite Navy Marker, sponges

Stamped tree image by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then loading it with River Rock ink before stamping. Stamped it on a 4.5″ x 6″ piece of Whisper White card stock.

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

Stamp the tree again using Versamark only, no ink.

Heat embossed it using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Stamped the tree a third time by loading the stamp with Versamark and then Lake Mist ink before stamping.

Heat embossed it using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Brayered on River Rock ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Brayered on Bordering Blue at the top of the card stock, leaving a light area showing between the River Rock and the Bordering Blue ink. This gives a foggy look to the piece.

Stamped Flourish with Bordering Blue ink at the right and bottom sides of the card stock.

Sponged Not Quite Navy ink at the top and right side of the card stock.

Sponged Always Artichoke ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Assembled card from and stamped the flourish again, only this time stamping it with Not Quite Navy ink. Note: When stamping over layers of card stock you will get gaps in your image. Be sure to stamp in a color that you have a matching marker for so you can fill in those gaps.

Filled in the gaps in the flourish image with a Not Quite Navy Marker.

Assembled card and here it is finished measuring 6.5″ x 5″.

Hope your day is filled with sunshine to take away any fog that may be around. 🙂

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

Hugs,

Michelle

Catching 47 – Tutorial #105

40 Comments August 20, 2008 zindorfstamps

It’s time for the Split Coast Stamper’s Dirty Dozen Present & Alumni monthly challenge. This months challenge was to make a birthday card using numbers in the design and not use the word Birthday.

This is what I came up with for my husband Russ’ birthday in October. 🙂 Good thing he doesn’t read this blog, lol.

To see all of the Dirty Girl’s creations for this challenge check out this link: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=DCB808&x=8&y=8

The Dirty Girls will be posting their creations throughout the day, so check back at that link often.

Here is the tutorial for mine:

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up “on the Fly”

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Apricot Appeal, Night of Navy

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

Accessories: Brayer, Versamark marker, Fine Detail Clear embossing powder, Heat Gun, Cuttlebug numbers, Prismacolor Markers, White gel Pen, Black fine tip marker, Sponge, Ticket corner punch, photo Corner punch, Post it notes

Stamped Fisherman on a 5″ x 5″ piece of Whisper White card stock with Palette Noir Black ink.

Colored his hat and pants with a Prismacolor Oatmeal marker.

Added Khaki to his jacket and the creases on his pants.

Colored his skin with an Eggshell marker.

Colored over the fisherman with a Versamark marker and heat embossed the image with fine detail clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Put a post it note over the bottom of the card-stock to mask it and then Brayered on Apricot Appeal ink.

Brayered on Baja Breeze ink at the top of the sky.

Brayered on Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the card stock not covering the Baja Breeze ink entirely.

Removed post it note mask.

Put a clean Post it note mask on to cover the sky area of the card stock.

Brayered on Baja Breeze ink at the bottom of the card stock.

Brayered on Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the water area, by rolling over the post it note.

Colored in just the hook of the lure stamp with a black marker. Huffed on it to moisten the ink and stamped it.

Cut the numbers 47 from a piece of Kiwi Kiss card stock with my Cuttlebug.

Glued the numbers on so they look like they are on the hook.

Extended the fishing line to reach the hook with a fine point black marker.

Colored the trees with a Prismacolor light Olive Green marker.

Made dashes in the water with a white gel pen.

With the fine tip end of a Prismacolor Light Olive Green maker, made a shadow on the right sides of the “47”. Did this to create depth.

Sponged Night of Navy ink around the outside edge of the panel.

Used a ticket corner punch on the main image panel and the Apricot Appeal panel.

Punched 4 corner punches from Baja Breeze card stock and adhered them to a 5.5″ x 5.5″ piece of Night of Navy card stock.

Assembled the rest of the card front.

Here is it finished measuring 5.5″ x 5.5″.

I challenge you to make a creation today using numbers. If you accept this challenge, please leave a link to your card in the comment section of this post. I would love to see them!

May your day be filled with cool lake breezes. 🙂

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

Hugs,

Michelle

Marbled Dragonfly – Tutorial and BLOG CANDY!

397 Comments August 19, 2008 zindorfstamps

Before I start the tutorial today, let’s spice things up a bit with some Blog Candy. The Blog Candy today is a brand new, current, set of Stampin’ Up Stamps “Frames with a Flourish”.

So to enter for a chance to win this great set of stamps, please leave me a comment on this post telling me your all time favorite stamp. You know, the stamp you grab when you just don’t know what to make. I have several dragonfly stamps, but that’s what I get out when I have a creative block. 🙂 If you are getting this blog update by e-mail you will need to click this link to leave a comment on this blog post:

http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/08/19/marbled-dragonfly-tutorial-and-blog-candy/

I will use a random number generator to pick the winner on the morning of Saturday, August 23rd.

A little about today’s tutorial: I like to make my own interesting backgrounds by layering colors of ink. I try to start my backgrounds with a bright light color and work darker as I go. This creates a glow by the light color showing through.

Let’s get started! 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: Technique Tuesday “BoHo Buzz” & Stampendous “Marble Texture Cube”

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White & Really Rust

Ink: Stampin’ Up Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Basic Black & Close to Cocoa, Adirondack Willow & Lettuce

Accessories: Versamark pad & Marker, Aqua Painter, Lettuce marker, Sponges, fine detail clear embossing powder, heat gun

Stamped Dragonfly on a 3.25″ x 3.25″ piece of Whisper White card stock by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Really Rust ink before stamping it.

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

Readied my Adirondack Willow ink pad for watercoloring by squeezing the ink pad when it is closed to create a pool of ink on the inside of the ink pad lid. This is what I will use to water color with. 🙂

Watercolored the wings and body of the dragonfly using an Aqua Painter and Willow ink.

Watercolored the edge of the wings with Lettuce ink.

Traced right on the inside edge of the wings with a Lettuce marker.

Colored over the entire dragonfly with a Versamark marker and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Used the Stampendous “TC01 Marble Texture Cube” with Willow ink and stamped all over the card stock with side “A” of the cube.

Stamped all over the card stock with side “B” of the Marble Texture cube with Close to Cocoa ink.

Using a circular motion, sponged Willow ink all of the card stock.

Sponged on some Close to Cocoa ink randomly around the card stock.

Stamped side “C” of the marble texture cube with Chocolate Chip ink in 3 places on the card stock.

Let the ink dry a moment and then wiped the embossed image off with an old rag to remove the ink from it.

Sponged Chocolate Chip ink around the outside edge of the card stock.

Starting a larger panel of Whisper White 5″ x 5″.

Rubbed the Willow ink pad directly on the White card stock in a circular motion almost covering it entirely.

Stamped side “A” of the Marble Texture cube around the sides of the card stock using Lettuce ink. Then used side “B” and stamped Chocolate Chip ink around the edges, sorry missed the photo :(.

Sponged Lettuce ink around the sides of the card stock using a circular motion.

Sponged Chocolate Chip ink in a circular motion on the inside of the card stock work outward and then sponged some of the Chocolate Chip in around the edges of the card stock.

Sponged Basic Black ink on the very edge of both panels of card stock.

Assembled card front and toned down the bottom panel of Really Rust card stock by sponging on the very edges of it with Basic Black ink.

Here is the finished card measuring 5.25″ x 5.25″.

Why don’t you give a try at making your own background paper today? I think you will be pleasantly surprised. 🙂

Hope your day today is pleasant in every way.

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

Hugs,
Michelle

Gardening with MFT – Tutorial

31 Comments May 31, 2008 zindorfstamps

Happy Weekend everyone! I finally got a moment to use this new set, Can You Dig It from My Favorite Things. Cute, cute images! Of course I’m a sucker for gardening images this time of year.

Before we get started on this tutorial, I need to apologize in advance for the first 10 photos being blurry. I was taking photos in the garden and forgot to change my camera setting back again, daaahhh, lol. Stick with the tutorial, I do finally get my act together!

Let’s get started. . . . . . . 🙂

Supplies:

Stamps: MFT Can you Dig It

Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Soft Sky, Not Quite Navy & Creamy Caramel

Ink: Stampin’ Up Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Not Quite Navy, Soft Sky, Old Olive, Night of Navy & Always Artichoke, Palette Noir Black

Accessories: Brayer, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Prismacolor markers, Brads, Ribbon, Stampin’ Up Markers, Sponges

Stamped image with Palette Noir Black ink on Whisper White card stock.

Colored her hat with Prismacolor Eggshell marker and then put in a shadow around the flower band with a Prismacolor Sand marker.

Colored her dress with a Prismacolor Cloud Blue marker.

Put shadows on her dress at the top and on the bottom with a Prismacolor Blue Slate marker.

Colored her gloves and shoes with a Prismacolor Light Olive Green marker.

Gave her a tan on her arms and legs with a Prismacolor Sand marker. Don’t we wish tanning was that easy, lol.

Put a little darker shadow at the top of her dress and the very bottom with a Prismacolor Periwinkle marker.

Colored the flowers on her hat with a Prismacolor Blue Slate marker and filled in the centers with a Prismacolor Sunburst Yellow marker.

Ok, now we are back in focus, lol.

Colored over the image with a Versamark maker and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Masked upper portion of the card stock at an angle with Post it notes.

Brayered Creamy Caramel ink on un-masked area.

Sponged Close to Cocoa ink right were the post it note meets the card stock.

Flipped the post it notes around and lowered them a little. Sponged Close to Cocoa ink right where the post it note meets the card stock.

Continued to move the post it notes down and sponge more Close to Cocoa ink making more lines.

Removed post it notes.

Made dots in the rows of dirt with an Old Olive Maker.

Masked Sky area with new post it notes.

Note: I use new post it notes instead of re-using ones that have ink on them when I change colors, because the ink on the post it notes with mix with the new ink, yuck.

Sponged Old Olive ink on the grass area, using a circular motion.

Removed post it note and sponged on Soft Sky ink in a circular motion in the sky area.

Sponged Not Quite Navy ink at the top of the card stock not covering the Soft Sky ink entirely.

Decided to put a shadow in for the gardener. Sponged Close to Coca ink around the bottom part of her.

Getting darker yet with the shadow, sponge a small amount of Chocolate chip ink right around her leg.

Sponged a little Always Artichoke at the top of the grassy area.

Used a Chocolate Chip marker and put a hard line between the row of dirt to define them a little more.

Sponge a bit of Night of Navy ink at the top of the card stock to create some movement in the sky.

Assembled card and here it is finished measuring 5.5″ x 5.5″.

This ends the tutorial, but I have a few photos of my garden to share with you today.

My Lilac bush is in bloom and smells heavenly!

An Iris, I think the colors on this one is unbelievable.

Peonies have made there appearance. These are close to my heart because they have been in my Grandmother’s garden and my Mother’s garden, before coming to me.

Here is a front view of the house and the split rail fence I was wiening about installing last weekend, lol. Wave hi to my DH, Russ who is leaning on the fence and wondering what the heck his wife is doing, lol. Anyone want to come over and help me dig the flower beds that will go in front of the fence? Just let me know and I will have a shoval all ready for you. 🙂