Let Your Weird Light Shine

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers is hosting a Yellow Challenge. It's been awhile since I've created  something for to the Sisterhood and was excited to be inspired by this new snarky challenge.

The background was made using a nail polish marbling technique. 

Club Scrap papers and stamp. Sizzix die cuts. American Craft twine.

More art inspiration using nail polish:
Nail Polish Marbling
Hello, You
Valentine Marbling

Stencil Oxide Inks

While experimenting with the Oxide Inks by Ranger I dug out my stencils to see how well these inks blended. Love love love them! I find they blend so much easier and smoother than regular inks. Add water and you get such an awesome result.

Add water drops.



Club Scrap papers, stencil, ribbon and stamps. Ranger Oxide inks. Pretty Posh Pink sequins.

 

 

Idea Deck

Pattern Play has arrived on my doorstep.  The stamps are cut and Mount-It applied. I'm hoping to get some crafting time in today and start sharing some creations. In the mean time, I'm still sharing projects from Adirondacks.

May's Idea Deck challenge only had one option for cards. I was super excited to see that they were my favorite style of card! I love all the surface area the Tall & Skinny cards have. I used 4 of Spades from Card Making Idea Deck Vol. II to create these beauties.

Club Scrap papers, ribbon, tag and stamps. Recollections feather. Nuvo crystal drops.

I love how these crystal drops dry clear.  Looks just like water.
 



Club Scrap papers, ribbon and stamps. Ashland burlap. Unknown wood embellishments.

Roam

I love pink! It's such a happy color.  When I bought my oxide inks I had to choose just four colors so I went for the bright colors. I wanted to experiment with the blending of the inks on stencils and went for my newest one from Adirondacks. I even adventured out of my comfort zone to try different colors on each word without masking off the areas. I had a couple of wayward errors but if you add just a touch of water to the stray marks and immediately dab it you can get rid of most of the ink.

 

I was inspired by The Card Concepts #74 freshly elegant challenge to create this card. I chose the pink from the chair, the wood of the shelves and the texture of the rug to pull it all together.

 

Club Scrap papers, stencil, ribbon, burlap and wooden banner. Queen & Co. pearl. Ranger Oxide inks.

 

 

Oxide Inks

Well...it happened.  I caved and bought four oxide inks in pretty bright colors to see if I'd like them.  "You'll love them" they said.  "They're awesome" they said.  Now I'm hooked and addicted!  They are awesome and I do love them! They look and feel like chalk but don't rub off.  They go on smooth and blend super easy. I just love how the colors change with the addition of water. I created tons of mats while experimenting with these inks so you may be seeing lots of finished cards with them.

 

I came across ONE LAST piece of embossed paper from Simply Beautiful which happened to be a featured kit for the Past & Present challenge.  I thought for sure I used every single piece of paper from that kit. I was so excited to squeak in some more cards for the challenge.

 

This beautiful card actually qualified for the Past & Present challenge, the Tool & Stash challenge and the NBUS challenge.

Club Scrap papers, ribbon, burlap and stamps. Darice embossing folders. Pretty Pink Posh sequins.

Adirondacks Midori

Welcome to the Adirondacks Blog Hop brought to you by Club Scrap.  Each month the talented Club Scrap owner, employees and members present a project, card or layout using the monthly featured collection. The  purpose of the blog hop is to demonstrate the beauty of paper and digital crafts.

If you just happened on the blog hop today because you're a regular reader of my blog, and you'd like to view the entire hop, you can  start back at Club Scrap. If you're already hopping and linked to me from the talented Kelly's blog, you're in the right spot. 

Today each member is pulling inspiration from the Adirondacks collection. I knew this outdoor collection would rival the National Parks collection which made #1 on my Top 10 favorite kits. I may have to order seconds because this first kit is nearly gone.

The stamps inspired me to make a Midori traveler's notebook.  One of my long time BFF's is turning 50 this month and I thought this would be a fabulous gift for her.  Several years back we did a 5 day backpacking trip through Yosemite and we both still share a love for the outdoors. In fact we both applied to do the trek again this year but didn't get chosen (it's by lottery only).

 

This is quite a lengthy blog post with lots of pictures so if you're short on time please continue on to see what Tina has created for you using the Adirondacks collection.

1. Start with a 8.5" x 9" piece of Kraft-tex. This rugged paper feels and looks like leather but sews, cuts and washes like fabric. In fact I washed this piece first to give it that wrinkled look.   

 

2. Punch a small hole at .5" .75" from the top and the bottom in the horizontal center. Punch a small hole at 4.25" from the top.

3. Stamp and decorate outside cover with the Adirondacks stamps and stencil.

 4. String elastic cording starting from the inside of the top hole, through the adjacent hole.  Continue the cording to the inside bottom and thread through to the bottom hole. Bring the ends together inside and tie a tight knot in the center.  The book cover should bow quite a bit. Place an elastic band with barbs through the center hole. This will be used to hold your book closed.

 

5. Score 10 pieces of 7"x8" ivory paper at 3.5".

6. Pierce holes at .5", 1", 7" and 7.5" using a piercing cradle.

7. Bind 5 pages together by stitching from inside the top hole in and out down to the bottom hole though the entire stack and tying the two ends together inside. This makes one signature. Repeat with the second signature.

8. Trim a manila folder (still folded) at 7" vertically and 11" horizontally. 9. Open the folder and score at 8" vertically. Fold in right side and turn so fold is folding up from the bottom.

10. Score 3.5" in from both sides and fold inward and burnish the edges.

11.Unfold the paper completely and then fold in half horizontally.

12.  Make an arrow by trimming 1" down from bottom fold to 1" of center fold.

13. Unfold and open up. Fold bottom "arrows" up and fold from the center backwards. This will give you folded pockets.

14. Round the corners with a corner chomper. This rounded area will help the folders to stay in the book.

15.  Decorate and stamp as desired.

16. Slide in your pages and pockets into the midori cover using the center elastic bands.  I like lots of space at the top, bottom and sides of my midori notebooks for tabs and post it notes.  

17.  I added small envelopes to the back with bookbinding glue.  

 

 



Whew! That was a lot of photos and instructions.
Please continue on to see what Tina has created for you.

 

Here are links and videos for further instructions on how to create a midori.

Cape Cod Scrapper

Make Your Own Midori 

Pocket full of Vintage

Take the Trails

I was really unsure on what to do with May's Card sketch. It's no secret that I like the Tall & Long cards but the circles were really throwing me.  I had to wait for others to post their examples before some ideas started going through my head. I've been using burlap, feathers and wood embellishments to compliment the Adirondacks collection and wanted to stick with that.  I found these wooden circles from Farmer's Market and had a "ah-ha" moment. I stamped the map image on the circles to give them personality. I then die cut circles from burlap for the bottom layer. Tip: Coat the back of your burlap with bookbinding glue and let dry.  This will keep them from fraying when cutting.

Artist Team Mash Up

 

Welcome to May's Artist Team Blog Hop brought to you by Club Scrap. Each month the team presents a themed challenge or technique. The  purpose of the blog hop is to demonstrate the beauty of paper crafts.  Today we'll be showing you a "mash-up" of ideas.  The idea of a mash-up is to combine elements and papers from any of your Club Scrap kits.
 

If you just happened on the blog hop today because you're a regular reader of my blog, and you'd like to view the entire hop, you can start back at Club Scrap. If you're already hopping and linked to me from Tina's Blog, you're in the right spot.

 

This is a challenge made for me.  I love combining kits!  So when Karen asked us to combine two or more collections I got carried away.  In total...there are over 10 different kits on this layout. Can you name them all? Answers are at the bottom.

How sassy is this little princess?! Just look at the half grin.  I get that look too just before I'm about to do something rotten.  She soooo takes after me!

Club Scrap papers, ribbons, frame, charm, stamps, envelope, washi tape and jewels. Recollections burlap. 

I used May's sketch, with a little rotation, from Let's Get Sketchy to help design this layout.  

Thank you for joining the Artist Team today.  Please continue hopping to see how Kelly "mashed" things up for you.

1.   Adirondacks wood grain paper.
2.   Academy textured paper for photo mat.
3.   Papillion sparkle paper in frame.
4.   Navigation envelope edges cropped to open.
5.   Paris Flea Market ribbon and frame.
6.   Transformations quote stamp.
7.   Concrete Jungle crown stamp.
8.   The Blues washi tape.
9.   Dahlia washi tape.
10. London Calling key charm
11. Woven Strands jewels

Puns

I love a silly pun and was super excited to see Pam's NBUS (Never Been Used Stuff) topic of Snarky & Punny. I've got tons of stamps that make me giggle but only a few of you (you know who you are) that appreciate this wit.

While visiting my fellow Club Scrap Artist Teammate Pam's blog I came across the Snarky Stampers. Where have these ladies been all my life?!

Challenge #84



Explore Everything Fusion

This is the last art panel with my favorite handmade paper sheet. :( I just love how the stamps barely survived the blending process. It gives the paper just a little extra oomph. Fusion Card Challenge is hosting a challenge allowing you to pull inspiration from a sketch, a photo or both. I used mostly the sketch but the navy blue and kraft colors of the photo played a part as well.  

Club Scrap papers, tag, ribbons, stamp and burlap. My handmade paper.

Never Stop Exploring_Mojo Monday

This week's Mojo Monday sketch #497 is a perfect fit for this faux leaf ribbon I unearthed in my craft closet. Wish I found this about a week ago! The front of wooden button didn't really match the theme of my card so I improvised. I stamped the small mountain scene on the back.

Club Scrap papers, stamps, ribbon and tag. Recollections feather.

 



Vintage Exploring

Are you getting tired of feathers, burlap and handmade papers? I just can't help but to use them. They seem to go really well the Adirondacks collection. Card Concept is hosting a Vintage Notes challenge.  I was inspired by the old book pages from the photos. I just happen to be cutting apart a dictionary and had these random pages lying around.  I crumpled up the section, flattened it out and ran a brown ink pad over the top to give it that vintage feel.

 

Club Scrap papers and stamps. Recollections feather. Elizabeth Craft Designs frame die. Unknown paper ribbon. My handmade paper. 



Yosemite

I love Yosemite!  I've backpacked through the High Sierra's twice and would love to do it again. It might take me a little longer than last time but I just love the outdoors. I stole these photos from my sister-in-law's trip to Yosemite last summer. They're perfect for the Adirondacks deluxe collection. I didn't do anything fancy in designing the layout. In fact the design is part of the Adirondacks ALSB layouts. The cutting and assembly instructions are free every month to anyone.

Club Scrap papers, stencil, tags, book plate, ribbons and borders. 

I even did the stenciling which I seem to ignore since I'm generally not very good at it.  My newest trick it to add washi tape to all the edges and cover the holes I don't want ink in.  The less chance for mistakes the better.  I just use a washi tape that I'm not fond of.

The original layout.



I wish I knew where these patches came from. I would really like more!

Light Up My Life

Sunday Stamps is hosting a sketch challenge. Luckily for me I had a few extra burlap circles I die cut for another project. I came across these wooden charms in my stash and decided to stamp on them to give them a little personality. I'm really enjoying using up my outdoorsy embellishments this month with the Adirondacks collection.  Wood, burlap and feathers...oh my!

Stamping on the Edge

May's technique challenge over at Club Scrap is Stamping on the Edge. Stamping on the edge gives you a chance to look at all your stamps in a new way.  I have three examples using different stamps on different edges.  I could have easily gotten carried away! Simply stamp on the edge of your card and trim away.

Club Scrap paper, stamps, ribbon and brown burlap. Charm from my travels. Ashland burlap.

 

Club Scrap papers, stamps and twine. Stickles.

 



Club Scrap papers and stamps. Nuvo crystal drops. Unknown wooden heart.

You should give this a try. When you're finished share your creations via the Linky Party at Club Scrap for your chance to win a Club Scrap gift certificate!