Graphic 45 "The Night Before Christmas" Cards

These four elegant cards were made with the new Christmas paper line from Graphic 45, "The Night Before Christmas". I love holly, and this line has two styles of holly paper that are beautiful. The first card I designed I used an embossing folder  onto ivory cardstock to emboss a design onto the left side only. I then cut with a craft knife, vertical slits at points slightly larger than than a thin rectangular die I was going to use to cut the frame. Cut a long slit connecting the two smaller slits, slide in the thin rectangular die face down, making sure the die was under the design, but on top of the paper to the right of the design. Then ran it thru my vagabond. I then trimmed out around my design, and adhered a gold frame under the window I created. Attach some chipboard scraps or foam squares under frame window, and attach to the cut out "merry & bright".  Wrap some ribbon around it and make a  bow, then I attached it all to the card.

Add a little lace, holly & pearls! You can add stickles to the flakes of snow in the image to make it sparkle.

I used the coordinating stamp set #1 for the greeting on this card. I stamped the greeting and embossed it in green embossing powder. I added the season's from another stamp set I owned. A button glue dotted on top of some ribbon pull it all together.

This card uses some paper that came from a vintage music book page, a doily from my Cheery Lynn Designs die, and a pine sprig from a Tim Holtz strip die.

More pine sprigs were used in this card along with the vintage Santa image from the above mentioned stamp set. I added a greeting from an older Hero Arts stamp set. I added a double bow and a Prima flower to finish it off.

Catch this class at a Chicagoland store this December!

Christmas tags will be showcased in my next few post! I have techniques to share.

Kim

2014 Fall Tags

Of all the years I've created and taught tags, I had not created a Fall tag I truly loved....until now!
These tags have three distinct and different techniques. The first is using Golden Light Molding paste, and acrylic paint to create a tree bark feel. Using the wood stencil from Tim Holtz over an inked tag (pumice stone, gathered twigs) I then spread the paste over the stencil, thickly. When I peeled up the tag I was pleased with the results.

I then created a corn stalk from natural raffia, tied it together, and glue dotted it to the tag. The quote is from Graphic 45 November paper. The leaves are made of green cardstock and stained vellum cut out on the Fall gatherings strip die from Tim Holtz. At the bottom of the tag, tucked under the pumpkins you'll find parts of an apple bag from the grocery store. I cut the bag into strips. Then I stretched it and frayed it. It really added some texture and color.

The next tag is very colorful. The photo doesn't do it justice. I used a set of leaves stamps from Tim Holtz and several different Distress Ink colors. I started by inking the tag with brushed sage, with a blending tool. Then ink the stamp with the lightest color ink, then added other colors of ink by using the corner of the inkpad in a brushing motion onto the stamp. Since distress inks stay wetter longer there is no need to huff onto the stamp before applying it to the tag. Use a heat gun to thoroughly dry the tag. Then we inked the edges of the tag with Vintage Photo and applied clear embossing powder to the edges and heated it till it melted clear. Add a burlap rectangle, ribbon, and a card from the Seasonal paper pad of Tim Holtz edged in a leafing marker.

The third tag has a little wow factor! My husband watched me do the background, and his comment was "Cool"! The technique is straight out of Tim's "Composium of Curiosities III". Even the colors are the same. You need to try this technique! Paint a tag any color, then dry it with a heat gun. Use a Distress Paint in the metallic colors, and cover the tag with it. Mist with water lightly, then partially dry the tag with your heat gun. You can add more water to help delay areas from drying too fast. Before the tag is dry apply a paper towel to the top of tag and rub your hands over it. Remove paper towel. Mist with water to remove any paper towel pattern. At this point you can rub more of the metallic paint off if needed. Dry completely with heat gun. The effect is unique. I can't wait to try this in a different color.

All my students really liked the effects of this technique. I added an embossed leaf from Tim's new die/embossing folder set in chipboard covered in bookprint. I inked the leaf with walnut stain along the edges, then inked the top with a "Brilliance" Copper inkpad. The larger charm is actually a postage stamp from one of the graphic 45 papers I adhered to chipboard then crackle painted.

This is my favorite set of Fall Tags I've ever made. I hope you enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving

Kim

Halloween Tags

I had so much fun teaching these tags!
We used a few new things that I was so glad my students just loved. I cut the bricks out of scraps from a Tim Holtz strip die, to use as a stencil. Then we used Golden Light Molding Paste mixed with some acrylic paint the color of bricks. The spread it over the stencil, thickly. The results were just what I was looking for to give this tag dome dimension. A faux brick wall was the perfect background for the new Lantern die-cut. On the Raven tag I used chunky glitter, which gave the bird an interesting reflective quality. Every year for Halloween I try to do a tag in tribute to Mr. Poe.
On the third tag, We used a Layered stencil of Tim's (Shattered), and Viva Decor Mother of Pearl paint. I love the shimmer this line of paints gives off. I mixed the mother of pearl with some distress paint (picket fence) on a craft sheet, and used the stencil as a stamp by rubbing the stencil into the paint and then placing it onto the tag. I needed to rub over the stencil with a finger to make sure the stencil laid down flat to apply the image.
Overall I loved the way these tags turned out. I think the students loved the brick wall best. This class was taught exclusively to my Woodstock students.

Fall tags are next!
Till then
Kim

Feeling Eerie?

I wanted to share a NEW project I am so tickled about! It really turned out to be so cool. I couldn't envision what it would be when I finished, which is unusual for me. When I create it's from my mind , and I can see in my head what I want it to be. This was a walk through an unfamiliar house for me. I used Graphic 45 "An Eerie Tale" papers, and some imagination to piece this together. The book inside is an accordion fold but I attached it to the box cover and box bottom. This makes the pages pop up slightly for flipping through. The only thing I couldn't fix was it tilts forward when you open the cover while it's standing. But "you can't have everything" I tell myself.

There are some pockets on some pages, punched borders, and of course die cuts! I used some glass pebbles on some of the graphics in the papers to use as embellishments. They turned out great.
Check out my calendar to see where you can take this class. You can view the calendar if you print it out. This class will take place in late September and in October. Email me to sign up at the Woodstock location, otherwise contact the stores listed to arrange a seat .

Hope to see you!
Kim

Family Time

Sorry to have been gone so long! I have been spending time with the family before school is back in session, and the Summer comes to a close. An appropriate project to show you is an envelope book I made a few years ago, using Webster Pages papers. I added a little Prima and some trims to complete the booklet.

I attached purple envelopes by adhering the flaps of the envelopes to the inside of another. There are so many configurations you could come up with when you use envelopes. This is what draws me to using them. From a zig-zag to a booklet. Make it whatever you want it to be!

I love that there is always room for more inside the envelopes.

Little touches of glitter paper and bling adds a little sparkle.

The center of the booklet with  some special trims, give it an elegant look.

I used half an acrylic overlay at the top of the left page, and the other half onto the page in the center.

A simple project, that turned out beautiful! I love the colors in these papers, and the graphics. 

I hope this will inspire you to think twice when next you get a card and rip open the envelope. Open it carefully and save those envelopes to cover with beautiful papers. Make it into something special!

My focus is now shifting to the Fall season. That means it is Christmas Tag Time. Stay tuned in for the upcoming sneek peaks of my 12 Tags of Christmas Classes that start in September! Also I am  working on NEW Graphic 45 classes. 

Till next time

Kim

By the Sea Mini Album

As I enter the lazy days of summer, I think of blue skies, and sunshine. Hoping I can imprint it all in my brain so I can feel it in January when I am numb from the cold. I am enjoying the green I see everywhere. It's what I miss most in the winter.

Here is the second class I am teaching from the Graphic 45 "By the Sea" collection. Hope this gives you inspiration!

Celebrate 4th of July

Enjoy these tags I taught in Woodstock Il the other day. I tried to capture that patriotic feeling with Tim Holts inks, paints, stencils, glitter, stamps, and die cuts. I also added some die cuts from Chery Lane and Sizzix. Everyone of my students enjoyed everything except the tedious painted stars. The "lady liberty" tag background is done in distress paints on a non-stick craft mat, with water added. I'm not sure I quite captured the copper elements in this photo, but they are really cool. The USA tag has a star stenciled background and features glittered stars on top of layers of a doily and cardstock. "Old Glory" was a little complicated as we painted an embossed piece of plastic, which we layered over a tag that we inked and perfect pearled. I just love when my fingers get inky!

Kits, kits, and more kits! I have been kitting up projects for upcoming classes these past two weeks. Using Graphic 45 "By the Sea" papers, I created two classes for you! Above is the card class, featuring these four cards in which we layer paper and add some special embellishments, and some techniques to make them special! Check out my calendar for where you can catch this class. I'll be at Stamp, Scrap n' More in Mundelein IL on June 28th, and Memories and Beyond on July 8th. Check these stores out in person, on the web, or on Facebook. I can't tell enough how important it is to support these small businesses. They are disappearing on us and if we don't there will be no where to learn, touch or feel, other than your computer. There is nothing like touching and feeling when it comes to crafting supplies. Quality is hard to see on a computer, and if you are like most of my students, it is easier to learn when someone shows you how!

www.stampscrapnmore.com

www.memoriesandbeyond.com

Next time I'll show you the Mini Album I created using these lovely papers from Graphic 45! 

Get Inspired!

Kim