Sunday, August 23, 2009

Fall Theme

Next Sunday, I have a Project Share meeting with the other members of the T.O.P.I.C.S. group, and the theme of the meeting is Fall. We're doing a shoebox swap (which means you bring a project for everyone else to stamp) and a card swap (which means you bring a finished card to swap with everyone else).

The first photo is of the project I am bringing for others to stamp. It uses the new stamp set called Autumn Days with the Baby Wipe Technique. The colors I used on the baby wipe are Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, and Rich Razzleberry. I used the baby wipe to ink up the Happy Thanksgiving greeting from the Teeny Tiny Wishes set, and I love how it turned out. The idea for this card comes from Darcie Helt found on Splitcoast Stampers, and I modified it slightly.


The next card is the finished card I prepared to swap. Thanks to my friend, Kirsteen, for the inspiration to use the Lovely As A Tree stamp set and the Magic Pastels technique off the Stampin' Up! Workshop WOW DVD (check out her awesome samples). Thanks to my friend, Penny, for letting me borrow the stamp set! I really think I need to buy this classic set. The card layout was inspired by Michelle Hoffman's post on Splitcoast Stampers. The With Sympathy greeting was added from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, unfortunately out of a need for a sympathy card, and it really turned out to be a nice card. The cardstock colors are Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip.

The quick version of the Magic Pastels technique is this: I inked up the tree image using Sahara Sand ink and stamped off once on a scrap paper before stamping onto my cardstock so the image is light but visible. Then, I colored in the image using the Stampin' Pastels. After it was colored in, I inked the tree image again in Chocolate Chip ink, and using my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to line up the image, I stamped over the colored image. This technique can be used with many different images, but it seems particularly suited to this tree image.



On Board Book Basics Wall Hanging

While I made five additional clear envelope brag books for the daycare teachers, completion of the project was such a mad rush that I didn't get a chance to photograph and post pictures of them. They were all unique, and they were extremely well-received on Friday by the teachers.

This wall hanging was made as a gift for the school itself. The On Board Book Basics (small 5"X7-1/2") are covered with Pink Flamingo designer series paper. The stars were cut using the Big Shot Stars#2 die. The words were cut with the new Many Thanks sizzlit and the Billboard and Naturally Serif (Thanks, Penny!) decorative strip sizzlits. The pieces are held together using the pewter Jumbo Brads and Real Red 5/8" grosgrain ribbon. I also used the Photo Corners punch and lots of Tombow Multi adhesive! I'm happy with how it turned out.


Monday, August 10, 2009

More Clear Envelope Brag Books

Here are some more clear envelope brag books that I've been making for teacher gifts.