ATCs – Beyond Trading: Sweet Fairy Eyelet Ornament

When I first saw this image from Suzanne Melvin's Fairy Sweets plate (Oxford Impressions), I was fascinated. Her look is slightly impish, and I knew that she had to find a place on our already heavily decorated tree.

The ornament box is one that I created just for this project. You can find the pattern and instructions in the December 2010 issue of Crafts 'n things® at page 50. I used some of my favorite Ranger® products: Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks and Metallic Mixatives, Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink, Adirondack® Dye Ink, and Archival™ Ink. The crystal trim provides the perfect finish.
One little ornament might be lost on our tree. I think this little angel needs some friends!

30 Minute Card Ideas: St. Nicholas and Song of the Chaffinch

Racking your brain for fresh ideas for Christmas cards? The 30 Minutes section of the December 2010 issue of Crafts 'n things® is filled with inspiration. The best thing? All the instructions are available online.
You will find my first card, St. Nicholas, on page 42. The stamps are from the St. Nicholas plate from Oxford Impressions. Archival™ Ink and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads (Ranger®) were used. Paper is from the All Dressed Up Paper Stack (DCWV). Instructions for this project may be found here.

The Song of the Chaffinch, page 44, also uses the St. Nicholas plate with Archival™ Ink and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads. The instructions may be found here.

Pinecone Transparency Ornament

I love this ornament and can't wait to see the Christmas lights shining through the transparent surface. Found at page 59 of the December 2010 issue, the instructions are available at Crafts 'n things® by clicking on Free Stuff and Bonus Projects. (I'm sure you'll want to explore all the great free projects while you're there.)

The Bubble Light and Large Pinecone Ornament stamps are by Just for Fun. The ornament uses Adirondack® Pigment Ink, Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder, and Adirondack® Archival Pigment Pens - all by Ranger®.

Christmas on the Edge Mini Album

I’ve completed Christmas albums in the past and always regretted that the stamped images were not as visible as I would have liked. When I viewed my beautiful new Christmas images from Just for Fun, I couldn’t bear the thought of a similar fate. This album, found at page 59 of the December 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things® was the result.

The Weathered White embossing powder (Embossing Antiquities™ ) is perfect when you don't want a bright white effect. If you notice the sprinkle of color around the sampler photograph, that's Tim Holtz™ Distress Embossing Powders. Questions about how to journal on black? That's not a problem with Ranger's ® Inkssentials™ White Opaque Pen.
Not only have I created an heirloom quality project, I can enjoy my stamps without turning the pages. You'll find complete directions and patterns in Crafts 'n Things®.

Better Backgrounds: Perfectly Dramatic Black

If you like to create fabulous backgrounds with a simple list of supplies, the technique in the December 2010 issue of Crafts 'n things® is for you! The first card uses little more than black Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper and Perfect Pearls™.

Want more bling? Just add "Glitter Ornaments" Peel-Off Stickers from The Paper Studio.

You'll find complete instructions on page 71.

Is It Christmas Yet!

Christmas is definitely one of my favorite holidays, and part of the satisfaction results from the warm fuzzies that accompany handmade projects and gifts. I'm lured by the preview of the December cover and the promise that Crafts 'n things® will show me "how to make the 2010 holiday season your creative best!"

These bullets about the upcoming issue caught my eye:

• Hand-crafted holiday cards and gifts, quick-and-clever ornaments and dazzling décor ideas abound in the December issue. (Occasionally, I'm clever, but now I can be dazzling!)
• Check out the Budget-Savvy Gifts section for a dozen handmade gift ideas that fit your budget and don't scrimp on style. You don't need to spend a fortune to make your loved ones feel treasured! (Who isn't looking for inexpensive ways to pamper our loved ones.)
• Go directly to the top of Santa's "Nice List" when you give homemade decadent treats -- from heavenly cappuccino truffles to beautifully packaged chocolate chip banana bread, every morsel packs a dollop of holiday happiness. (In days when everyone seems to be on a diet of some sort, I enjoy looking at all the luscious treats even when I don't make them.)

It may not be Halloween yet, but I'm looking forward to beginning Christmas preparations. Want to join me?

Journals of Love for Cancer Patients

When Dawn Gehring, Managing Editor of Crafts 'n Things, asked if I knew of a paper crafting project for the "Crafting for a Cause" section in the October 2010 issue, I jumped at the opportunity to write about someone I had "met" in an online art group. Shirley Nagel has a passion, and everyone she comes into contact with soon knows.
Shirley makes journals for distribution to cancer patients. Some may use the journal to organize information, record their thoughts, or even as a sketch pad. What began as a simple gift for a family member has blossomed into a ministry that blesses many.

I hope that you will pick up a copy of this issue and read Shirley's heartwarming story on page 94. If it touches you, let Shirley know.

I made these journals for Shirley to distribute with Adirondack® Pigment Inks and Adirondack® Dye Inks. (Stamps by Hot Off the Press) I hope that they will be a small encouragement in what is a difficult time.

For more information, go to Journals of Love. Shirley would be happy to share her experience or to place journals you create.

________________________

Don't miss the update on this project in the October 2011 issue of Crafts 'n things. You'll find my post here.

Better Backgrounds: Alcohol Impressions

Looking for different ways to use your Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks? Add these wonderful stamps by Fred B. Mullett, and that's all you'll need to create striking backgrounds on Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper.

The falling leaves card showcases Mullett's Big Oriental Plane leaf.

Solved the technique mystery? More wonderful nature stamps, Magnolia and Lil’ Magnolia with Roann Mathias' "Mystery" stamp (The Stamping Studio.) One Adirondack® Dye Ink pad is all that you will need to complete the card below.

You can find detailed instructions on page 70 of the October 2010 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.

Recipe for Fashion Kitchen Set

The memory is rather faint: a day devoted to creating a Black Forest Cake from scratch only to discover that the husband who loves chocolate and lists cherry pie as a favorite did not like any combination of the two ingredients. The days when I enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen and envisioned neatly organized recipe files have long since passed. Instead, I just needed a place to file cards of different sizes, newspaper clipping, and the bits and pieces of recipes shared by friends over the years. With that in mind, I created this recipe box and coordinating grocery list and entertainment planner for the October 2010 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.

Grocery shopping is still an ordeal, but I smile each time I make my grocery list now. For detailed instructions, see page 74.
Stamps: Ornate Bird (Hero Arts®); Trumpet Vine and Forget Me Not Sprig (Memory Box); Large Gothic Lower Alphabet (Postmodern Design).
Inks: Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks and Metallic Mixative; Adirondack® Pigment Inks; Adirondack® Dye Ink. Also used, Inkssentials™ White Opaque Pen.

ATCs – Beyond Trading: Seasonal Door Hangers

When I was a little girl, I loved Halloween. It was a magical experience. Although I don't care for the taste, I still eat candy corn in October and reminisce about homemade popcorn balls. As an adult, these door hangers provide little reminders of the simplicity of childhood. You'll find the details on page 54 of the October 2010 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.

The stamps are from the Trick or Treat plate by Oxford Impressions. The door hangers feature Ranger® inks: Archival™ Ink, Adirondack® Dye Ink, and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink. Tim Holtz™ Distress™ Stickles™ Glitter Glue and Inkssentials™ Glossy Accents™ provide the highlights.

30 Minute Card Ideas: School Days and October Fun

We've been back in school for almost three weeks already. The heat has been excessive, and "standard" dress has replaced the cute little skirts of my day. Times have changed, but the smell of new school supplies and the anticipation I see on students' faces has not. Take a walk down memory lane with this card from the October 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. (I think I had a dress just like this.)

As with all projects in the 30 Minutes section, you can find complete instructions online here. The Oxford Impressions stamp is one of several that bring back pleasant memories from the School Days plate. The card uses Archival™ Ink, Adirondack® Dye Ink, and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink.

If your Halloween memories don't include super heroes or television characters, you may enjoy this card.

The instructions may be found here. The stamp is from another Oxford Impressions plate, Trick or Treat. The card also uses Archival™ Ink and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink. You'll find these cards on pages 42-43.

By the Sea Journal and Trinket Box

"Recycle. Restyle. Reuse." It's even on the cover. Long before "going green" became the trend, crafters enjoyed the thrill of transforming what some would have seen as trash into treasure. Such was the case with this tin and matching journal found in the August 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. Who could guess that this textured vintage finish conceals primary paint colors. It's all in the products you use!


The photo images, tin trinkets, and sentiment are from the "By the Sea" plate by Oxford Impressions. For successful stamping with photo stamps, quality paper such as Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper is the key. Other supplies for this project include Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers, Tim Holtz™ Distress™ Crackle Paint™, Tim Holtz™ Distress™ Stickles, Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads, and Archival™ Ink.
What could be a better compliment for a special box to store your trinkets than a journal to record your memories? This bathing beauty will keep your secrets, and the packing from my husband's shirts has found new life.


The beautiful papers on the journal covers are from the All Dressed Up Stack by DCWV. In addition to the products for the tin, the journal uses Adirondack® Pigment Inks, Super Fine Detail™ Powders, and Inkssentials™ Glossy Accents™. The spiral binding coil is from one of my favorite vendors, Bonnie's Best Art Tools. (Here's a commercial: Not only does Bonnie have a great selection of specialized tools and products, she offers fabulous customer service. Just ask my husband. He loves it when my gift list has items from Bonnie's store. They're on a first name basis!)
For detailed instructions, see pages 66-67 of the August 2010 issue.

ATCs – Beyond Trading: Casablanca Luggage Tag and Card

Rising temperatures and high humidity mean summer has arrived, and summers are synonymous with vacations. While budget may limit destination, there are no restrictions on stamping adventures. You can find mine on page 89 of the August 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things.
The automobile on my ATC luggage tag is appropriate though my travel will not include a flight to Paris. The stamps for this tag and the complimentary card are all from the Casablanca plate from Oxford Impressions. You'll need Ranger®'s Archival™ Ink and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads for this sophisticated palette.

Looking for romance? What could be more romantic than Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman? Add an ATC to a card front, and you'll be transported to Casablanca. "Just Believe." In addition to the supplies for the luggage tag, this card uses Inkssentials™ Sepia Accents™.

Check out Crafts 'n Things for detailed instructions to recreate these projects.

Better Backgrounds: Glazed Watercolors

If you've not tried the Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints, a close look at pictures of projects from the August 2010Crafts 'n Things may provide another reason to do so. My best description is the paints are yummy. Used with Claudine's issue of Multi Medium Gloss, this technique closely resembles canvas. The missing ingredient is Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads.
First, the Butterfly Collage card. (Stamp by Outlines™ Rubber Stamp Company, Inc) This background needed no further adornment.

Or add to butterflies to the "canvas" background with stickers such as the sparkly Glitter Butterflies Peel Offs by Paper Studio.

You'll find complete instructions on page 64.

30 Minute Card Ideas: Palm Trees and Cowgirls

My submissions for 30 Minute Ideas in the August 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things share little in common other than stamps from Oxford Impressions. That's one thing I enjoy - the opportunity to create without the constraint of a particular theme. Another plus is that the instructions are provided on the Crafts 'n Things site. It's probably no surprise that both projects feature Ranger® products.
My first project is a "Palm Tree" tag on page 59. The stamp is from the Travel Journal plate. Color is provided by a variety of Tim Holtz™ products: Adirondack® Color Wash™, Distress Ink Pads, Distress™ Embossing Powders, and Adirondack® Alcohol Inks.You can find the instructions and an even larger photo here.

The "Always Gets My Man" card (stamp from the Cowgirl Blues plate) is a definite contrast to the tropical tag. Archival™ Ink is a standard ink for many stampers, but are you aware of the fabulous colors beyond Jet Black? The cobalt ink used here is definitely rich with coloring is provided by Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads. You'll find the card on page 58, and the instructions are here.

Ooh La La Fan & Card Set

Does this happen to you? Do you ever begin with a project in mind and end up in a completely different place? This is what I'm talking about.
I'm not sure why we have what I grew up calling "funeral parlor" fans in our comfortably air conditioned church. It could be that others, like me, reminisce about similar fans they used while attending church with a grandparent, or it could be this is an effective manner to deal with changing female hormones. Either way, I originally planned to create a useable hand fan. Something happened along the way, and that fan grew into the full sized wall art project below. (And by the way, I really hope that you'll purchase the magazine to see a much better image. The photographer did a beautiful job in capturing the details including the elegant black bow.)

I'm going to blame this change in direction on Suzanne Melvin. First, her stamps were just too beautiful for me to choose just one focal image. Next, I realized that the accompanying flourishes and borders could be used to define sectional pieces. This fan definitely reminds me of a time when such fans were a necessity and life was much slower. The beautiful images from Oxford Impressions may be found on these plates: Marie Antoinette, Le Beau Monde, and French Script.
My best description for the accompanying card is "foo foo." I love the contrast between the pink feathered lady and the elegant coach. Another beautiful French lady from Suzanne.

For directions (and better pictures!) see the June 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. Ranger®Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper, Archival™ Ink, Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink, products used include Adirondack® Dye Ink, Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabber, and Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi Medium Gloss.

ATCs – Beyond Trading: A Walk in the Garden

Looking for additional ideas that place your Artist Trading Card collection in the limelight? While the flowers in our garden were destroyed by recent rains, these projects from pages 62-63 of the June 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things bring blooms to the forefront.
The three featured stamp sets are by Oxford Impressions: Country Girl, The Fairest Flower, and LeJardin. You will also need the following Ranger® products to recreate the ATCs : Inkssentials™ Gloss Paper, Archival™ Ink, Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink, Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers, and Posh Impressions Accent Pen™ The patterned paper is from the Wild Asparagus Collection by My Mind's Eye.
First, the elegant card. The window in the flower-shaped card provides a view of the underlying ATC, perfectly framed in gold.I know that the recipient of this card will treasure the beautiful flowers.

Next, the flower garland. I wish that I had the photography skills (and the proper lighting in our home) so that you could view this on the door frame in my studio. While I created five blossoms to embellish the door frame, this would easily be adaptable for a fireplace or larger area.

Below, the detail blossoms. I liked the look of the tulip flanking the children.

Better Backgrounds: Metal Effects

It may not seem romantic to some, but when my husband asks if I would like to accompany him to the home improvement store, I typically jump at the opportunity. It's bigger than any craft store I've ever seen and what an abundance of product. There's just something special about transforming a material that would typically be attached to your house into a lovely piece of art.
Two such examples of one of my latest hardware store projects may be found on page 58 of the June 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. As would be expected, metal and Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks provide a winning combination. Here is a close-up of the first card. Any ideas as to where you might find this metal?

The second card features an Oxford Impressions image and sentiment from the My Story plate. A change in ink colors and what a different impression.

In contrast to the metals of my imagination, here's a background with a more traditional metal finish. This "gold" has the potential to provide a base for a fine art piece.

Need more metal inspiration? Check out my "Memories of Roses" in the April 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things.

30 Minute Card Ideas: Flowers and Fruit

Thirty minute card ideas. Don't you love that concept! What's more, you can find all the directions for these cards online in the June 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things. All inks are Ranger® products, and both cards use stamps from Oxford Impressions. Now, a look at my two cards.
I've typically avoid coloring, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to add my own twist to these lovely flowers. The image is from the Fairest Flower, the same plate that I used in my "Walk in the Garden" ATC project this month. Definitely versatile images, and it can be fun to use your ink pads for coloring. You'll find this card on page 32 of the magazine, and the instructions are here.

If you prefer not to bother with staying between the lines, here's the project for you. In this L'Abrege card, you simply stamp and emboss over your beautiful background. The LeJardin image, another plate that I used in the "Walk in the Garden" ATC project, puts the pear and writing together for you. This card is on page 34 of the magazine, and the instructions are here.

Classically Alice Ensemble

When Suzanne Melvin of Oxford Impressions first clued me in that Disney's Alice in Wonderland would be released this month, I had a perfect excuse. Now, I had seen stamps before based on the illustrations by Sir John Tenniel from my childhood edition of the book, but I'd always resisted. That is until I saw the three new sets Suzanne recently released: Classic Alice (the one I've used here,) Illustrated Alice, and Wonderland. Projects for the April 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things provided the perfect excuse for me to add these stamps to my collection. See what you think.
First, a spiral notebook: black and white with an accent of red. An easy look to accomplish with Archival™ Ink, Adirondack® Dye Ink, and Inkssentials™ Glossy Accents™. When the self-adhesive crystals (Prima Marketing ®) were not the color I wanted, that too was a quick change with Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Alcohol Inks.

Next, an Alice pendant. Same basic supplies but a totally different look.

Finally, a card. Alice with an attitude. Could that be caused by the Stickles™ Glitter Glue crown?

Fun stamps and fun projects. For additional details, see pages 48-49 of the April 2010 issue of Crafts 'n Things.

30 Minute Card Ideas: Wonderland Inspiration

I've titled this post, "Wonderland Inspiration" because like my next post, the stamps are by Suzanne Melvin of Oxford Impressions. Suzanne has three Alice-inspired collections: Classic Alice (my favorite,) Illustrated Alice with additional Alice poses, and Wonderland for a Lewis Carroll photo stamp and other related images. The great thing about the 30 Minute Card Ideas is that the instructions are available online at Crafts 'n Things. You can find my cards on page 28 of the April 2010 issue or at the links that follow. All inks are Ranger® products.
First, Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Don't you just want to hug them! Find the instructions here.

Next, a retirement card. Next time you think about the traditional gold watch, remember that the White Rabbit was the one who was late. Here are the instructions.

Here are a couple of more cards that I made with this set. Like the prior two, it's quick and simple to stamp an image on patterned paper from the Pocket Full of Posies Stack by DCWV.