Fanciful Wings Project Set

I love a bargain and regularly shop the aisles of the local dollar store for crafting inspiration. When I found these glow in the dark butterflies, my mind began to race. These four projects, featured in the June 2009 issue of Crafts 'n Things, were the result.
I think that my favorite is this embossed card using Nick Bantock™ Dye Pads. I wish that you could see the beautiful sheen that the Perfect Pearls™ provide.


Here I’ve used Tim Holtz™ Adirondack® Color Wash™ for a really easy card. Such rich colors.
 

With added color from Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads, Color Wash™ clean-up from the card above was the foundation for this journal. Below, you can see how I incorporated mulberry paper to finish the inside cover.

I found one more use for Color Wash™ in this butterfly paper casting.
 
Details for constructing these cards are on pages 98-99. With a little imagination, I’m sure you’ll think of other uses for this inexpensive find.

Rubber Stamper’s Studio: Deli Wrap Journals

Have you ever had the experience of trying to locate a supply and then forgetting why you wanted it in the first place? That was the case for me with deli wrap. I knew that I had to have some, and it took me months to locate a source. By the time that the deli wrap arrived, I was scratching my head to try to remember why I ordered it in the first place.
I now know why I started the search, but in the meantime, I've enjoyed some fun experiments. I love the translucency of the deli wrap, and I was interested to see what kind of backgrounds I could create with it. The painted backgrounds (using Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers) for these journals are the result of one of my play days. These three found their way into the June 2009 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.





Here are two more.



If you are admiring the photo stamps, they are all plates from fellow Tennessee stamper, Suzanne Melvin, and her company, Oxford Impressions. (You may remember that I used Suzanne's Bird's Nest collection in creating the birdhouse and card gift set in the April issue.) The stamps for “By the Sea” and “Afternoon Tea” are from plates of the same name. The photo stamps for “Sands of Time” and the house in “Remember” are from the Family Album plate. “Invincible Summer” uses stamps from Season of Giving.
One thing that I like about these journals is that the pages can be replaced when filled by simply untying the binding and inserting new ones. If you’re really adventuresome, collect those filled pages and bind them together for a totally new book. For details of journal construction, see pages 94-95.

Better Backgrounds: Masking with Tape

You may have thought of masking tape as a standard artist supply, but have you considered using it to create your backgrounds? Look at these two cards from my Better Backgrounds column in the June 2009 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.


At first glance, I think you’d be hard pressed to say how these backgrounds were created. Tape and Adirondack® Dye Ink pads are the answer. The details are on pages 92-93.

The two great stamps, Sherrie and Sharon, by B Line Designs were stamped with a Big & Bossy™ Two-tone Embossing Pad and embossed with Super Fine Detail™ Powder. (You could achieve the same result with the newer Adirondack® Pigment Inks.) This is also a perfect background for rub-ons as demonstrated by the addition of “thanks” (Creative Imaginations) to the card stamped with Sharon’s veiled image.
Here’s an example with colors that do not overlap. (Stamps: Time Flies, Stampers Anonymous; Eternity Slab, Postmodern Design. Nick Bantock™ Dye Pads: Chartreuse, Deep Turquoise, Vermillion Lacquer, Damson Plum, Chrome Yellow.)

For a completely different look, tear your tape to create the shape of your choice. After creating the grid background with tape and Clover Adirondack® Dye Ink, I added the flower effect with tape and Wild Plum ink. (Stamp: Printer’s Mark, LaPluma; Big & Bossy™ Two-tone Embossing Pad; Bottle Adirondack® Embossing Powder.)


Want to try something different? Let your tape be your guide!