Check out Pink Persimmon's NEW CHRISTMAS STAMPS!

I'm sooooo excited to share that not only does Pink Persimmon have a new online store that is fabulous .... but they have started releasing some of the new images.  I am so blessed to get to work with them and I can't wait to show all the new projects I've designed.  THANK YOU Darcy and Judy!

Today I'm sharing a project designed using Christmas House.  Hop over and check it out ... it comes with the cutest little carriage image as well.  Today's post is a Holiday Shadow Box Home Decor project with a step by step tutorial for you.

CREATING THE SHADOW BOX

Trim cream cardstock 4 1/2" x 4 1/2".  Score 1/4" and 1/2" from edge of each side as shown by dotted lines.

Trim each corner as shown above.

Fold along score lines as shown.

Adhere flaps together.

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CREATING THE STAMPED PANEL

Next you need to stamp and paper piece the image panel to fit inside the shadow box window.  

In the photo above I mask the stars with masking tape because I didn't want to stamp them in green and my stamp pad was so large that there was no way I could stamp the tree's green and stars yellow without over lapping.  If you choose to use markers, then you can color them separately and stamp them at the same time.

Stamp Panel #1 with the image in green on cream cardstock 3 3/8" x 3 3/8".  

Stamp the image again in brown and red on smaller pieces of cardstock, as shown above.  

Stamp image on masking tape as well.  I use Eclipse Masking Tape.

Trim mask and cover image on Panel #1 (the one with the green tree's).

Lightly and randomly apply brown ink to a script background stamp image.  Another way to do is to apply the brown ink heavy then stamp it off on a piece of scrap paper then immediately stamp on Panel #1.  It's not shown in the photo below ... but do the same thing to the "hill" as well.

Remove mask.  I did this one for the tutorial quickly.  I don't like how this one turned out,  See the gap between the trees and brown ink???  It's way to big and would have re-done this one if I were using it.  But you get the idea.

I actually forgot this step on mine so it's not in the photo above.  Now would be a could time to ink the stars with gold ink and stamp on to Panel #1.  Since I forgot I had to stamp mine separately, trim them and then adhere.  Trust me you don't want to do it that way.

Trim the house and hill as shown.

Paper piece the 3.  Use pop dots to layer the house and hill over Panel #1.  Ink edges with brown ink.  Use chalk or a Dove Blender Pen to color in Trees.  The Dove Blender is great because you can use the ink you stamped the tree's with and because it's "water downed" with whatever they put in it ... it's a little lighter.  Just pick up a little ink on the pen and rub in on.  The sample below is with chalk.  See how it doesn't match that well.  I actually ended up re-doing it after I snapped that photo and used the Dove Blender on the sample at the top.  I have Dove Blender Pen's for each color .... green, red, yellow, blue, pink, etc.   LOVE them.

Mount Panel #1 on red patterned paper.  Adhere inside shadow box.  

Trim a piece of green patterned paper 6" x 6".  Trim a window out of the center of the green panel.  You want to be slightly smaller than the inside of the shadow box opening so that the cream doesn't show.  The inside of your shadow box should be 4" x 4" ... so trim the window from the green patterned paper about 3 7/8" x 3 7/8".  Ink the edges.  Adhere the shadow box to the back of the green patterned paper.  Wrap the top with cream ribbon.  Use a border punch to create a decorative border from red patterned paper and adhere around outside of edge.   Embellish.  Stamp sentiment, trim and adhere.

The last step is to adhere the shadow box to one of those little wooden easels you can get at the local craft stores in the art section.  You can see the feet of mine sticking out a little with the first photo.  Looking at it now I think I need to go back and paint those feet cream.

Hope this little tutorial inspires you to create a little home decor project of your own!

big hugs!

Melisa

You can check out all of my Pink Persimmon projects HERE.

Gina K. Designs "Vintage Chic" + Rainbow Ink Pad = AWESOME

A while back I shared a fall card I created using Tsukineko - Kaleidacolor "Cappuccino Delight" rainbow ink pad.  You can check it our HERE if you like.  Today I'm sharing cards using the Tsukineko - Kaleidacolor "Berry Blaze".  These pads are really fun and add a different and great look to your cards.  I think you can get them at Hobby Lobby.  I've had mine many years and the ink is still great.

I combined the ink pad with Gina K. Designs "Vintage Chic" and "Vintage Notes" images.  These cards are really quick and simple to put together,  

For each card :

Trim white card stock panel slightly smaller than card front and emboss with "Swiss Dots" embossing folder (Cuttlebug).  Gently rub ink over the panel to color the dots.  Adhere to card front.  Stamp Vintage Notes with the rainbow pad then stamp the other images in black.  Trim and adhere to card front.  Easy peasy!

Make sure and check out the cool colors these ink pads come in HERE!

Hope you are finding some time to get crafty this week!!

Hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my Gina K. Design projects HERE.

MIXED MEDIA - Mini Art Journal #1

6.5" x 5.25"

Hello crafters.  I have a step by step mixed media tutorial for you today.  I have had this little book I created in a book binding class years ago.  1 page in this book measures 3.25" x 5.25".  So I decided to prep all the pages with gesso and use some of my favorite stamp images to create some mixed media pages.

I wanted to create a page using this gorgeous peony  from Red Rubber Designs "Lovely Peony" stamp set.  So I decided I wanted to work with yellow and purple.

1. Stamp image over gesso'd background.

If I had waited and stamped the Peony over the background then it would have shown through.  After stamping the peony over the gesso, I stamped it again on "Masking Tape" and trimmed it out.  I covered the image with the trimmed mask.

2.  Cover with a stencil and spray with ink.  Heat set.

The stencil I used reminds me of a lattice fence.   I picked this one up a few years back at a local craft store.  It's made by Plaid.  I didn't have a purple spray ink that I liked, mine were really dark.  So I decided to mix my own.  I used Tattered Angels and mixed "Tattered Rose" and "Fully Purple".  My stencil had some brown on it from the last time I used it so it smeared when I sprayed it.   

3. Use a sponge to pounce on some Gesso randomly.

When you do this it gives some of the area's a dreamy look.  It also allows the next layer of images to stand out more in some area's.   I ended up trying to cover the brown and used a little too much.  I wish the purple spray showed up more in the finished project.

  4.  Stamp more images in green. 

 I used the music score and hand writing in the upper right corner of the set "Vintage Background" by Red Rubber Designs. I used "Pear Pizzazz" ink from Stampin' Up.  Pounce on more gesso.

5. Remove mask.

6. Spray with yellow ink.

I wanted a bright yellow spray so I used "Yellow" by Dr. Martin's Bombay - Hobby Lobby.  I squirted some full strength from the Bombay jar in to a Stampin' Up mini sprayer.  I knew I was coloring the peony yellow so I wanted to balance that color our by spraying more on the left page.

7.  Spray both pages with a light coat of Krylon "Workable Fixative" if you are concerned with the inks on your background "running" when you apply water color over the.  That's what I did.  You can pick up Workable Fixative at local craft stores.

7. Color peony image.

I used water color crayons.  I LOVE my LYRA water color crayons and if I had known they were creamier ... I would have purchased more of them instead of trying the Caran D'Ache Neo-Color Crayons.  The Neo-Color crayons were attractive because they had so many different shades.  Now you can get the Lyra water color crayons in 12, 24, or 48 sets.  So if you are just getting started .... I would consider the Lyra crayons first.  You can actually purchase individual Neo-Color crayons to fill in what you are lacking in the Lyra set.  If you are not sure ... You can pick up a 12 count set of the Lyra crayons at a local craft store for 40% off and try them first.

I used Lyra yellow and light green from my 12 count set.  I used a couple of Neo-Color crayons to add depth - I used #59 brown to add dimension to the petals and #249 olive green to add dimension to my leaves.  I know a lot of people love the "Niji Waterbrush's", and they are really cool, I have them myself.  But I have a hard time controlling the amount of water with these.  So especially with a small image, I use regular brushes / water.  

8. Journal.

I hate my hand writing so I had this idea that I would print my journaling using a cool font, lightly transfer the journaling to the page using transfer paper (sorta like carbon paper), and then use those guidelines to write my journaling with a black pen.  In theory is was a fabulous idea.  But my journaling was way to small, and it was hard to transfer the journaling as well.  I'm wondering if carbon paper would be easier?

The next problem was finding a pen that would write on the pages.  The surface is irregular because of all the coats of gesso / inks.  So it was hard to write smoothly.  The best pen I found to write with on this type surface was the Prismacolor Premier pen.  I used an 01.  

Hope you are encouraged to give this technique a try!!

hugs, Melisa

You can check out more of my Mixed Media Background Tutorials HERE.

You can check out all my Red Rubber Designs Projects HERE.

Pink Persimmon "You're a Jewel"

Hello friends!  What a wonderful week we are having.  My daughter and her boyfriend arrived from Colorado last Saturday night and we have been so busy .... rock climbing (not me, I just watched and took some photo's), 19 mile bike ride (my longest ride so far!!  It was split up into 3 stages with big breaks in between.  Oh how my patootie hurt.  I was really surprised that was the area that hurt the most), a movie, and NASA space center, so far.  Thursday we are doing "Thanksgiving" since they want be here for that.  Basically it's just a day of cooking together.  In the past we would play Christmas music to sing along too and put up the Christmas tree ... not sure we are going that far though!  We will probably wrap the day up with some sort of game, Catan or Canasta.  That will only leave Friday.  The week is flying by and it will be soooo hard to put them on a plane back to Colorado on Saturday.  :  (  

Today I'm sharing a card designed using Pink Persimmon's "You're a Jewel" and "ATC Background - Fairy Tale".   

I've been trying some new color combo's and I'm really lovin' the aqua / purple!  Do you have a new color combo you have tried recently?  

In preparation for lots of new stamp designs coming in Pink Persimmon is having a big sale to make room!!  So many great vintage designs are on the way!!  They just opened their new online store and you can save 30% off your order.  See details HERE.

************EDITED :  I am soooooooo very sorry.  I made a huge mistake.  Pink Persimmon clearly emailed me with the info and it said the sale ended on the 30th.  With all of our busy activity ... I quickly typed this post up without reviewing the email again and didn't remember this part.   I'm very embarrassed that I sent this post out so late and I hope it didn't inconvenience anyone *************

Hope you are having a fabulous week as well!
Melisa

You can check out all my Pink Persimmon projects HERE.

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Project Details

You're a Jewel 5" x 5"

Stamps : Pink Persimmon

Patterned Paper : My Mind's Eye 6 x 6 paper pad

Die : Spellbinders "Labels Eight" Nestabilities, Cherry Lynn "French Doily"

Ribbon : Martha Stewart

Distressing tool : Making Memories

Deckled Scissors : Fiskars

Glitter Glue : Stickles "Crystal"

tissue paper

Ink : VersaMagic Spring Pansy and Purple Hydrangea
Distress Ink - Old Paper

Copic Markers : BG10, BG32, BG34

Sweet n' Sassy "Bookmarks and Bits"

Guess what ???  My daughter is coming to visit!!!   I'm so excited.  She and her boyfriend, David are flying in from Colorado and visiting for a week.  So today I'm sharing the bookmarks I made for her 5th grade class.  As soon as I seen Sweet n' Sassy's "Bookmarks and Bits" I had to have it.  Aren't these images so cute!!

I do need to give some credit though.  I only designed 3 of them.  The cute one with the paper air planes was designed by Bridget @ "Bridget's Paper Blessings" HERE.

Have a great day!

hugs, Melisa

Rainbow Ink Pads

I've had several of these multi-colored ink pads for a few years but recently got them out and started playing with them again.  On the card above I brayered on the ink (Kaleidacolor Blue Breeze by Tsukineko) over vellum, stamped the floral image with black Staz-On ink, then layered the panel over patterned paper.  You can see the honeycomb pattern in the background.  The stamp image above is by Hero Arts - "Silhouette".

For this card I applied the ink with a brayer to regular paper, stamped the floral image and then layerd the blooms over the cut out of the leaves / stem.  I used "Hydrangea" by Hero Arts.

thanks for stopping by!

Melisa

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Challenges

Let's Craft and Create (tues) - ink technique

Top Tip Tues - flowers

Simon Says Stamps (wed) - use rubber stamps

Brown Sugar (fri) - Anything goes

Tutorial : Prismacolor Pencils / Odorless Mineral Spirits

Hello friends.  Today has been a fabulous day.  A friend of mine from Jacksonville, Karen Berry, was in Houston visiting family and I got to spend a couple of hours with her catching up.  What a blessing it was.  Karen is one of my dearest friends.  She is one of the sweetest and most joyful people I have ever met.  She truly shines bright like the sun and is treasured by so many.  And her happiness and joy is infectious.  I am so thankful for the little bit of time that I got to spend with her.   My heart was filled with so much joy!

and now on to today's project .... I've been going through project photos looking for projects I haven't posted on my blog or in galleries and trying to catch up.

I found this older card that I created back when I was a TAC demo.  It's designed using Prismacolor Pencils and Odorless Mineral Spirits. I also found tutorial photo's.  I know most people are using Copic Markers these days .... but just in case there are some new stampers / card makers  ... I wanted to share this option.

The image is by Red Rubber Designs "Flowers and Holly"

If you are not familiar with basic supplies used to do this then check out THIS post with details and photo's as well as basic tips.   Today's tutorial just shows the colors added and blended for this image.  If you are new to using them you will definitely need to check out the other tutorial.   And I have another tutorial HERE.

For this particular image I used :

942 Yellow Ochre

1032 Pumpkin Orange

945 Sienna Brown

912 Apple Green

911 Olive Green

In the photo above I added Yellow Ochre to the petals and Sienna Brown in the middle.

In the photo above I added the Pumpkin Orange.  I usually apply an light and dark color or just one color lighter in some area's and darker in other, then use the Odorless Mineral Spirits and a blending stump to blend.

The photo above shows the colors blended on the flower and then the addition of the Apple Green on the leaves.

In this photo I added the Olive Green. and the final photo on the card shows them blended.

Hope you find it helpful!

Melisa

Red Rubber Designs "Paint Splatters"

Hello friends.  This morning I want to share a couple of cards designed using my Red Rubber Designs stamps.  LOVE this stamp company.  Especially the vintage images.  But before I loose you with this lengthy post I want you to notice those paint splatters!!  LOVE this set.  Now you can have that mixed media paint splattered look easily.  Check out this set HERE.

 The owner, Pam is so sweet and delivery is super fast.  She usually ships same or 1 day after I order.  

In the past the stamps were just rubber and you had to purchase Cling Mount and mount them yourself ... which is not problem for me.  I use an electric hot knife and it's easy peasy.  Not sure what I'm talking about??  Email me and I'll share more.

But now she also sells already cling mounted stamps!!!  She frequently has sales so sign up for a newsletter so you don't miss a thing.

My FAVORITE section of the store is the MIXED MEDIA and VINTAGE sections of stamps.  The stamps I used on these cards can be found in those sections.

On card #1 I used :

"Art Gave Her Wings"

and one of my favorites now ...

"Paint Splatters" (background)

LOVE this set!!

On card #2 I used :

"Fly Fairy" (girl)

"Background Soup" (polka dots)

"Be Fabulous" (the frame the fairy is in)

"Paint Splatters" (background)

Have a fabulous weekend friends!

hugs, Melisa

You can check out all my Red Rubber Designs Projects HERE.

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Project Details

Art Gave Her Wings – 4.25” x 5.5”

Stamps : Red Rubber Designs “ Art Gave Her Wings”  and “Splattered” stamp sets

Patterned Paper : My Mind’s Eye

Card stock : Stampin’ Up “Pear Pizzazz”

Ink : Stampin’ Up “Calypso Coral”, Tsukineko VersaMagic “Thatched Straw”

Dove Blender Pen      Dove Blender Pen Refill    
Embossing Folder : Cuttlebug “Swiss Dots”

Trim green cardstock 4.25” x 5.5”. Trim cream cardstock 3 3/8” x 5 1/8”

and emboss.  Trim cream card stock 3 3/8” x 4 ¼” and stamp splattered images / Art sentiment with Calypso Coral ink.  Trim patterned paper

strip.  Stamp sentiment on cream card stock and trim down to a banner.  Stamp girl on cream cardstock, color with ink / Dove Blender Pen and trim.  Layer / adhere all pieces to card front. Doodle around edges.

She Wanted to Go – 4.25” x 5.5”

Stamps : Red Rubber Designs “Fly Fairy”, “Splattered”, “Vintage Backgrounds”, “Be Fabulous” and “Background Soup” stamp sets

Card stock : Stampin’ Up “Pear Pizzazz”

Ink : Stampin’ Up “Calypso Coral” and “Pear Pizzazz”,

Tsukineko VersaMagic “Thatched Straw”

Dove Blender Pen

Trim green card stock 4.25’ x 5.5”.  Trim cream cardstock

 3 3/8” x 5 1/8” and stamp splattered images with Pear Pizzazz ink. 

Trim cream cardstock 1” x 5.5” and stamp polka dot image

(Background Soup” with Calypso Coral ink.  Stamp script image

(Vintage Backgrounds) on cream cardstock with Pear Pizzazz ink then stamp square outline (Be Fabulous) with black ink over it.  Trim. 

Stamp fairy on cream cardstock, color with ink / Dove Blender Pen,

and trim.  Stamp sentiment and trim to a banner shape.  Layer / adhere

all pieces to card front.  Doodle around edges.

The Cutting Cafe Baseball and Bat Shaped Card

Hello card makers.  Today I'm sharing a fun 2 card set perfect for any little boy.  I designed this set using The Cutting Cafe's "Baseball and Bat Shaped Card Set Template / Cutting File"

Regina at the Cutting Cafe is sooooo talented and if you have never taken a minute to hop over and check her out then you need to.  HERE.

Every monday is cyber monday and Regina bundles up some files and practically gives them away!  GREAT DEALS!  Every Wednesday her design team shares wonderful projects using the assignned files for that week and you can get a chance to win them by leaving a comment!  

So check out the blog HERE.

I teamed it up with some embellishments by Basic Grey "Hey Boy" and a Crafter's Workshop stencil (stars).  To create some of the star images I used a retired Gina K. Designs set.  

You can check out all the step by step details below if you want to.

I hope you are all having a great week.  This was the first week we have had cool mornings (60's) and it has been so wonderful to sit outside some mornings, do bible study and listen to the birds.  They are so loud around my house in the morning singing their happy little songs.  I was overwhelmed with a feeling of peace and happiness that was coming from such a simple morning.  I didn't have to go on vacation, just step outside on the patio.  So I took some time to thank God for this wonderful blessing.  I don't ever want to take it for granted because I know there are so many who don't have this awesome privilege.  

Hope all of you have your own little peaceful place where you can go and spend time with God as well.

Have a fabulous week!
Melisa


You can check out all my projects by The Cutting Cafe HERE.

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Project Details

Base Ball Shaped Card  - 4 ½” x 4 ½”

Template / pattern : The Cutting Café

Patterned Paper and paper embellishments : Basic Grey

Stencil : Crafter’s Workshop

Cut card by hand or with cutting machine (PDF and SVG files

available) from brown cardstock and blue patterned paper. 

Ink edges of blue piece with brown ink and adhere to card front. 

Use the stars stencil by Crafter’s Workshop and patterned paper to create star shaped paper embellishments.  Adhere threads, chipboard embellishment,  and paper star embellishments to card front.  Trim sentiment into a banner and adhere to card front.

Bat Shaped Card - 3” x 9 ¼”

( fits in business size envelope 4” x 9 ½”)

Template / pattern : The Cutting Café

Patterned Paper and paper embellishments : Basic Grey

Stamps : Gina K. Designs

Dies : Spellbinders 

Coluzzle : Circle Cutter

Cut card by hand or with cutting machine (PDF and SVG files

available) from brown cardstock and orange patterned paper. 

Ink edges of orange bat and adhere to card front.  Print

sentiment on cream cardstock and cut into a circle.  Cut another

circle and scalloped circle from blue patterned paper.  Ink edges and

layer.  Stamp ticket / sentiment on patterned paper and cream cardstock.  Assemble cream sentiment over ticket. Adhere both to card front.  Embellish with paper star and banner embellishments.