Flutter Tray

Hello friends,

I'm so excited to share another project featuring the new Simon Says Stamp Flutter Wafer Dies! These dies perfectly coordinate with the Flutter Stamp set from Stampers Anonymous, a stamp set I've loved and used for years. This new die set is an absolute game-changer, with ten individual dies that make stamping and cutting a breeze!

To start, I used Collage Medium to add the Backdrop paper from the neutral pack to the tray. Then I added the dark green Design Tape to the edge.

I also covered the back of the tray with paper from the same pack. Any would do, but I liked the papers with the colored squares, so I added a piece from the blues and one from the reds (you can see the seam across the center).

I gathered three Etcetera Tiles to use in the background. I also covered these with Backdrop paper.

Next, I cut two strips of chipboard 7/8" wide.

And laid them in the tray (no glue!)

These will serve as guides to make sure the three Etcetera Tiles are straight. I added four, 3D Foam Squares to the back of each tile so they would be raised from the tray.

Once you have the tiles in the tray, you can remove the chipboard strips.

I used the Flutter stamp (CMS294) to stamp the images, then cut them out with the Flutter Wafer Die from Simon Says Stamp. I LOVE this set simply because it just makes it EASY to use any or all of the butterflies!

Here is how I did it:

1. Use Distress Ink to color directly on a Flutter stamp.
2. Lightly mist with water.
3. Stamp butterfly onto Watercolor Cardstock and dry with heat tool.
4. Use a Detail Water Brush to color in each Butterfly with Distress Ink.
5. Add a 3D Foam Square to the back of each butterfly.

The dies even cut out the antennas!

Add Remnant Rubs to three of the smallest labels from the Classic Labels Sticker Sheet. I used black labels but there are also red, pink and blue in the package to choose from.

Do the quick dip! 

Make a puddle of Gathered Twigs and water. Pick up the sticker with your index finger and dip it into the ink. Dry with a heat tool (I do that while the label is still stuck to my finger). Such a quick and easy technique that I use also every day!

Now add the butterflies and the tiny labels to the tray.

I also added the large Word Plaque with Screw Heads to the tray with 3D Foam Squares. White acrylic paint helps the words to stand out.

I hope this post shows that you can make something really special even using a just a small butterfly!

Now carry on,

Paula

please note: the Flutter butterfly wafer die used in todays project is at the bottom of the list

Simon Says Stamp Wafer Dies

Hello friends,

Simon Says Stamp has released an exclusive series of seven new wafer dies that coordinate with six current Tim Holtz stamps (that you probably already own). These dies make cutting out the images a breeze! I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the process of stamping and die cutting the images! I am going to be sharing the cards/projects I made over the next 3 weeks (there are a lot) so I hope you will join me on this fun journey!

Today I am sharing a set of small tags I created using two stamp sets: Perspective (the words) and Mini Bouquet (these flowers are about 3' tall) + one dies set. I cut multiple tags 2 x 4 1/4" from DistressWatercolor Cardstock. Then swiped them through various colors of Distress Ink to get a base to work on then added the stamped and die cut flowers. It was just that easy.

Like I mentioned, there are six stamp sets I have been working with -
CMS106  Papillon
CMS213  Perspective Butterfly
CMS253  Wildflowers
CMS269  Mini Bouquet (this has two matching die sets)
CMS294  Flutter
CMS326  Ornate Trims

Then there are the SEVEN coordinating dies:

Mini Bouquet Silhouettes and Mini Bouquet Outlines 

coordinate with ONE stamp set.

(Wildflowers are the larger Wildflower images)

I added a small Tonic non-stick mat to my Studio Mat to work on. I combined multiple Distress Ink Colors to color the flower image before misting with water and then stamping on the Watercolor Cardstock. It took me a couple test runs to see how much water to mist and get the right combination of colors. I ended up only throwing away one or two test flowers that just didn't work for me. 

If you still have your Distress Markers around like I do, I found that bundled Sage and Peeled Paint worked really well to color the stems (in fact, much better than the ink pad). Compare the photo above, with the next three and you'll see the difference. And yes, about 90% of my Distress Markers still work perfectly after all these years!

Now carry on till Wednesday, when I'll have another wafer die project for you!
paula

Alcohol NEONS

Hello friends,

Nice to be here today because this is going to be a fun one! I am giving the new Neon Alcohol Inks from Tim Holtz and Ranger Ink a test run and I guarantee you are not going to be disappointed. The new Neons come in a pack of 8 or as individual colors. I swear, the pack of 8 is the way to go because all the color are amazing. My personal favorites are Hyper, Florescent and Radioactive and Ignite.

The colors are so fun but I really didn't know what to expect from a Neon - that is not in my regular wheelhouse. But look how my cards turned out! Aren't they amazing? 

So lets gather the supplies you will need:

Yupo (5 x 7") - I cut each sheet in half to create twenty - 3.5 x 5" cards so I would have plenty to work with. This is the perfect size for a card front and this technique.

Alcohol Ink Neons (at least three colors)

Alcohol Ink Mushroom, Smudge

Alcohol Ink Tool set 

91% Isopropyl Alcohol in a small spray bottle (or even in a mini mister - one comes with the Tool Set)

Now lets talk about the technique I used to create the card fronts.  It's a simple one! 

Working on my glass Studio Mat (for easy clean-up with a spray of isopropyl), I created lines of color, including some of Smudge (which is not a Neon).

I did not photograph step two, which is to mist the Yupo with 91% Isopropyl Alcohol.

Immediately after misting, lay the Yupo into the ink.

I moved the Yupo back and forth to get good coverage, then lifted it from the glass. The movement will create a suction effect with the glass surface so a small pair of tweezers can be helpful to lift the card from the glass.

Once I turned the Yupo over, I misted part of the surface with more Isopropyl (optional). You can also use the Mini Mister that comes with the Alcohol Ink Tools set because it gives you more of a fine mist rather that a spray, which can be hard to control.

So that is the basic technique - I just changed out the colors and the optional addition of Smudge. 

What about combining it with Mushroom instead of Smudge? This time I only used Hyper, Ignite and Florescent with the Mushroom for a totally different look.

What a wow with the contrast of the Mushroom! 

 The cool pattern at the top was created when I pulled the card from the glass.

Lets try another color combination. This time with added Radioactive (Green) and Electric (blue) added.

This one is very cool too! So even with 5 colors + Mushroom it looks good!

You might ask if you can use the excess ink. Well you can, but it will not be as good or true to color as the first pass through the ink. The ink does dry on the glass mat, so you have to spray with isopropyl to revive it. 

I chose 4 of my favorite backgrounds from the ones I made (it was very hard to stop) to use for the cards. Each are so different and I love that!

I used 1/2" Scor-tape to mount the Neon backgrounds on Watercolor Cardstock.

Then I added the front to a card backing made from Spellbinders ColorWheel Cardstock. This is 100lb cardstock so it is perfect for a card back (and it comes is a million colors!).

Even though I liked the cards as the are (those Neons speak for themselves), I decided to try something. What if I added a image to the center? Something like a flower that could be colored with the Neons? And did I have to use Yupo or could I use Watercolor Cardstock? 

So I used my favorite Nocturne ink (it is so BLACK!) and the a flower from the French Garden stamp to stamp on Watercolor Cardstock. Then I used the Simon Says Stamp French Garden dies to cut out the image.

Shake up any of the Neon colors and drip a bit out on the glass mat. Use a Alcohol ink brush to color the image.  These brushes are synthetic so they work with the Alcohol Ink. After use, just clean them with Isopropyl Alcohol instead of water. 

I did spray a tiny bit of Isopropyl Alcohol into the Neon Ink to thin it out. When the ink dried on the glass mat I can revive the ink with a spritz of the Isopropyl. You can decide if you want full strength Neons or a bit looser, both worked.

I initially thought the Neons might not work on the Watercolor Cardstock or that it might cover the black stamping, but it worked perfectly. As you can see the black ink is still perfect after painting. And the bold color comes through!

I love how the color 'Florescent' looks splattered over the 'Hyper' pink! 

Here are images of the final cards. I kept them very simple using the two stamp sets French Garden and Curiosity Shop, along with the coordinating dies from Simon Says Stamp.

Well, I for one was surprised how much I enjoyed myself playing with these new Neons! Honestly, they are so fun to work with! I hope you give them a go!

Now carry on,

Paula