Distress Ink technique - very messy, very fun!

Hi folks,

I've recently been playing with Distress Inks and Tsukineko GOOSEBUMPZ spray and have had some nice comments so thought I would do a quick tutorial.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

• Craft mat (VERY important)
• Distress Inks in one or two colours (co-ordinating colours work best though I'm SURE you could try contrasting colours too ..... but they would probably "muddy" which might be gr8, just experiment)
• Water mister
• Smooth card
• Heat gun (or lots of patience as drying is required between layers)
• Background images (stamped either using the D.I.'s themselves or a toning colour)
• Focal image and a permanent ink pad (I used black to show up better)
• Tsukineko Goosebumpz (not familiar? See it here)

METHOD:

1. On your craft mat smoosh your Distress Inks (keeping them slightly apart to avoid colour contamination) and then spray with water till the ink "beads". I used: tumbled glass and faded jeans
2. Smoosh your card through your ink puddles ......... dry
3. Repeat step 2. as often as you like, until you like the finished result. Top up your distress ink as necessary - the example below is about three smooshings!
   
4. Stamp your background image/images using a tonal ink - the object is not to obliterate the focal image
5. Stamp your focal image using a strong image and a contrasting ink colour
   
6. When happy with your project and after protecting your work surface (you might want to spray this inside a box to contain the spray) shake well and then spray your goosebumps, covering your project and then set aside to dry.
7. Once dry you can cut out and mount on to a card or other project. The goosebumps will accentuate the colours and darken slightly too whilst sealing and adding texture.

Works great on an ATC too ....

Thanks for looking

Kathy

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone, hope you all had a lovely Christmas.

Santa was good to me, I got a Silhouette Cameo.  Having previously owned the Silhouette SD, I thought I'd let you know what I thought of the Cameo up to now.   I Love It!..... lol.

I had problems with cutting heavier card on the SD, and so was very limited as to what I could cut.  Eventually I lost my patience with it and sold it, intending to use the money towards the Cameo.  But life being life, the money went elsewhere.  I could never get good clean cuts with the SD, it just seemed to find it hard to cut the card.  The heaviest I could use was 160 gsm, and then had to poke cut bits out!

Anyway, I've cut a few different weight cards on the Cameo and had no problems at all, and virtually no cut bits to poke out with the pokey tool.  I also cut some Centura Pearl card, which must be almost 300 gsm, and it cut like a dream.  

This is my first card base, cut on the Cameo.  You can see how clean the cuts are.

For anyone wondering whether to buy this machine, I'd say 'Go For It', you'll love it.  And I can't wait to start playing around with the software and create my own designs.

PRODUCT REVIEW - Inkadinkado Stamping Gear

Hi there crafters,

Here I am in one of the leading craft centres of the Universe and I thought I would avail myself of the opportunity to try a new product, the Inkadinkado Stamping Gear system whilst it was on an introductory offer in Michaels. I had seen some demos of it and thought how easy it made repetitive stamping look.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The introductory kit contains some cling stamps, a specially shaped acrylic block and one "cog"

You position your stamp where you want it to appear and then connect your cog to it, you can position the block in to any of the slots though the cogs alternate slots are marked for ease of use (no counting!).

Once your cog is sited you can then remove your image and ink before placing back in and stamping your first image. Depending on the look you are wanting you can either stamp again by placing in the next cog slot or miss one. Your design will repeat around the circle and join in to a perfectly formed circle. You can stamp again using a different image on the acrylic block or using a different colour - again, depending on what you want to achieve. The stamping gear system will work equally well using any cling image you have - so long as it fits on the shaped acrylic block supplied. Inkadinkado offer a number of different stamp sets and cog combinations and you can see a video on this youtube link

This was stamped using different colours for alternate slot images

This one uses two images, the second stamped in every other cog slot

REVIEWERS THOUGHTS:

It was pretty simple to use and reminded me of my childhood spirograph!! You can buy different shaped cogs to achieve different effects so you might want to consider buying add ons. The starter kit is around $15 and additional stamp sets around $5 with additional cogs between $7 and $9 - not sure about U.K. prices as I've not seen them in the U.K. yet but I bet you are looking at around 20 pounds for the set. I quite liked some of the stamps and a friend bought the intro kit at the same time and produced a full circle - you would need about an 8" card to show the full circle design but we both liked the off the card effect as shown above. You need to be a little careful that you don't move the cog when removing or placing the acrylic block and I found it slightly tricky to ensure an evenly stamped impression on every image, but that should improve with familiarity. Am I glad I bought it? YES, although I'm not sure I will use it a lot. I bought mine because Michaels had the introductory kit on offer at $9.74 (instead of $14.99) and 30% off the stamp sets which were originally $4.99 - I might NOT have been so keen on paying $20 but the images are nice and can easily be used without the Inkadinkado Stamping Gear system should you not get on with it so ........ if you see it on offer then you might want to give it a go

Hope you've enjoyed my review and found the information useful

Kathy

Can't get on CB?

I hear that it's proven difficult for some of us to access CB and the Craft Mad and Loving It group on Saturday July 28th and Sunday July 29th

Just wanted to stop by and say "HI" as I miss all the interaction with you guys

Kathy

Acetate Front Card

I made this style card for the first time this week and I'm sure it's one Debbi came up with a while ago, so credit goes to Debbi Moore.

Here's what you need

3 pieces of card - 1piece measuring 5x5 and 2 pieces measuring 5x4

1 piece of acetate measuring 5x5

a topper and embellies of your choice.

Sorry forgot to add the acetate to the pic.

Score the 2 smaller pieces of card at 1, 2 and 3 inch mark and fold as in the picture.

Add your choice of backing paper to the larger piece of card and attach the folded pieces to the sides, at the back, with double sided tape.

Add your choice of topper to the centre piece and decorate the front pieces of the folded sides (this is the part you will see from the front of the card)

Put some double sided tape down each long side of the acetate.

Now attach the acetate to the folded card sides to the inside of the front fold. Add your sentiment to the bottom of the acetate, on the front side. Add anymore embellies and your done.

Front view of finished card

Side view of finished card. The papers, image and sentiment I've used on this card are taken from the Debbi Moore Designs Evergreen CD.

Ribbon Roses with Kobie

This tutorial was done by Kobie, one of our members over on our forum group on Craft Bubble, and she's been kind enough to let us place it on this blog, to thanks Kobie.

Ok, well over to Kobie.........

Well, Here it goes, my very first Tutorial ever....

I wanted to try some different hand made flowers to use on some of my projects and this is what I made........

You will need:Some Ribbon - Preferably 1.5 cm wide or bit wider.

You need about 50 cm or you can use more depending on how full you want the end result of your rose want to be.

Needle & Thread

Stitch the Ribbon down the length, Just below the middle of the Ribbon.

Make sure your thread is quite long as you will need enough to stitch to the end and make some stitches to hold the rose together.

When you come to the end of the ribbon do not cut of the needle.

Pull on the thread for the ribbon to ruffle.Now start Rolling your rose from the end where your needle is attached after each roll make a stitch to the previous layer to hold your flower in place.

When you come to the end fold back the end a little to give it a nice finished look give it a blind stitch to secure it, if you want to you can give an few extra stitches around the flower once you have finished the rolling just to make sure it is nice and secure.

Once you have done that you can reshape it a bit with your fingers to give it the look you like.....

Hope everyone found this helpful and clear enough, if not please let me know if your unsure or uncertain about something and I will try my best to improve it where possible!

Enjoy and be warned they can be quite addictive....

Thank You for taking your time to look at my blog, Please know that all comments are welcome and very much appreciated!

Hugs Kobie

Colouring With Distress Inks

Here's what you need, sorry I forgot to take a pic.....
Selection of Distress Inks
Water Brush or Paint Brush and Water
Water Colour Card
Choice of stamp
Versafine Ink Pad
Piece of Kitchen Roll

Stamp up your image and start with the skin.
I use Tattered Rose for skin and start by applying a light covering over all skin areas, try not to get your card too wet. I dab of any excess water onto the kitchen roll as I go.Go back and add more of the same shade, but now start where shadows would be and as the colour runs out blend in so you don't get a hard line where the colour ends.

Continue blend the skin till you're happy with the shade adding more colour to the shadowy parts.Once you're happy with the shade of the skin, move on to your next colour and start to add the colour starting again in the shadowy parts, pushing the colour away to the lighter parts. Don't be frightend to leave some parts of your image white where it'll be lightest, you can always colour these very lightly as you go along.
Carry on adding more colour where you think you need it, blending all the time.You can't really blend the colour on the smaller partsColour her hair in just the same way, blending all the time.You can always go back and add more colour so if you're not sure whether to add more, leave it and go back to it when you've finished.

I think the secret with colouring with Distress Inks is to get the amount of water on your brush right and remember to blend the colour, pushing the colour to the lighter parts of the image as you work.

Don't give up if you don't get it right first time, just keep on practising, after all, practice make perfect, doesn't it?
Have Fun!

The colours I used are
Tattered Rose - Skin
Victorian Velvet - Dress
Dusty Concord- Shoes, beads and mirror
Tea Die and Vintage Photo - Hair

Gift Bag Tutorial by Karen

I saw a gift bag similar to this being made on Create & Craft and thought I'd have a go at making my own. I couldn't remember the instructions, so just went for it. I made this just big enough to hold a box of Maltesers and an envelope with some money inside. For the top I used the xxl Go Kreate dies on my new toy, the Grand Caliber from Spellbinders.

Cut a peice of card to 81/4 x 10 inches and score at 4 & 6 inches across the width of the card and score down each side at 1.2 inches.
Cut along the 4 and 6 inch scores up to the 1.2in mark.Fold along all the score lines.
Fold in the sides, which will overlap just a little bit.
Glue the side together, I used a very narrow double sided tape.
Now for the top.
Cut a peice of card measuring 61/2 x 91/2. and score at 31/2 and 71/2 If you're using grand nesties or Go Kreate xxl dies for this you'll need to adjust the size accordingly.
Fold along your score lines, and check it fits your base..... lol. Now is the time to decorate your bag.
Place some double sided tape on the inside of one half, this will be the back of your bag.
Attach the top to the base on one side.Use a small piece of velcro for the fastening.
Add a piece of ribbon, sorry I forgot the pic, to the top. I cut a small slit about an inch in from either edge, and slipped my ribbon through them and used a small amount of silcone to attach the ends of the ribbon to the inside of the lid.

Post-it Note Tutorial by Kathy Kirby

I cannot claim this method as my own as it originally appeared in a fairly recent issue of Craft Stamper (October Issue - Designer Joanne Wardle) but this is how I do it . . . .



Tools needed:
• Distress Inks in co-coordinating colours (I used Antique Linen, Wild Honey, Barn Door and Fired Brick)
• Tim Holtz Distressing Tool with foam pad (though cut and dry works just as well.
• Plain, smooth, white card
• Post-Its or Sticky notes – I used C5 size simply because that was the most cost effective option here!
• A suitable silhouette stamp
• Black Ink (like memento or Versafine)

Once you have chosen your stamp you can then use your post its to mask off an area on your card, in a shape you like and very slightly smaller (or narrower) than your chosen stamp, depending on which way you wish to stamp your image. I chose a non symmetrical rectangle for my morphic flower stamp. I tried masking and colouring before choosing my stamp but choosing the stamp first works best as you can then mask to suit.



Taking your distressing tool (with pad attached) or your cut and dry and starting with the lightest colour, using smooth circular movements cover the masked area with a light shading of the colour, in my case it was the Antique Linen.



Then taking a different pad (you CAN use the same pad as I did, if you don’t have many) apply the next colour (Wild Honey) to a slightly smaller area, I applied mine all round the edges, but you could apply to just the top/bottom/one side/two sides – to suit you really.



Next colour/s were (Barn Door and Fired Brick) which I applied to the corners only but variations could be opposing corners or working in from the sides – again, your choice.



Once you are happy with the colour then remove the post-its to reveal your fab panel. Ink up your silhouette stamp and position to suit you, usually most effective if some of the stamp appears outside of your coloured panel. As you can see from my finished card photo I also added an occasion sentiment to mine.



It really is THAT SIMPLE!!!, but isn’t it great? I love the combination of Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Fired Brick but Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet and Fired Brick is great too – give it a whirl and you too might find yourself hook – I’m pretty sure Wynneth fell for the technique too whilst here in sunny Florida!!! Another variation I tried was (after ensuring that the distress inks are completely DRY) over stamping with a glue pad and then sprinkling crystal glitter to makeyour project really twinkly – another fab possibility you really MUST try. The stamp IS important and strong silhouettes work just great with this technique so break out the one’s you’ve been looking at and wondering what to do with! ENJOY.

Notelet Gift Set Tutorial by Clare - Miscanthuscrafts

Here is a tutorial for a notelet gift set. I have made a handful of notelets to go into the box but you could fit 10 C6 (6” x 4”) cards and envelopes easily.

Step 1: Take a 12” x 12” sheet of card stock. Carefully draw/score on the following lines, 3 ½” from one edge and 4” from the other then trim off an inch at the top of the cardstock. (See photo)



Step 2: Then measure and score a 2” line across the top and bottom of the card.


Step 3: Cut away the shade areas. (See photo)




Step 4: Now measure/score ¾” inch around the centre panel of the card



Step 5: Use a bone folder and fold in all flaps to create a nice neat finish.


Step 6: Before you glue the flaps together to create your notelet holder, turn over and decorate the front of the box.



Step 7: Turn over to reverse and glue flaps to create your holder. Once the glue is dry punch top corners to create a decorative flap and line inside of holder with co-ordinating paper to add lovely finishing touch.



Step 8: Use magnetic fasteners or stick/sew Velcro to fasten shut the notelet holder




Step 9: Add your co-ordinating notelets and envelopes. For an extra finishing touch add a lovely ribbon and tie into a bow.