Tissue flower tutorial

A while ago, I shared a card that was finished with a flower made with a tissue. Beate asked if I'd do a tutorial for Splitcoast Stampers on how to make the flower and today's the day it's available for anybody who would like it.

Here's a little peek at the flower and here's the link to Splitcoast if you would like either the step-by-step tutorial or the accompanying video: Facial Tissue Flower tutorial.

It's a wee bit fiddly but really inexpensive and you almost certainly have everything you need already so it won't send you running to the shop (and the inevitable temptation to buy things you didn't actually set out to buy!).

Leave a comment here or on Splitcoast if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer them!

Materials for the flower
Facial tissue
Memento marker (Angel Pink)
Glue dot covered with nmcrobeads or something else to finish the centre
Thread
Strong, sharp scissors

To finish the card
Say It Loud stamp set (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Tim Holtz Distrress Ink (Bundled Sage)
Versafine ink (Vitntage Sepia)
 M-Bossabilities folder (Flora)
Sewing machine

Thanks for stopping by!

Take three - "weathered metal" inchies

Tando Creative is celebrating this week - third birthday already!

To celebrate, the design team has offered up a variety of projects based around the number three and there are tutorials for each of them if you want to have a go - check out the Tando Online Classes blog.

I used three inchies for my project. The Tando chippie is a lovely weight to work with and makes a great base for jewellery as it's sturdy enough that the finished piece feels quite substantial.

I've used an embossing folder and some VerDay paint to create a weathered copper finish for a pendant base. The paint is fun but you could use any technique you like to add interest to your inchies before gluing them together.

Supplies:
Chipboard inchies by Tando Creative
Tim Holtz Texture Fade embossing folder (Stripes)
VerDay paint by Ten Seconds Studio (Copper)
Patina Solution by Ten Seconds Studio
Copper wire
E6000 and Superglue adhesives

I've done a short video tutorial for this project. The YouTube description area includes a step-by-step that you could print out if you would like to have a go and find printed reminders easier to work from - just click on the YouTube icon at the bottom right of the video preview to watch it over there rather than embedded here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Button necklace

The challenge for July over on Tando Creative Challenges is to use texture of some sort on your project. Lots of samples have already been posted this month - I'm part of the rear guard action!

I used a big chipboard button from the grab bag, coloured it black with a Copic marker and created texture with an embossing folder for this pendant.

After embossing, the surface is dabbed with Versamark and I've added Perfect Pearls in three colours (Gold, Copper and Bronze - all from the Metallics kit) and used a length snipped from a bamboo skewer to secure a chain through the button's holes. It's simple to do - just thread the chain from the back of the button through the first hole, wrap round the skewer (I went round twice) and back down through the hole. Come up through the second hole, wrap round the skewer and go back down through the hole. Juggle the two ends as necessary by easing through the holes and round the skewer so you get even lengths of chain each side.

Supplies:
Chipboard button grab bag (Tando Creative)
So Trendy M-Bossabilites folder (Spellbinder)
Black Copic marker
Versamark (Tsukineko)
Gold, Copper and Bronze Perfect Pearls (Ranger)
Bamboo skewer
Chain

I've made my first ever tutorial video to demonstrate the process - constructve criticism very welcome! If you'd like go through to YouTube instead of watching it embedded here, the description area has a "checklist" of the steps involved that you can copy and print if you want to have a go yourself and would like a reference on hand.

There's still time to join in the challenge and be in with a chance of your name being pulled out of the hat to win a great prize at the end of the month - check out the blog and add your link if you'd like to play along!

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Shaker ornament - step by step

I've been asked to explain how I made the ornament I posted yesterday so here you go, some instructions for you!

I made this in a slightly different way than the "classic" method of using foam pads to achieve the depth needed for your shaker inclusions. I figured that with a circle that's a bit of a pain and you're likely to end up with tiny gaps that stuff could leak out through and the job of neatening up the outer edge. So, here's how to do it the way I did:

1. Cut four rings from black card by placing two Nesties one inside the other on your cutting platform - two consecutive ones from a set gives a nice width frame. Use a magnetic mat or a couple of pieces of low tack tape to hold your Nesties in place so that all the rings are exactly the same (you might need to use a pokey tool to ease the ring out of the dies if you use a magnetic mat since you can't push it out through the hole while the dies are in place). Emboss the final ring with the tan mat before you remove it from the dies.

2. Now remove the smaller die and use the larger one to cut three circles: one each of black, white and acetate.

3. Stamp and colour your image on the white circle. Make a wire loop and stick it to the back of the circle to make a hanger at the top.

4. Emboss the black circle in your choice of Cuttlebug folder (I used Textile Texture as the small scale is perfect here). Use Rub n Buff to gild this textured circle and the one ring you embossed while still in the Nesties. Go lightly and you'll leave some black showing which gives that lovely aged appearance.

5. Now you're ready to stack! I used Glossy Accents as it's strong and quick drying. Glue together the three plain rings then glue the stack of rings onto the stamped image. Glue the embossed and gilded ring onto the acetate circle. Spoon some glitter and/or microbeads into the ornament (glass glitter is perfect for this as it's heavier and creates less static so it won't stick to your "window" so much) and then glue the acetate layer and frame on top.

6. Glue the textured circle on to finish the back. You may find the circe is very slightly smaller than your ornament because of the embossing - just add a little Rub n Buff around the margin if needed.

7. Once everything's dry, add a little Rub n Buff around the edge of the ornament and a silk bow to top it off.

You're done - a pretty ornament that's safe around children and pets!

See this post for a complete list of supplies if you're interested in the exact stamp set and so on.

Watercolour Distress

My turn to post the tutorial over on the CHF Be Creative blog - we're focusing on watercolouring with Distress inks this week with this lovely grape image. Hop on over for the step by step and a chance to win the Fruit Basket stamp set {here}!

Stamps: Fruit Basket (Shady Tree Studio line at Cornish Heritage Farms)

Paper:
140lb hot press watercolor paper
Simply Heavy Chocolate

Ink:
Stazon by Tsukineko (Timber Brown)
Tim Holtz Distress ink by Ranger (Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain, Weathered Wood)

Other:
Sewing machine and thread
Dew drops by Robin’s Egg
Paintbrush and water or waterbrush

Thanks for stopping by!

Kinkade Windows

It's my turn to do the weekly tutorial over on the CHF Be Creative blog and today's technique focuses on selective colouring. Find out how to bring a homely glow to a Kinkade window and leave a comment over there if you'd like to be in with a chance of winning the Foxglove Cottage stamp (still my favourite Kinkade stamp, I think!)

Kinkade Windows Tutorial

Stamps (Cornish Heritage Farms):
Foxglove Cottage East or West, Home is Best

Paper:
Simply Smooth
Kraft

Ink:
Versafine by Tsukineko (Onyx Black)

Other:
Prismacolor Pencils/OMS/Stump
Sewing machine and thread
Brad
Labels One Nestabilities by Spellbinder

Thanks for stopping by!

Girly glitter

Eek, what's come over me? Not only is this glittery, it's pink and glittery!

Over on the Cornish Heritage Farms Be Creative blog, the DT are doing regular step-by-step projects and I'm taking a turn this week. Evict the children and animals from your workspace and prepare to go glittery!

The full project is here and there's a chance to win a set of Christmas sentiment stamps too - check it out!