Early Morning Stamping

Whipped this up early this morning. Trying to fit some creative time in before heading to the office.

The Open Sea

A little something I created using The Open Sea digital image.  Great thing about digital images, you can enlarge the images to suit your personal preference.

The boat was enlarged.  The ledger was printed on one sheet of cardstock at a smaller scale and the compass was scaled a bit larger.

Pennant & Jungle Box 'How-to'

For those who have asked, her's a quick how to for creating the pennant and the Jungle Treat box from the tour yesteday.  I think the photos are pretty self-explainatory but if you have any questions leave a comment and I'll address it in the post; this may help others who have the same question.

Now, for the jungle treat box.  I've shown the directions on one side of the cone but you'll repeat the steps on both the left and right cone; and you'll want to create TWO of these. 

First, measure down 2" and then another 1/2" along the left, middle and left side of the cone die.  Next, draw a horizontal line at the base of each of the 2" marks.  Draw another horizontal line along each of the 1/2" marks.  These cuts and scores will create the base folds of your box. 

Find the center point of the curve and create score lines as shown.

Cut along the bottom of the 1/2" mark, discarding everything below.  What you'll have is something similar to the image below.  Cut the sides of the 1/2" base on small 30" angles.  Repeat all the steps to create the second half of the box (you'll need two of these to make a box).

You can now run your peices through any embossing folder of your choice. 

Assemble the sides of the cone just as you would do normally (using tabs).  Fold up the bottom flaps.  Punch (2) - 1 1/2" squares, attachng one to the base of the box and another to the inside.  Apply glue to the top folded arches of the box, securing with a paper clip until dry.

They you have it! It's easier than it looks.  Just get through your first one and then rest will be a breeze. 

Digital Creations

Sharing some samples entered in the My Digital Studio contest that didn't make it.

The first is a 12x12 of the kids and their uncle.  Addison up to his usual antics.  Silly boy.

A Christmas card. 

Life is Beautiful

A few scraps of flocked designer paper in my stash of scraps from last year.   It was from a Christmas series.  Thinking it would make a lovely background for a Valentine's card, I decided to incorporate it in my current project.

The white was a bit stark for me, so I pulled a brayer and my Soft Suede dye pad and started inking over the white flocking. 

Followed up with a peice of Neturals designer paper, Coffee Crumb ink and an image of a flourish.

Still working on that soft, vintage feel by using the brayer over the lace.

Stamped the flourish once again on this Presto Patterns image I downloaded SU!'s digital software line.

The final product.  What do you think?  Didn't turn out so much like a Valentine but could pass if the text read something a bit different.

...and a close-up

Old World Hydrangea ~ Nick Bantock Inspiration

Something I worked on this past weekend.  I am a HUGE fan of Nick Bantock.  If you're into collage, ephemera and water coloring, then you should check out his book "Urgent Second Class". 

Nick uses lots of old maps in his artwork.  Here I've used the new designer paper from SU! and stamped an image directly to it (the hydrangea).  Afterwards I colored the image in with Daffodil and Tangerine ink with a blender pen (and the ink from the dye pad cover).  The leaves are colored directly onto the paper with the Pear Pizzazz marker.

Additional images from the Because I Care stamp set added with the scrumptious Coffee Crumb dye pad.  The butterfly is one of the A-la-mode stamps from last years catalog.