Dimensional Inchies on an Easel Card - and freebies

Hello, my friends! Hoping you are not uncomfortably dripping wet from the sweltering heat (here in the northern hemisphere) - I also hope that our friends Down Under are escaping the wrath of the current explosion of influenza cases. May you be well soon if the flu has come to your home.

Do you know what "inchies" are?

Before I became "house-bound", 20+ years ago, I had the pleasure of working in a brick and mortar store called THE PAPER PLAYHOUSE. There I taught classes and designed the free, weekly Make N Take, instructing about new products and how to use them. It was a great opportunity to meet people and enjoy our hobby!

Do you remember when...

In those days, designer paper was scarcely a "thing". So we stamped our own background papers, embellishing them with inks, glitters, embossing powders, etc. It was great fun cutting them for One Sheet Wonders or Inchies-Twinchies creations. 

 My card shares today involve some of the oldest designer papers of day - lovely K&Company designer paper, which was also VersaMark stamped with an Impression Obsession image and heat embossed with clear EP containing glitter, to give the paper some extra pizzazz. 

First up are some "Just A Note" cards - with die from Sue Wilson Script collection. Cut once on white cardstock, a lavender glitter layer was attached - it has been adhered to vellum for a bit of texture and mystique.

I was inspired by a friend recently who took an "Inchies Class" involving 3-D appearing shadows without actual dimensional adhesives:

The ribbon, also 25 years old, was fed through a slit in the vellum:

Has this ever happened to you? 

The "colored powder" of a die flaked off, onto the paper. It is deeply embedded in the white and is quite noticeable. It worsened with each pass through my Gemini Junior machine. If it happened to you, how did you remedy it? The folks at Creative Expressions told me to use wax paper, which Spellbinders always said not to do (at least when they were a new company) (you may have to click on the photo to enlarge it).

Two very special birthdays in blog land are soon coming! 

I'm all set for them:

flat for mailing:

Also a little sentiment on the card backs, which I've included as a gift to you below:

This project, while challenging for not-so-nimble fingers, was SO FUN, and brought back happy memories of laughter, fun and dear people in the classes!

Products: Die Sets: Sue Wilson Scripted Just a Note, Double Pierced Circles and Scripted Happy Birthday, Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Scalloped Squares, SB Classic large scallop rectangles, Sizzis TH Garden Greens, Cottage Cutz Greenery 4x4, Papers: Lavender, Pacific Blue, White, Black, Purple, Green Glitter, Vellum, Lavender Glitter, K&C patterned papers, Inks: Pumice Stone DI, Fantasia VersaFine Clair, Versamark, Misc: EK Success 1-1/4" punch, Clear EP containing glitter, stamps: SU Elegant Greetings stamps, IO Alesa Baker Large Flourish Three E2036, my digital sentiment stamps

I'd like to play in the following challenges, please!

(many thanks to challenge owners and design team members who create fun for us!)

1. The fabulous DOUBLE D CHALLENGES (Aug 21) Use Shapes (I used multiple 1.25" squares from an EK Success Punch, 1/2 circle scallop layers, circle sentiments on the back, and shaped rectangular layers) 9/1
2. Darling "I Spy With My Little Eye" challenge #18 Something from the garden (flowers, leaves, dragonfly) 9/17
3. Lovely Creative Inspirations Challenges #17 - Anything Goes 9/1
4. Love Those Pretty Papers 8/3 Used the option anything goes 9/1
5. Word Power #8 7-31 Sentiment is Focus of Card (words on front, sentiments on bottoms and backs) 9/1
6. Paper Minutes #860 Birthday 8/27
7. Creative Moments #261 Patterned Paper - inchies are punched from patterned paper. 9/5
8. Creative Creases #89 Anything Goes with a Fun Fold Card 9/1

My gift to you - 

Arrangements of the same sentiment for use on the inside or outside of your projects. Please do not sell these Sentiments. Use on any of your projects, including projects involving any design teams you might be on.

Click on the image to bring it to full size. Because of the changes Google Made with Blogger (June 2020), your image will appear to be solid black. Don’t panic. Right click and do a SAVE AS PNG. Once it is saved on your hard drive, you can open it and it will have a transparent background. I create PNGs instead of JPGs so they can be placed anywhere on a scene or project, and so backgrounds can be made using them. Please let me know if you have any problems. I hope they serve you well!

Enjoy!

   

Sending you Joy,

Oh To Fly A Kite! {Jan's Digi Stamps}

Welcome, friends, to my little bloggie home! Thank you for all your kind words of comfort to Jack and me for our recent loss.

Today's kite-flying card is the kickoff at  February's Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps!  If you use a JDS image in your card, please mention it. There is a 2nd draw specifically for those who use one of Jan's fun images.

Jan's newest sets and this month's Easter Sale are 25% off.

To create my card, two sets were used (just click on them to enlarge):

Let's Go Fly A Kite 4065J (15 images) on sale for $3.75

Basket of Hope 866J

New (for me) Technique - Double Twisted Ribbon 

My friend Connie is also showcasing this technique today with her lovely card here.

Terri Gaines has a great youtube video for the technique. I thought it complemented my little girl's kite tails (do they still call them tails? or are they now streamers? anyone know?)

Easel cards fold flat for mailing:

Copic Markers and Distress Inks were used to color this cute image using monochromatic coloring. 

Besides, one can be a tomboy and still wear girly colors!

Looking down:

Because this card was originally meant to be 5x7, an inch and a half was cut off the morphed square card. The 1.5 inches was placed on the bottom to give the illusion of a waterfall or sidewalk:;

You can probably see that the tremors in my hands and arms are returning, like the circles on the kite. I have another appointment at the end of February with a specialist to discuss a more permanent way of assisting my spinal issues:

Thanks for stopping by and please check out my teamies' pretty projects in the Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps!

Products Used: Jan's Digi Images: Let's Go Fly A Kite 4065J, Basket of Hope 866J, Gelly Roll White Pens, Copic Markers, Stencils (for kite, grass and sky); Pumice stone, Walnut Stain, Kitsch Flamingo Distress Inks, Picked Raspberry Oxide (distressed "ribbon"), EK Success border punch, EK Success Rounder Punch, Cuttlebug 5x7 embossing folder, Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large S4-110 and Grand Ovals die sets, Light, Medium & Dark Kraft colored cardstock.

On A Personal Note:

Remember Florida on Christmas Eve just one month ago? Perhaps this will remind you:

The day before this freeze occurred, I pruned some coleus and angel wing begonias to root indoors for Spring, only to discover a hitchhiker Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar:

So I went back outside and cut some fresh milkweed for the little guy, thinking he would need food. As I cut the milkweed, I discovered another dozen of this little caterpillar's brothers and sisters. So I cut a lot of milkweed, brought the family indoors and covered with a home-made tulle netting. I placed the box in the garage, which stays about 60 even on cold nights.

In the meantime, the original caterpillar disappeared! The next morning we found this just beneath the crown molding:

So we made plans for it to "hatch" indoors by making a loose netting, giving it plenty of room to stretch its pretty wings on its eclosion:

Imagine what our exterminator thought when he came through! (giggle)

But alas, weeks went by. We saw wing development occurring inside, but a dreaded thing happened. A tiny white "filament" appeared out the bottom of the chrysalis. If you click on the photo below, you can see the semi-developed butterfly and the tiny filament:

That filament was an indication of a parasite (fly or wasp) chomping away on the dormant Monarch. The thread meant that the Monarch was dead. Sigh. How disappointing. The other caterpillars died as well. Next time, I'll leave them outside instead, and let them find a way of protecting themselves. No good deed.... right?

Back to our regularly scheduled program... 

I'd like to play in the following fine challenges please:

1. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #1 AG DT 2/12
2. As You Like It Challenge (Jan 26) Favorite (mostly color) and (why) 2/9 I'm mostly a pink girly girl when it comes to colors because it is a sweet color (to my eye), comforting, and with so many shades it is kind of a neutral that goes with most other hues, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, is frequently found in nature. Thanks for the fun challenge!
3. Let's Create and Craft #192 AG + "say what?" - have a sentiment on your card. 3/1
4. Morgan's Artworld #2 AG 3/1 (1/3)
5. Crafts Galore Encore #108 AG 3/1 (1/3)
6. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #2 AG 3/1
7. Girlz Creative Crafts #33 More Than One Fold 2/14
8. Classic Design Challenge #2 AG 3/1
9. The Paper Funday Challenge #50 AG with lots of layers 3/1
10. CD Sunday + #103 AG from a download (I placed the sun behind the kite and then stenciled the background and the kite, with some hand drawn dots and circles on the kite and the little girl's shirt. The sentiment is from another digital set) 2/19
11. Colorful Options (Feb 2023) Celebrate Pink 2/28
12. Just Us Girls #665 Color Week 2/11 (shown below)

Stamping Hugs,

Dragonfly Magic! Tonic Studios - Sparkle N Sprinkle - Cardz 4 Galz

Hi, Everyone! I'm back!
Sorta....
Slowly picking up speed from recent Florida events - I especially am thinking of those who have lost loved ones, their homes, and businesses throughout the Caribbean, Texas, Florida and Mexico, and wishing you all a brighter tomorrow.

The new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz Challenges today!

Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

Challenge #57 is chosen by guest designer Sian - and the theme is:

  DRAGONFLY  

show us your Paper Crafting projects using any technique and medium, 

AS LONG AS IT INCLUDES DRAGONFLIES!

Challenge ends on OCTOBER 11th.

My project uses fantastic Sparkle N Sprinkle Products which have been listed at the bottom.

TIP:

Fantastically sparkle-full, the Celestial Ultrafine Glitter on the leaves is a combination of transparent and opaque glitters. Why tell you this? The leaf die cuts are cut from the same color yellow cardstock as the sentiment. Some of that yellow shows through the transparent glitter colors, so that it blends beautifully and looks well coordinated.

TIP:

The "green" is actually an embossing powder! They are equally sparkle-full, aren't they?
I blended a Hybrid Embossing Powder SNS Military Green EP288 mixed with Green Nugget Ultrafine Glitter G1065. Both are opaque. Again, why have a mentioned this? The green cardstock was not quite the color I needed to match the designer paper, but covering it with embossing powder did the trick! ALSO, with opaque products, you can even cover white cardstock with any color to customize your papers.

The dragonfly is cut from gold glossy cardstock, and adhered to a black shadow using Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive. I am still in love with the Nuvo Large Glue Pen which was used to adhere the glitter to the leaves, and the designer paper to the cardstock. HOWEVER, the Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive has an ultra thin applicator and applies creamy smooth directly to the thinnest portions of the dragonfly and leaves! While I am grateful to have been gifted with the adhesives, I will definitely purchase them on my own in the future. That's saying a lot since I had used the same wonderful glue for more than 10 years. I'm HOOKED! 

As you can see below, there are now glue smudges from my fumble fingers on the glossy cardstock:

Tonic's Autumnal Oak Die Set contains pretty leaves (above), a two-piece acorn to be used as shown or as a solid silhouette, a two-piece oak leaf, and this delicate twig. Very versatile and easy to cut. The acorn above had a piece of sticky-note-tape to hold the tiny pieces in place. Then I flipped the acorn and taped them in place permanently. 

Love the Tonic Thinking of You miniature die
 

On the inside, a sneak peek at an upcoming SNS sentiment, inspired by a dear friend:





We would love seeing your dragonfly projects at the

Cardz 4 Galz Challenge!

On a personal note:


I'm still having trouble getting up to speed, but at least my brain is semi-functioning again (giggle).

This is  what is happening in our area due to the Withalacoochee River. Although we are up high and don't suffer from the flooding which is about 6-7 miles to the east, the mosquitoes and humidity travel everywhere nearby.




Flooding shown in green - our area has still not crested, so the photos reflect flooding a week ago, where the areas have not reached their maximum flooding yet:


 THIS IS DEDICATION:



our home has these "shutters"
which are put in place before an event, and then removed.

The photos were taken 24 hours after Hurricane Irma passed overhead - we were SO FORTUNATE as only a few tornados passed through the area, and the winds were deflected by large trees. Irma downgraded to a Cat 1 by the time it hit our home.


We were VERY GRATEFUL to have the shutters.
(see the shutter bottom left which has been removed from the door):

       

Sparkle N Sprinkle Products:

• Embossing Ink for large areas: Stampendous Embossing Ink with "felt stopper".
• Hybrid Embossing Powder: SNS Military Green EP288 mixed with Green Nugget Ultrafine Glitter G1065
• Celestial Ultrafine Glitter G1031
• Tonic English Picnic Die Set (inside)
• Tonic Thinking of You miniature die
• Tonic Dragonfly Broach
• Tonic Autumnal Oak Die Set (Leaves, twig, acorn)
• Nuvo Large Glue Pen (to adhere glitter to leaves, and designer paper to cardstock)
• Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive (wonderful ultra fine tip!)
• Sentiment - sneak peek of upcoming stamp set

Other Products:

• EKSuccess Border Punch
• Rust, Pale Gold, Black, Gold Glossy, Avocado Green, White cardstock and stash designer paper.
• Recollections Jewel

Challenges I would like to play in please:

1. Crafty Cardmakers #196 Autumn 10/1
2. Make My Monday #55 Autumn Colors 10/1
3. Use Your Stuff #281 Something Old - Something New 10/1 (Designer Paper, border punches, EP and G all very old - the die cuts are brand new)
4. Fab N Funky Challenge #364 Fall Colors 10/5
5. ScrapyLand Challenges #74 (Anything Goes using Die SL sells) (4 different Tonic Studios Die Sets listed above)
6. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge (Anything Goes for a DT) 10/15
7. Sisterhood of Crafters (Sept 27) Use Your Dies 10/15 (4 different Tonic Studios Die Sets listed above) (sep post prior to new challenge)

Miss You Hugs,