Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: PARTY!

I am so honored to have been asked to be a guest in the Designer Spotlight for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!

 Thank you to the Blog Team!

The new challenge "PARTY" lasts for 2 weeks! A randomly chosen participant will receive a $25 gift certificate to Simon Says Stamp! Please visit the blog for all the details! Remember to use #sssmchallenge on Instagram.

This week I made a PARTY invitation! Now I may be biased but I think this is so much better than an evite.

One of my favorite techniques is to use Tim Holtz Ranger alcohol inks and alcohol ink alloys on embossed acetate.

Clear acetate embossed with the Simon Says Stamp "Magnetic" folder.

I applied the alcohol ink alloys to the BACKSIDE, the debossed side. It takes quite a bit of ink to cover this panel because of the divots. I used a dropper to add 91% Isopropyl Alcohol to alcohol ink alloy to help it move but use too much and it'll make the ink too sheer. You just have to use your judgement. I used an old paintbrush to move around the alcohol ink and also tilted it. I did this over a box to catch any spilled ink, because it will stain.

View from the UNINKED side

In person, you can see uneven ink areas. After it was dry, I flipped it over so the inked side is now the back and mounted it on white cardstock. The imperfections seem to disappear because no light can pass through it once mounted on cardstock. Remember, since acetate is plastic you have to use an adhesive that is meant for plastic. I used Distress Collage Medium, put a book on it and let it dry for hours.

I diecut all the pieces from silver, gold, red and green metallic cardstock. The names of the dies and the direct link to Simon Says Stamp are listed below. Everything was adhered with the Distress Collage Medium, I popped the celebrate sentiment with diecut fun foam. Again, I put a book on it to dry for hours. I mounted the whole thing onto red metallic cardstock and then that onto a regular A4 white card.

That's my making story. It's better than an evite...right?

Here's what I used for this invitation with clickable links to Simon Says Stamp!

Simon Says Stamp! Magnetic embossing folder

Simon Says Stamp Curly Streamers wafer die

Tim Holtz Sizzix Happy Hour Thinlits die

My Favorite Things Celebrate die

Tim Holtz Ranger Alcohol Ink Alloys

Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium

This is my last post as a Guest in the Designer Spotlight for December (thank you design team!). What fun the Simon Says Stamp blog challenges are, I had a great time thinking creatively.

 I hope you visit the blog to see what the talented designers created! 

I'll be sharing more PARTY ideas on Instagram @susanbcards

Thank you for visiting and I hope you have a wonderful holiday season!

 

Simon Says Stamp! Monday Blog Challenge: Cold as Ice!

I am so honored to have been asked to be a guest in the Designer Spotlight for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog! Thank you to the Blog Team!

This week's challenge is "Cold As Ice"! A randomly chosen participant will receive a $25 gift certificate to Simon Says Stamp! You can enter up to 5x by next Monday 8 A.M Eastern time. Use the hashtag #sssmchallenge on Instagram!

Today I'm sharing a "Cold as Ice" card I made...a card that would ideally be handed to the recipient as there is a diecut dimensional house on it...but isn't it cute? I used the Tim Holtz Sizzix "Paper Village" die and trimmed down the house so it wouldn't stick out too far from the card. Here is how I cut down the house:

Diecut the house-front, back (not pictured) and roof.

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I added 2 score lines right of the house front, 1/4" each. 

Trim off the excess, as shown. Fold on score lines, this will create a house only 1/4" deep.

Repeat for the back of the house.

Cut down the roof to 3/8" (it'll create an overhang to the house front).

I added metallic paper for the windows before assembling. It's easier to paint the pieces before adding the window and assembling, if so desired. The roof is pushed forward to keep the back flat (so it can be glued to the card) and create an overhang in the front of the house. You can use glue to assemble the house but SSS Red Line Tape is stronger and you won't have to hold the pieces in place until adhered.

I diecut colored cardstock for the trees, leaves and flowers. I applied white acrylic paint in areas to look like snow. After it was all assembled, I added Distress Collage Medium and Distress Mica flakes to the scene. I added Stickles for even more "Ice". 

The sentiment is from Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text Christmas.

Here is a video so you can see the sparkle!

Here's what I used for this card with links to the Simon Says Stamp! store:

Tim Holtz Sizzix Paper Village Thinlit Dies

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Tall Pines Thinlit Dies

Tim Holtz Mini Holiday Greens Thinlit Dies

Tim Holtz Sizzix Funky Foliage Thinlit Dies

Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text Christmas stamps

Ranger Stickles

Distress Collage Medum

Distress Mica Flakes

Simon Says Stamp Red Line Tape 1/4"

Thank you for visiting my blog! I can also be found

 @susanbcards on Instagram. Have a great week!

 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Tim Holtz Santa!

I am so honored to have been asked to be a guest in the Designer Spotlight for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog! Thank you to the Blog Team!

This week's challenge is "Santa" using Tim Holtz products but you can use whatever you have! A randomly chosen winner will receive a $25 gift certificate to Simon Says Stamp. (You can enter up to 5x AND get a bunch of cards done.)

You can enter at https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/

Be sure to use #sssmchallenge on Instagram!

For my home decor project I used:

Tim Holtz Sizzix "Woodland Santa" Colorize dies

Tim Holtz Sizzix "Festive Bouquet" Thinlit dies

Tim Holtz Sizzix "Holiday Greens" mini dies

Tim Holtz Sizzix "Merry and Bright" Thinlit dies (sentiment)

Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous "Winter Watercolor" stamps

 Distress Oxide Spray Crushed Olive

Distress Spray Stain in Barn Door

Distress Mica Stain Sprays in Tree Lot, Holly Branch and Peppermint Stick

Distress Ink in Walnut Stain

Distress Mixed Media Heavystock

Wood wreath painted with black acrylic paint

Scrap piece of silver glitter cardstock colored with Tim Holtz Ranger Black Soot alcohol ink

Chunky glitter

Steps:

The small wood wreath is from the floral section for around $1, I painted it black.

I sprayed the Distress MM Heavystock paper in shades of green and another in reds.

The paper on the right is regular 110 lb cardstock, the right is the Distress MM Heavystock, using the same color sprays. I'm showing this so you know why I like to use the Distress MM Heavystock for sprays. 

I had a scrap of silver glitter cardstock that I applied black alcohol ink onto with some rubbing alcohol to move it. I used this for the sentiment, belt buckle, shoe highlights and the center of the poinsettia.

I diecut all the other pieces, using plain cardstock for the white, black, grey and brown areas on Santa. I applied a little glue and chunky glitter on the greenery.

For the center of the wreath, I traced the wreath and hand cut it. I smooshed some Walnut Stain Distress ink on a mat and dragged the paper through it, drying, then dipping the paper for age spots.

 I then inked the Winter Watercolor stamps and lightly sprayed them with water to get a loose, watercolor effect.

I have a plate holder to display it but you can easily attach a small hook or a lovely piece of ribbon to the back and hang it.

It seems like a lot of steps but I always have pieces of inked paper ready to go or scraps I saved from other projects (like the glitter paper). I also end up diecutting more than I need of the flowers or greenery and save those in the packet with the dies.

I hope you like my project, leave a comment here or on my Instagram @susanbcards. I'll be posting more Santa projects this week! 

Memory Box Domed Window

 This Memory Box "Domed Window Emboss and Cut" is an embossing folder that also cuts out the window panes. I just love this image. I wanted to put this Simon Says Stamp "Snowflake Visions" embossed panel as the view. 

Lately I've been taking acetate sheets (WRMK makes a pad of 12x12 sheets) and cutting them down to embossing folder size. Then I place it into the folder and through the Big Shot to get clear embossed sheets. I took some gold acrylic paint and painted the backside of the snowflakes. I then took some watered down white acrylic paint and using a slightly damp paper towel, I pounced it on the back of the acetate. When you look at the front of the acetate it looks kinda dreamy, like cotton. I mounted this on a pink piece of cardstock, you can see in the photo it looks slightly pink.

I then placed the Memory Box window panel over the acetate, and mounted this on a larger white card, popping it up with a foam sheet.

The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp "Holiday Greetings Mix 1".

The embossing folders, and stamps were all purchased at Simon Says Stamp.

Thanks for looking, I post several times a week on Instagram @susanbcards

Acetate embossed and Inked

This was an idea I came up on my own one day wondering if I could emboss acetate, the answer is yes. I liked the way it looked but wanted color. Alcohol ink? Yes but it comes off acetate fairly easily and didn't want to get alcohol ink on my folder, so I embossed 1st, colored 2nd.

Note: it can be messy, it's alcohol ink and you have to move it into the nooks and crannies you create after embossing! Alcohol ink STAINS! I did mine in a cardboard box. It took a decent amount of ink but I've had these bottles forever and like to use my products. Also remember to use alcohol ink in a well ventilated area. To get the ink stains off my hands, I found nail polish remover works pretty well.

I took a piece of  thin, clear acetate (We R Memory Keepers, 12x12 inch pad, from Michaels, I think) cut to fit my folder and embossed it with the Simon Says Stamp “Magnetic” embossing folder. It was the same sandwich as the one I use for cardstock, on my Big Shot it is the Multipurpose Platform at #1 with 1 acrylic plate on top of the embossing folder, but try what works for you without forcing the machine. It took only 1 pass. Here's what it looked like:

I then took Tim Holtz/Ranger alcohol inks and randomly dropped colors (a little at a time) onto the acetate, adding just a little rubbing alcohol with a dropper to help it spread (use sparingly or the colors will thin) and the Tim Holtz alcohol ink blower tool, plus tipping the acetate to get it to move. This process takes a bit of time.

 

I also used an old paintbrush to fill in areas and edges. I left it to dry. There were small areas where the color was a bit thin or missed but I found if I backed it with purple cardstock it looked better. I mounted the acetate with the ink side down onto the cardstock using Distress Collage Medium and placed a book on top to dry. So easy. 

I cut gold cardstock 3x with the Simon Says Stamp Joyful die, and just once with the shadow die. I think sentiments always look better when cut and stacked. 

Thanks for visiting. I’m on Instagram @Susanbcards where I post cards several times a week

World Cardmaking Day 2021

This is the card I made on World Cardmaking Day 2021. 

I'm one of those people that doesn't like spending money on tools because they are the least fun things to buy when cardmaking. But I couldn't get my alcohol inks to move the way I wanted to, so I purchased the Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Blower. It's  like a turkey baster but just puffs out air. And it's worth every penny. I was finally able to move the inks across the paper the way I wanted to, when I used a hairdryer, even on low, it pushed them all over.

Here's my sped up video of me using my new Alcohol Ink blower.

I wanted to use my new metallic copper cardstock, so I googled, "What colors go with copper?' and a lovely photo came up of a room with copper accents and all the colors I ended up using on Yupo for my card.

It was a fun day, I made this card and started a few others. I post nearly everyday on Instagram @susanbcards 

Thanks for visiting.
 

Altenew Card and Envelope

The current Time Out Challenges is "In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends." sponsored by Altenew. https://timeoutchallenges.blogspot.com/ 

When I saw the sponsor I knew I could use some new products I just ordered. Making a thankful card is in joy of friendships, so often we send people we love flowers, both for joyful and sad occasions.

I've been using a lot of metallic paper for holiday cards and have a ton of scraps. I looked at this "Itty Bitty Flowers" die set and was going to use traditional floral colors for the blossoms but then thought, why not use all those itty bitty scraps? I cut the branch out of black cardstock but cut each layer of flower out of different metallic scraps. The set comes with a layering guide and I'll be honest it's a bit difficult to figure out which shapes go with which. Lucky that I really like putting together dies while watching YouTube! 

I was really pleased with how it came out, and just wanted to attach it to a white background. I usually think some kind of texture is important, so I chose the "Blooming Branches" 3D embossing folder by Altenew, which resembles the branch. I cut the square panel down. I cut a frame from some copper metallic paper I bought at Michaels, using 2 rectangle dies to make a frame. The white card I used is 5"x6.5" and too big to use the square folder for embossing, so I diecut more of the branches and just glued them around the panel. I popped up the panel and diecut "Thankful", an old Simon Says Stamp die, and now it looks perfect for Thanksgiving.

I didn't have an envelope to fit this card so I made one. I saw that this week's SSS blog challenge for Wednesday is "Card + Matching Envelope". I wanted to emboss the envelope but it's really hard to get it to fit properly, so I just cut to fit a piece for the front and attached it and a thin strip of copper paper, leaving room for the "To" area on the envelope. I think it looks pretty special.

Here's the 2 Altenew products I used for the card and envelope.

Thanks for visiting!

I'm also on Instagram @susanbcards

 

Tim Holtz/Sizzix Retro Oven with a Retro Recipe

This "Retro Oven" by Tim Holtz/Sizzix is right up my alley. I like to bake and I know so many memories are wrapped up in baking with family. My sisters and I used to get together and make all different types of cookies at Christmastime and package them up and bring them to work or give them to friends. At some point we just went to one type of cookie and our kids would get together and help make the cookies.

This retro oven is cut from Distress Heavystock Mixed Media Paper, my favorite for spraying and inking. I wanted the old Avocado Green appliance, I'm pretty sure we had when I was little. I used my current favorite colors, Peeled Paint and Crush Olive Distress Spray Stain. I just sprayed and misted with water to get this speckled, uneven look. 

The cute cookie shapes are included in the set, I just cut those from scraps. The wallpaper is also a random printed paper scrap, always happy to use up the scraps! "Baked with love" is a sentiment from a Lawn Fawn set with the same name. Isn't the font cute?

I added some stitching on the bottom, just something new I'm trying with my old, barely used sewing machine. My stitching isn't the greatest, but I'm trying!

I have an old cookbook of my MIL's, the book is old and the pages are falling out. One page had this PB cookie recipe, underlined and starred in red. I remember my FIL loved PB cookies, so I thought maybe she marked it. I cut it out and attached it to the back of this tag so it wouldn't get lost. We have peanut allergies in my family, so I don't make PB cookies but it's still a nice reminder of people.

I originally posted this tag on Instagram @susanbcards but my photo was taken before I added the stitching. I wanted to enter the SSS Monday Challenge which is "Stitch It". I thought the zig zag stitch added a nice retro feel, so I added it and forgot to take an updated photo and posted an old photo.

Have a good day.

 

Altenew "Blossoming Branch" Aged Faux Metal Card

It's like opening a gift when I run a 3D embossing folder through my Big Shot. Here I used Altenew's "Blossoming Branch" folder. The dimension a 3D folder makes is amazing, especially when using metallic cardstock. 

This is the cardstock I use from Michaels

 (purchased last year)

Altenew prints the name of the folder on the front so it's easy to tell which end is up.

You could stop here if you like a shiny piece, but I like to age it.

This is what I use: Black acrylic paint, a foam brush, Tim Holtz mister bottle, a paper towel. I have all these ready because you need to go fast with a small amount of paint applied (see how much is on my mat? That's more than enough.) I use a mister because my paper towel is barely damp, too much water will just make a mess. Plus I like the brush strokes just a little paint and damp towel make.

Quickly apply a thin coat of paint with the foam brush.

Quickly wipe away paint, leaving some in nooks & crannies.

I like the brushstrokes of going in 2 directions.

That's it. I then just made a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" card out of black cardstock and cut down my panel so it left a small border. Pretty dramatic for such a simple technique. I learned this from a Tim Holtz YouTube demo (I'm pretty sure it was the one on Distress Paints).

Thanks for reading! I'm on Instagram nearly everyday as Susanbcards.

Guest Designer for The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog!

Hello! I am so happy to have been asked to be the Guest Designer (first time ever) for the current challenge, "Creating Die-na-mite". This is the perfect challenge for me, using dies in a project!

I love the new Sizzix Tim Holtz Chapter 3 dies, "Leaf Fragment" and "Potted 2". The leaves are supposed to look a bit weathered. I wanted my project to look like one of those fall potted arrangements you'd see on a doorstep. 

I took a piece of Distress Mixed Media Heavystock paper and cut it to 8 1/2" x 3 1/2", inked it up in Distress Sprays Stains, light to dark misting with water, drying in between colors, trying to avoid them all mixing together. 

To make the pot, I diecut a piece of kraft cardstock with the
Potted 2 die. Next, I took the Tim Holtz "Lumber Folder" (an oldie), inked the raised side of the folder with Ground Espresso Distress ink. I placed the pot diecut into the folder and ran it through the Big Shot to get the woodgrain texture. I added a few brass brads.

The gold label is made from shiny gold cardstock, stamped the ad from Tim Holtz "Dearly Departed" stamps and gold heat embossed it. 

I always have sheets of paper that I have sprayed and inked on hand so I can just diecut whatever I need. Here I had some paper in some dark shades of red and orange (Crackling Campfire, Barn Door, Aged Mahogany, Spiced Pumpkin) and a spritz or two of Jack o Lantern Distress Mica Stain (get it while you can!) I then took the Tim Holtz "Pressed Foliage" stamps and using Ground Espresso Archival ink, I pressed veins onto the leaves.

The flowers are made from an old set by Sizzix Tim Holtz "Small Tattered Florals" that I gave dimension to using a shaping tool.

Lots of different steps but if you already have some inked up paper, it goes much faster. I always keep any extra diecuts from projects in a box, so I had the branches and the ivy already made. I try not to waste. I had a piece of cardboard from a box and diecut another Potted 2 from it, and used that to pop up my woodgrain pot. No other pop dots or foam were needed to give the project dimension, since I added it with the shaping tool!

I love this card, it has so many interesting details but you can also do a simpler version without the shaping or stamping and it would still be beautiful. Hopefully you can takeaway a few ideas from this card.

Thank you to the design team at The Funkie Junkie Boutique Blog for asking me to guest design!

Here is a link to their blog and my Guest Designer blog post!   

https://frillyandfunkie.blogspot.com/2021/09/guest-designer-susan-babcock.html

And while you are there, enter the challenge, you could win a $25 gift card to The Funkie Junkie Boutique! 

Thank you for visiting!

I can also be found on Instagram @susanbcards where I often post new cards.