Cards of Love with Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts

Hey chipper gang!  It's my turn to share a project with you today on the GSL Blog.  I love February because I love making vintage, shabby chic cards for Valentine's Day.  Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts has the  most beautiful collection of filigree and fancy cut shapes that work well for card makers.  Combine that with Graphic 45 papers, and you cannot go wrong.

Painting the chipboard pieces with a variety of distress paints allowed me to achieve a close match to the colors in the paper.  I painted the clock hands, Lost in You, and the lattice hearts with Malted Milk, then Bundled Sage and Salty Ocean distress paint.  The filigree frame, Love, solid heart, and one lattice heart were painted with Malted Milk, White, Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, Rusty Hinge, and Wild Honey.  The key was painted with Tarnished Brass.

Here is an example of how I did not actually blend the colors but dabbed the colors, leaving a mottled, variegated effect, mimicking the colors in the papers.  

Love Card and close ups

Lost in You Card and close ups

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts Used:

Filigree Frames Shapes Set
Words & Phrases 1
Lattice Hearts Border Sticks
Keys & Plates Shape Set
Clock Hands Shape Set

Other Supplies Used:

5x7 Blank Kraft Cards
Graphic 45 A Ladies' Diary Paper Collection
Distress Paints:  White, Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge, Bundled Sage, Salty Ocean, Tarnished Brass
Ranger Malted Milk paint dabber (Jenni Bowlin)

Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts has more chipboard shapes and designs coming out regularly, so be sure to visit their online store.   For more inspiration from the fabulous design team, be sure to visit the GSL Blog regularly.  

Thanks for stopping by, and stay crafty, my friends!

Barbara

Valentine's Day Tags

Hello friends.  The Altered Pages design team are sharing a variety of projects following the "Heart of my Hearts" theme.  I decided to make a selection of tags, which can be used just as easily as a card, or placed onto a folded card as the focal image.

I cut six tags from kraft paper and a matching print paper layer from the Happy Travels paper pad.  They measure approximately 2-¾" x 6".

Edge each print layer with Mixed Media Salazar Inkx in Leather, Schoolhouse Red, and Patina.

Adhere each layer to the matching tag and re-punch center hole in the top.  Adhere tag reinforcements (optional), as shown.

Fussy cut collage images and arrange them on each tag.  The odd shaped strips of print paper at the bottom of each tag are remnants from when I cut the tags out.  Ink the edge of each image with the Mixed Media Salazar Inkx.

Here is a fun little tip.  When you cut out the postage stamp images, use a colored pencil that matches the background paper, and color the little circles in between the postage stamp edge.  This will make it appear that the edges are really cut.  Is it necessary, certainly not.  Are you a perfectionist, then do it and have fun coloring.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

 The focal (middle) image on each tag was adhered with Adhesive Dimensionals to raise it up for added dimension.  Dyeable Seam Binding was inked to match using the Mixed Media Salazar Inkx and spritzing with water.  Assorted Flowers were added to each tag, as well as Glass Glitter using Aleene's Tacky Glue.  Dew Drops in matching colors were also added.

 A Burlap strip was added, along with a Petaloo Hat Pin.

A Metal Arrow was cut in half and adhered above and below the heart shape.

Again, another strip of Burlap was added, as well as small pieces of German Scrap that had been colored with some acrylic paint.

Altered Pages Supplies:

Collage sheets:  Valentine Faux Postage; To Thy Own Self Be True; With My Love; Hearts and Flowers
6x6 Glitz Paper Pads  (Happy Travels)
Tags
Red Cardstock
Dyeable Seam Binding
Mixed Media Salazar Inkx (Patina, Schoolhouse Red, Jasmine, Leather, Mossy)
Assorted Flowers
Glue Stick
Adhesive Dimensionals
Double Side Tape Mini
Dew Drops
Metal Arrows
Petaloo Hat Pin Sets
German Scrap
Glass Glitter (Champagne) (Ocean Blue)
Burlap
Aleene's Tacky Glue

I hope you enjoyed today's project.  I do love making tags.  They are fun to decorate and their size  is not too intimidating.  Altered Pages has a nice selection of tags, papers, collage images, and embellishments.  I hope you will stop by and check it out, as well as the Altered Pages blog to see all the inspiration there from the design team.

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful, creative week!

Barbara

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  So glad you stopped by.  I want to share this card I made for my sweet husband.  I tried to keep it more masculine.  What do you think?

Supplies used:

Pre-printed, pre-folded Kraft card (Hobby Lobby) (Herringbone design) (A2 size)
Corrugated cardboard
Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shopped print paper
Sizzix Funky Hearts die (Original)
Gears embossing folder (Tim Holtz)
Vintage text pages (Altered Pages)
Mix'd Media Inx (Schoolhouse Red, Leather) (Altered Pages)
Sin City Stamps Romance stamp plate
Stampin Up label punch
Metal sheet
Metal brad and metal studs
Metal spinner (Tim Holtz)
Distress stain (Gathered Twig) (Tim Holtz)

Directions:

I used a pre-printed Kraft card (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") for the base of my card.  Distress edges of  3-3/4" x 5" piece of Graphic 45 print paper and ink with Gathered Twig distress stain.  Curl three edges, as shown. Adhere to base card.

Cut out clock face from reverse of Graphic 45 paper, attach black metal Fleur de Lys brad through center and adhere.

Clear emboss a portion of vintage text pages then tear a small piece and adhere to card.  It will look like you used Ice Resin on the paper without the wait.

Die cut three funky hearts from corrugated cardboard.  The smallest piece was cut from metal sheet that had been embossed with gears embossing folder and inked with alcohol inks.  I also hit the high spots of the embossing with black archival ink to bring out the design.

I first inked the two corrugated cardboard hearts with Schoolhouse Red Inx, then edged with Leather Inx.  Next, layer the hearts onto the card, as shown.

I wanted to simulate an arrow through the heart, so I cut one of the largest spinners in half and adhered to the largest heart, as shown.

Next, I stamped "Two Hearts One Love" in black archival ink on the reverse side of the Graphic 45 paper and punched it out with the label punch.  I adhered it to the front with foam dots for added dimension.  Adding metal studs at each corner of the label and the card added a bit more interest.

This photo shows the embossed metal heart a bit clearer. It really does look pretty on the front.

For the sentiment inside, I stamped the "Love is a burning desire" poem onto a separate piece of specialty paper and cut to size.  Then adhered that to the card inside.  I also stamped the pink lips near the bottom right.  Now my card is "sealed with a kiss".  

I hope you enjoyed my masculine Valentine's Day card! 

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish each and every one of you a wonderful, sweet Valentine's Day, and much love in your life always.  

Barbara

Leslie Rahye's Very Steampunk Valentine Blog Hop 2♥14

Hello everyone, and welcome to Leslie Rahye's 3rd annual Very Valentine Steampunk Blog Hop.  A complete, albeit short, list of blog participants is below, but you can start the hop with Leslie Rahye's blog .  As always, we are going to share some fun steampunk projects with you today, but along the theme of Valentine's.  So grab a cuppa, sit back, relax, and enjoy the fun.  There are just a few of us playing along today, but I am sure you will enjoy it all the same.  

I started my project with this empty button jar.

What do you see when you look at it upside down?  I saw a light bulb.  Well, there you have it, a light bulb it is going to be, steampunk style, of course.

Cut a 1" wide strip of corrugated cardboard long enough to wrap around the base.  You want the corrugations to run horizontally, just like a light bulb.

Paint both sides of corrugated cardboard with Silver paint dabber.  

When dry, adhere around bottom of jar lid.

Paint base of white tea light with Silver paint dabber.  

To finish off the tea light (battery operated), I added a small piece of metal mesh over the bulb and twisted the end at the top.  I added a bit of very thin gauge wire around the bulb, as well.  Then I glued on a couple of metal gears, as shown.  This will sit inside the bottom of the lid, so it can be easily turned on and off.

I made the hanging embellishment by first gluing two pieces of a broken charm to the key.  On the reverse side, I added a small metal gear to not only hide the glue, but to add a bit of strength to it.  I also used a jump ring to attach it to a small screw eye.

Front

Back

Next, I pierced a tiny hole in the top of the button jar (it is only plastic) and inserted the screw eye through it.  If you make the hole very tiny, you can twist the screw eye into the plastic, and it will hold. I did not mind that the screw eye protruded through the top because I will cover it later.

Cut out the middle size gear from the die using grunge board and heat emboss both sides with the rust embossing powder.

I glued the gear and a #14 plaque to the side where there was a flat spot on the jar.  I covered the screw eye with a larger metal gear and a metal flower.  On the front (see photo above) I embossed a Vintaj brass heart, added Vintaj Crimson patina over it, and sanded the high spots.  Then I adhered that to the front with another diamond studded gear, placing it along the side of the jar.

Here is a view from the back of my steampunk light bulb.

Supplies:

Adirondack Silver acrylic paint dabber (Tim Holtz)

Grunge board (Tim Holtz)

Corrugated cardboard

Sizzix Gadget Gears Bigz die (Tim Holtz)

Clear embossing ink

Rust Tapestry embossing powder

Metal charms, gears, findings

Vintaj brass heart

Vintaj embossing plate

Dollar Store battery operated tea light

There you have it, a fun, steampunk style light bulb for your Valentine.  You can always tell them that they "light up your life".  

I hope you enjoyed my project today, and be sure to visit the other fine artists in today's blog hop.  I am always happy that you stopped by, and I hope you will return soon to see what else I get into.
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Happy Valentine's Day to everyone, and have a wonderful week!!!

Barbara

Leslie-Rahye's Very Steampunk Valentine Blog Hop 2013

Hello everyone.  I'm so glad you decided to stop by today, because you are in for a real treat.  The ever-so-talented Leslie Rahye is once again hosting today's blog hop, and the theme is anything combining steampunk with valentines.  So get yourself a cuppa, pull up a chair, sit back and enjoy the inspiration and ideas from each of the wonderful designers participating today.  A complete list of blogs is at the bottom of this post to make it easy for you to hop along.  And as always, if you would like to enter the giveaway, please leave a "love"ly comment on each blog.  It would also make each of us very happy if you were to follow our blogs, as well.

My project for today is a steamy Valentine's Day card with a bit of punk added.



1.  Choose three coordinating sheets of printed paper from the Harper's Boutique pad.
2.  Cover ivory card with third piece of coordinating printed paper chosen in step 1, and add Spun Sugar distress ink to background.
3.  Glue two of the sheets to chipboard and cut using the Sizzix die.
4.  Set the base heart shape aside.
5.  Using the heart die, cut a heart template from white card stock, fold in half, and lay on top of "bodice" heart shape, as shown.  Trim away excess.

white card stock template folded in half

section of bodice heart to be trimmed away

6.  Reverse trimmed piece and use to trim excess away from opposite side of "bodice" heart.

trimmed piece reversed to remove excess from opposite side

7.  Keeping white card stock template folded in half, use a paper punch or cropadile to punch the holes for the eyelets.

heart bodice template

template folded in half with holes punched

heart bodice template with holes for eyelet positioning

8.  Use the paper template to punch your heart "bodice".  Attach eyelets in each hole.

base heart (L) and bodice heart (R)

9.  Add Fired Brick distress ink to the "bodice" heart shape, and Antique Linen distress ink to the base heart.
10.  Thread pink jute ribbon through eyelets and tie in a bow at the bottom.
11.  Glue "bodice" heart to base heart, then to card front.
12.  Cut layered angel wings from tan Kraft-Core paper, then place inside embossing folder to emboss.  Sand high spots and add spun sugar ink.
13.  Layer wings and attach beneath heart.
14.  Add Tim Holtz Idea-ology trinkets, as shown.

close-up of heart and trinkets

Supplies Used:

6-1/2" x 10" Ivory cardstock folded in half to make 6-1/2" x 5" card
Paper Studio 8"x8" Harper's Boutique paper pad
Making Memories 1/8" red eyelets
American Crafts pink jute ribbon
Sizzix die-Heart #1
Sizzix Texture Fades Embossing Folder - Flourish & Wings
Sizzix Tim Holtz Bigz Die - Layered Angel Wings
Distress Inks (Spun Sugar, Antique Linen, Fired Brick)
Kraft-Core Nostalgic Collection card stock
Tim Holtz Idea-ology trinkets

I hope you have enjoyed my steampunk Valentine's card project and that you will be inspired to try something with a steampunk style, too.  Now, on to the next blog, so just click on the links below and follow along.  Thank so much for stopping by, and please be sure to leave everyone a bit of love in the form of a comment. We do love your comments.


Have a wonderful week, and happy crafting.

Barbara