A Veterans' Day Thank You Card

 Hello everyone, and Happy Veteran's Day.  Barbara here with my first post as a member of the Altered Pages design team.  What a wonderful country we live in, and I feel so blessed to be here with such a wonderful group of designers.  I am also participating in LeslieRahye's Thankful for Those Who Have Served Blog Hop today.  You can see more of these designers wonderful art by clicking here to start.  Please be sure to leave a comment on each blog while you are there.

In honor of all those brave men and women who have served our country so proudly and selflessly to protect our freedoms, I made this card to send my wholehearted thanks to each and every one of you.

I covered the front of a 5"x7" kraft card with Glitz Designs Pretty in Pink papers.  This pack has a lot of browns in it, so in spite of its name, it worked very well for my Veterans' Day card.  Plus, it's nice for honoring the service women, as well.

I used die cuts to make the rosette and ornate frame for my AP-989 4th of July Trade Cards images.  I added a bottle cap, US image, and clear epoxy bubble to the center of my rosette.  The central image is from AP-266 Vintage Soldiers collage sheet, covered with a piece of mica and attached with a brad through a metal embellishment.  

Have a simply wonderful week and a very happy Veteran's Day!

Barbara

*************************************

Christmas Card Duo

Hello everyone, and happy November!  I cannot believe I just said that.  Is it really November already? I am so glad you stopped by today.  I have some fun projects to share with you today using the Robin's Nest red and black Christmas Collection, along with Tonic punches and dies from Purple Cows, our sponsor this month.

I simply cannot get into the "Christmas in July" mood when it is 100º outside.   Now that the cooler weather has arrived, I am finally getting in the mood to make some things for Christmas.  However, these papers are so pretty and versatile that they are suitable for all sorts of seasons and occasions.

I made two cards using one sheet of the Black and White Holly card stock for the card base.  This card stock is a beautiful double-sided paper, so it serves double duty.

Supplies used:

The Robin's Nest:  Black and White Holly card stock, Red Glitter Stripe, Snow Covered Glitter Trees (reverse), Christmas Trees Glittered Cardstock, Silver Classic Glitter Cardstock, Little Friends Snow Angel, Classified Mini Dew Drops, Pearl White Diamond Dew Drops
Tonic Studio Daisy Circle Die, Daisy Border Punch (Purple Cows)
Rubber stamps:  Christmas Ticket, Holiday Ticket (Memory Box)
                           A very Merry Christmas to you (Stampin Up)
2" circle punch
1/2" corner rounder
Red glitter glue

Directions:

Snow Angel Card:

Cut Black and White Holly card stock to 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", the score at 4-1/4" to make A2 size top-folded card.  Round the bottom corners with a corner rounder.

Trim a strip of Red Glitter Stripe to 12" x 2-1/4" along a vertical stripe.  Punch entire length of strip using the Daisy Border punch.  Adhere 5-1/2" piece along top edge of card base.

Trim a strip from Black and White Holly card stock to 7/8" x 5-1/2" and adhere over center of  Red Glitter Stripe border.  (See photo below)

Cut Daisy Circle die from Snow Covered Glitter Trees card stock.  Adhere reverse side to card base.  Punch 2" circle from Red Glitter Stripe, and adhere reverse side to center of daisy cirlce.

Add Little Friends Snow Angel to center of circle.

Add silver and pearl dew drops to each daisy on the daisy circle. Stamp Christmas Wishes Ticket onto a scrap of the Silver Classic Glitter card stock, cut out and adhere to card front with pop dots.  (See finished card photo)


To finish off the inside, and because it has such a dark print, you will need to cut a piece of Silver Classic Glitter card stock slightly smaller (4" x 5-1/4") than card back, rounding corners to match.  This will give you a nice place to sign and write in your card, but still show off the beautiful print inside.

Die cut a 1-3/4" circle from a scrap of Red Glitter Stripe and adhere to silver insert piece.  Stamp sentiment onto a scrap of the silver paper and punch with 1-1/2" circle punch.  Adhere to center of  Red Glitter Stripe circle.  Add a few of the red daisies from the Daisy Circle die cut for added interest.  I think they look a bit like little snowflakes.

Christmas Tree Card:

Cut Black and White Holly card stock (reverse side) to 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", the score at 4-1/4" to make A2 size side-folded card.  Round two corners with a corner rounder.


Cut Daisy Circle die from Snow Covered Glitter Trees card stock.  Cut apart, as shown in photo.

Adhere each side piece to left side of card.

Fussy cut a tree from the Christmas Trees Glittered Cardstock.  Adhere to right side of card.

Adhere tiny daisies from the daisy circle die cut to the tree, as shown.

Add Pearl White Diamond Dew Drops over daisies.  Stamp Happy Holidays Ticket onto a scrap of the Silver Classic Glitter card stock, cut out and adhere to card front with pop dots.  (See finished card photo)

Add red glitter dots to centers of each daisy on the tree.

To finish off the inside, and because it has such a large print, you will need to cut a piece of Silver Classic Glitter card stock slightly smaller (4" x 5-1/4") than card back, rounding corners to match.  This will give you a nice place to sign and write in your card, but still show off the beautiful print inside.

Die cut another Daisy Circle from Black and White Holly card stock, and adhere red side to silver paper.  Stamp sentiment onto a scrap of the silver paper and punch with 1-1/2" circle punch.  Adhere to center of Daisy Circle.

I hope you enjoyed my card projects today.  Maybe, if you are like me, you will be inspired to get a head start on those Christmas cards you need to make for the upcoming holidays.  With The Robin's Nest gorgeous Christmas Collection, it is so easy to make beautiful, quick and easy cards for the holidays.  Best of all, they are all on sale this month for 20% off.  So I hope you will take this opportunity to check out the Robin's Nest online store for more of their matching products to make your holiday cards a real hit.  And don't forget to visit the Robin's Nest blog for tons of inspiration this month using this fabulous collection.

Before I close, I want to remind you of the Robin's Nest Masquerade Contest.  All you need to do is post the picture of your project on the Robin's Nest Facebook Page and you will be entered to win.  It's as easy as that.   If you need an idea or some inspiration, you can see my mask on my blog, with instructions, by clicking here.  

One more thing, I want to invite you to our Robin's Nest/Smoothfoam Blog Hop on 15 November.  I hope you will join us for some fun, inspiration, and prizes.  It will start right here at the Robin's Nest blog.

As always, I am so glad you stopped by today.  I always enjoy your visit.  Have a wonderful, creative week, everyone!

Barbara

Altered Pages November Challenge

Hey there everyone.  It's time for the Altered Pages Monthly Challenge again.  This month, the theme is Elves and Gnomes.  Here is my DT inspiration piece for this month's challenge.  Yes, I did say DT, and I am so honored and excited to be asked to join the Altered Pages Design Team.

It is a simple little tag that could be used on the front of a card, a gift bag, or simply as a tag.

I started with a #8 size shipping tag from the office supply store, covered it with Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium paper, layered the AP 2070 Reindeers and Elves collage sheet onto another piece of G45 paper, and adhered that to tag.  

The snowflake rosette was cut from a piece of glitter swirl paper from the Robin's Nest, and embellished with a gold dew drop.  

I added a berry twig and decorative ribbon from my stash to the bottom of the tag.  Then cut the words 'Tis the Season into a banner shape from another sheet of the G45 paper and adhered over the twig and ribbon.

A strip of the German Scrap border and red seam binding were added at the top.

Get an early start on those Christmas projects and show us your art.  Click here for all the challenge details and join in the fun.  

Have a wonderful week!

Barbara

Autumn Dragonfly Altered Tin with Accordion Folded Tag

Hello everyone, and Happy November!  I am so glad you stopped by today.  I hope everyone had a creepy fun kinda Halloween, and while I could make Halloween projects forever, all good things must come to an end, so on to Fall projects.

I have really been looking forward to getting my new stamp set, Fall Collection, from the ever-so-talented Ms. Pam Bray, and now I cannot wait to use it.  This is just one set of several that she has designed, and I want them all.

I recently missed out on participating in an Altoid tin swap due to other commitments, so that has been on my mind lately.  I used this Velamints tin to begin my altered transformation of a Fall tin to hold an accordion folded tag.  The poor tin was beat up a bit, but I managed to cover up some of the flaws.

Supplies used:

Sin City Stamps:  Pam Bray's Fall Collection, 

Velamints tin

Studio sticky-back canvas (Ranger)

Black India Ink (Stewart Superior)

Chestnut Roan Chalk ink pad (Colorbox)

Distress Markers: (Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick)

Distress Inks:  (Dried Marigold, Crushed Olive, Black Soot, Vintage Photo, Ripe Persimmon)

Distress Stains: (Wild Honey, Scattered Straw)

Dylusions ink sprays (Cherry Pie, Squeezed Orange)

Adobe and Olive Glimmer Glaze (Tattered Angels)

#8 Shipping tag (6-1/4" x 3-1/8")(office supply)

Botanique 6"x6" paper pad (Donna Salazar)

Directions:

Start by removing the lid.  This makes it easier to decorate the tin.  Trace and cut out lid from canvas.  

Stamp brush image in black onto canvas; let dry.  

Spritz canvas with cherry and orange ink sprays; let dry.

Cover shipping tag with a piece of the Botanique paper.  Align the paper at the top of the tag. There will be about 1/4" uncovered at the bottom, but this will be trimmed off.

Stamp sunflower onto tag with brown chalk ink; color with markers.  As you can see, this paper is rather grey blue, but this can be altered to match my needs.

Ink edges of tag with marigold, olive, vintage photo, persimmon, and black distress inks.  Stamp AUTUMN onto tag with brown chalk ink.  Quite a transformation, wouldn't you say?

Edge back side of shipping tag with brown chalk ink.

Trim second half of print paper down to fit onto back of tag.  Ink edges as for the front.  Stamp three leaves onto tag with brown chalk ink.  Color with markers.  

Adhere print paper to center of tag.

Score tag at 2" and 4" and accordion fold.  Trim off excess at bottom to make a 6" long tag. Because this particular tin is smaller than an Altoid tin, I had to trim a sliver off each long side of the tag to make it fit into the tin.  You probably will not need to do this with an Altoid tin, however.

Stamp "Harvest your gifts and give them freely" onto another scrap of print paper with brown chalk ink.  Cut out each part of the phrase and adhere to tag, as shown.  (NOTE:  It is important to score the tag first before adhering the words so that you don't adhere some of the words over a fold.)

reverse side of tag with words adhered

Front of tag with German Scrap border adhered along bottom

I like to color my ribbon to match, so I used off white seam binding and added marigold and brick distress stains to it, crumpled it up and let it dry like that.  

Be sure to re-punch the holes in the tag top so that you can add your ribbon.

Adhere Botanique print papers to inside lid and bottom, as shown.  Sponge distress inks over paper to give it more of that Autumn color.

Stamp sunflower top only onto smooth vanilla card stock.  Color and cut out flower; adhere to inside lid with pop dot and small floral berry twig.

Strips of German paper scrap borders were adhered along bottom sides and lid sides.

German scrap border around bottom and lid

Below is what the inside tin looks like with the folded tag inserted.  I added a Tim Holtz philosophy charm "Genuine" with a small safety pin to the ribbon.

To make the dragonfly on the lid, first stamp onto reverse (silver) side of a piece of blue metal foil with black ink.

Emboss outside lines of image, and parts of the wings and body.

Turn foil over to blue side. You can now see where to cut out the image.

Turn foil back over to the reverse side and finish embossing with the embossing tool.

Gently sand off some of the blue foil along the high (embossed) spots.

Apply green metallic cream over the high spots that you just sanded.

The foil was too blue for my liking, so I pulled out my Glimmer Glazes in Adobe and Olive and gave the entire dragonfly a coat of each color, allowing to dry between coats.  Here it is again for a quick look.  You can see where the glazes landed in the nooks and crannies for a deeper color while still providing that shine I was going after.  

I hope you enjoyed my Fall project today and that you will be inspired to create a tiny tin for yourself or to give as a gift.  Remember, gift cards fit very nicely into these tins.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you can visit the Sin City Stamps blog to see what the rest of the team has for you this month, and don't forget to check out all the new stamps and awesome products that Sin City Stamps has for you in their online store.  

Have a wonderful weekend, and a great Fall!

Barbara

The Robin's Nest Masquerade Contest

Hey there, Robin's Nest fans.  So glad you stopped by today.  Have you heard about the Robin's Nest Masquerade Contest?  Ever since I went to Venice for a vacation last year, I have been dying to make my very own mask, and this gave me the push I needed.  You still have time to enter for chances to win some fabulous gift certificates to The Robin's Nest store.  To help inspire you, I have a piece I would like to share with you, and a few tips and techniques I used to help you make or cover your own mask.  I started with a blank paper maché mask from my local craft store.  And here is my finished piece.

Supplies used:

The Robin's Nest:  Silver Glitter Swirl on Black card stock,  Red Glitter Swirl on Red card stock,  Gold Glitter Swirl on Creme card stock, Ruby Red Diamond dew drops
Sizzix dies:  Snowflake Rosettes, Mini Snowflake Rosettes
Gold german paper scrap (decorative border)
Ruby metallic cream
German Silver gilder's paste
Charcoal acrylic paint
Black pleated ribbon
Black tinsel twine (Tim Holtz)
Miscellaneous ribbons and yarns

Directions:

Trim a piece of Silver Glitter Swirl on Black card stock to 4-1/2" x 12".  Spritz paper heavily on both sides with water to saturate the paper and break down the fibers.  This will make the paper more pliable.

Apply a coat of bookbinding or white glue to half of the mask front and gently adhere the damp paper.  When you reach the middle of the mask, you need to make a pleat or fold in the center to straighten the paper up again so it will fold over the nose and cover the second half.

Apply a coat of bookbinding or white glue to the second half of the mask front and gently adhere the damp paper.  Gently tear the pleat you made and finish glueing it down carefully.  I have found that torn paper will make a less noticeable seam.

Allow paper to dry before trimming off excess.

Because of the curvature of this particular mask, it was a bit tricky cutting around the eyeholes with scissors alone, but a little perseverance, a sharp craft knife, and an emery board to sand off any imperfections made the task manageable.

At this point, I painted the back of the mask with a charcoal acrylic paint to give a finished look.


Glue black pleated ribbon around the mask, and black lace along the top.  Add gold leaf trim to top pleats, and red trim to bottom pleats.  Gather a bunch of ribbons, yarns and trims and attach to the left side of the mask.  I painted a wooden dowel with charcoal acrylic paint, and when dry, rubbed German Silver gilder's paste over it.  Then glued that to the back, beneath the bunch of ribbons.

Die cut two large rosettes from  Red Glitter Swirl on Red card stock, and two small rosettes from Gold Glitter Swirl on Creme card stock.  Follow directions to make each rosette.  Stack small rosette on top of large rosette.  Adhere one rosette to each side of the mask, embellishing with a metal fleur de lys brad and metal bead trims, as shown.

I hope you enjoyed my mask project, and that I have inspired you to give it a go yourself.  All you need to do is post the picture of your project on the Robin's Nest Facebook Page and you will be entered to win.  It's as easy as that.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope you will check the Robin's Nest blog for more inspiration and information on the contest.

Happy Halloween!  (It's almost here, you know.)

Barbara