Sketches as tools....

When I think of what kind of newsletter post I want to do, I often try to think up new and creative ideas. Some new technique to show. A new way to use your products. Something new, and fresh, and innovative. Aside from all the fun stamps and tools that we have in our crafty spaces, I think we often overlook a very important tool that doesn't cost a thing. It's a sketch. A sketch can provide oodles of new ideas if you just think outside the box a little. Let your creativity blossom and interpret the sketch in different ways. Use a sketch on a card and then try it out with a tag or a scrapbook page. Today I'll be using the single sketch below for 4 different projects.

I'm also showcasing Vintage Picnic + Vintage Picnic Sentiments....a fun set that Nichole and I collaborated on a while back. And now it's even better because this month Papertrey released the much requested Vintage Picnic Basket die.
To start out I created two cards using the same basic supplies...scalloped border dies, Vintage Picnic + Vintage Picnic die, PTI sentiments + patterned papers.
My first card follows the sketch pretty closely. I had a tiny version of this sketch doodled in a notebook. Many times I'll take a sketch book to bed with me at night or bring a pad of grid paper in the car with me and sketch while waiting on the reds. As you can see the elements on my card do not vary much from the sketch. A few fun things to note are the combination of sentiments that have the words *notes* in them. I dug out my Take Note set for a few more sentiments to mix + match on my card. If you zoom in you can also see that instead of paper strips or tape I used a paperclip and pencil stamp in the upper right hand corner of my card. The idea behind a sketch is to interpret it however you wish. Follow it closely or mix things up a bit with some creativity.
My second cards uses the sketch turned sideways. Same basic idea and supplies but this time I added die cut and stamped apples from Fruit Fusion: Apple along with a fun sentiment from Say It With Style. The little strips on the bottom left were replaced with a strip of patterned paper that was notched on one end + has the sentiment stamped on top.
Next up I used the sketch to inspire some scrapbook pages. I'm just thinking on a bigger scale here but same basic idea. Many of my stamped, focal images are now photos. This 8.5" x 11" page uses the sketch in it's original orientation.
Just a few strips of patterned paper + a scalloped border die + Piney's All-Star Team and All-Star Team Additions stamp sets. The sentiment is stamped on a Label Basics stamped die. Perfect for a page insert in my Project Life scrapbook album.
And here I used sketch turned totally upside down to the do the back side of the above layout. All photos in my two layouts feature the girls' track events so I wanted to keep the supplies fairly similar and easy.

I used a Label Basics die to place the sentiment from All-Star Team Additions plus a few additional stars from All-Star Team.
So as you can see, sketches are such a valuable tool to have on hand. I'd like to say that all my sketches are in one notebook....but they're not. I'm a notebook-aholic. I have lots and lots and I tend to just pick up the closest one and start sketching.

How do I come up with sketches? Most of my card sketches are my own original ideas but I also like to find sketches from websites and blog. Magazine ads and little flyers also provide great inspiration. Sometimes I create card ideas from scrapbook layouts I see....one little thing will spark an idea. You just never know when a good sketch idea will come along.

Feel you're not creative enough to make your own sketches? That's okay...there are tons of blogs and websites and books available that already have sketches. You can join in on some sketch challenges too if you're in a rut. Sometimes I feel that it's not new tools or cool, new papers that we need.....we just simply need a fun new idea. Sketch challenges are a great way to break you out of your typical mode of creating too. You might just find a new favorite card or scrapbook page layout to use. And remember to think outside the box. Get fun and funky with your embellishments....use only a part of the sketch if that's what you like. Rotate and flip the sketches. It's all good.

I hope you try out my sketch and maybe start creating your own sketch notebook if you're feeling creative. You can see a few more of my sketches at this link too. Be sure to link up your projects in my comments section. I'd love to see them.

Wrinkle Ribbon Tag Embellishment

So I got a little crafty today in the Artsy Studio. Here's what I used for today's project.....Crate Paper's Restoration line, Papertrey Vintage Buttons and Felt, Wrinkle Ribbon, a Tiny Tag and a Metal Rimmed Tag from my Etsy shop.

 The inspiration for this project came from this card.....where the focal point takes center stage of the card.  I knew my 2-1/4" White Metal Rim Tags were just the ticket.  They're neat as is but they can also be embellished with almost any supplies.  Today I cut a circle from my patterned paper to fit on the circle tag.  I also cut a leaf from some Ocean Tides Felt using a leaf from the Delightful Dahlia Collection.

 I used a tiny bit of adhesive to secure the circle of paper and the felt leaf to my metal tag.  Then I used my sewing machine and brown thread to sew a spiral pattern on the tag.  Just be careful not to sew over the metal part of the tag or you might break a needle.  I just love this look, so artsy.

 Next up, I used some beautiful Vintage Blue Wrinkle Ribbon from this bundle.  It's got beautiful color variations to make your projects look a little vintage-y.  One of my favorite Wrinkle Ribbon colors yet.  To make beautiful, messy loops simply wrap a length of ribbon around four fingers three times as shown below.  This will create four loops that really help to fill out a Wrinkle Ribbon bow.

 Using a piece of Rustic Cream Twine, tie the loops off while the Wrinkle Ribbon is still wrapped around your fingers.

 Before tying a ribbon with the twine, thread the two ends through a Vintage Button.  Before tying the bow, lay the string part of a Tiny Tag on top of the button.  Tie up the twine....which in turn ties up the Tiny Tag.  Leave the long loop of the Tiny tag in tact.  I think it looks kinda cool dangling off the bow.

Next up, create the card base...I've shown some of the elements below.  The sentiments for this card are from Vintage Picnic Sentiments.

 Next, I adhered the metal tag to the card front using pop dots.  Then I secured the bow to the tag using a big blob of glue.  Let this dry completely.

 And you've got yourself a beautiful card.  The Metal Rim Tag with Wrinkle Ribbon embellishment definitely steals the show.  A very pretty card that someone will love to display.  Cards like these get a little bulky to mail, you can zoom in to see all the detail better.  I would suggest using a cute Brown Paper Sack for the envy and mail in a padded envelope mailer.

Hope you enjoyed today's little tutorial.  :)

Vintage Picnic..apples for teacher

Good day to you! Today I have another fun card showcasing Papertrey's Vintage Picnic. Let me show you a few Copic tips first on selecting colors for your projects. I usually use patterned paper for my projects so I always start there for my color inspiration.

I'll be coloring apples for my card today, so I chose this cute October Afternoon paper to coordinate. I started by choosing the green for my apples by laying the patterned paper next to my color chart (sorry, not available) that has the closest color of greens. I usually pick 2-3 shades that match...I chose YG93 and YG95.
Then I moved on to the reds for the apples. I chose R24 and R29.

I also used the same method to choose some tans for my basket...I chose E31 and E35. Then what I do is make a color palette to see what my colors look like on paper. Just as if I painting, I always test my colors on scrap paper first. I make a few scribbles of the color groupings just to make sure they blend well together, side by side.

Then it's just a matter of filling in the colors on my stamped image. Today I used the plaid vintage picnic basket from Vintage Picnic, the cute apples and the *for my teacher* sentiment from Vintage Picnic Sentiments.

I punched out my colored image with a scalloped square punch and then dolled it up using Borders and Corners Squares. For the background topper portion of my card, I used Background Basics: Text Style to add some text background, keeping with the teacher theme on the card. Pure Poppy ribbon, a tied Vintage Button and Ripe Avocado cardstock finish off the card.

This type of card will be perfect for when the girls return to school this Fall. School themed but not too kiddy looking. This card paired up with a few apples and maybe a little caramel apple dip...all packaged up cute in a basket......it will make for scoring some good brownie points with the teachers right from the get go. ;)

Have a great day everyone!! Go enjoy your summer!!!!!!

Vintage Picnic...birthday flowers

Hey everyone! What a fun release this month at Papertrey!! I want to thank you all for the wonderful response to Vintage Picnic. I thought I'd show you a pretty little card using the flower basket topper to get your creative juices flowing.

There are so many options for Vintage Picnic. Many of you are joining the Copic craze...and all of the stamps in Vintage Picnic can be colored with Copics. I hope to be showing you lots of coloring tips to help you out. You can also paper piece the baskets with patterned paper like I've done here using Wild Raspberry K & Company paper. Here's a great tip for all you Copic users: Use grey colored Copics to add shadows to your paper pieced baskets. The patterned paper looks great by itself but you can add extra pizazz by adding some shading. You want to use light greys that won't overpower the patterned paper. For my project today I used T1. Just a little shading under the lid and basket handles...and a little more down the sides and bottom of the basket......and you're good to go. If the shading is too dark, lighten it up by using your Coloress Blender (0). Zoom in on the photo below to see the shading close up.

As for the other pretty details on my card: I love the greenish/blue of the patterned paper paired with Lemon Tart Satin Ribbon, Vintage Buttons in Lemon Tart and Sweet Blush, both tied with Rustic Twine. And be sure to scroll back up to the first photo. I love to add sentiments to little toppers I create by using a large Spellbinder's Scalloped Square Nestabilities Die Template. Just die cut and emboss a square and then cut off about 1" to use as a topper. Don't you just love the fonts Nichole chose for Vintage Picnic? The vintage looking typewriter font paired with script is so lovely.

I'll be thinking of all you girls staying up late to get your Papertrey goodies. Let me know what ya got, okay?