What a Bug!

Hi all!

For this week’s design, it all started with a challenge I am entering requiring a Joy-Fold Card.  I wanted to use a 2 Cute Ink digi as the "hidden treasure" inside.

Front 

As it Unfolds

For my "hidden treasure," I used 2 Cute Ink's recent release "Cupcake Ladybug."  I used WordArt to add a sentiment over the bug.   For those of you following me, you know that I have been trying to learn Photoshop better to color digital images....I had fun with this one practicing some shading (cupcake topping) and some texture (cupcake wrapper) - as well as how to give my ladybug a black face without losing her eyes and nose.  I wish I could provide a tutorial for you - but, quite honestly, I just kept hitting buttons until I got lucky!  Hopefully soon I will know the program well enough to provide solid tips.  I do have to say - I may never use my Copics on another digital image.

"Hidden Treasure"

I enjoyed making this special-fold card . . . and I'm off to make another one for the challenge.  You see, I need a lot of birthday cards, so made this a birthday card.  When I finished - ooops - read instructions.  The challenge card needs to be a Valentine's card (requiring hearts should have been my clue!).  So now off to make a Valentine's card.

Bear Collection

Hi Everyone,

Today I am bringing you a card made with Butterfly Bear from 2 Cute Ink's Bear Collection.  The Butterfly Bear captures the playfulness of a relaxing day in a garden.  This stamp makes for very cute Valentine's Day card.

Enjoy the fabulous projects from our designers through the new year.  Have a crafty 2014!

Tweet Gradient with Balloon Birdie

Hi Fellow Crafters,

Thank you for joining us on the blog today.  Whew!  The holidays are behind us, and now I must have 40 Valentine cards ready by the first of the year.  Perfect time to bring you some quick & simple cards.  

Today I am bringing you a slightly different way of coloring your digital stamps.  For some time now, I have been wanting to learn how to use the gradient tool in Photoshop for select elements of a digital stamp.  I found a great tutorial and had my balloon on the Balloon Birdie digi colored (gradient) in no time at all! (Yes, I am just so proud of myself....tee, hee.)  So this cute card is ready to go in less than five minutes!  Very easy project!

You can learn to gradient color your digital stamps here, compliments of Adobe.

Sweet Reindeer Lights

Hi Everyone,

Welcome and Happy Monday! I'm so glad you joined us today.  2 Cute Ink's Little Reindeer make a sweet collection - clearly Reindeer Lights is perfect for the holiday season.

Today's card is a shaped card using a free label file (Maggie's Label 3) from Magnamity.  I took the "label" file and sized it to to be 5-1/2" x 5-1/2".  I welded it to a rectangle for the card base.  I resized the label for each layer, then added a strip across the front (accented with a border punch).  The reindeer is colored with Copic Markers - with Stickles added for the Christmas lights, his nose, and accent dots in corners.  He is popped up alongside a big holiday wish created with just a word processor.

  

This card brought a little serendipity - I did not intend for the card shape to resemble a Christmas ornament.  When I was finished, however....there it was!  So I added a piece of rumpled ribbon to the top to finish off the ornament.

Have a fabulous crafty week, and I will see you next Monday.

Reindeer and the Christmas tree lights

Hi everyone,

It's Timi here and I have a very cute card made for you featuring this sweet Reindeer Lights digi stamp. He is just so cute with the tangled lights on his antlers.

After printing the image on heavy weight sketch paper I coloured him in with Promarkers. I die cut the image with a circle die to add on the card.

I die cut some snowflakes from shiny cardstock and layered them betweeen the image and the patterned background paper.

I cut out a label from the same paper collection and stamped the sentiment on it. I added this to the layers of snowflakes.

To add some sparkle to my card and applied some Distress Glitter to image, like the reindeer was standing on the snow.

I hope you like this cute card,

Timi

Sweet Lady Bug

Hi Everyone,

It's Monday! Today I used the cute little image Sweet Lady Bug.  I used two techniques with this image.  I printed and colored the lady bug (both on the front and inside with a sentiment)....I also cut a couple strawberries on my eClips and pieced them together for an embellishment.  The fabulous word art is a free image by Elegant Wordart by Bethany.

Inside Sentiment

Enjoy all the fabulous projects this week, and we'll see you right back here next Monday. 

Feel better soon!

Hi, it's Timi here.

It is now November and it's getting colder and colder here. I want to show you a card featuring this very cute Winter Owl image to remind you to stay warm and not to catch a cold. This image is so sweet, I like the way he has the little earmuffs.

I printed the image on heavy weight sketch paper and coloured it in with Promarker. I cut the whole image out with circle die using a little trick to save the tree branch that is overhanging.

I chose a very busy patterned paper for my background and that is the reason I didn't use so many embellishments.

I hope you like this card

Stay warm,

Timi

Sherlock Mouse

Hi Everyone,

This is such a fun time of year! Leftover Halloween Treats, Thanksgiving approaching, Christmas shopping, Holiday Festivities with friends....the list of activities and events are endless.  With Christmas on its way, many of you are scrambling to get Christmas cards made.  I challenge you to spend some time working on those everyday cards for all the other activities throughout the year.  

Today I am excited to share Sherlock Mouse.  Don't say you weren't warned - this little guy can be addictive!

Inside Message

Enjoy this week's projects, and we'll see you back here next Monday.

Doesn't get Easier Than This!

Hi Everyone!

Today I am back with more inspiration - this time for a quick & easy card.  We are so glad you can join us. Today's card uses the Panda Love digi stamp.  Pretty much two pen colors - and a couple rectangles for matting.  Doesn't get easier than that!

Have a great week! 

Magical Monday

Hi Everyone!

I have spent the past several weeks focusing on Thanksgiving cards....with those finished and ready to go out, I chose Harry Potter Owl to help someone celebrate a "magical" achievement.

Inside Sentiment 

Have a fantastic week! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi Everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you...that's what this Cute Turkey is saying.  This little guy is such a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving with all of our friends and family. 

We are so super excited to be featuring the Cute Turkey all week - and even better, he will be featured on a card in Cardmaker Magazine on sale October 22 (digital issue on sale now).

Enjoy this week's posts, and we'll see you right back here next Monday! 

I detect a birthday!

Hi everyone, I'm back with a fun shaker card using the  Watson Mouse image.

After printing the image I coloured him in with my promarkers and cut it out. I created the the big magnifying glass using some acetate and some fun foam. I cut out lots of little mustaches with my electronic cutting machine and put them behind the glass. The sentiment says: I detect a birthday! and the birthday part is in the inside of the cards.

I hope you like my detective shaker card,

Have fun with these very cute images,

Timi

Fall Girl

Hi Everyone,

Today I am pleased to be spotlighting the new digi stamp "Fall Girl." This digi stamp is a refreshing twist to traditional fall genre of pumpkins and ghosts, adding sweet detail to any project.

As you know by now, I love to glitter my digi stamps. (Click here to learn how.) Today, though, I used a slightly different technique. I glittered each section with transparent glitter - then colored the glitter with Copic markers. This allows you to add some dimension with shading - yet still having the fun of glitter.

I put the focus on Fall Girl by using a Shadow-Box Card....but the card folds flat for mailing. Fall Girl is set off with Delicate Asters and a jeweled pumpkin.

Enjoy this week's projects!

Fall in love

Hi everyone, it is Timi here and I'm showing you a card with a window on it.
I used the new Fall in Love digi and coloured them with Promarkers. I stamped the heart on the embossed card and cute out the hearth shape.

It was a very quick card to make, but still pretty cute. I hope you like it.

Timi

Fall Fox

Hi Everyone!

Happy  Monday to each one of you! It's hard to believe it's September and fall is here (though we never really see fall here in Southeast Arizona).  Now I keep thinking about how I need to get started on Christmas projects!  But today's post still features one of 2 Cute Ink's fall digi stamps - Fall Fox.  May you be creatively inspired today and get to working on some Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas projects.  

Supplies Used

• Digi Stamp - Fall Fox (2 Cute Ink)
• Glitter
• Poppy Orange & Pumpkin Spice (Glitter Ritz)
• Green & Yellow (Tree House Studio)
• Embossing Folder - Plaid (Darice)
• Halloween Cardstock, Black Cardstock, White Cardstock

We'll see you right back here next Monday.

Fun tag with Spider Witch

Hi everyone,
It is Timi here today with a Halloween tag featuring the very cute Spider Witch digital stamp.

It was really fun to create this, because I wanted to try and paper piece the image. So I printed it onto the grey designer paper that wasn't too busy with patterns. And then I printed it onto white card and coloured the image in and cut out the body, the hat and the broom. I then glued these piece on the grey designer paper. From then it was really easy to create a tag and embellish the tag.

I hope you liked this idea,

Timi

Fall Fox Card

Hi everyone, this is Timi here again.
Today I have a card to show you with the brand new Fall Fox digi stamp.

I tried to match a few pieces of patterned paper that are kind of autumnal to make the background of the card. I also added washi tape to add more interest to my background.

The very cute fox was printed on 150g smooth paper. I coloured him with Promarkers and fussy cut it. I liked the idea to cut the little leaves out one by one rather adding the fox with the paper I printed him. 

My sentiment ended up on a small tag on a piece of twine.

Hope you like this card,

Timi

Back to School with 2 Cute Ink

Hi everyone, it is Timi here today.

Here is a very cute Back to School idea to share with you. Using three different digi stamps I created tags that can be used as bookmarks. I used these fab stamps:
Bear Crayon
Kitty Paint Brush
Penguin Doodle

I die cut tags with Sizzix die and layered different patterned paper on it. I looked around in my Craft corner and found some stickers that were just perfect for these tags.

To decorate the tags I used some washi tape, stickers and some ribbon and pom-pom trim.

I hope you like this idea and will create it for somebody precious going back to school.

Timi

Aquarium card with Angel Fish

Hi, it is Timi here today. I am going to show you a quick and fun tutorial on how I created this "aquarium card".

A few things you will need:
Angel Fish Digital Stamp
blue cardstock
piece of acetate

Cut a piece of card stock 4x12 inch. Score it at 4, 4 1/8 and 3 7/8. Cut a window out of the card stock as show in the picture.

Print the Angel Fish twice and only colour one in.

Fussy cut the colored fish out and the other one needs to be cut to match the size of the card.

Place foam adhesive on the coloured fish and adhere it on the other printed fish.

Colour the piece of acetate with alcohol inks

Assemble the card: glue the acetate on the back of the window; glue the panel with the fish on the side that is behind the window. 

You can add white card stock inside for you message.

I hope you liked this idea,

Timi

Snowflake Owl - Glitter Technique

I fell in love with the free digital stamp 2 Cute Ink was sharing this weekend - Owl Doodle.  Since I'm no artist with my markers, I instead decided to glitter my image.  Heidi asked if I would share the technique - You know me...anything to be able to showcase my work!  

So Heidi sent me her latest digital stamp - Snowflake Owl - and as soon as I saw it, I saw cool, ice blue!

Here is my card - and step-by-step instructions below!  If you find yourself using this technique with 2 Cute Ink digital stamps, please share on Facebook or send us a link to your page in a comment....would love to see what you do!

Supplies Used

• Snowflake Owl - Digital Stamp (2 Cute Ink)
• White Cardstock - 1 sheet for cutting owl, 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" for card base
• Robin's Egg Blue Classic Glitter Cardstock (The Robin's Nest)
• Double-Sided Adhesive (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
• Microfine Glitter - Glitter Ritz (Elizabeth Craft Designs) 
• Real Teal
• Robin's Egg Blue
• Ice Blue
• Sky Blue
• Mystique
• Cool Highlights
• Warm Highlights
• Border Punch - Apron Lace (Fiskars)

Instructions

I just purchased a Sizzix eClips to replace my Cricut machine.  For those of you with Cricuts and Sure Cuts a Lot, the steps are almost identical.  You will only need to play with your pressure and/or blade depth on the Cricut.

First I placed a 6" x 6" piece of double-sided adhesive on a piece of white cardstock - leaving the protective cover on the top.

Two-sided Adhesive - on white cardstock - on cutting mat

On the electronic cutter, Trace the digital stamp image.  Break apart the image.  I moved the solid owl image to its own layer.  So my screen looked like this:   

To cut, I set the Pressure to 3.  This cuts through the protective covering of the adhesive....but not through the cardstock.

Next, I "hid" the layer with the detailed image, and displayed the solid owl image.  I set the cutter to cut two times - with a Pressure of 6.  This will cut through both the adhesive and cardstock.  See completed cut image below (excuse the messy glitter-catcher cardstock beneath).  You can see the detail cuts on the image's protective covering.

Carefully remove protective covering over outline only

Using tweezers, I peel off the protective covering for the areas I want to glitter in each color.  I like to begin with the outline.  The way 2 Cut Ink's images are designed, it provides a nice "outline" as such.  I begin with glittering the outline...which makes it easier to find all the detailed pieces.  

Cover with glitter; brush off excess

I complete those same steps for each different glitter color.  You can see, once the outline is glittered, the rest of the pieces are easy to see.  Use tweezers to remove the pieces you want for each color.  You can see by the pics, that I am generous when covering with glitter.  All excess goes back in the jar, so no need to be skimpy.  For each color, remove protective covering, cover with glitter, brush off excess.  Repeat.

Generously cover with glitter. 

Shake off excess glitter.

Rub off excess glitter - Rub hard to get a smooth look.

The next time I use this image, I will probably make the owl's belly white - my snowflakes aren't showing well with the little variance in blue colors.  With a white belly, blue snowflakes would really stand out (live and learn).

For this particular card, I did not resize the image.  However, the snowflakes were too small to cut easily, so I did enlarge them...then used the same technique to glitter.

A 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" piece of Robin's Egg Blue Classic Glitter cardstock provides the card front.  I used a border punch on both sides of a strip of Robin's Egg Blue Classic Glitter cardstock, ran it through the Xyron (upside down), and covered it with a combination of Cool and Warm Highlight glitter to provide a blue-on-blue effect.

I popped up the owl....and glued on glittered snowflakes.

If this inspires you to use this technique, please share on Facebook or leave your link in a comment....we would enjoy seeing your creation.