Take Me Back in Time

Hello everyone,

A couple of years ago I took a card class. In the class we made two masculine cards, something I had not done before and it has inspired me to make more. I gave one of the cards that I made in the class to my father and the other to my husband. My husband still has his card and my father framed his and hung it in the garage beside his adored Mustang.

I recently made another card for my dad, a vintage car card. He said that he is going to frame this one as well and hang it beside the other one.

I have to say, I think the Art Deco Cricut cartridge has to be my favorite cartridge so far. I say this but I haven't cracked open my Outdoor Man cartridge yet. It may be a tough choice and they may both become my favorite.

Lets start at the back of the card. I saw this technique online a while back (I can't remember the source, sorry), where you ink the flat side of the embossing folder and then emboss the paper. What a fantastic technique. It allowed me to add colour to the flat portion of the paper and not the embossed portion of it. I did a test where I did not ink the embossing folder but inked the embossed pattern instead. As you can see, the test sheet did not make it to the card. I much prefer the lighter red embossed pattern and the dark brown background.

In keeping with the vintage look, I inked the edge of each framed paper. This is a technique that I use often and find that it gives the paper - patterned or solid colour - a little more pop.

I absolutely love how this card turned out and from my father's reaction you can tell that he loved it too.

Until next time, Happy Paper Crafting!!!!


Used from my inventory:

• Recollections cardstock
• EL-017 M-Bossabilities
• Walnut stain distress ink
• Big Shot
• Scotch Advance tape glider
• Cricut Expression
• Art Deco Cricut cartridge
• Stampin'up 2-way glue pen
• Paper and cardstock from my leftover pile

Love is Blind

Hello everyone,

I had so much fun with this card.

The card was inspired by a quote I found online "Love is Blind, why is lingerie so popular?". So true. Unfortunately the author of the quote is unknown.

I used the Cricut Expression and the Tie the Knot cartridge to create the bustier and bling'd it up with some xmas red stickles.

I find that the Spellbinder large classic scallop cutout creates a feeling of a window, like looking into someone's boudoir.

I wanted the entire card to have a lacy feel to it. I stamped swirl designs on the red cardstock and applied the black trim to the inside edge of the card. The black trim is leftover iron-on applique that I used in the design of my sister's wedding dress. Surprisingly enough the applique bonded to the card when I heated it with my Marvy embossing heat tool. I don't think I would use the heat technique if I were to use the applique on something that would be handled often. The bond is not as strong as using glue.

I am submitting the card in the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge #217 "Anything Goes".

Hope you enjoyed. Until next time, happy paper crafting!



Supplies used from my inventory:

• Recollection 110lb cardstock
• Cardstock from my leftover pile
• Spellbinder Classic scalloped oval large
• Xmas red Stickles
• Cricut Expression
• Tie the Knot cartridge
• Big Shot
• Jet black Archival Ink
• Iron on trim - source unknown
• HP Deskjet F4280
• Stampin'up 2-way glue pen
• Tombow glue
• Marvy embossing heat tool
• Autumn Leaves - Swirls V:I stamps



Summer Vacation (part 2 of 2)

Hello again,

Winter vacations are finished and summer vacations are about to begin.

When I think of summer vacations I think of camping with my family and friends. Camping is one of the only times that I actually sit and do nothing; maybe read a book but nothing else. It is the ultimate relaxation and sometimes a little too relaxing for a person like me who is always on the go.

This past weekend, I created a camping scene for a card using my Cricut Expression and the Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge.

Up until recently, I used to stress about having just the right paper for each image I was cutting. I don't stress about it any more. For the campfire, I cut the image three times out of white cardstock. The bottom layer remained intact and I coloured only the fire using YR07, Y35, and Y13 Copic markers. The second layer, I removed the fire portion, coloured the logs using E23, E77, and E37 Copic markers and adhered it to the fire layer. For the rocks, I removed the fire and logs on the third copy of the image, coloured the rocks using C5 and C3 Copic markers and layered it on top of the other two coloured layers.

Sectioning off the different elements of the image and layering them makes for a more realistic dimensional image. I love the effect and will repeat this technique in other Cricut inspired projects. I used the same technique for the marshmallows and the sign.

When I am ready to give this card to someone, I may stamp an appropriate message (Happy Birthday, Thinking of you, You light my fire, etc.) on the bottom right corner of the card or I may keep it simple.

I am entering the Campfire card in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Vacation/Travel".

Thank you for stopping by and until next time, Happy Paper Crafting!



Supplies used from my inventory:

• Recollections 110 lbs cardstock
• Recollections Spice Market cardstock
• Paper from Basic Grey
• White pieces of cardstock from my scrap pile
• Copic markers - YR07, Y35, Y13, E23, E77, E37, C5, C3, YG03, YG63, W5, W1
• Stampin'up 2-way glue
• Zapdots foam adhesives
• Cricut Expression
• Everyday Paper Dolls Cricut cartridge
• Viva Décor dark brown Pearl Pen
• Tim Holtz Idea-ology Chitchat stickers
• Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs Distress ink
• Ink dauber

Supplies purchased:

• Nothing

Winter Vacation (Part 1 of 2)

Hello everyone,

Winter has always been a time for hibernation. However, this past winter my husband and I took our two year old son and joined some friends of ours on a Caribbean cruise. We enjoyed our time away and I have to say, it will be difficult to survive another winter without an escape to a warmer, sunnier location for at least a week.

I used one of the photos our friend took while on the trip to create this card.

 

I like the triple stamping technique, it's fast and simple. My friend from Papertician had read about a similar technique using the same stacking and matching idea as the triple stamping but instead of stamping you use a photo. What a neat idea.

I am entering the Bon Voyage card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge "Vacation/Travel".




Supplies from my inventory:

• Tim Holtz, Stampers Anonymous - Artful Voyage
• Jet Black Archival ink
• Recollections cardstock
• Zapdots foam adhesives
• Tim Holtz Faded Jeans distress ink
• Tombow glue
• Scotch Advance tape glider

Supplies purchased:

• Black's photo developing

Anniversary

Well, it has been a year since my very first post and what a year it has been.

Three Cs blog is close to 2,000 views which makes me very happy and I am grateful that you take the time to come and read what I post. Thank you.

I have many projects in the works and I am hoping, in the upcoming year, to post on a more consistent basis.

My first post in my second year of blogging comes to you courtesy of my sister. She requested a gift card to one of her favorite clothing shops for her birthday. No problem, consider the gift card purchased. However, as all crafters know, you can't just give someone a gift card, it has to come in a nice package.

I have been waiting a long time for the "Forever Young" Cricut cartridge to go on sale. No luck. It was holding strong at its current price. The "Forever Young" cartridge includes a large selection of fashion related images and would be perfect for a clothing gift card holder. Hmmm, continue to wait for the cartridge to go on sale or buy it for the sake of my sister's present? Pack your bags cartridge, your coming home with me.

One of the best things about using the Cricut is that I get to use up many of the scrap pieces of paper I have been collecting from other paper projects. It's surprising how little paper the Cricut uses and the stunning projects it creates.

 

The gift card would be placed in the slot between the shoes.

Thanks for stopping by and until next time, happy paper crafting.



Supplies used from my inventory:

• Various leftover cardstock
• Cricut Expression
• Close to my Heart - Soul Mates Sentiments
• Tim Holtz distress ink - Aged Mahogany, Gathered Twigs
• Kool Tak - 2 sided tape
• Recollections - Spice Market cardstock
• Tombow glue
• Scotch Advance tape glider
• Fiskar paper trimmer
• Big Shot
• Sizzix Tween Tile
• Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper
• Crop-A-Dile II
• Stampin'up - Sincere Salutations
• Celebrate It - ribbon

Item purchased:

• Forever Young Cricut cartridge

Let's Ride

Hello everyone and happy Sunday

The challenge this week at Simon Says Stamps is "Anything Goes", so here goes anything.

I have started collecting cardboard that used to end up in the recycling bin. I guess I am upcycling items around the house. The collection began as I was about to throw out a frozen pizza box. The box was clean and the cardboard was the perfect thickness to be sturdy but yet embossable.

Pair the saved cardboard with a little tin foil and you have a fantastic metallic look to work with.

I started by cutting the cardboard to the size that I needed and then ran it through my Xyron machine. I placed the sticky side of the cardboard to the non-shiny side of a large piece of tin foil. I trimmed the tin foil, leaving enough to wrap the edges of the cardboard and taped it to the back.

I ran the metallic paper through my Big Shot using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I completed the look using the Tim Holtz Industrial Technique that I learned in his Creative Chemistry 102 online class.

I love how it all turned out and I doubt I will ever buy metallic paper again. However, my stash of cut out cardboard boxes has increased significantly.

Thank you for visiting and hope you will stop by again.

Till next time, happy paper crafting.




Supplies used from my inventory:

• Tim Holtz - black soot distress paint
• Cuttlebug embossing folder
• Kelly's outline stickers
• Recollection cardstock
• Sookwang Creative tape
• Peel-off's magic tape
• Glitter Ritz - cool highlight
• Copics - 0, 100, R89, B91, C5, E77, W5
• Stampin'up ink - sahara sand
• Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous - Road Trip CMS128
• Big Shot
• Scotch Advance tape glider

Supplies purchased:

• None

It is someone's birthday

Simon Says Stamp is celebrating their 5th year of challenges. Happy Birthday!!

For the occasion and to submit into their contest I created the following card.

Sorry for the blurry picture. It appears that I need to develop my photography skills along with my crafting ones.

I thought the stamp image from Stampin'up "Not So Serious" stamp collection was perfect for a birthday card for Simon Says Stamp since their mascot/logo is a dog.

Until next time, happy crafting and enjoy the spring like weather.

Supplies used from my inventory:

• Recollections - Cardstock
• Recollections - Regent Street paper pad
• Lil' Inker Designs - Pieced Chevron die
• Spellbinder - Classic Scalloped Circles large
• Memento ink - Tuxedo black
• Stampin'up - Not So Seriously
• Big Shot
• Stampin'up - 2-way glue
• Copic Markers - YG03, YG63, E11, E23, E37, W1, W5, W7, E01, RV69, B39, B0000
• Tim Holtz distress ink - Walnut Stain
• Tim Holtz Tonic Studio - scissors
• Tombow glue
• Zapdots foam adhesives

Supplies purchased:

• None

Chillin with my Peeps

Hello everyone,

Fantabulous Cricut challenged us to use birds in our paper project this week. I think I met the requirements of this challenge and then some.

I started by making my own background paper. I used a technique called "Blended Distress & Flick Technique" that I learned in Tim Holtz Creative Chemistry 101 online class. Then I randomly stamped various images, including an image of a bird, to complete my patterned paper.

A product I have been wanting to try is molding paste. I knew that I wanted a dark branch over top of my patterned paper but I didn't have a branch sticker, a branch stamp, nor a branch die cutting plate. However, I did have a tree stencil and some molding paste. Here was my opportunity to try this very popular technique. I taped off the areas of the tree that I did not want and applied the molding paste. After the paste was completely dried I coloured it using the E77 Copic marker.

A few months ago, I bought the "Straight from the Nest" Cricut cartridge without much of a chance to use it. The FCCB challenge #203 was the perfect time to take this cartridge out for a test run. "Chillin with my Peeps" inspired the entire card. The image and the saying reminds me of a few of my friends.

I searched for the perfect combination of paper for this image without much success. I had the red and the black but nothing that was quite right for the bird. I have the philosophy that if you can't find what you are looking for, then make it yourself. I cut the image out of white cardstock and coloured the little bird using Y13 and Y35 Copic markers.

I hope this card puts a smile on your face as it does mine.

Have a great day and don't forget to chill with your peeps!


Items used from my inventory:

• White cardstock - Recollections
• Coloured cardstock from my scrap pile
• Patterned cardstock from unknown source
• Distress inks (I don't know what I would do without my distress inks)
• Iced Spruce
• Shabby Shutters
• Forest Moss
• Weathered Wood
• Victorian Velvet
• Pumice Stone
• Inkadinkado - Flourishes stamp
• Straight from the Nest Cricut Cartridge
• Golden gel mediums - Light molding paste
• The Cafters Workshop.com - Branches Reversed stencil
• Stampin'up 2-way glue
• Copic Markers - Y13, Y35, E11, E37, E77
• Scotch Advanced Tape Runner
• Zapdots foam adhesives

Items purchased:

• Nothing

 

Paper dust

Paper dust is all I have left, well almost.

 

If you recall, at the end of September I assembled a card/tag making kit. The kit included 6 sheets of paper (3 of which were double sided), 5 stamps, 4 inks, 3 embellishments, 2 ribbons and 1 drink of choice. PJ challenged us to remain within the limitations of our kit and create cards and tags until there were no paper sheets left, only paper dust.

 

   

It was definitely a challenge, especially the 4 inks limitation. I love my inks and wanted to use more ink colours. I am not sure if I cheated by using Copic markers to colour Santa, probably. The other biggest challenge was not being able to use my arsenal of supplies to correct my errors. If I made a mistake I couldn't use other inks or papers to make the mistake look better or less noticeable.

 

With my kit I was able to create 7 cards and 9 tags. Some projects turned out better than others but I had fun just the same. Unfortunately, due to Internet failure I was not able to upload my projects before the PJ Challenge deadline (midnight November 3rd).

 

 

Which one is your favorite?

Till next time, Happy Paper Crafting!

 

Supplies used from inventory:

• Bazzill Avalanche paper
• Stampin' pad - Baja Breeze
• Blending tool
• Bazzill Basics Paper - Chipboard tags snowflakes
• Archival ink - black
• Stampin'up stamps - Welcome Christmas, snowflakes, and Jolliest Time of the Year
• Winterland - snow peeps
• Paper Bliss adhesive accents
• Harmonie - Meli Melo
• Copic markers - 100, C5, C3, R24, G29, YG03, E01
• Distress ink - peeled paint
• Big Shot
• Spellbinders Nestibilities - labels, blossom two, and create a flake four
• Tombow glue
• Lil'inkers - stitched mats and bow dies
• Stickles - xmas red
• Creative memories corner rounder
• Celebrate It - Ribbon bow-tique
• Stampin'up - Cherry Cobbler ribbon
• Martha Stewart - photo corners punch
• Martha Stewart - scor board
• Zapdots - foam tape
• EK Success - 3/4 inch circle punch
• Stampin'up, EK Success - label punch
• Spellbinder shapeabilities - snowflake pendant
• Fiskar personal paper trimmer
• Scotch advanced tape glider
• There are a couple of other supplies that I no longer have the name of the company that made them

 

Supplies purchased:

• None

 

Card and Tag Kit

Hello everyone. 

 

PJ Challenge has posted a very interesting challenge. The challenge is in two parts. The first part, due by September 30th, is to assemble a package based on a pre-set list.

• 6 papers
• 5 stamps
• 4 inks
• 3 embellishments
• 2 ribbons, and
• 1 drink of choice

Here are my items. Three of the papers are double sided, hence the almost identical pictures.

 

The second paper from the right is maroon (not brown).

From left, the double sided papers are 1, 3, and 6

 

 

You will notice 4 ribbons in the picture but I will only use two of the four. I didn't want to unravel one of them just for the sake of the picture.

 

My drink of choice is in the blue cylinder at the top left of the pictures. It recently changed to water, trying to become a little healthier and shed a few useless pounds.

 

Are you asking "so, what is part two of the challenge?" I would be happy to tell you. The second part, due November 1st, is to use the items in this package to make cards and tags. The goal is to use as much of the items as possible. To use every piece of paper until there is only paper dust left.

 

So if this challenge peeks your interest as it has mine, either join the challenge or come back in November to see what I have created.

 

Till then, happy crafting.

 

 

Easel cards

It has been a while since my last post. I have been busy making 200 wedding programs and over 300 table seating cards for a couple getting married on Sunday, September 1st. Congratulations to the happy couple!

 

I have returned to my craft room and excited to create more layouts, cards and any other craft that tickles my fancy.

 

I created these two cards primarily for friends of mine but also for PJ Challenge's September Motivator.

 

The focus for the September Motivator is to get us to try something new and provide the steps or links to the steps so others can try it too.

 

Making these cards not only motivated me to try a new technique - easel cards but also to do something I haven't done in a very long time - colour!

 

 

Easel cards are a fantastic way to display your greetings and well wishes. They will lie flat when closed and then you prop them open for display.

 

 

 

Last fall I got my first glance at the mechanics behind an easel card at a Make & Take. What is a Make & Take? It is where someone teaches you how to make something and then you get to take it home, sometimes with written instructions. The easel cards are quite easy to make.

 

To create a 5 x 5 1/2 inch top fold card:

 

• Cut a piece of paper to 5 x 11 (this will become the base of your card).
• Cut a piece of paper to 5 x 5 1/2 (this will become the decorated top panel of your card).
• Place the larger piece of paper, long side horizontally on your score board.
• Score the paper at the 2 3/4 inch mark and then again at the 5 1/2 mark.
• Fold the card in half at the 5 1/2 score line.
• Decorate the top panel piece, the 5 x 5 1/2 piece of paper, as desired.
• Adhere the decorated panel to the 2 3/4 inch portion of the base card, the one closest to the short edge.
• Adhere a message or decorative element, using foam dots to give it some height, centered in the middle to lower portion of the inside of the card. This becomes the stopper when the card is propped open.

 

The Comfort Food card makes me giggle. The card was created following the same instructions as above. However, given  enough time, I usually go above and beyond. On this card I applied a second new technique; colouring with Odorless Mineral Spirits (OMS). Colouring with OMS is not difficult but it is a little time consuming. Essentially you are colouring the same image twice, once with the colouring pencils and then again with a blending stub and the mineral spirits. I love the way the technique blends the pencil lines and gives the drawing a much smoother, softer look. I am going to use this technique in my other drawings.

 

 

 

I learned this technique from Trudy Sjolander a guest blogger on CardMaker blog and you can find her instructions here.
 

Hope you enjoyed these new techniques as much as I did. I can't wait to try the double twisted easel card.

 

Until next time, happy crafting!

 

 

From my supplies inventory:

 

   For the Welcome Home card

• Stampin'up - Baja Breeze classic ink pad
• Tombow
• Fiskar personal paper trimmer
• Scotch Advance tape glider
• Martha Stewart scoring board
• Martha Stewart punch around the page - French Scroll
• Cricut cartridge - Straight from the Nest (fence, tree 1), Pooh and Friends (Tigger 3 icon)
• Distress ink - pine needles, gathered twigs
• Pearl pen - Viva Decor - black
• Copic W5
• Zapdots - foam dots
• Big Shot
• Cricut Expression
• Lil'inkers stitched mats die
• Scrap paper
• Recollections cardstock
• Cardstock from Costco
• DCWV's The Great Vacation Stack

 

For the Comfort Food card

 

• Various cardstock
• Whimsy stamps - Big Comfy Cake
• StazOn jet black ink
• Prisma colouring pencils #345, 368, 329, 328, 370, 313, 305, 342, 336
• Copic markers W1
• Quick Quotes paper - Julie je t'aime
• Fiskar personal paper trimmer
• Martha Stewart scoring board
• Scotch Advance tape glider
• Distress ink - seedless preserves
• Crop-a-dile corner chomper
• Stampin'up - Sincere Salutations stamps
• Zapdots - foam dots
 

Supplies purchased:

 

For the Welcome Home card

• Nothing

 

For the Comfort Food card

• Blending stub
• Gamsol orderless mineral spirits

 

Let the Season-ing Begin

This week Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge is to create a card with a summer food and/or drink theme.

The card I created was inspired by a gentleman at work who asked "Can you make a card with food?"

Well, yes, yes, I can; at least with a food theme.

It was also inspired by Kim Reid's "When I Need You" card in the CardMaker magazine, Summer 2013 issue. I enjoy the style of her card.

I had the idea, had the supplies and usually it ends there. However, due to the intent of Three Cs blog  "to get motivated to use the supplies I have hoarded for years and to push my creativity to the next level" and a very inspiring challenge from Simon Says Stamps I got working in my craft room getting thought to paper.

This card challenged me a bit more than the first three cards posted. I wanted to cut the little man using the Block Party Cricut Cartridge but did not have any skin colour paper. Nor did I like my choice of paper for his hair. I opted to cut these items in white and used Copic marker E01 & E11 to give him his skin tone and E37 & E77 for his hair colour. I also used Copic marker C3 to shade his chefs hat and the metallic items.

The other challenge was the salt and pepper shakers. I tried different techniques and products in order to achieve the metallic look for the bottle covers, as well as a salt and pepper look to its contents.

My first try was Glitter Ritz but that was too shiny.

The second try was colouring the different parts of the bottle with the Copic markers - not quite the result I wanted.

Third try was to emboss. Third try is always the charm. I cut out two sets of the salt and pepper shakers. The first set, I cut the tops off and embossed them with the Martha Stewart - sterling silver embossing powder. The second set, I roughly embossed the salt bottle with Martha Stewart's bright white embossing powder hoping to keep a grainy look to the powder. The pepper bottle, I embossed it in two layers. the first layer was embossed with black powder, then I reapplied the Big & Bossy embossing ink and lightly sprinkled with the bright white powder. I finished the bottles by gluing the metallic covers to the embossed bottles. The look that I got, with the supplies I had, is probably the closest I would get to looking like the real deal.

 

My photography skills did not pick up the details of the salt.

Items from my inventory used to make this card:

• Various card stock and pattern paper
• Block Party - Cricut Lite - Dad 1 and Grill 1
• Copic markers
• hair - E37, E77
• skin - E01, E11
• metal and shadows - C3
• grass - YG63
• sky - B0000
• Tombow glue
• Circut Expression
• Recollections - brown cardstock
• Stampin'up - Classic stamping pad - Cherry cobbler and Sahara sand
• Circle stamp - unknown
• Unity Stamp - Splatter it
• Fiskar paper trimmer
• Viva decor - Pearl pen - cream and black
• Cricut cartridge - From my Kitchen - salt & pepper
• Martha Stewart - sterling embossing powder
• Big & Bossy - embossing ink pad
• Marvy Embossing heat tool
• Zapdots foam dots
• Sharpie permanent marker
• Stampendous! black embossing powder

Purchased:

• Nothing 

Happy Father's Day

My dad has always taken interest in our activities and all events of our lives. He is the only male in a family of 4 (although he now has 2 grandsons and a granddaughter). He had no choice but to take interest in some of the more girly aspects of our lives, one of them being crafts.

A while back my dad gave me a piece of birch bark and said that it was a nice piece with some nice usable areas. He had collected the bark on one of their nature walks and thought I might be able to use it somehow in one of my cards.

When someone contributes to my love for crafts, I try to use their present, be it a stamp, paper supplies, even a piece of nature, in a gift I can give back to them.

I knew I wanted to use the bark in my dad’s father’s day card. It took a while to come up with a masculine idea that would display the precious piece of nature. I love the slight irony of stamping an image of a tree on a piece of a tree.

 

 

 

 

Heather’s Stamping Haven and a camping weekend at Murphy’s Point was a huge help towards the production of this card. I spoke to; whom I can only assume was Heather – what a helpful, knowledgeable woman who has tried many products and techniques including stamping on birch bark.

I told her what I was looking to do, what my vision was and she suggested the best products to use and the best methods to apply to increase my rate of success.

Heather brought my attention to the beautiful Cling Tree Poem stamp. My first intentions were to heat emboss the image but she recommended because of the details in the words that I simply stamp the image using StazOn, an ink that is suitable for all sorts of surfaces including a possible nonporous bark.

Her concern, and mine, was that she had never stamped on the back side of the birch bark and I did not have enough bark to do a test run. That’s where the camping weekend comes in. At Murphy’s Point, we were surrounded by fallen birch trees. Some bark samples made their way home with me, along with a few tiny black ants (I think I am going to stay away from including nature in my projects. I do not need little critters crawling around my craft table).  

I am glad for the bark samples. It took a couple of tries to get the right amount of applied stamping pressure. I stamped the image onto the piece of bark and stamped the same image onto the white paper, each seperately. The two images were taped together aligning the images like you would with wallpaper.

I am pleased with this card. I think my dad will be happy with what I have done with his gift.

Happy Father’s Day to my dad and to all you fathers!!

From my inventory:

• Fiskar paper trimmer
• Tim Holtz scissors
• Creative Memories paper trimmer
• We R Memory Keepers - Urban Window Collection
• Recollection - Green Faux Canvas
• Tombow glue
• Various cardstock
• Birch bark
• Kool Tak - 2 sided tape

Purchased:

• Stampendous - Cling Tree Poem stamp
• StazOn - jet black ink