Graphic 45 May Place in Time Project Sheets

It is time to share the Graphic 45 May Place in Time Project Sheets! These project sheets go out to retail stores about 6 weeks before the start of each month. (For example, the August sheets will be available to stores on June 20th). At the end of each month, consumers get a chance to see them in the Newsletter and  I get to share them on my blog. And, as time permits, Graphic 45 shares them on their blog.

Here are the three May project sheets. (Keep in mind, your local store may not participate in this promotion. Also, stores may modify the directions to fit their needs, resulting in differing monthly examples.)

Dearest Mother Project Sheet

Since Mother's Day is over in the US, you could change this into a birthday card or a "thinking of you" card for your mom, or you can even turn this into a "congratulations" card for a new mom.

Happy Mother's Day Project Sheet

The Mother's Day sentiment is on the inside of this card, making it a snap to turn it into a card for another occasion. 

Just for You Project Sheet

I hope you enjoy this "ode to purple." Make sure to check the Project Sheets tab at the top of the blog for all the Graphic 45 project sheets that I create. This card series will continue through December. Plus, I am currently creating project sheets for the new collections! I am sure they will be available for you after Summer CHA!

Hampton Art Chalkboard Layout

I promised you another scrapbook page, so here goes! I used a some of NEW Hampton Art licensed stamps from 7 Gypsies to create a layout with a fun twist! I created a pocket page with room for one photo for each month of the year!

To create this layout I used a chalkboard technique and the 7 Gypsies Months stamp set. I stamped the month images onto black cardstock with Watermark ink. I then embossed the images with white embossing powder. I rubbed white ink over the paper to add a  "dirty chalkboard" look.

I stamped some images with white pigment ink, including over-stamping some of the months to create a shadow. I used a white pencil to add some smudges and detail to the page.

I trimmed the paper in half and created a pocket to hold photos.

I added a punched border to the top of the pocket to mimic dripping paint. I stamped the 7 Gypsies Blessed image onto white textured cardstock with black ink.

I mounted each photo onto cardstock, and then placed a tab with the month stamped onto it at the top of the photos. Each month of the year, you can add your favorite photo to the pocket (with space for journaling on the back). The pocket page is mounted to white cardstock and chipboard for sturdiness. This is a project that I would place into a holder and sit on a desk or table rather than place into a scrapbook.

I hope that you are inspired to create an "out of the ordinary" page layout today!

Hampton Art Stamps:

7 Gypsies: Months (#IC0236), Blessed (#IC0193), Very Beautiful (#SC0502), Steampunk

Other Hampton Art:

White Embossing Powder

Clearsnap Inks:

Top Boss Watermark

Colorbox Mix'd Media Inx Jasmine

Colorbox Pigment Frost White

Chipboard: Grafix

Designer paper: Teresa Collins Carolina Breeze

Cardstock: American Crafts Black, White

Other inks: Close to My Heart Grey Wool

Border punch: Martha Stewart

Tab punch: Stampin' Up, McGill

Die Cuts: Spellbinders Standard Circles Small

Adhesive: Scotch ATG, Scor-tape

Hampton Art "Grunge" Layout

For the Our Daily Bread Designs challenge, please scroll down.

Ok, Blogger Peeps, don't faint...but I did a scrapbook page! {I know, I am always keeping you on your toes!} I used a bunch of the Hampton Art licensed stamps from 7 Gypsies to make this grungy page.

This photo was taken at my family home in central Pennsylvania. The last time we visited my childhood home was 2009. The property has since been sold, which makes me so happy my husband took some amazing photos for me when we were there! This large creek runs behind the house, and in summer is one of the most beautiful places on earth (except for the mosquitoes)!

I have a tutorial for you so that you can try some of these techniques to make your own layout.

1.  Using various inks and stamps, create a collage background on kraft cardstock. Allow to dry. (For a list of products, see below.)

2. Spray kraft cardstock with various spray mists. Allow to dry.

3. Trim kraft cardstock to 11 7/8 x 11 7/8 inches and attach to 12 x 12 inch black cardstock with strong adhesive.

4. Spray white paper doily with kiwi spray mist. Allow to dry and attach to the upper center of the kraft cardstock.

5. Trim photo to 8 x 5 1/2 inches and mat with black cardstock. Attach to kraft cardstock approximately 2 1/2 inches from the top and 2 inches from the left edge.

6. Cut flourish from green cardstock. Attach flourishes and paper flowers to the top right edge of the photo as shown.

7. Stamp the A Good Thing sentiment onto white cardstock with black ink. Smudge the cardstock with several shades of brown chalk ink. Trim to approximately 3 3/8 x 3 3/8 inches.

8. Trim black cardstock into a tag shape, approximately 4 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches. Attach the sentiment to the cardstock tag and attach to the right edge of the page layout with foam tape.

9. Glue a clip to the top of the tag. 

10. Tie green satin ribbon into a bow and glue to the clip. Attach a small flower to the center of the bow.

11. Cut another flourish from green cardstock. Attach flourish and paper flowers to the lower left edge of the sentiment as shown.

I hope that you have fun creating your own messy layout. Come back tomorrow for ANOTHER layout, and another fun technique!

Stamps: Hampton Art Stamps: 7 Gypsies: A Good Thing (PS0626), Distressed Clock (PS0679), Distress Background (PS0673), Ticket Stub (PS0681), Harlequin Background(PS0698)

Ink:

Clearsnap Colorbox Archival Dye Wicked (SN27024M)

Clearsnap Colorbox Fluid Chalk Dark Brown, Creamy Brown, Olive Pastel

Clearsnap Colorbox Mix'd Media Jasmine (SN37004)

Clearsnap Colorbox Pigment Pheasant Gold

Cardstock: Black (WorldWin Papers), White (WorldWin Papers), Kraft (WorldWin Papers), Green

Designer paper: 7Gypsies Lille 8x8 pad

Embellishments: doily (Wilton), paper flowers, ribbon, clip (7 Gypsies)

Spray mist: Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Almost Black, Cork, Kiwi

Die cutting templates: Spellbinders Fantastic Flourish Two

Other: chicken wire stamp or template

Tools: paper trimmer, scissors, craft mat; heat tool, foam ink applicator, die cutting system (Spellbinders Grand Calibur)

Adhesive: tape runner, white glue, foam tape, adhesive dots, fabric adhesive

Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge #156

It is time for the weekly Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge. This is my last week as guest DT for ODBD. The past two months have been a lot of fun! I enjoyed playing in the challenges, and of course, loved using all of the beautiful stamps! Thank you ODBD for having me as a guest!

The Shining Light Challenge ODBDSLC156 is to make a project that incorporates die templates. For a list of ODBD templates, click HERE.

I used the ODBD Spellbinders Elegant Ovals. This is is a die designed by Our Daily Bread Designs and produced by Spellbinders. I love the shape of this die template! It is similar to Spellbinders Labels Eighteen, which I also have in my stash. ODBD has many stamps sets that "go with" both of these templates!

I cut, embossed, and stenciled with the die template. I love the deep embossing I get on the edges with my Grand Calibur machine. Makes me so happy!

I stamped a sentiment from the Scripture Collection 10 set. I love the fonts in this set. They look so fresh! This particular scripture is made even more poignant by the addition of the three crosses to the right of the word "God." Jesus was crucified between two thieves. The one thief accepted Christ and was assured Paradise (eternal life), the other did not and is assured death in body and spirit. I want the spiritual victory which is mine through Christ Jesus. Amen!

I chose some of my favorite colors for the card. I especially love the dusty blue and cranberry combination.

I jazzed up the inside of the card as well. I stamped a sentiment from the Sentiment Collection 2 set direction onto the cardstock. I then used two of the Elegant Ovals dies to make a frame for my sentiment. I really like how that looks, which makes me puzzled as to why I don't do that technique more often!

For more inspiration for this challenge, please visit my DT sisters:

Jan Marie Ennenga
Audrey Hiltke 
Cathy McCauley 
Diana Nguyen 
Chris Olsen
Kathy Roney

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, click here.  You have until June 2nd at 8pm EST to join us. You do not have to use an ODBD stamp to join in, but we would love to see them if you have them.  Plus, your card will only be featured in the top 3 if you use ODBD stamps.  Anyone, however, has a chance to win the $15 certificate toward ODBD stamps. We would love to see your creations. If you upload your creations to Splitcoast Stampers or any other online gallery, please use the keyword is ODBDSLC156.  When creating your posts on blogs please include a link to the challenge.

ODBD Stamps: Scripture Collection 10, Sentiment  Collection 2
ODBD die templates: ODBD Spellbinders Elegant Ovals
Cardstock: WorldWin Paper ColorMates Heritage White, Deep Creamy Cocoa
Designer paper: Simple Stories Harvest Lane
Ink: Clearsnap Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ice Blue; Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa
Ribbon and Twine: Craft store
Button: unknown
Border punch: Fiskars
Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares; Scotch 3M ATG tape; Aleene's Tacky Glue

Courage

Hello everyone!  I have a Couture Creations project to share with you today. I have used one of the new doily die templates to make a "pretty in pink" card for you.

1. Create a 5 x 5 inch white card.

2. Trim printed paper to 4 7/8 x 4 7/8 inches and attach to card front.

3. Using the Tatted Lace Doily Die (Fantasia Collection), cut and emboss pink cardstock. You may need to use the Piercing Tool to remove some of the tiny bits from the die cut. (My die did not come with injection foam. To aid the removal of the paper, I placed a sheet of wax paper between the die and my cardstock. This helped me remove the die cut shape from the paper without tearing it.)

4. Attach the square doily shape to the center of the card. Wrap a length of pink ribbon around the center of the panel and secure.

5. Using the Scallop Rectangle a Nesting Dies, cut a rectangle from dark pink cardstock.

6. Stamp sentiment with black ink onto white cardstock. Line the Rectangle Nesting Die template over the stamped sentiment and tape down. 

7.  Cut and emboss both shapes.

8. Using Foam Mounting Tape, attach the sentiment stack to the center of the card, overlapping the ribbon.

9. Tie two bows, one from pink ribbon and one from dark pink ribbon and glue them to the right of the sentiment. Top with a paper rose.

10. Stamp a sentiment onto white cardstock. Use the oval die from the Picture Frame Nesting Die to cut out the sentiment. Using a Sponge Dauber and pink distress ink, add color to the sentiment. Tuck the sentiment under the right edge of the ribbon bows.

Thanks for joining me today! 

To purchase the Couture Creations nesting dies or embossing folders, click HERE. Use coupon code SKGS-01 for 10% off ANYTHING in the CropStop store, including pre-orders and sale items. No minimum order!

Couture Creations Supplies Used:
Rectangle Nesting Dies
Scallop Rectangle Nesting Dies
Picture Frame Nesting Die
Tatted Lace Doily Die

Couture Creations Tools Used:

Craft Scissors
Handheld Essentials Piercing tool, Embossing tool
Sponge Dauber

Double-sided Tape
Foam Mounting Tape
Craft Mat

Other Supplies:
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers ColorMates Light Pretty Pink, Deep Pretty Pink, Heritage White
Patterned paper: Carta Bella So Noted
Rubber stamps: Sweet and Sassy Stamps Precious Poppies; My Favorite Things Vertical Greetings
Stamping ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Distress Spun Sugar
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon
Wet glue: Aleene's Tacky Glue
Flower: Wild Orchid Crafts

Another Color Challenge

One of my Inspired by Stamping design team duties is to play in two challenges per month. I get to pick the challenges and the stamps that I want to use. 

This week I chose to play along in the Color Throwdown #243. I love the photo they chose to illustrate their challenge!

I think the colors in the swatch are all Stampin' Up colors. I just picked colors that seemed close and went from there.

There is no rule as to how much of each color you need to use, thankfully. I only used a tiny bit of the blue. But it's there! I stamped a sentiment from the Inspired by Stamping Big Wishes II set and then cut it out with the Fancy Labels 1 die template.

I sponges a bit of yellow ink onto the sentiment block. And I made a lovely bow for the top!

Nice and lumpy, as always! {grin}

I used another stamp from the Big Wishes II set for the inside. I also used one of the Washi Tape stamps. I am not sure it "goes" but I wanted to use it any way!
For more inspiration:

IBS Blog (Joanna's Blog)

IBS Website (for shopping!)

IBS Facebook Page

Stamps: Inspired by Stamping Big Wishes II, Washi Tape
Die cuts: Inspired by Stamping Fancy Labels 1
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers ColorMates Heritage Black, Heritage White
Designer paper:Echo Park For the Record 2 Documented; Simple Stories Harvest Lane
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black; Clearsnap Colorbox Pigment Daffodil
Ribbon and button: Really Reasonable Ribbon
Twine: Craft store
Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape runner; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares; Glue Dots adhesive dots

HUGE, GINORMOUS, FAT-DADDY ANNOUNCEMENT FROM GRAPHIC 45

In the paper crafting world there are some companies that are on the bucket lists of many designers. Graphic 45 is one of those "bucket list" companies. They have always been one of my "dream team" companies. When I joined the design team in 2010, I had no idea the wild ride I had ahead of me. It has been an amazing three years!

I knew that after this current term ended, I would have to step down and take a year off. I was sad and wondering what was next for me as far as designing for a paper manufacturer. How can you replace this paper?!

Well.....it turns out that I don't have to go searching for a new company after all! I was asked to stay on with Graphic 45 as a "Special Projects Designer"! {can I get a woohoo?!}

Back in February I was contacted by G45 and asked to join the "behind the scenes" team. I had to think for about a millisecond before I said, "YES!" (Oh, yeah, I have had to sit on this news for three months! I told my family, a few close friends, and a some folks who really needed to know, but I did not spill the beans to you, dear Readers! Are you stunned that I kept my mouth shut?!)

You may wonder just what in the world I will be doing as part of this new job. Well, I will tell you! I will be designing and creating projects and workshops for the Graphic 45 retailers and vendors, including developing the project sheets. I may be asked to create projects and tutorials for the newsletter and other social media. I will also be asked to create samples for trade shows and other venues. In reality, who knows what they will ask of me. {huge grin}

I am currently working on a Retailer card class series using Place in Time. At the end of each month, I am able to share the project sheets with all  of you! Click HERE to see those!

I am happier than a frog at a fly convention! To be blessed to continue working with the BEST in the business...priceless!

I know that today, on the G45 Blog, they are posting their favorites of my work from the past year. I thought I would post some of MY favorites and see if they match!

Well, cards, page layouts, mini albums, altered items. oh my! I sure love making things with Graphic 45 paper, and am super happy that I don't have to move on!!

Thank you Diane, Charee, Aimee, Kelly, and the entire Graphic 45 family for placing your trust in me as a designer. I seriously appreciate it! Here is to an amazing 2013-2014!

Flowers and Friends

I have a Couture Creations project to share with you today. I have created a friendship card with some hand-made flowers. I make a lot of "every day" cards as you never know when you need to pull one out and mail it off in a hurry!

1. Create a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 cream card.

2. Using the Fresh and Fun Nuevo embossing folder (Fresh and Fun Collection), emboss tan cardstock. Trim the cardstock to 4 1/8 x 5 3/8 and attach to card front.

3. Trim cream cardstock to 1 x 4 1/8 inches and attach to the center of the card.

4. Trim printed paper (Graphic 45 A Ladies' Diary) to 3/8 x 4 inches and attach to the cream strip.

5. Stamp sentiment with brown ink onto cream cardstock. Line the Victorian Rectangle Nesting Die template over the stamped sentiment and tape down. 

6.  Cut and emboss.

7. Using the larger Ivy Doily Die (Fantasia Collection), cut and emboss white cardstock. You may need to use the Piercing Tool to remove some of the tiny bits from the die cut.

8. Use a Sponge Dauber and chalk ink to add color to the doily die cut. Attach the doily to the card as shown. Using Foam Mounting Tape, attach the sentiment, overlapping the doily.

9. Using the Scallop Circle Nesting Dies, cut 6 of the second smallest circle and 2 of the third smallest from printed paper. Lightly spray the circles with glimmer mist or water.

10. Crumple all the circles and allow them to dry. Once they are dry, gently unfold them.

11. To make each flower, stack two smaller circles together and poke a hole in the center with the Piercing Tool. Thread the floral stamen into the hole and glue. Place the circles onto another small circle and one large circle. Shape each layer to create a flower. Make two.

12. Glue the flowers on the left edge of the sentiment.

Thanks for joining me today! 

To purchase the Couture Creations nesting dies or embossing folders, click HERE. Use coupon code SKGS-01 for 10% off ANYTHING in the CropStop store, including pre-orders and sale items. No minimum order!

Couture Creations Supplies Used:
Embossing Folder Nuevo
Victorian Rectangle Nesting Dies
Scallop Circle Nesting Dies
Ivy Doily Die Set

Couture Creations Tools Used:

Craft Scissors
Handheld Essentials Piercing tool, Embossing tool
Sponge Dauber

Double-sided Tape
Foam Mounting Tape
Craft Mat

Other Supplies:
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers ColorMates Light Totally Tan, Medium Coffee Brown, Heritage White
Patterned paper: Graphic 45 A Ladies' Diary
Rubber stamps: Stampin' Up! Feel Goods
Stamping ink: Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa; Clearsnap Colorbox Fluid Chalk Rose Coral
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon
Wet glue: Aleene's Tacky Glue
Flower stamens: Craft store