Monday, April 27, 2020

Brave Beautiful You Card

Hi, Crafty Friends!!
I'm back with more beautiful card projects using gorgeous I Am Roses flowers!
Their flowers make projects absolutely stunning!

I made this card for my beautiful sister. Sshhhh, don't tell her. Those who have been following me on Facebook may have seen posts in regards to my sister battling cancer. And if you know anyone that has had cancer and had gone through treatment, you know it takes a toll on your mind and body. I wanted to create this card especially for her. To remind her that she is so brave and she is so beautiful and soooooo very much loved.

Let me show you how I created it...


I Am Roses Supplies Used
Medium Daisy Flowers (I Am Roses)
Green Daisy Leaves (I Am Roses)
Stamen (I Am Roses)

Other Supplies Used
Big Shot (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz  Mixed Media (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz Detailed Butterflies, Mini (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz Bell Jar w/ Pedestal (Sizzix- Retired)
Minty Lace Stack (DCWV)
Distress Oxide Inks- Mustard SeedSpiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Ranger Ink)
White Gel Pen (Sakura)
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Big Chat (Advantus)
110 lb. Kraft Cardstock (Recollections)
110 lb. Black Cardstock (Recollections)
110 lb. White Cardstock (Accent)
Heavy Vellum (Grafix)
Acetate (Grafix)
Clear-drying Liquid Glue
Foam Adhesive

I decided that I wanted this card to be 5"x7". I didn't want it to be just an everyday card. I wanted it to be special, so I went for a bigger more substantial size other than the regular/ ordinary A2 (4.25"x5.5")

I cut a piece of honeycomb-patterned paper to 4 3/4" x6 3/4".

Then, I die-cut one corner using this Tim Holtz Mixed Media die, rotated the paper and die cut the diagonal corner.

Next, I layered a 4 7/8" x 6 7/8" piece of white cardstock and attached it a 5"x 7" (folded, kraft card base). I used my Xyron Mega Runner to attach all the layers together.


 These Curly Flowers and Medium Daisies have been my latest obsession...


So, once my card base was prepped I started to accent and drape it with leaves

I always start from the bottom up. I laid down the Daisy Leaves, then the Tiny Green Roses Leaves.

Then added Medium Daisy Flowers and Yellow Small Curly Flowers.

Then accented with these adorable Achillea Cottage Flowers.


 Look how beautiful it is already!!


To fill in the gap in the center of my card, I die cut a bell jar. The base from kraft cardstock and the lid from vellum and acetate.

I used my Inktense Pencils to add details to the base. Then, backed it with foam adhesive.

I outlined the entire vellum lid using a white gel pen. This added definition to the lid so you can see where the die-cut ends. Otherwise, it's a strain on the eyes and blurs into the background.

To attach my domed lid to my card I ran the vellum die-cut through my Xyron Creative Station Lite. It covers the back of the die-cut with edge-to-edge adhesive and once applied it's virtually invisible. 

You can't see it in the pics but there is also a clear acetate lid die cut too. Once I ran booth lids through my Xyron Creative Station Lite, I applied the acetate over the vellum to give my dome a shiny yet frosted glass effect.


Then, I attached my bell jar onto my card front.

Inside my bell jar, I added a die-cut I made for a previous project that I decided not to use. It turned out to be perfect for this one!

I ran the branch through my Sticker Maker and attached it to the bell jar.


Now, my branch needs a butterfly to perch upon it...

I die- cut butterfly pieces from black and white cardstock using Mini Detailed Butterflies dies. Then inked the background piece with Mustard SeedSpiced MarmaladeRipe Persimmon Distress Oxide Inks.


Finally, I added the words...
 brave, beautiful, you 
from the Big Chat sticker stack to complete my card.


And here is my finished card...



I hope you all enjoyed this tutorial and are inspired to create something beautiful. 

Life is too short... Be kind, spread love & happiness, make memories!! Create beauty wherever and wherever you can!!


Now, I'm off to put this little lovely in the mail...

Thanks for stopping by! 
Mitsyana

Monday, April 20, 2020

I Treasure You... A Paper-pieced Mother's Day Card

Hey, Crafty Friends! 
I'm back again with Team Xyron today to bring you this gorgeous foliage card. I wanted to create something different this Mother's Day that was unique but still beautiful. And with the help of Xyron adhesives, this paper pieced card came together in a cinch! Let me show you how I created it...


Supplies Used
Mega Runner (Xyron)
Big Shot (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz Funky Foliage (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz Stitched Circles (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz Mixed Media #4 (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz 3D Texture Fades Embossing Folder Botanicals (Sizzix)
Tim Holtz Ideaology- Chit Chat (Advantus)
Guillotine Trimmer (Swingline)
110 lb. Kraft Cardstock (Recollections)
110 lb. White Cardstock (Accent)

One of my go-to tricks for quick & easy paper piecing is to add adhesive to the back of my papers BEFORE die-cutting. Not only does it save on time, but it also ensures that the adhesive covers from edge to edge without running over or having excess on the edges.

First, I cut my paper down to 3.75" x 9.24". That way it is narrow enough to fit into my Creative Station Lite. I run it through my machine and trim it with the attached trimmer. Then burnish the backside with a bone folder to ensure maximum adhesion.


Then, I used my Big Shot machine with paved stonework die from Tim Holtz's Mixed Media #4 set. I die-cut one side then flipped the paper and die-cut the other end. Because this die is so intricate, I used the Chrome Precision Plate to make sure it cuts out crisp and complete. 

There are tons of little pieces that were still left sitting in the cut so I took my Die Brush Tool and rolled it across the surface to help quickly get the pieces out.


To create the background behind the paved stone cut out, I cut another piece the exact same size and inked the entire panel in Faded JeansBlueprint Sketch, & Black Soot Distress Oxide inks.

Then applied the paved stone die-cut panel over it. 

This was where adding the adhesive before die-cutting totally was a life-saver. Imagine if I had to apply adhesive onto all those narrow cuts. I would've had a huge mess and a lot of tedious work.

Once my panel was layered together, I attached it onto a #10 sized card base made from Kraft cardstock.


To decorate the card front, I ran more white cardstock through my Creative Station Lite. I used it to die cut mushroom, leaves, and flowers from Tim Holtz's  Funky Foliage die set.

I love die-cutting piece from white cardstock because I don't need to have a huge inventory of colored cardstock on hand, I can just color them using ink pads I have.

It's really amazing what you can do with plain white cardstock!

I die cut a circle using Tim Holtz's Stitched Circle die and created a vignette using all the tiny paper-pieced foliage pieces. and because all the paper is already pre-backed with adhesive, I can just peel and adhere to my circle.


After a while, I felt the circle just floating in the middle of my card needed something to anchor it. So, I cut strips of kraft cardstock, ran them through my Xyron "X" 150 Sticker Maker, and embossed them using the Botanicals 3D embossing folder. 

Then inked the raised pattern with Gathered Twigs Distress Oxide ink and attached it to my card front, then reattached my circle, and created a sentiment using words from The Tim Holtz Chit Chat stack.


And here is my finished card...


I wanted my card to say something more meaningful than a generic "Happy Mother's Day"...

So I pieced together, " I treasure you every day...  forever & always".




This card is full of so much intricate detail... it's amazing how easy the pieces come together when you have the right tools.

 NO MESS, NO STRESS, is definitely a motto have come to live by while crafting with my Xyron machines!!

I hope this tutorial has inspired you to create something beautiful!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time...
HAPPY CRAFTING!!
~Mitsyana 

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Tiny Book & Tiny Book Case Follow-up Tutorial

Hi, Crafty Friends.
If you joined me last week for the Eileen Hull Release party, I'm sure you recognized today's project! And as promised, I am back with the follow-up tutorial to show you how I created these tiny cuties. These are one cut wonders that make assembly and decorating a breeze. Let me show you!!



Supplies Used
Eileen Hull Tiny Book (Sizzix)
Eileen Hull Tiny Book Case (Sizzix)
Big Shot  Machine (Sizzix)
Mat Board (Sizzix)
Jofy 75 Cling Stamp Set ( Paper Artsy)
140 lb Mixed Media Paper
Inktense Pencils (Derwent)
Tim Holtz Phrases 2 Clear Stamps Set (Stamper's Anonymous)
Tim Holtz THMM104 (Stamper's Anonymous)
PITT Artist Pen (Faber-Castell)
White Gel Pen (Sakura)
VersaFine Onyx Black (Tsukineko/ Imagine Crafts)
MISTI (My Sweet Petunia)
Life Changing Blending Brushes (Picket Fence Studios)
2mm Elastic Cording
Heart-Shaped Brad

Using my Big Shot machine, I die cut white Mat Board using Eileen Hull's Tiny Book & Tiny Book Case.

I used my blending brushes to ink on Distress Oxide Inks in Spiced Marmalade & Picked Raspberry.

I used my black Small (S) PITT Artist pen to draw a squiggly frame around the front perimeter of my Tiny Book. Then filled the squiggles with black stripes.

I placed my stencil over my die-cut and stenciled on more of the SAME ink (Picked Raspberry) only in the center of the frame.

Easy-peasy so far, right?! Look how cute it is already!
I could stop there and it would still be cute but I wanted to add some funky florals...

So, I stamped some flowers and leaves from the Jofy 75 stamp set onto mixed paper using the VersaFine Onyx Black ink.

Then I colored my images using my Inktense Pencils and blended the colors out with a water brush pen and cut out all the images by hand.


Before adding my flowers and leaves, I filled the rest of my striped areas with a White Opaque Gel Pen.

I cut the images apart making them short enough to fit onto my book and then attached them to my cover.

Once my flowers were attached, I used my MISTI  to stamp my sentiment onto the cover.


Instead of making inserts for this teeny tiny guy, I opted to fill him with a sweet treat. I found that the Recess Peanut Butter Cup THINS fit perfectly!! 


 Once the Tiny Book was finished I repeated the same steps onto my book case...


Now, both the book and the cover match!!

To close the case, I added clear drying glue along along all the tabs except for the top flap.

Once the glue dried, I took my Die Pick Tool and poked a small hole towards the point of the flap and another hole where the flap meets under the indent on the case.

I used 2mm elastic cording to make a tiny loop on the top cover flap and fastened a heart-shaped brad into the other hole so that when the elastic is looped around the heart it'll stay closed.


When fastening your brad, make sure not to fasten it flush against the matboard. You want to leave a slight gap so the elastic can hook under the brad to fasten.


And here is my finished project...




These colors are so bright and cheerful and are sure to make anyone smile! 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and are inspired to create a TINY bit of cheer too!!

Until Next Time...
HAPPY CRAFTING!!
~Mitsyana