Thursday, January 28, 2021

DIY Dimensional Sticker Embellishemnts

Hello, my crafty friends!!

I have been getting tons of questions on my social media in regards to how I create my 3D embellishments. How do I make my die-cuts look so dimensional? Here is my quick answer... with craft foam and my handy-dandy Xyron Creative Station !!

Today, I will show you how you can create 3D Stickers with the dies you have!! Follow along with me as I use this technique to create this gorgeous Mandala Zendoodle Card!


Supplies Used
Mega Runner (Xyron)
Eileen Hull Mandala Die (Sizzix)
Eileen Hull Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers (Sizzix)
Blending Tool, Mini Ink Blending Tool (Ranger)
Craft Foam
110 lb Black Cardstock
110 lb White Cardstock
Cutterbee Scissors (EK Success)
Paper Trimmer (Swingline)
White Gel Pen
Pencil


I started by making a background for my Mandala... this die is very intricate so I wanted to give it a little bit of heft, ground it, and draw the eye directly to the Mandala and make it the focal point(s).

So, I used the Mandala Die as a stencil and traced around the die with a pencil onto white cardstock.
Then hand cut out the traced image using my scissors.


I blended Distress Oxide inks in Mermaid LagoonWilted Violet, and Picked Raspberry in kind of a "bullseye" pattern, overlapping each color slightly.


Now, here is where the fun and magic begin...

To make my die-cuts 3D, I first run my cardstock through my Creative Station and die-cut it with my Mandala die.


Then, I run my craft foam through my Creative Station and die cut the same Mandala from the foam.


Now, I have a Mandala from both cardstock and foam... and layer the cardstock onto the craft foam!

Then, I adhered that onto the inked background.

I wanted to create a slimline card and decided to distribute the Mandala across the card by cutting it in half.


Then attached the split pieces diagonally across the card front. I could have run my background Mandala through my Creative Station but the thought totally slipped my mind. So, I ended up just running my Xyron Mega Runner across the back instead.

Wow, these really pop off the card!


Even though the die-cuts were absolutely gorgeous "As-Is', I wasn't feeling all the blank space. 
So, I took a white gel pen and Zendoodled throughout the blank spaces...

I hand drew a simple striped border. Then outlined each mandala half and added a scalloped border.


I drew arches that I filled with more arches. And even used a leaf die from Eileen Hull's Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers set as a stencil to add leaves.

Then, I filled in some of my patterns for a bolder look and added little polka dots into the remaining blank spaces.


I made a simple sentiment for my card using word stickers from Tim Holtz's Big Chat stack and inked them using more Distress Oxide Inks in Mermaid Lagoon and Wilted Violet.

I adhere the words onto a 1/4" strip of black cardstock. 


But I didn't want these to be flat and wanted them to be dimensional too, so I added - you got it- more craft foam behind the words to make them pop up!


And here is my finished card...




Look at how much dimension there is! I angled my card for better viewing...


And even though this card is pretty thick it does not weigh very much. Using craft foam doesn't just make it dimensional, it also makes the die-cut embellishments very lightweight too!


I hope you liked this technique!! For more inspiration, here are a few other cards I created using this same technique using Craft Foam in my Creative Station...








As you can see, this technique is a real game-changer that can transform your cards from flat and boring to dimensional and STUNNING!!

That's it for today!! Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon!!

Until then...
    HAPPY CRAFTING!!
~Mitsyana





 

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Just Because Card- I am Roses

 Hey, Crafty Friends! I'm back with the I am Roses Team again to bring you more card inspiration using their gorgeous paper flowers!

You don't have to wait for a special occasion to create something extravagant and "wow".

Adding I Am Roses to everyday projects like this can instantly turn your card from "Awwww" to "WHOA"!

Let me how I created this stunner! It was so quick and easy!


Supplies Used

I Am Roses Products

Other Products
Love Collection- Gray Gingham Paper (Kingston Crafts)
110 lb Black Cardstock (Recollection)
110 lb Gray Cardstock(Recollection)
Mega Runner  (Xyron)
Glitter Vellum
Stars (Buttons Galore)

I started with a sheet of 110 lb black cardstock and ran it through my Xyron Creative Station.

Once it had adhesive to the back, with the protective film still attached, I die cut my framed leaves background die through my Sizzix Big Shot Foldaway. I cut out two pieces.

Then, I peeled off the protective film and attached the two die cuts together and then onto a 4"x 5 1/4" piece of white and gray gingham paper. Then attached it onto a gray A2 sized (4 1/2"x 5 1/2"- folded) card base using my Xyron Mega Runner.


Using My Xyron Glue Gun Pen I attached a Red Sweet Moon Rose at the top center of my card front.

I twisted a pair of White Spring Cottage Flowers and Red Lillies together. I glue each pair to each side of the Moon Rose.


Then, I tucked in a White w/ Red Achellia Flowers into each side of those.

I cut a 1" x 4 1/2" strip of vellum, laid it across the bottom of my card, and tucked and adhered the sides around the back. 

I die cut the words "just because", which also came with my background dies, from more black cardstock and attached it onto the vellum strip.

I attached little star embellishments by turning my mega runner roller faced-up and placing the stars on the sticky dot matrix of the adhesive tape. Then peeling them off and then peeling them off and attaching them to the front of my card.


And here is the finished card...


Those red flowers really pop!!




Wow! I really love how it turned out!!

I hope you enjoyed today's quick tutorial and that it inspires you to create today!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon!

Until then...
HAPPY CRAFTING!!
~Mitsyana




Friday, January 15, 2021

Heartfelt Thoughts Card- I Am Roses January Challenge

Hey, Crafty Friends!! 
It's that time again... It is January 15th, it's time for the first I Am Roses Blog Challenge of 2021!!

If you are unfamiliar with the IAR Blog Challenge,  Every month, on the 15th, there is a new Blog Challenge. Create a project using I Am Roses products and link your project to their blog by the end of the month and winners will be chosen to win some amazing prizes. I recommend you head on over to their blog to check it out!! There you will see inspiration from the I Am Roses Design Team and what other creators such as yourself are making.

For more info or to participate and link your project, go to the I am Roses Challenge Blog.

Here is what I created for this month's Challenge...


Supplies Used

I Am Roses Products


Other Products
Silk Lace Frame (Sharon Callis)
Butterfly Flourish Stamp (Deep Red Cling Stamps)
Patterned Paper  (Kingston Crafts)
Tim Holtz Big Chat Stack (Avantus)
110 lb. White Cardstock (Accent)
Corrugated Cardstock (DCWV)
Versafine- Onyx Black Ink (Imagine Crafts/ Tsukineko)
Clean Color Real Brush Pen- No. 050 Yellow, 070 Orange, 020 Red (Zig/ Kuretake)

I stamped my image with Versafine ink on a frame I cut from 110 lb white cardstock. I stamped the same image again on more white cardstock and colored both of the images using my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens in Yellow, Orange, and Red.   

Then I cut out the butterfly from the second image by hand with scissors and layered it onto the butterfly. I added glue just to the butterfly's body and lightly bent up the wings.                          


For my card base, I used more 110 lb cardstock to create a 5"x7" card. I attached a 4 3/4"x 6 3/4" piece of yellow gingham paper from the Kingston Crafts' Patterned Paper stack onto the card base using my Xyron Mega Runner. Then topped it with 2 - 1/2" strips of corrugated cardstock. 

I backed my frame with foam adhesive and mounted it onto the corrugated strips.


Now, here's where I bring in all my gorgeous I Am Roses flowers...

I almost always start from the bottom layers and work on up. First, I added my Holly Leaves. Next, I added the Yellow Peony. Then, I placed a pair of White Gardenias on each side of the peony and tucked in cascading tiny Yellow Rosebuds.

In the diagonal corner I added another Holly Leaf,  White GardeniaYellow Rosebud, and added a Yellow Curly Rose.

Then finally added the words heartfelt thoughts from the Tim Holtz Big Chat stack.


And here is my finished card...






These flowers are absolutely beautiful! They seriously make every project STUNNING!!

I hope you enjoyed today's project and are inspired to create something beautiful of your own!

Don't forget to head on over to the I am Roses Challenge Blog for more inspiration 
OR
To enter and link up your projects!!

Thanks for stopping by and 
HAPPY CRAFTING!!
~Mitsyana








 

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Thankful For Your Friendship

Hello, Crafty Friends! Happy New Year!! I'm back with the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team today and the theme for the month of January is CARDS!! 

I created this beautiful card using Eileen Hull's Mandala and Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers dies from her new Sizzix Chapter One Releases. Keep reading to find out how I created this card.


Supplies Used
Eileen Hull- Mandala Die (Sizzix)
Eileen Hull- Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers (Sizzix)
Eileen Hull- Floral Arch & Words (Sizzix)
Mega Runner (Xyron)
Glue Sticks
Corrugated Cardstock (DCWV)
110 lb White Card stock (Recollections)
65 lb Green Cardstock (Recollections)
110 lb Black Cardstock (Recollections)
Red Cardstock (DCWV)
Pink Cardstock (Kingston Crafts)
Floral Paper (Crafter's Companion)
Tim Holtz- Big Chat Stack (Advantus)
Paper Trimmer
Cutterbee Scissors (EK Success)

If you've been following me for a while, you know I love a good slimline card. Slimline cards have risen in popularity and if you ask me... it's about darn time!! I've always liked the crafting real estate of the slimline. So much more play space than the average A2 sized greeting card and ships for the same price!

For the base of my card, I used 110 lb white cardstock. I cut my paper to 8"x 9". Then folded it in half to create a 4"x 9" card.


For texture and interest, I used a 3-3/4" x 8-3/4" piece of corrugated cardstock as a background. 
I took strips of pink cardstock and lined the edges of a 3-3/4" x 6" of this pretty floral paper. Then mounted it onto the corrugated cardstock using my Xyron Mega Runner.


I wanted the Mandala to immediately catch the eye so I used a bold green cardstock that complimented my patterned paper. 

Because the Mandala Die is so intricate, I thought it would be best/ easiest (and less messy) if I ran the green cardstock through my Xyron Creative Station first before die-cutting it with Big Shot Foldaway. Doing this made my die-cut a giant sticker.

Then, I peeled the protective film off and applied it to another sheet of "greenish" looking cardstock- a scrap piece I had on hand, and hand-cut it out with Cutterbee Scissors


I used my Mega Runner to add adhesive to the back of the mandala and attached it to the center of my card front and trimmed off any overhanging excess. 

Then attached the card front onto the card base.


I used the flower dies from Eileen Hull's  Folio Page, Pocket & Flowers and the leafy arch from the Floral Arch & Words

I cut a total of 6 red flowers, 3 light green centers, 9 black starry flowers (not shown) for the stamens, and 6 leafy arches.


For the stamen flower centers, I grouped 3 black starry flowers, added a dollop of hot glue to each using my Xyron Hot Glue Pen Mini, then stacked them onto each other- stagger their petal in between each other.

For the flowers themselves, I used 2 red flowers each. I misted each flower with water, crumpled them, then spread them back out. Then I zapped them with my heat tool to dry the flowers and stiffen them.

Once they were fully dry I glued the two flowers together and added the light green center and topped them with the stamens.


I grouped my flowers together and hot glued them onto the card front. Then added several premade leaves and the die-cut leafy arches.


Then, finally, created a sentiment using sticker words from the Tim Holtz- Big Chat Stack.


And here is my finished card...





I love the combination of the bold flowers against the soft flowery background paper. And the texture of the corrugated cardstock and the 3-dimensional flowers gives it a nice pop as well without going overboard that your eyes don't know where to look first.

I hope you enjoyed today's card and that inspires you to create something beautiful!

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you visit again soon!!

Until then...
      HAPPY CRAFTING!!
~Mitsyana