You Are Loved Card

Hello Crafty Friends!! If you follow me regularly, you know that I am an avid cardmaker. In fact, cardmaking is how I got into paper crafting to begin with. 

So, when Xyron said our first project was a cardmaking one, I squealed like a little pig. Seriously.

But I wanted to try a little something different... 

I came up with this three dimensional die cut overlay, layered over foil cardstock.

Supplies Used

Double Sided Cardstock Stack (DCWV)

Peri & Peach Stack (DCWV)

The Foiled Cardstock Stack (DCWV)

Tim Holtz Alterations- Mixed Media Set #2 (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz Distress Inks- Weathered Wood, Walnut (Ranger)

Tim Holtz Ideaology- Word Bands (Advantus Corp)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

1.5" Sticker Maker (Xyron)

Creative Station Lite (Xyron)

Engraver Brads (Prima Marketing)

Engraver Roses (Prima Marketing)

Craft Foam Sheets

Gears- Found Object (Bead Landing)

Clear Liquid Adhesive

Mini Brads (Recollections)

Heart Lock (Michael's)

 I wanted my overlay to look as if it leapt of the card. In order to do that, I need a thicker material to cut out my overlay. Since most thin metal dies don't cut out thick and dense materials, I opted to use a sheet of craft foam. It adds the thickness I'm looking for without the having to cut through a dense material or unnecessary weight.

I started by first running a piece of foam through my Xyron Creative Station Lite. I peeled off the protective layer, flipped it over, and ran it back through my machine again.

Now, I have a very die-cut friendly piece of material that is also self adhesive.

Then, I used very pretty flourish die, from Tim Holtz's Mixed Media dies, to cut out this pretty pattern. You may wanna crank it through a few times to make sure it cut thoroughly through.

I peeled off the protective liner and immediately attached the overlay onto a sheet of blue foil cardstock.

The foil shining through the cutout image catches the light like you would not believe... It's absolutely gorgeous!

 To add even more depth, I used my mini blending tool and applied Distress Ink around the cutout image and along the edges. I started with Weathered Wood and then added Walnut.

Then,  I tied crinkled silk seam binding along the left side of the card. 

I tied the heart charm in place onto the silk ribbon bow.

I used my Xyron Sticker Maker to add adhesive to the back of my gear embellishments, then attached them to my card front.

For the thicker and bulky pieces (like the flower and the sentiment band), to simply adhered them using a clear liquid glue.

And here is my finished card... 

I absolutely love how the blue foil shines through the cutout areas. 

It immediately draws your attention to it.

Well, that's my project for today! 

I hope that it inspires you to create your own foiled dimension die cut overlay!!

Until next time...

Happy Crafting Everyone!!

~Mitsy

Winter Cottage Christmas Ornament

Hello Crafty Friends!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!! And I'm back again with Team Xyron to bring everyone a little bit of holiday cheer with today's project!

Today I will show you how I made this adorable Winter Cottage Christmas Ornament.

Supplies Used

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz-Village Dwelling (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz- Village Winter (Sizzix)

3" Sticker Maker (Xyron)

Happy Day Stack (DCWV)

Christmas Plaid Stack (DCWV)

Chipboard

White Cardstock

Vintage Velvet Holly Leaves (Petaloo)

Tim Holtz- Paper String- Stripes (Advantus)

Tim Holtz Distress Ink- Vintage Photo (Ranger)

VersaMagic- Hint of Pesto (Imagine Crafts/ Tsukineko)

Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Sweeper (Imagine Crafts/ Tsukineko)

Piercing Tool

Scissors

Paper Trimmer

Red Button

White Felt

I started by cutting a 12"x12" woodgrain patterned paper ,from the Happy Day Stack, in half to measure 6"x 12". Then, I cut my chipboard down to the same measurements.

Using the Tim Holtz Village Dwelling Die, I layered the patterned paper (face down) and the chipboard onto the die. I sandwiched them between two clear cutting plates and used ran my it through my Big Shot machine.

I folded the creases on just the Chipboard pieces. I bent the walls into place and used clear adhesive on the small flaps to connect the pieces together to form a house's walls. 

Next, I trimmed off the flaps/ tabs of the patterned pieces and cut along the crease lines to separate the segmented pieces.

I used a sweeper tool and Tim Holtz' Vintage Photo Distress ink to shade the edges.

Once ink was dry, I ran the pieces through my 3" XYron Sticker Maker. Then peeled and applied to the chipboard house.

I also Die cut the roof and porch pieces out of chipboard but opted to use this gorgeous green plaid from the Christmas Plaid stack for the rooftop and door. I die-cut the windows from just plain white cardstock.

Using the Tim Holtz Village Winter die I die-cut all the snow and ice  from white felt. Then ran those through my Xyron Sticker Maker as well.

Helpful tip: Before peeling the protective film off the felt... give it a heavy handed press/ rubdown.

Then, I attached the snow onto the rooftop.

Before attaching the roof top to the cottage, I used my piercing tool to create a small hole atop the roofline. Then, I threaded some brown and white Paper String through the hole and double knotted it. 

Then with more clear liquid adhesive, I attached the roof as well as the porch.

I added a few green velvet holly leaves and a button topped bow and glued them to the top of my cottage.

I diecut the windows and and porch pillars from white cardstock then used more clear liquid adhesive to attach them to little dwelling.

And, here is my finished ornament...

This is just too adorable!!

Below are different angles of the Winter Cottage.

And here is a close up of it hanging in my tree!!

These are not overly big and not teeny tiny either. But because we used light weighted materials it is quite a substantial ornament.

This turned out so CUUUUTTEE!! I LOVE IT!!

Hope you all loved today's project as much as I did!!

Until next time...

HAPPY CHRAFTING!!

~ Mitsy

Bird Crazy Tag Card - Christmas Edition

Happy Hump Day Crafty Friends!! 

Oh my gosh...  It's only about 2-1/2 weeks till Christmas!! Where is the time going??

Today, I have a Christmas card that was inspired by Tim Holtz's 12 tags of Christmas series. I just love his tags and I was so over the moon excited when I heard Team Xyron would be collaborating with him... Eeeeek!! How exciting!! I've always wanted to make a T.H. tag... I'm so glad I finally took the dive and made one!!

Supplies Used

Tim Holtz-Alterations- Bird Talk (Sizzix)

Tim Holtz - Crazy Things (Stampers Anonymous)

Tim Holtz - The Journey (Stampers Anonymous)

Tim Holtz Stamp Stencil - THMM104 (Stampers Anonymous)

Tim Holtz Distress Inks- Brushed Corduroy, Worn Lipstick, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain (Ranger)

Tim Holtz Distress Markers- Mermaid Lagoon, Carved Pumpkin (Ranger)

Tim Holtz Distress Stains- Abandoned Coral, Bundled Sage (Ranger)

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Paper Stash- Collage (Advantus)

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Paper String - Stripes (Advantus)

Tim Holtz Idea-ology - Small Talk - Occasions (Advantus)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

3" Sticker Maker (Xyron)

VersaFine- Onyx Black (Imagine Crafts / Tsukineko)

Classy Reds Cardstock (Core'dinations)

Manilla Tag

Regal Velvet Poinsettias (Petaloo)

Craft foam Burlap

Red Button

 I started by stamping my image, from the Bird Talk stamp set by Sizzix, with an archival black ink. Then traced around my image using Tim Holtz Distress Markers in Mermaid Lagoon (for the body) and Carved Pumpkin (for the beak). I then used a waterbrush to blend out the colors.

I used the coordinating dies to die-cut out the little bird. (these were included in this set).

 I don't have many marker colors, so I improvised by using Distress Stains. I dabbed some color onto an acrylic block to use it as my palette. I used Bundled Sage (for majority of the gift) and Abandoned Coral (for the bow). I also used the Abandoned Coral for the Santa hat.

Then with a water brush I picked up some color and traced around the areas I wanted to color. Then with more water blended that color out.

I didn't have the matching dies for this stamp set so I just fussy cut out both images.

 With a manilla tag, I used a mini blending tool and Distress Inks in Worn Lipstick, Mowed Lawn, and Salty Ocean to create a multicolored background.

 Using Tea Dye Distress Ink, I stenciled alphabets randomly onto my tag. 

Then, I used Vintage Photo and stenciled the harlequin design.

I, then, inked all around the edges of the tag with Walnut Stain.

Using more walnut stain, I used the ticket, clock, and conductors receipt to add another layer to my background. 

Then gave it a quick spritz of water. This part is totally optional. I just like the lightly splattered look onto my background. 

To add all the elements to my card and give it added dimension, I made my own foam adhesive.

I cut a 2"x 4" piece f craft foam and ran it through my 3" Sticker maker. Then trimmed it, flipped it over, and ran it through again.

Then, cut it down to the sizes I needed (making sure to keep the protective backings on while cutting).

I added foam to the back sides of the bird, gift, and Santa hat... as well as the back of my poinsettia.

 I also used my 3" Sticker Maker to add adhesive to the backs of holly leaves.

And attached them onto my tag.

Then added my colored images and flower.

 I used the "wishing you a very merry christmas" sentiment from the Small Talk Occasions book and trimmed it down to fit onto my tag.

I just love this book!! There are terrific sentiments for every occasion in here!!

I topped my tag off by adding a multi-looped  bow made of red and white paper string. I absolute am nuts over this stuff!! I really think this stuff is better than twine! It doesn't fray and because of it's stiffness it's easy to thread through holes!! This is some really awesome stuff!

Now onto the card base...

 I found this newspaper/ book Tim Holtz print paper and trimmed it down to 4"x 5.25" and inked the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.

Then, used my Xyron Mega Runner to add adhesive to the back.

Next, I added more paper string. Wrapped a couple times horizontally and vertically and tucked the ends around back.

 For even more layers and to add texture, I ran a 2"x3" piece of burlap through my Sticker Maker. Peeled it and adhered it to my card mat, which I also attached to a 4-1/4"x 5.5" (A2 ) sized card.

Lastly, with the leftover foam adhesive i made earlier, I attached it to the back of my tag and adhered it to my card front.

And here is a close up of my finished card...

I hope you enjoyed this project for today!!

Here's "wishing you a very merry christmas"!!

~Mitsy