Friday, December 3, 2010

SHAKER CARD TUTORIAL

See it here!  EASY!  I promise!

You will need a sheet of foam, 2 die cuts and a die cut machine.




ALTERNATIVE: If you want to use sparkle or beads, place the U-Cut-It square on the paper first, sprinkle in the filling, then apply your frame.

Supplies:
Adhesive: Glue Arts U Cut It Foam
Paper: Crate Paper Restoration Line (chipboard, stickers, paper)


Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

BOTTLE CAP MAGNETS


I own a Silhouette Die Cut Machine (electronic, cuts from software on the computer).  It's a wonderful invention!  Car Accents is a vinyl made by Glue Arts and comes in all colors!  They are 12x12 sheets, which can be cut to fit into the Silhouette machine.  You can use the "cut piece" as well by placing it on the cutting matte.  This tutorial can be applied to any season or theme, the shapes are endless.  Keep in mind that your shapes should be no larger than 1", so intricate designs may not work that well.

The pictures below are in order of HOW TO.

Supplies:
Glue Arts Car Accents (Blackout)
Glue Arts Extreme Micro Adhesive Squares
Glue Arts Adhesive Squares
Bottle Caps
Magnets
UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) by Ranger Industries
Patterned Paper
1 1/8 inch Hole Punch
Ink (Dark Brown)
Silhouette Die Cut Machine
Halloween Die Cut Files
Tin Foil
Toaster Oven

Instructions:
1. Run Glue Arts Car Accents vinyl through your die cutting machine to cut out 1 inch Halloween images.
2. Punch round patterned paper circles, ink around edges.
3. Adhere paper inside the bottle caps with Glue Arts Extreme Micro Adhesive Squares.
4. Pour UTEE inside each bottle cap, place on plate covered in tin foil, heat set in toaster oven (approximately 5 minutes on broil – watch carefully).
5. Let cool and apply Car Accents Halloween images.
6. Adhere magnets to the back side of the bottle cap with Glue Arts Extreme Adhesive Squares.











HAVE FUN!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Misting and Stamping with Unity Stamps!

Over on Unity Stamp Company's Blog, there is a tutorial that I created using UNITY STAMP CO. stamps and Glimmer Mists.  You can see it here too!

SUPPLIES: 
Stamps:  Free to Be (Birdcage) and She Sprouted Wings (sentiment)
Mists: Glimmer Mists by Tattered Angels (Lime Twist, Turquoise, and Winter Pine)
Inks:  Broken China and Walnut Stain Distress Inks
Paper: Photo Paper (Glossy for Inkjet)
Other: Brayer, Tin Foil, Glimmer Mist Cap, 8.5 x 11 Heavy Paper


Hope you enjoyed the video!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Stamped Fabric Postcard Tutorial

I love working with products that allow me to add color to an otherwise boring piece of white paper, lace or fabric.  Below, I have my VERY FIRST video tutorial (about 3 minutes in length) on stamping on fabric and applying some color with Shimmerz Spritz and Paint.  Hope you like it!  Stay tuned to see how I use it on an upcoming layout....I do have a plan!

Supplies:
Stamp: Unity Stamp Co. (Vintage Postcard)
Mists: Shimmerz (Mud Pie, Eucalyptus)
Paint: Shimmerz Jilted Jade
Other: Cotton Fabric, Black Dye Ink, Paint Brush


Monday, July 5, 2010

LAYERS LAYERS LAYERS!

I created this tutorial for Color Combos Galore, so I'm putting it here too for you all to enjoy, or better yet, come join us for a color challenge and some great tutorials at CCG!

I am consistently inspired by scrapbookers and cardmakers who can lay on the layers, thereby adding incredible amount of details and “hot spots” to look at more closely. Would you like to add more detail to your layouts and create layers of interesting elements? Then read on. It’s not rocket science, but it is finding your “eye” for balance and design.

THE IDEA:
This tutorial is all about the layers, which helps to add detail and dimension to any layout. Just think about it like stacking your supplies, but making sure you can see some elements of each layer.


STEP 1:
Gather your supplies. Start with the base papers and cardstock, and then find scraps of coordinating papers. Gather some ribbons and lace, maybe 2 or 3. Look for matching items like pins and buttons, crystals, and overlays. Then scour your supplies for chipboard, letters, flowers, tools (punches and paper distressing tools), and stickles. You may not use it all in the end, but putting it all together in a pile in front of you will help you through the layering process.

STEP 2:
Now that you have placed all your supplies in front of you, start planning your layout. Create a line across your page that will become your “layer line” and strong focal point.


STEP 3:
Play with your layers, change it up, add, take away, play until you are happy with the level of detail. In the example above, I started with the BASE paper, then played around with the gold overlay, the lace, crystals, and flowers. But I felt it needed something a little more, so I looked for a paper that I could slip underneath somewhere. When in doubt, add a coordinating patterned paper piece. To add dimension, distress the paper, crumple it, mist it, tear it, or punch it.


Here I added some brown paper which I punch with a SCALLOP punch, but didn’t quite like it, so I flipped it over to its blue side for a lighter more airy feel.


STEP 4:
Settle on your layers, think about cohesiveness:
1. …does it look like each element belongs?
2. …do these layers look beautiful together?
3. …is there anything I could add to make it better (think buttons, flowers, title, pins, etc?


STEP 5:
Glue down all your layers and when it is all adhere to the layout, think about adding some stickles here and there for EXTRA detail.

STEP 6:

Complete your layout by adding all other elements and photos.

LAYERING TIPS:

Great supplies for BASE layers are:
• Ribbons (lace and velvet)
• Papers (crumpled, distressed, misted, punched)
• Overlays/Transparencies

Great supplies for TOP layers are:
• Crystals
• Stickles
• Gems
• Chipboard
• Flowers
• Buttons
• Letters
• Pins

The BEST tip is to scour your supply room in advance looking for items in the Color Combos Galore color palette of the week!


A stunning focal point needs detail – so think about layering AT LEAST 5 items.

Have fun creating gorgeous pieces of layered ART!

Lesley

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Altering KRAFT Envelopes - Maya Road

I think I need to buy more of these Maya Road kraft envelopes. They are pretty enough alone, but because I have some background stamps at my disposal and some other distressing supplies, I thought I would create a mini tutorial on altering these envelopes to create a nice FOCAL point for your layouts or cards.

SUPPLIES:
Background Stamp (Unity Stamp Co. Vintage Chic Kit)
Liquid Adhesive
Glitter (Art Glitter Institute – Angel Dust)
Stickles: Cinnamon
Ink: Color Queue (Chocolate & Blueberries)
Kraft Envelope (Maya Road)



STEP 1:
Ink around the edges of the envelope with brown ink.



STEP 2:

Open envelope and stamp script background (Unity Stamp Co) in black ink.



STEP 3:
Apply liquid glue (clear drying) to the top of envelope, kind of like an icicle pattern.



STEP 4:
Apply glitter to the glue (angel dust).  Shake off excess glitter.


STEP 5:
Although the glitter looks white, it will dry clear. Apply Cinnamon Stickles around the white glitter. Let dry.  Apply to layout.



Here is another example of stamping a background text onto the envelope (both the main and flap).  Inked the edges with a darker brown ink, and applied a green acrylic paint.  The flowers add a nice touch (Maya Road), and a Prima Pebble was added for detail.  The date stamp is 7 Gypsies and the flourishes are Basic Grey.


And here is the whole layout.


Here is another envelope treated with paper strips, stamps, ink, a Prima pebble, and paint.


Hope you can go out and buy some of these fabulous envelopes and find new ways to alter them - and then come and tell me!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

CLAY BRADS - Make & Bake!

This is a fun tutorial on making your own FUNKY brads out of FIMO (or similar product).   You can use these on layouts, cards, for the centers of flowers, etc... The possibilities are endless. 

SUPPLIES:
WHITE FIMO/SCULPEY CLAY
ALCOHOL INKS or SMOOCH or ACRYLIC PAINT
SMALL PATTERNED STAMPS (HOUNDSTOOTH)
STAZ-ON
BRADS

Step 1:
Roll clay into 1/2" ball.


Step 2:
Take ball of clay and start covering the large brad.



Step 3:
Cover brad and pinch clay.


Step 4:
Flatten clay on the under side of brad (kind of like a mushroom).


Step 5:
Position brad onto a deeply etched rubber stamp.


Step 6:
Press clay firmly into stamp so that it is flat like a pancake.


Step 7:
Pull up clay gently.


Step 8:
Start molding clay back into a mushroom shape by pressing in the sides, being careful not to touch the pattern (top of the brad).



Step 9:
Bake according to instructions on package.


Step 10:
Colour your brads with alcohol ink (mushroom).


Step 11:
To really make the pattern POP, apply black Staz-on Ink to the raised portion only.


Other ideas:  SMOOCH for color.


Plum Alcohol Ink for colour....


Make lines in the clay with toothpicks....


Make holes in the clay, apply Silver Alcohol Ink for colour....


I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and would love to see your projects!

Lesley Langdon Tutorials

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Variated Petals - Playing with WHITE Flowers!

With the creation of shimmering mists such as GLIMMER MIST or SHIMMERZ SPRITZ, a whole new world has been opened to us in the crafting world.  You can pretty much add colour to anything that will absorb water.

I have been purchasing CREAM or WHITE ribbons, papers, and flowers with misting in mind.

Below, is a QUICK tutorial on getting some nice blended colours onto your WHITE flower.  You can apply this to any colour scheme, provided your mist, ink, and stickles match.

SUPPLIES:
Patina Glimmer Mist
Broken China Distress Ink REFILL Bottle
Aqua Stickles
Prima Flower


Step 1:
Mist your flower with a good 5 prays of mist.

Step 2:
WHILE THE FLOWER IS STILL WET, directly from the dropper of your refill ink, run the dropper along the tops petals. 


Step 3:
Immediately spray the flower again with mist, this will make the flower very wet, and will allow for the ink and mist to blend.  For a lighter blue flower, apply less Broken China ink, perhaps use a fine tip paint brush instead of the dropper.


Step 4:
While still wet, apply Aqua Stickles to the flower petals tops and middles for some shimmer (THIS IS OPTIONAL).


Step 5:
Watch it blend as it dries and use it on a project!


Have fun crafting!