Goodbye Card

A male co-worker recently took a new job.  As he is a big "Route 66" fan and I happened to have a Route 66 SVG file,

I volunteered to make his going away card.  Patterned designer paper and black cardstock made up the base of the card.  The seam between the two types of papers was hidden with black and white chevron washi tape.  The sign was cut and lifted up from the card with foam dots.  I printed the sentiment using a computer program and trimmed the strip to a banner.  Simple but he loved it!

Entered into the Following Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--Vacation/Travel

Rhedd and Rosies--#33 No Flowers/Nothing Floral

Die Cuttin Divas--#167 For the Boys

Top Tip Tuesday--Monochrome

Father's Day Card For A Golfer

This fortnight's challenge over at Creative Cutting Challenge is "Father's Day Cards".  I used a new file, Golf Set

to put together this colorful card for my own dad.  I cut the golf cart out from red, black and white cardstock and then went to work adding details.

I used the Martha Stewart score board to add "tread" to the tires.  I used a Sharpie marker to color the roof supports black.  With my Distress Markers I shaded and highlighted all the elements of the cart.  I hand wrote "DAD" on the plaque and added a coat of Glossy Accents for dimension.  Once done, I mounted it on to textured blue cardstock and then placed on the colorful dotted base.

If you use electronic cutting files, I hope you'll join in the Challenge!

LWD Tuesday Tool Review: Ranger - Tim Holtz - Distress Marker Spritzer Tool

Welcome to another Tuesday Tool Review!  Today I'm featuring a brand new product, the Tim Holtz Distress Marker Spritzer Tool.  And yes, it works well with Distress Markers, but it also works great with other types of markers as well, as shown in my sample tags above.

Starting from the left, the first tag was done with blue and yellow Distress Markers.  Once I got the marker in the holder properly (see more on that below), I spritzed the background and then used a fine stencil to add a blue pattern on top.  As you can see, My background spritzes were a little blotchy.  I was too close to the tag while spritzing.  The tool did a fine job getting into all the small stencil openings.

I had the same blotchy problem with the background of the next tag which I chalk up to learning to use the tool properly.  On this tag I used American Crafts Metallic Markers and they also worked great, giving the tag a lovely sheen..  I used a wider zig zag border and again was very pleased with the results. 

Next I brought out my Stampin' Up markers and created the middle right tag.  This time I had gotten the hang of keeping the spritzer tool the right distance from the tag.  I used a heart overlay and was able to add more ink right where I wanted it.

Finally on the last tag I brought out the Sharpie markers and really liked the intense color I was able to achieve.  I did get a little heavy handed in places (see close up below) but over all was very pleased with how it turned out.  I'm thinking that this would be fun to try out either on white ceramic, to be baked on permanently, or on fabric.  An upcoming project for sure!

Here are some tips for using the Distress Marker Tool direct from Tim himself:

• You can use any marker with a felt tip.
• Marker must sit on flat area of spritzer.  Tip of marker must go past the air hole.

• Aim the spritzer (not the marker) where you want the ink to go.
• Use quick bursts of air.  Closer=more intense.  Farther=lighter speckles.

To see Tim using the tool, check out his Video.

I hoped you enjoyed this Tool Review!  You can find the Tim Holtz Distress Marker Spritzer Tool and much more for your crafting projects at 25% Off MSRP at Lone Wolf Designs, LLC.  All you have to do is join the LWD Discount Retail Sales Facebook group.  If you haven't joined us yet, you're paying too much for your craft supplies!

Social Media Links

If you prefer, you can follow what goes on with this blog by following The Creative Pointe on Pinterest.

You'll find everything featured on the blog, in easy to use categories.  There are over 1,000 pins on these boards:  Projects, Card Inspiration, Multi-Media Inspiration, SVGs for Electronic Cutters, Vinyl Inspiration, Paper Inspiration, Valentine Inspiration, Scrapbook Inspiration, Home Dec Inspiration, Tag Inspiration, Painting Inspiration, Halloween Inspiration, 4th of July Inspiration, Christmas Inspiration, Easter Inspiration, Thanksgiving Inspiration, Paper Mache Inspiration, Wedding Inspiration, Graduation Inspiration, Baby Inspiration and St. Patrick's Day Inspiration.

Plus you'll see all the Design Team inspiration from the Creative Cutting Challenge blog.  You'll get ideas not only on how to create with my SVG files, but you'll get lots of ideas to use no matter your cutting process.

I'd also encourage you to become a Facebook follower. 

 On The Creative Pointe's FB page,  I usually share free creative things I find on the internet.  Sometimes something fun or funny, what's new in the store and lots more.  A great place to ask questions, get product info or just share something you like.

Red and Black Graduation Card

For the latest "Creative Cutting Challenge" I created this bold graduation card made from combining two SVG files to create the center sentiment:

2014 Graduation Day Heading 

Graduation Set Two 

Everything was cut on black, white and red cardstock and layered over the black striped paper square.  The flowery background paper is a departure from the usual graduation style, which I thought made it funky and fun...definitely not stuffy!  Something perfect for a young lady who is taking a non-traditional path after she gets her diploma.

If you use an electronic cutter, I hope you'll join in the "Graduation" Challenge and show us your SVG creations! Just click Here for information.

LWD: Design Team Showcase: Ranger - Gloss Paper Embossing

It's spring and I'm back with another Lone Wolf Designs Design Team Showcase!  Today I'm going to show you an easy artistic way to create beautiful wings for all your spring "things with wings" projects.   While the main item I'm going to use is Ranger's Gloss Paper, keep scrolling down for a look at the project I created using some of the wings I made.

I love Gloss Paper for many different projects but one of the easiest ways to use it is for a stamped resisted technique.  I used two sets of wing stamps (Hot Off The Press-Flights of Fancy) and a Distress Embossing Pad to stamp my images on the Gloss Paper.  Then I sprinkled on clear and black embossing powder and heated with my heat tool.  

 

I'm going to show you two ways to color your wings.  The most vibrant color is produced when you use alcohol inks.  I simply thin the ink with blending solution and apply the color with an old paint brush.  Start with your lightest color of ink, working towards the darkest.  You can't see it too well but on the dragonfly wings in the picture below, I added Pearl Mixative over the bottom blue wing, and Gold Mixative over the middle yellow wing.  These mixatives added a lovely shimmer to the wings...perfect for a dragonfly!

The other, more subtle, way I colored the wings on the Gloss Paper was with the water based Distress Markers.  Just scribble a little bit on your craft sheet and pick up the ink with the water brush.  It creates a nice soft look which you can control depending on how much water you mix with the ink.  The marker color beads up on the embossing.  Use a paper towel to blot it off, keeping the stamped image very crisp and clean.

Once you are happy with the coloring on your wings, cut them out and use them in your next project. 

 I decided to make a multi-media piece to use one of my wings on.  As I didn't want something large that would take a lot of time, I dug through my wood surfaces and found this little heart ornament.

 For the background of the piece, I used Multi-Medium to attach a piece of Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap, crunching up the paper to make wrinkles around the heart.  I also cut out extra words and glued them on here and there, taking some care to place them where they would be seen after I added all the elements.

 Once the tissue paper was dry, I used a craft knife and cut away the extra tissue.  Then I applied various colors of Distress Ink on the surface using an ink blending tool..  Now I was ready to add my decorative elements.

 I chose one of my UTEE created frozen charlottes (see how I did them in this POST) and grunged her up with Distress Inks.  Then I glued the wings and the charlotte onto the heart with Glossy Accents.  Once dry, I added the crown charm, lifting it off the heart with a wooden bead; both also attached with GA.  I wrapped wire around her middle (attaching the heart charm) and around her feet.  The sentiment came from Cosmo Cricket (Tiny Text).

I used more wire for the hanger.  The round wooden bead was covered with tissue paper and inked the same way as the heart.

And there you have it...a little work of multi-media art using the wonderful wings I easily created with Gloss Paper.  There are so many other things that you can do with this paper, alcohol inks and Distress Markers.  Get some and experiment!  You can find all the materials I linked in this project, plus many other supplies for your crafting projects, at 25% Off MSRP at Lone Wolf Designs, LLC.  All you have to do is join the LWD Discount Retail Sales Facebook group.  If you haven't joined us yet, you're paying too much for your craft supplies!  

Entered Into the Following Challenges:

It's All About the Vintage--Anything Goes

A Sprinkle of Imagination--Anything Goes

That Craft Place--Anything Goes

Frilly and Funkie--Words, Words, Words

Rhedd's Creative Spirit--May/Anything Goes

Patchwork Birthday Card

I love using my embossing folders and this is a great way to do that!  I was inspired by this  Pinterest card.  To get even squares, I used a punch.  The ovals were also punched.  So easy!!

Entered Into the Following Challenge:

Rhedd and Rosies--#32 All About Texture

Purple and Pearls Mother's Day Card

Less than a week left until Mother's Day.  If you still need to put a card together, there is nothing easier than using my newest SVG "Mom Card Front" file which you can purchase HERE.

For my card, I cut the file from green and purple cardstock and shadowed the edges with Distress Markers.  The front was layered over designer paper (purple floral pattern) that I swiped Pearl Adirondack acrylic paint all over first.  I applied Glossy Accents to the top and bottom words to add even more dimension.  Pearls were added and the whole piece was attached to a purple card base.

Entered into the following Challenges:

Cut It Up--#44 Mother's Day

UnstampaBelles--#35 A Special Person  

(my Mom who instilled my love of crafting from a very young age)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--Anything Goes

The Squirrel and the Fox--#69 Mother's Day

My Sheri Crafts--#132 In Celebration of Moms

Cuttin and Stampin Challenge--Mother's Day, No Flowers