Warm & Cozy Inspiration

Happy Tuesday! This morning in Central Washington (state) it's a chilly 40 degrees with little sun and a LOT of breeze! It's the kind of day that makes me want to light some candles, put on a cozy sweater and do some serious crafting. Unfortunately, life is in my way...but looking at some coziness makes me confident I'll be able to grab an hour later to make some cards.




1. "A habit is something you can do without thinking - which is why most of us have so many of them. " ~Frank A. Clark, 2. Japanese Maple in the Fall, 3. Red yarn_r 1:366, 4. Art quilt, 5. Spiced Plum Chutney, 6. candied orange, 7. It's A Little Late for Thanksgiving Table Settings..., 8. pumpkin pie in the making, 9. The Rococo Shawl - Hand Knit Wool & Llama Shawl

What's inspiring you today?

Getting Ready Challenge

Hello again. Jenn and I will be hosting the SC blog this week and since I'm trying really hard to have a really nice holiday season, read low to no stress, I am starting to prepare some things. One thing I always toy with this time of year is making my own cards. I say toy with because my husband always convinces me that I don't want to spend all that time. He's always right, but I still continue to toy with the idea every year. And since I'm preplanning, I am starting to think about cards. That's where I need your help. Do you make your own cards? How many do you make? Is it feasible to actually make 130? We've got a large list because we've lived in 5 areas in our married life and have left friends in each place.

I thought it would be fun to have the challenge this week be helpful to me :) I want some easy HOLIDAY card ideas. So the challenge is make a card, and only one entry per person, so choose wisely. Post the card to the SC gallery and link it to the challenge thread. You have until Saturday night, whatever time that ends for you to link your card up. I'll do the drawing Sunday morning, 8 A.M. MST.

Speaking of fast and easy cards, I happened upon our own Gluestick's blog and she'd posted a card that she did for the challenge blog Get Sketchy. Lisa had made a cute card with their sketch using the new Home Front line. I'm not typically a sketch person, but I had decided to make some cards for a friend's birthday. I remembered how cute Lisa's card was, so I printed off the sketch and went to town. I'm now a sketch convert. I used a scrap pack, crocheted flowers, and some button flowers I got from bananafishstudios on etsy. She's on a small break due to a move, but she promised to be back mid November. Anyway, I made these three cards and had a delightful time doing it. So thank you Glue, Get Sketchy, and BananaFishStudios!




I thought this could easily transfer into a holiday card, I'll post mine on Wednesday.

Layout of the Week

The layout of the week is brought to you by Kimmithy.
Each week, the layout in the gallery is linked, so you can add it to your favorites easily.



This layout has been added to your favorites more than any other layout in the SC community gallery for the week of 11/1-11/7.

Congratulations Kimmithy! Because of this you have won a $10 gift card to be used on any new purchase at Studio Calico.

Want a chance to win next week? Be sure to upload your projects to the SC gallery, and support your community by adding special projects that catch your eye into your favorites! It could be YOU next week!

Please note, winners are not allowed to win more than once in a four-week period.
Winners are not limited to those using Studio Calico kits.

tutorial : a twist on handcut titles

When I saw the cover image for the book Paper : Tear Fold Rip Crease Cut, I was captivated. I'd seen other paper art using images cut out of a sheet of paper like this and had been toying with how to apply it to a layout, and this was my answer. I set out to use the idea of a title cut out of the paper but still attached.



At first, I wanted to do the title directly out of the background paper, but as I experimented with it, I had trouble getting it lined up exactly how I wanted it. After playing a bit, I decided to cut the title from a block of patterned paper, and then back it with a contrasting color. Having the letters standing at a 90 degree angle from the background was completely impractical, so I settled on folding the letters back over towards the page and attaching them with popdots. Here's some photos from a few different angles so you can get a better idea of the finished product :




And now, here's how you do it. =)



Start by drawing a baseline on my piece of paper, and then handwrite your title with plenty of room between the letters. You'll want to draw lightly - I've done it darker so that it shows well in the photos.



The next step is to make your letters into bubble letters. Channel your junior high self. ;) All that doodling in class wasn't for nothing!!



Take your craft knife (I used the Fiskars fingertip craft knife, but I'm linking you to the MS one in the store - I've heard good things about it as well!) and cut out your letters. DO NOT cut the letters where the meet the baseline - you need to leave that attached. Go slow - you've only got one shot at this. =) Once you've cut them out, carefully fold the letters towards you.



Draw a second baseline, 1/4in below the original. Extend each of your letters down to that baseline.



Carefully cut down to the second baseline and fold the letters up.



Now you'll need to erase all of the pencil lines - the baselines and outlines of the letters. Fold the letters back along the first crease that you made, and then add foam adhesive to each letter to help hold them in place. You can add a contrasting color behind it, for a dramatic look, or layer it over paper that's the same color for a more subtle effect.

If you give this technique a try, please link me up - I'd love to see what you do!!

Are you looking for Studio Calico stamps from the past? - THE STAMPS HAVE HOMES, THANK YOU!

All 5 stamps have new homes. Thank you for your interest!
__________________________________________________________________
I've been fortunate to have been part of the Studio Calico family since 2007. Because of that, I have every stamp that has been created as part of my collection, and they are treasured pieces to be sure.

I've also been fortunate to get my work picked up in Scrapbook Trends magazine. As you know, ST pays in goodie boxes, something I look forward to getting every time an issue comes out with my name in it.

One thing that can be found occasionally in these goodie boxes are Studio Calico stamps. I have accumulated several of these stamps, and feel bad keeping them buttoned up in their packaging. They need a new home.

I have 5 stamps to share with you today. If they interest you, please email me at cooperdees (at) yahoo (dot) com and let me know which one you'd like, and I'll gladly put one in the mail to you (Sorry girls, US only please). First come, first served. If you are interested in more than one please list them in order of preference and if I've already given one away, I'll go to the next on your list if I can.

I believe this first one is from the Via Airmail kit, July 2008. It was in an add-on, I think. This stamp is very versatile and would work great for cards too.


This is next one is a two stamp set from November 2008's Fountain Square main kit.


These next two are from December 2008's kit, Center Stage. I'm not sure if these were part of the kit or an add-on, or if they were available separately. These would be great for upcoming winter layouts or Christmas cards too!



This last one is the main kit stamp from the Bibliography kit, January 2009's kit.


Enjoy the rest of your Saturday! I look forward to a couple of emails, lol.

Davinie

Sketch Inspiration

Good Friday afternoon to ya! As the first week in November come to a close I have a couple of layouts to share inspired by Celine sketch challenge on Monday.

I decided to use bits from the October kit, Yearbook, for my layout.




I really liked the OA Report Card paper with the Cosmo Cricket Boyfriend line. This is Morgan and her adorable Kindergarten teacher. In the envelope I am tucking the letter she wrote to the kids/parents at the beginning of the year.

The beautiful thing about sketches is that they are pieces of art inspiration that can be interpreted many ways. With Celine's sketch I also decided to create a card. This time I used the current kit, Marketplace.



Lisa also had a chance to do a layout for this sketch, and this is what she came up with:





And this is what she had to say about her layout:

I masked off the right side of my page and sprayed my background cardstock with cream mist, and then removed the mask and sprayed the page with orange mist. I used mainly the October kit, Yearbook, but added some crocheted flowers from Pixie Petals for some extra texture.

I hope you have a chance to play along with the challenge! Remember, you have until Saturday night at midnight PST to play along! That's a $5 gift certificate that you can save for the Home Front line! Wouldn't that be lovely?


Davinie

Get dirty with Distress inks!

Dear readers,

I hope you guys have been busy scrapping and waiting for your next Studio Calico box to arrive! :D
You guys are going to LOOOOVE the November kit! :)

Ok so today I thought I would show you one of my favorite products : the Distress Inks from Ranger. Those are amazing! You easily use them as regular ink but also blend it with water and make great stuff with it!

Here's a little how-to to get started with those inks, and, as you might have noticed before, you'll find in the SC shop all of my favorite color inks ;p

First of all, now that you can definitely work with the Distress Inks without embossing your stamps first, simply foloow these steps but avoid the stmaping/embossing process ;)

What I like to do when I work on some tags is to choose my favorite stamp at the moment (obviously, this SC hot air ballon is my fave at the mo'), stamp it onto a tag with Versamark ink and emboss it with CLEAR embossing power (personnally, the ZING one from American Crafts is just the best). Then emboss your design with a heat gun.


Rub one (or two) distress ink on a craft sheet & spray water over the ink.


Dip your embossed tag onto the ink.


It will look like highly pigmented water color (which is the reason why I SO love the distress inks!).


Put your tag over and over again into the ink and don't forget to use heat gun every now and then to make the ink dry, then put it back into the ink.


Here, on this tag, I used some blue distress ink at the end, just here and there.


I love how my embossed stamp has an aged and distressed look too! :)

And here's my layout! :)


Take care everyone! :) See you on the Studio Calico website!
Céline

Home Front Sneak #5

I think this is the final piece of the new release you've been waiting for. THE PAPERS!!!!

I think we analyzed every detail of these to the nth degree, but for good reason. YOU are special customers and you are going to be using these to preserve your memories and beautiful artwork, so they could be nothing less than the best.

Odds & Ends
Conversation Piece
Dollhouse
Floor Plan
Darling
Blown Fuse


Again, if you want these products, they will be available at online stores and brick-and-mortars only for the next 2 months. In January, they will be available on the Studio Calico site for purchase.

If you are a retailer and wish to set up a wholesale account with us, please email info@studiocalico.com and we will reply within 24 hours. Thanks!

Home Front Sneak #4

I know a few of you are FabRip lovers out there.
You know how to rip.
You know how to make 'em look awesome on a layout.

Here's where I need your help. Please talk to your local stores and tell them why they need these. Get on your knees and beg if you have to. You have my permission ;)

Not to make you jealous or anything, but I've already used that woodgrain one on a layout.

I'll be back tomorrow with ALL the paper images. Just you wait!

Colors INSPIRE you!

hello everyone!
Today I would like to invite you to be inspired by COLOR :)
I'm a color lover, I mainly scrapbook color photos as my heart hurts to turn them into b&w but oh well...
I used this week this color scheme :

and here's what I did :

The painted background was made using glimmer mists and maya mists. Simply use a piece of white cardstock to protect your desk, spray over your chipboards or whatever you wanna spray on and keep the white sheet as a gorgeous and colorful patterned paper :)

Take care!

Céline