Versamark Watercoloring Tutorial

The PaperCraft Planet community has DOUBLED in size since I posted about the candy (not taking the credit for that, of course LOL!) I am excited to see so many familiar and new faces popping up over there! I had soem time to play around with the site over the weekend and have discovered lots of features aI really like and we have groups set up now for all your fave companies, be sure to enroll in those, too! (I'd love to have you add a friend request over there for me also when you join so we can be all networked together!) And, very important, make sure to leave a comment on the post below to be entered for the candy so you get as many entries as possible/as you've earned, tons of people have signed up I know that read about it here but haven't entered the candy! I'd love to have you add a friend request over there for me when you join so we can be all networked together!

Want to make it look like you "freehand" your watercolored images, no stamping? Stamp your image(this is that "frothy" bloom in "A Year of Flowers") in Versamark on Watercolor paper, you will be able to see a slight outline. Fill in and shade as you normally would your image, here I used the Peerless watercolors, working outward toward the tips in quick strokes, and I was thrilled to see how the color is absorbed the tiniest bit by the Versamark, see how it picks up some tiny detailed veins in the leaves and petals, as if I drew that in with a green marker? (I didn't!)

This first card shows it mounted on two layers of Chocolate Chip. Clean and simple.
The next card shows how I wanted to experiment with my new CB Bird call folder. After embossing the paper, I simply traced over these beautiful leaves of grass in quick strokes with my brush in Light Green. Isn't that gorgeous how the texture of the paper picks up those light and dark areas?? (BTW, I am lovin the look of just the grass so much, I will do this again and just add a greeting!)
Now here is my focal point mounted on top. Again, so fresh looking! I wanted to try one last thing, and that was to add a pop of color around the flowers with my Brilliant yellow by making an outline around the flowers, then working outward on my mat leaving a band to "box up" the image. Again, a very different look, both appeal to me in different ways.
Try this technique for yourself and have fun playing with the color. If you do, please let me know I'd love to see what you do! Have a great day!

PS Sneak peeks start a week from tomorrow for our next release!!! It's a big one (7 sets plus must have stampin' shtuff!!!), and FABULOUS at that!!

Reindeer Games: Fun with Punches

I couldn't help noticing the large flourish looks like a loopy antler (to me anyway!) so I came up with a simple reindeer you can make with punches you are likely to have.

Punch two flourishes for your antlers, and a designer label for the face trimming off one end with a curve. Snip two petals off a flower punch for ears, add some self adhesive rhinestones for eyes and nose (which is colored with a red Copic) and you're done! You could of course draw your own details but I like this simple bling! ;)

I framed him up in an embossed Nestie rectangle and added "Happy Holidays" from the "Magic of Christmas" there were a number of greetings I could have out here but the scale of this one worked the best for my layout. I stamped it in Basic Brown to balance out my dark brown antlers. Everything is adhered with Dot'n'Roller. This is such a fun look, easy to mass produce, and would be a great way to get your kids involved in the production line! I'll be back with how you can add this face to a homemade box to make a gift or treat holder...

(Now that I'm looking at it again, it's kinda also looking like I mounted Rudolph's poor head on the wall! What do you think, too "trophy-looking"...? If you feel you must add a body, have fun seeing what you have to create a little tummy and legs, hee hee! The part that everyone is going to notice anyway is that fabulous rack!!!)

Feathered Friend*

The inspiration for today's project was this terrific tee from Target, I wanted to make a special matching card to go with it! (Hey, I have owl stamps!)

I really like those little feathers in the design that spell out "Trick or Treat", and saw how easily I could add a few rows to my card with my SU! large oval punch. You will need 8 punched ovals for this card: 4 Pumpkin Pie, 4 Old Olive. Cut your ovals in half, you can save time and cut through three or four with your rockin Tim Holz Scissors.
Now ruin a strip of Dot n Roller across your Chocolate Chip base. Begin in the middle with one feather and work outward so the edges will be even and you don't have a whole feather on one end and skinny feather on the other. Add more adhesive and two more rows, centering each new feather in between two below it. Layer them low enough to cover little gaps in between. The great thing about this adhesive it rubs easily off if you have extra, but I just covered mine with 5/8" Chocolate grosgrain(which makes it look extra purty and covers the bgaps in my top row), the adhesive also held my ribbon in place!
Last I added my "Owl Always Love You" owls, colored with Koh-i-Noors and cut with a circle Nestie. I kept my shading simple since the shirt was so graphic looking.
I just love the texture this adds, and it looks like a lot more work than it was, doesn't it? You'll see I left room at the bottom for my greeting, stamped in Basic Brown, and used a corner rounder on my base. I am popping these in the mail for a special someone who surprised me last week with some fun mail! Hope she likes them! Have a great weekend!!

*I, unlike some, chose NOT to use "Hooters" in the title to boost my ratings! ;) just kidding, you know who!!! :) (love you, Carolyn!!)

Special Delivery!

Brighten someone's day (and their desk) with this sweet little flower pot shaped card!

I wanted the flowers coming off the top of my card, but I needed a flat spot across the top for folding, so I cut this CS down to 10 inches and scored at 5" and folded. This gives my a half inch at the top to attach another sunflower. Stamp some flowers in a bunch on the top half of the front, masking and adding leaves as needed, and stamp one part way of the edge to cover with your cut bloom.
Now draw a simple pot to the bottom edge( or make it fancy, or make it simpler and just draw a stright line if you want! Remember you'll be cutting it out, so if you don't like your first effort, you can try again, going inside those first line you made, they'll get cut off! For best results, use pencil :) Fold card, and cut through both layers around the flowers and pot.
Color the front and stamp, then color (I used the Peerless watercolors again) and cut more blossoms to layer onto the card with dimensionals. See top pic for finished card! (Sorry I didn't do more step-by-step coloring pics on this one, I was kind of in a hurry, (and it wasn't my best work!) but it still turned out pretty cute, I think.) :)

Our land cruise party is tonight 7-10 PM CST (aw, heck we might be partying even later!), hope you'll join us for fun and a special one day only coupon code when shopping at Gina K Designs!!

Have a glorious day! (if you have time, send someone flowers!) ;)

PS Mel does it again, go check out today's EMROIDERED daisy!!! (Tomorrow, to-die-for ornaments from Theresa!!)

Cracked Glass Ornament

Here's another ornament card with Gina K's "Warm & Cozy Christmas", I just can't stop making balls with these little kiddos, so I changed this design up by using a cracked glass technique that looks like so many of those fancy ornament finishes you see...


Stamp, color (I kept it really simple here, just a few colors), and cut out your image. Rub your Versamark pad all over the mat, then cover with Glassy Glaze or other Ultra Thick Embossing Powder and heat (it has super huge flakes, and I did a couple coats, too, to make it extra thick.) This pic shows before heating. After heating, you'll have a nice, smooth glossy finish (you can stop there if you're going for that look.)Then throw it in the freezer. Come back after awhile and give it a little bend. Is it cracking? It's ready, crack away 'til you like the look, can't crack no more, bend different directions to get those lines going every which way. If it's not cracking, put it back in the freezer. Here's a closeup to show the cracks. Cool, huh? It's a fun technique...
I also added some sateen flowers (one colored with a Red Cadmium Copic layered on a plain one) and made a little loop of Pure Luxury silver cord which I threaded though my hanger I made from punching a 1/2" circle, then a 3/4" circle around that, and glued to my round tab and threading water punch out. Yummy red ribbon is from the Pure Luxury Hoilday collection. Background is Cuttlebugged with the Snowflake folder.

I'm ready for some bundle-me-up weather (it was 92 here the other day) how 'bout you??

Magic of Snowflakes: Perfect Pattern

Today a wintery white and (brocade) blue card using Rupa Shevde's "Magic of Christmas". Aren't these the most gorgeous, delicate snowflake stamps you've ever seen?

I love the symmetry of snowflakes and enjoy making my own designer paper with them, here I used the three largest flakes in the set. To do this, place them in a geometrical shape like a triangle with their tips pointing to each other, I packed mine as closely as possible onto the block. Now stamp (starting in the middle of the page), move up, and stamp again, keeping the spacing the same, shown below. (I also stamped below my middle group)
Next, you'll move to the left or right and fill in your pattern, shifting down one row so that the top flake on your block is next to a stamped row of TWO and the bottom two flakes are now next to the single one. Here is my finished A2 base, I love it so much I amost don't want to cover it!
Here you can see one of my favorite things about unmounted stamps. Arranging several images on the block, just so, then inking and stamping once!! I popped up my focal point on dimensionals and added self adhesive rhinestones to just the center of each, the perfect little something for these flakes, isn't that easy and elegant? I added a couple ribbon wraps from the Gina K Pure Luxury Holiday Assortment, selecting this transparent one to keep the card from looking to heavy as well as to allow my snowflake print to peek through the center strip like a frosted window.

I have another monochromatic card I made with set, even simpler than this, but I am SO excited about how it turned out (DH even commented on it!), just need to write up the post. It uses a set of Nestabilities (you may or may not have) in a unique way, so be on the lookout for it!

Have a happy Monday, thanks for stopping by!!!

Faux Carved and Gilded Jewelry Box Tutorial

I am as excited about this project as anything I have ever made! To see it in real life it looks like I carved the Cuttlebug "Leafy Branch" into the top by hand (but it's a white piece of watercolor paper, colored and wet and dry embossed!)
You need:

"A Year of Flowers"
Gold Embossing Powder and heat gun
Versamark
Peerless Watercolors (I love, LOVE these!!)
Holiday Metallic rub on paste
Gold brads
Sponge
Fancy Corner Punch (I ADORE this new punch!!)
Cardstock (Here SU! Old Olive, Brushed Gold, watercolor paper 5" X 7")
Cuttlebug Leafy Branch Folder (I seriously flipped out when I first saw this folder and knew my flower stamps would be coming out shortly after: oh, the possibilities!!)
Wooden box (this milk-washed box measures 6" x 8" ) These are SO inexpensive at craft stores!
Optional: wooden medallion(or chipboard), Large Flourish Punch for monogram

1. Rub all edges of the box and its feet with the gold Metallic Rub on paste, using your pointer finger. It's okay to have it more smeary in some places, looks shabby chic!
2. Stamp roses at random in Versamark on your white or vanilla CS or paper and emboss with gold EP. Paint with Peerless Watercolors and a brush or Aquapainter. I used the Flesh Tint, Geranium Pink, and Brilliant Yellow sheets from the Peerless book, doing a light wash over the whole flower, then adding darker areas to the petals, see this post. (I am lovin that flesh tint with the pink, it looks so delicate!)
3. Run the paper through your CB with the Leafy Branch folder. You'll have to do one half, then move the folder to do the other to get the whole sheet covered with branches. (This was an experiment, I wasn't sure if it would "break up" my gold embossed images when I ran it through...it didn't!!! :)
4. Watercolor the embossed leaves and branches with the Peerless Light Green and Dark Green pages, just tracing over the embossed parts with your brush. (I 'd never tried hand coloring the embossed CB areas either before, but it works like a dream!!)
5. Time to distress the page and darken that background! I sponged on Close to Cocoa and So Saffron all over making sure I got down into those little niches, and getting it darker around the edges, lighter in the middle of the page.
6. Highlight the embossed leaves and branches and the flat background around them with more rub on paste, then smear the edges as you did the box. Rub more gold on your Old Olive mat.

7. Punch out 4 fancy corners (you'll have four left over for another project since this is a double punch), and poke a hole into each corner. Insert your brad. Slide them into the corners of your embossed CS, then adhere the whole thing to the green mat. Glue (I used Mono Multi) to the top of the box.
8. Emboss your letter onto the Medallion (here PT Trajan) with Versamark and gold EP, rub gold paste around edges and adhere to on top of 2 punched flourishes. Adhere all to side of lid.
It now has a special place in my room! (They match the flowers in the vase, which match the flowers on my duvet...) Wouldn't these be amazing (and inexpensive!) Christmas gifts? I swear it took less time to complete than lots of cards I make LOL!! (Did you know you can add your own little music box element to it, too? I've seen them in a few shops around town... A box like this could also be a keepsake box for cards and photos) :)

I just realized I've shown roses three days in a row, oops! (Can you tell I like roses?) OK, no roses tomorrow, I promise! Have a great day!

Peerless Coloring, Hidden Flowers & Challenges Galore

Today I'm going to share a little about the Peerless Watercolors (to see the 15 colors included, click here!). I am certainly no expert, but I am very happy with the results I'm getting and love how easy they are to use. I will try to provide step by step samples on how to shade of the flowers in my new set (and over time, you'll probably see each one in every color here!) there are better people to learn from than I, and the coloring can be more realistic or painterly depending on the effect you want to achieve, but because of the layering of some of the petals, regardless of where the light source is, you will find that some places shadows are consistently needed between each sample you see, from designer to designer.

Above you can see two roses I stamped onto watercolor paper. Watercolor paper gives such a different look, but I have also been thrilled with how these blend on plain white CS. The top one is complete, using "Japonica Red"(becomes more pink as it fades). The bottom one I have gone over with just one drop of the concentrated pigment from the the "Royal Crimson"sheet (becomes more orange as it fades), by "licking" my pen to the corner to pick up the color and spreading it all across the rose for my lightest shade. (I'm using an Aquapainter here, but I have the Niji waterbrush on order and I can't wait to try it out!) TIP: To make a rose that is less full blown than my illustration, omit the outer 4 petals. Now you can make a garden of roses in various states of blossoming with the one image! :) Now I'm going back in with the same color to darken a few areas (petals that are further back, the undersides, and places where meet, you can also blend the two different reds in the book) Below is the same photograph with a few lines I added and numbers to show what I'm doing. Area "1" is a deep fold, you can also see there are some lines in my image to add a shadow to the illustrations, concentrate your color to these areas. The white lines show when I'm adding a shadow under a petal, I just follow the line (in "3", see how it follows the curves?) , and then blend. "4" shows a deep crevice between the petals: go over that line where they meet, then pull color out toward the edge of each petal. As you come to the edge, have the shape of the darker area match the outer edge, like "2". The lines you see at the tips of each of the petals are the tiny separations you get in the petal, as the "veins" in the flowers move outward. Pull your color in strokes towards each of these lines (I didn't number that sorry but see the middle part of the flower on the bottom?(labeled "4" above it)


Here is my completed card after I cut out each rose, and mounted on dimensionals. I made this for Beate's Weekend Sketch WSC60, SCS Limited Supply Challenge LSC 188 (no ribbon or embellishments), and Ways to Use it Challenge WT186 (quotes, this one from Say it With Flowers) The Cameo Coral and Sage Shadow layers are Cuttlebugged with the Leafy Branch folder. Quote and base are Shimmery White. I am thrilled with how well the two roses and layout go with with saying.

One last thing to share today about these colors, the pigments side looks much darker than it is, the backside shows a more true color for your reference, I'm folding it back here to show the "Royal Crimson"(that looks so dark in my first pic). I really like the description they give you, what types of things to use It for, and other colors in the book you can blend it with to achieve new colors. There is also a gray in the back that can be added to any of the colors to deepen them or create perfect shadows, which I will show another day. Again, I can't stress how deep and vibrant these colors are when you first pick them up on your brush (which gives you a HUGE range of colors as you dilute it!), so you'll want to have a plastic surface to mix or dab off the color or a piece of scratch paper to brush it off when you need to tone it down (or if you have watercolor paper just keep pulling the area out until it fades to the desired shade) At only 12.95, peerless watercolors are a must have!! (IMHO)

In the comments section, please let me know which flowers you would like to see shaded, in which colors, or what questions you have on coloring or tips you'd like to add from your experience, I'd love to hear! I've only had lessons in public school, eons ago, but now I would really like to take a watercoloring classes to take my technique to the next level. Rare advice from my DH, who went to architecture school (and almost never has feedback on my cards): the beauty of watercoloring is not exact (I'm paraphrasing!) and you don't have to stay in the lines or color in every portion of your drawing. I'll be back sharing my attempts at this more "painterly" approach as well... have a great weekend!!!

Get ready for FLOWERS!!

The flowers are HERE (along with our other fabulous Gina K new releases), check 'em out! (Oh, our party last night did not disappoint and our In the Spotlight designers Cathy and Lee really helped make the night a smashing success!) My October Guest designer Theresa Momber was included in our sneak peeks yesterday, and will have more exciting projects here and on her blog in the weeks to come! And now this morning, here's a gorgeous peek from my friend Debbie Olson if you haven't swung by her blog yet! I've lined up more surprises and sneak peeks, too(think "DIRTY"!) so expect to see a few more guest "floral designers" here and there throughout the month! And contests for YOU, too, so get that set trimmed as soon as it arrives, because you'll want to play virtual florist as well! ;)Here is a card I made to match this fun pen! Have you ever made these before? (Very simple, place the stem of your silk flower next to a ballpoint and wrap both with green floral tape.) A lovely little gift to put in a tiny flower pot or jar (this really completes the illusion) to brighten up someone's desk!
As promised, this card shows how to use one of the flowers I already die cut with my scalloped Circle Nestie (shown in this post) and quickly snipped with scissors to separate some of the petals. Easy!
I used my peerless watercolors to color it and mounted it with a glue dot into the center of this Scalloped medallion, created by nesting two Scallop dies together before embossing (a trick I learned from Alli Miles, (I think mine is , um, an innie?!) but she shows how to do it here using the classic circle dies) I love this look, the scalloped ripples that surround it almost look like it's floating in a pond...I added some Crystal Lacquer to the center, like it's filled with morning dew.
Doesn't the daisy stamp make a terrific "happy happy!" background just stamped with Pumpkin Pie? (This is an easy way to create a matching mat that will accentuate your one colored bloom) The scallop pattern just repeats itself again and again, I love it! I decided to keep this card clean and simple, but if you prefer to add a bit of the color to the background flowers simple pull some of that colored inked out from the center with your waterbrush out onto the petal for a soft and sweet look. (I just love how with "A Year of Flowers" you can make a card to match the flowers you are giving or to match your floral gift wrap (or make gift wrap!) Last I added "you're in my thoughts" from the "Say It with Flowers" companion set, to the corner, this is a perfect greeting to stamp on cards to save for the future because it could work for anything from a birthday to a "thank you"...

I just want to say THANK YOU for all the support and enthusiasm these stamps have already received, it is an absolute joy to share another side of "me" and my work with you, and I was thrilled reading each and every comment* on Gina's post yesterday seeing new names and "old fans" alike excited about the sets! I have other sets planned in this style I know you will love, but please know you can still expect my goofy silly side in more future sets (for everyone who likes that half LOL!) ! My goal as a designer is to bring every stamper something that will appeal to their own personal style, with my own spin... I'm workin' on it! ;)

Gotta run, I need to give my DS some extra lovin' because I have been so busy with the release this past week, but I also wanted to make sure you know that tomorrow, Saturday October 4th is World Card Making Day! Clean off your stamping space and get ready to make some Christmas cards because Gina K is going to be doing a giveaway with prizes that will blow your mind, everyone will want to participate! Details soon to follow!

HUGS!

* one that stood out was from Jacki Jones who said: "I'm hyperventilating...I love the flowers!" Oh, Jacki, I know that feeling , so glad we could take your breath away, hee hee!

DIY Pumpkin Patch Tutorial

Super easy home-made jack-o-lanterns using "Spooky Silhouettes"!!

1. Create oval cut-outs(or circles, but I like using the oval shape both vertically and horizontally) from orange CS (Pumpkin Pie here) with your Nestabilities in different sizes. I was able to run all three dies through at once on the same sheet (odd numbers make the most "pleasing" groupings) No Nesties? Free-hand cut some wonky pumpkins on your own, lumpy pumpkins are fun, too!

2.Stamp your silhouettes on the pumpkins in black ink.

3. Draw some arced "ridges" (parallel to the oval's edge) with a marker or colored pencil (orange Koh-i-Noor) Optional: Lightly go over the whole pumpkin with just the side of your pencil's tip to give it a bit more texture (click on pic).

4. Sponge the edges, concentrating mostly at the bottom, with a deeper orange (Really Rust) or brown ink to create depth and shadows.

5. Free hand trim some chunky stems and punch out some Large Flourishes from green DP or CS (Basic Grey Ambrosia, one of the solid distressed colors) for the pumpkin tops and tendrils and adhere.

6. Pop your pumpkins onto card with dimensionals!

I used the D'Vine Swirls CB folder for my black background and ran my card front through my paper crimper to mimic the pumpkin ridges, swiping my Pumpkin Pie pad over the ridges. I also could have made some scores with my Scor-Pal, but I don't use my crimper often enough!! SU! Hodgepodge frames the "Boo!" greeting.


These pumpkins can be attached to a multitude of Halloween projects, candles, candies, treat bags, etc! If you make some of you own pumpkin projects with this, please let me know here so I can come check them out! :)


TRIVIA: I won third place ($25 GC) one year for a pumpkin carving contest at my husband's office Halloween party after we were first married. I spent 6 hours creating an "Austin Powers" pumpkin with Mike Meyers and his funky teeth carved on one side and "Yeah, baby!" with a bunch of groovy flowers on the back. Trust me, it was shagadelic. (I'm told I didn't get first because they thought I must have used a store-bought pattern... but I didn't!!) Wish I could find the pic...


Here's fun link , appropriately titled Wack-O-Lanterns to get you in the mood before you start "carving"!

Sporty Packaging and Tag

Jonathan got invited to a fun "Olympic" themed party over the weekend for his classmate, who just turned 7. I've stamped a lot of gift wrap in my time, but I've never made anything that even came close to how boyish this turned out to be! :)
It was very simple to do, I've had a roll of plain white paper for years I can pull out any time to create a wrap in the colors and style I need, but haven't had a lot of "cool boy" options before my "Just So Sporty" set. I stamped the jersey and "All Star birthday" in different angles in black all over my paper. I chose three primary colored markers and colored in just the collars and stripes, it went really fast! Last I added the "07" (for his) age in the corresponding color on each jersey, plus stars in the same color on the background. In though it turned out so cute (uh, I mean, cool! LOL!
If you've never made shaped gift tags using stamped images, they are a snap! Stamp your image on the right side of your CS (Garden Green here). Now line up a straight edge of your image (like the edge of the sleeve or across the shoulder) with a track in the Scor-Pal and score along it.
Fold on the score and cut though both layers along the the edge of the stamped image.
Here's what it looks like inside.
And it stands up! (These would be fun as little personalized place cards at a party) I added "07 BIRTHDAY" from the set and colored in the stripes with my white Koh-i-Noor Pencil. A glue dot is all you need to adhere it to the package firmly, but still makes it easy to pull off if the recipient wants to save the card. A little shaped jersey like this is a fun thing for a child to keep on their shelf :)

Any fun, terrifically creative "Just So Sporty" projects you'd like to share? Please link it below!! I love this one of Lee's, check it out!! Ooh, another, this referee shirt from Theresa, complete with striping tuorial, too clever!!

Tomorrow: another sporty project by Pamela!!

Faux Football

I woke up in the middle night with some inspiration for the Dirty Challenge yesterday to make a single layer card, but upon completion, I realized I hadn't done any masking (one of the requirements) so I couldn't use it. Oh well, I like how it turned out!! A tutorial with just one pic and just a few easy steps, it is very straightforward!

1. Punch 8 holes down the side of your scored and folded CS.*

2. Stamp your "logo" in black, here I used three stamps from "Just So Sporty".

3. Draw a curvy "three-humped" line to the right of your holes in black, then pierce along the line for faux stitching. (Here's a football to look at, or just copy my card!) :)

4. Run your CS through your Cuttlebug using the Tiny Bubbles folder.

5. Sponge on brown ink to to shade the sides and make the pattern pop.

6. Make a slit at the top left to thread your white grosgrain (or twill or shoelace if you have it) through. Start at the top, go down under the bottom edge with your ribbon and then pull around the left side to go through first hole at the bottom, repeating up until the ball is completely laced. Attach the end of the ribbon inside with a glue dot.

7. Round of the top and bottom right of the card by trimming with your scissors.

That's it! (Does it bug you that you don't see the entire football shape? I debated on whether to make the whole thing and then decide I like this kind of close up, "snapshot" of a football.) Down, set, HIKE!



Another shaped card coming up, (I've been getting lots of requests for it!) with a tutorial and template! Please check back! Now I'm off to check Carolyn's blog for the mother of all blog candy deets!!

*I really want a Big Bite, but I was able to pull this off with my regular Cropodile, and actually I didn't even have to mark where I was going to put my holes. If you slide it all the way into punch(which is right about where I wanted it, hee!) all the holes will line up. You need 8 for a "regulation football" (wink) so make a hole in the center. Now make one close to either end. Now punch two holes between each. 8 relatively even spaced holes!!(okay, some of you may prefer just to get out your eyelet template!) :)

PS A teensy prayer request, not huge deal, but a little worrisome: I am having some severe joint pain and stiffness in my right pointer finger(the drawing hand!!) I haven't done anything to strain it but in the morning I had pain and stiffness in it like I jammed it (but I didn't), and it has gotten progressively worse, now the whole finger as the day has passed. I've been trying to finish up a future release this past week (which I have been putting off because of migraines) and now I have this little stumbling block. I often think about how important my hands are to me, but at the same time I think how my passion for what I do is bigger than an injury or the loss of my dexterity and if somethign happens to my right, I'll just have to learn to draw with my left (although I'd definitely miss some releases, I can barely write my name with that hand LOL!), and if something happens to my left, I'll have to put the pen in my mouth (like Joni Erickson Tada) or in my left foot (like Christy Brown!)! I'm sure it will all work out, but I have noticed the past few winters I have some trouble at times holding my blocks to stamp, I have poor circulation and my mother has fibromyalgia so it's been on my mind...anyway, thanks for reading.

Haunted Tealight Tutorial

This was frightfully simple to make, "Spooky Silhouettes" indeed! I posted this project during our release party and there was enough interest to create a special tutorial to share with you...

For this project you need:
black CS and ink
vellum (paper, not CS)
Scor-Pal
SU! Tag punch
Fiskars Threading Water Punch
Mono-Multi
tealight candle
scary BOLD stamps! (see link above) :)
Score your 3" x 8 1/2" piece of CS at 2, 4, 6, and 8 inches. Cut off 1/4" of the smallest section at the end.
Punch out a tag from scratch paper and use a bit of adhesive to stick it in the center of each scored section (about 3/8" up, leaving more room at the top for you to punch off the scalloped edge). Insert the CS into your punch with it face up, lining it up with the punched tag and punch. Repeat on each section until you have four windows.
Use the threading water punch across the larger top edge to make a scalloped top (like a castle?) Decorative scissors work too, but the holes from this punch in each scallop add so much more interest and allow light to peep through. Sorry so blurry, but see how there's green showing through on either side of the punch, it shows exactly where to line up your holes, perfect every time!

Stamp the four bold images from "Spooky Silhouettes" onto your vellum paper and trim so that the image will be centered in each window. Make sure you leave them bigger than the window so you have room to adhere them. Check each image behind the window to see how you would like to frame them instead of just centering, they are a little taller than the punch and you may want the top (scarecrow's head) or bottom of the image (fire under the cauldron) to show and not mind the other part being underneath.Stamp the four bold images from "Spooky Silhouettes" onto your vellum paper and trim so that the image will be centered in each window. make sure you leave them bigger than the window so you have room to adhere them. Draw a little strip of Mono-Multi around each window on one side and add your stamped vellum vignettes. This will be the inside.
Now fold all scored lines and attach the end strip to the other side with more Mono-Multi or Scor-Tape. I love how unlit the vellum looks just like frosted glass.

Add your tealight inside and carefully light. Isn't that crazy how much it looks like the sun's rising or setting behind those fabulous images? Spoooooooooooooooky!!! Crawl under covers and eat candy corn while you tell ghost stories and watch the light flicker and dance! (Don't be afraid, they're only stamps) :)

How'd you like this Scor-Pal project?? Today is the last day to enter a comment for chance to win a Scor-Pal WITH a Scor-Mat, please leave a comment here. Enter TWICE today if you can also provide an order number from our latest Gina K Designs release you placed any time since Friday night! :) Be sure to check back tomorrow for the winner and a new Scor-Pal project, this time a card using Just So Sporty!

IMPORTANT: Never leave a burning candle unattended and supervise children with this project!!!