Friday, April 15, 2016

Decorated Nautical Frames

Before I start with today´s project I would like to tell, that I'm very sorry that I had to remove some of your projects from our first challenge. Namely some linked projects didn't use only CottageCutz dies (which is the only restriction our Challenge has). You are more than welcome to participate at our challenge, but please, use only CottageCutz dies and not any other dies. Thank you. You still have time to participate till the end of the month. Your project can be linked at the end of this post.

We all collect many photos from our vacations and what do you think about custom frames for such photos? Or to frame the quotes you like. I will show you how to change two ordinary wooden frames into these two:




Supplies:

Two wooden frames for photos size of 4 x 6 inches
Cardstock: White Cardstock for die cuts
CottageCutz Dies: Listed Below
Distress Ink: Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, Weathere Wood, Rusty Hinge, Fossilized Amber, Hickory Smoked 
Embossing Powder: gold and Distress Vintage Photo, white and grey watercolor paint from a tube or white acrylic paint
Other: Scissors, Paper trimmer, Sizzix machine, VersaMark stamp pad



1. Let's start with first frame. Color the surface with brush and white paint first. Let it dry.


2. Now color the surface gently with grey paint. Apply small amount of color on your brush and be gentle by applying the color otherwise grey will totally cover the white paint.


3. Take the second frame and Gathered Twigs or any other brown distress ink or dye ink ink pad. Apply the color directly with the ink pad on the frame as shown on the photo.


4. With the Anchor and  Maps and Spyglass die cut the Anchor, Map and Spyglass out with some white cardstock. 
5. Apply Versamark stamp pad on the whole surface of the Anchor and  Spyglass die cut pieces and embossed all these pieces with gold embossing powder.



6. Apply Versamark stamp pad, but this time just on some spots:



7. Now embossed all pieces again with Distress Vintage Photo embossing powder.


8. You will get rusted look, because after powder will melt, it will mix up with golden powder.


9. Now cut out all other pieces out of white cardstock. I used following dies: Lantern, Crab and Paddles and Rope Ladder. Rope was colored gently with Weathered Wood distress ink. All orange pieces were colored with Rusty Hinge and Fossilized Amber distress ink. Pedals were colored red and the Lantern were colored with Hickory Smoke and Brushed Corduroy distress ink. Also map was partly colored with Brushed Corduroy and partly with blue distress ink

10. Glue all pieces on both frames.


Now all you have to do is to design some quotes in Word and print them or frame photo from your vacation.

I hope this inspires you to decorate your own frame which you don't like or you just want to give them special look.

Have fun creating!

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Best Wishes

Hello everyone,

It's Donna here with with another card to share with you.  The floral leaves are a new release for April which is called Leafy Swirls.  I just love them, there are so many possibilities for these. The flower is a large 3D flower.  This flower can also be made in many different ways.  I finished off the card with the Best Wishes sentiment.  My card can be for a wedding, graduation or someone leaving for a new job.


Here is a closer look at the flower....


 Here is how I made my card:
  • Card Base: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4" to make an A2 card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")
  • The black layer is 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
  • The woodgrain pattern paper is 4" x 2 1/4" and the floral is 4" x 2 1/4" 
  • I added the ribbon and flower and 
  • finished my card by adding some clear drops.

Here is how I put the flower together:

The flower has 6 pieces, and measures 2.2W x 2.2H.  I die cut them out with paper.


After the flowers are die cut and inked, I used my bone folder to curl the edges to get the fibers lose.


After the flowers are curled, I started to assemble the flower.  I used a small brad to hold the flowers.  I started putting the smallest pedal on first and then go to the largest.


Here is the finished flower.  I used a wink of stella clear to add some shimmer to the flower.


This is it for today, I hope I have inspired you to try out some of the 3D flowers.  Also, did you know that we are having a challenge for our fans and followers to display the cards you have made with CottageCutz dies? There are prizes to be won as well.Click here for all the details.  I hope you will join in on the fun!

Here are the dies I used:










Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Happy Mother's Day


Hello Scrapping Cottage Fans! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with us. It's Mary Marsh here bringing you the Wednesday edition of the Blog.  Today, I am giving you a sneak peak of some new brand new dies that will be coming to the shop later this week.

I have been asked how I start my cards or where I get the ideas for my layout. It's always a bit different for me. Sometimes I have the card layout in mind and I just start creating. And, then sometimes I have a particular theme in mind.

Today, my card started with my layout. There are many places on the web that provide card sketches. I used a sketch from Splitcoaststampers. So let's get started with the card details.

Card Base:  8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4" to make an A2 card (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")
Patterned Paper:  4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
Large Rectangle Layer:  5" x 2" and white layer is 4 7/8" x 1 7/8"
Small Rectangle Layer:  3 3/4" x 2 1/4" and white layer is 3 5/8" x 2 1/8"
Green Background Panels: 1" x 4 1/8" and embossed with a flower pattern.

My Card Layout

After I decided on this sketch, I chose my patterned paper and that helped me decide on my card colors. Since the paper colors are a deep raspberry and olive green color, I stayed with that palette for my die cut flowers and leaves.

The flowers and leaves are the sneak peek I mentioned to you at the beginning of the post. The flowers are the "doodle flower set 1". They come with a background die and also the doodle flower die. Aren't they just the cutest little things?

I cut the background in the deep raspberry shade and decided to use some patterned paper to create a bit of contrast. I used dimensional adhesive and attached them to my card. To attach the doodle part of the flower I used multi-matte medium. It's a strong adhesive like glossy accents but it dries clear.



The leaves are also a new set of dies and come with a background and pattern die. They are the new leaves & stems dies.  I cut them in olive green and then a celery green shade. If you look close, you will see that on one set of the leaves I used light and then dark for the top layer. I just switched it around on the other set of leaves for interest.

I used the Mushrooms & Flowers die for the 2 small flowers on the card. I cut those in the deep raspberry shade and used the same patterned paper for the flower centers.

Since I used flowers, I decided to make it a Mother's Day card. We will be celebrating on Sunday, May 8 here in the U.S. I stamped my sentiment, added a couple of enamel dots in the raspberry color and I added a flag cut in the deep raspberry shade to complete my card.

 
 
Well friends, that's it for me for today. Hope you enjoyed the little peek I gave of the upcoming release. Also, did you know that we are having a challenge for our fans and followers to display the cards you have made with CottageCutz dies? There are prizes to be won as well. Click here for all the details and the linky to submit your entry.   So until next time......inky hugs!
 
http://www.scrappingcottage.com/cottagecutzdoodleflowersset1.aspx

http://www.scrappingcottage.com/cottagecutzleavesandstems.aspx
 
 
http://www.scrappingcottage.com/search.aspx?find=mushrooms+%26+flowers
 
 

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Ship's porthole

Hi, Janja here!

Today I share with you another card made with the CottageCutz nautical dies.
Let's see how it is made.


For the card you need:
  • card base in brown color: 11.4 x 5.7" (29 x 14,5 cm), folded in half
  • white cardstock: 5.3 x 5.3" (13,5 x 13,5 cm)
  • wooden sheet
  • scraps of white and colored cardstock
  • transparent PVC foil
  • embossing folder
  • Distress inks: Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Wild Honey
  • white pigment ink pad
  • white chalk paint, brush
  • gold and copper metallic paste
  • paper cutter
From wooden sheet we cut out 10 strips. They should be 5.1" (13 cm) long and 0.5" (1,2 cm) wide.
Paste them on a sheet of paper and cut it to size 4.9 x 4.9" (12,5 x 12,5 cm). I advise you to use glue and not double-sided tape. 
The whole area is shaded with the Distress ink Vintage Photo and a white pigment ink pad.
Finally it's painted with a white chalky paint.
When the color is still wet, pull with the finger on some places. This will remove color. Little smearing, but at the end, you will be satisfied with the shabby appearance of the wood. 


Now let's start with porthole.


Prepare the cardstock cutouts. For the glass piece use PVC foil. I can't advise you which one is preferred. I always use the thicker one. 


Use embossing folder for pattern on the foil. 


Coat other cutouts with gold and copper metallic paste and glue them together with the foil.
 

The fence consists of two CottageCutz dies. Pillars and the rope around them are from the pelican die. Pillars are also cut out of a wooden sheet. 
For the rope between the pillars, use the rope corner die.
 
Seagull flew to the one of the pillars, while we stuck an anchor to another one. The inscription Happy Birthday is glued to the wooden background.
And don't forget on our April challenge - anything goes. You have time to share your projects with us till the end of the month. 
Two lucky winners will get the nice awards.
 
List of dies used:







I hope that you enjoy my company.

Janja