Blog hop:

Hi readers! Thanks for checking out our blog today! We’re so happy to have the wonderful and talented Wanda Guess back as a guest on the blog today using some exclusive products to showcase our new Bokeh stencils. Enjoy!

I have been wanting to use these cool Bokeh Lights Stencils since they came out! What a great idea! They come in a set of three, so you can make cool light effects on your backgrounds. I’ve prepared a fun card with a tutorial to show you my way of using the stencils to prepare a background for a clean and simple card. The possibilities are endless – so many color combinations you could try!

First I started with a sheet of watercolor paper. I got the entire paper wet with my paintbrush and clean water. Then I prepared a ‘palette’ of Distress Inks on a stamping block for my color. This is a good trick – use your Distress Inks as watercolors. I picked up the color with a wet paintbrush and put it on my already damp watercolor paper. Just let the colors run together.

After my color was all done, I dried my piece with my heat tool and then cut it out with a nice crisp Stitched Rectangle Die. Now the fun part – the Bokeh! I used a white pigment ink and a small sponge dauber. I ended up using all three of the Bokeh stencils. When you do this, make sure to have some of your circles more solid than other ones.

You can see that in my close up photo. Really, just have fun with this. No two will ever come out alike! I stamped my sentiment with black Staz-on Ink onto a strip of vellum. I put my sentiment on vellum because I wanted the color to shine through. At the end, I finished with a pretty purple card base and some sequins and bling. I hope you’ll try this fun technique!

SUPPLIES:

Hi readers! Happy Sunday! Please join me in welcoming back the awesome Paula Cheney back as a guest on our blog! She’s gathered up some of her favorite Tim Holtz goodies to create a fun little mini book that could be altered for a multitude of occasions!

Enjoy!

Hi everyone, glad to be here again at Simon sharing a project! Today I have created a little book that has the potential for many variations from color to paper. What’s unique is the simple spine that makes adding the envelope pages really easy. Follow along and I’ll show you how I did it.

1. Cut a piece of Grungepaper 4 1/4 x 7” for the cover of the book. This material is sturdy yet flexible, which will allow me to use multiple wet mediums and then sew right through it. The perfect material for a cover!
2. Use Multi Medium to cover both sides of Grungepaper with Postal Tissue Wrap. This will create a nice pattern over the Grungepaper.
3. Paint a thin coat of Media White Gesso over the Tissue Wrap. If the Gesso becomes too opaque to see the print, remove excess Gesso with wet wipe. Let dry.
4. Use the dabber top to add Distress Paint Stormy Sky, Fossilized Amber, Festive Berries over the Tissue Wrap cover (shake before use). NOTE: It may look a bit bright but most of the paint will be wiped away in the next step.
5. Using a flat brush and then a wet wipe, blend the paint until you have a you have muted color over the entire cover. The inside of the cover will be painted Stormy Sky.
6. Cut at least three pieces of Ranger Manila Cardstock 3 3/8 x 2”. Fold each piece in half lengthwise and score.
7. Measure 3” from the left side of cover. Using a wide stitch on the sewing machine, sew the first of three 2” strips of cardstock.

8. Add the second cardstock strip next first and so on. Each strip sewn into the book will allow you to add two envelopes, so plan accordingly (3 strips = 6 envelopes).
9. Using the Sizzix Alterations Envelope Die, cut six envelopes from Correspondence Paper Stash. NOTE: The Envelope die is part of the Movers and Shapers family, which means that a small die such as a heart can be placed on the Envelope base die, so when the envelope is cut and then folded, the heart will be cut out.
10. Use a craft knife to create a 3 3/8” opening following the score line at bottom of the envelope.
11. Take the envelope and slip it onto one of the pieces of cardstock that was previously sew into the book.
12. Use a tape runner to secure the cardstock to the envelope.
13. Add 1/8” Wonder Tape to the envelope.
14. Remove red plastic coating and fold envelope.

15. Add an envelope to each manila strip until all envelopes are part of the book. The Correspondence Paper is two sided so either side can be used for variety.
16. Cut a small piece of burlap (2 x 4 1/4”) from the Textured Surfaces pack.
17. Peel off the protective coating and add the self-adhesive burlap to the cover, covering the machine stitching on the outside.
18. Using Ranger Manila cardstock and the Adventure Word Block Thinlits, cut a word for cover.
19. Paint with Festive Berries Distress Paint.
20. Using your fingertip, add a strip of White Gesso to cover of book as well as the burlap. Let dry.
21. Add Word Block with Multi Medium, trim edges to fit. Once dry, sand edges and add Distress Ink Gathered Twigs with a Mini Blending Tool.

22. Punch a hole in cover with a Crop a Dile and add Hitch Fastener for a closure.
23. Punch another hole in right side of cover, large enough to fit over the Hitch Fastener.
24. Wipe a bit of Stormy Sky paint onto metal charms, Typed Token and Swivel Clasp. Once dry, pounce a small amount of Gold Mixatives Alcohol Ink over the paint to give the pieces a rustic appearance.
25. Pierce the Grungepaper with a paper piercer to create a hole for charms. Connect the chain using the jump ring right below the base of the Swivel Clasp.
26. The smallest size of the cards found in the Pocket Card pack fits perfectly inside the envelope die.
27. Add cards to each envelope.
28. More cards can be used to decorate the outside of the envelopes.

Well, that’s it. Simple right? I can see the basic idea being used with different themes to create little books for for birthdays, vacations, a new baby, or just because! Thanks Simon for letting me share my project here today!
now carry on,
paula

Supplies: