Color Challenge - Coffee & Cream

Today's Gingersnap Creations Color Challenge is Coffee & Cream!

I don't know if this is Steampunk. I don't think it is but I wasn't going there. The image probably is...I just wanted to do something masculine. I just wanted to collage some fun things together. The background paper is a page from a French book I received as a gift (thanks, Heather!) It had a natural patina so I didn't do anything to it except stamp some numbers along the left side. The sentiment tag was stamped on Basic Gray BASICs paper and cut tag shaped.

My only real touch was some tea dyed ribbon (see blow). It's the lighter half of the rosette ribbon. The darker side was sprayed with COFFEE SHOP Glimmer Mist. (yes, I had fun with the coffee and tea theme!!!)

Stamps: Stamper's Anonymous
Paper: Stamping UP! EARLY ESPRESSO & VERY VANILLA
Ink: Archival Coffee
Accessories: Idea-ology ribbon & goodies; Glimmer Mist

I wanted to point out the finger print - you can stamp with anything!

Close up of the tea-dyed/Glimmer Mist ribbon.

I boiled 2 cups of water, threw in 6 teabags, and some white ribbon.

I let it set for 1/2 hour.

Then puddle and dry on a plate.

If you'd like to play along with the Gingers, you have a MONTH to post your interpretation of COFFEE & CREAM on the Gingersnap Creation's post. Be sure to stop by here and leave me a link to your creation too!

Thank you to Gingersnap Creations - I've had a blast being a Visiting Artist!!!

Gingersnap Creations: TEA BAG TEMPLATE

Today's Random Redhead Challenge a TEA BAG TEMPLATE.

I wanted to do something a bit different with the tea bag template. AND I wanted to make a Valentine gift for my mom. The original template is posted here. I bumped up the size of the tea bag template just a bit and made a mini album with some pictures I took at Christmas. The mini album is titled GG's BB (Great Grandma's Brag Book).

Stamps: Stampin Up! NOTABLY ORNATE
Paper: River Rock
Ink: River Rock, Archival Coffee
Accessories: glitter letters, Prima rose, Basic Grey magnet, Scrapper's Floss


I increased the size of the template just a enough to hold 4x4 pictures. The width is 4.5" (not 3.5" ) and the length is 12" (scored at 5", 5.5", 6", and 11").

I used magnets on the inside flaps.

I cut 3 sets of pages 4" x 9.5" and scored in the middle. This gave me 6 pages for pictures. I used my paper piercer to make holes in the center at 3/4", 2", and 3 1/4". I placed the pages inside the tea bag and punched again.

I used scrapper's floss as binding thread. It's a simple figure eight. The ends of the floss come from the inside to the outside - end and center holes. The thread from the center goes into the other side and out through the middle again.

Then the threads are pulled tight.

And a knot is tied near the outside center. There's a photo section in each tea bag valley.

I picked some of my favorite pictures from our Christmas trip to meet Julian and used Photoshop to make them sepia toned. I printed 4" x 6" but trimmed them down to 4" x 4".

I left pages blank for future additions...

..and included a picture of all the family members. (Here's my nephew, Adam, who finally out grew Grandma).

If you'd like to play along with the Gingers, you have a MONTH to post your interpretation of the TEA BAG TEMPLATE on the Gingersnap Creation's post. Be sure to stop by here and leave me a link to your creation too!

See you next week!

Gingersnap Creations: COFFEE FILTERS

Today's Spicy Supply Challenge is COFFEE FILTERS!!

Coffee Filters? I have to say my first thought was DO I HAVE ANY COFFEE FILTERS? (remember - Diet Coke thru and thru). But I did find some in the back of the cabinet, lost and lonely.

My second thought was the classic SplitCoast technique FROSTED FILTER. I decided to morph that technique with another MULBERRY BATIK. And then add my own little twist. Below is what I did for the background.

The image was stamped on white with Black Soot and covered with clear embossing powder (for that glossy, wet ink look). The image was watercolored with Distress Inks. Oh, and my choice of image came more from the "tea" side of the monthly theme. When I think of the far east, I think of green tea.

Stamps: Stampin Up! ORIENTAL BRUSHSTROKES, A Muse sentiment, Hero Arts CHINESE THANK YOU
Paper: coffee filter, Neenah Solar White, black scraps
Ink: Distress Ink, embossing ink
Accessories: clear embossing powder, Glimmer Mist (Tiger Lily, Sunkissed Peach, Viva Pink, Tuscan Sunset)

If you'd like to play along with the Gingers, you have a MONTH to post your interpretation of COFFEE FILTERS on the Gingersnap Creations post. Be sure to stop by here and leave me a link to your creation too!

Have fun - stay warm - see you next week!

Stamp background image on coffee filter with embossing ink. Heat set clear embossing powder.

Saturate the coffee filter with Glimmer Mist. Slowly dry with heat gun. Be sure not to burn the filter or re-melt the embossing powder. I found that setting it on another coffee filter to absorb some of the moisture helped.

Put the dry coffee filter between two pieces of typing paper and PRESS (don't iron) with a hot iron. I've tried this with a craft iron before but they don't get hot enough.

You should press until the embossing powder is soaked into the typing paper.

I cut a background sheet slightly bigger than the finished size and ran it thru my Xyron. If you don't have a sticker maker - just be sure to hit the edges of the paper with your adhesive.

Place your sticker sheet on the part of the filter you want to use. Trim the edges and finish your card.

Gingersnap Creations: HOT BEVERAGES

Today's Chestnut Theme Challenge is HOT BEVERAGES!!

Once Christmas is over I immediately start "craving" Spring colors - blue skies and green leaves! I have to confess I don't drink many HOT beverages... I'm a Diet Coke girl thru and thru! It's my coffee in the morning and my glass of wine with dinner. But this cup from Flourishes was a must for my hot beverage. The cup was stamped on a scrap of Memory Box paper that changed pattern along one edge. You can see the polka dots on the cup and circles on the saucer. I just sponged a bit of Broken China on the cup to give it additional dimension.

The tag background is a variation on the classic "smoosh & spray" technique (color pads rubbed on a craft sheet and misted with water). I sponged color on the tag first. Then I sprayed water on my craft sheet to make the colors "run" a bit. My "new" favorite coffee ring stamp. And then embellishment.

Stamps: Flourishes COFFEE WITH FRIENDS; Hero Arts GIRLFRIEND (sentiment); Stamper's Anonymous COFFEE RINGS
Paper: Tag
Ink: Distress Ink - Broken China & Shabby Shutters
Accessories: White embossing powder, doily, Prima flowers, pearls, ticket & leaf punch, Stickles, trinket pin, ribbon

If you'd like to play along with the Gingers, you have a MONTH to post your interpretation of HOT BEVERAGES on the Gingersnap Creations post. Be sure to stop by here and leave me a link to your creation too!

Have fun - stay warm - see you next week!

I'm a Ginger!

Happy 2011! (Gotta remember to write the correct year on the checks again....)

Let me start by telling you a little story. My niece is a natural strawberry blond. And while I started blond, my hair gradually got darker and darker and then grayer. So one Thanksgiving when my niece was here, I dragged her to my hair dresser and said - MATCH THAT COLOR! And I became an honorary "GINGER".

Last month I was invited to be a Visiting Artist for the month of January with one of my favorite challenge blogs (so many fabulous artists over there) - GINGERSNAP CREATIONS! After I contained my glee, I said YES!

The theme for January is COFFEE, TEA, and COCOA. Every Wednesday in this month I will be posting a creation for that week's challenge. I hope you stop by here and over at GINGERSNAP CREATIONS and play along.