Cut 'n Paste

A Christmas Tag

I was tickled pink a few weeks ago to be asked by the delightful Ellen Hutson to be a part of her 12 Feminine Tags of Christmas project. I decided to use the darling Melissa Frances Pearl stamp as the focal point for my tag, and one of my favorite collage papers, "Madonna Collage" as the background.

Please head over to Ellen's CLASSroom where you can see the step-by-step walk through of putting the tag together - and a little birdie tells me that there will also be the chance to win a giveaway too!

Patty Cake

This weekend I had the pleasure to visit with one of my best friends from high school and his family who had traveled to Vancouver from their Ontario home to celebrate his mother's birthday. Since the last time he and his wife came to the west coast, they had a little boy. So I gave them this card, along with a little gift, when we met.

I love to mix and match product from a multitude of brands when I paper craft and this card is an example of that. I combined patterned papers from Melissa Frances, Studio Calico, and October Afternoon with cardstock from Bazzill. The stork stamp is from Stampin' Up! and the 'patty cake' one is an oldie that was in my stamp cupboard. The buttons are vintage and I sewed them to the card front with aqua embroidery floss. To color the stork image I used my Copic markers. Finally, I sewed directly onto the card front to add a touch of whimsy to the card.

Happy Birthday Melissa Frances

Today I am happy to share in the birthday celebration for my employer, Melissa Frances. Melissa turns 50 today, and she is excited to celebrate it. I organized a surprise post for her over on the Melissa Frances blog so be sure to head over there to check out the gorgeous birthday cards and gifts made for her as well as to leave a comment for your chance to win a generous prize.

For my card to Melissa, I used our new Pearl stamps and colored it with my Copic markers. Then, I used 2 of my favorite papers and our floppy blossom trim to decorate the card. Finally, I stamped the greeting with a Technic tuesdays stamp by Ali Edwards.

For my gift to Melissa, I finally used my new soldering iron and put into practice the technique that I learned from the fabulous Terri Brush a few months ago to solder a pendent for the focal point of this delicate bracelet. The letter anagram which I soldered was a special find which I purchased in May from Retrobottega, a truely unique and beautifully curated antique store in Rome.

To finish it off, I packaged the bracelet in a vintage cigar box which I topped with velvet flowers and a twill bow.

I have discovered that I really love to make jewelry. It is such a departure from paper crafts, yet also works the creative part of my brain. Now, if only I could find more time in the day to create to my hearts content!

Hello Beautiful

Even though I work and design for Melissa Frances, like most paper crafters I have many companies whose goods I love and use regularly. This card shows off a few of my current favorites; October Afternoon and Pure Innocence stamps by My Favorite things. And, of course, because I love our products, there is also a touch of Melissa Frances to tie it all together. A fresh grey, yellow, cream and slate blue color scheme pulls this 'any occasion' card together.

Have a safe & fun weekend everyone!

Make a Difference

(Supply List: Patterned paper - Attic Treasures 6x6 paper Pad (GN454),  5th Avenue Paper Pad (GN444) • Rub-on - Walk for a Cure (FW055) • Pink Rhinestones (discontinued) • Non Melissa Frances supplies: Stamp - Butterfly Kisses by My Favorite Things • Markers - Copic • Scalloped Circle Die Cut by Spellbinders • Ribbon - Stampin' Up! • Tag - Avery • Sewing machine and thread • Distress ink in Tea Dye)

Hi friends! I hope that you each had a lovely Thanksgiving (Canadian) weekend. Rick only had Saturday off, and given activities that the rest of our extended family already had scheduled, we were not able to celebrate Thanksgiving with everyone. From what I understand we will be doing it in early November.

While Rick was out, I hid myself in my studio to do some crafting, and lounged in the living room pinning! A bunch of my creative endeavors were for assignments and workshops, so they will stay under wraps for now. But in the meantime, I have this card which I can share with you. I combines so many of my favorite things, Melissa Frances, stamping and Copics. Enjoy!

Dearly Beloved...

 
(Supply List: 5th Avenue Paper Pad (GN444) • Dearly Beloved Cardstock Stickers (GN441) • White Pearls (GN278) • Beige Lace Collection (GN302) • Rose Resin - from Tea Party Set (CX811) • Other - Copic markers to color resin, Cream Cardstock, White and Cream buttons)

I was asked by my friends at Scrap-Info, a Russian Scrapbooking magazine, to make a Melissa Frances wedding card for publication in their summer issue. I used our 5th Avenue collection, along with the matching wedding themed cardstock stickers to make this vintage card.

What have you been making recently?

May you Live...

 
(Supply List: Patterned paper - Melissa Frances • Rub-on: Melissa Frances • Rubber Stamp: Being Cute is What I Do Pure Innocence by My Favorite Things • Markers: Copic (Skin: E000, E00, E11, E13, R20 - Hair: Y21, Y23, Y26 - Pants: E21, E23, E25 - Shoes: E25 - Shadows: C00, C1 - Flower: RV13) • Other: Sewing machine, thread and vintage ledger paper) 

Still lovin' my Pure Innocence stamps ☺ These little girls look beautiful with the Melissa Frances patterned papers, so it's a win-win!

Today, if all has gone well, I am in Norway teaching my 2011 workshops for the first time. I am really looking forward to seeing many familiar faces and I love these new classes. Fun, fun, fun!

Trick-or-treat

(Supply List: Patterned paper - K&CO and Basic Grey • Stamp - Pure Innocence Honey Bee by My Favorite Things • Label Sticker - Jenni Bowlin • "Halloween" Rub-on - Melissa Frances • Other - Sewing machine and cream thread, Glossy accents (used on hat, boots and basket), Stickles Glitter glue (used on wings) • Copic Markers in the following Colors - Skin - E000, E00, E11, E13, RV11, RV21  Hair - E53, E55, E57  Pumpkin - YR16, YR18  Shoes, Hat and Black on costume - C0, C3, C5, C7, C9  Yellow on bee costume - Y15, YR21, YR23, YR24)

So as we approach the weekend, do you have any exciting plans? I am really, really happy that I will finally (hopefully) have my husband home ALL WEEKEND!!! Poor guy has been working long hours over the past 5 weeks as they have had a series of serious crimes in his jurisdiction. So it will be nice to have him home all weekend, with no call outs. Today we're planning on making a HUGE pot of homemade chicken soup and then looking forward to watching the ballgame tonight. As for the rest of the weekend? Not sure what it will hold, but hoping that it will include some time to relax and enjoy each other's company.

Here's hoping that you and yours have a great weekend too! 

So you have questions about Copic Markers...

(Supply list: Patterned Paper - Melissa Frances • Stamp - Pure Innocence Heart Stripe by My Favorite Things • Tag - Avery • Cardstock Border - Bazzill • Rhinestones - Melissa Frances • Other - Seam Binding, Sewing machine and white thread, Button and String • Copic Marker Colors - ugh! sorry I forgot to take notes when I was coloring this)

I hope you had a nice weekend. Rick and I both spent some time working, attending a football game and trying to catch up with friends. Since coming home from Norway I have spent a few evenings coloring with my Copic markers while watching TV with Rick. I have had a few emails asking that I share my Copic tips with you. So, here are a few basics for using Copics, along with my favorite color combos.

The first thing I would recommend is checking with your local scrapbook store to see if they have workshops where you can learn the basics. There is nothing like having someone who really knows what they are doing help you out. I was really lucky to have Sherrie Siemens, who works for Copic, local to me and so my intro to the markers was in one of her workshops.

The next thing is that you need to understand how the colors are categorized and what the labelling on the caps of the markers mean.

The first Letter on the cap of the Marker indicates the Color Family -The letter at the beginning of the cap on the marker indicates the color family:B (Blue), BV (Blue-Violet), R (Red), RV (Red-Violet), V (Violet), YR (Yellow-Red), Y (Yellow), YG (Yellow-Green), G (Green), E (Earth), F (Florescent), C (Cool Gray), N (Neutral Gray), T (Toner Gray), W (Warm Gray)

The first number on the cap of the Marker indicates the Color Saturation or Intensity - Lower numbers are vibrant; higher numbers have more gray in them. 

The second number on the cap of the Marker indicates the Color Brightness – The numbers ending in 0 are the lightest and 9 is the darkest.

How to pick blending colors:
1. Match the color letters, keeping the color family the same.
2. Match the color saturation number (This is the first number on the cap).  This will keep the tone the same.
3. Pick color brightness numbers (This is the second number on the cap) within two to three digits from each other.  Use 0,1,2,3’s for highlights; for mid tones use 4,5,6’s; and use 7,8,9’s for shadows.  
TIP: Using more colors helps to make the colors easier to blend in addition to adding more contrast to your finished image. 

You can also blend outside the color families:
1. Pick colors that have similar numbers but different letters.
2. Keep the color families near each other on the color wheel.

Here are a few of My Favorite Copic Color Combinations:

Caucasian Skin: E000, E00, E11, E13 or E000, E00, E11, E21
African American Skin: E31, E33, E37, E000
Blush: R20 or RV10
Dark Brown Hair: E49, E55, E57, E59
Blond Hair: Y21, Y23, YR21, YR24
Red Hair: E13, E17, E18, E19
Black Hair: E74, E49, C00, C3, C5, C7, C9

Also, I was asked where I have purchased my Copics, the majority have been through my local scrapbook store, Emma's Paperie (Be sure to sign up for their email newsletter so that you are notified when they offer store-wide discounts, which bring the already low price of their markers down even furthur). I have also purchased from Dick Blick, once again taking advantage of specials.

All for this edition. Please let me know in the comments if you have any additional questions which I will do my best to answer for you.

Happy Birthday to you

 
(Supply list: Patterned paper - Melissa Frances, Stamped girl image - Stampendous, markers - Copic (sorry I did not write down the colors this time), border punch - Fiskars, Rub-on - Melissa Frances, Rhinestones - Melissa Frances, Postcard stamp - Tim Holtz, inks: Distress Inks by Ranger, Other - sewing machine and thread, string and button)

This is a card I made and gave to my mom last week for her birthday. I left early this morning to head to Norway for Papirfesten, which will take place this weekend. I am looking forward to a great event and seeing Connie, one of the other teachers, who I have had the pleasure to meet when I have taught in Oslo before.

I hope you each have a lovely week!