Thursday, March 29, 2012

A Celebration of Cards With Graphic 45 Papers

Hello and Welcome on this gorgeous Thursday!  As you may have been following along, this week is Card week over at Graphic 45 Papers.  All week long they have been sharing fantastic cards created by my fellow teamies.  And today is my day to share along with the fantastic Nancy Wethington and Gloria Stengel!!!
Plus I have a quick tutorial, and even a little design tip to share...So let's get to it!!!

The first card I would like to share is created using the WONDERFUL Kraft Recollections papers!
When I first saw that Graphic 45 was releasing a Kraft line I was pumped! Great for so many different projects, adding just the perfect G45 vintage touch. I even took a que from Gloria Stengel, and did a little coloring of the patterns. So easy, with quick results to match any project. As soon as I saw the tea cup paper in the Kraft Reflection line, I knew I had to put “something” in them! Couldn’t you just see a classic Easter card with eggs and a bunny in the cup, or a cup filled with flowers for Mother’s Day? Really this idea leads to endless designs and with these few easy steps you can be on your way to creating your own variation to this fun card!
Supplies Needed:
Graphic 45’s Kraft Reflection paper Tea for Two
Craft Knife, or Scissors
Cutting Mat
Step 1: To prepare, using your scissors or craft knife, cut out desired teacup image.

Step 2: After teacup has been cut from paper, use your craft knife to carefully cut just along the front lip of the cup to create an opening.
Make sure to stop just before the corners of the cup so that it is still all one piece.
Step 3: Using your finger, or a small tool gently separate the opening on your cup making sure not to tear it

Step 4: Cut out desired images to place into the cup, and slide them into the cup opening
Step 5: Once desired objects are put into place, adhere them to the cup from the backside
For a more dramatic effect, adhere finished piece to project using Pop Dots
*Tip: To create the “wet” colored water droplets, in a small container mix a little Glossy Accents with Re Inker to desired color.
Using an eye dropper, pick up small amounts of colored glossy accents and drop directly onto paper in varying amounts for different droplet sizes.
Allow plenty of time to dry once complete


These chipboard words by Imaginarium designs were actually cut apart from whole phrases. 
The phrases were things that wouldn't work for me currently( ie about a son), so I decided to put them to use for other things.  And I still have a bunch of other cool leftover words too!!

Supplies Used:
6 1/8” x 4 1/4”
Graphic 45 Papers
Kraft Reflections: Tea for Two, Bits and Pieces, and the reverse side for plain Kraft color
Olde Curiosity Shoppe: Parlor Wall, Genuine Article (bottle), Olde Curiosity Shoppe
Steapunk Debutante: Fantasy Floral, Eclectic Emporium (top hat)
Graphic 45 Staples: Stamped Metal Brads, Olde Curiosity Shoppe Cling Stamps 3
Colorbox Inks: Decades Inks (Photogenic, Triumphant Red), Chalk Inks (Robins Egg, Warm Red)
Ranger: Glossy Accents, Frayed Burlap Re Inker
Imaginarium Designs: Chipboard
Scrapbook Adhesives: 3D Foam Squares
Tombow: Gluestick
Making Memories: Silver pressed paper images
Other: Colored Pencils


The second card I would like to share today was created for a fellow artist.
Recently he had sent me an awesome clipart disk with over 650 images, so I wanted to say thanks with a card created from the clipart I recieved. 


Designed with layers and layers of pop dots to create a 3D framed image set on G45's luscious Olde Curiosity Shoppe.  I actually ended up using 3 different clipart images combined to get the finished result.


Stack handcut images for a simple decorative finished look!


Use selective coloring for a dramatic effect. 
 Here I colored only the background using inks, as well as the saddle on the horse with colored pencils. 


Create even more dimension with depth.  Notice how the horses tail is tucked under the frame, but the head is coming out.



Supplies Used:
6 1/8" x 4 1/4"
Graphic 45 papers:
Olde Curiosity Shoppe: Butterfly Specifics, Exquisite Motif, Olde Curiosity Shoppe
Colorbox Chalk Inks: Periwinkle
Scrapbook Adhesive: 3D Foam Squares
Tombow: Glue Stick
Other: Clipart, Colored Pencils

That's it for today!  Many Thanks for stopping by!!!
Make sure to head over and see the wonderful cards that Teamies Nancy and Gloria have created for us.
Also, tomorrow is the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT of  Graphic 45's new design team for 2012!!!
The anticipation is killing me....Wishing the best of Luck to ALL!!!
Have a Great Thursday!!!

XOXO
Nicki Chicky

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Graphic 45 Once Upon A Springtime Mini Star Book

Happy National Craft Month!
As you may already know, this month is National Craft Month.  And all month long Graphic 45 is celebrating with TONS of awesome ideas! 
Each week, they will be focusing on a different kind of project.  Week one was Altered Art, week two Layouts, and now into week three, Mini books!
The projects that have been shared from the Design Team are AMAZING, and the inspiration just keeps on coming!
Rolling into day three of Mini books, and today I have a little mini inspiration of my own..


I have to confess that I am not usually a lover of creating mini books. I love looking at them, and all the great ideas that come from them. But they take me entirely too long, and I start to feel crazy finishing one.
I find I need a quick fix, something I can whip up fast, then spend days perfecting with all the little details!
But this little book was right up my alley with a love for fussy cutting.
Called a Carousel book, or Star book, this cute little book measuring only 5" x 4" packs a lot of punch!!


What makes this book so neat is that is it meant to be placed standing upright. 
As you can kinda see from looking at the bottom, this book was created by gluing LONG strips of paper together, then accordion folding them just right.  Creating two separate super long accordion folded strips, you then stitch them together at the seams. 
Also due to the accordion folding of the book, everything has to be able to lay completely flat, and there were absolutely NO pop dots used in it's creation! ( Such a Rarity for me)
Even the covers on the book cannot have any dimension, and have to be tied shut on both sides to keep the book closed.


Here you can see where the pages have been stitched together. 
Also once the book is set upright, the covers and be placed face to face opening the book up completely, revealing the inside!


And once completely open, you can see from the top, why this is called a Star Book. 

For my little star book I decided to play with Graphic 45's Once Upon A Springtime and Le Romantique papers.  Letting the papers be my guide I was driven to the idea of a Children's Book.
After all, don't you just love all the story book characters of Graphic 45?
For each page I designed mini "pop up" scenes that depict the seasons.
I then wrote a fun little poem to go along with it.
Each page is filled with tons tiny details, so look close you never know what you may miss!
(Pictures were hard to get with all the strange angles)

Spring

Fairy Tea Time, Spring is here...
Come and join in all the Cheer!




                                                                            Summer

Summer Days , Hot and free
Fairies take a dip in the Sea!




Fall

Leaves are Falling..
Autumn's here
Mousies gather what is near!


LOVE the little Mousies! (and my made up word too)



Winter
Winter's Here, ice and snow..
Fairies watch the Holly grow!


Here is a link to the original instructions used.  http://virginiabookarts.org/files/2010/08/Carousel-Instructions-VABC.pdf
I actually skipped over the first strip of paper.  If I had used it the book would have measured 7" x 5". 
The recipe calls for super long piece of paper, which I had some HUGE rolls of paper from the printing press.  However measurements may be scaled down to use 12 x 12 papers. 
If you have any questions about the creation, I would be happy to help out!



Supplies Used:
Finished project 5'”x 4”x 1.5”
Graphic 45 papers
Kraft Reflections: Bits and Pieces, Before your Time, Forgotten City
Le Romantique: Daydreams, Tender Missives, Enamored Embrace, Le Romantique
Once Upon A Springtime: Woodland Fantasy, Primrose Cottage, Spellbound, Pixie Post, Once Upon A Springtime
Steampunk Debutante: Ephemera Extraordinaire
Tropical Travelogue: Rainforest, Exotic Desitinations, Stickers
Magic of Oz: The Magic of Oz
Xmas Emporium: Tis The Season
Curtain Call: Top Billing
A Proper Gentleman: Timely Point Of View
Olde Curiosity Shoppe: Mercurial Masterpiece, Parlor Wall
Colorbox :Decades Inks -Triumphant Red, Chalk Inks – Rouge, Aqua
Hampton Arts: Cling Once Upon A Springtime 1
Coredinations: Signature Core Cardstock
Red Lead: Mushroom Stamp
Quickutz: Tree and branches
Spellbinders: Labels 8 Nesting Dies
May Arts: Ribbon
Ranger: Glossy Accents, Stickles –Waterfall, Distress Stickles- Rock Candy
Other: Colored Pencils, Chipboard, Sewing Needle, Thread, Printer


Thank you all so much for stopping by today!
Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday!!
Nicki Chicky








Friday, March 2, 2012

Graphic 45 Design Team Finalists

Today Graphic 45 announced the 30 finalists for their 2012 Design Team!
Though this is my third time applying, this is my second year as a finalist.
And I am just as nervous as the first time...What a blessing this is.. 
Fretting if my designs are good enough, trying to come up with out of this world designs for the finals.  So exciting!!
One more round to go, and the competition is AMAZING!! 

Here is the list of 30 Finalists for the Graphic 45 Design Team 2012(in no special order)

1. Karen Zueger - USA
2. Alberto Juárez Díaz - Spain
3. Nate Da Silva - France
4. Nancy Wethington - USA
5. Romy Veul - Netherlands
6. Susan Fraser - Canada
7. Arlene Cuevas - USA
8. Karen Foy - UK
9. Maiko Miwa - Japan
10. Theresa Kimbrell - USA
11. Nicole Eccles - USA
12. Shell Carman - Australia
13. Kristin Wilson - USA
14. Gloria Stengel - USA
15. Roberto Cesar dos Santos - Brazil
16. Melanie Forbes - Australia
17. Sharon Ngoo - Singapore
18. Laura Denison - USA
19. Susan Killam - USA
20. Clare Charvill - UK
21. Jane Tregenza - Australia
22. Denise Hahn - USA
23. Kelly Klapstein - Canada
24. DeeDee Catron - USA
25. Tara Orr - Canada
26. Torill Fossum Stamnes - Norway
27. Jim Hankins - USA
28. Jan Hennings - USA
29. Tracy Burtt - USA
30. Susan Lui - Singapore

Congratulations to ALL the finalists.. .So excited to see some teamies from last year too...All the submissions were out of this world! 
And now the anxiety builds as we wait till April 1st....
Off for a little celebration, and to get going on the second round!

Good Luck To ALL!!
Nicki Chicky

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