more sketch challenge

from the July and August 2014 issues of SG Create  https://www.scrapbookgeneration.com/magazine/

I made the tag to match the Echo Park summer adventure collection.

 

sketch challenge tags and layouts

From the May and June issues of SG Create  https://issuu.com/sgcreate/docs/may_create_magazine_small   https://issuu.com/sgcreate/docs/june_create_small

sketch challenge

Tag and card sketches from the March issue of Create https://issuu.com/sgcreate/docs/create_-_issue_1_-_march_2014

 

tag and layout sketches from the April issue  https://issuu.com/sgcreate/docs/create_-_issue_4_-_april_2014

SG Create sketch challenge issue 2

https://issuu.com/sgcreate/docs/create_-_issue_1_-_february_2014

SG Create sketch challenge

layouts, tag, and card from the January 2014 issue of SG Create

Gift tags

I made these for a 12 months before Christmas challenge. Now I'm all set for tags next Christmas. These were made using MAMBI (Me and My Big Ideas) stamps. I made a cut file for the tags using Joys of the Season. The blue snowman tag on the left is a stampin up tag stamp and tag punch. The others are dollar stamps (though not sure about the other snowman ones) and hand cut except where I used a corner rounder.

Stitched journaling spots - the sequel

I made some more journaling spots, some with a bit of variation in the stitching. I also used some different border punches on a few. Some of them that I used the Cherish border punch on I only did 2 sides and the corners for a bit of a different look and a couple I made the journaling layer cover the inside holes. The basic instructions are here, on my original post: Stitched journaling spots. Click the images to get a better view of the stitching. My favorite would have to be the one I added seed beads into the stitching.

Stitched journaling spots

When I saw the Cherish punch around the page set by Martha Stewart I immediately had an idea. I didn't know if I would actually get the punch, but I did! The border punch in combination with the corner punch allows you to make squares or rectangles with a bracket shaped edge. The punched holes make it so easy to add stitching. You can stitch around the outside, inside, or both! This punch set makes great journaling boxes - the guide insert tells you what size paper you need for the border punch to work with the corner. I made these journaling spots in a few sizes using the punch set and stitching the inside border holes. To cut the journaling area to fit, I measured the size of the area inside the inner border holes and took off a 1/4 inch from the length and the width. With the Martha Stewart scoring board, I scored lines 1/4 inch apart. Flip the paper over, and you will have embossed lines. I then used distress inks and/or pigment inks to blend ink over the paper giving it some color and highlighting the embossed lines. Then adhere the inked paper inside your stitched area. Have fun!

Distress ink color sample tags

I got this idea from a couple of sources and merged them. On the Ink Stains blog, the gal had posted some comparison samples of the old vs. new colors. Her samples were half stamped and half color washed. On youtube, WhatYouMakeIt1 made tags that were color washed and half had clear embossing on so you could see the change in tone. What I did was stamp at the top, followed by using the blending foam, then the direct-from-inkpad wash with the bottom half of the wash covered in clear embossing. What I found is the ink really does dry/absorb too fast in plain cardstock. I used the Georgia Pacific cardstock you can get at WalMart. Using coated papers would be a bit different when using different techniques. So since it was drying/absorbing too fast, the embossing powder wasn't really sticking. When I turned my heat gun on it, some of it would blow off. It worked better if I directed my heat tool on the underside of the paper. I did a little test on scrap paper using versamark on my stamp before inking it up, and that helps if you want to emboss a stamped image with this ink. However, I'd be a little concerned about transferring some of the versamark to my inkpad if I did this often and I wouldn't want it to affect the ink properties so a better option would be to use a stamp positioner. Stamp with your ink first, then go back over it with a versamark pad using your positioner to line the stamp up on top of the first image and your image will have something for the powder to stick to for embossing.