I was kidnapped! (heeheehee)

Yup, I was kidnapped! (and loved every minute!) I'm back now though. :O)

This photo is just a simple pic shot from the ferry on the way out of Nanaimo (Vancouver Island. [ETA: Ooops, I mean out of Victoria, duh. Nanaimo was the ferry on the way there...] :O) I had the loveliest visit with Charles's parents. (They ROCK!) Charles & his Dad caught some gorgeous sockeye salmon (made for such an incredible dinner.) Later, Esther & I had some lovely time to relax together in Victoria. (I am SO very lucky to know such wonderful people! sighhhhh!)

It was just what we needed! We were really missing C's Dad, since we can't get over there nearly as often as we'd like to. I'm still struggling with being ill, and C is overworked... Life, right? Anywho, I just can't thank you enough for your patience while I've been away. I was really feeling burnt out and ultra depressed about being sick for so long. I have plans to keep at those Doctors... Respirologist...Naturopath...etc... until I'm well again, so please don't worry.

The short-term plan for summer blogging is 4 posts a week, so that I can keep trying to get some of my (non-craft) ducks in a row. I've never been much of a balancing act, LOL.

May your summer be joyful
& I hope to see you around blogland!

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Coffee Tea or Templates? (Over 75) +ideas with Photoshop brushes)

Some Coffee & Tea Templates & Projects:

Take out cup turned gift box:

Photo Tutorial here.



Coffee Recipes:

(to go in altered take out cups!)



Hot Chocolate on a Stick (gift idea)

Coffee Butter Creams

Coffee flavoured favours

Cocoa-dusted Coffee Marshmallows

Chocolate Covered Coffee Spoons

Hot chocolate spoons

Chocolate-filled Party spoons

and

Morning Coffee with Message on top



Tea Cup card & Coffee Cup Box



(in the same post, here)

A Variety of Coffee/Tea Links:



Recent additions:

1. Astoundingly sweet paper mache tea cup pattern & tut by Ann Wood
   
   
2. Tea cup & handle template from Martha et al --template here
   
   
3. Incredible pop up tea card--with food and coffee foam designs too!
4. Felt tea pot ornament template & tutorial by Patricia (TOO sweet!)
   
   
5. Claire's free tea bag tag template (bottom of the post)
   
   
6. Claire's sweet tea cup template (for sale here with SVG & without)
   
   
7. AWEsome template & card by Peet
8. Great mug template: Free Cup of Cocoa template from Clear & Simple Stamps.
9. Wake up scrub (great for little stamped recycled containers)

Peppermint Coffee scrub:

1. Mini printable tea set from About.com Template is on page 2 or 9 here

2. Pretty Paper Tea set (template & tutorial) from Crafts & Things

3. Tea pot (template & tutorial) from craftstamper.com

4. 3D cup template that you can put a tea bag in (by Sherry Graves)

5. Shrink charm from a to-go cup lid tutorial (get outta here cool!)

6. Felted tea cup pin cushions by Betz

7. Teapot pattern by ayumills (4 fabric, but oh so sweet for paper piece)

8. Takeout cup magnet card:

9. Tea cup card & template by Claudine

10. Tea cup template from Zakka Life

11. Lots of amazing cup/mug templates From Papercrafts Mag

12. & another coffee cup

13. Tea Pot bird house (great template to adapt for paper)

14. Tea cup template from Paperscrapz

15. Folk art Coffee Pot pattern from Folk Art Life

16. From Chia's Rubber Stamp Art

17. Double cup card template From Jersey Girl

18. Lindsay's gorgeous takeout Coffee Cup template

19. Real ground coffee card:



(smells neat-o!)

20. Becky's Coffee 2-5-7-10 bag (too ingenious & Patty's comment to put Chai in one is brilliant)

21. Becky's amazing TeaTOTEaler

22. & her triangle box would be sweet with a special tea mix

23. Vintage coffee pot emboridery pattern

24. Erin's coffee cozy (She links a PDF tutorial)

25. Coffee Corset Pattern from Let Betsy

26. Maya's Coffee Sack Hack: cork board!



27. Teapot pattern by Lori: Pot & the Accessories (see a sample here by Ann)

28. Tea cup card template:

29. Tea shirt by Meryl (tea-hee-hee!)

30. Lindsay's sweet tea cup

31. Lovely Pop up Tea cup

32. Stephanie's Stunning embroidery patterns for Tea towels (or other craftiness) :O)

33. Adorable tea pot slider template by giasiana (see her sweet example here)

34. Lauren's "I'm a Little Teapot Box" (great example of how any box can turn into a tea pot)

35. 3D watering can one that would adapt wonderfully by sammy_nab

36. Coffee ground fossils

37. Coffee filter rose tutorial

38. Coffee filter butterflies

39. Adorable tea cup pouch

40. Susanna's altered coffee mug

41. Coffee filter template from runnerduck (would make a cute card, no?) & there's a sweet tea cup bird bath there & a DIY Costa Rica sytle coffee maker too!

42. Coffee can card holder from Kaboose

Tea Towel Tag:



Tutorial here.

Martha et al:



Personalized Coffee blend

Betz White shows Martha how to make a teacup pin cushion

Dot painted tea cups (and more patterns here)

Monogrammed tea cozy

Tea Time Towels

'Chef Ian' tea/coffee cup card

Teapot Box and Tag (template & tutorial.)

& other details here. :O)

&

Stitched Cheese Cloth Tea-bag:

(for loose tea or pot pouri) Tutorial here

Searches/Link Lists:

• Teapot template (Google image search)
• Coffee Clip art from clipartGuide.com
• Coffee Tea clip art from Morning Coffee & Afternoon Tea
  
  
• Coffee Tea Clip art
  
  
• Martha Tea search
• Martha Coffee search

Edited to Add (most recently):

• Teabag holder video tutorials by Holly
• SCS thread for tea bag holders

and.....



Coffee & Tea Photoshop Brushes:

I'm not sure if any of you use brushes in Photoshop (or GIMP which is free), but I find them to be super fun. Here's one I made of coffee beans, in case anyone wants to try it out...



It's like magic watching the different effects you can get with resizing the brush & changing the properties. You can take almost any image & turn it into a custom brush. :O)



There are a LOT of Photoshop brushes out there that people share for free. Some make excellent digital images (and are resizable & most are easy to make in any colour you like--in Photoshop.)



Brushes also make for amazing digital patterned papers--especially since Photoshop lets you layer, change their translucency, & fill line images with colour.

Some Brush Examples:

(artist credits are on each linked page) :O)



Coffee stain photoshop brushes

Morning coffee brushes

Coffee stains & splashes

Victorian tea set brushes

Teapots (& beer mugs)

Hope your day is filled with lots of get up & go!

:O)

mel

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Felt Box with Katie Cupcake

A speedy little project & a simple post for today, since I'm away and on an unfamiliar computer (aka old n' slow, & not my beloved speedier 'puter--but better than nothin'!) ;o)

I had a blast playing with felt & Katie Cupcake.

One of the new releases from Little Paper Shop which you can find here.

(and today is the last day for the LPS sale--June 22nd!)

Step 1) Print, cut, & score any box. (This one is a 2 and 5/8" box. There's a lid too, but I went lid-less with this one.)

Click to download the 2 5/8 inch box here.




Step 2) Make decorative panels by: Adhering felt to cardstock & piercing & stitching

I used dollar store felt from my Bam-Bam (aka Grandma) :O). It's great since the package has a variety of colours. It is on the thin side, but gluing it to cardstock fixes that! I found Alene's tack it over & over to be the perfect adhesive & stuck it under a pile of books overnight to dry nice & flat. The cardstock makes it really easy to cut & stitch the felt.

1. Glue felt to cardstock
2. Cut pieces the size of your box side
3. Dry flat
4. Pierce with paper piercer
5. Stitch if, you like

Step 3) Adhere felt panels to the sides of the box

Step 4) Emboss & colour an image. This Katie Cupcake has marvy Uchida puffy velvet pen (the purple icing) & Copic colouring. The sprinkles are beads glued on.

And that's it!

Short, but hopefully a little sweet.While I'm still relatively out of commission, I'm going to try & remember K.I.S.S.: keep it simple stamper! hehehe. ;o)

May your day be an amazing one!
:O)
Mel

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Caarvarks Window Challenge- You're the Top Pops!

In honour of my Dad (who loves to dress sharply--a vintage jacket with tails is a fave in his wardrobe)...a little glam for Father's day. With a stitched bow tie & lots of emboss resist & stitching. This is for the newest Caardvarks challenge: Window cards! For some reason I never make windows on my cards (must be sheer laziness?!? hehehe) I love how the Caardvarkians always make me try something different. :O)

1...new Caarvarks challenge (Windows!)
2...create coordinating emboss resist papers & quilt 'em
(plus the window how-to)
3...dress a top hat image & stitch a bow tie

-1-

You can play along with the challenge here:

(or just check out the amazing cards that the wicked 'Varks
crew & the ultra talented POD guests have made. WOWed me!)

The sponsor for this challenge is

(don't tell your 'significant other' that I sent you a-shoppin',
but man oh man are there some sweet stamps there!) ;O)

PRIZE: Prize is a $50 shopping spree at Purple Onion Designs!!!

PROMOTION: POD will also be offering 25% off to Caardvarks' readers for the length of the challenge. Enter code "Caardvarks" at checkout.

DEADLINE: To have a shot at the shopping spree, you'll need to have your entries linked to Caardvarks via Mr. Linky by July 3rd at Midnight, PST.

-2-

...create coordinating emboss resist papers & quilt them

• Various coloured cardstocks
• Background Stamp (POD Late 1800's Script)
• The inside of the card is stamped with Antique Ledger Background
  
• Clear embossing powder & heat gun
  
• Black ink (test for colour base--some are purpley. I like the brownish ones)
• Sponge dauber/other ink applicator
• Paper towel & wax paper (for easy clean up)
• Double-sided tape
  
• Black embroidery thread, paper piercer & needle
• 1 and 3/8 inch square punch (SU/Paper Shapers)
• 1 and 1/4 inch circle punch (SU/Paper Shapers)
• Tim Holtz ruler

Step 1) Punch squares of paper (these are 1 3-8” squares) The paper is emboss resist made by:

1. Stamping the gorgeous script stamp in Versamark & heat embossing with clear embossing powder {The fun part was using a variety of coloured cardstocks (Cool Caribbean, Soft Sky, River Rock, Tempting Turquoise, Naturals White, Whisper White}
2. Spreading out wax paper to keep the mess down
3. Using a sponge dauber and black ink to saturate the stamped cardstocks
4. Wiping off the excess ink & allowing it to dry before punching squares
5. Let dry & punch squares. I used a 1 3/8" square punch (SU/Paper Shapers)
   

Step 2) Adhere squares to the card. On a 5 and 1-2 inch square card 16 fit perfectly. Avoid putting adhesive where you plan to stitch.



Step 3) Pierce along all the edges of the squares. Long lines of stitches make it speedy. I love Tim Holtz ruler with pins stuck in a fun foam mat.

Step 4) make a well-centered window by punching a circle from a scrap of thin paper, then adhering it to one of your squares



Step 5) Use the scrap circle as a guide to punch perfectly in center

That will leave you with a delicate circular frame:



Of course you could use any shape you like (with punch or die cutter)



Step 6) Adhere the circle frame to your card (pierce it too)



Step 7) Use the circle frame as a guide to cut through with an exacto blade.

That will leave you with a shaped window:

Step 8) Then just stitch it up :O)...

-3-

...dress a top hat image
& stitch a slide off bow tie

That cute little top hat is part of Purple Onion Designs set "Celebitties" set. Schtuff I've done with it here:

• Embossed it (black ink & clear embossing powder)
  
• Coloured with Copic markers
  
• Covered the turquoise band with Crystal Lacquer (and dried that well)
• Pierced and stitched the band with embroidery thread for texture
• Mounted it on the card with foam tape so it stuck up through the window
  

• Ribbon (I used black 3/4 inch poly-blend grosgrain)
• Ribbon (this is 3/8 inch crushed velvet)
• Tombow monomulti
• Thread & needle
• Really sharp scissors

Stitch a Bow Tie:

• 1) Use ribbon with decent length measurement (to tie & work it)
• 2) Tie a knot in the middle
• 3) Choose which side of the knot you like best (front or back)
• 4) Bring one end to the back to measure & cut
• 5) Sear end of the ribbon with a lighter (if the ribbon takes that)
• 6) Stitch it on (checking in between stitching to be sure it’s shaping up how you like)
• 7) Repeat for the other side
• 8) Measure some thinner ribbon (to fit snugly around your card but not so that it buckles you card. You want it to slide off.) :O)
• 9) Stitch the ends of the ribbon to each other to make a round of ribbon
• 10) Stitch your bow tie on

Thank you so much for hanging in there with my
sporadic posts while I'm ill. You're THE very best!

(today the ol' blog should be called: Puttin' on the Ritz)

P.S. There are a whack of Father's Day links HERE

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Impressabilities resist card (+pins & buttons)

The Dirty Low-down on Impressabilities and resist:
(my take on 'em anyhow)

I'm still experimenting with the ideal medium and method to get the best resist effect with Impressabilities...Meanwhile it's a lot of messy fun to toy with 'em.

Some crafters (who are used to the very deep embossing of Provocraft embossing folders) have found these a disappointment. I will admit that at first glance they had me stumped, but I quickly fell in love with their ability to act as a stencil and the intricate embossing they give.

You all know that I'm as frugal as they come (they broke the cheap-oh mold when they made me!) ;O) but I think (for me anyhow) the real key to enjoying Impressabilites is not to baby them. Everyone says they're so delicate, but I've knocked mine around (like a real stamping-ruffian) and they still emboss just fine. (I've covered them in gesso, gel medium, ink, polymer clay...)

Thankfully, although they're sparkly and delicate looking, they are affordable enough to be tools not jewels. When they finally do give up the ghost, it'll be such fun to cut them into bits to play with (emboss & use as embellishments)--guilt free.



1-making a fancy smancy pin
2-creating layered stitched flowers
3-cheap tricks with Copic markers
4-tool talk: some blah-blah about buttons
5-enabler alert-new cardstocks at Paper Garden Projects!
(and free(US) /cheap(Can) shipping deal!)

make a fancy smancy pin

• Decorative pin
• Beads
• Ribbon
• Adhesive
  

I got these sweet pins from marvelous Maria and was excited to try my first pin on a card. I've always been intimidated by 'em. If you are too, here's a really easy way to make pins without a lot of hardware:

A) Take your fancy topped pin
B) Slide on a couple of beads & tie on a bow.
C) Affix with adhesive if it needs it.
D) To attach it, I just slid it through the stitching on my sentiment. If you have no where to anchor it, you could just add a dab of adhesive behind the bow, so it won't go anywhere.

The sentiment is printed on vellum from the computer & embossed then glued onto a layered tag (that was painted with gesso.)

make layered stitched flowers

Free primas, my fave. I have more time than money, ;o) so homemade flowers are a mainstay for me. The cardstock layer on this makes the thin designer paper sturdy enough to stitch, but it also made the petals easy to shape...

• Flower punch/die (or hand cut one)
  
• Patterned paper
• White & brown cardstock
• Button
• Copic markers
  
• Paper piercer
  
• Needle & thread
• Scissors
• Tombow monomulti

Step 1) Punch 2 flower shapes out of patterned paper. (I used the 5-petal flower punch from Stampin' Up!)

Step 2) Glue them onto white cardstock. (I like Tombow monomulti & I avoid adding any to areas where I'm going to stitch.)

Step 3) To create a thin mat around the flower: just cut around the patterned paper. Nothing revolutionary, but very free and kinda neat since it gives you a nested punch look and you can make as many layers as you like.

Step 4) Pierce & stitch each flower.

Step 5) Layer one flower on top & add a circle of brown cardstock & the button.

Step 6) Pierce holes into the paper layers through the button & stitch it on.

If your button is bad like mine & it won't stay in place, Tombow Monomulti is handy :O)...

Tombow in sneaky areas:


Tombow in really really sneaky areas:

-3-

With Copic Markers

Do you work with a concrete plan? I usually only have a rough plan at best, so a lot of things I end up doing are 'afterthoughts.' I find Copics are one of my favourite mediums for last minute ideas, since they have those brush tips that can get into detailed areas and they'll stick to anything.

Colouring cardstock between stitched areas:



I love to Copic colour edges for emphasis...


but this was the first time I tried Copic colouring the areas between stitching. If you have a machine with fancy stitches this might be extra fun. :O) Of course, any marker would work, but Copics have the advantage of being slightly removable with colourless blender if you slip (which I did.) ;O)



If you're using light coloured thread & you're concerned about getting Copic on it, then you could work in this order:

1) Pierce area for stitching
2) Colour it
3) Stitch

Overly obvious probably, but I always think there could be a beginner reading (or someone who thinks backwards like me!) :O)

Copic marker on buttons:




Colour patterned buttons...



or make Copic distress buttons--add a bit of colour on a colourless blender to bring out the pattern:

and there ya have it....

(free buttons)

If you like buttons but you want to save money, you can cut buttons off of shirts or other clothes that are too ratty to donate. A Martha Stewart trick: anything looks snazzy in plenty, so even the plainest button can be cute if there's enough of it. Neutral buttons get all snazzified with coloured threads. :O) Now I can't wait for C's shirts to wear out, muhaha!

To be really green, you could use the fabric from old clothes for embossing or stamping on (more about fabric in this other post.)

Button Storage idea:

Sliding buttons on safety pins can keep them together for quick use and it prevents scratching. I keep them in this open dish for a quick grab.

Lots of links for
button projects here:


(Stunning Cardstock)

The chocolate-y paper this card was made with Prism cardstock (called "Suede Brown Dark") I'm so excited about it: Paper Garden Projects is carrying Prism cardstock now!!! I'd never used it before now. It is HOT! and what a treat to lift up those poor ol' mojo spirits with new colour combos.

These little squares of it don't do it a bit of justice, so I just have to rave a little bit. :O) The nicest elements of the Prism cardstock (IMHO):

• Yummy texture (like high-end coldpress watercolour paper)
• How well their colours coordinate with each other
• How the colour is saturated and rich but slightly muted so it's ultra classy
• The weight--luxuriously just right! (not too light at all & not too heavy)
• And of course the price--0.35 cents. Especially affordable with the free shipping (US orders over $35.00) or $7.00 for Canadian orders...

I sound like a used car salesman, I'm sure, but I know that you know what it's like to really really REALLY love paper. There are so many colours too. :O)

Whacked out experiments with
Impressabilities resist technique here:

made with Spellbinders' Impressabilities

Thanks so much for visiting;
I've been missing you SO much!!!
:O)

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