YOU ARE A STRAIGHT UP GIFT TO HUMANITY CARD/THE CRAFTER'S WORKSHOP

Hello friends! It's been too long since I really played with my watercolors... so that's what I did and it felt sooooo good, getting messy. I'm going to share with you how to make these cards step by step and hopefully, it will inspire you to try this technique on your next project!

To begin, I mixed the Scarlet Colorsparx with water and painted a piece of watercolor paper that measured 2 1/2x3 3/4. I used a heat gun to speed up the drying time.

Once the base was completely dry, I pulled the Light and Fluffy Modeling Paste through the TCW935 Secret Garden stencil, making sure to apply a good amount of the paste and pull the paste from top to bottom in one fluid motion to prevent streaks.

 

 I used a card to go around the edges to smooth any excess paste from the edges.

After the Light and Fluffy paste was completely dry, I painted the patterns using a variety of Watercolor powders. The colors used on this card include: Scarlet, Lime Green, Marigold, Orange, Orchid and Cerulean Blue.

After the watercolor was completely dry, I used my fingers to rub acrylic paint all over in different areas. I had no idea how pretty acrylic paints would look against the watercolor!! Seriously, the combination is fantastic!

After the acrylic paint was completely dry, I mounted it to a 3x4 card. Then, I stamped the sentiment onto white cardstock and added it to the card with a few gems.

 Isn't this so cool!? I just love it. Thank you for visiting today!

READ/AMERICAN CRAFTS

Good morning! I'm sharing a layout I creating using the Stitched Together Kit that's available at Clique International. The patterns in this kit is absolutely beautiful and I just love the color scheme. 

It makes me so happy to see my nephew's love of books because his Aunt Nicole is an avid reader, too! My sister said he just propped himself up in the chair and grabbed a few books and was flipping through the pages. So freaking adorable!

I'm not sure how I feel about the plastic ephemera...  but I used them...and I kind of like how they look.

The die cuts are so cute... I especially love the kitty and bunny rabbit. :) I decided to place them on top of the book with the birdie, just for fun. 

I used the "cozy, simple, happy" sentiment from a cut-apart sheet and I cut the square from a patch-work paper to frame the photo. I really like how everything looks so great together... Let's not forget the gold thicker alphas with the pink shadow. Seriously... this thicker set is so pretty.

This kit is still available in the shop. Click here to grab yours today! Thank you for visiting today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARD/THE CRAFTER'S WORKSHOP

Happy Christmas friends! I'm back with a fun mixed media card I created with the TCW943 Garden Tile  stencil. I have been wanting to use this stencil for sometime now. I really like the pattern.  I thought it would be pretty with three different shades of purple inks... so I decided to create this monochromatic birthday card!

To begin, I made a card from white cardstock to measure 3x4 when folded. Next, I taped the stencil down using washi tape. 

Then, I started blending the colors from the darkest at the top, to the lightest towards the bottom.

To complete the card, I stamped the happy birthday sentiment from Ink Road's Amazing Human stamp set onto a scrap piece of white cardstock using purple ink and then cut it out and mounted it to the bottom of the card. Then, I glued the buttons and gems. Super simple, but very pretty! I always need a card...especially birthday cards, which I need to make more of!

Thanks for visiting today and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas day!

FLORAL IRON-ON-INK WINE BAG/THE CRAFTER'S WORKSHOP

Good morning friends! I felt like creating something bright and fun with lots of patterns...so I grabbed a stencil that I have yet to play with and my sublimation markers and made a wine bag for a gift! I'm going to share how easy it is to create patterns on polyester materials using those beautiful stencils that you have in your stash! If you're looking for sublimation materials to get started, click here to shop at Artesprix! 

Disclaimer: "The Crafter's Workshop provided me with product to create this project. The opinions I share are solely my own."

What are Sublimation Markers?

Sublimation Markers contain specifically formulated iron on ink. Use them to draw/color on plain copy paper, then heat transfer your creation on a variety of polyester items. The image will transfer completely once activated with heat.

To begin, I traced the wine bag onto a piece of plain copy paper with a pencil. That way, I knew how much space I had to work with.

Next, I taped down the TCW654 Chica Doodles 12x12 stencil over the copy paper using washi tape to hold the stencil in place.

Pro Tip: Set your heat press at 400 degrees Fahrenheit with a transfer time of 45-50 seconds. You can use a regular home iron, just be sure to remove all of the water.

Then I grabbed a few bright sublimation markers and colored in the images. This is the fun part... turn on your Itunes and just enjoy the process. I find that coloring relaxes me!

Carefully remove the stencil from the paper. Doesn't this look beautiful! It makes me super happy!! If you prefer...you can do both sides. You would just repeat this process onto another piece of paper. Once one side goes through the heat press, you can repeat the process on the back of the bag.

Using heat tape, tape down the bag onto the image. Make sure the image is face up towards the bag.

Place a piece of Protective Paper at the top and bottom of your bag. Then place your "Sublimation Sandwich" inside the heat press for 45-50 seconds Fahrenheit.

Here is what it looks like with the bottle. Super cute! What do you think? Are you ready to give sublimation a try!? I started a few years ago because I was looking to try something new and honestly, I have so much fun playing with all the different blanks and markers!

Thank you for stopping by today. Don't forget to check out Artesprix's sublimation products, here!

**This post may contain affiliate links. That means that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated.**

HAPPY HOLIDAYS SUBLIMATIION PHOTO FRAME/ARTESPRIX

Hello! Nicole here with another holiday project I created using the Frame! Just when I thought I had enough of gnomes, I went and bought some more stamps, but they are super cute and I couldn’t resist. You’ll see why, soon enough. By the end of this post, you’re going to want to make one of your own. Especially, if you’re a gnome lover, too!

What are Artesprix Sublimation Markers?

Magic Ink that transfers their beautiful colors from plain copy paper to a polyester product with a heat source. Iron-on-Ink Markers are the way to personalize sublimation, which is specially formulated inks that transfer only when activated with heat.

Materials:

Gnomie Botanical and Original Sublimation Markers

Blank Copy Paper

Frame

Trinity Stamps: Hanging Out, Gnome for the Holidays

Acrylic Stamp Block

Sublimation Ink Pad

Project Mat

Protective Paper

Heat Tape

Heat Source (Heat Press or Iron)

Step-by-Step Tutorial

Step 1: Trace your frame onto a plain piece of copy paper using a pencil. That way you know how much space you have to work with. The frame is a great size with lots of room to get creative. There’s room for lots of stamping. So fun!

Pro Tip: Set your heat press at 400 degrees Fahrenheit with a transfer time of 30 seconds before you start working on your frame. That way, the heat press will be hot enough to sublimate your images when you are finished.

Step 2:  Stamp images onto a sheet of copy paper using the Sublimation Ink Pad. Tip: Before you stamp on your main project copy paper, you may want to stamp your image on a scrap piece of paper a few times. Sometimes, the ink does not cling to stamps too well, which doesn’t always give you a crisp image. You can eliminate this issue just by stamping on a scrap piece of paper a few times… Trust me! 

Step 3: Place clear film from the stamp set behind paper to trace a mirror image of the text against the window where there is a lot of light. 

Step 4: Color in the images using your sublimation markers. 

Step 5: Using heat tape, tape down the frame with the images faced-up. 

Step 7: Place a piece of Protective Paper at the top and bottom of your frame.  

Step 7: Place your "Sublimation Sandwich" inside the heat press for 30 seconds at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Step 8: Take a little peep test to make sure the colors are vibrant.

Step 9:  Carefully, remove the frame from the heat press using gloves. Then place the frame onto the Project Mat to cool down. After a minute or two, remove the paper and heat tape to reveal your vivid designs! 

Step 10: Assemble picture frame as desired, vertically. Place protective mylar film in the picture frame before assembling.

What do you think? Are you ready to make one of your own? I just love it so much! Thank you for visiting today! If you enjoyed this tutorial, check out my Wine Caddie post. It’s super cute! Looking to make your first purchase? Click here to shop for Artesprix products through my affiliate link! Click here to shop Trinity Stamps!

Stay Crafty! Nicole

**This post may contain affiliate links. That means that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated.**

PURE JOY/STUDIO FORTY

 Good morning friends! I'm back with another layout and card I created for the holidays! The Frosty Season Collection is such a great collection and I really enjoyed using this collection for my December Daily this year. Just recently, my sister took Henry out to look for the perfect tree. The look on his face is pure joy!

I cut a few giant snowflakes from patterned paper using my metal dies from Trinity Stamps using my Sizzix machine. Then I added the chipboard pieces.

I stamped the bow onto white cardstock and then colored it in using a red alcohol marker. Then, I fussy cut the image very carefully and glued it to the corner of the chipboard frame.

I used a variety of stamps and markers to create the holly branch, snowflakes and birdie at the top! Seriously, I just love how this turned out...it's so pretty. I glued the tiny blue gems to add a little sparkle to the snowflakes.

Here is another book marker I created using  the metal book mark die from Trinity Stamps. I used stamps from Studio Forty along with Altenew's markers.

I'm thinking this year...for my special friends...I'm going to make cards. His a simple card I created using a few stamps and markers. I love the simplicity of this card!

I think the next time I make this card, I'm going to stamp the Merry Christmas in red and green ink to make it pop a little more.

As you can see... this was super simple to make. This card is about 3 1/2x4. I love working on a smaller surface for cards.

What do you think? Are you ready to make something with this beautiful collection and start using stamps on your projects. Thank you so much for visiting today and Happy Holidays!

**This post may contain affiliate links. That means that I may receive compensation if you purchase through the links I have provided. The price you pay for the product or service is not higher, but I may get compensated.**