Your Delicacy

Finally, here's the finished layout using the techniques that I've shared this few days. It's a layout about Chloe and her yummy little thumb. Somehow, I can see how much she enjoys her "delicacy" in that photograph. Therefore, I've vision her in this gorgeous restaurant which chandeliers, lace table clothes and loads of jewel tones. That's how my inspirations comes!

Here are the steps.

1) I've used a white card stock as the base for this layout. Distress the edges using the scissors distressing technique and ink it with vintage photo and brushed corduroy distress ink.

2) I've used 3 sheets of pattern paper from the Basic Grey Mellow line to layer behind the photograph. All layers had been distressed using the scissors distressing technique and ink with frayed burlap distress ink.

3) On the first layer, stamp some details along the upper edge and add some lace flowers (which had been cut in halves and inked with distress ink) with mini brads. Use some glitters (Stickles) to add some bling to the stamped images.

4) Distress the photograph using the "Distressing your Photographs using Hole Punchers" technique and attach it to the middle of the page.

5) I've hand drawn a huge swirl on a pattern paper and cut it out. Ink the edges with distress ink and paste it to the bottom of the page.

6) Stencil and drawn some small circles all over the area around the swirl.

7) Distress the bottom of the page using the "Creating Distressed Marks" technique.

8) The flowers are created using the "Flowers using Perfect Pearls" technique and place all around the swirls.

9) The chandelier is actually a recycle packaging from my recent new stamp from Heidi Swapp. "Recycle your Clear Stamps Packaging" tip. Add lots of glitters (Stickles) to it for some glamour bling look. I've also stitched on the top of it to give the look of it being hang down from the top.

10) I've printed out the title from my computer and cut it out. Ink the edges using distress ink and attach it to the page using some foam adhesives for dimension.

This is such a fun layout to do for me as most of you know I just love to play with new techniques. I hope I've not disappoint anyone with this finished layout of mine. Happy creating remember, it's all about having fun too!

Sources: Card stock: Bazzill; Pattern Paper: Basic Grey, Scenic Route; Stamps: Making Memories; Inks: Ranger Distress Ink, Ranger Adirondack Ink Pad, Ranger Perfect Medium; Others: Ranger Perfect Pearls, Ranger Stickles, lace flowers, mini brads, zig pens, uni-ball signo gel pen, recycle packaging of Heidi Swapp clear stamp.

Creating Distressed Marks

I bet most of you might have waited anxiously to see my finished layout using the last few techniques I've shared. But before I upload it, I would liked to share another technique that I've used on that layout. It's the "Creating Distressed Marks" technique. This is also a very simple technique and adds some cool distressed marks on your project.

Here are the steps.

1) Fold the area that you want to create your distressed marks against the edge of your table. This will create a folded line.
2) While it's still folded against the edge of your table, use a sponge with some distress ink and lightly rub against the folded edge to create a distressed mark on your page or paper.
3) Repeat the above steps as many times as you desire to create some distressed marks on your project.

This technique is so simple that anyone can do it in seconds. I will be uploading my finished layout in my next post. Keep an eye for it!

Distressing your Photographs using Hole Punchers

Some of you must be thinking, am I out of my mind?....lol! Well, when my husband sees me doing this, he asked the same question. My answer is, this is "me"!

To distress your photographs using this technique, simply just punch holes randomly on the corners of the photograph. Then, tear part of it away. Leaving a "chewed off " look on the edges. Ink the punched area with some distress ink.

It might not look great in the picture above and you might be a little hesitate to try this now. But I bet you'll like the effect when I upload my project tomorrow. It really adds some cool effects to your project.

What is "Perfect Pearls" and "Perfect Medium"?

This is a post to explain a little about "Perfect Pearls" and "Perfect Medium". Recently, I've won some of these "Perfect Pearls" in a Ranger Contest Online ad I've been experimenting with in in various of my projects. I've received some emails and comments here asking me about these products? Therefore, I've decided to go ahead and explain it in more detail here.

"Perfect Pearls"are pigment powders which consist of built in resin for amazing combinations in wet or dry. You can absolutely mixed it with paints, inks, watercolours or just use it dry to get a pearlescent effect. They come in various colours. You can get them in kits where you'll get a small brush for applying your powders and a bigger brush for dusting off excess powders from your project.

They also include a "Perfect Medium" in the kit which works perfectly with the "Perfect Pearls". You can also get a bigger "Perfect Medium" pad separately. Just simply stamp any images or rub it against any surface before you apply the pigment powders on your project. It works just liked any embossing ink when you're heat embossing. The difference is that your using pigment powders and you set it using just a mist of water instead of the heating tool. "Perfect Medium" is also great as an embossing ink, watermark stamping and even a resist ink. I'll try to incorporate these in some of my future projects to let you all have a better idea of how to do this.

"Perfect Medium" do also comes in pens form. They comes in a set of a brush tip and a bullet tip. You can definitely let your creativity fly with these pens and some perfect pearls.

I just love how these products from Ranger Ink had inspired me! If you're hesitate to buy all the range of perfect pearls available, I would suggest getting just a kit to start you off! Try it!

Flowers using Perfect Pearls

This is a technique that I've used while creating some flowers for my recent layout which I will be uploading in a one or two days time. With "Perfect Pearls", you'll be able to create your one of a kind flower that shines and glows.

Here are the steps to it.

1) Cut out some flowers out of black card stock or dark coloured card stock. I've used a chipboard flower as a template to cut out my flowers in the pictures above.

2) Stamp some images onto the flower using the "perfect medium". (You can absolutely use any stamp images for this)

3) Dust some perfect pearls onto the stamped images. You could mix a few colours of perfect pearls in this step. I've used Interference Green and Heirloom Gold for my flowers above. Use a dry brush to brush off any excess perfect pearls on your images.

4) Mist some water over the images to set the perfect pearls. Let it dry completely.

5) Curl the flower using a scissors or twizzer and fold the petals upwards.

Try creating your own "Perfect Pearls" flowers in your next project!

Love Card

This is another card that I've created for "Pandora Willow Tree". The stamped image is from Ying, a great friend of mine.

Here's the steps.

1) Use a white card stock to create the base card. I've used the "Create your own Scallop Paper Template" technique to create the template for the scallop edge on the right of the card. Ink the edges of the base card using frayed burlap distress ink.

2) Cut out a square piece from a pattern paper. Ink the edges using vintage photo distress ink and paste it in the middle of the card.

3) Paste your image created using the "Split Negative Embossing" technique onto a card stock. Leave some space between the pieces to create a faux window look. Ink the edges of the card stock with frayed burlap distress ink and paste it on the upper half of the card.

4) Use a doodling pen and doodle a row of zig-zag stitches on the right border of the card.

5) Stamp and colour the magnolia image using watercolour pencils. Doodle the dress using doodling pen and add glitters (Stickles) for more details. Attach it to the card using a foam adhesive or pop up adhesive.

6) Stamp your sentiment on the lower left of the card and add two small flowers to it.

7) Tie a ribbon on the left of the card (following the fold).

Sources: Card stock: Bazzill; Pattern Paper: Basic Grey; Stamp: Stampin' Up, Heidi Swapp, Magnolia; Ink: Ranger Distress Ink, Ranger Embossing Ink, Ranger Adirondack Ink Pad; Others: Embossing powders, ribbon, flowers, zig pen, watercolour pencils, glue dots and other adhesives.

Celebrate Card

Here's just a very fast and simple card for a friend.

Here are the steps.
1) Cut and fold a rectangular card out of black card stock. Stamp an image randomly all over the card using a white pigment or solvent ink.

2) Cut a rectangle piece out of a pattern paper. (I've used a blue pattern paper in my card above). Distress the edges using the "Scissors Distressing" technique and ink it using vintage photo distress ink.

3) Use the "Split Negative Embossing" technique to create the image in the middle of the card. Arrange and paste them onto a rectangular piece of brown card stock. Attach the brown card stock onto the middle of the pattern paper.

4) Add a strip of lace on the lower edge of the pattern paper.

5) Add a flower on the left of the card. Stamp your sentiment onto a champagne card stock and cut it out. Ink the edges with vintage photo distress ink. Paste it on the lower right corner of the card.

I just love how the image using "Split Negative" technique turned out. It gave an artistic look to the card.

Sources: Card stock: Bazzill; Pattern Paper: Basic Grey; Stamp: Stampin' Up; Ink: Ranger Distress Ink, Hampton Art, Ranger Embossing Ink, Ranger Adirondack Ink Pad; Others: Embossing powders, Prima Flowers, brad (Making Memories), glue dots and other adhesives.

Split Negative Embossing

This is a technique that I've came across in one of the forum challenges that I'm in. It's such a fun and awesome technique that I hope you all would give it a try. It's actually very simple.

Here are the steps:

1) First use a stamp (preferable a large stamp) and some embossing ink to stamp on a black and a white card stock. Cover the image on the black card stock with white embossing powders and the one on white card stock with black embossing powders. Heat embossed both images. You will now have an image with it's negative to work with.

2) Place both card stocks together and cut both of them on the exact spot. You can cut them into halves of quarters. I've cut mine into quarters. Then, mix them up to form your complete image. You can create up to two projects with these pieces.

You'll see my finished projects in my next two posts.

"For You" (Altered Notebook)

Did I tell you all that I'm a DT of Pandora Willow Tree as well? It's actually a very newly opened online store by a friend of mine. It will be one of the first to carry magnolia stamps in the States. Here's another project that I've created for Pandora Willow Tree and the magnolia is a stamped image from a great friend of mine! Thanks Ying! (I'm actually still waiting for the first batch of magnolia stamps to arrive from them) .

Here are the steps:

1) Get yourself a small notebook from any regular stationery stores. I've chosen a grey covered notebook for this project.

2) Add a strip of pink and black pattern paper towards the bottom of the cover. (You can use any kind of pattern paper for this but try to coordinate it with the overall look of the altered notebook). Use a decorative scissors to scallop one of the edge of the strip. Ink with black soot distress ink on all the edges.

3) Add a strip of white card stock on top of the pattern paper slightly overlapping their edges. Create some faux stitching using a zig pen or black doodling pen on it. Use a decorative scissors to scallop one of the edge too. Ink it's edges with tattered rose distress ink.

4) Add a black sheer ribbon to cover the other edge of the white card stock. You could use glue dots to do this easily.

5) Cut a circle from a black card stock and doodle it using a white doodling pen. I've stamped the word "For You" using some pigment ink on it too. Attach this on the upper right of the cover.

6) I've coloured the magnolia image with some watercolours pencils. Add some doodling with zig pens and glittered (silver Stickles) part of it. Attach the image to the cover using some foam adhesive for some dimension.

7) Covered some raw chipboard hearts with aged mahogany crackle paint. Let it dry and ink the edges and the cracks with some black soot distress ink. Use some silver Stickles to doodle a heart in middle of one of the hearts and outline it with a zig pen.

8) Trace a chipboard flower to a pattern paper and cut it out. Ink the edges with black soot distress ink and curl the petals with a scissors or twizzer. Add a pink crystal heart in the middle of it and paste it on the left of the cover. Add some glossy accents to give a "wet" look to the flower.

This is a very easy altered notebook which is perfect as a gift. So for all your magnolia stamps fans, do check out Pandora Willow Tree when they're officially open for business at the end of this month.

Sources: Card stock: Bazzill; Pattern Paper: K and Company; Stamps: Magnolia; Ink: Ranger Distress Ink, Tsukineko Staz On, Hampton Art; Others: a regular notebook, uni-ball signo gel pen, Ranger Stickles, watercolour pencils, Ranger Crackle Paint, Ranger Glossy Accents, sheer ribbons, glue dots and other adhesives.

Thoughts Of You Card

This is my last project for "Queenscraps" August Kit and I'm surprised to find out that the kit is now already "sold out". The owner of "Queenscraps" will be doing international shipping in their future kits. So for those of you who are not in the States, you'll be able to order from them too and there's a 25% off on your first order.

Here are the steps to this card.

1) Use the "Bazzill Embossed Butterfly" card stock as the base for this card. Cut and fold a square shape base for this card.

2) Cut another square piece from the Auckland card stock and ink it with frayed burlap distress ink on the edges. Use a pencil and lightly draw a square around the edges of this card stock and hand stitch on it. (Tip: Make the stitching holes first using pin and crafting foam underneath your card stock, before stitching.) Paste this card stock in the middle of the base card stock.

3) Cover the bottom edges of the Auckland card stock with a strip of adhesive paper ribbon included in the kit.

4) Stamp your sentiment on the Champagne card stock and cut it out. Ink the edges using frayed burlap distress ink. Attach it on the lower right of the card.

5) Use a regular flower from Prima or any other brands to create a template for the flower. You can scan them and adjust the size with your computer. Print it out and trace it onto your pattern papers. I've created 3 sizes from the same flower.

6) Use "Blue and Ivory Damask" pattern paper for the first layer, "Letter Stripes" pattern paper for the second and "Green Floral Damask" pattern paper for the last layer.

7) Stamp and heat embossed the first layer using some gold embossing powder. Use copper embossing powder for the second layer and black embossing powder for the third. Then, ink the edges of all three layers with frayed burlap distress ink for the first layer and black soot distress ink for the second and last layer.

8) Curl the petals pf the flowers using a your tip of your scissors or your twizzer for dimension and fold each petal up.

9) Attach three layers together and add an adhesive pearl in the middle.

10) Use a butterfly stamp (Autumn Leaves) and solvent ink to stamp on the Heidi Swapp ghost butterfly. Add some highlight to it using a white doodling pen and some gold glitters (Stickles). Attach the butterfly to the flower using some mini glue dots.

11) Lastly, attach the flower to the middle of the card.

I hope you all had enjoyed my series of projects using this August Kit. And just to let you all know, I still have loads of stuff left after all these projects.

Due to time constraint, I won't be designing their September Kit. But I will be designing the October and November Kit. So keep an eye for them here.

Sources: August Kit from Queenscraps: Card stock: Bazzill; Pattern Paper: K and Company; Embellishment: K and Company (adhesive paper ribbon), K and Company (adhesive pearl), Heidi Swapp (ghost butterfly). Others not included in the kit: Autumn Leaves (stamp), Ranger Distress Ink, Tsukineko Staz On, Ranger Embossing Ink and powders, uni-ball signo gel pen, Ranger Stickles, floss for stitching, glue dots and other adhesives.