Copic Airbrushing and Colorless Blender Tutorial

 Hi ya everyone!  Melissa from Melissa Made here to share with you today!  Thank you to the sweet Pam for allowing me to share on her blog.  Anyone that follows my blog or knows me personally understands my love for my Copics.

( Copic colors used for project)

I've found one more way to enjoy them as well and that's using the Airbrush System (ABS 1) with Copics.

 (ABS 1 System can be purchased at iCopic)

 I really want to purchase an air compressor for use with the airbrush but still haven't bitten the bullet.  This tutorial will show you a simple way to make a fun background for your cards.

 (Tiddly Inks image Donna)

Using Copics with a background allows you to color your image using the same colors so that everything matches perfectly!

I hope you enjoyed this brief tutorial.  If you have any questions please feel free to ask in the comments section.  For more fun projects visit Melissa Made.

Thank you!

Diet Coke Can Flowers

Hi Everyone, Beth here from Thunderbirdlindybydesign.  Today I want to share with you diet Coke can flowers.  I am not sure if this has been posted on The Bug Bytes before, but I want to share with you my technique.

Gather empty soda cans, or beer cans(anything will work as long as it's silver on the inside) Adirondack Alcohol Inks, Sizzix or any flower die,  Die Cutting machine, Mcgill Tools, soft surface, Round pliers, 12 year old daughter.

My daughter loves to cut up the cans and cut these out using my sizzix, and then she hands them over to me to finish.  She experiments all the time with my different dies.  She even uses embossing folder on the metal.  It works swell.  The cans can be kind of sharp, but regular scissors can cut them no problem.  Just be careful

Here is the right side of the can, turn them over and using the inks and inking tool, ink the back side.  Wait till the inks dry for the next step. 

Here they are colored.

Mcgill makes a thick mouse like pad you can shape flowers on, I have one but can't find it, so I use a special mouse pad with lots of silicone in it and a place to rest your wrist.  I use the wrist part to shape my flowers on. 

Using the Mcgill tool, press the flower into the pad and rotate the tool in a circle.

Here is the flower cupped

Taking the round nose pliers after you get the flower cupped, bend the petals back around the tool.

I use 3 larger flowers and 3 smaller floweres for each flower.  I also use hot glue to assemble them.  Hot Glue is my friend.  When you assemble, rotate each flower so the petals do not line up and are offset.

Here are some flowers done on a project.  They are very Steampunkish.  You can manipulate them more once you get them done.  Just add whatever you would like in the middle of the last flower for a center.

Thanks so much Pam for having me as a guest designer.

Beth.

Nonna's Tissue Paper Tape

Hi all! This is Jeannie with Nonna's Scraps coming to share another use of plain old tissue in making your own tape. But this time, I use my home printer!

 

4" square aperature card with opening of 3"

3" square cardstock

Doodle Pantry Irish Birdie

Green cardstock
blue painter's tape
tissue paper cut 4.75 x 10"
White cardstock
Xyron creative Station with adhesive

I-rock jewels

Border punch (lace)

1. Print the Birdie at 2.8" and the digital stamp at 1". Trim in the desired shape.
2. From the Dark green cardstock cut: 1 mat to fit around the aperture (1/2"), a mat for the bird and a mat for the digital stamp. 
3. Create the tissue tape. 

I wanted  to create the look of lace for my card. I found the easiest way was to simply punch the 4.75" with and then trim the strip at 1/2". This part of the process was frustrating as my punch kept jamming. But it was worth it! 

Adding the tape to the dark green mat was most efficient when I peeled the backing away as I applied it. I then covered the 3" square of cardstock in a 3.25" piece of the tissue. I adhered this to the inside of the card so that it was visible through the opening. I finished the card as you see it. 

All in all, I loved the look! I hope you enjoy making your own custom tissue tape, too. 

One for the Money!!!

Hey Everyone,
LisaB here from Rather B Scrappin,

Early this month One for the Money movie came out based on the book by Janet Evanovich. I love her books. I went to the midnight showing of the movie. I was planning on buying a shirt for the event but completely forgot until the night before. So off to the craft store I went.

I found these iron-ons at Joanns. It came with 4 sheets of 8.5x11.

I got the shirt at Wal-Mart and cut the images out on the cricut. It was super easy!

In case you guys have not read the books. Joe is one of the main characters and he calls Stephanie Plum (another main character) Cupcake.

The shirt works perfectly as my husband's name is also Joe.

and the back of the shirrt.

I hope I was able to inspire you today! Thanks for stopping by and checking out the Bugbytes!

Until next time!

Baby Onesies

Hello everyone! Allison here from Goody Bag Diva and I can't believe it is time again for my turn again at here The BugBytes! and that just a few days after this I will get to meet Pam in person! You should all be very very scared at what mischief we will be getting ourselves into - I can't wait!

I thought this month I would share some baby onesies that I created for a friend using heat transfer vinyl - easy peasy and very quick!

 If you haven't tried it yet, heat transfer vinyl is quick and easy - you have to remember to flip the image before cutting so that when you cut it out the image is in reverse ready to be ironed on.


The details: 

 This onesie uses the Street Sign font cut at 2.20 inches. I lifted this phrase off onesies I saw on pinterest - I thought it was cute and it really fit nicely the mom's humor.

This onesie uses an airplane from Everyday PopUp Card (2.20 inches) ,and the font is from Nifty Fifties (1 inch). This was a big hit because it was an ariplane-themed shower so I was pleased it turned out so well.
I apologize for the drive-by posting but I have lots to do and not a lot of time - it's hard work planning to get ready for trouble!

Homemade Washi Tape -- Woooohoooo !

Hi everyone!  It's Debbie O'Neal here from Debs Eclectic Thoughts to share something really fun with you today!

Washi tape is all the rage in the paper crafts world right now.  And while I LOVE it, I really don't like how expensive it is to have a big selection in my stash.  So I made some of my own !

It's pretty easy and I really enjoyed coming up with lots of different patterns and colors to use on my projects.

Here are the steps to make your own Washi Tape:

1. You need to get some Score Tape by ScorPal.  I used the 1" score tape but any size will work.  This is a double sided tape where both sides are sticky with one side having a paper lining.

2. Tear off as long of a strip as you like. I made several 12" strips.  I laid them lining side down on my craft mat with the sticky side up.

3. I took plain white tissue paper (like you wrap gifts with) and pressed tissue over each piece of the tape, smoothing it as I went along. You could use colored tissue as well...I just didn't have any to try.

4. Flip the tape over and trim excess tissue paper from the sides with your scissors.

5. Now the real fun begins ! You can color your washi tape using any misting inks such as Tattered Angels, Mr. Huey, Maya Road.  Just spray the color on, then lay a paper towel over the top to soak up the excess. I left a few plain white too.

6. Let the misted strips air dry....I hate to wait so I put a fan on them to dry a little faster.  DO NOT use your heat gun on them as you don't want to melt the adhesive tape.

7. I added various stamps from my stash over the top of the dry misted tape strips.  Different texture stamps or numbers, script fonts, various shapes...you name it, you can add it to make some really adorable Washi Tape. I used various colors of ink for the images.

Here are some samples of the homemade Washi Tapes I made in less than an hour.  I am addicted to making more for every occassion now.  Hope it inspires you to make your own !

SAVE THOSE BISCUIT OR CONCENTRATED JUICE TIN LIDS

Hello, everyone!!!  This is Audrey and I'm so glad to be back.  It's been awhile and I've missed being here so much so that I'm going to just jump right on in and get started.

Pam, as always, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of a terrific design team!!!

Before I begin I'll tell you the idea for this project came some ago.  During visits to Michael's I'd seen these little scroll boxes but never purchased one because they looked so simple to make.  As I really had forgotten my DT project was due and needed something that could be done quickly, I decided this was a perfect time to take up the challenge to do this box, and I'm taking you right along with me.  This box was completed on my first attempt for my project today, so I was completing the actual project as I was doing the step-by-step tutorial.  This means it's a really easy box to do, but please take time and don't rush yours like I did mine -- just give yourself about 15-20 minutes of patience; that's about how long it should take to put this box together.

Now for my scroll box project.  This is the front of my box:

This is a view of the back:

And this is a side view:

Here's what you'll need:

2 - biscuit or juice can lids

1- sheet of 6"x11" sheet kraft cardstock for base (and stability)

1- sheet 12"x12" decorative paper: 

• cut 12'x 12" paper down the middle and cut off 1" from the 12" end on one of the halves.  This will give you an 8.50" x 11" to cover your kraft cardstock base. 
• With the remaining 6"x6" of decorative paper, using one of the tin lids, trace and cut out four (4) circles.
• Beads or trim (your preference)
• A small doorknop (or you can glue a button to a pony bead to serve the same purpose)
• A length of ribbon long enough to wrap around the container twice -- about 2 feet (if the ribbon is too long you can alter/cut off any additional remainder after the box is complete)
• Any other embellishments you prefer
• Hot glue

Let's begin the tutorial!!!  First we're going to glue the decorative cardstock to the kraft cardstock.  As you'll see in the picture below I cut out a decorative edge for the top lid of my box -- this is optional; the preference is up to you.  Also, I wanted my kraft paper to slow slightly beneath the decorative paper, so I push the decorative paper back slightly before gluing the papers together.  The decorative side will be the top of the box:

Next, take the 4 circle cut-outs and the 2 lids; attach 1 circle to the top and bottom of each of the tin lids:

Now you're going to turn over the 8.50" x 11" papers which you've glued together to the opposite side; add about an inch of hot glue to each bottom side of the panel and immediately place your tin lids into the glue along the edges of the panel (hold until hot glue cools to hold the lids in place).  Make certain to align the lids evenly along the edges:

Continue adding hot glue along the edges (about 1/2 way along the edges) and carefully rolling the lids along the edges into place -- holding them until the glue cools as you go -- until you have an open box that looks like this:

To get the box to conform more to the circular shape, at this point I fold the top open lid down and roll the box back and forth several times:

Okay, time to start finishing it off.  Add beads or trim along the edges of your box.  This will hide any imperfections or hot glue build-up that may have occurred.  (This is also why I said to be patient and take your time).  Here's what my box looked like after I added the beads:

(as you can see I didn't take my time and rushed when gluing the tins along the edges -- TAKE YOUR TIME HERE!)

Finally, it's time to add your doorknob and ribbon closure!  I made my doorknob with polymer clay  to match the Graphics 45 paper, however, you may already have a small one -- or you can use my recipe noted in my "What you'll need for this project" list above.  Before attaching the doorknob to the lid of the box, you'll need to glue one end of the ribbon to the bottom of the doorknob like this:

Next, glue the knob to the bottom center lid of the box with the ribbon coming down the front:

To close the box, wrap ribbon around the box and then wrap around the knob to secure:

Hooray, your box is done!!!  However, I'm sure you'll want to add more to further embellish yours just as I did!!!  I added loads of stickles, flowers, a ribbon, more beads and even added a handmade polymer clay lock!

I hope you like my quick project!  You can fill it with cookies, candy, a bottle of lotion or cologne, socks, soaps -- use your imagination!

If you have any questions/comments, please post them on my blog and I'll get back to you.  You can reach me by double clicking my name at the top of the page -- it's a direct link!

Thanks for stopping by, and...

I'll be seeing you!

Butterflies and Flowers

Hi
This is Pam from Papillondigitaldesigns  today on Papercraft Weekend Challenge.
Thank you Allison and Caroline for having me as your designer today.
It's a bit cold in Texas but warm colorful spring is almost here! And nothing says spring like flowers and butterflies. So today on Theme Friday of course I had to make something with both.
Not quite spring yet so I chose not to do very colorful.

This was cut with silhouette sd. and the card is just 4 x 4 inches. For intricate cuts silhouette is the way to go!

A peek at the silhouette file

The card base is just 2 rounded rectangles welded together. The intricate butterfly lace is a design from silhouette online store - http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com/v2/viewShape.aspx?id=22873
Now I did not want to cut the lace out So I first inserted the mat and used a silhouette pen to trace the butterfly on to a kraft cardstock. While doing this make sure to set the card base to "no cut" (in the scissor or cut window) and just the butterfly lace to "cut" . Then after drawing the silhouette goes back to original position . DO NOT UNLOAD THE MAT. But just change your marker to blade - I used the red blade at settings 3 & 33 (ie depth and speed) - and then cut.
Next I created another file which I cut with white cardstock - again using the marker for just the sentiment "Thank you".

Then I stickled the butterfly lace design on the front with diamond stickles. I colored parts of the  scalloped butterfly doily with copic markers and stickled and blinged them. I also colored just the leaf in the  oval leaf frame  and just a dab of color in the flower corner (butterfly doily - http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com/v2/viewShape.aspx?id=18102 ;  oval leaf frame - http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com/v2/viewShape.aspx?id=13873 & flower corner - http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com/v2/viewShape.aspx?id=3057 ) . I did cut a plain circle out thinking I would mat the scalloped circle but then decided not to.

Inside of the card

To just give an idea about the intricacy of the cuts here is the card next to a bic ball point pen (not the thicker gel pen but the smaller ball point pen - yep ! I am laying it on really thick aren't I ? But I just love the cameo and SD so just had to do it! Impressed ?)

Oh ! I added some pearls both the half pearl sticker and also used the perfect pearl pen apart from the stickles. I wanted to use those Candi that Caroline enabled but decided to save it and go with pearls as candi's were  a bit large for this card.

Twine Flowers

Hi, this is Michelle from Lady of Leisure Ink - thank you Pam for letting me come and play at your blog.

Last year I did a twine exchange with a group of crafty friends here in Colorado, and ended up with some beautiful twine.  We all chose a colour and dyed our own twine and enough for everyone else.  So now I have lots of very pretty twine and wanted to come up with a different way of using it - this is my idea, Twine Flowers.

You really don't need any special equipment to do this, if you have twine then I pretty sure you can find the rest of the items in your stash.  Here is what you need.

Chipboard or card from cereal boxes, a circle punch (mine is 1 3/4"), a pencil, a ruler, adhesive, dressmakers pins, a large darning type needle and twine.

First punch out your circles from the chipboard, take you ruler and pencil and mark one of the circles like this.

I usually draw 6 lines on mine to divide it up as you would for a clock-face.  There is no need to be exact on this.  Next take your adhesive and stick the circles together, leaving the lines you have made on the one circle outermost.  Take the pins and push them in between the circles about half way, in line with your pencil lines, like so.

Take your twine and start wrapping it around your 'loom'.  This is difficult to explain, but I took lots of pictures, so I hope that helps.  The way I try to do this is by winding my twine first around the '12 o'clock pin' and then taking it down and winding it around the '6 o'clock pin'.  Next take the twine up to '11 o'clock' and the down to '5 o'clock' ,and so on.

When you have been around the 'loom' once, go around again - each pin should have two loops of twine around it, and should look something like this.

Cut off the twine, leaving a long 'tail' (about 12") and thread the end through your needle.

Now you just need to secure all you flower by threading the needle through the back of the petals and back-stitching.  Hopefully the following pictures will show you exactly what I mean.

Continue in this manner until you have secured all the 'petals', your flower should look something like this.

Next take your needle and secure the thread by making a couple of stitches through the center of the flower - no need to be particularly neat as this will be the back of the flower.

The last step is to remove the pins, and your flower is all ready to use.

This is how I used my twine flowers, how will you use yours?

Thanks for stopping by.

Michelle