Make This Simple Faux Chalkboard for Handmade Cards

Who was your favorite teacher? I bet you have one - and if you're lucky you have two or three or ten! I have a handful of my own favorite teachers, plus as a mom I also have a handful of my children's favorite teachers - and I LOVE to shower them with handmade cards. Today's card will be darling to say, "Welcome back to school!" And the In The Classroom stamp set from Impression Obsession will be perfect for back to school scrapbook pages too!

(This post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may receive a compensation at no cost to you. Thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart!)

 I love how this little faux chalkboard turned out and it is SO easy to make. Trim a block of black cardstock for the chalkboard. Heat embossing white onto black cardstock instantly gives a chalkboard feel. Then mat the chalkboard on kraft or brown cardstock. (I embossed the kraft with a woodgrain embossing folder for a little added texture.) Trim a thin strip to add along the bottom for the chalk ledge.

TIP: To make your chalkboard look extra chalky, you can rub it with white chalk (duh) or PanPastel, or add a little white colored pencil. I left this one pretty crisp and "clean" because I liked the contrast. Try it both ways and see what you like! Check out another chalkboard I created here. 

To finish this card, I colored the stamped images with colored pencil, trimmed them and then assembled a little classroom scene. I like the way the blue strip grounds the scene and finishes off the classroom feel.

Today's post is part of  Old Is New day over on the Impression Obsession blog. It's easy (and fun) add the latest and greatest stamps and dies, but we want to find new ways to use the older and well-loved products too. The Old Is New blog hop celebrates the stamps and dies in our stash that have been faithfully loved! 

Thanks so much for stopping by today - and now, head to the Impression Obsession blog to find a link list of the designers participating in Old Is New! I'm sure they have some fabulous oldies-but-goodies to share with you!

Impression Obsession Supplies: In the Classroom Clear Stamp Set

Other Supplies: FSJ Color Burst Pure Color Pencils

If you loved this card, you might love these too!

Another fun and colorful back-to-school card along with three simple design tips 

to apply to YOUR cards

It's a Good Day for a Good Day - Monsters Head to School card! 

(With a faux chalkboard)

Let's connect again soon! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest where I'm sharing crafty goodness every day of the week! Don't want to miss a blog post? Click subscribe up in the sidebar!

PS. Do you LOVE that buffalo check planner I used in some of my photos? It is on clearance for SUCH an amazing deal. If you're looking for a planner, this one is OH SO CUTE.

Three Simple Tips That Will Strengthen Your Handmade Card Designs

Nobody panic - it's not time to go back to school. Yet. But with a cutie patootie clear stamp set like this, you might just be ready to start making a back-to-school card for next year's teacher. Or perhaps you have a stash of school photos to scrapbook? THIS is the perfect stamp set for both scrapbooking and cardmaking.

This post is part of the Impression Obsession's latest stamp and die release party, happening all this week! We have an awesome release of fall and winter stamps that you are going to LOVE. (And hey - it's really not too early to start thinking about Christmas cards either!)
Today I thought I'd share a few simple cardmaking tips that you can use on your next handmade card. Let's use today's card as an example:

1. Follow the rule of THREE

You'll notice on this card I used three black enamel dots. The placement of these dots tends to be my go-to move: two on one side, and one at the opposite side of my focal point. This also plays into the idea of visual triangles. (You know, a shape with THREE sides?) If you drew invisible lines to connect my enamel dots they would make a long skinny triangle. The rule of THREE keeps the eye moving around and around the card. 

2. Another THREE - In Small, Medium, Large

You might also notice that I have THREE stamped and colored images. That goes back to tip number one - but I also want to point out the size of those images. One image is clearly the largest, one medium, and one small. I positioned those images in that visual triangle. (There's those threes again. And that triangle shape!) But the size of each element helps to balance out the card, so the images don't compete for each other. 

3. Lines Help Define

Take a look at the lines on this card. There are two strips of washi tape that run horizontally across the card. And that black and white striped paper runs perpendicular to the washi - and they intersect right at the focal point of the card. (That colorful grid patterned paper accentuates the lines of the card even more!) These visual lines silently tell your eyes "Hey!! LOOK HERE!" 

How can you add the rule of three, small/medium/large, and lines that define into your next card?

I hope these cardmaking tips inspire you when you create your projects! And now, don't miss a single stop on the Impression Obsession blog hop - you'll find a list of participants each day on the Impression Obsession Blog at 6am.  

Every blog will have a $25 gift certificate to give away for the event - so the more you comment through our Release Celebration the more chances to win! All comments for all of the event days will be open until Sunday July 7th at noon CT. All winner will be announced on Tuesday July 9th.

This post contains affiliate links. When you shop through my links, I may receive a compensation at no cost to you. Thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart!

Impression Obsession Card Supplies: Teachers Favorites clear stamp set  (Find all the new stamps in the release: here in the IO Shop!)

Other supplies: Good Vibes Prints paper | FSJ cardstock | Color Burst Pure Color Pencils | (washi tape is from Hazel & Ruby and CTMH)

Let's connect again soon! Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest where I'm sharing crafty goodness every day of the week! Don't want to miss a blog post? Click subscribe up in the sidebar!

SEE YOU TOMORROW!

How to Stamp Adorable Monsters for Handmade Crafts

It IS a good day to have a good day, isn't it? What an encouraging sentiment for a kid or adult who's heading to school - or finishing up the school year!  The Eyes on You stamp set, with these adorable monsters could be geared a bit more for Halloween, but I wanted to give it a different spin - and don't they totally look like they're students from Monsters University?! 

(This post contains affiliate links. When you shop through my links, I may receive a small compensation - and I thank you from the bottom of my crafty heart!) 

To create this card, I used a lot of bits of Gel Press prints (I love to save pieces of prints I've made, that aren't quite right for what I'm doing - because eventually, they are perfect for what I'm doing! I just file them by color with my other cardstock scraps.) The only new print I made is the Turbo Teal background panel. Straight up Turbo Teal cardstock wasn't quite right, and this subtle print with a few streaks of Cosmic Grape was just right to tie my card together. 

Here's a TIP when using these sweet monsters on your own projects: You can adjust the height of the tall lanky monster, by doing some simple trimming. I shortened him up just a touch, so he would fit better on this card format, by cutting off the bottom part of his legs. I wanted to give him different color shoes anyway, so I restamped them on orange. But even if you don't want to restamp the shoes, just trim the "extra" portion of leg off and then reattach the shoes where they should be. (They are especially cute popped up on a foam square anyway!) 

Both monsters, and their accessories were stamped onto other Gel Press prints I had in my stash. I used a lot of bright florescent colors on this project which gives these monsters such personality, especially paired with their Monster Eyes and Spectacles!

I embossed my sentiment on black cardstock, and inked the edges, going for a chalkboard look. I matted it on Oatmeal Cookie cardstock which was embossed with the Barn Wall embossing folder.

Not gonna lie, I am totally in love with these monsters! They are the CUTEST. It was fun to give them some personality, and put them to use for a new purpose.  Thanks so much for stopping by today! xoxo

Supplies used on today's card:

Eyes on You Stamp Set 

Monster Eyes

Spectacle Fun (self-adhesive plastic glasses)

Remarkable You Stamp Set

Barn Wall Embossing Folder

Go Team Stamp Set

Journey Gel Press 

Apple of My Eye teacher cards, featuring {Lil' Inker Designs}

Hello friends! Welcome to Day 2 of the Lil' Inker Designs Blog Hop! I just love blog hop week, don't you?! So much inspiration and fun! Yesterday I shared some Halloween projects with you, and today I thought I'd share some apple projects! The Teacher Talk Stamps, and Apple Pieces Dies are just fabulous for fall projects. 

On the first card I mainly used the Apple Pieces dies. I die cut the whole set of dies in three colors and then pieced them together mixing and matching the colors. It was a lot of fun to create! Paired with a simple sentiment from the Teacher Talk stamps, this card came together really simply (especially with the Border Builders dies for that fun swirly strip!)

 And next, a teacher card - I'm going to send this card into one of my son's teachers, just to say "thank you and HOORAY we've made it through the first few weeks of school!" I created both background patterns using the stamp set, and then the Teacher Word Die as part of the sentiment.

 Thanks for hopping with us on Day 2 . . .stop back by tomorrow, my friends for the third and final day! Be sure to comment on each blog, each day, for a chance to win one of three $15 gift certificates to the Lil' Inker Designs store! All of the new products are in the store NOW, so head there after the hop to check out all the delicious goodies! See you tomorrow! xoxo

Here's the entire hop list in case you didn't start at the beginning!

LID Blog http://www.shoplilinker.blogspot.com/
Sarah Jay http://www.criminalgrace.com/ 
Heather Hoffman http://housesbuiltofcards.blogspot.com
Amy Kolling http://stamp-n-paradise.blogspot.com/
Lisa Henke http://mylittlecreativeescape.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Carter http://jensinkspot.blogspot.com/
Maureen Merritt http://www.mamamostamps.com/
Laura Williams http://lauralooloo.blogspot.com/ {YOU ARE HERE!!!!!}
Karen Baker http://thebalddragonfly.blogspot.com/
Chrissy Larson http://chrissycards.blogspot.com/

Lil' Inker Designs Store

Products used on today's projects:

Apple Pieces Die Set

 Teacher Talk Stamps

Teacher Word Die

Border Builders Dies

Dual Dotted Rectangles Dies

Winner, winner, and a book worm! {Echo Park}

Hey friends! Just wanted to pop in and let you all know that Ruth won the copy of Cool Tools Vol. 2! Woohooo! Congratulations Ruth! Get me your address, and I will pop it in the mail! Thanks to everyone who participated!

And I surely don't want to leave you without a card today. . . .

I created this with bits and pieces from Echo Park's Paper and Glue collection. I've used pretty much every little bit of this paper pack, and my kids helped me finish up the sticker sheet! So much goodness! 

Lots going on in the next two weeks, on the blog and in LIFE. Fall festivals galore, and some fun surprises around here are coming up! Eeek! Can't wait! Thanks so much for stopping by today!

xoxo

HERE! {sort of}

Hey friends - just checking in REALLY fast, to say HELLO!!!! I decided to take a few more weeks off from blogging to enjoy my kids' last weeks of summer vacation. But tomorrow I'm officially BACK. School starts on Monday, and I'm ready (sort of) to face this new chapter of family life, with all of my kids in school. Littlest man starts preschool, so I'll have a few hours to myself. I pretty much haven't been ALONE in 10 years. . . .so we'll see how it goes.

Be here tomorrow! I have a new card to share and I'm ready to get back to business!
Hugs, friends! See you then!

back to school!

My biggest went back to school last week, and I am super-pleased to say that he is off to a terrific start.

Little one thinks that he should be heading off to school, and he carries his backpack out every morning, complete with a packed-lunchbox snack (which he promptly eats as soon as big brother has been deposited at the school door.)

And in honor of the fresh start of the schoolyear, a card created for the Discount Cardstock blog.  Clean and simple and ready for school.  I'm pretty sure Mr. B's new teacher will be receiving this card somewhere along the way!  I used precious stamps from Paper Smooches.  I am obsessed with that tiny notebook paper.  It is SO cute.  And I used my smallest hole-punch to punch holes in the papers! LOVE!

card goodies: cardstock - Brilliant White (DiscountCardstock.com) stamps - Paper Smooches, ink - Close To My Heart, twine - The Twinery

Flowering Pencil Bouquet

I created this pencil bouquet tutorial for A Cherry On Top, as part of their National Scrapbooking Day celebration. Be sure to visit the ACOT website for all of the great tutorials and classes, that are still available! You'll find LOTS of great inspiration, and challenges to participate in!



This flowery bouquet, with pencil stems, is a fun teacher gift, but it's perfect for anyone whose desk needs brightening up! (And you're less likely to lose your pencils if they have cheery flowers on the ends of them!)

You can customize your flowers with any 12x12 patterned paper you have on hand. Paper with pattern on both sides works best.
Supplies I used:
-patterned paper (I used My Mind's Eye Lime Twist)
-Glue Dots, and/or two-sided tape
-buttons or brads
-pencils
-stapler
-hot glue gun

First, trim three strips of paper 9x1 inch.



Then trim three strips of a different paper 6x.5 inch.




I found that it helps to roll the smaller strips between your fingers to slightly curl them.
This will help them to bend, rather than fold, during the next two steps.



Roll each strip into a circle and adhere with liquid glue or tape adhesive.



Along the seam of your circles, stick a glue dot, or small length of two-sided tape, and squish your circle together gently.


Next, layer the three large squashed circles over top of each other to create a flower shape. These layers can be stapled in the center.
Then layer the three smaller ones together. Use a piercing tool to poke a hole through the center of the smaller flower layer, and attach a brad. If you'd like to use a button in the center instead, simply glue or staple the layers, and adhere a button over top. After that, stick the smaller flower on top of the larger one.


Use a hot glue gun to attach the flowers to the side of the pencil, near the top. Tie a green ribbon bow around the pencil for the leaves.



I chose to put my pencil bouquet into a glass jar, but a flower pot would be completely adorable too! Put buttons, beans, or a styrofoam block in the bottom to keep the pencils in place. After you decide on a container, simply tie a ribbon around it, and add a quick custom tag. I simply stamped a sentiment onto a diecut circle, and added a button.

EAD Monday Hopping!

Happy Monday! It's EAD Designs blog hop day! 

(You should have arrived here from Laura C's blog, 

but if not, head back to the EAD blog and start from the beginning!) 

These Monday hops are making the weeks feel like they are FLYING by! (Yikes!) Can you believe it's almost THANKSGIVING!?

Today I have a project combining the beautiful products from both EAD Designs, and Whisker Graphics.  (Be sure to see my previous post for more great EAD/WG inspiration, if you missed it!)  

This bag is THE cutest thing - a paper bag that looks like notebook paper?! GENIUS! I just love it.  I used EAD's Back To School Stickerz and created a fun little bag.  I think I'll put some hot cocoa packets, and a card in here for my little man's teacher.  

Well you've made it to the end of the hop for today! Thanks so much for coming by! Have a VERY happy Thanksgiving!

back to school (CPS 155)

I'm runnin' with the school theme right now. How can I help myself, with all the CUTE October Afternoon Report Card papers! I also used a little strip of lined paper, I think from (Creative Imaginations?) This is my CPS card for this week's sketch. You can check out the sketch, and all the designers projects throughout the week, HERE!

We are staying home from church this morning, while my little man finishes getting over his cold. He felt well enough to run around in the yard yesterday for a while, (the weather was soooo perfect! 60 degrees and sunny!) but he still sounds pretty crummy. I am going to take advantage of the lazy morning, put on some cartoons, and clean the bathroom - wooHOOO!!! I keep telling my hubby, "Someday, in our dream home, I am going to have a girls-only bathroom. Just for ME." I really actually LOVE being the only girl in the house, but I really would like to have my OWN bathroom - stink and mess free!!!! Let's just say the "aim" of a 5 year old is less than perfect, and from the smell and the mess, I feel like I'm in a gas station bathroom half the time.

Okay, so there's my Sunday morning card and rant. (I'll spare you my daily rant about the little-little one who still isn't sleeping at night!)

I hope you have a terrific day!

XOXO