I Brake for Snowmen!

Hello and happy Saturday!

Today I'm sharing a Christmas card with you!

I used Holiday Squares Set of 4 on my card.  Let's face it...no matter how old we get we all love snowmen!

You can find more great winter/holiday stamps at I Brake For Stamps.

The sentiment is from EVERY DAY PHRASES.

I Brake for Jumbo Acorns ...

Hello IBFS fans !!

It's Crystal here and Fall is in the air and on the ground in my backyard ,we have three acorn trees in my backyard and the squirrels reek havoc on them and you must wear shoes to walk in the grass , the acorn really hurt to walk on ..so yes I Brake for Acorns ..lol so in honor of Fall and all those acorns I made this Thanks card using the Jumbo Acorns stamp . I stamped my kraft layer with the stamp twice for a back ground to my copic colored image and then i fussy cut it out added a raffia bow and then topped with my image ,I wanted to make the acorns pop even more so I added glossy accents to them .

I hope you enjoy the cooler weather heading your way , it's been a great Summer here in Southern Illinois but I am so ready to see the beautiful colors of Fall .

Supplies : Jumbo Acorns stamp , Kraft card stock , Rich Coco memento ink , copic markers , raffia , glossy accents, Stampin Up Hello You thinlits (Thanks )  , orange glitter card stock

for this image and so many more visit the IBFS store  .

when you visit I Brake for Stamps store ,

 Crystal Lopez – Design Team member for IBFS

To see more cards from me visit my blog at www.8upscrapin.com

I Brake For White Crayon Sunflowers

Hi everybody!

Regina here.... I needed to make a birthday card for someone and I love to make Fall cards for people who have birthdays in September.  I love this stamp set from I Brake For Stamps called Bubble Wrap, Lattice and Flowers.  This stamp set has so many possibilities!!! 

I made a card using the lattice stamp as the background and colored the sunflower with copics recently.  I wanted to show another way to use this sunflower stamp.  I did the White Crayon Technique. 

 

The White Crayon Technique is very simple.  All you do is stamp your image, I used Memento Black Tuxedo and I randomly stamped the sunflower on some white card stock.  Then I colored the petals of the sunflowers with a white crayon and it doesn't have to be perfect.  Next I sponged a few Tim Holtz Distress Inks all over this piece of card stock.  The colors I used will be listed below.  Then you take a paper towel and rub over the card stock and it will wipe most of the ink off of the petals and leave the white crayon.  That's all there is to it.  It's just another technique to give a different look to your stamps.  I find myself always coloring with copics the normal yellows and oranges.  

I embossed that orange looking card stock with one of the new We R Memory Keepers Next Level Embossing Folders called Woven.  They are 6x6 so I love the size and there are lines on the inside so you can line your card stock up correctly.  You get the deepest emboss with these, they are beautiful.  There are a few different ones and 2 to a set.  Here's a link to Amazon for the  Woven Embossing Folders.  They are very reasonably priced too.  Less than $10 for 2.  You will love them!  

 

I cut out the Happy Birthday To You with a Lawn Fawn die called Happy Birthday Border die.  I used card stock for the brown words and fun foam for birthday to pop it up a little.  I wanted the word birthday to stand out so I made it white to match the sunflower petals. I used a Wink of Stella Clear pen and went over the words and the centers of the sunflowers to give just a little sparkle.  I used some brown twine and added a little sunflower charm.  

List of Supplies Used:

• Gina K Designs white, chocolate brown, and tomato soup card stock and the middle layer that is a mustard golden yellow came in a pack of an assortment called Sun Kissed Autumn.
• W R Memory Keepers Next Level Embossing Folder, Woven
• Tim Holtz Distress Inks:  Ripe Persimmon, Crushed Olive, Rusty Hinge and Mustard Seed
• Fun Foam
• Lawn Fawn Happy Birthday Border die
• Pop Dots
• American Craft Brown Twine
• Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Pen
• Sunflower Charm from my stash
• White Crayon 
• Tombo Dot Runner Adhesive

I hope you'll try the White Crayon Technique.  Did I inspire you to run to your craft room and make a Fall Card?  Check out  I Brake For Stamps.  There are over 4,000 stamps and digis as well and weekly 50% off specials.  

Please visit my blog at http://cardsbyregina.blogspot.com

for more inspiration.  

PLEASE NOTE:  If you would like to join my blog and follow my work, please click on the 2 little squares up by Join This Site at top left of page.  Then a window will pop up and click Follow.  The Join This Site button goes to an error message.  Still trying to fix this. 

 Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina I Brake For Stamps Design Team Member

I Brake for Coffee.

I do brake for coffee. I run on coffee. I do not run on mornings because I am a night owl and awake until the wee morning hours.

The above card features Bunny/ATC Diva.

Isn't she adorable? Don't you just love her bunny slippers and that plush robe? I know that I do. She's one of a bunch of ATC Divas by Rubber Romance. I kind of love them all, but I had to have Bunny first. Those bunny slippers spoke to me. They said "Get me now." Since I rarely argue with *those voices*, I did.

Bunny was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. The image panel was die-cut with a die from the Rectangles set of dies (QuicKutz/WeR). The next largest die was used to die-cut kraft cardstock, which was edged with Brushed Corduroy Distress ink (Ranger)

The Fresh Brewed Alterations die (Tim/Sizzix) was used to die-cut textured Kraft cardstock (hoarded Club Scrap), regular Kraft cardstock, and white cardstock. Gathered Twigs Distress ink was sponged over the Clocks stencil (Prima) onto the take-out coffee cup and the edges of the take-out cup. Brushed Corduroy Distress ink was sponged over the coffee sleeve to bring out the texture of the cardstock. The white straw/coffee stirrer was colored with Copic markers to match Bunny. 

The coffee cup was assembled and Bunny was added to the sleeve.

The sentiment, from the late lamented justjohanna/odd Bird Planet stamps, was stamped onto Kraft cardstock, die-cut with one of the dies from the Speech Bubble One set (Spellbinders). The cardstock was kept in the die and Brushed Corduroy Distress ink was sponged over the die. I thought it was the perfect sentiment for Bunny and this card.

Gathered Twigs Distress ink was sponged over the Clocks stencil (Prima) onto the remaining scrap of textured Kraft cardstock. A strip of clock-printed Washi tape was added and the coffee cup was adhered to the card front. The sentiment speech bubble was adhered. The card front was adhered to a kraft A2 card and I called it done!

Thanks for visiting today!

Kathi

Be sure to pop over to I Brake For Stamps to see what's new!

I Brake for Jumbo Candy Canes!

Hello and happy Saturday!

Today I'm sharing a holiday card.  It's never too early to start on your Christmas cards.  Waiting until the last minute only causes stress for yourself.  This card actually came together very quickly.

I've used two stamps from I Brake for Stamps.

The image is called JUMBO CANDY CANE.

The verse is from EVERY DAY PHRASES.

I added a little bling ... just because.

I Brake for Fall ...

Hello IBFS fans !!

It's Crystal here and today I have a Fall card , the weather has had the feel of Fall in the air so I think it's time to make some Fall cards , this one is a Thanks card , you may need one for the person who will rake all the crunchy leaves up for you ..lol I am using the Mr.Crow image and he was copic colored , I really wanted the scarecrow to be the main focal point so I only colored him and left the background black and white .

I distressed my layers added some faux stitching  , die cut a flower and layered it up and added some leaves and raffia to complete my Fall look . I die cut and layered my Thanks sentiment .

inside I carried the same colors but left it blank to add my own writing later

Supplies : Mr.Crow , MFT Gerber daisy  , MFT layered leaves , Little B Blackout , raffia , button , copic markers , CTMH distress tool , TH walnut ink , 6x6 BoBunny Forever Fall collection paper

for this image and so many more visit the IBFS store  .

when you visit I Brake for Stamps store ,

Crystal Lopez – Design Team member for IBFS

I Brake For Pumpkin Head Witches

Hi Everybody!  Regina here.... Have you started making Fall and Halloween cards yet?  I just made my first Halloween card!  I have so much fun making Halloween cards because I can just let loose and have fun and there's definitely no right or wrong way to do things.  I like pumpkins and I like witches so I figured this stamp would be the best of both.  The stamp I used on this card is from I Brake For Stamps by Rick St. Dennis and it's called Pumpkin Head Witch.  If you are a serious Halloween card person, then you HAVE to check out the stamps by Rick St. Dennis.  Some of them are really scary!  I used the stamp on the inside called Jelly Beans and Bit'O Honey.

 

I know, I know, the inside is cutesy and doesn't really go with what I did on the front but that's okay, no right or wrong and I knew I was making this for my boyfriend's Mother, who loves Halloween, so I thought she would like this. :)

Last week I showed a tutorial on how to use Bister watercolor powder.  This week I tried something in conjunction with Bister.  Have you used a Frisket Liquid Mask yet?  I bought mine at Amazon, here is a link to Frisket..

It's very easy to use.  What this does is mask anything you want to keep white if you're painting or creating a background.  I wanted to make a spooky background using just black Bister but I wanted my stamp to be in the midst of this background.  I didn't want to cut the stamp out with a die and put it on the background like I did with the Bister Barn card last week.  I wanted to color the image with Copics as well.  Wow, this is really asking for a lot isn't it?  Here's what I did:

I used 140# Strathmore cold press watercolor paper and stamped my image using Versafine Onyx Black ink and I embossed that with clear embossing powder.  This will keep the ink from smearing and allow me to use the Bister with water and also color with copics.


Next, I took an old paintbrush and painted the frisket over the stamped image.  This will mask the stamp when you make the Bister background.  Let it dry for a couple hours or so.  I allowed mine to dry overnight just because I couldn't come back to it that same day.  It will feel tacky to the touch but will still be dry.  There is a link above for this Frisket mask.

It's okay if you go out of the lines but remember it will be white if you do.  I did in a few spots but it's okay.

Next I made the Black Bister Background.  Here is a link to my Bister Tutorial from last week.  I think it's so cool how other colors can be seen from just using the one color, black.  I see gray, a golden color, purple.  Just sprinkle powder where you want it and spritz with water.  The water really makes the Bister crystals come alive!  You can add more in places or smear around with a paintbrush. (see tutorial link above)

It's very important to let your paper dry completely.  Why am I telling you this?  Well, because I didn't the first time around.  As I was pulling the frisket off the stamp, the top layer of the paper tore so let it dry completely.  I'm not perfect and this was my first time using it so I'll show you what not to do so you can learn from my mistakes.

See in the first pic where the paper tore where the boot is?  I didn't let it dry enough after I spritzed with water. 

 See how the ink is bleeding onto the image?  The first time I used Memento ink, forgetting that I am using water.  I had copics on my brain so I grabbed Memento. 

 
Then just take your finger and gently pull it off.  It will be gummy.  I was so amazed at how this protected my image.

Now you're ready to color with copics.  The colors I used are listed below.  I did use one watercolor pencil, the purple, because I don't have very many purple copics for some reason and I wanted the exact shade of purple I used here.  This was the first time I had ever used watercolor pencils and I have no idea if I did it the correct way but it worked.  I colored with the purple pencil pretty heavily and then dipped a paintbrush in water and just smeared it around until I liked how it looked.  I'm not too concerned with my coloring being super perfect, shaded, blended, etc, because I want to show how to use the Frisket Mask and the Bister background.

If you have never tried watercolor powder, you can purchase it at I Brake For Stamps for $1.65 each.  The Bister powders were put in small containers so they are affordable for everyone.  Try it!  It's so much fun!

I popped up the image layer with some black fun foam to give it some height and dimension.  I've been doing this a lot lately rather than using 25 pop dots, fun foam is quicker.  I used Scor-Tape to adhere it.  I scribbled a black gelato on a piece of card stock and dipped my paintbrush in water, swirled it around in the gelato and added a little bit of darkness to make a ground for the Pumpkin Head Witch to be standing on.  I finished the card off by trying to break up a little bit of the background with some color.  With the background being a matte finish, I thought using glossy vinyl would be a good contrast so I cut out a moon, bats and the word, Boo! from the Silhouette store with my machine.  Then added a few sequins in dark gray to add just a hint of shine and sparkle.  


Supplies Used:
Recollections 110# white card stock for card base
Gina K Designs Black Onyx Card Stock
Strathmore 140# watercolor paper
My Minds Eye - Haunted, patterned paper
Craft Medley Cup Sequins - Dazzling Metallics, Citrus on inside
651 Vinyl in yellow, black and orange
Artist's Loft Watercolor Pencils (bought from big box store) - Violet and Light Violet
Black Gelato
Ticket Tag Punch (corners)
Fun Foam in Black
Scor-Tape 1/2"
Tombo Dot Runner Tape Runner Adhesive
Copics Used:
Pumpkin:  YR12, YR15, YR16, YR18
Dress:  G05, G07, G09
Y02, Y15
Y26 for the buckle

Thank you for taking a look at my card this week for my I Brake For Stamps post.  I hope you'll try the Bister watercolor powder and the Frisket Liquid Mask.  Did I inspire you to run to your craft room to make a card?  :)

Please visit my blog for more inspiration at http://cardsbyregina.blogspot.com

If you would like to join my blog to follow my work please click on the 2 squares to the right of Join This Site.  It will take you to another window and there you will click on Join This Site on the right.  I don't know why the Join This Site button is not working.  I have written to some different people so hopefully someone can help me with this.  

Have a great day!


Regina - I Brake For Stamps Design Team Member

I Brake for Larks (and other birds)

Greetings one and all!

I'm Kathi and I'm happy as a lark because I've joined the IBFS design team! 

Here's my first card which uses Lark!

Lark was stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink (Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts) and colored with Copic markers. 

I roughed up the edges of the image panel using my Distress Tool, then went with a CAS design using patterned papers from a really old 6x6 pad by My Mind's Eye. Some Gathered Twigs Distress ink was sponged on the card front, which was then mounted on Kraft cardstock.

I left space for a sentiment at the bottom. 

For Lark, lots of other great bird stamps, a great variety of other gorgeous stamps, and other nifty things, visit I Brake For Stamps!

Kathi 

I Brake For Hagatha Crone!

Hello and happy Saturday!

Today I'm sharing a Halloween card that made.  I used Miss Hagatha Crone (rubber).

If you're someone that prefers digital she can also be purchased that way...digi Hagatha.

There are SO MANY fun and spooky Halloween images at IBFS.

You can find lots more HERE.

I colored her with Copic markers and the bat border is from Martha Stewart.

I Brake for Gardening ....

Hello IBFS fans !!!

It's Crystal here and today I am using Gardening Gracie to make a Hello card . Gracie's in her garden and a groundhog grabs the rope to take off and she goes flying off her wagon  , I know she will put a smile on a friends face..lol .

inside my card I stamped the image to create watermark  , it's in a light enough ink color that I can still write over.

DIY TIP ...

 lately I have been loving the look of glitter enamel dots so here I created my own from scraps of glitter heat transfer vinyl from my T-shirts I make , I punch out small dots with a paper punch from scrap vinyl and put it on top of a glue dot and then add glossy accents over the top , tah dah they turned out great with loads of sparkle , I love to save money where I can  , especially embellishments so nor I can spend more money on stamps .. who wants to go shopping for more images in the I Brake for Stamps store .... me

for this image and so many more visit the IBFS store  .

when you visit I Brake for Stamps store ,

Crystal Lopez – Design Team member for IBFS