Grateful Life - Sizzix Acorn 3D folder

 Hello Friends,

Celebrating Sizzix Halloween release today, starting with this colorful make for fall.  The creamy new Halloween Mica Crayons are perfect for coloring the leaves... as long as you remember one simple step (you can read about that below).  So follow along and I'll show you how I created this beautiful fall background.

Open the 3D Folder and rub Ground Espresso Archival Ink over the surface until coated.  Spritz lightly with water.

Insert precut piece of Kraft Heavystock (remember with a 3D Folder - you need to spritz the paper with water before placing in the folder).

Close the Folder and run through your die cut machine. I still use my trusty Vagabond!

So here is the card once it was run through (At least 2 passes).

I quickly coated the entire card with Collage Medium (thats the magic step so you can use crayons later in the process).

While the Collage Medium was still wet, I sprayed the card with Decayed and Iron Gate Mica Stain.

Then dried it with a heat tool.  Once the Mica dries, it turns metallic and quite beautiful.

I repeated the process to create a second card.  

A small Etcetera Tag was used as the substrate.  Glue the two paperpieces to the tag and cut away the excess at the top and bottom.

NOTE: I will cover the break in the cards with the words so it does not matter as long as you keep the break at the bottom.

Since I coated the Kraftstock paper with Collage Medium it has been sealed - that means the Mica Halloween Distress Crayons are in play. 

Starting with fortune teller (purple) - scribble the creamy color onto the edges of the leaves.  I'm going to add many colors so start small.

Next up burning ember (orange).  Just scribble and rub with your finger to slightly blend towards the purple.

Next up, wicked elixir (green).  I adde this one to the other side of the leaves and on the stems.

I added harvest moon (yellow) and Walnut Stain to the acorns, completing the full background.

To prepare the focal point, I cut a piece of purple cardstock, then cut gold metallic letters using the Alphanumeric Bold die.  I did cut two sets of the letters so they could be combined to create a thicker letter.

I used the design ruler to help me place the letters on the purple card.  The ruler is see-through so you can easily see the straight line.

Before the purple card was put into place.  I added Trim Tape to the sides to cover the flat part of paper.  The skinny tape fit perfectly along the edge.  I think the tape comes with 10 rolls so there are plenty of designs to choose from.

Now I added the purple strip to a piece of Kraftstock to stabilize/strengthen the paper since I wanted to add foam squares to the back.  The white/gold metallic sticker "HEART" was added to the end - hard to read here but it looks nice in person.

Once the strip was in place, I added the skinny ruler strip to the top from the Memoir Ephemera Pack.  The feathers, cut using the "Feathery" die and Mixed Media cardstock, were just dipped in Distress Mica.

The colors of the feathers are 

fortune teller

wicked elixer

decayed

I painted an idea-ology Vintage Clip with black paint.  Once dry, I brushed on Foundry Wax and used a embossing gun to change to color to metallic.  I love the brushed look over the black paint.

The ribbon is silk - just something from my stash.  I thought it went beautifully with the project.

The No. 251 is from the Snippets pack.

thank you for stopping by to see the coloring of the background.  I hope you will try this technique on something you make - the new Halloween products are so fun to use.  I am thrilled with the new colors of Mica sprays and how awesome they are on so many paper surfaces.  I know you will not be disappointed!

now carry on,
paula

Sizzix Chapter Three - Bird book

 Hello friends,

We are celebrating the EPIC release of Sizzix chapter 3 today and with that I have a few photos from when I created this tiny book made from Specimen file folders.  If you missed the Live with Tim today you must find the time to watch the replay, which will be posted on his blog.  I will link it here once it become available.  My project is very simple, but others are so detailed that you MUST watch to see them.  So many ideas for these Chapter 3 dies, it is overwhelming.  You are going to need a notebook and paper to jot all the ideas and impressions down for later use.  Trust me on this, you will be blown away with the creativity.

- Use the Specimen die to cut 4 file folder from Kraft Heavystock paper.
- Dry brush both sides of the folders with Distress Picket Fence Paint, leaving some of the kraft color showing through. 
- Using different colors of Oxide ink, stamp the Ornate stamp (CMS348), Here are the simple steps.

1. Pounce stamp with different colors of Oxide Ink.
2. Spritz with water.
3. Stamp on file folder (no block, so you do not get a solid impression, but more random).
4. Dry with heat tool (pat off any excess ink)
5. Repeat on the backside

It's just that easy (and very satisfying)

Once the folders are complete, stitch two together, making a pocket in the center.

I've added a few photos of the stitching so you can see it from all angles.

At this point, you need to stitch together the two signatures you made. You can create another pocket by stitching on the top and bottom, but I decided I wanted a pocket at the top.  If I want to add anything inside I can.

The book is now one complete piece so I needed to cover the folded spine.

I added Collage Medium on the folded edge, then laid a double layer of vintage netting over the glue.

I also cut 4 cards - two for each pocket using a card from the same set and the number die-cuts.  I did the same dry brush technique, then added Salvaged Patina Oxide over the top.

I cut multiple Silhouette birds from Kraftstock and started pressing them into Oxide Ink spritzed with water.

Round One:

Round Two:

Round Three:

here I spritzed the ink lightly with water.  Once dry, I went in and pressed the birds one more time into some very tiny ink droplets.

Then added a contrasting color of Crushed Olive Oxide in text over the body.

I used Clipping stickers to create a Poem that runs throughout the book. Start reading on the cover and continue to the end. The Slide Frame and the number are a fun way to introduce the Poem. The lace on the birds wing is vintage.

Looking out the window

page 1 and 2

A bright white moon

the stars of 

heaven

page 3 and 4

Sweetly singing 

"Promise me one thing",

love greatly...

page 5 and 6

Generous and true 

O little friend,

page 6 and 7

To fly it to your heart

Soaring

like a star

page 7 and 8

where only the

imagination can go.

I hope you like this tiny book made from the File Folders.  It's a great one to start off with, especially if you are beginner with the Chapter 3 dies.

Now carry on,

paula