Day 2 - Halloween Card File

Hello Friends,

I hope "Day 1" was successful!

Your Card File should be painted and all your card and tags should be colored with a wash of Gathered twigs Distress Ink!

Next up is to organize your cards and tags by 'kind' since we will be working on one set each day in the following order: 

Day 2: tabbed cards (TODAY!)

Day 3: plain cards

Day 4: folded cards 

Day 5: library pocket + tag inserts

Day 6: pocket + rounded corner inserts

Take break for the weekend to do any catch up!

Day 7: pocket with hole + 4 1/4" tall inserts

Day 8: zig zag cards

(Please, review my last post if you missed the key information about the cards and tags we are using)

Day 2- 4 are easy and should go quickly. Days 5 - 8 will take more time, but they are so fun to put together (they really are my favorite part of the whole project). According to my schedule we will finish the Card File on Tuesday the 15th, after taking the weekend to get any catch-up work done!

Glue:

It's no surprise that I used Collage Medium for all glued paper and elements in this project. For todays tabbed cards, there is no collage Medium over the top of the paper. However, starting tomorrow we will explore more about Collage Medium - when to use it, when not to, etc.

Scraps:

When I am working on a project like this, I always have a dish/tray on my table that I can throw my scraps into while I am working. I use the scraps often to fill in any small spot that may need just a little something.  The same goes for the Collage Paper (we will start working that on Day 3). All scraps are saved for use in later cards.

Tabbed Cards

So today we are working on the easiest of the the card - three tabbed cards. This is a great place to start our journey because the are so EASY!

I have laid out the exact papers and Collage Strips I used to cover the three tabbed cards. 

The tabbed card are covered with Collage Strips (+ 2 Backdrops). Only cover one side of the card. The back is just the ink that was done the day before.

1. Adhere the Collage Strip to the tabbed card (only cut what you need) with Collage Medium. Trim away the excess around the tab. Save the reminder of the Collage strip for later.
2. Add a Clipping sticker to the tab from the Halloween Sticker Book. 
3. Ink card using a Mini Blending Tool and Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. 
4. Press ink pad on to craft mat.  Spritz with water. Pick up ink with a brush and splatter over surface.

Tabbed Card 1

Tabbed Card 2

This card uses two Collage Strips

Tabbed Card 3

Notice on this card I switched the tab to the right side before adding the paper? If you want all your tabs on one side, that is fine, but I wanted to switch it up so they go left, right, left in the completed box.

This card uses part of the leftovers from card 2 for the left side of the card.

Okay, that's 3 tabbed cards for your box!

I will be back tomorrow with Day 3 - flat cards. 

In preparation for tomorrow, you will need:

Collage Strips 

Collage Paper

Halloween Transparencies (spiderweb)

2 eyelets + Crop-A-Dile

Cello Tape Stickers

Word Plaques and Tags

1/4" rayon ribbon

string

small Adornment Key and some chain (if you have some on hand)

Picket Fence Distress Crayon

Halloween Card File - Day 1

Welcome Day One of the Halloween Card File!

I call it "prep" day because we will be preparing the Card File and the cards for embellishment later in the week. As with any Card File, there are so many options that sometimes making a choice becomes the problem. So for this project, I'm going to show you how I tackle something of this size. It's actually very methodical, so what looks like random, really isn't random at all.
Today we'll tackle the box itself and add layer of Distress Ink over all the card we will be using.

Card File Box:

Use a small screw driver to remove the metal pull on the front of the Card File (be sure to put the screws in a safe place as they are VERY small!). 

Paint the Card File and the metal pull with black paint - you can use Distress Paint or acrylic craft paint. Be sure to paint the inside of the Card File as well.  Set aside to dry while you work on your cards. When you come back to it, the box should be dry and ready to sand and put back together. 

Sand the edges of the Card File and the metal pull to distress the finish (I always use steel wool to sand metal, so if you have some it's the perfect time to break it out to use on the metal pull). 

Use the small screwdriver to reattach the metal pull. There is no need to add the "title" to the metal pull - that can be done when you find the right words in the Sticker Book at a later time.

OPTION: If you want to cover the box with paper from Halloween Backdrops rather than painting it, I would still paint the inside of the box with black paint and just cover the outside with paper. Punch the two holes with an awl, the screw the metal pull back on the box.

File Cards:

The Card File will have 21 finished "cards" when we are done. Nine of the "cards" are pockets so they require an extra card or tag to go into the pocket. In our case, you will need 6 extra cards and 3 tags (exact information will be spelled out below). I cut the extra cards from Mixed Media Heavystock since it is the same material that the File Cards are made from.

Here are the cards that will be used and what pack they came from:

File Cards (TH94223)

3 - folded cards

3 - tabbed cards

3 - plain cards

I did not use the pockets from this pack.

File Cards 2 (TH94369)

3 - zig- zag cards

3 - library pockets

3 - envelopes

3 - pockets with a hole in front

Additional card and tags (cards cut from Mixed Media Heavystock)

3 - #5 tags 2 3/8 x 4 1/4" (tags were shortened to 4 1/4")

3 - 2 3/4 x 4" with rounded corners

3 - 2 7/8 x 4 1/4"

COLORING PROCESS

All cards and tags have been colored with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink. We are going to be adding more ink later in the embellishment phase using Scorched Timber. The combination of Gathered Twigs and Scorched Timber is pleasing to me, but of course you can use your favorite Distress Ink colors.

I like using my Gathered Twigs ink pad rather that the spray ink, because it is hard for me to control the amount of ink on my mat. I have a tendency of over inking the cards and I really don't want that, so be cautious of how much ink you have on your mat.

I smooshed the ink pad onto the Tonic Surface Mat multiple times and sprayed with water. Then work in groups of tags, maybe 3 at a time (since you have to stop to add more ink and water before starting again). Everything is very loose and watery with lots of white space showing! Remember this is only the first layer of ink. 

You can choose to use a heat tool or not when inking your cards. I use a paper towel to pounce over any heavy ink spots in the inking process, then give them a quick dry (like 10 -15 seconds depending on the size of the card). 

Work your way through all the cards and tags until everything is colored as shown below. This is a process that will take some time, so don't rush. Open the window, listen to some music and just focus on the ink! Once you are done, double check that you have a little ink on every side. Then just leave the cards to dry overnight. They will be nice a crispy dry in the morning and we will be ready to start adding paper.

I posted the product list last week, but I thought I would post it again so you can gather items to use over the next week. Anything can be substituted for something you have on hand including the 2 stamp sets I will be using.

Vignette Card File

File Cards 

File Cards 2

Halloween Collage Strips Large

Halloween Collage Paper

Halloween Ephemera Pack

Halloween Layers and Paper Dolls

Halloween Backdrops

Halloween Sticker Book

Halloween Word Plaques and Tags

Halloween Transparencies

Postmarked

Keys Adornments

Mini Paper Clips

Cello Tape Stickers

Tiny Clips

Stampers Anonymous Tidbits

Stampers Anonymous Deconstructed

Distress Ink Gathered Twigs and Scorched Timber

Mixed Media Heavystock (extra cards)

black paint

See you tomorrow!

now carry on,
paula

New Distress Spritz!

Hello friends,

Today we are celebrating 12 new colors of Distress Spritz! 

I think Distress Spritz always looks best when sprayed over the matching Distress Ink color so that is what I have done here, creating a card using 5 of the new colors over matching Distress Ink.

1. Cut a piece of Distress Watercolor Cardstock for the card front.

2. Use Distress Texture Paste Opaque and the new Christmas stencil, "Sparkle Fade" to add texture to the front of the card. Set aside to dry.

3. Gather the matching Distress Ink pad for each color you will be adding to your card front.

4. Once the Texture Paste is fully dry, use a Blending Toll to add ink to the card front. In my card, Kitsch Flamingo is on the bottom left, Saltwater Taffy on the right. Crushed Olive (acting as a yellow tone here)

is is the middle and reaches across the card. Then Cracked Pistachio is on the top right, with Tumbled Glass on the top left. All five colors work together to create this great rainbow of sorts.

5. Once the Distress Ink has been added, Shake the Spritz up and splatter over the matching color. Add enough so the colors can mix on the edges and blend with the next.  Dry with a heat tool.

6. For the focal point, I cut a large postage stamp using the die that came with the Tim Holtz STAMPtember release (sold out). If you don't have that set, cut a piece of Watercolor Cardstock 1 3/4 x 2". Mask off the edges and color the center with Antique Linen Distress Ink. While still masked off, spray over the ink with Antique Linen Spritz and dry with a heat tool. Remove tape from the edges to reveal the small white edge of the Cardstock.

7. Add die cut letters, Love You. NOTE: Mine are 3/4" letters from the old Sizzix Alphanumeric die set. Add the letters to the Cardstock with Collage Medium. When secure, add more Collage Medium over the top of each letter and sprinkle Distress Rock Candy over the top. Shake off the excess. Add thin foam squares to the back of the word block (for use later).

8. Repeat the Rock Candy over the Skeleton Leaves.

9. Paint a small Salvaged Heart with Speckled Egg Distress Paint. Let dry completely. Spray with Tumbled Glass Spritz, leaving a bit of of puddle in the center. Use a heat tool to start the drying process, then set aside to dry completely. The Spritz will dry over the surface of the Salvaged Heart.

10. Wrap a thin sting around the card front and tie a bow. Add the word block (with thin foam squares), then tuck the leaves under the raised word block. Add Salvaged Heart.

It is hard to see the great shine that the Spritz brings to the card front (the pictures sure do not do it justice), but you can see how the colors meld together in and around the texture paste. I love that part. These 12 new colors are a fun addition to the 12 that were released earlier in the year. I look forward to using them in more things I create...especially thinking of using them in fall makes coming in October and November.

Now carry on,

paula

Halloween Card File

Hello friends! 

I love making idea-ology Halloween Card Files each year (this is probably my 3 or 4th one!). This year's Card File is a bit different, in that I was inspired by two Stampers Anonymous stamp sets: Deconstructed (CMS489) and Tidbits (CMS488) that came to market mid summer. I was absolutely intrigued by the idea of a very freeform card file with ripped Halloween Collage Paper and ink that was loose and watery. 

Starting on Monday, October 7th I will be sharing instructions and

images of the cards that make up this Halloween Card File.

There are seven types of cards and pockets in the file. Each type has three examples. In this series of daily posts, we will go over all 21 cards that fill the Card File. Prep day will start on Monday the 7th and we will continue daily from there. If you don't want to follow along, you can come back to the blog at your leisure to see the entire series, then work at your own pace.

Here is a preview of many of the cards you can make. You can use what you have on hand or you can use the list and links below to grab a few things you might need. 

The only thing I can think of that is not on the list below is the 1/4" rayon ribbon. I buy it on Etsy from RibbonsByZipperstop and dye it myself with Distress Ink. The ribbon (or really any other product) can always be substituted for another of a similar size.

Here is a list of what I used to create my card file. You are welcome use whatever product or stamps you have on hand. 

Vignette Card File

File Cards 

File Cards 2

Halloween Collage Strips Large

Halloween Collage Paper

Halloween Ephemera Pack

Halloween Layers and Paper Dolls

Halloween Backdrops

Halloween Sticker Book

Halloween Word Plaques and Tags

Halloween Transparencies

Keys Adornments

Mini Paper Clips

Cello Tape Stickers

Tiny Clips

Stampers Anonymous Tidbits

Stampers Anonymous Deconstructed

Distress Ink Gathered Twigs and Scorched Timber

Mixed Media Heavystock (extra cards)

black paint

I hope you will join along as we work through all the ideas to make Halloween cards!
Now carry on,
paula

Curious Things

Hello friends,

I'm sharing my Curious Things Vignette Tray today. One of my favorite projects I made for the Halloween release. I'm going to show the finished project before I show some of the step-out photos because I think it might make more sense that way. 

This project is hard to photograph because as you view it here, it looks like the small boxes are flat against the Vignette Tray, but they are not. The boxes are purposefully askew, just the way I wanted for this Halloween make. I also kept the boxes quite simple compared to most Vignettes I make. But that was also done on purpose, to show off the details of the "flooring" and to balance the wheel on the left.

I started with a large Vignette Tray + 3 Vignette Boxes (I have a plethora in numerous sizes). I used 2 of the smallest size + one of the second largest box. I was playing around with the boxes and I decided to knock the back off the larger box at the bottom. You will be able to see it later in the photos because it appears here as if it has the back, but in reality where you see the spider, is really the back of the tray.

While I was working on this small box, I thought I might use the smallest Bubbles to mimic larva of the bug that I had already added to the box. I colored the Bubbles with Lettuce Alcohol Ink before adding them to the box with College Medium.

If you are going to have a bug, then you need a web. I decided to use nails and string to mimic the web.

The cauldron is filled with white Tiny Lights + Bubbles that have been colored purple and yellow Alcohol Ink (you will be able to see the color once it lights up). 

I purposefully stretched the hot glue across the Bubbles so it looks as if the spider in the background has walked back and forth over the Cauldron.

The Layers piece was the catalyst for the idea for the spinning wheel. It just looks like it should spin, right? I wish we would have had a sticker that said, "you are getting very sleepy..." but we don't! So I used, "things are not what they seem".

The painted red Hitch Fastener helps you to spin the wheel!

I used Fossilized Amber Spritz on the wheel and the giant moth transparency. It really does bring a great glow to the wheel.

I ordered the 4" lazy susan on Amazon. I chose this one because it was small and plastic (so lightweight). The lazy susan is clear but in the photo I have added double stick tape in one of my test runs to add it to the box. In the end I added the lazy susan with Collage Medium. That way I could adjust the placement before the glue set. If I had used the tape, it would have been a one shot deal. Collage Medium was the way to go. Here is the link for the lazy susan.

Back of the tray with Backdrop paper, ephemera and Cello Tape Stickers.

I hid the Tiny Light battery Pack with a Matchbox that I cut down then covered with paper.

BEHIND THE SCENES TIPS

The large box has to be put in place first:

I just painted the Toadstools with black paint, then used steel wool to sand off some of the paint. My trick with the Toadstools is to use hot glue to secure them to a small square of chipboard. Then I used Collage Medium to secure the chipboard to the box (I trust CM more than hot glue).

I used the box without a back so I could add the "flooring" at an angle. Can you see how it sticks out the back of the box? The slats I used for the "flooring" are from the Halloween Baseboard pack. I used an awl to poke holes in the slats for the nails. 

Then I just nailed the slats into place. 

I added the box to the tray with Collage Medium. You can see how the slats that I added push the box out on the right end.

Next goes in the bug box.

You can see that the bug box goes in at an angle.

Then the Curious Things box. I wiped black paint on the Typography letters, then sanded away the paint with steel wool. I love the look of the letters.

I wanted the box to stick out from the tray so I needed to fill in the depth of the box on the left side. 

(from the top, looking down)

You can see how I added the chipboard to the left side.

Here you can see the side of the box that was extended with chipboard so it covered space all the way to the back of the tray.

Now lets go back to the bottom box to talk about the cauldron. 

*please note that I have the tray sitting on top of a box just so can see better.

A hole was drilled through the tray (remember the box has no back). I threaded the Tiny Lights through the tray and up into the Cauldron.

Wind the up the Tiny Lights so they fit into the Cauldron.

Add Collage Medium to the legs of the Collage Medium (it dries clear).

Once the Cauldron was secure, I added a few things under the Cauldron. What I love about this box is that the Toadstools look like they are growing out of the floorboards.

Love how it looks when the lights are turned on!

I hope you like this one as much as I do! Thanks so much for stopping by! 

I sure appreciate it!

Now carry on!

paula