Steampunk ATC its a Contest Winner (Honorable Mention)

On March 14, I attended the Original Rubber Stamp Convention in Carson, CA for the first time. I decided I would also enter the ATC contest while I was there. And my card got Honorable Mention! Yay!!
 

 

I took the theme from my monthly ATC group at Custom Impressions - gears or wheels. For the card, I started off with a pattern paper base. I used the "Clockworks" paper from Graphic 45's Steampunk Spells 8x8 pad. I love the dimension in this pattern, especially for a monotone looking print.

I then added some multicolor metal gilding to the right side and upper left corner. I really like the texture and color the gilding brought to the ATC. I also added a Tim Holtz word band on the left side.

Next, I diecut gear shapes on metal sheets and grunge board. I tinted the grunge board with brass distress paint and walnut distress ink.

The gears were added to the card background, with one being pop dotted to add a layer of dimension. A G45 brad was added to the center of the grunge board gear.
 

 

For the central image of the ATC, I choose a stamp of a woman with gears in her hair from Graphic 45's Steampunk Debutante line. I stamped it on watercolor paper with black Stazon ink.

I colored the image with Prima watercolor pencils using a water brush to blend. I tried to achive a vintage, hand colored look. After the watercolor was dry, glitter and shine was added to the gears with Zig wink of stella pens.

When the image was colored, I fussy cut the lady. And then added some embellishments, gears and a number die by Tim Holtz, then a Graphic 45 brad.

The stamp was popped dotted onto the background. And as a finishing touch, I added s little glitter. to the gears.

Grateful for Tutorials to Try & a G45 Challenge

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!! I had a great time with my sweetie and some friends.  And am both excited about the upcoming holiday season and a bit nervous about getting my craft gifts completed in time.  But one thing I will have ready are thank-you cards.

For November, Graphic 45 had a new challenge- making thank-you cards.  I decided to add my own twist to the challenge.  I decided to make cards from different tutorials I had seen, liked and bookmarked.  So here are the six thank-you cards I made plus a bonus birthday card.

Card #1 - Pop-up box card

For this card I used the Secret Garden paper by G45.
I started with the 6x6 pattern paper and added embellishments and
fussy cut flowers from the 8x8 and 12x12 designer papers. 
The "Thank You" stamp is by Just Rite. 

I first saw this card on Graphic 45's Facebook page (which linked here)

The original tutorial (which is what I based my card on) is here.

My conversions from metric to inches:

A4 paper =  11.7 x 8.3 inches

7cm = 2.75 inches (score at 2.75, 5.5, 8.25 & 11)

15cm = 6 inches.

(folded flat)

Card #2 - Infinity folding card

OMG! I had seen these and figured they would be so complex and hard to make. But the the tutorial I found made it so clear and had directions so simple that I want to make a ton more.

Here is the awesome tutorial.

I used the Communique paper and a Cas-ual Friday stamp.

Card #3 - Cascading card

 

 Another card that looks very complex and cool, but has an easy to follow tutorial.  I used G45's Steampunk Spells for this card.  I fussy cut balloons (larger in front smaller in back) and gears to decorate this card.  The stamp is by Just Rite.

The tutorial I used is here.

(I had trouble fitting the page in diagonally. so I used a ruler)

Card #4 - Tri-shutter card

I really like how this card turned out.  I think the fussy cut ladies and roses from G45's Ladies' Diary look so cool on this format.  The stamp is by Avery Elle.  The card looks nice closed and open on a table.  So I feel like this is a really cool style of card and I had never heard of it before.

The tutorial I used is here.

Card #5 - A Twisted card

I wasn't sure abot this card at first, but the pockets that the style made really made me think. There are so many cool things that can go in pockets! Tags or gift cards or movie tickets or photos...the list hoes on.  I used G45's Le Cirque and On the Boardwalk papers and fussy cut some bathing beauties for the pockets.  Stamps by Inkdinkadoo and Elle Avery.

Tutorial here. Watch whole thing for more ideas.

Card #6 - Napkin fold card

This card style was suggested by a facebook crafting buddy, Shannon.  I really wasn't crazy about the size and shape unfolded, but really wanted to make this card work.  So I changed it slightly from the tutorial and made it smaller. (I started with an eight inch square and scored at two inches from each side)  I mainly used the 6x6 Secret Garden paper with a couple fussy cut flowers from the 12x12 paper.  The edges arepunched with Martha Stewart's Scallop Three Dot punches. 

 I ended up really liking the smaller size and think it looks like a quilt...sorta.

Here is the tutorial. Video at bottom.

Bonus Card - "Birthday Suit" card

This card was done with th G45 Proper Gentleman paper.  I wanted to do a suit card, but couldnt fond one that was perfect. So I combined a cou[;e of tutorial I saw.  Stamp is Avery Elle.

I plan to play with this card idea more and maybe add a more detailed (tutorial?) post about it.

Tutorial 1 (in Estonian!)

Tutorial 2

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I hope you enjoyed seeing the tutorials and the cards they inspired me to make with Graphic 45's beautiful paper.  What are some of your favorite card styles? I would love to learn some more new styles!

Upcoming Class - Mini Album of Tricks & Treats Using Graphic 45's Sweet & Spooky Steampunk Spells!

 

Next month (October 8th from 6-9pm to be exact), I will be teaching a class (at Perfect Day Scrapbooking in Huntington Beach) of this super special mini album.  It uses Graphic 45's Steampunk Spells line and will be perfect for Halloween. And the beautiful paper is not the only treat that makes it special, no no no. This album includes some of the tricks & techniques I learned at Laura Denison's Graphic 45 class at CHA, Las Vegas, including her "stack the deck" binding. And at $28.00 the cost of the class may be the biggest treat of all!

Scroll down for more sneak peaks of the album and info on where, when and how.  Or if you are in the Soutern California area swing by Perfect Day (9552 Hamilton Avenue, Huntington Beach, California 92646 / 714-369-2862) and see the sample in person. 

 The stacked binding creates such a clean well hidden hinge for the pages.  And the hardback cover is also made "from scratch."

And the pages are so interactive! Tags that slide out of both the middle and the ends of the pages! And each page can be combined how *you* want it so it is totally personalized.

And don't let the folded and layered look fool you. The technique for making these pocket pages is really quite simple - Once you know how!

The images used for Steampunk Spells are really creative and manage to be both a little creepy and a little cute, sightly whimsical and a bit witty, bright and fun all the while still having that great vintage feel Graphic 45 is known for. I really love this line.

And even from the back this mini is fun and pretty with classic steampunk gears and roses. It would look great on display.

So, now you have had a peek inside this mini album full of tags, pockets and some new tricks and treats to learn. If you want to make one of your own, please contact Perfect Day Scrapbooking in Huntington Beach (9552 Hamilton Avenue, Huntington Beach, California 92646 / 714-369-2862) to reserve a spot!

Supplies needed - scissors, wet & drt adhesive of choice, scoreboard & tool, trimmer, ruler pop dots.

Optional - ink/chalk for edges