Jill Taylor

Jill Taylor
Jill Taylor

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Congratulations card with The Ton

Hello there my crafty friends!  I realize this post comes a little behind schedule, but we all know, "life happens" right?  Well... I broke my foot, that's what happened.  A little water on the tile floor and down I go!   But I'm thanking God, because it could have been much worse.  So I finally get to sit down and share this card I made (before I broke my foot) that is a bit different for me, but I really like how it came out.  I used primarily products from The Ton (which I dearly love), and no hand coloring.  Amazing, I know!  If you know anything about me, it's that I love to color.  But the stamps were so fun to use together, that coloring something on it would have detracted from the main elements of the card.
The products I used from The Ton are:  Toned Squares, Vogue Skies, and Pyrotechnics.  I started off by stamping the Toned Squares in 3 inks from The Ton.  I used the Amethyst Minis set (Soft Amethyst and Iris Blooms) and Cosmopolitan Pink Hybrid Inks.  Using my Stamp Platform, I stamped all three layers of the stamp twice (vertically next to each other) in order to cover my A2 sized card panel.  It was the first time using this layered stamp for me, and I did mis-stamp my first set of stamping on the left side of the card panel, but as I planned to cover up the base of the card and have the large fireworks stamp at the top, I didn't think it would be noticeable.  Next I stamped 2 images of the Vogue Skies building skyline in Versafine Onyx Black Ink.  I still think there is no equal to this to when you want a really black, crisp image.  I quickly heat set it with my heat tool to avoid smudging.  I die cut the 1st piece out, then did some partial die cutting for the second image (that would leave a segment of plain white cardstock at the bottom for me to apply the silver Glitter Adhesive Paper from The Ton, to look like the light reflecting off water, and a place to mount the first image onto).  The building images are longer than the width of my paper, so I staggered the placement of them to avoid them looking identical.  I also added the image of the Ferris Wheel behind the first image, as a way of balancing the card front with the two big fireworks in the sky.  Next, after seeing where the buildings would be on my card base, I then stamped the 2 fireworks images in Versamark ink.  It was difficult deciding on the embossing powders as I wanted them to sparkle and my supply of sparkly embossing powder is limited.  I decided on a pinkish-gold embossing powder from WOW! called Turkish Nights for the smaller image.  The larger fireworks image was more difficult.  I didn't have any embossing powder that was purple, but I did have red, blue and a previous hand-made mixture that was light pink.  I mixed them together to achieve a color fairly similar to what was on my card (DIY at its finest!).  These embossing powders were Ranger's Blue Tinsel and Stampendous! Red Tinsel.  Not sure what was in the pink mixture I used.  The larger fireworks also had a second stamp of just dots that I decided to use my Metallic Silver Sparkle from WOW! on (hard to see on the photos, but does look pretty cool in real life). I decided to mount the Vogue Skies buildings about 3/4 of an inch up from the bottom of my card base, to leave room for the sentiment.  I adhered the stamped building panel with the water and Ferris Wheel onto my card base, then applied some Scotch 3M foam tape to the back of the other building panel, to give it dimension in front of "the water." 

I then stamped a banner image from Simon Says Stamp in the Soft Amethyst Dye ink from The Ton, followed with the "congratulations" sentiment from an Altenew stamp set I had in Violet Fringe Dye ink from The Ton.  I trimmed the banner piece to fit at the base of my card.  Last of course, I adhered this to my card base and I was done!  
I hope you enjoyed my somewhat different card!  I also hadn't made a card using The Ton's products in a while.  If you'd like to see more of my card creations, I post all of my cards on Instagram, as jktaylor911.  Unfortunately I don't have the time to do a write-up on every card I make.  Besides my DT cards, I pick and choose which ones I think would be most interesting, either product-wise or technique-wise. 

Thank you for visiting my little crafty space.  I hope you check back again to see what I'm up to.
Until then, I wish you many blessings and happy crafting!

Jill

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Banners and Blooms, Concord & 9th from CEP

Welcome back to my blog my friends, today I have the pleasure of sharing a card I made for Creative Escape Papercrafting as their Guest DT.  I am again featuring products by Concord & 9th that are featured in the store.  The stamp set I used is called Banners and Blooms.  I primarily used the floral component and a couple words as well.  No banner on this card!
Here's the process to make this card:
I started by placing the floral stamp on my Stamp Platform then proceeded to stamp the image along the diagonal line of my landscape A2 sized 80# NSW card panel.  I never moved the stamp, I moved my cardstock for each stamping of the image.  I did use some masking in a few places so that where the images overlapped slightly it would look natural.  The stamp set also has individual stamps of the floral image, so I could "fill-in" with leaves and branches where I thought they needed to be.  I used Gina K. Designs new Amalgam Ink to stamp all the floral images.  It worked wonderfully, no smearing at all.  After that I chose my color palette for the flowers and started coloring with my Copic markers.  Once that was done, I stamped "Happy Everything" in the blank areas between the floral diagonal lines in Lawn Fawn's Manatee (a light grey).  Also some hash marks from the stamp set.  Next I die cut the panel using a large stitched rectangle die, so the panel was 4" x 5.25".  Next I taped 2 of my Simon Says Stamp rectangle dies together to cut out a frame from the central portion of my card panel.  This was so I could make a shaker card with a fun die cut sentiment over the front of the card.
I also decided to place a piece of black cardstock behind the shaker window so that just the frame had a narrow band of black around it.
I adhered my floral panel to some turquoise cardstock, then the black cardstock, then the inside floral panel.  I then cut narrow strips of the Thermoweb 3D Foam Strips from CEP and made the shaker frame just to the outside of the inner floral panel.  I filled the space mostly with CEP's Glam Metal Sequin Mix of rose gold, gold, silver and clear elements.  I did add some yellow sequins and light purple pearls from my stash to better coordinate with my colored flowers.  I chose to glue a few elements into the top half of the shaker so that there would always be a little bling everywhere in the shaker, not all pooled up at the bottom.  Next I adhered some clear acetate to the back of the floral frame.  Once dry, I carefully placed it atop the adhesive strips.  My shaker element was complete!!
Next I went about die cutting Concord & 9th's You've Got This die 3 times: once in the turquoise cardstock, then the black cardstock, and finally the black fun foam for more dimension.  I adhered the layers together, making sure I offset the turquoise so the black looked like a shadow.  So that everything lined up how it was supposed to be, I fit the letters and word segments back into the cardstock it was cut from (it's negative piece), then applied some Press and Seal over the top to make it all stick together.  I flipped the whole piece over and applied the glue to the back of the letters.  I then carefully positioned it over my shaker window and lightly pressed down.  I let it stay there a couple minutes before I peeled the Press and Seal off and the other paper piece.  Last, I took 5 sequins from the CEP Glam Metal Sequin Mix and glued them on and around the frame.  Card complete!  And oh how it sparkles. It only took me 4 days (sessions) to finish.  I never said I was a fast card-maker.  You'll probably never hear me say that!!  Quality over quantity, that's my motto.😃

To see more of my card creations, visit me on Instagram as jktaylor911.  Visit Creative Escape Papercrafting's Facebook page to see other designer's work and other information regarding everything CEP.  Don't forget to visit the online store.  It's been given a face lift and has lots of new items.

Well that's it for me.  I hope wherever you are, you're getting a little summer sun, because here in Montana its been rain almost every day...
Until next time, blessings to you all and happy crafting!

Jill

Monday, June 18, 2018

CEP Hi There Bear!

Welcome back to my blog friends and crafters.  Do I have a treat for you!  I will be sharing cards with you as Guest Designer for Creative Escape Papercrafting (CEP), periodically focusing on products they are selling in the store, outside of the kits.  They have really expanded their store and they want me to help promote those products and boost overall awareness of them.  The online store has had a "make-over" and it's much nicer to shop as well!

So here is my card, showcasing Concord & 9th's cute as a button "Hi There Bear" stamp set. 
There are many options with this stamp set.  I just opted to use the textured bear stamp, the umbrella and fill-in panels, and the 2 stamp layering bouquet.  I also added the small flowering ground plant along the edge of the walkway and bank of flowers.

So this is how I made my card.  I first stamped the bear in a medium and dark brown dye ink at the same time (they were mini cubes).  I followed that up with my new Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils, to really provide good contrast and shading (and yes, I love them!).  I stamped the umbrella using Gina K's new Amalgam Ink, then stamped the fill-in panels from the stamp set.  I added the 2 step bouquet using some Gina K inks as well.  I then added shading to the ground with my Copics.  My inspiration for this background is from a Sandy Allnock card that she did a video of as well.  I changed it by adding the gravel surface and sidewalks on the side. 

When I colored the background, I did switch to my Copic markers.  I first made the sidewalks and gravel surface.  I then grabbed 3 very light colors that I rather randomly colored around, simulating a soft flower background and greenery.  I did add some slightly darker tones to mimic the flowers, but then softened them out with the lighter shade again. 

I wasn't happy with the colored stamping on the umbrella, so I went back with my Polychromos and a white gel pen.  I also added yellow centers to the bouquet with a Copic marker.  To create the clouds in the sky, I airbrushed it with my Copic markers and a stencil I had in my stash from MFTs- Mini Cloud edges. I did mask the umbrella before airbrushing, the stencil covered up the rest.  It was my first time using the stencil it, and it is really easy to use and gives great results.  Next I stamped the small flowering plant from the stamp set along the sidewalk edge, just towards the front.  I colored them with my Copics.  Last, I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set in Gina K's Amalgam ink.  I must say, my first time using it and I like it a lot.  Very crisp/black.  I next mounted my card panel on some peach cardstock (top-folding A2 card base).  I had trimmed my card panel to a width of 4 inches so that the peach card base is seen on both sides.
I hope you enjoyed my card!  This is just one of many ways to use this stamp set.  You can stamp it, color it, and add multiple elements.  One funny thing happened as I was making my bear.  I didn't see the small bear stamp that is the eyes and nose, so I made my own.  So your bear face will look distinctly different than this one.  Oh well, silly me!!

Don't forget to check out the store and all it's new products, as well as their Facebook and Instagram pages for other great ideas from the other designers and updates from the store.  Feel free to add your card creations to the FB page, too.  I hear rumors that even more products are coming!!  The most comprehensive collection of my work can be found on Instagram, as jktaylor911.

As always, happy crafting and may you be blessed,

Jill

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Creative Escape Papercrafting June's Fully Loaded Kit, First Four Cards

Well hello my fellow crafter's and friends, I know it's been a while since my last post (I believe I mentioned there may be a delay through May) as I dealt with some health issues and the death of a very dear friend.  But I'm back, and I have a very fun kit to show you from Creative Escape Papercrafting (CEP).  I'm a guest designer and I've made 4 cards so far from the June kit and I'll share how I made each one.

June Fully Loaded Card Kit

My first card (going counter-clockwise from the back right corner) is the Giraffe Shaker card.  I used a lot of elements in that card alone.  The June kit is built around The Pebbles Happy Hooray Collection.  There are 18 sheets of specialty paper, a 40 pack of ephemera, and a 12" x 12" cut-apart sheet that has a nice pattern on the back, so you have options.  The other 2 major items are the Altenew Halftone Stars stamp set and a Spellbinders Celebrate word die + balloon die.  I'm not going to list all the other pieces in the kit except when I use them on a card.

I knew I wanted to do a shaker card as soon as I saw the Heidi Swapp hot pink glitter decorative frame.  I decided first on the elements for the outside of the frame, then decided on 2 different specialty papers for inside the shaker and around the frame.  I used the giraffe and star ephemera on the outside, and a piece of rolled up candy ephemera on the inside, which I adhered so it wouldn't shake around with the other elements.  I used the Spellbinders die to make the balloon and string, then used a small piece of white/yellow baker's twine from the kit for the bow, which I adhered with a glue dot from my stash.  The Spellbinder's "celebrate" was die cut from some green glitter cardstock from the April card kit I had leftover..  That's what's nice about the kits, there are leftovers to use with other projects/cards and keeping the non-perishables like the stamp sets and die cuts are great items to either start a stamp and die collection, or add to your existing ones.  I used some of the 3D foam from the kit to adhere the giraffe where it hit the acetate window.

To assemble my shaker, I adhered some strips of Thermoweb dimensional foam (from April's kit), but cut them in half down the length of the strip.  I then adhered it all around the back side of my frame (I previously glued the clear acetate window in place).  I then filled the window with about half of the Studio Katia Crystal Rainbow Fusion Sequins that I received from CEP.  They are very bright and almost iridescent!  I then carefully placed the rainbow striped specialty paper to the foam adhesive on the back of the frame.  I decided to keep the card large so that you could really see the specialty paper on my card base.  It is 5.5'' x 5.5''.  I cut and scored the yellow cardstock in the kit for my card base, rounded the bottom corners, then adhered a slightly smaller piece of the specialty paper on top, so that the sides would show the pop of yellow that coordinated so nicely with the other elements in the card.  Lastly I positioned and adhered the shaker element to my card base.  Card #1 complete!! 

In card #2 I decided to use the Altenew stamp set.  I first cut some cardstock that was about 3.5" wide by 5.5" in length.  I heat embossed the 3 stars onto the panel using my Ranger's Silver Pearl embossing powder (it leaves a really nice sheen to the stars).  

I then blended 3 colors of Distress Oxide Inks- Mermaid Lagoon, Peacock Feathers and Fossilized Amber over the star panel.  I buffed the stars with a cloth when done to remove any ink remaining on the stars.  I then splattered some DIY shimmer to the panel and blotted dry.  

I picked out an acetate cupcake ephemera to use at the base of my star panel.  I used small glue dots from my stash to adhere it so that the adhesive would be nearly invisible.  For my card base, I used the blue cardstock in the kit, die cut a piece of white cardstock using Lawn Fawn's Quilted Backdrop that I bought from CEP and adhered it to the blue base.  Next I cut strips of the green glitter cardstock (from April's kit) and positioned them so that the reveal was about 1/8th" on both sides from my colored panel.  Last I adhered my colored star panel to the prepared base.  Card #2 done!

Card #3 features a large central oval ephemera sentiment image that I applied some Salty Ocean Distress Oxide ink along the edge to coordinate with the main specialty paper in the background.  That paper was the 12" x 12" Pebbles Happy Hooray cut-apart sheet, which I chose to use the backside of, and take advantage of the "YAY" sentiment strip along the bottom edge.  I also applied the same Distress Oxide ink to the other 3 edges to make the card more cohesive.  

I chose red to be my accent color and used it for my card base, as well as the Sizzix Ticket die that was placed between the ephemera piece and the specialty paper.  The red paper came with the kit.  I adhered all layers (popping up the ephemera piece) with the included 3D foam pieces in the kit.  To finish off my card, I used the blue and white cord included in the kit by tying it around the top of the folded cardbase and tying it off on the right side.  That'll do it for card #3!!

Card #4 uses all kit supplies except for the die cut background hills and frame.  That is a Lawn Fawn product called Stitched Hillside Backdrop: Landscape (as it comes in Portrait as well) that I purchased from the store (though I believe they sell the Portrait version).  I inked the edges of the 2 hills with Bundled Sage Distress Oxide ink as I felt that coloring the entire hill would look too obtrusive.  I decided on the blue and white polka dot specialty paper for the sky.  I glued that to the back of my die cut frame/hills, and while it dried I picked through the ephemera to decide what would go on next.  First I found the "PARTY" rectangular piece printed in rainbow colors.  It was just a tiny bit short, so I decided to frame it, again with the green glitter cardstock from April's kit (I love that stuff!).  I adhered the two pieces together, then found several animal pieces in the ephemera.  I picked out the Zebra.  I adhered both elements, using my small glue dots on the Zebra that you can barely see.

I also added a star that I found in the ephemera pack.  I adhered all of this to my white standard A2 card base.  Looking at the card, I decided it needed a little bling!  So I pulled out 4 sequins (red, orange, yellow-green, and green) from the Studio Katia pack I received and applied them following the color of the words "PARTY."

Now I thought I was done.  However, as I was writing this blog and looking at my cards, I realized I had to do one more thing to this card.  The flat yellow star was screaming for some of my  Wink of Stella!  So I grabbed not the clear one I usually use, but the yellow one.  I wanted the star to be a bit more vibrant.  So now my friends, card #4 is done!!

I hope you enjoyed my examples.  This kit is a lot of fun, especially for kids celebrations.  Although the Altenew stamp set makes it very versatile.  My goal for the next few cards are making some a bit more for adults.  So stay tuned and see how I do!  
Don't forget to visit me on Instagram, as they have my largest selection of card creations.  I am jktaylor911.  Please visit the store, there are so many new items to see and a newly redesigned online store at https://creativeescapepapercrafting.com.  Also visit their Facebook page to see what all the talented designers are creating as well as new happenings with CEP.  For your convenience, I've linked everything to the store and social media.

For now I say goodbye, and blessings to you all,

Jill Taylor











































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