Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Cardmaker's and Scrapbooker's Inspiration Sticks: Never Run Out of Ideas Again

Earlier this year I wrote about "Inspiration Sticks". I learned of the idea from a video put out by Claudia Rossi. Her Inspiration Sticks were made for art journaling and it was such a great idea that I thought it would also be very useful for card-makers and scrapbookers. I would just have to make a list of ideas related to those topics to make the sticks work for me. 

Below are the ideas I chose to write on my Inspiration Sticks and I add ideas as I discover them or think of things I've overlooked. Also preceding the list are two examples of using the sticks for an entire project and it can be quite fun going through your crafting materials to see what you have to work with.
  1. Plaid paper
  2. Add a die cut that you've decorated
  3. Glitter
  4. Bows are for more than little girls
  5. Star
  1. Two patterns or more
  2. Tie it up with some twine or string
  3. Embossing powder
  4. Let's see some stitches
  5. Tree

Card-making/Scrapbooking Inspiration Sticks

NOTE: The sticks below can be further separated into categories such as paper, shapes, etc.
Click on a highlighted phrase and it will take you to an example card in a new window.
  1. Reach for the small stamps
  2. Feeling Blue can be a good thing
  3. Make it look older than you 
  4. Make some embellies to use
  5. Add a die cut that you've decorated
  6. Freehand cut a shape ( i.e. tree branches and trunk)
  7. Use two embossing folders
  8. Sing it pretty with Sheet Music
  9. Tie it up with some twine or string
  10. Bows are for more than little girls
  11. Don't scream, it's just a Ladybug/Butterfly/Dragonfly...
  12. Two patterns or more
  13. It looks bolder with a banner
  14. Add something unusual (i.e. feathers)
  15. Button it up
  16. Greenery makes it look more alive (plant/flowers...)
  17. Make it a gift set
  18. Digital Image
  19. Special fold card
  20. Let off some steam and "punch" it
  21. Make something hang
  22. Layers, layers, layers
  23. Tag it
  24. Generation Stamping
  25. Where's the bling
  26. The hills are alive...(Create snowbanks or hills from ink or paper)
  27. Silhouette
  28. Burlap
  29. Lace it up
  30. Go for the glitter
  31. Doily
  32. Let's see some stitches (sewn or drawn stitches)
  33. Quilting is not just for grandmas (add many papers in squares to front of card)
  34. Make it two-toned
  35. Bird
  36. Textured paper
  37. Add an ornament or wooden piece on the card
  38. Book page
  39. Stack die cuts
  40. Masculine
  41. Black and White
  42. All White (one color)
  43. Incorporate pearls and/or gems
  44. Pretty in Pink
  45. Stamped Image
  46. Homemade patterned paper is perfect
  47. Flowers aren't just for a vase
  48. Polka-dots
  49. Tree
  50. Plaid paper
  51. Wrap it up with a wreath
  52. Vines
  53. Don't forget the swirls
  54. See through it
  55. Messy torn edges 
  56. Border or fancy edge or two or three
  57. Embossing powder
  58. Don't be so afraid of watercolors
  59. Dryer sheet
  60. Embossed border with ink
  61. Tissue paper
  62. Lots of texture
  63. Ribbon
  64. Something made of wood
  65. Numbers
  66. Add a tag
  67. Shape the corners
  68. Incorporate some quilling
  69. I'm stuck with Sticker(s)
  70. Parchment paper or Vellum
  71. Special shaped card (i.e. The Gardening card)
  72. Leave it looking good (leaves)
  73. Being square isn't a bad thing
  74. Round and round we go (circles)
  75. Make it a shaker
  76. Hearts
  77. Snow
  78. Moon
  79. Sunrise/Sunset
  80. Star
  81. Three or more solid colored papers
  82. ...anything you can come up with

Categories
I have a small separate holder for these sticks and only use them when I'm drawing a complete blank.
  1. Birthday
  2. Winter/Christmas
  3. Spring
  4. Mother's Day
  5. Father's Day
  6. Halloween
  7. Special Friend
  8. Thank you
  9. Fall/Thanksgiving
  10. Love/Valentines Day
  11. Red, White and Blue
  12. Sweet 16
  13. New baby
  14. Tag
  15. Layout
  16. Wedding
  17. Anniversary
  18. Hello
  19. ...and whatever else you want to include
Happy crafting! Thanks for stopping by. Stop back again to see new projects.
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Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Bring Nature Indoors with these DIY Wood Slice Snowflake Ornaments

These do-it-yourself ornaments are fun, simple and inexpensive to make and will give your tree a rustic touch. They also make great gifts, wintry tags, and name plates for a winter wedding.  

Tools and Materials:
  • Wood slices (2 1/2" diameter)
  • Drill (to make the holes for the twine in the wood slices)
  • Bag of wooden snowflakes
  • Rubber Stampede Ink in Fresh Mint (any light bluish color will do)
  • Colorbox Ink in Frost White (to lightly sponge over the Fresh Mint color)
  • Glossy Accents (to cover the snowflake once it's colored)
  • Strong glue to attach the snowflake to the wood slice
  • Twine to hang the ornament

Directions:
  1. Use a sponge to apply a coat of Fresh Mint colored ink to one side of your snowflake. 
  2. Sponge the white ink over the top of your Fresh Mint ink. Don't try to completely cover the bluish ink, you're just trying to give the snowflake an icy appearance.
  3. Add a coat of Glossy Accents over the ink to give the snowflake a shine. You may notice the white ink begin to swirl which is just an added bonus. Allow to dry.
  4. Place glue onto the unfinished back of your snowflake, center on your wood slice and adhere. Let dry overnight.
  5. Use your twine to hang your ornament.


Note: If you don't have ink or want to make this a family project with smaller children you can easily substitute markers or acrylic paint to color your snowflakes. The ink just gives your snowflakes more depth in color and has a softer appearance.

Check back for more projects and tutorials.

Happy Crafting and thanks for stopping by!
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