How To Make a Mermaid Valentine Card With Stencils

Little did I know that when I posted this Mermaid Valentine card using Funfare Stencils that the technique I used to make the ocean and waves would interest so many people! This project was posted 4 years ago. I loved the process and am thrilled to share it for you again. It was a long and artsy process so settle in for a LIST of photos. 

~ Oceans of Love ~

Paper Supplies in Inches:

Heavy cardstock for card, 4x6

Medium to heavy weight cardstock for image base, 3.5 x 5.5

Scraps of paper for tearing. 7x3

Tear your paper scrap in half. Tear slowly and with lots of "dips".

Don't feel silly practicing this!

The torn paper is the key to the wave look.

Coloring Products:

 White embossing powder (Zing), white pigment ink (Clearsnap), and three colors of mist.

I used a mint green (Heidi Swapp), a teal (Tattered Angels)

and London Blue (Dylusions).

For tools you will need sponges or cotton rounds and a pointed stick (mine is for applying rubons).

Adhere the torn paper strip with the strait edge 1/4 of the way from the top. Apply the adhesive just to the ends so that no debris remains on the image base.

Mist the sponge with the lightest color and spread it on the base in a circular motion. The color should cover all the paper beneath the torn strip.

Repeat the process with the medium color but do not cover the entire paper.

Sprinkle the darkest color onto the base by removing the spritzer and tapping the tube. Be sure to cover the top of the base with a scrap paper to catch oops drips. Leave the drops on the paper about 10 seconds before spreading them in a circular motion.



 The base needs to be completely dry before begin this next step.

Using the pigment ink daub the base right at the edge of the torn paper. The width of the ink strip will be the width of the white caps on the waves.



Dust the ink with embossing powder. Tap off the extra and use a paintbrush to remove any unwanted portions. Use the stick to scrape circular lines in the powder. Heat to set. 

Place the mermaid stencil over the ocean and apply ink.

Dust with embossing powder, heat to set.



To complete my mermaid I used Clearsnap ink and WOW embossing powder. The Sentiment is MME and the sticker is Heidi Swapp. All papers used are Craft Smith.

I can't wait to see this technique showing up on projects!

Be sure to share.

Scrap On!

~charity~

How To Make an Unforgettable Anniversary Card

We all have that amazing couple in our life. The one that's deeply in love, thinks the world of each other, and has everything they could ever want. How do you celebrate their special day?
With an anniversary card as incredible as they are.

Endless Love

Supplies:

12x12 sheet of patterned cardstock

1 yard of twine

1 extra-length brad

yarn needle

Paper Trimmer

Paper Piercer

Border Punch

Directions:

Step 1. Cut 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock in half. Punch length of the paper with border punch.

Step 2. Cut punched paper into 1 x 6 inch strips. Use a corner rounder on the ends of the strips. This will make 12 ribs.

Step 3. Cut 2 strips of paper, 1.25 x 6.5 inches. Punch the tops with border punch and the ends with a corner rounder. This will make 2 guards. 

Step 3. Pierce a hole 1/4 inch from the end of the rib, at the center of the paper. Pierce a second hole 4 inches from the end and 1/4 inch from the left side of the rib. Pierce a third hole 1/4 inch down from the second hole. Use the first pierced rib as a guide for all the ribs to be sure the holes line up exactly.

Step 4. Pierce a hole 3/4 inch from the end of the guard, at the center of the paper. Lay the first pierced rib over the guard, line up the center, end holes. Pierce the top two holes using the rib as a guide.

Step 5. Stack the strips of paper so the holes line up and the ribs are sandwiched between the guards. Feed all the strips onto a brad and secure. 

Step 6. Tie a knot in the end of the twine. Beginning with the last guard string the twine through the two upper holes 2 times.

Step 7. Lay the first rib against the last guard so that the edges over lap just a little. String the twine through the two upper holes 2 times. Over-lap the next rib and repeat with twine. Knot the twine after the final guard has been stitched onto the fan.

Step 8. Decorate the top fan guard. Add sentiment to the fan ribs with tiny type.

Scrap On!

~charity~

How To Make a Paper Circus Tent

Send In The Clowns!
The juggler, the trapeze artist, the tight rope walker...between my three kids my house is a three ring circus until bedtime. What better way to commemorate their death-defying acts then this circus tent mini-album? Don't be scared away by its intricate appearance. Just grab a chair and enter the lions cage, you know you are DYING to see if you've got what it takes!!!

Supplies:

Thick Cardboard

Patterned Cardstock

Compass or large Circle Cutter

Paper Trimmer/Scorer

Scissors

Stapler, Sewing Machine, or other instant lock Adhesive

Tent Base

Cut 1 Circle 9.5" Diameter of Small Flowered pattern paper

Cut 1 Circle 8.75" Diameter of Black Cardstock

Cut 3 Circles 7.5" Diameter. 1 of thick cardboard, 1 of patterned paper

Cut 2 Strips 1"x 11" of Black Cardstock

Directions:

Step 1: Trace 7.5" circle onto thick cardboard, cut out, adhere to center of 8.75" circle. Top with 7.5" circle of patterned paper.

Step 2: Score strips of patterned paper lengthwise. Cut slits in paper strips from edge to center at 1" intervals down one side. 

Step 3: Adhere strips to edge of large circle so that a narrow gap remains between the upright edge of the strip of paper and the cardboard circle. Overlap the strips by one inch so that a 2 inch gap is left at the opposite end of the circle.

Step 4: Trace a 7.75 " circle onto the center of the 9.5" circle. Cut out center so that only the edge remains. Place 9.5" circle over Tent Base to cover the paper strips and edge of the base. Adhere.

Tent

Cut 1 Circle 7.5" Diameter

Cut 8 Triangles {2.75x4.5x4.5} from Narrow Striped pattern paper

Cut 8 Trapezoids {3.25x4.5x2.25x4.5}Coordinating pattern paper

Cut 4 Rectangles {5x5.5} Wide Striped pattern paper

Directions:

Step 1: Score all Triangles at 1/8 inch on both 4.5" sides. Adhere scored 1/8 sides together with seams

on the outside.

Step 2: Score all Trapezoids at 1/8 inch on both 4.5" sides, and at 1/2inch on 2.25" side. Adhere scored 1/8 sides together to form second tent tier, leaving top 1/2 inch loose. Fold these 1/2 inch sections down and to the outside of tent.

Step 3: Trace 7 inch circle at the center of 7.5 inch circle. Cut circle from edge to traced line at 1/2 inch intervals. Fold flaps toward the center of the circle.

Step 4: Adhere flaps to inside of large end of second tent tier. This step will create a "ceiling" for the third tent tier to rest against.

Step 5: Adhere tent peak to second tier by placing adhesive on inside of folded 1/2 inch sections from step 2 and matching them up with undersides of the tent peak triangles.

Step 6: Evenly space 5 eyelets on both 4.5" sides of 2 rectangles, and on one 4.5" side of the other 2 rectangles. Use twine to lace 4 rectangles together to form third tent tier.

Step 7: Place third tent tier in the narrow gap between the tent base and the black side strips. Top with first and second tent tiers (do NOT adhere). Decorate at will.

Step 8: Cut multiple 7.5 inch circles for Mini album, using ribbon to connect instead of rings. Store album in lowest tent tier.

....and that's all folks!!!

Scrap On!

~charity hotrum~