CRAFT Challenge Blog #776

 Hi there friends!

This week at CRAFT Challenge Blog the theme is: Children's Christmas. The sponsor is SheepSki Designs. The design I am working with is called: Christmas Eve. 

 Supply list found below.

Instruction:

1. Bring the design into the software for your cutting machine. I am using Silhouette Studio. 
2. Adjust the sizing for your preference. I will be using an A2 size card base. 
3. Using the Print & Cut feature, print the design and cut the outside line of it. 
4. Using scissors separate the moon from the boy's head. 
   
   
   
5. Using ink and a blending brush, ink the moon. 
6. On a white card panel 4x5.25" use ink and blending brushes to create a night sky. Use the same color you used for the moon to color a halo for it on the background. Use dark blue and black to add darkness for the rest of the panel.
   
   
   
7. Use a white splatter paint and splatter on the night sky -- this can be stars but I was going for snow. 
8. Use alcohol markers to color the boy and the dog. 
   
   
   
9. Using a window die set or a window SVG in your cutting software to cut a window. I used a die by Picket Fence Stamps but I couldn't find it for sale at this time. 
   
   
   
10. Using the window that you just cut, cut the outline shape of it out of patterned paper that will become the wallpaper of the room. 
    
    
    
11. Cut a bench for them to sit on. This can simply be a rectangle with two rectangle legs. I used patterned paper that has wood grain.  
    
    
    
12. Adhere all finished pieces in this order -- 
1. Night sky panel 
2. Wallpaper panel
   
   
   
3. Moon - position this so it will line up perfectly with boy's head
   
   
   
4. Window 
5. Boy and dog -- line the boy's head up to moon and slightly over the edge that you previously cut with scissors to hide that separation. I used adhesive foam to pop it up and left space at the bottom for the bench.
   
   
   
6.  Bench
13. I did not add a sentiment to the front of the card. I felt that it is a beautiful scene that didn't need that distraction. Next time I might add a little holiday decor to the room. 
    
    
    

 Check out the supply list below for all that I used to make this card. 

~Paula

If you’d like, please follow me:
Please follow this blog, you can find the Follow button in the right column ===> 
Facebook: Paula's Studio 
Instagram: PaulasStudioMI

 

Please Note: This post contains product links so you can easily find any supplies and/or tools you may be interested in. As an affiliate, I may be compensated for a purchase made using my links. However, no additional cost is extended to you. The other links are just to help guide you in the right direction. I am not affiliated with all companies but I encourage you to shop small businesses as much as possible. I only share product information of products I am familiar with and use in my own studio.

Papers are just from my collection. I always grab from my scraps first and I don’t keep track of where they came from. Use what you have!

 

Spring Blessing with Spellbinders

 Hi there friends!

Today I am sharing a card I made that started with the background and worked its way forward.

 You see the background is made using a Betterpress Plate from the Betterpress Society. A Betterpress Plate is a metal plate used with the Spellbinders Betterpress System. It is a letterpress plate and the design is debossed or indented into the paper. The Betterpress Society is a "secret" or not so secret subscription program that is only available through select small business shops that sell Spellbinder products. I get through Stamplistic. When I found out about it all those appealed to me. I support small biz as much as I can and the Betterpress Society is just something extra special about Spellbinders that I love so much. 

This is February 2026 set and as soon as I saw it revealed, I knew I wanted the Kokeshi dolls set to go with it. This February set also came with stencils that made colors the flowers a dream. 

Instruction (supply list at bottom):

1. 1. Tape an A2 card panel to the clear plate of the Betterpress system in the rectangle outlined on it. For best impression use Spellbinders Cotton Card Panels. You can use any paper but the thicker papers will leave a better impression. You can use any ink as well. 
   
   
   
2.  Put the plate on the magnetic grid. Add ink in your choice of color. I used Teal Topaz. Cover with the clear plate and run through your die cutting machine. Set aside.
   
   
   
3. Clean the plate and any ink that got on the Betterpress system plates.
4.  Make prints of the sentiments to fill a panel. I like to make extras in different colors and most get saved for a future project. 
   
   
   
5. Die cut out all those sentiments. 
   
   
   
6.  Tape or secure the background down and use the stencils to color the flowers. I did 3 shades of pink.
   
   
   
7. Color the flower centers with yellow.
   
   
   
8. Color the fan part of the background, stencil #4, with a pale blue. 
   
   
   
9. Cutout all the pieces of the Kokeshi out in the colors of your choice and assemble. 
   
   
   
10. Cut the panel down to 3.75 x 5".
11. Cut a panel in the color of your choice to 5.25 x 4". The gives a border.
12. Glue the two panels together and glue the doll on the top panel towards the left.
13. Attach a sentiment with adhesive foam.
14. Add some bling with sequins or gems.

 Check out the supply list below for all that I used to make this card. 

~Paula

If you’d like, please follow me:
Please follow this blog, you can find the Follow button in the right column ===> 
Facebook: Paula's Studio 
Instagram: PaulasStudioMI

 

Please Note: This post contains product links so you can easily find any supplies and/or tools you may be interested in. As an affiliate, I may be compensated for a purchase made using my links. However, no additional cost is extended to you. The other links are just to help guide you in the right direction. I am not affiliated with all companies but I encourage you to shop small businesses as much as possible. I only share product information of products I am familiar with and use in my own studio.

Papers are just from my collection. I always grab from my scraps first and I don’t keep track of where they came from. Use what you have!

 

St. Patrick's Day Glitter Mug using Unity Stamps and Artesprix inks

Hi friends!

I have this fairly new addiction for mugs. It started with Christmas mugs but now I want at least one mug for other holidays. Here we are approaching St. Patrick’s Day and I just couldn’t find a really fun or cute mug to purchase. Well, that just means I had to make my own using Artesprix sublimation inks.

 

 

General Supplies needed. You can find the products listed at the bottom of this instruction.

• Sublimation ink
• Paintbrush
• Cup of water
• Paper towel
• Paint palette or tray
• Copy/printer paper
• Stamp of your choice
• Sublimation ink pad
• Stamp block or positioner
• Sublimation mug
• Protection paper or parchment paper
• Mug press
• Heat resistant tape

 

Instruction

1.       Measure the mug top to bottom and then from handle to handle.

2.       Draw the rectangle out on printer paper. I prefer slightly smaller. Cut out the rectangle. This is your canvas. Pencil will not transfer to mug so don’t worry about lines and writing.

3.       Set up your canvas paper in a stamp positioner. I put another piece of paper underneath as I know the stamp will go off the edges.

4.       Using a sublimation ink pad and a stamp, stamp your image(s) to the canvas. NOTE: your image will be reversed on the final object, all words, numbers, etc. will need to be mirrored. There are several ways to do this but it isn’t included in this tutorial as I am not using them in this project.

5.       Using sublimation ink to color in the stamped images and background. I traces the outline of the clovers with a green marker as I wanted them to be prominent. I use a paint palette tray  so I can add one drop of ink in a well and water that down.  Please note: the darkest color will always prevail on the final product so if you do any layers, regardless of what form of ink you are using, the dark color will over power the lighter ones so take that into account if you layer colors.

Any part of your canvas that doesn’t get painted will be the color of the mug.

6.       Let dry.

7.       Wrap your artwork around the mug and tape securely with heat resistant tape.

8.       Cut a piece of protection paper and wrap that around the mug. This is needed because we are not using sublimation paper and the ink can bleed through the paper and get on the press.

9.       Set the temp on the press to be in the 360-400 degree F range and the time to be 150 to 300 seconds.

10.   Place mug in press and activate press.

11.   Do a peek test to make sure the image has transferred. If not, press again. Otherwise, let cool.

12.   Once cooled remove your artwork and marvel and the beautiful mug you just created!

 

 

These inks are so vibrant and beautiful. I hope you’ll fall in love with them as I have! You can learn more and see more project inspiration in the Artesprix Iron-on Ink Inspirational Facebook Group. Please use tags #Artesprix and #IrononInk for your projects on your social media posts so they can find them.

 

Thank you for following along!

Check out the supply list below for all that I used to decorate this mug. 

~Paula

If you’d like, please follow me:

Please follow this blog, you can find the Follow button in the right column ===> 

Facebook: Paula's Studio

Instagram: PaulasStudioMI

 

Please Note: This post contains product links so you can easily find any supplies and/or tools you may be interested in. As an affiliate, I may be compensated for a purchase made using my links. However, no additional cost is extended to you. The other links are just to help guide you in the right direction. I am not affiliated with all companies but I encourage you to shop small businesses as much as possible. I only share product information of products I am familiar with and use in my own studio.

 

 

CRAFT Challenge Blog #775

 Hello friends! This week's challenge with CRAFT Challenge Blog has a theme of Spring or Easter. The sponsor is The Paper Shelter. The design i am working with is Adorable Easter Bunny Digital Stamp.

 Supply list is found below. 

Instruction: 

1. Open an egg design in the electronic cutter software. I am using Silhouette Studio with a Cameo.
2. Size the egg to be about the size of the card that you would like. I am using A2 size; 4.25" x 5.5".
3. Duplicate the egg shape. You don't need the stripes, just the egg as it will be the inside/back of the card. Move all shapes off to the side of the on-screen mat.
4. Open the Easter bunny design in the software.  I am using the colored PNG file.
5. Size the bunny to fit the egg including the little butterflies. 
6. Turn on the registration marks for the print & cut feature.
7. Print the page on to cardstock.
8. Cut the design using the cutting machine.
9. Choose the colors of cardstock for the egg and the stripes.
10. Cut all egg pieces out.
11. Score a line 1" from the top of the egg piece that will be the inside of the card. 
    
    
    
12. Add glue above the scored line and attach to front glue. Let dry. This is your card base. 
13.  Assemble the egg and adhere the stripes. 
14. Using ink and a blending brush, add a soft touch of ink on the edges. I did for all 3 colors I used. This just adds some dimension. 
    
15. Adhere the bunny and butterflies to the egg.
16. Embellish with sequins or gems.

Enjoy! I would love to see your version of this card. I used papers I had on hand.

 

~Paula

If you’d like, please follow me:

Please follow this blog, you can find the Follow button in the right column ===> 

Facebook: Paula's Studio

Instagram: PaulasStudioMI

 

Please Note: This post contains product links so you can easily find any supplies and/or tools you may be interested in. As an affiliate, I may be compensated for a purchase made using my links. However, no additional cost is extended to you. The other links are just to help guide you in the right direction. I am not affiliated with all companies but I encourage you to shop small businesses as much as possible. I only share product information of products I am familiar with and use in my own studio.

Papers are just from my collection. I always grab from my scraps first and I don’t keep track of where they came from. Use what you have!