Creative Cafe' - Spring is Here! Easter Treat Baskets

Hi Everyone!  Today I'm going to share some "sweet" little treat baskets that you can share with family and friends, and would make a wonderful addition to your Easter table this season!

 

 

To see my tutorial on how I created these cute baskets - head on over to my post today on The Rubber Café blog here!

 

Creative Cafe' kit for March -Spring is Here! Bokeh Ink technique

Hi Everyone-

Hope you remembered to move your clocks ahead this weekend!  It's that time again and yes, that means 'Spring is Here'!  Which is perfect because this month's kit over here at The Rubber Cafe' is called Spring is Here- and it's a wonderful kit full of spring papers and stamps for Easter and other occassions - so if you haven't already subscribed, there's still time to get in on all the fun just go here!

For my first card today - I'm featuring a fun ink technique. (You'll see this post also today over at the The Rubber Cafe' blog here.)
I'm only using the papers and stamp sentiments this time- as it seems simple graphics seemed the best.  
Here's my card -

 

This is a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 " card so my card base was cut at 4 1 /4" x 11 and scored at 5 1/2".

For my layers, I have a Pink Cardstock at 5 1/4" x 4 1/8"

and a Green patterned paper from the pad cut at 5 1/8" x 4"

 

For the Bokeh ink technique- I decided to used water color paper - I've seen this technique used with all type of inks, so you should checkout all the varieties out there and find what works best for you.  I really wanted the water color look, as it reminds me of Easter dye when coloring eggs!



 

I'm sorry my camera battery died before I could get pictures of this process so I'll describe the best way I can on how I did his technique.  

 

Preparing your water color background:

 

To begin:  I cut a piece of water color paper at 4 1/2 x 6-  and taped it to my craft mat-

• I washed the whole surface with water using a fairly large brush.  This helps the ink move around on the paper. 
• For my inks I used Rangers' distress inks - Mowed lawn; Broken China and Worn Lipstick. 

*Tip:  The colors will dry much softer and as I found when I first started with more pastel shades - like shabby shutters, pink, and tumbled glass and they were just not vibrant enough so I re-wet my paper and added the colors above. 

• Then I took each ink and applied it directly to my craft mat and spritzed each with water - with a wet a brush I just applied it to my paper- and allowed it to move around as it wanted.  I didn't let them blend too much - but made sure I had all 3 colors and that my paper was covered fully with ink. 
• Where there was too much pooling of ink I took a dry towel and blotted it up.  You can also spritz again with water if you want to create more movement.  Distress ink reacts well to the water so really easy to work with.
• I let this dry - you can also take your heat gun to your paper to speed up the process. 

Creating the White Ink circles: 

• Next for the Bokeh affect - I used my Wedding Dress white ink from Memento-Luxe.  You want a wet pigment ink that will be fairly opaque, a couple of other inks that I have tried and that work just as well are Memories Unicorn Ink and Stampin'UP! White Craft ink.
• For your circles you can use a purchased template or punch circles in paper to create your own.  But I found something even easier and just as effective was my circle sponge applicator from Ranger, w/ a clean sponge; and a clean small finger tip sponge!
• I started with the larger circles first you want to lay down ink in different intensities.  I just used my applicator like a stamp to create the circles.  For less intensity I used it again w/o re-inking.  I repeated this with my smaller finger tip sponge applicator, randomly spacing my circles and overlapping as well.  I left more of my colors showing then I've seen in some, so it all depends on what you're happy with - you can cover it more with less intensity or coverage.  You'll know when your done!



Here's a close-up look at my card - 

 

 

To finish once the white ink had dried.  I used the Welcome, Spring and spring is here sentiments from the kits coordinating Stamp set Egg-stra Special.  I stamped with Memento ink. I think maybe after seeing my ink looking a bit like it's absorbing into the white, I should have used Archival ink for this step.  I think that would have stayed on top better. 

 

Tip:  I also used my heat gun in this step to make sure it was really dry before stamping my sentiment.

 

I layered and assembled my card - added a blue ribbon from the kit with a simple bow.  Here's another look at my finished card.

   

 

Thanks for stopping by- and I hope you'll give this technique a try - you'll be amazed at the different effects you can achieve just by changing your ink colors and intensity.  It's fun, easy and makes an amazing background for any card or project! 

 

Be sure to keep coming back this month - as the team has some amazing projects to share featuring this Month's Creative Cafe' Kit- Spring is Here!

 

Supplies:

Stamps:  The Rubber Cafe' - Creative Cafe' kit of the month -Spring is Here  Egg-stra Special stamp set

Paper:  The Rubber Cafe' - Creative Cafe' kit of the month -featuring 6x6 pad

Ink:  Memento-luxe Wedding Dress; Memento Black tuxedo; Ranger Distress Inks: Mowed lawn; Broken China; Worn Lipstick

Embellishments:  Blue ribbon from the kit

Tools: Ranger small round applicator w/ sponge; finger tip circle sponge applicator; heat gun; Ranger non-stick craft mat

Valentines featuring Card Sketches with Creative Cafe's Kit of the Month!

Hi Everyone!
As promised I'm back this week with not just one new card sketch but 2!  I think I'm becoming addicted!
Here's a quick look at the 4 cards I made this week, using the 2 card sketches I created. 

What I love most is I'm really getting a lot of cards out of this one 6x6 pad!  I still have papers and images to duplicate the first set of 7 cards I made.  Here's a link to that post in case you missed it last week.
So for this week, here's 2 more sketchs for you to try. 

These cards like last week are all 3 x 5 card bases - and I've backed all my layers with black.  Overall

I kept my stamping simple, with minimal coloring, as these designs really stand-up well as simple black outlines, especially against the pink, red, black and white color palette of this kit.

For my first card, the image below is stamped onto pink cardstock, I did use my clear glitter Wink of Stella marker on the poodle, then added a dinmensional heart, which is included in the kit.  My sentiment is centered on a punched heart, from a paper print in the pad.  I layered black and then added a red heart to help it pop!  Both the image and the sentiment are from the add-on set Love is a Four-legged Word.

My second card with this sketch, is one of my favorites!  I stamped the image from stampset featured in the kit directly onto the patterned word paper from the Doodlebug pad.  I did some highlighting around them both with my alchohol markers, and added some tiger stripes to my sleeping kitty.  

I think what I love best is the dream bubble over his head.  Look!  he's even dreaming about his sleeping feline friend along with his other favorite things!

 

With my second sketch I created two more cards.  My first card is on the vertical- and I had some fun with the circular paw prints images found in the featured stamp set with the kit.  Getting out my Spellbinder Classic circle and scallop circle dies, I was able to create a wreath shape.  I love the dog house which I added to my wreath.   It seemed to need a heart too but I couldn't find the right place for it- as a final touch and to add some red, then I tied some red rayon ribbon through the opening.  The sentiment "The Road to my Heart is paved with Paw Prints" makes me think of the idea Home is where the heart is- I don't know, in a crazy way it works for me and I like how it turned out!

 

Here's a look at the card sketch I created...

My 2nd card I turned horizontally and instead of a circle I did a cluster of elements - primarily made up of these 2 cute envelopes stuffed full of hearts!  I have a punch from ek Success-that created the envelopes, it looks like a 4 petal flower-which unfortunately is discontinued, but I couldn't resist using it anyway.  I added the 'I ruff you' sentiment from the add-on set "Love is a Four-Legged Word".  

* Hint:  If you haven't already added this stamp set to your shopping cart before checking out you should really re-consider!  They both work so well together.

 

Here's another look at them all together again! 

 

Thanks for stopping by- I hope you've been inspired to give a couple of these sketches a try!

Supplies:

Stamps: The Rubber Cafe' -Creative Cafe' Kit for Feb; Love, the Most Wonderful Feeling

Paper: The Rubber Cafe'- Creative Cafe' Kit for Feb; Love, the Most Wonderful Feeling featuring Doodlebugs' Love Bugs 6x6 Paper Pad

Ink: Memento Espresso; Tuxedo Black

Adhesives: The Rubber Cafe'- Scrap Happy Glue

Embellishments: The Rubber Cafe' - enamel puff hearts; ribbon all found in the kit

Tools: Spellbinder Classic circles and scallop circle dies;  Circle; scallop circle punches; envelope punch, hearts and pawprint border punches; EK Success

Creating a bunch of Valentine Cards with a Card Sketch!

Hi Everyone!
Today I'm trying something new for me!  With Valentines day like Christmas it's an opportunity to create and share the 'love' with as many of your friends and family as possible.  I admit I struggle creating many cards quickly so I decided to try the card sketch approach.  Here's a look at the whole bunch - featuring our products and stamps from the Creative Cafe' Kit - Love the Most Wonderful Feeling!

There's a lot of card sketch sites out there available, but I wanted to try my hand at creating my own. Keeping in mind the paper elements and embellishments I was working with I came up with this one.

 

To see more of the details on each card head on over to my Rubber Cafe' post here!

 

 

New February Release - Creative Cafe'- kit of the month - Love is the Most Wonderful Feeling!

Hi Everyone!  It's time again for our next new Creative Cafe kit of the month!  With February's kit, we're getting you all set to create cards and tags for the sweetest holiday ever, Valentines' Day! the kit is called Love the Most Wonderful Feeling, and the coordinated Doodlebug 6x6 pad, Love Bugs makes this a definite sweet treat for everyone this month.

 

 

Along with coordinating cardstock, we have some adorable embellishments also from Doodlebug heart pearls; and mini doodle pops cardstock stickers; and coordinating ribbons. 

 

So head on over if you're not subscribing already and get your kit now from the The Rubber Cafe' and ....     

Subscribe here!

  

Here's another look at our exclusive coordinated stamp set - Live. Love. Bark.

 

...and Add-On set called Love is a Four-Legged Word!

 

As always with each kit you'll receive an Inspiration Sheet filled with project ideas made by our talented Design Team. So don't miss out on the fun, if you haven't done this already use the Subscribe link below to get a February kit of your very own NOW!
  
Remember those of you already subscribing we'll start shipping this week!!  

Subscribe here!

 

 

Tree Decorating Place holders- featuring a folded tree tutorial with the Creative Cafe' KOM

Hi Everyone! Hope you've had a great week! I'm starting off the weekend, with a cute place card idea, show casing those adorable Elves!! Yep they're at it again, and busy at work decorating trees for Santa's delivery!

 

 

Here's a closer look at my finished project -

 

So Grab your favorite beverage and head on over to my post today at The Rubber Cafe' - and read more on, how I make these cute simple trees!

 

Halloween Traditions - Creative Cafe' - kit for September

Hi Everyone! Can you believe it but we've been sharing monthly Creative Cafe' kits with you for a year now! That's right it's our first year Anniversary!

This month we've got a wonderful set perfect for all those Halloween projects called Cute & Spooky! And how cute it is, and spooky? Definitely! When you take a look at the stamp set that comes with the kit called Halloween Traditions you'll know why. It features a ghost a line-up of tombstones, bats and spiders all complete with their own spider web!

For my card today - I wanted to create my own spooky scene taken straight from a creepy spooky cemetary!



 

For more details and information check out my blog post today at the Rubber Cafe' here!