Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
Blog Hop Winners!
I hope everyone had a fabulous time on the hop this weekend! The design team really out-did themselves with all of the adorable ornaments. I'm sure you've been waiting to see who won, so without further ado, the Grand Prize winner is.......
craftykitten!
And the winner of the design team prize is....
Maylee!
Congratulations, ladies! Please contact Virginia at vvillasenor@instylestamps.com within 48 hours to claim your prize.
craftykitten!
And the winner of the design team prize is....
Maylee!
Congratulations, ladies! Please contact Virginia at vvillasenor@instylestamps.com within 48 hours to claim your prize.
Method Monday - Paper piecing with Digital Images
Hello Everyone!!!
Welcome to this week’s Method Monday! Today I want to show you how to paper piece with digital images. It is really easy!!!
First decide how many different parts you will need. I needed one for the main image, a second for her left arm, and a third for each boot. So I printed three images onto one sheet of cardstock, cropping the excess image to save ink. I left a little extra room around the top one which is the one I used for the card. The others were printed close together since I only needed parts from each one.
Here’s a close-up of the three images after printing a second time:
See how easy that is!! I hope you enjoyed my quick tutorial! I can’t wait to see your creations! Please link back with your paper pieced projects, I would love to see them. Enjoy your week!
Welcome to this week’s Method Monday! Today I want to show you how to paper piece with digital images. It is really easy!!!
First decide how many different parts you will need. I needed one for the main image, a second for her left arm, and a third for each boot. So I printed three images onto one sheet of cardstock, cropping the excess image to save ink. I left a little extra room around the top one which is the one I used for the card. The others were printed close together since I only needed parts from each one.
After printing, I returned to my computer and deleted the top image. Doing so prevents the printer from printing over this image a second time. Remember, the top is the main image.
Using removable tape, I adhered small pieces of patterned paper over the area I wanted printed.
Here’s a close-up of the three images after printing a second time:
I then cut out the parts I needed and began putting her back together. Then I finished up the card to get this. Enjoy!!!
See how easy that is!! I hope you enjoyed my quick tutorial! I can’t wait to see your creations! Please link back with your paper pieced projects, I would love to see them. Enjoy your week!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Digital Images 101-Special Edition, Paper Piecing with Digital Images
Since Raquel, on the design team, is putting together a tutorial on paper piecing, we thought a quick informational piece on the ins and outs of paper piecing was in order.
What Is Paper Piecing?
Paper piecing is similar to appliquéing. In simple terms, it is the ripping or cutting of papers, then reassembling them to create new designs. When paper piecing, you can glue pieces side-by-side or layer them for a more dimensional effect. Papers may be pieced together using the same color and/or paper design, or by combining various colors and designs.
How Complex Are Paper Piecings?
Paper pieced projects can range from simple designs like a three-petal flower or skirt to more complex designs, like creating paper characters with interchangeable outfits.
What Can You Use For Paper Piecing?
You can use all types of paper and embellishments when you paper piece: cardstock, vellum, patterned paper, ribbons, and more. The key is to find a medium you feel comfortable with.
How Does Paper Piecing Work With Digital Images?
It pretty much works the same way it does if you’d used rubber stamped images. But instead of stamping your image with ink onto cardstock, you use your computer and printer to print the image onto your paper of choice.
Some people prefer to print the image onto regular paper, and then cut the image into sections (object parts), trace it onto their preferred choice of paper, and finally, cut out the pieces. Others, like the simplicity of printing the digital stamp directly onto their paper of choice, cutting it out, and adhering it to their project—one piece at a time. Whichever method you choose, the biggest obstacle will be cutting out the part of the digital stamp image you’d like to use.
How Do You Cut Out Paper Piecings?
There are two ways to cut out paper piecings: x-acto knives and small, curved scissors.
If you are not a great cutter, start by only cutting out the larger areas so you don’t have to focus on detailed areas. Then as you improve with your cutting skills, get in closer.
You can cut directly on the image outline or you can get as close to the outline of the image as possible. To prevent messing up the image by cutting too much of the image, itself, take a permanent marker and outline the image, then cut around—or on—the image.
How Do You Create Paper Pieced Projects?
The steps are simple:
1. Find an image to create a pattern or template with.
2. Select paper, embellishments, and coloring tools, like Copic markers or watercolor paints.
3. Cut image into sections (a.k.a. piecings).
4. Trace or print sections onto various papers.
5. Color and embellish sections.
6. Glue sections together.
7. Attach completed paper piecing to final project.
Now that you have a basic idea of what paper piecing is all about join us Monday, November 30th, for our Method Monday, where Raquel will be giving us a step-by-step tutorial on how to paper piece with digital images.
Next time we’ll return to our regularly scheduled article and discuss how to remove an image from a background in Photoshop®.
What Is Paper Piecing?
Paper piecing is similar to appliquéing. In simple terms, it is the ripping or cutting of papers, then reassembling them to create new designs. When paper piecing, you can glue pieces side-by-side or layer them for a more dimensional effect. Papers may be pieced together using the same color and/or paper design, or by combining various colors and designs.
How Complex Are Paper Piecings?
Paper pieced projects can range from simple designs like a three-petal flower or skirt to more complex designs, like creating paper characters with interchangeable outfits.
What Can You Use For Paper Piecing?
You can use all types of paper and embellishments when you paper piece: cardstock, vellum, patterned paper, ribbons, and more. The key is to find a medium you feel comfortable with.
How Does Paper Piecing Work With Digital Images?
It pretty much works the same way it does if you’d used rubber stamped images. But instead of stamping your image with ink onto cardstock, you use your computer and printer to print the image onto your paper of choice.
Some people prefer to print the image onto regular paper, and then cut the image into sections (object parts), trace it onto their preferred choice of paper, and finally, cut out the pieces. Others, like the simplicity of printing the digital stamp directly onto their paper of choice, cutting it out, and adhering it to their project—one piece at a time. Whichever method you choose, the biggest obstacle will be cutting out the part of the digital stamp image you’d like to use.
How Do You Cut Out Paper Piecings?
There are two ways to cut out paper piecings: x-acto knives and small, curved scissors.
If you are not a great cutter, start by only cutting out the larger areas so you don’t have to focus on detailed areas. Then as you improve with your cutting skills, get in closer.
You can cut directly on the image outline or you can get as close to the outline of the image as possible. To prevent messing up the image by cutting too much of the image, itself, take a permanent marker and outline the image, then cut around—or on—the image.
How Do You Create Paper Pieced Projects?
The steps are simple:
1. Find an image to create a pattern or template with.
2. Select paper, embellishments, and coloring tools, like Copic markers or watercolor paints.
3. Cut image into sections (a.k.a. piecings).
4. Trace or print sections onto various papers.
5. Color and embellish sections.
6. Glue sections together.
7. Attach completed paper piecing to final project.
Now that you have a basic idea of what paper piecing is all about join us Monday, November 30th, for our Method Monday, where Raquel will be giving us a step-by-step tutorial on how to paper piece with digital images.
Next time we’ll return to our regularly scheduled article and discuss how to remove an image from a background in Photoshop®.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Holiday Ornaments Blog Hop - VOTING NOW CLOSED
Voting is now closed. Winners will be announced on Monday.
Welcome to the InStyle Stamps November blog hop! It's the time of year when everyone starts getting out their holiday decorations, so to give you a little inspiration, this month’s theme is “Holiday Ornaments”. The design team has cooked up some fabulous projects to inspire you, so what are you waiting for? Get hopping! You are going to start with Cyndi's blog this month, and when you have finished hopping through all of the dt blogs, be sure to come back here to enter to win a great prize and to help us decide which design team member also gets a prize.
We will be giving away a Grand Prize to one lucky Blog Hop participant and also have a prize for one lucky design team member. To enter, hop through the design team’s blogs, (leaving a comment at each stop, of course!) and then come back here and vote for the designer who's project inspired you the most. Then, in order to be entered into the drawing to win the grand prize, leave your name with Mister Linky.
You have until 11:59pm EST on Sunday, November 29th to enter, and the winners will be announced on the InStyle Stamps blog on Monday.
*Please note that after voting, you will need to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the window that comes up to see the voting results.*
The winners will be determined as follows: The participant winner will be selected by random draw. The design team winner will be the member who receives the most votes. Designers can only win once every two months, so the previous months winner is not eligible for this month’s prize.
Welcome to the InStyle Stamps November blog hop! It's the time of year when everyone starts getting out their holiday decorations, so to give you a little inspiration, this month’s theme is “Holiday Ornaments”. The design team has cooked up some fabulous projects to inspire you, so what are you waiting for? Get hopping! You are going to start with Cyndi's blog this month, and when you have finished hopping through all of the dt blogs, be sure to come back here to enter to win a great prize and to help us decide which design team member also gets a prize.
We will be giving away a Grand Prize to one lucky Blog Hop participant and also have a prize for one lucky design team member. To enter, hop through the design team’s blogs, (leaving a comment at each stop, of course!) and then come back here and vote for the designer who's project inspired you the most. Then, in order to be entered into the drawing to win the grand prize, leave your name with Mister Linky.
You have until 11:59pm EST on Sunday, November 29th to enter, and the winners will be announced on the InStyle Stamps blog on Monday.
*Please note that after voting, you will need to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the window that comes up to see the voting results.*
The winners will be determined as follows: The participant winner will be selected by random draw. The design team winner will be the member who receives the most votes. Designers can only win once every two months, so the previous months winner is not eligible for this month’s prize.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Method Monday - Gift Card Holder...
Hello Everyone!!!
Welcome to this week’s Method Monday! Holidays are around the corner..we all are super busy.. so I will show you how to make a quick and easy gift card holder..perfect for the gift giving season.
:::::::::::Supplies::::::::::
4 1/2" x11" Cardstock
4 1/2"x 41/2" piece of patterned paper
1" x4" strip of another patterned paper.
ISS image-- I used "Kissmas Monkey"--Super cute!
1 1/4" circle punch
adhesive
ribbon and any other embellishments
Step 1::
Score the cardstock at 4 1/2" and 9"...
Step 2::
Fold on the scored line and adhere the 1"x4" strip of the PP to 1 1/2" part .... punch halfway with circle punch in the middle like this......
Step 3:::
Apply adhesive to the inside of short ends of the 1 1/2" part..
adhere to form the pocket..
Step 4::
Decorate the inside with any sentiment and emb. and insert gift card in the pocket.
Step 5::
Finish of the card front...
There you have an easy peasy gift card holder ... you can also use it to give some family photos to the dear ones or favorite recipe cards...
I hope you enjoyed my quick tutorial ! I can’t wait to see your creations! Please link back with your gift card holders, I would love to see them. Enjoy your week!
Hugs
Piali
Friday, November 20, 2009
How to Print and Color Digital Stamps
Digital Stamps 101 – How to Print and Color Digital Stamps
In the last issue, we discussed what digital images are. Today, we will discuss how to print and color digital images.
Before you can begin printing your digital images, you need to think about the quality of the printer ink and the quality of the paper upon which it will be printed, otherwise, your results could be less than satisfactory.
You see, certain papers don’t handle printer inks well, thus causing ink to remain wet, or damp. When inks remain wet, adding color will only smear the image and result in wasted time and resources.
Best Cardstock For Coloring
That’s why we recommend that you use a nice thick cardstock, like Neenah Classic Crest solar white or bright white cardstock—we sell the Classic crest in our store. While this paper is a bit pricey, it can handle alcohol-based markers, like Copic and Prismacolor markers, without smearing, running, or bleeding.
However, if your budget doesn’t allow for Neenah Classic Crest cardstock, we suggest that you find a paper that is at least 80 lbs. Choosing a paper that has a paper weight of at least 80 lbs isn’t just good for printing, it’s also great for scoring; allowing you to get a nice crisp line without folding marks or creases.
That being said, if you notice your ink smears or colors run, we recommend that you print your image on new cardstock then set your printed image before coloring. You can set your image two ways: heat setting or embossing.
Heat Setting
Once you’ve printed your image, get out your heat gun (or your blow dryer), turn it on, and hold it 5 to 8 inches from the image. As you dry your print, rotate the image under the heat gun for approximately 20 to 30 seconds. Do not hold it too close to the paper or you will burn the paper. Once done, let the image cool for 5 to 10 seconds, then begin coloring. (Please note that this method has not been tested on watercolors, only Copic and Prisma markers.)
Embossing
Embossing is real simple and holds the ink in place so that it doesn’t run, bleed, or smear when you color. To begin, grab your glue and place it on whatever part(s) of the image you want embossed. (We recommend a glue pen because it allows you to be more precise, but you can use whatever works best for you.) Before the glue dries, add clear embossing powder. Grab your heat gun and heat the image using the heat setting instructions above. Let cool, then begin coloring as normal.
Taking this one simple, yet extra, step can ensure your piece of mind. It will practically guarantee that all of your digital images come out as beautifully as you want them to and it will absolutely save you time and money in the long run.
Join us next time to find out how to remove a background from an image using Adobe Photoshop.
In the last issue, we discussed what digital images are. Today, we will discuss how to print and color digital images.
Before you can begin printing your digital images, you need to think about the quality of the printer ink and the quality of the paper upon which it will be printed, otherwise, your results could be less than satisfactory.
You see, certain papers don’t handle printer inks well, thus causing ink to remain wet, or damp. When inks remain wet, adding color will only smear the image and result in wasted time and resources.
Best Cardstock For Coloring
That’s why we recommend that you use a nice thick cardstock, like Neenah Classic Crest solar white or bright white cardstock—we sell the Classic crest in our store. While this paper is a bit pricey, it can handle alcohol-based markers, like Copic and Prismacolor markers, without smearing, running, or bleeding.
However, if your budget doesn’t allow for Neenah Classic Crest cardstock, we suggest that you find a paper that is at least 80 lbs. Choosing a paper that has a paper weight of at least 80 lbs isn’t just good for printing, it’s also great for scoring; allowing you to get a nice crisp line without folding marks or creases.
That being said, if you notice your ink smears or colors run, we recommend that you print your image on new cardstock then set your printed image before coloring. You can set your image two ways: heat setting or embossing.
Heat Setting
Once you’ve printed your image, get out your heat gun (or your blow dryer), turn it on, and hold it 5 to 8 inches from the image. As you dry your print, rotate the image under the heat gun for approximately 20 to 30 seconds. Do not hold it too close to the paper or you will burn the paper. Once done, let the image cool for 5 to 10 seconds, then begin coloring. (Please note that this method has not been tested on watercolors, only Copic and Prisma markers.)
Embossing
Embossing is real simple and holds the ink in place so that it doesn’t run, bleed, or smear when you color. To begin, grab your glue and place it on whatever part(s) of the image you want embossed. (We recommend a glue pen because it allows you to be more precise, but you can use whatever works best for you.) Before the glue dries, add clear embossing powder. Grab your heat gun and heat the image using the heat setting instructions above. Let cool, then begin coloring as normal.
Taking this one simple, yet extra, step can ensure your piece of mind. It will practically guarantee that all of your digital images come out as beautifully as you want them to and it will absolutely save you time and money in the long run.
Join us next time to find out how to remove a background from an image using Adobe Photoshop.
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