a card for my Aunt

Hello, my friends,
 Hope you had a very happy Christmas with your beloveds.

 At our region, the peak of the biggest cold wave this month was over this afternoon. The consumption of electricity at our supply company seems to be decreasing gradually. Thank you.

 Yesterday, I finished a card for my aunt. Though I was going to make it after the coming New Year holidays, I couldn't wait to do it, because I received the HA new released stamps yesterday morning. This time, the delivery was quicker more than I expected for this time of year.　(But judging from the tracking report, my parcel seemed to have taken enough 'ZZZ time' for about a week at LA before going through the customs clearance.

Well, here is the card, Thinking of you'.

And, this is a close up.

 The methods I used: Blended several Distress Inks after stamping with oil based ink, or after heat embossing. Spread the Distress Stickle Rock Candy on two hearts' surface after blending inks with blending foam.
 By my broad interpretation of the sketches, I'm going to send this to Flickr to join in HA December challenge Round 2. Hope this qualifies their requirement.

Christmas card for my father

Hi, again,
 I have one more post today. Just finished a Christmas card for my father. When I thought about its design, I hit upon a good idea to take on two themes of Hero Arts December challenge Round 2.
Made the design to combine 'pocket card' with 'one of the sketches'. Wow, the card for my father was done, and I can join the challenge!

Here is the card.

 The bottom half is a pocket. The method I used is stamping with distress inks and blending for the oval shaped area, and heat-embossing for the pocket area.

Here is a close up.

 The reason I chose Starry Night stamp for this card is ...

a card and an ATC for sharing

Hi, there,
 Today, I'd like to share you a card which I rushed to make and already sent it to one of my friends yesterday. I used a paper piecing technique for the retro trees.

Here is the card.

And this is an ATC that I made after finishing my first card posted here on Dec.15.

 I liked the combination of the girl holding the big ornament and the winter tree, so I made a few card last year. This year, I made to use Music Background with it.

 The Music Background stamp by Hero Arts was omitted from my shopping list at first. 'Cos I already had a few similar stamps when it released, and I had actual music scores that I could digitize easily. BUT, while looking at so many beautiful works using it at Flickr HA group pool, I decided to order. Do you have it in your drawer? You are to blame! ;) But this is really a good purchase. It's one of my favorite. :)

Stamp used:
American Art Stamp: Robin Pickens Retro trees, Karen Stolper Stick Chick
Hero Arts: Winter Tree / H5244, Music Background / CG222, Poly Clear Holiday Sayings / CL343

Other supplies:
Bazzill CS, Basic Grey PP(left over)
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black, Memento / Tuxedo Black
Ranger Distress Ink / Tumbled Glass, Stickles and Distress Stickles/ several
HA shadow Ink / Soft Pool, Felt Snowflake, button,
Faber-Castell / watercolor pencils (aquarelle and Albrecht Durer etc), Design Memory Craft /several painting tools

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful week!!
Tomo

Finally finished my 1st card in 2011 (Warmest Wishes)

Hi, there,
 My first paper craft creation in 2011 was a season's greetings card to use Fabulous flourish and Classic Holly which I ordered at the beginning of last November, but I received them on Christmas day. Oh yes, this was my first use.
(Last year, there were much rationing delay, misdelivery, and floating mail or parcel among the mails that I sent or I was supposed to receive last holiday season for maybe the security or a economic recession. Did you also annoy it?)
 We are still now in a severe recession spread over the world. It's difficult to recover soon, as you know. Hope we will be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel next year!


Well, here is the card.

Made a simple card, though it was a hard task for me to cut out the holly branch. Its coloring is by Copic markers. The Fabulous Flourish stamp is just only heat-embossed. Stamped the sentiment on the sheer part of the ribbon to use StazOn.


Here's a closeup. (Click both photos to enlarge, please.)

The holly branch is a little raised partly. I'm going to send this to Flickr HA group pool to say hello to the members there and to join the ongoing contest.


Stamp used:
Hero Arts: Fabulous Flourish / S5449, Classic Holly /CG229, Christmas Sayings/ CL343

Other supplies:
Bazzill CS
Tsukineko StazOn / Jet Black, Memento / Tuxedo Black
Ranger Adirondack Dimensional Pearl / Cranberry, Stickels / Diamond, Embossing Powder / Seaform
Diamond Glaze, Copic Markers, button, ribbon

*I have a trouble in my both eyes. So I can't make out whether the photos is good or not. Sorry.

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a beautiful week, and have a wonderful holiday season!!
Tomo

On this day... - holiday card for Get Sketchy #62

Good evening, my friends!
 Fisrt of all, my blog giveaway of some goodies for Chrismas is going to start from the day after tommorow. Only one item doesn't arrive here now. But it will reach here tomorrow since it passed the domestic customs this afternoon. I'll announce you again.

 And, the next is... about card making as usual. ;)
Tonight I played with some of my purchases arrived here the day before yesterday, and finished a card for Get Sketchy challenge #62. I knew this challenge site when I visited the Hero Arts blog on Oct. 29. It's been a few weeks since my last visit. While reading the blog article, I noticed the new tweet of an information for this challenge in the space of Hero Arts Twitter. They are the sponsor of #62! You can see the challenge details from the URL above.

 Here is the sketch #62. This is my first attempt to send my card to 'Get Sketchy'.

There's no sketch for that challenge.

getsketchy.blogspot.com was already deleted. (added by January, 2012)

And, here's a card I made.

Click the photo above to enlarge please.

 Loved the sketch at first sight, and soon I thought making the snowy scene to use the sketch. But it wasn't presumed to use the Winkling Reindeer stamp. Because, it hadn't arrived here yet.
 The background, approximately the bottom half was dry embossed, and did sanding at the surface slightly. And added the die cutted holly trees by Quickutz. The coloring of the reindeer was all Copic markers. The reindeer, some of trees, and a tag were raised - it's difficult to show you by this photo. Sorry.
I used CB embossing folder after a long interval. And dared to take the way to use it for the terra. Is it strange? ;) - I wanted to express the terra snow-covered to use the dry embossed paper. Enjoyed creating this card so much! :)
 Thanks so much for the wonderful challenge!

Stamp used:
Hero Arts: Winkling Reindeer / H5457, Poly Clear Holiday Sayings / CL343
Other supplies:
Bazzill CS, Core'dinations Color Core Whitewash
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black, Memento / Tuxedo Black
Ranger Distress Ink / Victorian Velvet, Stickles / diamond,
             Distress Stickles / Picket Fence, Tarnish Brass, Mustard Seed
Hero Arts Accent pearl and metalic decor, Copic markers,
Cuttlebug die and embossing folder

 And finally, probably you all felt exactly the same as me. I was so surprised to see the breaking news that the suspicious packages were found last week. (I escaped to use the proper nouns intentionally).
And, another scary news reached here that Mt. Merapi in Indonesia (Gunung Merapi) erupt again. The natural disasters hit Indonesia continuously. Sending love and prayers for the victims and their family. And I'm worrying about the peoples I met when I visited there, the family members of my friends who are working at the neighbour cities as caregivers, and my friends met at Flickr.

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful week!
Tomo

Christmas Wreath card

Hi, there!
 This is my second card to use my prize goodies from Hero Arts. I played it today :), though it was for a short time. And, finished a card to use the Starburst Lace and the Wreath of Leaves stamps with my favorite small holly tree since last year's release.

 Here is my new holiday card for the the Hero Arts October challenge Round 2.

Click the photo above to enlarge please.

 Love this elegant wreath stamp so much!
The wreath part was layered stamping and embossing - stamped with two pigment green color inks and embossed with embossing tinsel. I used the Starburst Lace first, and stamped the wreath stamp on it to make layers. And added Twinkling H2Os watercolors with a natural sponge onto the layered wreath. Also colored holly trees with them.
*The holly tree was stamped with green color oil based ink after stamping the Design Blocks Tree with Memories white on the Kraft.
The white ribbon was stamped with oil based red ink to use 'Peace Love Joy' clear stamp. And the central holly tree was raised a little to make 3 - dimensional.
Can you see the stamped image of the Starburst Lace? ;)


Stamp used:
Hero Arts: Wreath Of Leaves / CG215, Starburst Lace / S5317, Poly Clear Holiday Sayings / CL343,
                  Design Blocks Tree / S5037, Sparkle Clear Merry Christmas / CL364
Other supplies:
Bazzill, American Crafts and Kuretake CS, Hero Arts Kraft notecard
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black, Crimson Red, Olympia Green
Kodomono Kao Ink/ moss green, viridian, Hero Arts Shadow Ink / Soft Pool
Ranger Embossing Tinsel / Snowflake, Glossy Accents
Luminarte Twinkling H2Os / Kiwi, Stargazer, Egyptian Gold
Hero Arts gemstones and metalic decor, Kreinik Blending filament

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a wonderful day!
Tomo

Branch & Flourish Tree with a dove - Christmas card

Hi, everyone!
 Tonight, I enjoyed holiday card making to use one of my new stamps given by Hero Arts as my fab-five prize in this August which was delivered about 10 days ago. I was going to play with them from this morning, but the urgent order from one of my clients was sent by e while my sleep time (I heard that they read my yesterday post of my today's schedule for playing with my new toys - I didn't ever told them about this non-official blog, but they already noticed it... So I played with stamps for about an hour after finishing it.)

 The items I received from Hero Arts were: Cling / Wreath of Leaves (CG215) and Snowy House (CG212),  Wood Mounted Starburst Lace (S5317) and Branch & Flourish Tree (K5445), Hue Ribbons (CH229, 230) and the Holiday catalogue. Thank you so very much Hero Arts for the generosity! :)

 And, here is my brandnew holiday card, just finished for sharing and for the the Hero Arts October challenge Round 2.

Click the photo above to enlarge please.

 This is a simple and flat card - only one wing at the front of the birdie is 3 - dimensional.
Used two pigment chalk inks for clear embossing for the Branch & Floulish tree, because I wanted to keep the clear lines of its elegant stamp image - generally, using color embossing powder makes tiny colored embossing dots which sometimes I'm not find of. (I recognized that it comes to be so effective elements. It depends on the designs or the purposes.) The coloring for the birdie are by Copic markers and Twinkling H2Os. And did hand stitching to use light pale lilac metalic thread for its finishing.

Stamp used:
Hero Arts: Branch & Flourish Tree / K5445,  Al: Holiday Dove / LL213, Poly Clear Holiday Cheer/ CL359
Other supplies:
Bazzill CS, Hero Arts Kraft notecard
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black, Memento / Tuxedo Black
Color Bo Chalk Ink / Gold, Warm Red, Hero Arts Shadow Ink / Soft Sand
Ranger Diatress Ink / Spun Sugar, Stickles / Platinum, Glossy Accents
Liminarte Twinkling H2Os / Heavenly
sequens, Copic Markers, Kreinik Blending Filament

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a beautiful week!
Tomo

Knit cap shaped Christmas card

Hi, there!
 I've been a bit detaching from playing on the internet and doing paper-crafts. Since my last post, it hasn't been difficult for me to use my time for those.  But finally..., I finished just only a card last weekend! :)
Though I'm disgusted with myself to write similar words, I apologize you, my dear friends and visitors who visit here frequently and left me your lovely comments. I couldn't visit your blogs and probably couldn't read all your e or snail mails.

 Here is my new holiday card, 'Knit cap shaped Christmas card' for the the Hero Arts October challenge Round 2. (I'm gonna go Frickr to submit this, if I make time for it.)

Click the photo above to enlarge please.

 Knitted the border (length: 4") of 'one-purl-one rib stitch' to use left-over tweed yarn and also made a pompon to put on the stamped image of Winter Tree's top.
I've been wanting to make a holiday card to use the 'joy word border' stamp as a terra. This set is really 'Oldies, but goodies!'. Love those designed font shapes! :) As a matter of fact, this card was made. And maybe, the tiny cutie snowman inspired me. He whispered me about making a knit cap shaped card? ;) But, wait! It seems that it's too difficult to put into an envelope...

Stamp used:
Hero Arts: Winter Tree / H5244, Holiday Word Borders / LL039, Stamp It Christmas / CM006
Other supplies:
Bazzill and American Crafts CS
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black, Memento / Tuxedo Black
Color Box Chalk Ink / Creamy Brown, Warm Red, Hero Arts Shadow Ink / Soft Pool
Ranger Distress Ink / Spun Sugar, Rusty Hinge, Stickels / Diamond, Stampendous Fun Flock
Hero Arts Sequens and Heart Accent Pearl, Copic Markers, Tweed yarn

*Fortunately, I could upload this photo directly to blogger today. :)
It's over 2:30AM here. But I didn't have a dinner last night. I'm going to have something from now on and go to bed. Have a wonderful day, everyone!
 And the prize for my fab-five win in this August was arrived here about 10 days ago (I was away at that time), and finally I opened the parcel last night. That made me so happy! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, Hero Arts for the generousity!
I'm going to play with them after I wake up.

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a beautiful week!
Tomo

One more card to use Silly Scape, and funny story about my disaster 'distressing?'

Hi, everyone!
 The typhoon was over, though the strong wind sometimes howled while yesterday night. There was no disaster around me, thank you. But it takes a long time to change an extratropical cyclone, and it will hit the Touhoku region, the northern area of Japan again soon. I have some friends met on the internet and had the actual meetings around there. Hope they are in safe!

 Well, today, I posted another card to use the silly scape stamp here again. ;) The fact that I was going to share you with my last card. But I couldn't, since the two kitties (they are originally outside kitties, first three months of life.) broke it into fragments, while quite short time I was away from my desk. It was perfectly finished!
 I had no disaster by the typhoon hit, but I had another disaster before the typhoon was coming! LOL?
I was astounded and very shocked when I found the scene, but I switched my mode soon and looked at their playing with their temporary toy, because they were so adorable! and I found no way to 'rescue' my card... they SCRATCHed it and BIT it A LOT already. They brought my card the fantastic effect of distressing? Oh, no!
 So, I redid it - made new one - yesterday midnight to join the Hero Arts August challenge Round 1.

Here is the card, 'a little greeting to say HELLO'.

 I was going to make 'back to school card' with a school bus and crayons (or pencils - the pencil shaped buildings exsist already in this scape) by the partial use of this stamp. But there's no recievers among my family, relatives and friends. So I finished this card to left my first idea behind.
 I so love the font shape of this sentiment stamp. So I chose it for this card.
And, this time, I didn't color on the stamp image of the silly scape at all, just only stamped with black oil based ink. Added some stitching (both by hand and by machine) and the raised small colorful parts on the white cardstock for its accents.
These embelishments looks like epoxy stickers made by myself to heat-embossed. The heart and the balloon shape were die-cutted to use Quickutz cookie cutter dies.

And this is a partial closeup.

 Click the photos above to see larger and more clear photos!

 The heart shaped embelishment was made by heat-embossed with UTEE clear by Ranger a few times, and then I buried the HA heart shape accent pearl a little before it dried. And I heated it again slightly. No crackles were appeared on the pearl's surface. I was surprised at the result and I recognized again the high quality of the Hero Arts products!

Stamp used:
Hero Arts: Silly Scape / K5425, Holly Bird / A5078, Poly Clear Say Hello / CL378
Other supplies:
Bazzill CS, Kuretake CS, Basic Grey PP
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black, Memento / Tuxedo Black
Ranger UTEE embossing powder / Clear
Color pencils, Copic markers, HA Accent pearl Heart, thread, Quickutz cookie cutter dies

-----

And, here is the photo of the kitties broke my card. I took this pic this morning when they were outside.
I thought they were gangs just only in our garden, but I noticed this time that they already came to be the gangs in my room... sigh. They dash into the house when I open the doors or the windows every time.
And they have a brother/sister. The kitty is yet fear to come into indoor. I hope him/her to keep its style! Three invaders? I prefer two than three!

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a beautiful week!
Tomo

a window scene card to use Silly Scape

Hi, there! How are you, today?
 Finally I posted a card which finished last weekend. Oh, yes, I played with the Silly Scape stamp yet. Probably the photo wasn't in good condition. (This may appears in strange colors depends on your monitor settings. Sorry!)
I'm going to submit this to the Hero Arts August challenge Round 1.

Here is a window scene card, 'thinking of You'.

Click the photo above to see a larger and more clear photo!

 Wanted to have it a soft look this time. I used color pencils with Copic markers for the buildings' image, though it may look like a watercolor.
Can you see it normal 'city' scape?, not 'silly'? Or, yet silly? *giggle*
 Other colorings were... I used Ranger Distress inks for the tree, and HA Shadow Ink Pool for the sky to use a blending foam. And added the clear and color buttons with hemp cord. Saw many pretty embelishments to use buttons on HA blog last week,so I wanted to take several buttons into my card.
*The blue CS was punched out at the bottom and was just only folded. Because I wanted to add one more motion onto this card as same as the buttons drawing the wave line.
(I was going to post the partial closeup, but I quit it since the photo wasn't good and didn't have time to take its pic again. Sorry!)

Stamp used:
Hero Arts: Silly Scape / K5425, Design Blocks Tree / S5037, Poly Clear Say Hello / CL378 (a tiny bird), Sparkle Clear Simple Messages / CL173
Other supplies:
Bazzill Kraft CS, Kuretake CS
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black, Smokey Grey
Hero Arts Shadow Ink / Pool, Ranger Distress Ink / Tea Dye, Shabby Shutters
Color pencils, Copic markers and colorless blender, HA clear and color buttons, hemp cord, EK success punch

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a beautiful week!
Tomo

A night owl (me?) in the silly scape

Hi, everyone!
 I was a bit busy yesterday, but finished a card to join the 'Keeping in touch theme' of the Hero Arts August challenge Round 1, to use my favorite brand new Silly Scape stamp. It was delivered the day before yesterday. I wanted to make a little whimsical card to use it.

 Here is the result, 'A night owl in the silly scape'.

 I so love the silly scape stamp. This reminds me of my birth place, New York city, USA. And also love the tiny owl. This guy is my most favorite at this moment -actually since I saw him on the catalogue- among HA cute owls that I have. :) And I'm really a night owl. Ha!

 I colored the HA notecard with several copic markers for the background, and added the machine stitching a little. And put star shaped gems.
 Moved the second triangular roof partially in the back row from the left to the top of the third building to perch the owl on it. The buildings at the bottom right is 3-dimensional. And actual color of the circle around the sentiment is silver color. A red bow was too big???
 I'm now having a few ideas to use this stamp. I hope finishing them in the near future.

This is a partial closeup.

Stamp used:
Hero Arts Silly Scape / K5425, Poly Clear Say Hello / CL378
Other supplies:
Bazzill CS, Hero Arts notecard
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black, Memento / Tuxedo Black, Brilliance / silver
HA star gemstones, eyelets, ribbon, Copic markers

-----
 I inform all the lovely peoples of my father's update. He is going to leave hospital today's afternoon. I'm a bit worrying about taking care of him in this severe weather. - It continues over 35C for about 10 days. By the weather forecast, the burning hot days, the temperature around 35C will continue to 2 more weeks. *sigh*
 And it's no doubt it makes me to take more time to him. And I have to prepare for my work little by little. But I hope him to spend comfortable days at home! - with our cat, Gray, too! Her condition comes to be pretty good - eats enough, sometimes plays, and ocasionally assumes a threat posture to the outside noisy three kitties - they were born in our garden on Mother's day in this May. And their mom is yet with them.
 Thank you so very much for all your so kind words to me to cheer me up! I so appreciate all of you!

Thanks for stopping by! :)
Have a beautiful week and weekend!
Hugs to you all, Tomo

a card for Moxie Fab World 'Clean and Graphic Challenge'

Hi,everyone!,
 August has just begun! It's burning hot today here. How are you doing?
 Finished a card for the Card Style Clean and Graphic Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.
 I happened to know it this morning, when I cleaned up my bookmarks of my internet browser. And I said to myself, 'this was it!' that a few of my friends made lovely cards and shared it/them with us on each blog or Flickr photostream. Oh, my! I'm really slow...
Probably, this is my first entry to the Moxie Fab World. (I added their blog in my bookmarks, since there were some articles or challenges I had interests, I guess.)

Here is my card, 'Thinking of you & Smiling'.

Though I thought whether I should submit this or not for quite a while after finished, I decided to join. Hope this qualifies the requirement.

The flower at the center is a little 3-dimensional. I took a paper-piecing technique slightly off-set.
*I removed the three stems - filled in it with Copic multiliner - from the original stamp image for this card. The black color for this background was also filled with the multiliner.
*You can see a larger photo by clicking the photo above.

UPDATED: August 3rd, 2010
I decided to entry this card to the Hero Arts August challenge Round 1, since very kind lady, Anita told me about it! Thank you, Anita! Her blog is here.


Stamp used:
Hero Arts Cling Poppy Background / CG140
Hero Arts Poly Clear Say Hello / CL378

Supplies:
Bazzill CS, Making Memories PP
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black, Memento / Tuxedo Black
Ranger Stickles Diamond, Fruit Punch
Embelishments: HA Pearl, Copic markers and multiliners

Thanks for stopping by! :)
Have a beautiful week!
Tomo

Friendship tag shaped card

Hi, everyone!
 I'd like to share you a card finished yesterday.
I made this one to put into the binder pocket for my friend.

Here is the tag shaped card.

Wanted to have this a soft look and the Japanese traditional feel.
Stamped Old french Writing with distress ink and put Ranger perfect pearl Rust on it. And then, heat-embossed with Gold-pearl powder to use the Cling Floral Garden (I stamped it a little slanted.) And colored with distress inks with foam brush. Sprayed a mist of Perfect pearl with water for finishing the center piece.


This is a closeup photo around the layered flower.

The flower on the right above has the layers of the watercolor paper and the vellum. Put those flowers together slightly off-set. I also colored with distress inks on a vellum flower, and put the Perfect Pearls on it.


Stamp used:
Hero Arts Old french Writing / H2365
Hero Arts Cling Floral Garden / CG107
Hero Arts Sparkle Clear Hello Birdies / CL177

Supplies:
Bazzil CS, Kuretake CS, DCWV PP, White Vellum
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black, Gold-Pearl embossing powder
Ranger Distree Ink / Antique Linen, Tea dye, Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet, Wild Honey
Ranger Perfect Pearls / Rust, Pearl
Embelishments: HA, Cloud9 Design, paper cords, braid, ribbon

Thanks for stopping by! :)
Have a beautiful week!
Tomo

Gift of a Japanese Miyabi (a Washi paper binder etc.)

Hi, everyone!
 Finally, and just finished this Washi paper binder to join the Hero Arts July challenge Round 2, and I'm going to send it to one of my foreign friends as a gift.
 Used two HA digikit, 'the Hues papers' and 'the Seed and Pod Backgrounds' for the background papers of the binder cover to have a washi paper look.
The center piece was a little different colors from the card that I made on July 19th. Probably the receiver likes the orange color, I guess.

Here is the result. (finished size: 6.5"w x 6"h )

 After looked at a wonderful technique article by Shari Carroll on the Hero Arts web site, I hit upon making a washi paper folder binder for my friend.
 Two kinds of the digi papers were created by a few layers of colors (applied a transparent effect on each Hues papers.), and I put 'the Seed and Pod Backgrounds' on the top layer.
Heat-embossed on the orange paper with Copper powder to use the Dots and Stripes Cling Stamp.
For the beige paper, I applied the Photoshop effect 'embossing filter' on 'the Seed and Pod's data.
* I wrote about the Photoshop embossing filter at the downward of this post with a picture.


 This binder cover image was inspired by my Japanese Urushi dish and fork (the Japanese lacquerware), and the lovely Hero Arts Cling Stamp 'Floral Garden'.
*This lacquerware is for the Japanese sweets. I put the leaves and flowers. :)
I sometimes play like this way... Though I prepared the Japanese sweets to take pic with this dish, I had a several sudden visitors yesterday afternoon and I served all for them.

This is the binder inside. The tag shaped card is in a 1/4 circular shaped pocket.
Put the small size of washi papers into the 1st sheer pocket.

 I used the method the French 'Cartonnage' which is very popular around me as same as in France, the place of origin for making this kind of hard covers or the boxes. - wrapping around the thick paper board with papers or fabrics. I used the digi papers this time and the 7 gypsies Kraft Bookboard, approx. 2mm thick. You can probably easy to find how to make it like this way in books or some resources on the web related on the bookbinding.

And the 2nd pocket. There are bigger size of Washi paper in it.

And 3rd pocket. Wanted to see through the stamp of  'Imagine, Play, Create' at inside of the back cover. So I put into a few paper cords to wind the circular shape.

And this is the inside of back cover. I always love to use this inchie stamp to give some materials to friends.
I added a HA gemstone heart on it. The ♥ is lilac color.

And this is a quite simple look of the binder back.

 This binder has 3 sheer pocket pages. Those were made to cut A4 size document folders of office supplies, and made holes by Zutter Bind It All.
 I didn't stamp on the sheer pages at all. I came to the feeling that I wanted to stamp a bit on those. But it's up to my friend! ;)

 And I applied an embossing effect to use Photoshop on 'the Seed and Pod Backgrounds' on the beige paper.
Here is a comparable data.

To use the embossing filter brings a subtle mixtured different colors on the drawing lines of the pattern. Hope this helps.
*I used the PS CS5 this time. Probably this effect is in the PS-elements or other paint (raster based) application software. Because this is not a high level effect. Sorry, I've been a Photoshop user since PS3, and haven't ever use any raster based softwares. So I don't know the details. Glad that you look at and read your manual of your software, or visit the manufacturer or distributor web site to get the details of your's. Thank you.


Stamp used:
~ for the center piece ~
Hero Arts Old french Writing / H2365
Hero Arts Cling Floral Garden / CG107

~ for the binder base ~
Hero Arts Cling Dots and Stripes / CG150
Hero Arts Digikit Seed and Pod Backgrounds
Hero Arts Digikit Hues Papers

~for inside of the back cover ~
Hero Arts Clear Design Mix & Match Elements / CL266

~ for the tag ~
Hero Arts Sparkle Clear Hello Birdies / CL177
and the same stamps for the center piece

Supplies:
Bazzil CS, Basic Grey CS, watercolor paper, Printer paper
7 gypsies / Kraft Bookboard 12"x12"
Tsukineko Versa Fine / Onyx Black
Ranger Distree Ink / Victorian Velbet, Broken China, Spiced Marmalade
            Stormy Sky, Antique Linen, Tea Dye
Ranger Perfect Pearls / Rust, Pearl
Ranger Embossing Powder / Copper, Acrylic Dabber / Copper
Embelishments: HA, Cloud9 Design
Braid, Zutter Bind It All etc. Adobe Photoshop CS5

Thanks for stopping by! :)
Have a beautiful week!
Tomo

スタンプ+ステッチミックスの ' トート・バッグ '

久々のニードルワーク！？　本当に久しぶりですねぇ・・・（苦笑いですぅ　笑）
下のスレッド 'a tote bag (stamping fabric and suede)'が長くなりすぎる為、日本語記載分を今回は分けて、こちらに書きました。

このトートバッグも、ヒーロー・アーツの今週のウィークリー・チャレンジにテイクオンで作ったのですが、このバッグを作る一番のきっかけとなったのが、
the Hero Artsのウェブ・アーティストでいらしゃる、Ms.Tami Hartley さんのこのトートバッグです。爽やかでセンス抜群！とても気に入ってしまいました♪
彼女の作品に近いものを作りたい～という願望もありましたが、何しろ、同一のスタンプが手持ちにありませんし、やはりオリジナリティを出したいという事もあって、もともと、このデザイン・ブロックス・スタンプがリリースされた時に、バッグやポーチに良さそうなデザイン!!と思って購入していた'Outline Flowers'と、少々の小花のスタンプで制作してみました。


今週のチャレンジのテーマは、'beyond paper' --- カードストックやパターンペーパー以外の物にスタンプし、グリーティング・カード又は、その他の作品を作る・・・というもの。
面白い企画だと思いますが、「何にスタンプし、どのように構成するか」により、出来栄え様々になるから、私個人としては、難しい企画！という印象を持ちました。
いろいろアイディアは出てくるけれども、「どの様にまとめ、仕上げるか・・・。んん～、これ以上はアイディア止まりになりそう！」です。
とり合えず、出来上がったばかりのマイ・トートで満足しています（笑）。そういえば、パッチワークの大きめの横長トートも今年は仕上げなければ！

そういえば、記載していませんでしたが、3/26と4/9に、再び賞を頂きました。
[HA Second place on March 26th, 2009] これは、こちらのカードで、
[HA Honorable Mention on April 9th, 2009] これは、私のお気に入りのSand Piperのスタンプを使ったこのビーチ・シーンのカードです。
興味をお持ちの方は、ご覧になってくださいね♪

a tote bag (stamp on fabric and suede)

I made this tote bag the day before yesterday, and I used it when I went shopping yesterday. :)
I created this, because I like needleworks originally, and the most reason I was moved to start making was a tote bag by Ms. Tami Hartley who is one of the Hero Arts Web Artists. Her fantastic design bag was inspired me a lot! This tote is introduced at the Hero blog on April 6th, 2009. Check and see it!
And this week's challenge theme of the Hero Arts is 'beyond paper' - creating a card or project where you have stamped on something other than cardstock or patterned paper. So fun project!, but it's difficult for me to choose materials on which to stamp.

This is my project,
a Tote Bag using the Design Blocks stamp, 'Outline Flowers'.

This Design Blocks 'Outline Flowers' was purchased for useing like this (for making bags or pouches) at the time when it released. So, this is my first use of it. I haven't ever use it for making cards.
How I made this tote is...
I stamped the Outline Flowers stamp, a few kind of small flower stamps from the Thoughtful Massages clear set, and the dot stamp from the Dot Flourishes set on a mix cloth of half linen and half cotton with VersaCraft espresso ink.
*This ink is fixed color by ironing after drying the inks perfectly.
After once ironed, I added colors to the flowers with VersaCraft Maize and Pale Auqa inks and ironed again. After that, I did outline-stitches at a part of its outline.
The blue big flower is a genuine suede. It was stamped a flower stamp with StazOn and added stitches, and put 2 kinds of Venetian seed beads.
Putting beads took me for a long time, because this suede was too thick for bead stitches.
The pale green (variegated) cloth flowers are stamped with VersaCraft, and put adhisive padding in the back. Finally, I put the leather handles.


This is a close-up of stamped and stitched part.

stamp used:
HA DesignBlock Outline Flowers / S5135
HA Clear design Thoughtful Massages/ CL184
HA Clear design Dot Flourishes / CL285

fabric: a mix cloth of half linen and half cotton,
variegated cotton fabric

Ink & embossing powder:
Tsukineko VersaCraft / Espresso, Maize, Pale Auqa, StazOn / Timber Brown

Accessories:
HA & Basic Grey buttons,
linen thread for buttons, cotton thread for stitching,
Leather handles, Genuine suede

Thanks for stopping by! :)