Video Game Brothers

I am back this week to share a fun one layer card with featuring the “Video Game Brothers” stamp set by Kindred Stamps.

I love one layer cards but they can be intimidating, since all the dimension is created with masking and coloring. I wanted to show you all how I break this style card down.

Step 1: Figure our your layout, use your stamps and play around with different layouts. For my card I decided to have one of the Brothers coming up from the pipe. NOTE: I always cut my card panels bigger and cut down at the end.

Step 2: stamping and masking. You want to stamp the forward most image first then mask it. For my Card I first masked off the ground with Post-it tape and stamped the pipe. I wanted a taller pipe so I just wipe off the ink on the bottom line. I create all my masks from full sticky Post-it notes, I placed my pipe mask on my card then stamped my character on top. To create clouds, a hill and a bush I draw them onto the Post-it notes and fussy cut them out and placing them where I liked on my card . I masked everything because I did an ink blended background. This is not necessary if you are plan to Copic color the background.

Step 3: Create the background, once every thing was masked I blended with distress oxide inks, starting with the sky , then I moved the ground mask up and then blended peeled paint, fossilized amber and vintage photo to create the ground. Remove all masks when blending is done.

Step  4: fill in outlines, using a Copic safe pen I draw in the outlines of my clouds, hill, bush, ground and extra tall pipe. I just follow the edge of where my mask was.

Step 5: Color in the images, I used Copic Markers.

Step 6: add sentiments, the outside sentiment came from the “Video Game Brothers” set and the inside Sentiment came from “Arcade Friends” stamp set both by Kindred Stamps

Step 7: Trim down or die cut card panel and add to a card base. I used a dotted rectangle die and a craft colored A2 card base.

I hope you enjoyed this card share, I’ll be back soon with more craft room creations.

If you are interested in this stamp set or any by Kindred Stamps consider using my affiliate link, It cost you nothing but help support my blog. Kindred Stamps.

Brandi M.

The Craft Bean

Galactic Hero

Today’s craftroom creation is a simple A2 card featuring a new digital Stamp from Kindred Stamps.

I love working with digital stamps because they are budget friendly and there is no waiting on the mail man. I printed on 80 lb card stock since my printer can be a little picky about the type of paper it wants to work with.

My Galactic Hero was colored with Copic makers and fussy cut out. To make it look like I know how to cut perfectly, I ran a black water based maker along the edge to hide the white core of the paper.

I wanted to make a custom sentiment for this card so I just use a my computer to type one up. After printing on the same 80lb card stock I used a stitched rectangle die to cut the sentiment panel.

The galaxy background paper is from the “Space Hero” box but you could easily make your own galaxy background with watercolors or distress inks.

The card base is gray card stock cut to 4 1/4 by 11 and scored and folded at 5 1/2 inches.

To pull the card together I layered the galaxy paper onto the gray card base and my white sentiment panel on top of the galaxy paper. Lastly I popped up my Galactic Hero in the center of the card with foam dots.

My 5 year old son decided to craft along with me and create his own card. He used a sentiment is from the “Space Hero” stamp set and crayola colored pencils.

I hope you enjoyed this card and have a very Happy April fools day.

This is a free digi stamp for all the Kindred Stamps fans so make sure to join the Facebook Fan club.

If you are interested in this stamp set or any by Kindred Stamps consider using my affiliate link, It cost you nothing but help support my blog. Kindred Stamps.

Brandi M.

The Craft Bean

Lil Stinker

My latest craft room creations are featuring the new adorable “lil Stinker” stamp set by kindred Stamps.

The entire Kindred Stamps March release will be available Friday, March 22nd at 8am PST/11am EST. Be sure to check out the Kindred Stamps blog on Friday for the full product release as well as the complete line up of all the Kindred Stamps Design Team projects from release week! If you visit and comment on all of the designers’ blogs this week, you could win $15 in Kindred Stamps shop credit! So join the Fan Club and release event, show the design team some love, and get ready to empty those wallets this Friday!

I love small sets because you get a lot of bang for your buck. I created 3 different project with 3 different coloring techniques.

The first project is an altered mug from the dollar tree.

I started with a plain white mug from the dollar tree I clean it really well with rubbing alcohol. To stamp on smooth or glossy surface you’ll need to use an alcohol based inks like Staz On. I need to be able to curve the stamp so I just mounted the stamp on my fingers. Go slow and press firmly on the stamp. Its OK if you mess up you can wipe it off with rubbing alcohol and try again. It took me a couple of attempts to get it. To color the skunk in I use a dotting technique with Copic markers because they don’t blend well together on smooth surfaces. I let the ink dry and set it with my heat tool. If you plan on drinking out of the mug don’t add any stamping or coloring near the edge of the mug. I would hand wash only. My mug lives on my desk and hold the colors I’m currently using.

My next project are some quick and easy lunchbox notes for my twins. I had to use the “hope your day doesn’t stink” sentiment it was too perfect.

I cut my lunchbox notes to 2 1/4 × 3 inches. I colored one with Copic markers and one with Zig clean color real brush markers (picture below) I added it to a scrap of solid color card stock and used a white gel pen to write a note on the back.

Side note I just want to share the skunk image colored with 3 different mediums (left to right) Copic makers, Zig clean color real brush markers and Prisma colored pencils.

I often get asked which I like better for me its hard to pick because they all color beautifully but are very different. As they say “variety is the spice of life.” I love to color and have been crafting for over a decade, I’ve slowly built my crafty horde. I personally say by some grays in the different color mediums and play away that way you’ll get an idea of what you like.

Copic Colors: 0, C1, C3,C5, C7, C9 and R20

Zig Clean color real brush markers colors: 091 light gray, 090 gray, 095 dark gray, 010 black and 200 S. almond pink

Prisma color pencils colors: PC 938 white, PC 1059 10% cool gray, PC 1061 30% cool gray, PC 1063 50 % cool gray, PC 1065 70 % cool gray,PC 1067 90% cool gray, PC 935 black and PC 1018 pink rose

The last project I have to share is a card. This is an A2 top folding card.

I created simple layers with card stock and patterned paper. The skunk and sentiment was stamped and colored on Strathmore toned tan paper which is my favorite paper for coloring with my Prisma colored pencils. lastly I added a bow and called it done.

I hope you enjoyed these projects and I will be back soon with more craft room creations.
If you are interested in this stamp set or any by Kindred Stamps consider using my affiliate link, It cost you nothing but help support my blog. Kindred Stamps.

Brandi M.

The Craft Bean

Ten Projects One Stamp Set Part 2

I am back to share 5 more projects featuring the “Tea Friends stamp” set by Kindred Stamps. If you haven’t seen the first 5 projects go check them out Ten projects One stamp set part 1

The sixth project is a 12 x 12 scrapbook layout.

This is a simple layered layout that was created with card stock, pattern paper and simple embellishments. The queen is my favorite character from this stamp set. Many keep 12 x 12 layouts in scrapbook albums but I personally frame them and display them in my home, I rotate my layout based on the season or Holiday.

The seventh project I created a pencil holder and paper clip gifts set. This coordinates perfectly with the little altered notebook I shared in part 1.

To make the paper clip color and fussy cut out a character then place on solid colored card stock, trace and cut out a backing piece. Using a strong glue sandwich a large paperclip between the image and backing piece. To make the pencil holder cut a 1 ¾ x 11 inch card stock and score at 8 ¼ and 8 ½ inches on the 11 inch side. Fold score lines and punch a ¾ inch circle on the bottom flap. Add double side tape to the top back of lower flap and adhere to the lager flap. Make a belly band to hold paper clip mine is ¾ inches wide.

The eight project is a postcard.

Cut heavy weight card stock to 4 x 6 inches then stamp out images. I did a bit of masking using full sticky post it notes because postcards are one layer. First I stamped my cat and masked it, then the man and masked him and lastly my stack of cups and masked them. I masked everything so I could ink blend the background with broken china distress oxide ink. I created splatters with clean water and black Zig maker watered down. I color all my images with Zig maker because they don’t bleed through card stock.

For the back of the postcard I used an older Tim Holtz postcard stamp then draw my line with a black micro pen, lastly I add the bottle image from the stamp set.

The Ninth project is a paper hat.

I created a template with good ole trial and error, then traced it onto pattern paper by Graphic 45. I’ll saved you the trouble, Free Template. To assemble this hat start by creating a oblong cylinder then make card stock tabs (¾ x 1 ¼ ) add them to the smaller oval and bend them to fit into the top of the cylinder use double sided tape and hot glue to adhere everything. Then add tabs to the bottom of the cylinder and bend inward add more double sided tape and hot glue to adhere to the larger oval. Assembly takes a bit of fiddling and you might need to trim your top oval a bit. But any imperfect seams can be hidden by trims and decorations. I added my hat to a stretchy headband because my daughter wanted to wear it. This could be used as party decor or even turned into and ornament.

The Tenth project is a mix media art piece

I layered on old book paper with mat median on to heavy weight card stock and then added a white wash on top. Next I stenciled on the clocks to push them to the background I inked over everything with distress oxide inks in broken china and faded jeans. I used the two small flower stamps to add a bit of darker blue to the background. I sketched out a key hold onto heavy weight card stock stamped all the characters masking as needed. I colored them in with my zig markers and add my key hold image to my background piece. I used a black maker to doodle a border. I added part of a sentiment from the stamp set just under my main image.

I hope you enjoyed all the projects! I will be back soon to share more of my craft room creations with you.
If you are interested in this stamp set or any by Kindred Stamps consider using my affiliate link, It cost you nothing but help support my blog. Kindred Stamps.

Brandi M

The Craft Bean

Prehistoric Party

I had fun creating a personalized invitation with the prehistoric alphabet stamp set by kindred stamps this week.

For the outside of my invitation I used an older technique call punch art, before cute critter dies became a thing many crafters used punches or simple shaped dies to create critters. I wanted a Dino shaped card but I don’t own a Dino die plus I wanted to use things I already had in my craft hoard, so I deiced to made my own Dino.

My card bases is made out of olive green card stock cut to 5 ½ x 11 inches scored at 4 ¼ and 8 ½ inches

I used a Swiss dots embossing folder to add texture and two circle dies to make eyes (1 inch and 1 ½ inches ) and my regular hole punch for the nose.

I traced my water color pallet on the top and bottom of my green card stock base to make the curve of the mouth. I then traced the smaller circle die 5 times starting in the center of a 5 ½ x 2 inch card stock to make the teeth.

The inside center panel with the party info was typed up in a word document on my computer leaving space to stamp “RYAN” with the prehistoric alphabet set by kindred stamps. I also created masks out of post it notes for the letters so I could stamp the foot print across my invitation. I colored everything in with Copic markers.

To put the card together you will need:

1 card base

1 center panel

2 small black circles

2 lager white circles

1 large green circle (cut in half)

2 Tiny black circles

2 sets of teeth

I layered the white, black and half green circles together to make the eyes. To give them a bit of dimension I add a small pop dot under the green half circle. I add the teeth to the inside of the card which I did cover with scraps of embossed green card stock. The tiny black circles I placed on the front of the invitation to make the nose.

for a bonus project I made two simple cards to go along with my invitation.

I used the same fonts from my invitations to type up two different sentiments to make simple but cute cards. The “Thank You”card would be great to send to guess after the party and while the ” I love you” card would be the prefect Birthday card from any family member.

Some quick tips about making computer text files for cards:

• change to margin size to .25 (1/4 inch) it makes the math for a A2 card easy
• use the grid feature to break up the text document into 4 equal sections
• Set the grid to No line, that way it won’t print the lines but will show them in grey while designing
• Create the text layout in 1 section and then copy and paste into the other 3 to get same spacing on all 4 panels
• For adding typed sentiments inside card type in the bottom 2 quadrants
• print on high quality card stock

I hope you enjoyed these project! I will be back soon to share more craft room creations with you all.
If you are interested in this stamp set or any by Kindred Stamps consider using my affiliate link, It cost you nothing but help support my blog. Kindred Stamps.

Brandi M.
The Craft Bean

Long Hair Don’t Care

I am in love with this new stamp set by Kindred. I had a blast creating a variety of projects with this adorable stamp set!

The entire Kindred Stamps February release will be available Friday, February 22nd at 8am PST/11am EST. Be sure to check out the Kindred Stamps blog on Friday for the full product release as well as the complete line up of all the Kindred Stamps Design Team projects from release week! If you visit and comment on all of the designers’ blogs this week, you could win $15 in Kindred Stamps shop credit! So join the Fan Club and release event, show the design team some love, and get ready to empty those wallets this Friday!

The first project I wanted to share with you is some shrinky dinks key chains.

The materials used:

– Long hair don’t care Kindred Stamp set

-Shrinky dinks sheets

-Alcohol ink (stays on) pad and makers (Copics)

-Jewlery findings

-Key chain rings

-Beads

A few things I learned while creating these, you want to stamp on one side and color in on the other because Alcohol markers smear alcohol based inks. When coloring on the shrinky dinks sheets use even long strokes to get smoother coloring.

The next project I created was a mini album.

The materials used:

– Long hair don’t care Kindred Stamp set

-Copic friendly ard stock

-Copic friendly Ink

-Copic markers

-Black card stock

– Double sided tape

– chipboard

-Scrapbook paper

This is a 6 page mini album there are 3 different page styles. Each base page measures 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches. The wrapped cover is 6 x 8 inches with a 2 inch spine. I bond this mini Album with a hinge binding system.

The last project I have to share today is a bullet journal spread

I used the Long Hair Don’t Care stickers, their stickers are perfect for planner spreads.

Materials used:

– Dot grid notebook

– Micron pen

– Tombow markers

– Long hair don’t care Kindred Stamps stickers

I hope you enjoyed all of projects. I will be back soon to share more projects with you
If you are interested in this stamp set or any by Kindred Stamps consider using my affiliate link, It cost you nothing but help support my blog. Kindred Stamps.

Brandi M

The Craft Bean

Royal Throne

I am back this week to share a fun project featuring the Royal Thrones stamp set. I am a planner girl so I created a double sided magnetic page maker.

on the first side I stamped out one of the members of the royal family.

leaving about ¾ of an inch and remembering to flip the direction I stamped out the throne image.

Using my score board I scored about a ½ of an inch above the Throne Image. Next fold and crease the score line.

using my zig makers I colored in both images. Next I backed the whole piece onto black card stock to make it more durable since it will be moved through out my planner and then I used my scissors to partially cut out each image. To finish off the the edges I used a black memento maker to hide the white core of the paper.

To add the magnets to the back I added double sided tape to each magnet and line them up, making sure one was + and one was – . To keep them in place and make them blend into the background I punched out two small circles from black card stock and added them on top with liquid glue.

Once the glue is dry your page maker is ready to add to any planner, notebook or book.

here is a little bonus project! I used Royal throne and the retired Cute Dragons stamp sets from kindred stamps.

I stamped out and masked the throne onto a card stock panel then created a blended background with distress oxide ink in faded blue jeans and distress ink in black soot.

The crown was borrowed from one of the characters from the Royal Throne set I just fussy cut it out.

The cute dragon took a bit of masking since I wanted him to be sitting and looking forward. I first stamped out both onto full back post it notes, then I trimmed out the head I wanted and then the body I wanted. A misti stamping tool is very helpful when trying to mix and match to stamps. I stamped the head first making sure to only ink up that part of the stamp and mask off the body. Remove the body mask and place the head mask down and line up the body stamp. Ink up only the body part this time and stamp down. I used a Copic safe pen to fix any gaps in the image.

I colored all of my images with my Copic makers and then fussy cut out the dragon and crown.

I stamped out the Greeting in black versafine ink and added the stamped panel to a black top folding A2 card base. I glued the crown to the dragon and popped them up on foam dots.

for the inside I added a white card stock panel and stamped “it’s a Boy” which I found in a very old baby stamp set that’s in my stash.

I hope you liked these projects if you recreate any of them tag me on social media @TheCraftBean I would love to see your recreations.
If you are interested in this stamp set or any by Kindred Stamps consider using my affiliate link, It cost you nothing but helps support my blog. Kindred Stamps.

Brandi M

The Craft Bean

Little Town Life

The January 2019 release for Kindred stamps is magnificent! I am excited to share with you all today the projects I created showcasing the Little Town Life stamp set.

The entire Kindred Stamps January release will be available Friday, January 25th at 8am PST/11am EST. Be sure to check out the Kindred Stamps blog on Friday for the full product release as well as the complete line up of all the Kindred Stamps Design Team projects from release week! If you visit and comment on all of the designers’ blogs this week, you could win $15 in Kindred Stamps shop credit! So join the Fan Club and release event, show the design team some love, and get ready to empty those wallets this Friday!

For my first project I created Sweetart candy heart valentines. Side Note: buy extras because you will end up eating at least one box while crafting

I started by measuring my candy box which is 1 ¾ inches x 3 5/8 inches x ¾ inches, I cut my card stock to 5 ½ x 3 ¼ and my pattern paper to 5 ½ x 3 both pieces were scored on the 5 ½ inch side at ½ , 2 ¼ , 3 and 4 ¾. Fold and crease all the score lines. The ½ inch tab is where you want to place your adhesive of choice I used ATG tape. Side Note: Each box is slightly different so you just have to work the paper a bit to get it lined up. I placed the card stock layer down first then add the pattern paper on top.

Next I colored up all of the characters from the Little Town Life stamp set with my Copic markers, my full color list is below. I then fussy cut them all out. Side Note: use a water base black marker like Memento along the edges to make it look like you cut them out perfectly. To add them to my candy box valentines I used foam squares on the back of each character.

I wanted to add sentiments to my valentines but they were to long so I need to do a bit of creative stamping. Using a post it I covered up one half of the sentiment then inked it up, Before stamping down remove the post-it. You can also use the same technique to mix and match two different sentiments like I did for “ You’re my magnificent beast”

For my second project I made a custom phone case.

I found a clear case for my phone at The Dollar Tree. As always first I measured the inside of the phone case mine came out to 2 5/8 x 5 7/16 inches Side Note: 7/16^th of an inch is just ½ inch minus 1/16^th. After cutting down my Card stock I used my We R Memory Keepers corner chomper on the ¼ side. I placed the card stock in and traced around the camera area with a pencil I didn’t trim it out until the background was done so I would have a continues pattern.

When I am grouping multiple images together I start by stamping all my images out on full back post it notes to make masks. This way I can play with the layout without wasting my good card stock. Once I like the layout I take a photo so I can refer to it as I am stamping.

when grouping images you want to stamp front to back, I stared with the my fractured tea cup and then moved onto Mama pot and so on adding my masks onto each image before stamping the next.

I started the background by drawing in the floor which is really just a square grid. The Bookshelf is also a grind but of rectangles with an added long rectangle on the top and bottom. The books are smaller rectangles with slightly curved tops. I colored everything in with my Copic markers and added a sentiment at the bottom. I used a craft knife to trim out the camera hole and finished off all the edges with my memento black Marker.

These are the Copic colors I used on each of my images.

I hope you enjoyed my projects! I will be back soon and don’t forget to check out the rest of the Design teams projects.
If you are interested in this stamp set or any by Kindred Stamps consider using my affiliate link, It cost you nothing but helps support my blog. Kindred Stamps.

Brandi M

The Craft Bean