Caffeinated

I know I’ve been a little MIA lately and the honest truth is …. life. Summer is here which mean it’s busy season for my day job and my kids are home. I’m only one person and something had to give and that was typing up my blogs, I have been able to sneak in bits of crafting here and there. Anyways for today’s craft room creation I want to share my new obsession which is the caffeinated line by The Rabbit Hole Designs. I adore these characters! There are five cards in this set because I had to color all the characters I have. I haven’t collected them all yet but I’m working on it.

All five cards were created the same way in assemble line style I just changed up the colors and background stencils. I started out by stamping each character with sentiments on to white cardstock. Then it was time to color I used my Copic markers, I find coloring fun and relaxing so I do spend a good amount of time on it. I hear a lot about how many can’t afford Copics just remember there are a ton of different coloring mediums find one that you like. I have been a crafter and artist most of my life and have slowly built up my arts and craft hoard.

Shark: YG06, G14, G05, E23, E57, C7,C5,C3,0

Rabbit: RV21, RV10, R17, R27, R39, W1,W3,W5,W7, C3, C1,0

Fox: B99, B34, YR07, YR15, W1,W3, 0, C5, C3, E15, E07, E19

T-Rex: Y13,Y17, YR24,C1, C3, 0, YG11, YG03, YG06,G14, G05

Cat: C1, C3, C5, C9, 100, 0, E23, E57, V25, BV11, BV00, R14, YR07, YR15, YR24

Once everything was colored I used full sticky post-it notes to make mask of each character.

I pulled out a bunch of different stencils and distress inks to create the backgrounds.

I masked my images, taped my stencil in place with low tack purple tape then blended each panel.

I trimmed my panels down with a stitched rectangle die. The purple tape works great to hold the die in place while going thorough the die cutting machine

I dug through my scraps bin to find matching card stock for each of the character’s coffee mug. I cut and layered these panels behind the image panels leaving an 1/8 inch boarded around. I used fun foam to pop them up and added them each to a white A2 card based.

I hope you enjoyed this craft room creation and I will be back next week to share another fun card set with you.

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

Winter Friends Valentines and planner spreads

This week I am sharing the Valentines I made for my daughter’s classmates and my February planner spreads using the frozen friends stamp set from Kindred stamps

I found some heart shaped mini notepads at the dollar store, I decided to alter them with my stamps and makers to make candy free valentines. The First step was to take apart the notebook and measure the notebook. The notebooks I found were about 3 inches x 3 inches, I cut my card stock to 3 ¼ inches x 6 ½ inches and scored at 3 ¼.

Fold and crease the score line. Using the notebook cover I removed as a temple I traced the heart and cut it out.

Whenever I am making multiples of a project I use my Misti because I can stamp everything all at once and its always perfectly aligned. For quick easy coloring I like to used my Zig clean color real Brush Makers.

Light blue 030

Gray 090

Mid Brown 065

Orange 070

Bright Yellow 052

Cobalt Blue 031

Light Blue 036

Shadow Mauve 303

Light Pink 026

Wine Red 024

Ochre 063

Flesh Color 071

Oatmeal 064

Lemon Yellow 051

Warm Gray 2 900

Pale Green 045

May Green 047

Persian Green 033

Dark Gray 095

Gray 090

Brown 060

Wine Red 024

Dark Oatmeal 066

Oatmeal 064

Ochre 063

Flesh Color 071

Flesh color 071

Oatmeal 064

Mid Brown 065

Warm Gray 2 900

Brown 060

Wine Red 024

Gray 090

For the background I used the ink smooshing technique I scribbled Cobalt blue, light blue and Persian blue onto my craft mat and sprayed it with a bit of water. Using the clear packaging form the stamp set and mushed it into the ink and then onto my covers. The last thing to do was to staple the notebook back together and add a crayon.

Bonus Projects!

I adore this set so much I Had to used it for my February monthly spread and my first weekly spread. I used my Zigs right in my bullet journal but its not the best paper for Zigs, I think Tombow markers would of been a better choice. My snow queen and Snowman (on calendar spread) were stamped onto card stock and fussy cut because I needed to cover some oops. I used the snowman to cover up where my little Peanut scribbled and the snow Queen to cover up the bad stamping job I did.

I hope you enjoyed all of my projects! if you recreate any of these tag me on social media @TheCraftBean I would love to see your 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

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