Magical Christmas Ornament

Today’s craft room creation is a part of a You Tube advent hop, I am day five if you’ve missed days 1-4 you can join the Facebook group live art journaling and self development.

I altered a Dollar Tree bird house craft into a gingerbread bread house ornament using stamp sets by Kindred stamp and supplies for my craft horde. A few have asked about the hockey tape I used to put together this ornament, So here is the link to it on Amazon.

I used National gingerbread cookie day, wizard friends and arcade friends but use what you have. There is a full video tutorial here.

I used zig clean color real brush markers to color all of my images.

064, 071, 999, 050, 067, 024, 260, 062,065, 090, 091.

Please check out all the other wonderful artists and crafters that are part of this hop.

I hope you enjoyed this craft room creation I will be back very soon to share more holiday creations with you.

Brandi M.

The Craft Bean

Unicorn Card Set

Today’s card set is featuring an adore unicorn set by C.C design. I love this set! it’s fun, cute and playful.

I started by stamping out each pony with a sentiment on to a cardstock panel slightly bigger then an A2 card in Memento tuxedo black ink.

I colored each of the images in with copic markers. I had originally intended to make simple one layered cards but right after this photo was taken my toddler decided to help, twice. Once spilling water all over my desk and then again by adding some flare as I was just about done redoing my blue pony.

I decided to finish coloring and fussy cut the blue unicorn instead of redoing it again. I created an embossed background with a clouds and rainbow embossing folder. I created a sentiment strip out of blue cardstock layering it over the embossed background. I added the blue pony with foam tape to the card panel. lastly I added the panel to a blue top folding A2 card base.

I was lucky the other two colored panels just had a bit of water damage on the edges so I just cut them down. The white unicorn panel was added to a silver glitter cardstock with fun foam and mounted it onto a A2 card base.

The pink unicorn panel was die cut with a stitched rectangle die and layered on purple and white cardstock. using fun foam the center panel was popped up. I created a fun bow with teal glitter ribbon to match the bow on her tail. Everything was mounted onto a purple A2 cardbase.

I hope you enjoyed these cards. I will be back soon to share more craftroom creation with you.

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

Playing with digital stamps

Today I am sharing my last project as a member of the Kindred Stamps design team, the awesome ladies at Kindred Stamps set up a fun collaboration with the Therm-O-web to send off the designers. I have had a blast designing for Kindred Stamps, I am a huge fan of their stamps and will continue creating new project to share. My craft room creation today is a custom t-shirt featuring the Ocean Royalty add on digital stamp.

I have spent the last week or so playing in my craft room with some new to me Therm-O-Web products, my favorite of them all is the Heat-n-Bond inkjet transfer sheets. I experimented a lot with these sheet and want to share what I’ve learned.

Digi stamps work prefect with these sheets because you can print them right onto the transfer sheets and they can be added to any fabric project like t-shirts, tote bags, backpacks, and quilts. something really amazing is you can color on them with your markers. I tested several types Copic, Zig, Tombow and Crayola super tips. The softer the nib the better the results; I had the best luck with my Zig clean color real brush pens.

Coloring Tips:

To get the best blend use a two color blend and utilize the tip to tip method, where you pick up a bit of the darker color with the lighter maker.

Use a light hand so you don’t scratch up the coating on the paper with the tip of your maker.

To get a smooth finish use long even strokes all in the same direction.

For best results let your coloring sit and dry, the ink take awhile to absorb all the way into the paper.

Tips on fabric types:

Smooth quilters cotton gave me the best results.

Cotton knits work great you just have to wait a bit longer for the the transfer sheet adhesive to cool before removing the backing paper.

Canvas fabric works but you can see the texture and the transfer isn’t always perfect.

Tips on heat setting:

Use a craft iron (its a regular iron but only use it on craft Projects) just in case you get any ink or adhesive on it, you won’t ruin other clothing.

Stand up and press firmly, more even pressure I used the better the results I got on all fabric types.

Don’t wiggle or slide the iron. Pick it straight up and place it down, less chance to move or shift the image.

Pay close attention to the edges of the image they tend to curl.

Another fun thing I learned about the transfer sheets is you can also stamp on them for all you non digi people. I personally used Versafine onyx black ink but I’m sure most inks would work.

I hope you all give this technique a try and my tips help you along the way. A huge thank you to Kindred Stamps team for inviting me to design for them. To stay up to date with all of my craft room creations by following @TheCraftBean on social media.

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

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

Ten projects One stamp set part 1

I am back this week to share my latest craftroom creations with you, this week I am sharing the first part of a two part series I’ve decided to call “10 projects one stamp set.” I wanted to share how versatile just one stamp set can be. The stamp set that I will be featuring is the Tea Friends set by Kindred Stamps.

The first project I will be sharing is a simple altered frame from the dollar tree.

I created a simple photo mat with a bit of pattern paper and card stock. I stamped, colored and fussy cut the characters I wanted to add and pop them on the front of the frame with strong double sided tape. Altered photo frames can be used in home decor, gifts for family members, and as a birthday party decoration.

The second project I have is a handmade card.

The teal card stock base was cut to 4 ¼ x 11 and scored at 5 ½ to make a A2 sized top folding card. I used pattern paper cut to 4 x 5 ¼ inches for the background. For the main character panel I stamped out the images in black memento ink and then colored with Copic makers. The colored panel was backed with gray card stock and added to the card with fun foam.. To finish off the card I added a few sequins. Who doesn’t love receiving a handmade card!

The third project is an altered notebook from the dollar tree

I found a 3 pack of mini notebooks at the dollar tree to jazz them up, I first recovered them with pattern paper then added a ribbon closer. Lastly I added a simple focal image on the front cover with the cat and small sentiment. These are great for classmate gifts, party favors and Easter basket stuffers.

The forth project is a tea bag holder.

The outside cover is made out of card stock cut to 3 ½ x 9 ¼ inches then scored at 2, 2 3/8, 5 ¾, and 6 1/8 inches it was then decorated with pattern paper and colored characters from the Tea Friends stamp set. The tea booklet is held close by small velcro dots. To make the tea bag pockets, the card stock was cut to 6 x 6 ½ inches on the 6 ½ inch side score at ½ and 3 ½. On the 6 inch score at 2 7/8 and 3 1/8. Before taping the pocket together trim out the small rectangle on the ½ inch flap and then fold all score line and add double sided tape to the ½ inch flap and fold over at the center score line to create the pockets. I used the envelope bunch board to create the notches on my pockets. Add to the cover with double sided tape and decorate. These would be great for any tea lover and as party favors.

The fifth project is a paper wreath

Start by cutting lots of strips of pattern paper mine were all 12 inches long but varied in width from 1 ½ to ½ inch.. score along the 12 inch side every ½ inch and fold accordion style, adhere the two ends together. Then press flat and add a small circle to the center, I found hot glue to be the best for this step. Made a bunch and then glue them together in a large ring shape. Decorate with stamped images and add some ribbon to hang it. This project would be great as home and party decor.

here are the Copic colors that I used through out all 10 projects.

I hope you enjoyed part one of “Ten projects one stamp set” I will be back next week with five more projects.
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