Yum Yum

BLUE RIBBON #9

This year’s recipe card submission was done in a gatefold style which made it very easy to display . . .

Keep scrolling for the recipe . . .

As the recipe inside is for Carrot Mashed Potatoes, I figured some die cut carrots on the front panels should lead the way.

I think the speckled dots are a little overdone, but I didn’t think about adding them until after the card was put together.  So the control of my speckled stamp was a little limited.  I should have thought to add them first . . .

And that’s it for the 2025 NJ State Fair fun . . . now we start planning for next year’s event!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Pear, Cutie, Rain Forest, Strathmore #100

Bristol Smooth        

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, Distress Wild Honey

Dies:            Studio Calico Nested Rectangles, TEMU Carrots, 

DieVersions font Noodles            

Stencil:        a Studio Calico Nested Rectangles

Creamy Dijon Dressing

Recipe Card Category – Blue Ribbon

Today is the final post on my 2024 adventures at the NJ State Fair.  The Decorative Recipe Card category is a fun change from the usual card and this one features just one layer . . .

 I’ve glued one of Tim’s clever Small Easels to the back of this recipe card.  It’s created by a Bigz Die and the easel collapses for mailing. This make it easy to read while cooking and it can also be kept on display.  Very handy!

Cardstock:   Canson #140 Watercolor, Bazzill Rain Forest          

Stamps:       Concord & 9th Garden Grown

Inks:            Vivid Red, Purple, Orange, Straw, Olive, Garnet,

Taupe, Ancient Page Pine, Superiot India Ink Black                

Dies:            Concord & 9th Garden Grown, TEMU Easter Carrot, 

Gina Marie Designs Stitched Rounded Squares, Lawn

Cuts Just Stitching Double Rectangles, Tim Holtz 

Small Easel

Doo Dads:    Judikins Glaze   

Text:  Typed 

Guacamole

Recipe Card Category – Blue Ribbon #8

Today is the final post on my 2023 adventures at the NJ State Fair.  The Decorative Recipe Card category is a fun change from the usual card and this one features just one layer . . .

To make it easy to read while cooking (or to keep on display), I’ve glued one of Tim’s clever Small Easels to the back.  It’s created by a Bigz Die and the easel collapses for mailing.  Very handy!

Cardstock:   Canson #140 Watercolor, Bazzill Parakeet, Rain Forest          

Stamps:       Angel Co Speckle

Inks:             Stampin Up Garden Green

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats Squares, First Edition Fruit,

Essentials by Ellen GOURD-jus, Xcut Mini Fruits,

DieVersions font Noodles: “guacamole”                 

Doo Dads:    Tim Holtz die Small Easel 

Text:  Typed

Baby Bok Choy

Blue Ribbon #9   Decorative Recipe Card category

This last entry for the NJ State Fair 2022 isn’t a greeting card at all.  Rather it’s my take on a new category:  Decorative Recipe Cards.  The first photo shows it closed . . .

 The second photo shows it opened and ready for use on the countertop . . .

I thought it would be good to have the recipe stand up for easy reference, so I made a regular card base and turned it in the landscape position which puts the fold at the top.  I took a photo of my Baby Bok Choy recipe and mounted it onto a folded white layer, keeping the fold at the bottom.  A red enameled page clip holds it closed until you’re ready to cook.  The card base sits nicely on a countertop and once the page clip is turned, the recipe is visible and easy to read.

Thus endeth yet another fun year at the Fair!

 

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Strathmore Ultimate White      

Stamps:        KaiserCraft Marble

Inks:              Distress Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Festive Berries,

Brushed Corduroy, Ground Espresso

Dies:             Memory Box Lorelai Leaf, DieNamics Stitched Rectangle

Word Windows, Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles       

Stencil:         Pink Fresh Sweet Blooms

Emb Fldr:     Spellbinders Blistered

Doo Dads:    Page clip      

FYI

 Currently. I am experiencing some infuriating computer difficulties and cannot post for the time being.  So in the meantime, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and send you assurances that I am not going away.  Repairs are expected to be completed right around New Year's Day and I expect to be back in business by then.  Thank you very much for your patience . . .

Tags Sample #3

And to wind up the last of the class, another simple tag using a number of die cuts . . .

So many of us have fallen in love with the realization that intricate shapes are entirely possible to create right on our very own craft tables.  Such delicate work used to be entirely out of our reach.  Now, we can cut out the most delicate of doilies easily.  I thought it would be fun to show my students a little of what is possible to create . . .

Cardstock:   Beckett Candlelight, American Crafts Green, Wausau

                     Rocket Red  

Stamps:       CC Rubber Stamps Dot Shader, Celestial Dots, Stampin’

                     Up To/From       

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White, Distress Mowed Lawn

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Papertrey Ink Doily Details, Lychee Flower Stitched

                     Circles, Tim Holtz Holiday Greens, Gemini Loving Tags: 

                     Heart                                    

Doo Dads:    Baker’s string Red/White               

Tags Sample #2

As with all of the other techniques, embossing was a new experience for these newbie stampers in my classroom at the library.  Along with the previous tag, this one provided an opportunity to get a little more practice with the fun of heat embossing . . .

For most of us, heat embossing was the fascinating technique that enticed us into the joys of rubber stamping.  I love to share it with new stampers whenever I can . . .

Cardstock:   Precut Dark Kraft     

Stamps:       Hero Tiny Ink Spots, Stamp Camp Tiger Marble, Memory

                     Box Presto Flourish, Vivaldi Flourish                    

Inks:             Brilliance Gamma Green, Rocket Red, Distress Gathered

                     Twigs, Mowed Lawn, ColorBox Chiffon White, Fabrico White

Dies:            Papertrey Ink Tag Sale #10                                   

Doo Dads:    Assorted fibers                    

Tags Sample #1

As the rubber stamping class was held in the early Fall and the holidays were looming, I thought making a few tags might be fun.  It was a good way to apply some of the techniques the students had learned with card-making earlier in the class . . .

On this pair of tags, the background was stamped in dark brown and heat dried.  Then, the flourishes were overstamped in Clear ink and Clear embossed.  After sponging on some dark brown color for contrast,  the fabric flowers were added and secured with a brad.

In order to avoid having the To From text interfere with the layout, I usually stamp the words on the back of the tag . . .

Cardstock:   A Stamp in the Hand Tags White

Stamps:       Inkadinkado Script Background, PSX Rosebud Flourish

                     and Stampendous Dream Text, Memory Box Vintage Scroll                      

Inks:             Distress Walnut Stain, VersaMark

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Clear

Dies:            Papertrey Ink Tag Sale #10                                   

Doo Dads:    Fabric flowers Cream,  Brads Cream, assorted fibers              

Smooshing Sample

The Smooshing technique  is a fun way to let go of any excessive control issues and is therefore a great method to teach to a class of rubber newbies . . .

These samples used two colors of Distress ink dabbed onto a craft sheet.  After spritzing with water a couple of times, the cardstock is pressed into the ink.  After drying with a heat gun,  press down onto the remaining ink.  Heat dry and repeat until the ink is gone.  The heat drying part is crucial:  it's how the color is built up and is also how the wonderfully textural and defined edges are created around the blobs of color.

Cardstock:   Strathmore #90 watercolor paper, Love Nicole Black,

                     Bazzill Heather/Cutie           

Stamps:       A Watkins Take Good Notes/Great Impressions Take

                     Good notes, Fred Mullett Netting                

Inks:             Distress Dusty Concord/Salty Ocean or Carved

                     Pumpkin/Spiced Marmalade

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger UTEE Platinum

Dies:            Mama Elephant Femme Frames, Darice Nesting Scallop                                                              Heart/Spellbinders Signs of Spring 1/Cheery Lynn Small

                     Exotic Butterflies                

Doo Dads:    Queen & Co Pearls Black             

Sponging Sample

The next technique I wanted to share with my beginner stamping class was sponging, a technique that sounds so simple, but in actuality, can be tricky . . .

 Enter the Life Changing Brushes . . . and instant expertise is actually possible!   Blending is incredibly easy with these velvety soft brushes and right from the start, you feel in control of the results.

While the initial set of ten was pricey at $50, they are available as inexpensive cosmetic brushes from a variety of sites and dollar stores.  Best of all, you likely won't need all ten:  a trio of small, medium and larger are probably all you'll ever need.  That's because the bristles are nylon and not fur.  This means they won't hold the ink beyond what you need for the job.  A few swirls on a paper towel or micro fiber cloth and presto!  They are ready for the next color!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Strathmore Ultimate White, Nicole Black         

Stamps:       Stacy Stamps Wildflower Trio, Hero Silhouette Burst,

                     Stampin’ Up By Definition: Love, Judikins Artists’ Signatures                      

Inks:             Versafine Onyx Black, Archival Jet Black, Distress Wild

                     Honey, Mustard Seed, Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord

Dies:            Spellbinders Small Mega Deckled Rectangles, Branching

                     Out, Papertrey Ink Bitty Button Stacks                                    

                     

Tone on Tone Samples

We are continuing with samples put together for my library class of beginners.  Following are four samples of the Tone-on-Tone technique which used clear ink with two different backgrounds and a variety of images . . .

One of the methods I wanted to teach was how to more easily get good impressions with large background stamps.   I like to use a strip of removable tape along the inside edge of the card to keep it closed.  Then, after inking the stamp, I set it down on its back and bring the card to the rubber.  Holding firmly, I burnish repeatedly with my fingers and then lift the card carefully.  It comes out perfectly stamped every time!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Beckett Candlelight            

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up On Safari, Judikins Esponge Background,

                     Stacy Stamps Tulips, OR The Artful Stamper Five Tulips,

                     OR Lindy’s Stamp Gang Tulip Duet, OR Unknown Floral

                     Spray, Starving Artistamps Mini Positive Words    

Inks:             VersaMark, Distress Brushed Corduroy

Pencils:        Prisma White, Inktense Golden Yellow

Markers:       Zig Real Brush Pink, Orange        

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins  Detail Black

Dies:            Mama Elephant Peek A Frame, Goodculler Stitched Rectangles                 

Doo Dads:    Jute                     

Gift Tags

We Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7^th, so while most of the country is over and done with Christmas by now, we’re still basking in the afterglow!  Hence this post on ornaments:  every year, I make paper ornaments for two of our grandchildren, Audrey and Keaton.  My own Mother started this with her two grandchildren and I thought it was such a nice idea:  when the kids grew up and moved out, they were able to take their ornaments with them and decorate their own trees with lifelong traditions right from the start . . .

 

These ornaments are double layered with the same designs stamped and embossed on both pieces and then glued back-to-back for strength.  The buttons have been stitched on through all layers so they’re there to stay.  I used my favorite gold embossing powder from Ranger as it has the unique ability to cure to a hammered gold appearance instead of the usual smooth and shiny look.  It gives an intricate and handmade feel to projects and I really love the results.

Cardstock:      Beckett Iceberg, Marcos Jute, Generic Black

Stamps:           Stampendous Music Score, Our Daily Bread Sparkling
                               Snowflakes
Inks:                ColorBox Frost White, Black
Emb Powder: Judikins Opaque White, Detail Black, Ranger Gold
Dies:                Our Daily Bread Sparkling Snowflakes, Spellbinders Classic
                                 Scalloped Squares Large
Doo Dads:      Wood buttons, May Arts Jute twine, Stickles Silver Glitter Glue

For some added fun, I decided to package the ornaments in their own box.  Papertrey Ink has made this easy by coming up with the perfect die for this.  They even have a very useful video here to give you the best tips on putting it together.

 Presentation Box:

Cardstock:      Marcos Jute, Generic Red, Green, scraps from the ornaments
Dies:                Papertrey Ink Bulk Mail Envelope, Die-Versions Hint of
                               Lime, Hero Arts Alphabet Uppercase
Doo Dads:      Glossy Accents