HTDT? Tips & Tricks for the July Release! (06.30.09)

[knightrone]

Hello everyone!! I hope you are loving all the Teasers that the rest of the Sweet Sixteen and I have had to share with you this week!! Are you ready for some Tips and Tricks??

My tip for you this week has to do with our new Puppy Chow label set, or any of them for that matter!! When I first looked at these sets, that is all I saw....a set to make a label with. I wanted to make something to show that you don't HAVE to make a label if you don't want to, so I made this cute little treat bag and matching 3x3 card. I also wanted to show you the versatility of the stamps....basically just because it is a line image doesn't necessarily mean you HAVE to color it in.

For my treat bag, I took the cute little doggie stamp and the paw prints and stamped them all over the bag. It is just like making your own designer paper. The dog would normally be an image that I would feel like I HAD to color, but by using it this way, it ties the treat bag to the card very nicely!! It is also a SUPER simple way to decorate the bag. With that, the bag of treats inside, and some MFT Plaid ribbon and it was done!! The card still doesn't use the label image, but it shows you that you CAN use this set for more than just a label!!

A LOT of the other girls have done some SUPER cute stuff with this set, so be sure to check out this month's Teaser Gallery!! Thanks and have fun!!

[StampOwl]

Hi everyone

My tip today also involves the new Puppy Chow Label set. I enjoy creating shaped cards and using my stamps to decorate the card. When I first saw this set I thought of a bone ... and wanted to make a card in that shape. I also had found these chewable bones when I was doing my groceries so also wanted to do something with them ... I went with putting them in a plastic ziplock bag and then I needed a topper for the bag so again I went with the bone shape.

I have include a template of the bone shape which you can use if you wish to create your own cards with this set.

[cmf1216]

Hi, everyone! Here's a fun tip for using your MFT stamps: Group several images from different sets on one block to make an interesting background or border. On my tag, I used the images from Puppy Chow and Purrfect Treats on the same block. I created my own background by stamping with craft ink and heat embossing with clear EP.

[cmf1216]

I again grouped images from both sets together to create the border around the bag window!

Just think of all the combinations of MFT stamps you could use together! Have fun!

[paulatracy]

Hi guys! My "trick" I wanna share is how to make a beautiful patch of grass to ground your image. I have gotten several comments on my blog, wanting to know if this was a stamp and then how to do it, when I tell them 'no'. Sharp pencils are the key, when it gets to making the whispy grass blades. I start out with two or sometimes three shades of green. For this project I am using Prismacolor pencils in Limepeel 1005, Kelly Green 1096 & Kelp Green 1090. I also added some grass blades in Green Ochre 1091.

To begin, I lay down some Limepeel and I always make it come out longest from my image on the side that has the shading. {which you may notice I almost always do on the left side}

[paulatracy]

I blend my colored pencils with gamsol and then I will lay some Kelly Green down, keeping each additional layer smaller than the last. Finally I add the Kelp Green down and blend that out.

[paulatracy]

When you are ready to add your grass blades, you want to start with the bottom and pull the lines up. You need to have a light tough and use small strokes. Some grass is in tiny clusters and some are just random blades.

When doing the grass blades I didn't use the Limepeel, or whatever I have used as the lightest green. I will use the one or two darker colors and then some green ochre...which gives you a touch of brownish green.

[paulatracy]

To get your grass to feel realistic, don't forget to add grass to the top of your image and behind your image. Your Flopsey will then look like she is surrounded by grass and not just surrounded by it! *wink*

I don't always use the same colors that I have shown you here, maybe you don't have them and any two our three shades that you like will work just fine. It's all about trying different colors and playing with what ya got! Have fun and let's "get Green!"

[mrupple]

Thanks! Great tips everyone! Paula, I will have to practice your grass. I have wondered how you did that!

[doggonecrafts]

Great tips everyone!! Thanks for the tips on the grass Paula

[debils]

ohhh Paula thank you, you are the best!

[TruCarMa]

Awesome, Paula! Watch out -- I'm going to start adding grass to everything! People are going to start asking 'Why is Flopsey's bath tub in the middle of the yard???' LOL!

[quirky62]

Paula,

Did you color the sky (behind Flopsey) in the same way? Using prismacolors and blending them?


A big fan,
Lisa

[lac2910]

Thanks for the great info!