What's Up Wednesday: Happy Birthday!!

Hello there peeps,

What's Up?  It seems to be birthday month here at paper wings productions.  This past weekend dear Ms. Liz Allen (fine and fancy) celebrated her birthday and today is Julie's birthday!   Happy belated birthday, Lizzie!  Happy birthday, Julie!

Lately, I have been downright awful about getting out cards to my friends, but I am of the mind that later is better than never (how surprising is it to get a card 6 months after your birthday?  Makes for a long birthday celebration).

Today I am sharing with you the cards I made for Liz and Julie which I haven't given to them yet (Liz and Julie, if you don't want to see your cards here then look away).

Liz's birthday card:

For a starting off point, I wanted to use Liz's Hanging Stars stamp set.  On a 4.5 inch x 5.5 inch piece of white cardstock, I stamped the main curving line image and then alternated between stamping the large folk star and the small folk star onto the bottom of each line with Memento ink by Tsukineko in tuxedo black.

Because the card needed something or someone under the stars, I stamped little Sophie from the Sophie stamp set and added the curvy string and balloon from that set to add some birthday fun again in Memento ink.  I knew I was going to do some paper piecing over some parts of Sophie so I stamped her twice on 2 different pattern papers from Basic Grey's Kissing Booth 6x6 paper pad and Crate Paper's Paper Heart 6x6 paper pad and stamped the balloon once on another paper from the same paper pad.

Before adhering the paper pieces I took out a sponge dauber from Tsukineko and 3 colors of Tim Holtz Distress Ink: tumbled glass, stormy sky and faded jeans.  I began with tumbled glass going over the panel in a circular motion trying to avoid the stars and most of Sophie. Next I came in with stormy sky concentrating the color to the top of the panel and adding some sporadically onto the rest of the panel.  Then I finished up with faded jeans just at the top and around the edges of the panel.  

Then I sprayed iridescent spray over the entire panel.  And I colored in Sophie's skin, hair and mouth with Copic markers.  I also colored in the stars using a white Uni-ball Signo gel pen. 

I then adhered the paper pieced elements to the ballon and Sophie and finished up Sophie by coloring in her socks/tights and shoes with Copic markers again.  To the bottom of the card I added some free hand cut wavy pieces of patterned paper from the Basic Grey Kissing Booth paper pad.

I wanted to add yellow stickles to the stars (stickles are a most for anything for Ms. Liz), but oh no! I have no yellow stickles.  What to do?  I colored in the white stars with a yellow Copic marker and then used Diamond stickles over it.  Problem solved.

I added a little banner stamped from a sweet sentiment handwritten by Liz on a piece of white cardstock and then because the white was too stark I inked up the banner with another sponge dauber using Jenni Bowlin ink in malted milk and inking the edges in brown sugar.  Lastly, I adhered the panel to a kraft colored card base.  Pretty cute!

Wish big this birthday, Ms. Liz!

Stamps: Hanging Stars and Sophie

Ink: Memento ink by Tsukineko in tuxedo black; Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger in tumbled glass, stormy sky and faded jeans; Jenni Bowlin by Ranger in malted milk and brown sugar

Paper: Kissing Booth 6x6 paper pad by Basic Grey; Paper Heart 6x6 paper pad by Crate Paper

Cardstock: Neenah Papers in solar white and sand

Tools: Signo gel pen in white by Uni-ball; Precision Pen by American Crafts in black; Sponge dauber by Tsukineko; MONO permanent adhesive by Tombow; liquid adhesive by Scotch; Copic markers

Embellishments: Stickles by Ranger in diamond; Memories Mist in iridescent

Julie's birthday card

My starting off point for Julie's card was her Window set (have you seen Julie using this stamp set in her video?  If not, check it out HERE) and I had an idea to pair it with the Happy Day set.

First on a 4.25 inch x 5.5 inch piece of white cardstock I stamped the main window image in upper middle part of the panel in Memento ink in tuxedo black.  I stamped the ledge image at the bottom the window and then colored it in with Copic markers.

Next using some patterned paper from Crate Paper's Paper Heart 6x6 paper pad I stamped the larger pennant from Happy Day 5 times using Memento ink in tuxedo black and cutting them each out.  On each pennant I stamped a letter from the "happy" image and colored them in with a pink Copic marker.  I did ink up the edges.
 
Using the My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Madison Avenue 6x6 paper pad that I received as a present for my birthday this year (thanks, Jane!),  I stamped out the shutters from Window twice and stamped the bird from the set (what a cutie!).  I cut them all out.  To cover up some of my wonky cutting on the bird I used a Precision Pen from American Crafts to edge my birdie friend and I colored him in a bit more with a pink Copic marker.  He was adhered to the ledge.  Isn't he so sweet there?

I adhered the shutters outside the window frame (I colored in part of the image with a Copic marker).  I also did some subtle stamping on the right and left edges of the panel to mimic the texture of stucco using one of the stamps from Julie's Art Textures stamp set using Jenni Bowlin's ink in malted milk.  I also edged the panel with the same ink.

Next I adhered the pennants to a piece of Divine Twine in oyster (gray and white) and adhered it all on top of the window to create a little banner.

I added a little computer generated "birthday" inside the window under the banner.

For a bit more interest I added hand cut stripes of patterned paper from the same Madison Avenue paper pad and also stamped out onto the Madison Avenue paper pad the scallop edged curtain from the Window set using Memento ink and used part of it on the top right hand corner of the card.

My last bit of stamping was to add the longer line from the Window set onto the bottom strips of pattern paper.  Lastly I adhered the panel to a kraft colored card base.

There you have it.  A semi-clean and pretty card for Julie.  Happy birthday, Julie!

Stamps: Art Textures, Window and Happy Day

Ink: Memento ink by Tsukineko in tuxedo black; Tim Holtz Distress Ink by Ranger in soot black; Jenni Bowlin by Ranger in malted milk and brown sugar

Paper: Lost and Found Madison Avenue 6x6 paper pad by My Mind's Eye; Paper Heart 6x6 paper pad by Crate Paper

Cardstock: Neenah Papers in solar white and sand

Tools: Tim Holtz Ink Blending Tool by Ranger; MONO permanent adhesive by Tombow; liquid adhesive by Scotch; Copic markers

Embellishments: Divine Twine in oyster by Whisker Graphics 

I hope you will join in us in wishing both Liz & Julie the happiest of birthdays and a fabulous year to come!

Take flight,
Shay.

P.S. Mark your calendars because Carrie's birthday is July 24th!

Feature Friday

Hello peeps!

This week I want to feature a couple of tags recently made by some of my friends.  First up is the lovie Ms. Liz Allen.  I have had the pleasure of calling Liz my friend for the past 14 years (holy cow, has it really been that long?!?).  Liz makes awesome samples that are heavy on the embellishing and the bling.  

 Liz's tag features our Mermaid, Art Textures, and Flower Power sets.   The background was created by stamping images from Art Textures and Flower Power in a soft aqua color.  All the other images were stamped separately, cut out, and then mounted onto the tag.

 Liz adhered the stamped images in a manner that left the edges slightly raised off the surface of the tag.  She gently curled the edges of the sun and the waves to give extra dimension.  She also used foam tape where needed to layer the images on top of one another.  Of course, the final touch included a glazing of Rock Candy Distress Stickles for that extra little bit of bling.  Too cute Liz, thanks so much!

This week I also had the pleasure of having an artist night out with a few friends, including my pal Jason, who was in town visiting.  Jason made this AWESOME tag while we were hanging out.  I just love it.  I begged to keep it but settled for taking pics to share with you.

Jason used our Wings set with a metal pen nib from Tim Holtz. Jason just so happens to sell on those cool little nibs on his online store.  He also used the Banner Day set for the Celebrate Banner.

The Celebrate banner and ruffled edge at the bottom of the tag were done with Kraft Glassine paper also from Tim Holtz.

I hope you enjoy these tags as much as I have.  I feel blessed to have such amazing and talented friends.  If you're out there creating something this weekend with our stamps, we sure would LOVE to see!  We hope you'll share with us!

Enjoy the flight!
Carrie

Liz Allen's Vintage Technology Tag Book

Happy Monday peeps,

Here is a darling little tag book that our Artist in Flight, Liz Allen, created with just two stamp sets: Vintage Technology and Detail Framer. With a simple color palette, tags, stamps, ink, colored pencils, papers and a pen she created a marvelous book all held together with a ring binder and tied up with tulle and ribbon.

Take a look:

This is such a wonderful project because with the Vintage Technology stamps you can make something for the guys in your life.  I could see making a tag book like this for Father's Day, a birthday, a graduation or Valentine's Day with little coupons, money and/or messages written on the back.

I hope Ms. Liz has inspired you to create a little tag book using your Paper Wings Productions stamps.  You could even use the Mission 001 Flight Plan as a guide.  Remember to add your entries to the challenge on the flickr group with the tag: FP001 to enter.  For more information go HERE.

Take flight,
Shay.

Introduction to Liz Allen

Dear peeps,

If you haven't already encountered Liz Allen of Fine & Fancy, you are in for a treat.  Liz Allen is a woman of boundless talent and heart.  She makes life sparkle with prettiness and happy thoughts.  She is also a master at making art that is uniquely her own and dazzling.  She's a warm and giving teacher with a wealth of knowledge and experience with stamping and other arts and crafts.  We are lucky enough to have her as our special designer, our Artist in Flight.  You are going to love her, just as we do! 

How would you like to learn more about Ms. Liz?  Here are her answers to the 10 Things Questionnaire. Her answers are in black:

One of your favorite books from childhood?

The Little House on the Prairie Series…I used to check them out over and over from the library at my elementary school. J

Two trends that you will never stop loving no matter how wrong?

I will always love urban, shabby and eclectic…I love to mix the old and the new.

Three of your roles in life?

Sister*Aunt*Friend

Four of your favorite art tools?

1) Needle and Thread, 2) ALL my coloring mediums like Caran d’ache crayons, acrylic paint, Prisma pencils and gamsol, dye ink, etc., 3) my fingers because they are the ABSOLUTE PERFECT tool to paint, smudge, tear, hold, pinch, tie, and dotdotdot, and 4) of course anything sparkly.

Five places you want to visit?

The Swiss Alps, The Amalfi Coast, Bali, Paris, and Australia

Six sources of inspiration?

TOO many to list because I get inspiration from EVERYWHERE and EVERYONE

Seven people that you wish to thank?

YIKES!!!  I am not so good with numbers so I will list some of the many many people that have made an impact on my life.  First of all, I would like to thank God. Everything that I am and have is because of His love, grace, and sacrifice. Next, I would like to thank my Mom and Dad…they were the absolute GREATEST parents ever and made sure that my sisters and I had the very BEST of everything…dancing, swimming, ballet, clarinet, piano lessons, nice clothes to wear, ALWAYS a hot meal on the table, and the list goes on and on. And of course I can’t forget my sisters, my brothers-n-law and my wonderful nephews…IN a word they are just plain AWESOME. I also have my aunt and her sons and their wives (which are really more brothers and sisters than cousins) that have been extra special family members. AND lastly but NOT leastly are my friends. I TRULY have the BEST friends IN THE WORLD. I have lived in many places, but not a day goes by that I don’t have a happy memory of a friend, or a family member or SOMEONE that has changed by life. I am truly blessed…

Eight totally random bits of information:

1.           Do you like silence, listen to music or watch something as you create?

Depends on what I’m working on…but if it is music, the louder the better (hahah)

2.           Do you cook?

LoveLoveLove to cook AND bake and try new recipes. And I love it even better if it tastes good (hahah)---Guinea Pigs WANTED to try new recipes!!!

3.           Velma, Fred, Daphne, Shaggy or Scooby?

That would be Scooby…if only because he has a cool name.

4.           If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I wish I could have the power to help everyone that needs help and put a smile on their face and help them to know AND believe that there is ALWAYS someone who loves them and is glad that they are around.

5.           A book you would like to live in?

I would want to be Ms. Scarlett in Gone With the Wind so I could have a 19 inch waist and wear all of her pretty dresses.

6.           How many pets?

None, just my adopted BFF (Brown Furry Friend) Jake who belongs to my sister Penny. He gives UNCONDITIONAL love and loves me just the way I am.

7.           What talent do you wish you had?

Singing of course (but that doesn’t stop me from singing at the top of my lungs when I am in the car…(alone to protect the innocent ;)

8.           Who do you wish would decorate your house?

I LOVE to decorate myself but if I could get help and the sky was the limit I would pick Genevieve Gorder or Candice Olsen to decorate and David Bromstedt to paint me one of him fabulous pieces of art.

Nine items on or in your desk/worktable?

EVERYTHING! You name it and it is on my table. My studio is a work/disaster in progress so I surround myself with all my little art toys that make me so happy.

Ten colors you could not live without?

I am a VERY monochromatic kind of gal but I do love aqua, any shade of green and pink, vanilla, chocolate brown, white, black, crimson red, pale butter yellow, Kraft brown, and periwinkle blue. (Okay, so maybe I can’t count…)

Now you now just a smidgen about me…Hope to get to know all of you better tooooooo!!!    XoXo liz

Let's give you a shimmering wisp of what Liz has made with Paper Wings Productions stamps. 

This tag she whipped up at my make and take table during the Launch Party in March.  She awed us all with how with some simple supplies like ink, colored pencils and stickles, Paper Wings Productions stamps and her cleverness she created this beauty complete with a window to another layer.  Yes, that is her own handwriting and yes, we will be seeing more of it. ;-)

Stamps used: Flourish Fun, Let's Eat Cake, Milagros and Day Framer

Be sure to check back for more posts featuring the delightful art of Liz Allen.  You haven't seen anything yet! 

Take flight,
Shay.