Lighthouse Card Using Creek Bank Creations stamps & dies

Today I am making a lighthouse card with the Lighthouse stamp set and slim stitched rectangle dies by Creek Bank Creations. The dies caught my eye first because they are considerably longer than a standard A2-sized card. In fact, these stitched rectangle dies accommodate cards created to fit inside a regular #10 business envelope! And the long lighthouse stamp set fits perfectly!
You can purchase the lighthouse stamp and slim-stitched rectangle die set HERE:
Creek Bank Creations Lighthouse Stamp Set
Creek Bank Creations Slim Stitched Rectangle Die Set

Watch the a video of the complete process:

I quickly realized that in order to use the LARGEST slim stitched rectangle die to create my card base (the dies measure approximately 9” x 3.75” down to 6.5” x 1.25”) , I would need my Sizzix Extended Platform and my Sizzix Extended Cutting Pads. The “regular” sized platform and pads included with the Sizzix Big Shot would not be large enough to accommodate the largest slim stitched rectangle die, but they would work just fine for all the other nesting slim stitched dies.

Using a stamping platform works great on this stamp set because it is so large. I use the Tim Holtz Stamping Platform, and I love it! I also used Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers for coloring. Here is a breakdown of my color choices for this project:
Reds: CR8, CR11, DR7, CR7;
Light Gray Accents: IG1;
Lighthouse Top: IG10;
Balcony/Gate: EB2;
House Bottom: EB2, GB8;
Roof: TN7, TN8, EB2;
Sun: CT3, EB2, OR1;
Water: TB2, TB1, BT1;
Stone: IG1, IG4, IG5, IG2;
Grass: LG3, CG2, LG5, GT2, BT1.

For my stamping ink, I used Memento Tuxedo Black Ink for the lighthouse and Ranger Archival ink in Coffee for the sentiment. I used Stampin’ Up! ink in So Saffron to stamp a nautical background image on a piece of So Saffron cardstock for a background for my sentiment. Then, I die cut the sentiment and the yellow background with a scalloped oval die from my stash and mounted it up with some dimensional fun foam, using my Scotch Advanced Tape Glider.

I realized that I had a white gap at the bottom of the image, so I hand-tied a triple bow with some ribbon from my stash, wrapped a small piece of ribbon around the white cardstock, and secured it in the back with 2 ZOTS Adhesive Dots. Then, I adhered the bow to the front with another ZOTS Adhesive Dots

I added some Ranger Distress Ink along the sides of the card and some Nuvo Crystal Drops in Simply White for finishing touches.

As a special thank you for visiting the blog today, feel free to use Sandpaper Road’s affiliate links for discount prices on craft products used in this project!

Sizzix Big Shot Starter Kit – Inspired by David Tutera – Machine, Cutting Pads, Multipurpose Platform, Paper, Stamps and Dies – 26 Piece Set Amazon’s Choice!

Sizzix – Big Shot Pro Machine Only with Standard Accessories – White and Gray – $299.99
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from: Scrapbook.com

Sizzix – Adapter Pad, Extended – For Big Shot Pro Machine Only – $26.99
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from: Scrapbook.com

Sizzix – Big Shot Pro Accessory – Cutting Pad – Extended, 1 Pair – $53.99
Retail Price: $60.00
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from: Scrapbook.com

Tim Holtz Stamping Platform

Tsukineko Memento Dye Ink Pad – Tuxedo Black – $4.76
Retail Price: $5.29
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from: Blitsy

Nuvo Crystal Drops

Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad – Vintage Photo – $5.39
Retail Price: $5.99
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from: Blitsy

Archival Ink Pad #0 – Coffee – $5.39
Retail Price: $5.99
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from: Blitsy

ZOTS Adhesive Dots

Darice 106-118 40/Pack Foam Sheets, 6 by 9-Inch, Assorted

3M Scotch Advanced Tape Glider & Tape – Pink – $24.29
Retail Price: $26.99
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from: Blitsy

Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers – Reds – Pack of 6 – $10.79
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Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers – Blues – Pack of 6 – $10.79
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Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers – Greens – Pack of 6 – $10.79
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Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers – Cool Grays – Pack of 6 – $10.79
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Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers – Essentials – Pack of 6 – $10.79
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Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers – Browns – Pack of 6 – $10.79
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from: Blitsy

What is Craft Outfitting™?

Craft Outfitting™ can help you transfer awesome projects out of your mind and onto the paper or surface, even when you don’t know where to start. Craft Outfitting™ helps you create “that look” you see in craft magazines and online, but still leaves room for your own creativity and design. And best of all, there are no kits to purchase or supplies to have shipped — Craft Outfitting™ uses YOUR OWN SUPPLIES!

With Craft Outfitting™, you will simultaneously give your mind a creative rest AND a creative recharge. How is this possible? Use your personal craft stash as your “closet”. Then, based on the “outfit” you choose, select a few pieces of cardstock and a few tools and follow a series of step-by-step instructions. In a few hours, you will have completed a series of 12″x12″ SCRAPBOOK PAGES and several A2-SIZED GREETING CARDS all IN ONE SITTING!

Here’s how it works: I used the The FREE SAMPLE pattern below to make two (12″x12″) layouts, five (8″x8″) layouts and six (A2) top-folding cards. I wanted to work on my oldest son’s sports album, so I chose basketball-themed paper (several sheets according to the pattern). The pattern let me relax at my craft table and follow simple instructions to create lots of projects at once. I made TWO (12″x12″) layouts:

I also made FIVE (8″x8″) layouts:

And, I also made SIX cards:

When I followed the pattern, I was in control of the paper I chose and the embellishments I chose. I could have made these projects any way I wanted, for any occasion I wanted.

Check out the same exact “outfit” using different paper. I made TWO (12″x12″) layouts:

I made FIVE (8″x8″) layouts:

And I made SIX cards:

Same exact pattern. ONE SITTING. Different paper. Different embellishments. No subscription kits. No fancy tools. Just you and your stash and one Craft Outfitting™ pattern. Imagine if you did the pattern again with holiday paper, baby paper, wedding paper! Imagine graduation paper, school years paper, beach vacation paper! Think of the possibilities using cat or dog paper, Halloween paper, winter paper, spring flower paper… anything you have in your stash already will FINALLY get used!

How is Craft Outfitting™ different from a layout sketch or challenge? First of all, a layout sketch always begins with the sketch, the picture of the end result. Craft Outfitting™ always starts with the materials, the papers you are in the mood to work with. Secondly, with a layout sketch, you pull papers and supplies and end up with one project. With Craft Outfitting™, you pull papers and supplies and end up with several projects! Finally, a layout sketch requires you to try to figure out as you go how to achieve the end result, but with Craft Outfitting™, you just follow the instructions and almost like magic, the projects appear! Then you can really use your creativity to make those projects fit YOUR occasions.

Sandpaper Road offers Craft Outfitting™ patterns for purchase. Visit sandpaperroad.com and click the SHOP button or click HERE: SHOP Craft Outfitting™ by Sandpaper Road

What will you get with your purchase? Your purchase includes ONE easy-to-follow, downloadable, printable pattern with step-by-step instructions to create several projects in one sitting (with over 50 full-color photos to accompany the steps), plus a private link to a companion video tutorial which walks you through the pattern every step of the way. Once you purchase a pattern, you can watch the video again and again. You can also print or download the pattern (with the full-color photos) to take to a crop (especially handy if your crop location’s WiFi is spotty or unreliable).

The above pattern is only a short sample of what you will make with a Craft Outfitting™ pattern. Typically, Craft Outfitting™ patterns yield FOUR (12″x12″) layouts and TWELVE (A2, top-folding) cards. Imagine… with FIVE patterns, you will be able to make a 20-page (12″x12″) album and 60 cards in no time! Plus, you can use the patterns again and again for different holidays, seasons and occasions!

STILL NOT SURE? Give it a try! Check out this PRINT-FRIENDLY FREE SAMPLE Craft Outfitting™ PATTERN by Sandpaper Road HERE: Craft.Outfitting.FREE SAMPLE PATTERN.A.1.print.friendly.version

VIEW the FREE companion video on YouTube HERE: Craft Outfitting™ FREE SAMPLE VIDEO

This FREE sample pattern gives you a place to use your shape-cutting scissors that you may have had for a while. If you are new to scrapbooking and want some inexpensive shape-cutting scissors, click the photo to take advantage of Sandpaper Road’s affiliate deal with Amazon (no code needed):
Need a great deal on Adhesive Tape Runners? Take advantage of Sandpaper Road’s affiliate deal with Therm O Web Products! No coupon code needed!

Altered Altoid Tin Using Brutus Monroe Surface Sprays

Today I am trying Surface Sprays from Brutus Monroe, using them to alter a standard-sized Altoid tin. Brutus Monroe founder Christopher Alan explained to me that the surface sprays were permanent on metal, but I admit that I was skeptical.

Watch Christopher Alan show me how to use the sprays….

I have tried lots of mixed media sprays with a claim to fame of being “permanent”, only to see everything slide to one side (even after sanding the surface first). But, Brutus Monroe Surface Sprays did not disappoint.
Watch my complete video tutorial:

First, I used a butter knife to separate the lid of the Altoid tin from the base. I set the base aside, and I sanded the lid lightly.
I save up lots of little metal pieces, junk jewelry, buttons, beads, and other random items to use in mixed media projects. My rule of thumb is to keep the items lightweight and to keep them in a certain confined storage area (to prevent hoarding tendencies). So, I gathered my mixed media “junk” pieces and used Prima – Finnabair – Art Basics – 3D Matte Gel – 8 Ounces to adhere the items to the lid of the tin.

It is really important to let the Prima – Finnabair – Art Basics – 3D Matte Gel – 8 Ounces to dry, so I used a heat gun to get the process started and then let it dry naturally for a few hours.
I placed the lid in a plastic tray (if you don’t have a tray, you can use a box lid or large old towel). Then I sprayed the Surface Sprays directly on top of the metal pieces. I dried this layer with a heat gun until it was mostly dry, although for better results I could have let it dry fully.

Then, I carefully removed the lid of the spray bottle. Using the stem of the sprayer, I dipped and dripped drops of a contrasting spray color onto the lid, just here and there. Experiment with drying between layers and spraying the colored droplets with plain water to encourage them to run. Surface Spray colors which are wet will blend together, but Surface Spray colors truly are permanent once dry. Let dry completely.

Once completely dry, I spattered white matte paint on the lid.
Then, I adhered final metal accents on the lid of the tin using more Prima – Finnabair – Art Basics – 3D Matte Gel – 8 Ounces. These final metal accents were adhered later because I didn’t want them sprayed or painted. I let the lid dry overnight.
Finally, I replaced the finished lid back onto the Altoid tin and used pliers to secure the little metal tabs back in place.
This was such an easy and fun project!