Friday, January 30, 2009

New LPS Release! It's {Tea Time!} (Tea Cup Template & Copics on Fabric)



Finally I got a picture of this puppy, well make that bunny! ;O)
So here it is: a new shaped card template to celebrate
the new Little Paper Shop set: {Tea Time}!

The Stamp Set!




This card was so fun to make. Made me feel like havin' a tea party! When I was little, I used to love to dress up my Walking Wendy doll and take tea cups & goodies on outdoor tea parties. Walking Wendy was as tall as me, heehee. I never had a cute lil' anthropomorphized rabbit as company, but I did play with bunny droppings in the woods (I thought they were marbles, yup really! I guess a little rabbit poo never killed anybody, ROFL.)

The Template:

There are two versions to this template: with or without instructions printed on it.


(Click pics for JPGs & Click big link up there for PDFs)

The Teacup Measures:
  • 5" across the top (6" if you include the handle)
  • 3" across the bottom
  • 4 1/2" tall
The Tag is the size of Stampin Up's small Tag Punch. I included it for those of you who might not have the punch. :O)

You can also make two projects with the tea cup shape: a card, or a box (to make a box just adhere it to the "LIL' TALL BOX" template.)



(Click pics for JPGs & Click big link up there for PDFs)

The Lil' Tall Box
is an altered SU template that used to be the glitter purse. It now measures 2 1/4 deep & wide by about 3 1/4 tall (and fits in behind the tea cup without showing.)


Makin' the Card:



Step 1) Print the template onto scrap cardstock



Step 2) Cut the template out. The stripe across the top lets you choose the height. (You can make it shorter if you like. I wanted room for the scallop on mine...)



Step 3) Cut the cup handle out with a hobby blade/exacto knife.



Step 4)
Trace the template onto good folded cardstock
(with the fold at the top of the cup.)



Step 5) Cut the cup shape out (leaving the fold at the top of it intact & cutting out the hole for the handles. If you leave it folded to cut the handles & you have a nice sharp exacto knife blade then you can cut the holes just once for both.) :O)



Step 6)
Erase the pencil lines.


Embellishing:



Step 7) Cuttlebug emboss the cup (if you like.) With certain embossing folders, you can overlap the folder to cover the whole thing with pattern. (Swiss Dots works wonderfully for this & Argyle and Houndstooth do too.)

A little trick to make less lines/ empty spots in the repeated embossing: on your second pass with the folder, line the folder up so that it overlaps a good deal of the previously created pattern. Then put it through the machine, but stop before you reach the folder's edge & back out of your machine instead of passing it all the way through. Clear as mud? Let me know if I don't make any sense, k?)


Step 8) Create a band to embellish the cup (Trace the template onto another kind of cardstock.) I've made this one out of Glimmer Cardstock from Paper Temptress. It's called Starburst Lichen & the sparkle is so lovely! I embossed it with the textile embossing folder & then added highlights with a Copic marker.



Step 9) Copics stick nicely to the Glimmer Cardstock & the metallic finish lets you remove colour if you use a Colourless Blender. (A fun way to start using Copics if you only want to try out a couple of them at first.)



Step 10) Attach the image & Pierce holes for stitching (I stamped this cute tea party on fabric in Chocolate Chip craft ink & heat set it gently. Then I stuck it onto wide double-sided tape (carpet tape, actually!) & coloured it with Copics. (If you account for bleeding it works out well. It's handy to stamp a practice image so you can get the feel of colouring. I tried other markers (S.U. & C.T.M.H.) but they bled way more than the Copic markers.

I loves me my Tim Holtz Design Ruler for piercing (with a making memories paper piercer.)



Step 12) Stitch the edges of the image. (Mostly a decorative step, but it can't hurt to prevent fraying either, hey?) :O)



Step 13) Emboss the whole image & band, lining it up with the previous embossing. (I was CHICKEN to try this step, but I had to see what happened.) Which was this:



The carpet tape made the fabric hold the embossing nicely, but the image wasn't distorted at all (as I had feared in my chickeness.) Whew, disaster averted! ;o) If you emboss over stitching it holds well, but becomes slightly less pronounced.



Step 14) Create a scallop for the lip of the cup. (I used Stampin' Up!'s Slit Punch) & then embossed the edge of the scallop using a Stylus. The fun foam mat I work on lets the paper take the embossing...



Step 15) Use that good ol' Design Ruler again to create a solid line of embossing (on the top straight edge of the scallop.)



Step 16)
You can use a Copic Marker to create shadows on the cup for dimension.
(If you told me I could only have just one Copic ever, (perish the thought!) I would choose this one: Warm Gray No.1.

By the by, Copic Markers are on sale right now at Paper Garden Projects for 20% off! (And 40% off all clearance items too...)



Step 17) You can add Crystal Lacquer to the tea pot & tea cups for cute shine (had to shine her shoes too!) :O)

The Tag:



The tag is stamped with one of the cutie patootie sentiments
from the {Tea Time} set.
Here are the steps to making it...
  1. Cut the acrylic stamp in half so I cold mount it to fit inside SU's small tag punch. (If you cut in a V shape it fits together again perfectly, so you don't lose the lovely alignment of the phrase; you just gain a second option. I lurrrrrve acrylic stamps!
  2. Punched two vellum tags
  3. Covered the stamp with Versamark & then Close to Cocoa ink
  4. Stamped the 2 tags with "You're my Cup of Tea" & embossed with clear e.p.
  5. Adhered them onto a 3rd tag (cut from Starburst Lichen cardstock & cuttlebugged) with the string (from a real tea bag) adhered under the back layer.
  6. Pierced & stitched the top to embellish


Inside the tag is a layer of Cuttlebug embossing.
Yay for texture & shimmeriness! :O)

Thank you so much for stopping in! Hope you have a Terrific day!




Quick Links:

You can find the Tea Time stamp set here
& see some lovelies in the Tea Time Gallery here!

33 comments:

Cazzy said...

That is a great project Mel, thanks for sharing.

Danielle said...

Mel, your creativity never ceases to amaze me! This is totally adorable - I feel like I stepped into Alice in Wonderland's tea party, lol!
Hugs,
Danielle x

Elena said...

Wow! That is absolutely amazing and very creative!!! Thank you for the wonderful tutorial!!! Love all the new techniques and tips you shared!!!

Kim Etherington said...

Mel, this tea cup is truly creative, elegant and so makes me want to play tea party with you. We need to do another high tea at Applewood Bakery... someone's Bday is coming up!!!!
I wish i knew that about that warm grey, before placing the Curry order. Dooohh!
Hugs!

Eva said...

OMG!!!!!! This is sooooo amazing and wow, thank you for the templates and the tutorial!!!! Gorgeous details!

Ramona Michaluk said...

Happy New Year!
Love this card Mel - it's beautiful!
Thanks so much for sharing the template and the instructions - I'll be giving this a try and will let you know what I've done with it.
It would make a lovely card for Mother's Day or Birthday card for that special lady in your family - my head is already full of ideas for this one. LOL

Anonymous said...

Your talent never ceases to amaze me. Thank you so much for the tutorial and template. I love this!

Lindastamps

Marianne said...

Thank you very much for sharing this beautiful card with us.
Great!

Regards,
Marianne

Anonymous said...

This set is adorable and you talent at the tutorial is amazing. Thanks for sharing

Anonymous said...

Soooo cute! And the tea bag tag makes it perfect.

Swedie

Michelle said...

Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial, it is really great!!

Allison Rankin said...

Another boss idea Mel...you rock the planet!

Anonymous said...

Hi Mel, great tutorial and of course you can link to my project! I'm glad to find your blog!

cal8007 said...

Mel, what a beauty! Thanks for the tutorial too. What size does it come out to and what envelope size?

Carmen

Curt in Indy said...

Amazing stuff my blogging buddy! But what is even better than the card is to actually see you in full post mode. I've missed it terribly! And the rabbit droppings. . .OMG. This is the second time tonight that I laughed out loud and woke up my dogs! Best, Curt

mudmaven said...

You continue to knock my socks off with your creative mind! WOW! ~chris

Anonymous said...

Just amazing! You truly inspire me.

Karen from Ontario said...

Hey Mel,
Too cute...love the teacup. Thanks for sharing the template. Now all I need is more time to play!!
Take care!

Corie said...

Oh my a work of art -- this is just gorgeous

Anonymous said...

Mel, you rock!! This is awesome, love it!
smiles,Deena

Barb said...

You never cease to amaze me! This is just fantastic, and thanks so much for the awesome tutorial!!

BTW... I left you a little award on my blog... :)

Elizabeth S. said...

This such a great idea!! Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

How cool is this!!! The teacup is something I NEED. Thanks for sharing your template. Totally adorable!!

Cazzy said...

Mel, did your blog candy paper give away end? I don't know if I should take the link off my blog now, I am guessing yes!

Cazzy

Crafty_Kitten said...

What a fantastic idea. Great project all round. Thanks for sharing it with us all. My mum is a teaholic and I am sure she is going to love this one! Keep up the great work. I just love this blog.
xx Lynn xx

Anonymous said...

I love, love, love your blog, Mel! This is a fabulous card and thanks so much for sharing so much. How do you find the time???

Becky said...

Mel you have out done yourself :), I love this teacup, it is the most adorable project and one of the first that I have to try. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent.

Godelieve said...

Excellent step by step photos. And such a wonderful card!

Tonniece said...

Way Kewl Mel. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
and thanks again for that great template, now all I need is some ink.

Happy Sunday

Anonymous said...

Wow - I always learn so much from you. You are truly an amazing inspiration! Love that tea cup template!

Jessica Diedrich said...

This is amazing, Mel! Absolutely adorable and my favorite LPS set I think!!!

Erum Tasneem said...

I will case this when I get my folders! Or maybe I could do something else with it..hmmmmm

Злати said...

It's fantastic!!! Thanks for sharing=