Inks

A fun idea

I have to admit, this wasn’t my first vision of this project, but I think this one turned out pretty good. Using the Halloween Books and Square Birthday Candle Box files from Simply Crafty SVGs – this decor piece was easy to put together and finish in a matter or a few hours after cutting. I think the cutting took longer since I was having issues with a blade and a new mat. They didn’t like each other, but that story is for another time.

The firecrackers/candles were easy to do. I did start by modifying the file and resized the main file pieces by 50%. The front panel is a combination of rectangles created using the SCAL software. All but the star is inked. Following the directions for assembly in the file, these are very easy to put together. To adjust for the other two, lengthening the box file (no changes in the width) and bottom pieces is pretty easy. There’s about an additional inch added to the middle cracker and another 1/4 inch added to the tallest. You will have to adapt the upper flap as it is too long to fit. Add another score line where the new fold should be. You can certainly glue this together after inserting the wick which is a piece of jute wrapping.

The books are cut using the file as is. I created another spine piece for each of the books — using the shadow layer feature in SCAL. Easy to do, just make sure you use the blackout box and the shadow is 0.00 – so it’s exactly the same size. There are other ways to do it, but this is just easy as well. Choose the words and font/s you want to use and create them in the software — leaving a small space at each end of the panel. Using some small rectangles or flourishes, place those to finish the spine as desired. The book paper panels are scored using a scoreboard and bone folder every 1/8 inch and inked.

Assembly videos can be found on Sandy’s YouTube channel.
Square Birthday Candles
Halloween Books

For this project you’ll need:
12 x 12 cardstock (red, white blue, off white)
gold vinyl (permanent)
glue
jute
ink (red, lt brown, black, dk blue, lt grey)
score board, bone folder
closure (optional)

Hoping you’ll have some fun doing some of your favorite creative hobbies. Enjoy the time and nurture your heart as well.

Final day of 3 the Spring Tags Reveal

Day3: This was a fun tag to create for the final day of the reveal. All of the foundational pieces were designed in SCAL 6. The digital paper used for the awning of the cart is from NitWit Collection’s Porch Swing Fat Quarter Collection. Print then Cut was so easy and I really like the look. I doubled up that piece and the under piece was colored with some brush watercolor markers in a slightly darker colored pink.

The cart is a pretty fun process and the front wheel is on a mini spinner and that adds a little surprise after using some watercolor maker brushes to add some color and depth. The digital flower strip is from an element in the ephemera collection in Carta Bella’s Spring Market files. I resized the image a bit to fit in the cart. I added some baby’s breath as well. The hot glue almost looks like water in the wells that hold the stems.

Foam tape
Bearly Art Glue
Mini Spinner
Baby’s breath

All but the floral strip were cut using the SCAL 6 software and Skycut C24.

Enjoy a creative day! Take care and have some fun!

3 Spring Tags – Reveal Day 2

Day 2’s tag started out as white paper. I love the ombre look and while it really isn’t shabby chic, it was still fun to create. This is a pinterest inspired project. I know there’s a die that does something similar, however, this one is my design using elements from the SCAL software and the Impact font.

It was fun to play with the font — using several commands and then join to a frame created using a rectangle and an inset shadow layer and another command found in the software. Adding the heart border was quite easy and adds just enough detail that I really like how it makes the boxy framed word a little softer. All layers are inked, the top layer uses two colors blended softly and then the lower two layers are inked to add a little more interest around the edges.

A few gems were added for some added texture (you can’t really see it in the pic) and sparkle.

Ribbons are from my stash.

3 Spring Tags – it’s a reveal!

For the last 5 or so years, one of the Facebook groups I belong to has been celebrating the arrival of Spring with a Spring Tag Reveal. This year is no exception — in years past, we’ve done anywhere from 3 to 5 tags… this year, we’re doing 3.

It’s looking like Shabby Chic will be my theme for this season’s tags. I used a couple of digital collections in my stash and some inspiration from Pinterest. I did purchase a file for today’s tag from Etsy and resized 2 of the pieces to form my tag.

DAY1: Layered looks are always fun! Digital paper selections are from the Porch Swing Fat Quarter Collection from Nit Wit Collections provided the patterns for this layered tag. The edges of each layer is inked with Oatmeal Cookie from FSJ (retired) and some foam tape was used to pop the top layer of the tag up. Bearly Art glue was used to adhere the bottom two layers of this tag together. Cotton crochet thread was used for the hanger.


Looking forward to sharing the next two tags over the next two days. Hoping you’re carving out some creative time on a regular basis. Have some fun!

they fold flat for mailing!

These Pinterest inspired cards were so fun to make and the last projects for January 2026 that I can publish at the moment! 🙂 Just waiting for a few more things to get to their recipients.

The base for this hexagon shaped box card is adapted from the Valentine Gnome Box Card from Simply Crafty SVGs. I trimmed off the top edge of the base and the extensions on the insert risers. Easy to accomplish in the SCAL software using the knife. Close the path once you’ve completed the slice and removed the unwanted piece. Make sure you re-group any pieces with score lines.

The “realistic” chip and avocado images are a find on freepik.com. They come with a white background – if you want a transparent background you can opt for the premium version and pay for a subscription to the site. HOWEVER, you can eliminate the white using the Paint app in Windows. Choose layers, hide the white. A white background will still show. Then choose the icon for removing the background. The white should disappear, leaving a transparent background behind the chip. I used the eraser and removed the shadow under the chip for a cleaner image. Save As a png and then you can import the file into SCAL. The cut is pretty clean. No TRACE needed since your image is a png. There are lots of other software/app options as well that will remove the background from the image. The above is what I used for this project. The edges of the cut chip images were inked with some yellow orange ink for some added “powdered cheese.” The process is basically the same for the avocado if you choose to add it.

The labels are found in the SCAL library. No shadow layer was added. The fonts used are from the fonts folder on Windows — and were set to print only in the SCAL software after they were sized and centered in the label.

AC Cardstock, Bazzil, Sabor and an old two tone green (source unknown) sheets were used to create the box and inserts. I did use the Tiny Bubbles embossing folder (Provo Craft – retired) to add some texture to the Holy Guacamole box panels. Added a little ink to add some additional interest.

Other materials:
bone folder
Bearly Art Precision glue
printer
Skycut C24
SCAL 6 Pro

The card when folded flat will fit into an A2 invitation envelope.

Hoping you have some creative time carved out in the coming week! Enjoy every moment! Nurture your creative spirit and heart as well.

waiting for Spring…

I’m really liking this design. It was a Facebook freebie from Cheryl’s Whimsical Inklings. The SVG was designed for use with a laser but was easy to adapt for use with paper. Just 3 lines had to be reset for cutting and a little resizing.

There are 2 or 3 layers for each cut to add stability since this sign is designed as a hanger. The top layer for the kraft colored base is embossed using a Craftwell 8.5×11 embossing folder. Sadly, Craftwell has closed shop and the folder is no longer available.

The frame was cut in a medium green paper and then inked with a Forest Green ink to add a little more dimension and depth of color. I used a paint pen for the splatters.

All of the other pieces of this design are 3 layers of stacked white cardstock, color added with inks from pads I have in my stash and additional details were added with the paint pen.

I really like how this turned out and while I’ve used some of Cheryl’s clipart on other projects through the years, I really do see how many of her laser cut files could transition into paper designs very easily with just a few clicks of the mouse using SCAL.

SideNote: Hop on over to KadoodleBug Designs as they have translated lots of the Whimsical Inking clipart files into SVGs for consumers.

TOOLS and MATERIALS:
SCAL 6 Pro
Skycut C24
AC cardstock
Encore cardstock
Woodgrain embossing folder (retired)
Big Shot Pro
Bearly Art Precision Craft Glue
FSJ Ink pads
Blender tools

Sundrop Flower

A friend asked me to create this for her as part of her Halloween costume this year.

I used a couple of files from Maison Gregoria’s Creative Fabrica collection. You can also find her files on Etsy. The Astria file is pretty small to begin with and I enlarged the pieces by 300% in SCAL. The original coloring was done in Procreate and then printed. I added some embossing on the petals and then added the stickles in purple and some additional inking for a little more depth on each of the petals. The stamen is from the Orchette-Dahlia Paper Template file also enlarged by 300% for consistency. So much fun to put this one together. As a final touch, I added an Easy Light set from Pear Blossom Press to the top set of petals.


Additional Supplies:
Distress Inks, blending tool
Solar Paste
Glitter
Stickles
White, Green cardstock
Hot glue
Bearly Art Glue

Hoping your creative time is productive and you’ll find joy in the materials you’re working with as well.

Happy Owl-oween!

This was a fun project — with just a few tweaks to the original files, this box was a lot of fun to put together.

I used two files from Simply Crafty SVGs. The Easter Egg Gift Box for the body of the owl and the Hovering Witch Hat for the hat. Both files were reduced and can be cut using 8.5 x 11 cardstock.
I found a pattern image on Pixabay (the swirls) that I used as a pattern fill on the panel pieces for the body. The dotted pattern on the hat was created in Procreate and used as a pattern fill for the hat panels as well. These pieces were printed, then cut using the Skycut and SCAL software. All pieces were inked for a little more depth and to blend the edges to the base papers that were used.
The eyes, nose and wings were created using basic shapes found in the library.
I did choose to glue the hat in place and since this is just going to be a decor piece, I also glued the top to the bottom and added a few glass half marbles for a little weight, though it wasn’t essential for balance.
This ideas was inspired by some clipart I found on Pinterest. I have a few more ideas kicking around for some additional “birds.” We’ll see how that goes.

Hoping you’ve built in some time in your creative space for the month of October! Have fun and explore a few new ideas and make them come to life…

How about this version? Different colorway. Solar paste and stencils and using an embossing folder. He kind of grew on me…

3 Fall Tags 2025 – Tag 3

I saw something similar a few weeks ago on Pinterest and thought I would try my hand at doing something like it for my final tag in this challenge.

I drew and colored the bat in Procreate. After saving it as a png, I was able to do a little final editing in Photopea (an online photo editing program-free) before importing into SCAL. I did hand cut the white portion of the eyes so I could put a small piece of vellum behind that now open space with the goal of adding lights* to the tag.


For the remaining pieces of this tag, I used basic shapes from the SCAL library and added some fun papers using the Pattern command option. It’s so much fun to play with. The papers are from Echo Park (I Love Halloween Mega Collection). Everything in this matting was set to print 2 cut and the easy step by step process works magically each and every time! I added some inking to add a little more interest and texture before putting the tag together.

*The light is from Pear Blossom Press. I used the EZ-Light version. It’s an all in one unit with 3 lights each and the packaging also includes the batteries. The word PRESS is a stamp from TLC Designs. They’re perfect for interactive cards as well as indicating where the ‘button’ is on a light up card or tag.

These tags and several others can be found on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eclipsecal
We have some amazing artists on the page and since I’m writing this a little early — my hopes are that we’ll have several of them participating again this year!

3 Fall Tags – Tag #1

It’s that time of the year again… the weather is changing, it’s football season and it’s finally getting cool again. I love Fall! Lots of good memories – leaves changing colors, bon fires, s’mores, hot chocolate and soup weather! And creating some fun tags of the season.

This year, I’m trying some new to me stuff including making sketches, using SCAL and some other software to design some elements as well as use tools and other stuff that haven’t seen the light of day for a while. This tag involves pulling a few things from the drawers and cupboards! I’ll bet you’ll be able to recognize a few of them!

Stamps (Stampin’ UP! retired), embossing powder (heat embossing), embossing folder (Cuttlebug, retired), inks and of course digital images from Sandra Createinspain. And to finish, some Mod Podge for a little shine and a bit of ribbon make up this tag.