SCRAPTIVITY!

How's that for a new category name!

Today I went through my scrap drawer and decided to part with every piece that was smaller than an index card.  The only exception I made was for long enough strips (used here) to go across a card as a background.

Once I was done, the pile was considerably smaller and more manageable.  I did the same with my pre-stamped images folder, which is where I found these daisies.  Just to give you an idea of how much had accumulated, I think I stamped these about 5 years ago!  The time came to use them, don't you think?

To make this card, I first cut down the image and colored it with SU markers.  Since there were two pre-stamped pieces, I used one for the base and the other to pop up one of the whole flowers with dimensionals.  After choosing three coordinating strips and varying the widths with my paper trimmer, I taped them to the card front.  I then chose the dark green check for a narrow border around the image and the greeting.  I mounted the greeting with dimensionals and taped down the image alongside.  After adding a few tiny gems, I was satisfied.  Then, I THREW OUT ALL THE LEFTOVER SCRAPS!!!

I plan to make the second card later on, using different scraps for a different look.

ONE DESIGN, TWO CARDS

These two cards were inspired by a card I saw HERE.



The first panel was the easier of the two, since all I had to do was use some mono glue on the back of the leaves and place them in the blank openings in the white cs.  Then I attached the white panel to the darker green with ds tape, mounted the finished panel to the card front with dimensionals and added the gold cord and gems.  Actually, the cord is glued on and the bow added on top with a glue dot.



The second card was a bit tricky because I started with the dark green panel being split.  (How did that happen???)  Anyway, once I got the white leaves attached to each side of the green panel with tape on the back, I added the panel to the lighter green on each side with ds tape.  I did each side separately so the white leaves would remain open on the back..  Then I glued the green embroidery floss on each side, stamped the greeting and added the butterfly which I had discovered in my stash earlier.

I think I'm done with this leaf die for awhile ;)

FRENCH FOLIAGE BLOSSOM

The two smaller leaves in the French Foliage set make wonderful blossoms and wreaths, and this one could even be a poinsettia if the top leaves were red.

Although it looks like three layers, the bottom piece was done by alternating light and dark leaves to give it depth.  The top five leaves were mounted individually with dimensionals.  Then the whole flower was attached to the card with additional dimensionals.  For the center, I added tiny pearls and a green gem.

Can you guess where this and the previous 3 cards will be going???

CARD WITH TAG

This top fold card design gave me a chance to use even more scraps from my Scrap Drawer!

After choosing 4 patterns that would go well together, I cut them in strips of varying width and layered them with ds tape.  The light tan piece had already been embossed, which added some texture to the card as well.

Next, I stamped the leaf, cut it by hand and mounted it over the dsp strips with ds tape.  For the tag, I stamped the sentiment first on a white scrap, cut around it in a rectangle and rounded the top corners to coordinate with the rounded corners of the card base.  When I cut the notch at the bottom, I curved the lines slightly; then I sponged the edges with green ink.  The bow is a piece of jute attached with a glue dot to the top of the tag, and the tag was mounted with dimensionals.

Last, I added three SU Candy Dots.

BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEE

While I had my Nestabilities dies out from the previous card, I cut the circle as a backdrop for this bird.  After stamping it and using colored pencils, I die cut the image and popped it up on the circle with dimensionals.

Before mounting the yellow cs to the card, I stamped the verse at the bottom.  Once it was mounted to the card front with ds tape, I added the bird with dimensionals.  For a finishing touch, I went over the berries with a gold Spica pen.

I"m so glad that our favorite stamp companies are all coming out with stamps and dies that match.  This one is from Our Daily Bread Designs and is super easy to use.  The Bible verse is from a Sweet and Sassy stamp set, which also features another bird.

GOING IN CIRCLES!

This was a fun card to make as I kept coming up with ways to vary the sizes of the circles used!

First, I pulled these scraps of dsp from the Scrap Drawer as I tried choosing patterns that would go together.  Next, I gathered the following:

4 Nestabilities circle dies
3 SU Candy Dots
the SU Owl Punch for the 3 tiny eye sizes

After stamping the sentiment on the lightest pieces and arranging them all in the best way, I attached them to the card front with ds tape, dimensionals and mono glue.  Finally, I rounded the bottom right corner.

The hardest part of this card was finding the little tiny dots when I punched them!

HELLO VELLUM

Inspired by the vellum challenge on Nichole Heady's blog HERE, I decided to give it a try.  Although the flowers are supposed to be colored, I tried something a little different.

For the flowers, I used my new Pansy punch from SU for both a dark blue dsp and the vellum.  Instead of using color on the vellum, I ran the blossoms and a narrow strip through a Swiss Dots ef.  Next, I used the BoHo Blossoms punch for the white centers and put a blue gem on top. After assembling the flowers, I laid them aside to work on the card front.

First, I took a piece of dark blue textured cardstock and tore about a third of it off to leave a white border on the right side.  Before taping it down to the card front, I folded the Swiss Dot velum around it and secured it on the back with tape.  After attaching the whole piece to the card, I added the bow of silver cord and light blue embroidery floss and made the tiny tag for the greeting.

Last, I mounted the top and bottom flowers with glue dots and the center one with a dimensional.  The card is a bit shorter than a standard A2 card so that the flowers wouldn't be as spread out.  I'll use my new Envelope Punch Board for just the right size envelope!

SIMPLE SATURDAY #30

SUMMER LEAVES

The first time I used this new die, it was on the front of this white card; but it didn't cut all the way.  I later realized how to correct this problem:

TIP:  When using a long and narrow die, run it through your Cuttlebug (or other machine) with the die placed vertically.  This way it passes through the rollers from top to bottom, giving them more of a chance to apply the pressure needed for a sharp cut..

Not to be deterred from using the card as is, I folded back the leaves after placing a strip of green dsp behind them.  Next, I glued down the green leaves alongside with TomBow mono glue.  After mounting the dsp strip and Bible verse with double-stick tape, I added the extra leaves with the same glue.  Last, I used some green gems for embellishment.

Looks like our pastor will be getting another note card!

PLAYIN' AROUND

Since I had the hexagon die out, I thought I'd play with it awhile; and this is what I came up with!

The striped dsp is attached to the back of the card front, which will strengthen the tiny cross pieces between the hexagons.  If you look closely, you'll see that the die cuts two sizes of hexagons; so I cut another strip of darker blue for the three hexagons which are popped up with SU dimensionals.  The flowers were added with glue dots.

This card looks more "sunny" in real life, thanks to the gems and glitter of the flowers.  Since the inside is blank, it would make a nice note card.

MASCULINE CARDS FOR PASTOR

The upper left and lower right cards were done with the leaf die from Simon Says Stamp.  First I cut out the leaves, then placed the cut portion back in the spaces.  With designer paper behind them, the leaves stand out nicely.

For the thank you note, I used one of the designs from a pad of dsp that I got at Hobby Lobby.  Brown and tan plaid automatically makes it masculine IMHO.

Last, for the bottom left card  I used a Martha Stewart punch for both the white card front and the blue dsp beneath it.  The image next to the Bible verse is the blueberry branch from Le Jardin Botanique (SU).  I used a blue Gelly Roll pen for the berries to give them a little sparkle.

These cards a fun to make because the insides are blank for Pastor's personal notes, and the fronts are clean and simple..

HERO ARTS CHALLENGE

When I saw this challenge on the Hero Arts blog, I ran for my favorite Hero Arts set, Antique Engravings.  This is probably my most often go-to stamp when I need a quick card.

The sentiment is from another Hero Arts set, Essential Messages.  Together, they balance each other nicely.

The Sizzix ef added some texture to this card.  I divided it just to add some interest without detracting from the image and sentiment.  The purple gems match the purple edges of the butterfly, which was colored with SU markers.  For some sparkle, I mounted the butterfly on a round scalloped piece of glitter paper and added yellow Stickles to the two large circles on the wings.

Details of the challenge can be found HERE.

CLEAN AND SIMPLE CHALLENGE

Now that it's summer (almost) and my teaching responsibilities have ended, I can do some challenges.  This one allowed me to use some leftover pieces on my table and make another pastor card while I'm at it.

Using the hexagon die from My Favorite Things, I stamped the Bible verse on the lightest one for the center and taped it to a scrap piece of white cs.  After adding the other hexagons around it, I cut along the edges and mounted the hexagons to the card front with SU dimensionals (also hexagon shaped!)  I added three tiny silver metallic "pearls" for a finishing touch.

The challenge was "addicted to CAS" at the Addicted to Stamps and More (ATSM) blog HERE.

STORAGE TIP

To avoid having the stamp fall off the acrylic block (a disaster!) I've adopted my way of storing and using my SU rubber stamps:

Instead of putting the image on the back of the stamp, I stick it to the right side of the container.  This way, the stamp stays on the block.  The other advantage is that if a stamp is missing from the set, I know exactly which one.  All I have to do then is find it (HA!)

SIMPLE SATURDAY #29

TIP:  If at first you don't succeed, stamp, stamp and stamp again!  The greeting for this card came out crooked, so I stamped 4 more.  Actually, I like this better...

Just finished making this card for a dear friend using a leftover floral wreath.  (It pays to clean my working space!)  After gluing it to the card base, I added the flowers, pearls and loops of jute.  Last, I stamped the greeting and rounded the bottom right corner.

Inside, instead of stamping a sentiment, I wrote a personal note.  It will be going out in today's mail.

FIRST CHRISTMAS CARD FOR 2013

I saw this stamp at the Impression Obsession booth in April and thought it would make a nice simple Christmas card. 
The church is done with colored pencils, and the sky is  sponged with blue ink.  The image is mounted on a piece of blue cs and popped up on the white card base with SU dimensionals.  For the finishing touch, I used a Spica pen for the spire cross and some Stickles for the snow.

Although I like the way it turned out, I think it's sad that this church looks so deserted.  Wouldn't it look more alive if the steps had been cleared of snow?  Maybe everyone comes in the back door...like the country church down the hill from here...

I do hope lots of people come to adore Him, not only at Christmas, but at every opportunity!

ONE MORE BUTTERFLY

This one turned out a little more modernistic than the previous card posted.  To be honest, the banner across the bottom was necessary to cover up a miss.  Not really a mistake, just that I didn't like the way it looked.  Now I'm happy with it!

Something Old, Something New

Looking through my Cuttlebug drawer of dies and embossing folders, I came across this 2-piece set of butterfly dies that I'd forgotten about.  I thought it would look good against this white on white cs from a pad I bought at Hobby Lobby last week (at 50% off!)
The papers in this pad are all pearlized, and I chose this pattern for the movement it suggests.

The card base is a deep burgundy color which goes well with the dsp underneath the butterfly wings.  To curve the wings a little, I curled them around my finger after attaching them to the dsp beneath with a narrow strip of foam tape.

The finishing touches include off-white pearls for the body and head, tiny black gems for the "trail" and a rounded corner on the lower right.