VELLUM FLOWERS

Online Card Classes this week was all about using vellum and acetate.  One of the things I learned was to use vellum as a way to soften bright dsp.  These little flowers are layered over flowers die cut from scraps of the dsp, more to provide contrast than softening in this case.  However, before taking this class I would never have thought of using the vellum as I did here.

The dsp, triangle and green leaves are from Lil Inker, and the flowers are from the SU Botanical Blooms dies.

PASTOR CARD

What a wonderful Psalm of encouragement!  When the Lord is on our side, we have the best help of all.

Here's an example:

The other night as we traveled home on Rte. 80 the tire pressure light went on just before the exit.  Since I was already in the right-hand lane (I have poor night vision) I was able to exit almost immediately.  By the time we got to the end of the exit ramp, the tire was flatter than a pancake!  I was able to pull well off the road a few feet ahead, thankfully.  As we waited for AAA to arrive and mount our spare, I could only think of how much worse it might have been!  The Lord was truly gracious in getting us safely home.

ROSE JUST FOR YOU

This is one of the cards I made with the borrowed set and the repurposed envelope liner featured in a previous post.

After embossing the image with clear ep, I fussy cut around the blooms to fit the corner.  It was then layered over the dsp and watermelon wonder cs.  I added green embroidery floss and embellished with a sequin and some pink (gasp!) gems.

SPRING TULIPS

This little stamp set from My Favorite Things goes a long way, and worked perfectly with this dsp.

After stamping and watercoloring the tulips on a large scrap of white cs, I stamped the greeting and mounted the panel on black.  Then I attached the tulip dsp from SU! to a card base of watermelon wonder and added the stamped panel with dimensionals.

I've used this stamp set several times, and really like how it turns out so well every time.

SKETCH CHALLENGE--PP292

Although the Paper Players sketch shows a circle in place of the triangle I used, I just couldn't resist using the new triangle dies from Lil Inkers again.

After cutting down a scrap of ldsp from a previous card, I chose the other colors and triangle pattern from that piece.  To brighten the card up a bit, I used some metallic silver embroidery thread and some Wink of Stella on the gray triangles.

This was a fun sketch to use!

FOR THE GRADUATE

Our assignment today at Online Card Class was to make a card using vellum.  Since I also needed a graduation card, this is what I came up with.  The trick with using vellum is in hiding the adhesives used.

First I glued the dsp to the card front.  Then I white embossed the saying on the vellum.  Next, I used the triangle dies I just got in the mail the other day from Lil Inker, choosing cardstock colors used in the designer paper.  No subtle colors here!

After adhering the triangles and sequins to the vellum, I turned it over and placed mini glue dots behind them.  Then I turned it over and pressed it onto the card.

For a final touch, I added some tiny red gems that matched the red in the dsp.

CALENDAR REDO--MARCH

This card was inspired by the dsp and gold medallion from the 2016 Paper Pumpkin calendar set.  Combined with the Botanical Blooms dies, this card was created.

For additional contrast, I  used an envelope liner that was in a card I received recently.  After removing it carefully from the inside of the envelope, I cut it down to use on two different cards.  For this one, there was only a narrow strip left, so I used an edge punch, then cut it down for the strip on each side.

Not all of my scraps come from the Scrap Drawer!

EMBOSSED POPPIES

Ever since I saw fields of wild poppies growing in Tuscany, I've loved stamping and coloring them.  Their bright red petals and black centers make them seem so dramatic.

These poppies were first dry embossed, then colored with chalks.  After mounting the white panel on black cs, I used dimensionals to attach them to a watermelon wonder cardbase.  For embellishment I added the black twine and black gems.

Poppies always bring back fond memories of our trip to Tuscany many years ago.

FROM THE SCRAP DRAWER

This card started out with two strips of dsp and no idea of how to use them.  After gathering some additional scraps in the same color family, I mounted the two strips side by side as shown.

Using my SU! bird punch for the leaves and stem. I used them to "connect" the two dsp strips.  Using the flower punch, I lined up the dsp so that the flower image would be in the center.  I curled the petals back and mounted it to the card front with a dimensional.  The butterfly was punched from a scrap of silver paper and mounted with a glue dot.

To fill in the space below the left strip I added a small greeting.   Next, I added a pearl in the center of the flower and two smaller ones on the butterfly.

For the final touch, I tore the right side of the cardfront and sponged it with warm gray ink.  I love how this card just evolved from a few scraps!

PASTOR CARD

This card started out with stamping the bird image, cutting it out and coloring the bird.  I set that aside and then proceeded to "build" a background for the Bible quote.

After die cutting the light blue piece with a rectangular stitched die, I cut it again with a smaller die to create a frame.  Then I glued it over the  darker blue and added the verse at the top and mounted the bird with dimensionals.

For a final touch, I tied a silver cord around the bottom right of the frame and made a knot.

QUICK PASTOR CARD

All I had to do for this one was adhere the strip of scalloped cs to the bottom of a piece of dsp from my stash.  The bird design was already printed on the paper which I cut so that it would be on the lower right corner. 

Once the background was glued down to the card front, all I had to do was stamp the word "Blessings" on a scrap of white cs, punch it out and glue it to the scallop punched scrap.  After mounting it on on the card with dimensionals, the card was ready to use.

FLOWERY ENCOURAGEMENT CARD

This is a sunny card to send to anyone going through a difficult time.  The verse helps to remind us that we are not alone during our struggles here in this life.

SIMPLE PASTOR CARD

This card features a silver banner, although it looks like a print here.  The dsp I used was light enough to stamp the verse over it.

The strip across the bottom of the banner is a piece of scrap from my scrap bin.  After gluing it down, I popped the banner up with dimensionals.

Another easy card that will be put to good use!

BIRTHDAY LATCH CARD

This is always a fun card to make and to send!  It looks difficult to make (to the non-cardmaker) but really is quite simple.

First I chose some coordinating dsp for the different sections and cut them to size.  After adhering them in place, I stamped the saying and the greeting and attached them to the front pieces as shown.  The latch piece was taped down to the inside of the card before the dsp was glued over it.

To position the white piece on the inside, I first used temporary tape to hold it in place on the back of the front rectangle.  Then I added tape to the back and pressed it down onto the inside of the card so that it would be hidden from the front of the card.  Once secured to the inside, I separated it from the front piece and rubbed off  the temporary adhesive.

For a better idea of just how this was all done, check out one of the many videos on YouTube

Here's a peek at the card as it is opened.

MARCH 2016 PAPER PUMPKIN ALTERNATE

This card was so easy to make.  I didn't time it, but I'm sure it was under 10 minutes because everything is pre-cut and/or folded in the SU! Paper Pumpkin kits.

First I folded the envelope together for mailing.  Next, I used the card base provided for the card.  Instead of using it for a gift card, I stamped the flowers across the middle using the stamp set and ink spot included.

Next, I stamped the sentiment on the floral square, stapled the two fish tales to the corner and mounted it over the floral square.  After adding the sequins and bakers twine bow, it was ready to mail.  In fact, it already went out as a birthday card!

One-of-a-kind Hexagon Card

This card is for my son's MIL who shares the same birthday as our eldest grandson.  Since I'll be hand delivering it tomorrow, I was able to add the center flower knowing that it wouldn't be smushed in the mail.

This didn't take long to do.  I just chose 3 designs from the Bohemian dsp pack and punched out the hexagons.  After gluing them down on a piece of Blackberry Bliss cs, I mounted the panel on the cardfront and stamped the greeting below.

Done!

RUBBERNECKER STAMP SET

Last Saturday was the Allentown Stamp Show where I found this fun 3-step stamp set.  It took a little getting used to since it is not as precise an image like I would ordinarily use.

First I stamped the leaves in Distress ink, then the stems in a darker green, spritzing with water each time before stamping on the watercolor paper.  Then I stamped the flowers.  To get the darker colors on the blooms, I used Distress markers, stroking upward from the base of each blossom.  I think the trick is to not overdo it.

It was interesting to stamp a little out of my comfort zone.  I didn't like the look at first; but after adding the greetings and embellishments, and also the mats, I'm happy with it.

As for the stamp show itself, I found it disappointing.  For some unknown reason, they grouped all the booths in just a portion of the large room.  Had they spread the booths out into the unused space, it would have been a lot less crowded.  However, I probably spent a lot less!