THE LAST THING YOU WANT...

...IS TO HAVE YOUR CARD COME APART AFTER YOU SEND IT!

You might recognize this shadow box card from my April 19th post which had the Forest Friends image inside.  When I picked it up off my table the other day, the inside fell out!  It seems the cheaper snail adhesive I was using does not hold very well.  Now I'm wondering how many of the cards I sent out with that tape also fell apart.  I still plan to use it up, but only on light weight paper and spots where the main points (such as corners) are held down with Scotch double stick tape.  Just thought you might like to know...  Meanwhile, I like this inside better and will use the other image on a standard card later.

ANNIVERSARY CARD

Sorry this is out of focus, but you get the idea (I hope!)  This is the card I made for my husband on our 46th anniversary yesterday.  I picked up this die set at the stamp show last month, and I love how it came out IRL.

First I used the die on dark green cs for the stem and the leaf die on a lighter green.  Next I cut the piece that is actually the base hidden beneath the individual blossoms.  The die for the blossoms cuts 4 large and 4 small blossoms at a time, both of which were used here.  I used three shades of purple and a mixture of both sizes.

To glue the blossoms onto the base, I used Tom Bow Mono glue.  Using tweezers, I dipped the bottom center of each blossom into a little dollop of glue on a piece of plastic, bent the petals forward, and put each in place.  Once I was happy with the coverage of blossoms on the base, I added white Liquid Pearls in the center of those on top and let everything dry.
Although this sounds tedious, it was really quite simple to do.

For the LOVE letters (no pun intended) I used alphabet dies.
Notice there's no stamping involved here.  (The Hydrangea die set is from Impression Obsession HERE.)

SAME CARD 3 WAYS

 What a difference one narrow piece of dsp can make on a card!  Here is the same card shown with three changes of dsp across the bottom, giving each card a different look.  Which do you like best?






For the Mothers Class where we made this card, the lesson for this final week was the "kissing" technique.  For the large flower, we inked up the stamp in purple chalk ink and "kissed off" on a clean Filigree background stamp.  This removes some of the purple ink from the flower stamp, leaving the filigree design in its place.  The leaves were inked in green chalk ink and kissed off on a plaid background stamp the same way.
 

 For the little yellow flowers, we "stamped on" using yellow chalk ink on the flower stamp and red ink on the plaid stamp.  By "kissing" them together, the plaid design was added to the stamp.

Click on one of the photos for a closer look at the flowers and leaves.

As a final lesson for this year's classes, I showed them how to make envelopes using an 8 1/2" square of plain white typing paper.



(There are lots of videos for these techniques on YouTube.  Just be sure to use the word "stamp" when searching for the kissing technique; otherwise, I don't know what might come up!)



(See previous post for making the envelope.)

MAKING AN ENVELOPE "FREE HAND"

1.  Place your card in the center of an 8 1/2" square piece of typing paper so that the points on the side meet when folded toward the center, but not too tightly against the card.

 

2.  Open the sides and fold the bottom flap up so that the point lines up visually with the point of the flap above.  It should come almost to the edge of an A2 card, as shown. 

3.  Refold the bottom and sides so that the side flaps are under the bottom flap.  Fold over the point so make it neater.  (The ruler is just there to hold it closed for the photo.)

4.  Fold the top flap down.  Then open all the flaps and remove the card.

5.  Cut out all 4 of the small triangles and refold, using glue stick or snail on the sides of the bottom flap.  Now it is ready for mailing.  Just add glue or snail to the sides of the top flap to seal.  (Refer to previous photo.)

I hope this helps!

FROM THE SCRAP DRAWER

These flowers are from one of my favorite sets,  "Flowers" from Inkadinkado.  All I did was emboss them in white over sections of the dsp shown and cut them out.  I also cut out two leaves from the green spots and attached them underneath.  Finally, I punched the ferns out of a scrap piece of dark green cardstock.

The white panel, which looks like it matches the stamped flowers perfectly, is from some cardstock I embossed a few weeks ago at a friend's house.  The card base itself is from a card I made but didn't really like; so I took it apart and reused it here.

After adding some pearls and gems, the card was done!

FATHERS DAY CARD

Here's one of the cards we'll be doing in Mothers Class this week.  I've included some sequins for a modern masculine touch!

Using the leftover squares from last week's window die, I glued diecut letters from the same cs used beneath the Very Vanilla layer.  After taping down four strands of color-coordinated string, I attached the top layer with SU dimensionals.  Then I used two more dimensionals for the square and stamped "awesome" above the strings.

At almost 95, my Dad really IS awesome.  He still lives independently in his own apartment and drives his own car.  We are truly blessed to still have him with us!


TIP:  For tearing papers so that they are somewhat parallel, rip them together, one on top of the other.  Then adjust the length by cutting the top layer across the top edge.  Works every time!

SIMPLE SATURDAY #28

Spring View from the Window

Here's one of the cards we did yesterday in Mothers Class.  The window die is from Our Daily Bread Designs, but without the additional arch on top.

First we colored the pre-stamped scene with markers and attached it to the back of the window frame with TomBow Mono Glue.  Next, we added the "wallpaper" to the bottom third of the card front and attached the "chair rail" above it.  The window was then popped up with SU dimensionals.

There are some beautiful samples on the ODBD blog.  This one was easy to do in class, and there's also some room for a greeting below the window.  There's also room for a cat on the window sill!

I'VE BEEN PUBLISHED! (Again...)

I don't even remember sending this in, but I guess I did 'cause here it is in this summer's issue of  "Just Cards!/Christmas!" page 112.

My free issue came in the mail yesterday, and what a surprise!  Sometimes not having a memory can really be fun ;)

Once in a Lifetime Card

I intensely dislike "the dreaded pink," so I almost never use it in my cards--this IS a rarity!

Since the background paper is sooooo beautiful, I just HAD to use it for a May card.  You can't see it here, but the paper has metallic gold highlights, which gives the card some glimmer.  Of course, I also HAD to match the color of the tulips on the dsp, so out came my colored pencils.

First, I used Versafine Smokey Gray ink for the tulip blossom and stem, which gives them a softer  look.  After coloring the stem with two greens,  I began to color the tulip blossom.  Starting with the lightest color, I blended in a light peach and  two shades of the dreaded pink, working with the ones that best matched the dsp colors.  Once I was satisfied with the tulip, I stamped the greeting over the stem and cut it out with a label die.  I then chose a green scrap that best matched the shade of the leaves in the dsp and cut it out with a larger label die, a little more ornate than the white one. Before mounting the image to the card with dimensionals, I went over the tulip stamens with a black marker.

It truly is an adventure to work with the dreaded pink, although I think this color is appropriate for blossoms.  What is YOUR least favorite color?

TIP:  When working with colors you dislike, sunglasses really help!

MY STAMPIN' BUDDY

Mothers Class Butterfly!

We'll be doing a variation of this card today in Mothers Class.  I found a pack of cards and envies that I bought half price ages ago.  The cards are slightly smaller and fold on the left side, so I eliminated the black embroidery floss and rounded just the upper right corner.

To start, I used some scraps from the scrap drawer for the background dsp.  Next, I stamped the leaves with a light green ink on white and used the matching die to cut it out.  After mounting it on the card front with ds tape, I stamped the Hero Arts butterfly on white cs and colored it with colored pencils.  The two large dots on the top were filled in with yellow Stickles after I attached it to the card with a slim piece of mounting foam tape.

To finish, I added the greeting and black embroidery floss then rounded the corners.  Voila!

THREE OF A KIND

... FOUR, ACTUALLY!

Our new pastor needs some note cards, so I pulled out my SU "Country Pleasures" set and stamped the church scene four times--one for each season.  Since there is a snow man and bare trees, I had to get creative; but that's what stamping is all about, right?

For Spring, I added "leaves" by dabbing light green and yellow markers around the branches.  To cover the snowman on the lower left corner, I stamped, cut and mounted 2 leaves from another SU set, "Fabulous Florets."

The winter card was the easiest, since the trees remain bare and the snowman belongs in the scene.  All I added was the background and a tiny snowflake.

Summer was fairly easy also with two shades of green for the leaves and grass, with the "blessings" oval mounted over the snowman.  The background came from my scrap drawer, as did all the others.

Finally, the autumn card (my fave) was done with yellow, brown and orange markers for the leaves.  I also dabbed some "leaves" under the tree.  The image is mounted on a brown metallic scrap which was all the embellishment needed.  The "blessings" stamp was used on the inside left for this one, and I hope they will all bless someone as they are used!

(Don't forget to click on the photo for a larger view.)

YOUR OPINION IS NEEDED!

 This is a shadow box card I came up with for next week's Mothers Class.  At first, I was satisfied with it; but then I decided to add the strips of white on the sides.  Having done that, now I think the banner on the bottom is a little too heavy for the delicate image.

What do you think of:
a.  the size of the banner
b.  the plain green or the white strips on the sides

If you leave a comment with your answers,
I will send you something from my most recent
 cleanout of the Tower as a thankyou!

BLACKBOARD TECHNIQUE

I finally got the chance to try this technique for myself!

First, I used a label die to cut  black cs, then I stamped the image and sentiment with white pigment ink.  Then I embossed it with white ep and dabbed some white ink on the black with a sponge.

Next, I ran the front of the card through the Cuttlebug, rounded the bottom corners and added the strip of black and white Washi tape (something else I've been wanting to try.)

I had the fern previously stamped with Versamark on light green cs laying on my table, so I used it here (already die cut.)  After adding the white Hero Arts flower and some gems, I'm finally happy with the way it looks.

Trying new products and techniques is always fun!

Masculine Birthday Card

This is one of those rare cards that comes together beautifully!  Notice how the cupcake icing and the banners are essentially the same shape.  The black scallops echo the same design.

For the inside, I used the same cupcake and scalloped edging.  I then stamped and cut out the birthday hat and smaller cupcake, mounting them with dimensionals.

This was a fun card to make!

PEG STAMP BORDER

Time to get out some peg stamps and pastel inks!

This quote from Isaiah promises all the help we need when we need it.  What better way to highlight it than with Spring colors!  The border was done with several peg stamps in greens and yellows.  The yellow embroidery floss provides the finishing touch.

All-Purpose Card

This is a simple card that could be used for any occasion.

In order to keep from cutting off the leaf tips when using the oval die, I first cut around the ends of the leaves with a craft knife.  Then I slipped the die underneath to make the oval cut.

The leaves are colored with a green marker.  The shading is done by going over some of the lines again after the first coat dries and sinks into the paper a bit.  Green bakers twine provides the only embellishment needed.

The striped dsp was cut out from a large scrap--just right for this card!

Another Butterfly!

Using the same die as the previous card, I just cut the wings in half to make a side view and mounted it over the chevrons with dimensionals.

The chevrons are a fun way to use up some scraps.  I chose four coordinating paterns, cut them at an angle and mounted them with snail.  The gem flowers are stickers from my stash.

The birthday greeting fit nicely in the open space.  To finish, I mounted the gray panel over a white card with dimensionals.

Butterfly Dies Are Back!

Now that it's Spring, even though the weather is still wintry, it's time to get out our colorful butterfly stamps and dies again!

For this card, I stamped the background on pool cs with Versamark.  Then I added the butterfly and the banner.

Easy card to make and send!

This Year's Easter Card

Here's the card I sent out this year.  The embossing folder (a gift from Evelyn!) made it easy to make multiple cards.

After running the Very Vanilla cs through the Cuttlebug folder, I rounded the corners and mounted it to the white card base with dimensionals.  For the dogwood blossom, I used grey ink on vellum, colored the center on the back with a Barely Banana marker and cut it out by hand.  I then mounted it on the cross with a glue dot.

For embellishment, I kept it simple with just a touch of Stickles in the flower center.  Most of the blossoms had green and gold centers, and some had purple Stickles.  Inside it said "He is risen,"  which I also stamped on the envelope.

Die Cut Birthday

This is the first card made using the Paper Trey Ink Birthday die and coordinating stamp set.

Starting with a 6x6 pad of designer sheets from My Mind's Eye, I chose the floral to use with a SU Mixed Bunch stamp and punch.  The red and yellow polka dot papers worked beautifully with this pattern, and the red and white twine finished the card off nicely.

The inside says, "May all your stamp dreams come true."  That's a good wish for any stamper!

Foxy Card

This fox stamp arrived the other day in my Paper Trey Ink order, and it lends itself very well to coloring with pencils.  I used a blend of warm browns and a brownish red to get a realistic look, just like the foxes we see around here from time to time.

I chose the subtle dsp from a pad of My Mind's Eye patterns to complement the reds in the fox and the embroidery floss.  The loops in the bow also reflect the dsp design.

There's just enough room inside to write a brief note at the top and bottom.

SIMPLE SATURDAY #27

Violets Card

This is one of the cards we made at Mothers Class on Wednesday.  Using an Our Daily Bread Designs stamp, we stamped it twice on white cs, colored it in with markers, cut out just the blossoms on the second image, and mounted them with dimensionals.  The flower pot was cut free hand out of a SU dsp from my stash.

The card base is Cream Felt from the Paper Cut and has a slight texture to it similar to watercolor paper.  The purple dsp is from a sheet of SU 12 x 12 paper.

After attaching the vase to the card with dimensionals, we mounted the flowers over it.  Then the greeting was stamped and the twine added on top.  For a final embellishment, we added yellow Stickles to the flower centers.  Easy and elegant top fold card!

SPECIAL MOTHERS CLASS

Instead of meeting at the church this week, we held a special morning/lunch session at Jackie's house.  From left to right are:  Jackie (our hostess), Nicole, Kim, Bambi and me.  (absent from the photo are Joan and Evelyn.)  We are each holding a stamp set that we chose from the package shown on the table.  One of my friends who moved down South sent me that box filled with stamps she was giving away.  What a joy to have received such a gift!  As you can tell by the smiles, the joy was felt by all.

From joy to concentration, the next photo shows Jackie, Kim and Bambi making their thank-you notes.  Jackie's husband made pork barbecue for lunch--YUM!  After lunch we made a few more cards, and I taught a new technique using a label Nestabilities die (see previous post.)

We had lots of laughter along with the creativity of trying out new stamps.  Thanks again, Bev!

LABEL DIE CLOSURE

When I saw this technique, I knew I had to take it to Mothers Class for all of us to try.  (I think it was on Pinterest.)

To start, I took the label die and ran it through the Cuttlebug with the C plate on top, but moved down a bit so that it wouldn't just cut out the label.  Instead, it enabled me to use it as a "hinge" on the card front.  Next, I cut off  enough of the right side of the front so that it would fit neatly under the tab.

After that, it was just a matter of decorating and embellishing to complete the card.  It's amazing how different each card was when we were done!

I plan to add more to the right side and the inside later.  I hope you give this one a try--it was fun!

SUNFLOWER THANK-YOU

Nothing personalizes a card like your own handwriting.  This is from a retired SU set, Summer Sunflower.

After inking the flower in yellow, I added orange ink along the edges, stamped it on white cs and cut it out.  Since this is a two-step stamping set, I used brown ink for the center and added Cinnamon Stickles over it.  While it dried, I stamped the stem and leaves, cut out the image and mounted it on the plain dsp.  Using an old pair of corner scissors, I trimmed the corners on the dsp and card base and mounted the plaid with ds tape.

After attaching the sunflower with foam tape, I hand-wrote "thanks" on the front and added my thank-you note inside.

I didn't have access to Split Coast Stampers at the time I made this, but checked it out later and found tons of ideas for this set!

TIP:  Whenever you need ideas on how to use a stamp or set, Split Coast Stampers is a wonderful resource.  Check it out HERE!

Ready for Spring

With winter almost over, it's time to start stamping Spring florals!

Using two SU sets, I first stamped and colored the fern on a piece of white cs, added the purple floral dsp on the edge and ran it through my Cuttlebug leaving out the dsp.  Then I ran the card front through with a wood stripe design, but it didn't add anything to the card once the top piece was on.  So I ran it through again with the diamond design--much better.

Here's a tip:  If you don't like the way something looks once embossed, you CAN run it through again with something different!

QUESTION:  Has anyone had a problem with creating a watercolor background with Distress inks and water on a craft sheet?  Every time I've tried, it comes out warped and not very appealing color-wise.  None of the videos I've seen have had a problem like this.  I used this technique for the base of the flower here.  I planned to use it as a panel for another card, but it was so warped I could only punch out the flower and use it underneath the vellum overlay.

MIXED BUNCH AND PUNCH

Here's a quick card using the Mixed Bunch SU set and the coordinating punch.

Starting with plain white printer paper scraps, I punched out 4 blossoms.  For the top one, I stamped first and then punched on the same paper.  Next, taking one at a time, I crinkled each one up into a wad, opened it up and sponged over all the creases with red ink.  Then I stacked them up using some snail in the centers to keep them together while I punched a hole in the center.

For the flower center, I stamped on a scrap piece of white cs with the same red ink.  Using a scrap of yellow cs, I punched out the largest of the Boho Blossom punch pieces and assembled the flower as shown.  For the center, I used a brad; but you could use anything decorative.  The leaves are another piece of scrap green cs punched out with the same punch as the flower and cut apart.  The stem is just a straight piece of the same green scrap.

Inside I used "May all your stamp dreams come true" to send to a Silver Stamper friend.

Did you notice how many times I used the word "scrap?"

Baby Card

When my friend Joyce asked me to make a card for a baby shower she's attending, I headed straight to my scrap drawer!  Since pink is my least favorite color (we call it "the dreaded pink" around here) there wasn't a whole lot of it in the Tower.

Starting with a pre-scored card from a K & Company pad, I chose one with a raspberry shade and matched colors from other scraps of dsp.  (Since they're scraps from previous projects, I can't tell you where they came from:(   Next, I headed to YouTube for some ideas and, thanks to Kristina Werner, I came up with this CASE of her card.

The largest piece of scrap with the branches and flowers set the stage for the design.  I wrote "welcome" in my own handwriting and set it aside to dry.  Next, I used my circle punch to create the scallops on top.  Using a striped paper helped line everything up evenly.  Once the circles were attached with snail, I laid the large piece over it with dimensionals, covering half of the circles and, again, lining it up with the stripes below.  To give it a more feminine flair, I used my Martha Stewart edger punch, which also shows the light green print inside.

For the nest, I used the SU set "Take Care" and hand cut an egg from one of the leftover scraps.  Then I die cut the letters from a scrap of  raspberry-colored textured paper and glued them on with TomBow glue.  After adding the pink gem and pearls in the upper left-hand corner, the card was done!

REVERSE EMBOSSING

Not sure if that's the term for this technique...

Using Hero Arts Poppy Background, I first inked it up with Versamark and embossed the square in white.  This left the poppies blank so they could be colored.

Although I used red markers as the media for watercoloring, the poppies look pink here.  After coloring them, I added some black and yellow in the centers of the two main blossoms.  Last, I watercolored the stems.

To mount the image, I first ran it through the Xyron machine so that I could be sure it would lay flat.  I mounted it on black cs, trimmed the edges to make it fit the card front and attached it to the card with SU dimensionals.  I made it a sympathy card to have on hand, adding the pink gems for a final touch.

RETIREMENT CARD

 I was recently asked to make a card for a friend's father-in-law.  I came up with this idea of a detachable checklist that could be posted later on the fridge as a reminder to keep busy!

First, I printed out a check list, cut it down and taped it to navy cs.  It was then attached to the card with a phillips-head screw brad.  Since it would swivel, I added a sentiment to be "discovered" underneath.  Silver cording was tied on the side.

For the inside, I used a Simon Says Stamp die for the "you" and a phrase from the coordinating stamp set.  The wavy congratulations is from a wooden Hero Arts stamp set.

Also, for this post I used a piece of white foam board for the photo.  Since it stands on its own, it works perfectly!

FOUR AND TWENTY BLACKBIRDS +

 

A few minutes earlier, there were hundreds more blackbirds, but I couldn't get to my camera fast enough.  At least here, you get the idea of what we got to see at the bird feeder, on the ground, in the birdbath (filled with sunflower seeds) and in the trees.   (No sound--the window was closed.)     My cats were not impressed... 

FRESH, CLEAN SNOW!

We woke up this morning to a blanket of new snow, just enough to look pretty without interfering with our ability to get up and down our driveway!

Feminine Valentine for a Sweet Granddaughter

Inchies are back!  These were started with a 1" square punch and a heart punch.  Scraps of red, purple and pink were attached to the back, then the squares were mounted on a larger piece of white cs with dimensionals.

After adding bakers twine and the greeting, the white panel was done--super easy to do! I attached it to the  pink card base with double-stick tape and stamped the greeting below.

The heart border punch provides the perfect Valentine touch!

FROM MY FILE--Peace Roses

This was a pre-stamped image I found in my file today from several years back when I stamped a whole page of them.  Although you can't tell here, I colored the main rose from another image and popped it up on this bouquet.

Since I love Peace roses, I tried to capture the color here; but it came out a bit too bold for that particular variety.  I started with a yellow marker and added pink on the edges of the petals.  Before mounting on the green cs with dimensionals, I distressed the edges of the white panel.  Then I added a generous amount of yellow Stickles to give it some sparkle.


TIP:  A fun way to add images to your collection is to get together with other stampers who each bring a variety of their newest stamps.  Using white cardstock and black ink, go to town stamping pages of images that you can use later.  Not only do you save money that way, but you also get a chance to use that one stamp you like out of a whole set!  Just be sure to allow enough space around each image for possible future die cutting.

BEE HAPPY

No more snowflakes for me--I'm heading straight for Spring with all my new and old floral stamps!

This one I inked up with Fired Brick and Forest Moss Distress Ink pads and stamped it on watercolor paper.  I then took the pads and smeared some ink on an acrylic block to use as a pallet for my aqua painter.  After coloring in the leaves and flowers, I used a black marker for the centers.

To highlight the poppy seeds, I used tiny black gems from a letter set and some gold glitter for the centers.  The greeting and the gold twine finished the look I wanted.  Leaving long "tails" on the bow coordinates beautifully with the wavy die cut frame, which is mounted with dimensionals.

For a closer look at the flower centers, click on the image.


TIP:  The easiest way to cut a double frame is to put both pieces of cs down on the plate, cut out the smaller opening on both and remove the bottom cs piece.  Carefully line up the larger die around the opening in the top piece and run it through again.   Perfect every time!  The leftover centers and narrow frame can then be used for other cards.

SNOWSTORM STAMPING

It may be snowing outside, but I'm thinking Spring!

This lily was stamped and filed in my pre-stamped folder ages ago, so I decided to finally use it on a card using my new Distress Ink Markers and an aqua painter.  After watercoloring the flower and adding black Stickles to the stamens, I set it aside to dry and cut the mats.  I found another image in the file, so I cut out the painted blossom and mounted it over the second one with dimensionals.

Next, I tied embroidery floss around the layers and mounted it to the card of white Bazzill cs with double-stick tape.  Then I made the label, added a light green gem and attached it with a tiny piece of dimensional tape.  Done!

For beginners, all you need is a flower stamp, some black ink and some markers to make a nice Spring card.

TIP:  In place of ribbon, I use embroidery floss on most of my cards.  It's less bulky for mailing, and less expensive.  With such a variety available, you can easily match the colors to your cardstocks and inks.

PS:  We got less than 6" of snow last night and have already been plowed out--YAY!