GREENHOUSE SOCIETY CHRYSANTHEMUMS

Although this Greenhouse Society stamp for March is listed as Chrysanthemum, it looks more like a dandelion to me.  Of course, that's just a guess since we have NO dandelions in our yard!

This was stamped in light green and colored in with colored pencils, then mounted behind the green panel.  For texture, I ran the card front through the CB in a floral embossing folder and mounted the finished panel over it.

Very easy card!  Next time I do this, though, I will use dimensionals between the panel and the image to give it more depth.

SYMPATHY CARD

Unfortunately, this is a card we all need to keep on hand.  This one is done with sponging over a simple stamp and sentiment.

After stamping the image, I stamped just the bird portion on a scrap of blue cs and added it over that part with a glue dot.  Then I trimmed down the white panel, added the jute and rounded the corners.  The panel is attached with dimensionals.

All that is left is to write a few words of comfort on the inside.

I also made another one with a birthday sentiment inside and out.  This is so easy to make, it's a good beginner basics card also.

SIMPLE SATURDAY

ANOTHER PASTOR CARD

Thanks to the extreme cold this week, I've been on a roll for making pastor cards!

This one took all of 5 or 6 minutes to layer.  First I stamped the verse on a scrap of vanilla cs and set it aside.  Next, I cut the two layers of dsp, the woodgrain being the reverse side of the other.  Then I attached some coiled jute to the paper with plain ol' Scotch tape which is covered by the verse mounted with SU dimensionals.

After adding some pearls, the card was done!

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.

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!

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?"

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!

FIRST ATTEMPT AT COLORED PENCILS!

 It's probably hard to tell by this picture, but it's been fun learning a new medium.  The colored pencils enable me to do some grown-up coloring!  Since I never did well in arts and crafts classes during my school years, I actually have to laugh!

The brand of pencils I used is "Fantasia" which I purchased on Amazon at half the cost of a set of Prismacolor pencils.  The only comparison I have is with the Crayola pencils I have in the tower, and these are much better indeed. YouTube is indispensable for learning new things, especially artist techniques like this.

The card I made looks a bit washed out here (but not IRL.)  I started with Very Vanilla cardstock for the base and stamped the poinsettia with Versamark as a background.  The red banner was embossed with a Cuttlebug leafy folder.  The flower was stamped twice on drawing paper, colored in, cut and layered.  Yellow glitter was added for the center.

What medium have you always wanted to try?  I took a seniors class in watercoloring two years ago, found out I didn't like working with it, and went on to other things.  I didn't look at that as a failure, but rather as an opportunity to try something new.  You're never too old to learn new things, so give it a try!

 Like I used to say to my kids when they balked at new foods, "What if you never tried ice cream?"

Autumn Hello

Here's a card that couldn't be easier and uses very few supplies.

First, I used this embossing folder on white cs and added some color with chalks--just the pumpkins and one side of the tree trunk.  I used a gray marker for the bush on the left side, but you could also use orange for berries instead.  After rounding the corners, I sponged the edges with Wild Honey Distress Ink.

The "hello" stamp is from a Simon Says Stamp set of greetings in the handwriting of Kristina Werner.  I added the dashes below to bring it closer to the top of the fence.

Finally, I mounted the panel of the kraft card with dimensionals.

BEGINNER BASICS--Christmas Card

 Here's a card made with one sheet of white cs,  a fancy fold, and a minimum of other supplies.

First, I stamped the poinsettia in India Ink Black on a scrap of white cs, colored with two markers and cut in a square.  After running the edges across the inkpad, I added yellow Stickles and set it aside to dry.

Next, I folded the card as shown and added the background paper from 2 sheets in a 4.5" x 6.5" pad of Christmas prints.

For the inside, I chose a stamp that would fit underneath the square on the front, stamped it in black and taped it to the inside.  You'll notice that it's slightly off-center so it doesn't show when the card is closed.

Yes, cards can be made with just a few supplies.  Add a fancy fold and some interesting background paper, and you have a really simple card.

BTW, ten years ago (before I moved into the "tower") ALL my supplies fit into a pencil box!

Supplies used:  white cs, poinsettia stamp, sentiment stamp, black India Ink, background paper, yellow Stickles, red and green markers, double-stick tape.

GATEFOLD CHRISTMAS CARD

Here's another beginner card using only a few supplies.  After scoring the sides to make the folds, I stamped the holly from the SU "Christmas Blessings" set in green on the panels.  (If you have only black, you could color the leaves and berries.)

Next, I stamped the greeting in black on green cs and used a square scallop punch.  Any large punch would do, or you could just cut a square.  Since I had the brad and light green tab, I used it to hold the gate closed.  I could have cut a holly leaf and mounted it with a dimensional in the same place instead.  Inside is "Merry Christmas" stamped in black.

Materials used:  white cs, one scrap of green cs, double stick tape, scallop punch, red gem brad with green tab, green and black inks, and 3 stamps.

TIP:  Make sure you put tape on just the left side of the square so you don't seal the card shut!

CHRISTMAS TREE CARD

Here's the first card under the new label of "Beginner Basics."  (See previous post.)   The tree was stamped on a large scrap of white cs with India Ink Black.  Green, red and gold gelly roll glitterpens were used to highlight some of the swirls, ornaments and the star.  One small clear gem was added to the star center.

To start, I used white cs from Walmart as the base.  Using colored  cs on top saves money since you only need 1/4 of a sheet per card instead of the usual half.  Using the edge of the tree for a border, I stamped the edge of the green with Versamark and attached the panel with ds tape.

After coloring the tree and cutting down the white panel, I attached it to the card with SU dimensionals.

The materials used were:  white cs  and a 4 x 5 1/4" piece of green SU cs, two stamps (one for inside,) three Gelly Roll pens,  black india ink, Versamark, one gem, ds tape, and 5 dimensionals.

With a minimum of supplies, this card was easy to do without looking like a "beginner" card!

COMING SOON!

I've decided to start a new category just for beginners. I'll be posting cards using a minimum of materials.

If you've been a stamper for awhile, think back with me to our starting days. What supplies did you have? Remember the first time you saw gold embossing being demonstrated? Did your eyes pop like mine did? ...and didn't we all cut out images by hand before our CB days? Ten years ago when I started, ALL my supplies fit into a set of 3 plastic drawers from Kmart! Now, I have a "tower" full that I have to keep re-organizing (not that I'm complaining.)

One thing I miss is: the local stamp store. It's been replaced by the big chains further away with nobody to let you try things or show you new techniques as they evolve. However, now I make use of the internet for purchasing new stamp sets and supplies that are delivered right to my door--who would have thought... And now there's Utube demos and Splitcoast Stampers for ideas. WOW! What a world!

As I think of the new stamper, though, I realize that all the products and techniques we now take for granted must be overwhelming. So I came up with the idea of showing how to make beautiful cards with minimal supplies (or expense!). Look for something later today under Beginner Basics.

Meanwhile, leave a comment naming something in your stash you couldn't live without or the latest innovation you find most helpful. For me, it would be the clear stamps and acrylic mounts that enable you to see exactly where you're placing things, as well as how much less room they need for storage!