SO VERY BLESSED

Evelyn and I get together and stamp regularly, usually about once a week.   This card was one of several we made last week using only leftover materials.  It wasn't too hard a challenge since I rarely use all the sheets in a dsp pad, for instance, or everything in a kit.

These leftovers are from a SSS kit, some SU dsp, previously punched ferns and an untouched sheet of metallic gold cs. 

The challenge to make several cards using only what we have in our stash was mentioned at the end of a YouTube video from Cards and Coffee Time.  I can see myself doing this once every week or two.  It's a great way to use up large scraps or introduce elements we've forgotten we have!

DRAGONFLY BIRTHDAY

This card features the large dragonfly from a SU! set that I found in my stash already cut and ready to go.  Starting with a white card base, I added a wide dsp banner, a green circle and the dragonfly.  

After adding the birthday greeting (also from SU!) I assembled the card as shown.  For embellishment, I used black gems and a corner punch (SU!)  I then used clear WOS on the dragonfly body to finish the card.

FROM THE SCRAP DRAWER--#43

I can't believe how many cards have been made just from leftover pieces from other projects!

This one started with a strip of dsp applied to the left side of the card and trimmed to fit.  Next I added the embossing on the right side.  The fern was already water colored on a piece of watercolor paper, so I fussy-cut it and used it as a background for the flower I stamped on vellum.  After stamping the flower and heat embossing it with clear ep, I colored the back to coordinate with the colors in the dsp.  Then I mounted it to the fern with a glue dot.

I stamped the sentiment on white cs and taped it across the top at the same angle as the printing in the dsp.  Finally, I added some Stickles to the flower and put it on display on my window sill...another easy card!

ANOTHER SPRING FLORAL CARD

I discovered this strip of leftover dsp and the coordinated flowers in my stash and made use of both on this one card.

After attaching the strip down the middle, I embossed the borders and added the embroidery floss on the left.  The flowers had been pre-stamped in purple (not a match!) so I went over the image with colored pencils to change the shade.  The oval was then mounted with dimensionals.

With this card, I discovered that I could stamp something in a soft shade of ink and then add deeper shades with colored pencils later for a nice combination.

Summer Card Camp/Week 2, Day 5

There's a lot going on here, thanks to our classes this week:  the color combo, the fancy fold and overlap, the ink carving and the base.

Starting with the blue flowers, I inked them on a blue Kaleidacolor pad so that the centers would be light and the edges dark.  Then I "carved" the ink to create the white lines radiating from the center. (Sorry, you have to take the class to find out how...)  I used Versamark ink on green cs for the leaves.  The greeting is from my pre-stamped folder, and was just the right color for this week's assignment.

Next, I chose the dsp from a pad of recycled paper by DCWV.  Using the red for a background on the top part, I also cut out two of the circles for the flower centers.  After assembling the upper part of the card, I cut a strip for the bottom which included the cute little beaver and snail.  The red bird was cut out separately and attached above the greeting.

As you can see in the next photo, I added a stem and flower that would show up on the inside.  When all was done, I mounted the card on a gray base.  Lots of new ideas were used on this one fun card!

DAISY DIE

This week my order from Simon Says Stamp arrived, so today I played with the daisy and "Oh Happy Day" dies.  The bee was in my pre-stamped images folder, so all I had to do was color him, fussy cut the image, and add some Stickles to his wings.

To assemble the card, I chose the light green cs.  Then I die cut the daisies twice, colored them with SU markers and mounted them as shown.  The bottom one is attached with snail and the top one is mounted with foam tape.  The bee is also popped up with a piece of foam tape.

Mounting the "Happy" was a little tricky.  I used TomBow Mono glue on a piece of scrap, pressed the word into it to coat the back of the letters, and pressed it onto the card front.  After rounding the top right corner,  the card was done.   This will make a nice summery birthday card!

ANOTHER SCRAPTIVITY (Scrap Activity)

Same stamp, different look!

For this card, utilizing scraps and a pre-stamped image from years back, I decided to go vertical.  Using the daisy scrap as a sample for coloring, I used Barely Banana and Creamy Caramel markers (SU), plus a Gelly Roll pen over the center of the bottom flower.  The bottom flower was colored, cut out and popped up over the same image with dimensionals.

The greeting is from a Hero Arts set, which I chose for its font and size.

I think I like this card more than the previous post! 

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.

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!

FROM MY FILE--5th Ave. Floral

Having cleaned off my stamping table last week, I came across a bunch of pre-stamped images and decided to use them.

This rose from SU's Fifth Ave. Floral set was white embossed and just needed to be colored and cut.  For the color, I sponged on Wild Honey Distress Ink.  The green cs was already embossed, so I popped the rose out and added the Bible verse.

After sponging the edges of the green cs with Versamark, I taped the green to a layer of white cs and mounted both on a gray card with dimensionals.  The crystal flower and seed pearls were all that were needed for final embellishment.

Having a folder of pre-stamped images makes it easy to quickly create something special.

THREE OF A KIND--Crocus

All three pre-stamped images were in my file folder from ages ago, and I recently re-discovered them.

The first one is a gate card accented with yellow Stickles in the crocus centers, a silver cord bow and some purple gems. The blooms were colored with a purple marker, and the edges of the scalloped square were sponged with purple ink.

The orange card was first clipped with a postage scissor and double mounted. The blossoms were done with SU "elegant eggplant" markers for the stripes, and finished with purple chalk over them. I used orange chalk for the centers. A rick-rack die cut the bottom of the orange gingham, and the piece that was cut off is placed above the white ribbon. Purple Hero Arts gems provide the accents.

Finally, the last card was done with yellow markers and yellow Stickles for the centers. The green dsp and yellow cardstock were accented with a Martha Stewart lace punch. Green and yellow embroidery floss provide the final touch.

Enjoy! (Double click for a closer look.)

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A COLOR MAKES

Although the difference between these two cards is subtle, the brighter green cardstock gives the card more life. I was happy with the first one, but it just looked dull. After taking off the top layer and re-mounting it on a brighter green, I was finally satisfied with it.

Unfortunately, my camera doesn't capture the glitter very well. The dark green leaves are done with Twinkling H2O's, giving them a nice sheen. The rose leaves were colored with a marker and Spica glitter pen on top, adding just a touch of glitter over the green ink. The rose center was colored yellow and toned down with Frosted Ice Stickles. If you click on the first image twice, you may be able to see more of the glimmer.

The background, green leaf and rose images were all in my file of pre-stamped images from several years ago!

Give Thanks

Although it looks gray here (probably because of the gray skies today) this card is on Crumb Cake cardstock from SU. I pulled out a folder of pre-stamped images from last year and used the indian corn as my starting point. After coloring it with markers and cutting it out, I turned to Anna Wight's "Give Thanks" set for the sentiment.

A striped dsp border, a Martha Stewart border punch, some rafia from my stash and embroidery floss inside (above the striped paper) and on top all added to the Fall look. Three dot sparklers from Stampendous provide a little bling that is also postage friendly.

Among my reasons to be thankful are all my stamps and supplies that not only bring me great pleasure as I create with them, but also bring blessing to those who receive them. It seems letter writing has become a lost art in this day of texting and emailing! However, that's what makes getting a card so much more special.

If I had to name the one thing for which I am most thankful, it would have to be the greatest blessing the Lord has ever given me--salvation in Christ.

Happy Thanksgiving!

FROM MY FILE--Sunflower

Here's another card from my Pre-Stamped Images file that I stamped years ago!

The petals were done with SU markers, the center with chalks. The leaves and stem were colored in with markers also. The seeds on the border were enhanced with a black Gelly Roll pen. For a final touch, I used Inkessentials "Glossy Accents" for the dew drops.

The image is mounted at an angle with dimensionals over a yellow sun dsp on kraft cs. The raffia adds a hint of Autumn to the card.

Kinkade Scene

This could be a Christmas Eve scene, done beautifully by the artist. All I added was the "light" from the windows--talk about easy!

After taping the image to the back of the overlay, I stamped the sentiment above and mounted it onto the card with SU dimensionals. Done!

FROM MY FILE--Cardinal

Talk about easy! This one was so simple, it hardly took any time at all.

Using Sage Shadow as the card base, all I had to do was color in the image with markers, add a touch of black Stickles for the eye and mount it on a scrap of dark green cardstock.

For a little glimmer, I added a bow of red metallic twine.

After adding the greeting, it was done!

FROM MY FILE--Squares of Holly

After coloring in the image with markers, I used various scraps to put this card together.

Starting with a Crumb Cake card base (formerly Kraft) I added a piece of red cardstock that I ran through the Cuttlebug for some texture and taped it on the left side. Then I taped a piece of Christmas ribbon to the textured black cardstock and taped that on the right. After securing the square with dimensionals, I found a metal ornament in my stash that was just perfect for the center of the squares. I tied some red metallic twine through the hole on top and used a glue dot to adhere it to the card for a nice postage-friendly embellishment.

Next, I stamped "Merry Christmas" on white cs, taping it to a red oval scallop and placing it as shown with dimensionals.

Using pre-stamped images from years ago is getting to be fun!

From My File

I have a file marked "Pre-stamped Images" where I keep them for future use. These are stamps that were either borrowed or used when a bunch of us get together to share sets around the table for just this purpose.

These birds were from several years ago, and I forgot I had them until today when I opened up the folder. I used this set originally for a beautiful card and matching bookmark for someone special. That card also featured a single bird inside that I cut out from the right side of a duplicate copy.

The chickadees are watercolored with dark and light grays, the leaves with a grayish green. I used markers for the berries and branch. The hardest part was the layering which required precise cutting and mounting. I used a combination of green embroidery floss and gold metallic twine for the bow.

Getting together with other stampers to share stamps is a great way to expand your supplies with only having to spend some ink, cardstock and time. Each of us brings white cardstock, some inks and several of our sets to share. We spread the stamps around the table, stamp 5 or 6 copies of images we don't have and save them for future use. It's also useful for sentiments to put inside future cards.

Hero Arts and SU are sure not to like this idea! (...sorry...)