Congratulations

My favorite artsy background:  mottled coloring over-stamped with scrawly text . . .

 

After distressing the perimeter, I did some random gold embossing around the edges.  I’ve always tried for perfect edgings of all kinds, but the random and distressed look is far more interesting.  So, it’s out with the chalk line, plumb bob, and level – and in with random, intermittent, and distressed!  Well, much of the time, anyway . . .

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth  

Stamps:       A Stamp in the Hand Words Background Script, Stacey

Stamps Tulips

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Old Paper, Peeled Paint

Emb Pwdr:   WOW Metallic Gold Rich

Dies:            TEMU Fantasy Theme ”Congratulations”          

Doo Dads:    Michael’s ribbon, Wink of Stella Gold

Happy

I can’t get enough of stenciling . . .

The cheerful background on this one was done with a three-layered stencil set.  The first layer did the animal bodies.  The red stars and dots were done with the second layer, and the decorative additions were last.

LOVE the results.  Get me a layered stencil set plus a few blending brushes and inks, and I will decorate the world!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Arctic, Red, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth    

Inks:             Distress Weathered Wood, Candied Apple, VersaFine

 Majestic Blue

Dies:            Tattered Lace Everyday Sentiments: Happy               

Stencil:        Hero Folk Winter: Animals

Doo Dads:    Cosmic Shimmer Sparkle Texture Paste Platinum       

Smile

This one shows a slight variation to the frame I used on an earlier post of the same layout . . .

 It’s been awhile since I’ve used vellum and I’ve happily gotten hooked on it again.  I was so happy with the slightly distressed look of the stamped mesh on the vellum that I made two cards with this design.  I’ll be making more . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Admiral, Glama #40 Heavy Vellum        

Stamps:       Fiskars brayer Mesh, Impress Cherry Blossom Branch

Inks:             Distress Lost Shadow, ColorBox Frost White

Colorants:    Zig Clean Color: Peacock Blue, Deep Green

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            TEMU Stitched Rectangular Frame, AlteNew Vertical Greetings:                               Smile     

Doo Dads:    Waffle Flower Enamel Dots White

Happy Birthday

I like to make birthday cards with a floral theme for my friend John who raises flowers for a living . . .

This open-work flower is quite unusual and I thought it worked well for the layout.  Lots of texture here to captivate the eye and provide some tactile pleasure.  However, the various elements are probably clearest when viewed in real life.

 

Cardstock:   Canson Mixed Media Rough #114, Stedner Bright

White, Neenah Desert Storm       

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Bark

Inks:             Distress Hickory Smoke, Pumice Stone, Brushed

Corduroy, Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick, Picked

Raspberry,  Tombow marker #847 Red, Bob Ross 

Black Gesso

Dies:            Impression Obsession Birch Trees, Dee’s Distinctively 

Lattice 2, Scrap Man Rosebud, TEMU Vertical 

Happy Birthday                  

Stencil:        Picket Fence A Stone Wall

Emb Fldr:     Carabelle Mini Pebbles

Doo Dads:    Kat Scrappiness Sparkling Clear Droplets         

Happy

The stone background on this one looked a little flat, so I ran it through an embossing folder with a pebbled design and that did the trick . . .

The birch trees were a little hard to see against the busy background, so I tried something new: I used the tip of a palette knife to carefully dab on some embossing paste.  Because the tree trunks had been propped up with pop dots, this was quite easy to do.  Birch bark peels a lot so this added a touch of realism.  It’s probably a lot more visible in person . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Ash, Canson Mixed Media Rough #114, 

Stedner Bright White, Neenah Desert Storm       

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Bark

Inks:             Distress Hickory Smoke, Pumice Stone, Brushed

Corduroy,  Tombow marker #847 Red, Bob Ross 

Black Gesso

Dies:            Impression Obsession Birch Trees, Dee’s Distinctively 

Lattice 2, AliExpress Happy from the Happy Birthday set                 

Stencil:        Picket Fence A Stone Wall

Emb Fldr:     Carabelle Mini Pebbles

Doo Dads:    Americana Titanium White Acrylic Paint, Wendy

Vecchi Embossing Paste White    

Grateful

 I’ve used this die cut pumpkin image before because I love the look and the fact that it lets me use up lots of scraps . . .

After assembling the pumpkin, I popped it up on foam to define it more clearly against the busy background.  It’s amazing how effective added dimension can be . . .

 

Happy  Thanksgiving  to  one  and  all!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth, 

Various patterned papers    

Stamps:       Inkadinkado Leaf Background

Inks:            Superior India Ink Black, Distress Oxide Mustard Seed,

Carved Pumpkin, Wink of Stella Black

Dies:            InLoveArts Pumpkin Leaf, On Air-Store Fall Thankful

Words: Grateful      

Happy

Here is my example of Jennifer McGuire’s Hinge Card idea done accurately according to her directions and not the way I did when I got off track, as seen in Monday’s post . . .

 

One simple fold creates a novel card that I think anyone would enjoy receiving.  Embellishment options range from simple to more involved and all would be fun to make and look good.  I’m keeping the easy directions for this one handy . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Capri Sea, Kachina, Tim Holtz Silver Sparkle   

Dies:            AliExpress Leaf, Vanvler/Amazon Pop Up Flowers, 

EK Success Flower punch, In Air-store Fall Thankful

Words: Happy                

Emb Fldr:     Memory Box Chrysanthemum Field

Doo Dads:    Gelly Roll pen Clear Star