Just Saying Thanks

Perhaps the most practical Thank You card of all is one that is quick and not too fussy, so that you can spend the bulk of your time on the note within.  Which is kind of the point, right?

 This card fills the bill.  A few small pieces of textured cardstock, some quick stamping and sponged edges, a fabric flower, 3" of lacy edging, and an antiqued brad.  Done!

Cardstock:   Generic Navy Blue, Aqua, Cream

Stamps:        Starving Artistamps Altered Stitches: Feather, Simon Says

                           Tilted Banner Sayings

Inks:               Memories Soft Pool

Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              Simon Says Tilted Banners  

Doo Dads:    Ivory lace, Blue fabric flowers

Love

Yes, this is a little late for Valentine's Day.  But I liked it enough to share it anyway.  Besides, aren't loving greetings welcome any time of the year?

 Actually, this was my Valentine's card for my husband.  I thought it would be fun to go for a masculine feel, so after heat embossing the white sketchy hearts, I went with some dark and light browns, using my favorite background technique:  both browns were smooshed onto my craft sheet, misted with water, and then I laid the watercolor panel into the droplets. 

A blast with the heat gun to dry things up, then back onto the craft sheet to pick up the remaining droplets.  More heat, and then some fun with white and clear mist solutions that I applied with the dropper instead of the mister in order to get more concentrated results.  Things got freshened up with plenty of white and then I added a small pop of red as a nod to tradition.  Not too fussy and my guy loved it – yay!

Cardstock:   Champion Snow Day, The Paper Cut Watercolor paper,

                           Generic Red

Stamps:        Hero Floating Hearts, Unknown “Love”

Inks:               Distress Walnut Stain, Brushed Corduroy, Mister Huey’s

                           Color Mists Calico White, Calico Shine, Warm Calico,

                           Ancient Page Cardinal

Emb Powder:   Judikins Opaque White, BMuse Ruby Red

Dies:              Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles, Simon Says Sketch Heart,

                           Wplus9 Banner Trio

Thank You

COMMENT:  For some odd reason, this card was inadvertently posted on March 24. I have no idea why - the mysterious workings of the electronic world escape me totally.  However, I really like the way this card turned out and I hope you won't mind another look at it!

Here in the East, dogwood in bloom is a highly prized event that occurs in May and its arrival always eagerly awaited.  The white blooms are large and flat and when wild dogwood trees are seen from a distance, the blossoms seem to float and drift through the branches much as fog would.  Breathtaking!  When my niece gave me a dogwood stamp for Christmas, I wanted to make the blooms white and knew this was the perfect opportunity to try out my new Uni Posca white paint pen . . .

I've been searching for an opaque white marker for a long time.  As they all were dye ink based, they are translucent and gave a washed-out appearance.  But the Uni Posca pen is paint – not ink – and I'm thrilled with the opaque results!

Cardstock:   Marcos #110 Jute, Tim Holtz Watercolor paper

Stamps:        Impress Dogwood Blossoms, Simon Says More Sketchy

                           Banner Greetings: “Thank You”

Inks:               Distress Brushed Corduroy, Spun Sugar, Tattered Rose,

                           Peeled Paint, Uni Posca Paint Pen White

Emb Powder:   Vippies Transcendence

Emb Folder: Spellbinder Bricks & Bark

Dies:              Lil Inkers Stitched Mats Rectangles, Elizabeth Hardware 1:

                           Hinges, Simon Says Sketchy Banner Greetings

Doo Dads:    Stamp Oasis Heat & Stick Powder, USArt Quest Effectz

                           Gold Essence, Hot Off the Press brads Brown

The Best

Here's a peaceful little composition which uses my current favorite background:  Copic markers scribbled on vellum and sprayed with alcohol . . .

 This time, I didn't back the vellum with white cardstock – an idea I've used before to make the colors pop.  Here, I wanted a little of the chicken wire background to show through and add some subtle texture.  I hope the camera was kind enough to let that happen . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore Soft White, #90 Watercolor paper,

                           Stampin’ Up Vellum White

Stamps:        Unity Chicken Wire, Starving Artistamps Daisy, Simon Says

                           Tilted Banner Sayings: “Wishing you the best”

Inks:               Papertrey Ink Fresh Snow, ColorBox Frost White, Distress

                           Brushed Corduroy, Old Paper, Ancient Page Plum Wine

Markers:        Copic V09 Violet, YG67 Moss, Y17 Golden Yellow

Emb Powder:   Judikins Opaque White, Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              Frantic Stamper Fancy Frames #1, Tim Holtz Fall Foliage,

                           Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, Impression Obsession

                           Banners & Tails

Doo Dads:    Distress Clear Rock Candy

Just Saying Thanks

It's nothing short of amazing what happens to an inspired idea on the journey from its origin to its new reality . . .

This isn't at all what I had in mind when I found the original idea on another stamper's blog.  But the final layout is so different that no one will ever accuse me of plagiarism. 

Still, just once, I would love it if the ultimate reality actually matched the vision.  Sigh . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Bazzill White, Stampin’ Up Vellum White,

                           Generic Red

Stamps:        Hero Blossoms, Unity Chicken Wire, Simon Says Tilted

                           Banner Sayings “Just Saying Thanks”

Inks:               ColorBox Frost White

Emb Powder:   Judikins Opaque White

Dies:              Mama Elephant Femme Frames, DieNamics Stitched Mats

                           Rectangles, Simon Says Tilted Banners

Watercolors:     Local King markers Red, Green

Doo Dads:    Past Time Stamps glitter Adirondack Snow

Romance

It's Spring!  Time for greens and purples and lots of white . . .

When the original image could use a little more definition, I've learned that it's OK to cheat and add in a few touches of your own.  In this case, the leaves on the die cut were looking a little flat:  too much broad, uninterrupted surface.  So I put in a few dots and sketchy lines to suggest veining.  As subtle as it is, it made all the difference.

Over the years, I've been amazed at how many times a few dots have saved the day.  Tiny and therefore non-threatening, dots are easy to add even if you're a little timid about your drawing skills.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Lilac, Limeade, Stampin’ Up Vellum White, The Paper

                           Cut Matte Coat White

Stamps:        Hero Blooming Meadow, Unknown “Romance”

Inks:               ColorBox Frost White, Distress Brushed Corduroy,

                           Encore Purple

Markers:        Copic V17 Amethyst, YG25 Celadon Green, YG67 Moss,

                           Pitt Artist Pen #167 Green, #180 Brown

Emb Powder:   Judikins Opaque White, BMuse Amethyst

Dies:              DieNamics Pierced Rectangle Frame, Memory Box

                           Butterfly Tendrils

Doo Dads:    Recollections Pearls

A Fabulous Day

Time for a little black, white, and silver glamour . . .

To keep the seed bead necklace from flopping about, I put a dab of glue under the center bead . . . the other beads will still provide a little appealing movement but the necklace is not likely to catch on a fingernail or envelope flap.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Strathmore Bright White, Generic Black

Stamps:        My Favorite Things Diagonal Stripes, text from Papertrey

                           Ink Dress Form

Inks:               Hero Black, ColorBox Silver

Emb Powder:   Delafield Silver

Dies:              Spellbinders Radiant Rectangles, Papertrey Ink Dress Form,

                           Nellie Snellen Straight Oval

Doo Dads:    Seed beads Silver, Martha Stewart Glitter Onyx

Love You

Still having fun with Copics, vellum, and alcohol misting . . .

If you're new to my blog and have missed previous postings on this technique, simply use a few colors of Copic markers to scribble on a piece of vellum cut to size.  Then mist once or twice with alcohol.  Leave to dry or move some of the colors around with a soft brush.  Done!  Glue to a piece of white cardstock in order to make the colors pop.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Brandywine, Generic Fiber print vellum

Stamps:        Stamp’s in the Mail Wild Bunch, Stampin’ Up Itty Bitty

                           Banners

Inks:               ColorBox Frost White, Ancient Page Redwood

Markers:        Copic E57 Light Walnut, R56 Currant, RV14 Begonia Pink,

                           RV21 Light Pink

Emb Powder:   Judikins Opaque White, Vippies Transcendence

Dies:              DieNamics Pierced Rectangle Frame, Stampin’ Up Itty Bitty

                           Banners, Impression Obsession Medium Butterflies

Doo Dads:    American Crafts Jute Pink