Wantage Ave

Friends of mine recently moved to a wonderful country home, so that major occasion calls for a card at the very least . . .

It was fun to put it together but the next time I use this house die, I’ll put the roof and the house pieces into two different embossing folders.  More texture would be a bigger advantage, I think . . .

Cardstock:   American Crafts Blue, Scraps Yellow, White Dark Brown,

  Tan, Designer Paper

Inks:             Gina K Charcoal Brown

Dies:            Waffle Flower Lacy Layers 2, Cottage Cutz House, 

 DieVersions font “Hint of Lime”              

Love

This seemed the right time to use a floral edger die I hadn’t used before . . .

The inside message was put a little to the left so that it wouldn’t show around the cutout. Happily, the card stands up nicely even though only half of the bottom edge is available.  I think the cutout rose is a lovely one and I’ll be looking for other occasions to use it!

Cardstock:   Mohawk Carnival Cover Red       

Stamps:       Clearly Besotted Diagonal Stripes

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            Waffle Flower Lacy Layers 2, TTina Fans 

Flower Background            

Doo Dads:    Studio G Pearls      

Loving Memories

While I love putting lots of embellishments on my cards, I think Sympathy cards are best when the layouts are on the more subdued side . . .

 Green is a lovely serene color, so I like using it for condolence cards. 

Carole was a lovely soul and will be missed for years to come.  Rest in peace, dear friend . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog, Pear      

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up “Praying for friends…”

Inks:             ColorBox Black, Encore Honeydew, Pilot marker Gold

Emb Pwdr:  B’Muse Ebony

Dies:            EK Success Corner Adorner Interlaced

Emb Fldr:    Crafts Too Leafy Tree       

A Smile

I enjoyed using a leafy new layering stencil set on this one . . .

 

The set came with a matching embossing folder which really makes the design come alive.  And of course, I had more fun with sequins and Super Glue . . . and with every confidence in the world that they will survive the Post Office mangling machines!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Bling Puppy Love, Strathmore #140 Watercolor, 

Vellum         

Stamps:       Seaside Stampin’ “Sending You a Smile!

Inks:             Adirondack Bottle, Eggplant, Wink of Stella Clear, Silver

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White

Dies:            Studio Calico Nested Rectangles, Spellbinders 

                     Flutters                    

Stencil:        AlteNew Leafy Splendor

Emb Fldr:    AlteNew Leafy Splendor

Doo Dads:    Sequins

Enjoy

How I love it when I can put scraps and leftovers from past projects to work . . .

Conveniently, the red stitched frame had been previously die cut and the striped papers are leftover bits from my Christmas cards.  None of the scraps were big enough to fill the long panel on the left with one piece so I pieced three scraps and covered the mayhem with a die cut.  In this wonderful hobby, there is always a way out of an awkward situation.

Cardstock:   Bazzill White, Scrap Red, printed papers

Dies:            White Lotus Metal Frame, Tim Holtz Labels, 

  Frantic Stamper “Enjoy”     

Doo Dads:   Kat Scrappiness Dots Shimmering Platinum     

It's Your Day

My friend John and his family have a thriving business growing flowers and foliage for local florists.  So I always like to use something of both on his birthday cards . . .

 

This one emerged with a rather elegant flair which I hadn’t envisioned ahead of time.  It’s a good thing I love surprises!

Cardstock:   Unknown Textured Cream, Scraps Cream, Black, Basic

  Grey Little Black Dress Collection

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up “It’s your day!

Inks:             Distress Black Soot, Wink of Stella Black, ColorBox Black

Emb Pwdr:  Judikins Black

Dies:            Impression Obsession Vase Set, Foliage, Craftless 

 Branches, Cheery Lynn Tiny Flower Kit, Gina Marie 

 Stitched Rounded Squares                 

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black        

It's Your Day!

Just got this charming set of framed flowers and have made three cards with it already!

 

Concord & 9^th have provided both dies and layering stamps in this set, plus text that fits perfectly in the frames.  A total charmer . . .

Cardstock:   Simon Says Fog, Strathmore #140 Watercolor, Scrap 

  Silver

Stamps:       Concord & 9th Petite Frames, Stampin’ Up “It’s Your Day”

Inks:             Distress Wild Honey, Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint,

  Broken China, Dusty Concord

Dies:            Concord & 9th Petite Frames, Scrapbook.com Bow

 Toppers                 

Emb Fldr:    Taylored Expressions Weathered

Doo Dads:   Gelly Roll Clear Star         

Journey

My wonderful friend Susi absolutely adores dragonflies, so I thought I’d send her a sizeable one . . .

After the sequins on my Christmas cards slipped their moorings, it was Susi who suggested I try Super Glue instead.  So that’s what I’ve used with the six sequins on this card and I’m sending it to her for a trial run.  She lives on the opposite coast, so this card will have ample opportunity to get creamed by the Post Office.  Can’t wait to see if it made it through the gauntlet!

Cardstock:   American Craft Brights: various Blues, AlteNew Milky

Way Glitter Cardstock: Sapphire  

Dies:            Scrapbook Wavy with Dots, Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, Tonic Wings and Things, Frantic Stamper 

text “Journey”                 

Happy Birthday

There were some wonderful sales during the Black Friday celebrations which actually spread out over at least three weeks.  This Fall Leaf Border was one of the layering stencil sets I picked up at a bargain price . . .

Now that I’ve discovered the reliable holding power of Super Glue, I’m happily looking for opportunities to use sequins and other hard-to-attach embellishments.  It’s such a relief to know that I can add these lovely little bits and be certain they’ll survive the postal journey to their destination.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Crimson, Strathmore #140 Watercolor   

Inks:             Distress Lost Shadow, Aged Mahogany, Brushed Corduroy, VersaColor Green Tea

Dies:            AliExpress Happy Birthday          

Stencil:        Pink Fresh Fall Leaf Border

Doo Dads:    Kat Scrappiness Sequins Shimmering Platinum

Celebrate

This is a birthday card for my friend Leona who lives in Washington State, one of the densest areas of evergreens in the country.  Lucky them -  they get to enjoy green winters, not ugly brown ones like so many of the rest of us have to . . .

 

 . . . so I figured a card covered with evergreens would strike a familiar note!  The large die cut evergreen is part of Tim Holtz’s set of two trees of slightly different sizes and shapes.  They weren’t designed to be layered, but I was after a fuller look with more dimension, so I glued the smaller tree on top of the larger one.  I like the result and I even think Tim would approve.  How about you?

Cardstock:   Bazzill Ivy, Strathmore #140 Watercolor 

Inks:             ColorBox Evergreen, VersaColor Green Tea, Distress 

Brushed Corduroy

Dies:            Tim Holtz Woodlands, TEMU Sentimental Shadow

Words: “Celebrate” 

Stencil:        TEMU Autumn Pine Trees

Doo Dads:    Liquid Appliqué White        

Happy Anniversary

An invisible new tool is in play here . . .

Last month, my Christmas cards featured three sequins per card.  Judging from the feedback I got, many of them left their moorings and were found at the bottom of the envelope.  My non-stamping friend Susi suggested I use Super Glue next time, and boy was she right.  I did a test with four more sequins on scrap paper and those babies are staying put!

On this card, the wooden dots were attached with Super Glue and they are solidly in place.  I have never felt truly confident about many of the embellishments I have used in the past – especially plastic ones like sequins, as plastic is notorious for flimsy adherence.  But now, a tube of Super Glue is on my table and will be put to use for all iffy attachments.  It takes just one small and easily-squeezed-out drop to do the trick and adherence is almost immediate.  No more worries about what the USPS will do to my embellishments . . . I’m in heaven!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rope Swing, Strathmore #140 Watercolor        

Stamps:       Stampers Anonymous “Mesh”

Inks:             VersaColor Sage, ColorBox Moss Green, 

  VersaMagic Spanish Olive, Distress Old Paper,

  Brushed Corduroy

Dies:            Le Crea Multi Die Flower, TEMU Words Set:

 “Happy Anniversary”           

Stencil:        AlteNew Foliage

Doo Dads:    My Mind’s Eye Wood Dots, Foamiran

Thank You

My stash of Washi tapes is, in a word, excessive.  So it’s time to start mowing down the pile . . .

Over the years, I’ve hesitated to use Washi tapes because of their flimsy glue.  I was always afraid they’d come loose over time.  But the simple solution is to wrap the Washi ends behind the layer I’ve taped them to, which is what I’ve done here.  Or I could always just dab on some extra glue. 

My tape collection has some real beauties in it so I’ve decided to put them to work on a regular basis . . . prepare yourselves for a Washi Workout!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Scraps Beige, Red  

Stamps:       Hero Frames with Sprigs set, Purple Onion “Thank You”

Inks:             Gina K Charcoal Brown

Dies:            Hero Frames with Sprigs set, Cheery Lynn Tiny

  Flower Kit                

Emb Fldr:    Taylored Expressions Rosy Posy

Doo Dads:   Washi tapes, May Arts Jute         

It's Your Day!

The background on this one was made with a new, four-layered stencil set . . .

Three shades of green paired with textured white watercolor paper and some clear water drops made for a clean and fresh look I really like.  I hope the Birthday Girl who’s getting this card likes it too!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Bazzill Green, Strathmore #140 Watercolor       

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up “It’s Your Day!”

Inks:             ColorBox Chalk Warm Green, VersaColor Sage, Split                               Pea, Distress Brushed Corduroy

Emb Pwdr:  Vippie’s Transcendence

Dies:            DieNamics Single Stitched Line Rectangle Frame, 

  Papertrey Ink Happiness in Bloom Leaves, Tim Holtz 

  Labels           

Stencil:        AlteNew Zero Waste: Field of Flowers

Emb Fldr:    Darice Crackle

Doo Dads:    Kat Scrappiness Sparkling Clear Droplets         

It's Your Day!

One of the things I love most about layering stencils is the ability to use multiple colors in the same design . . .

Can you imagine having to color an intricate design by hand?  It would take forever and for me, at least, would be difficult to do perfectly.  Layering stencils fix all the difficulties, take way less time, and turn out looking great.  My collection of layering stencils is growing and I’m glad of it!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Pear, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth,

#140 Watercolor   

Stamps:       KaiserCraft Marble, Stampin Up “It’s Your Day!”

Inks:             VersaColor Bamboo, ColorBox Chalk Ice Blue, 

Unknown Purple

Emb Pwdr:  Whispers Clear Glitter, ColorBox Frost White, 

Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Papertrey Ink Mega Gracious Vases, Craftsless 

Branches, Arich Rounded Corners Stitched Rectangles                

Stencil:        Lisa Horton Layering Abstract Squares