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   

Happy

I was captivated by Jennifer McGuire’s recent video on Hinge Cards and decided to give them a try. This was my first attempt . . .

 

The directions were simple but I managed to screw up one of the few steps anyway.  So the card is now a Mini Slimline instead of the A2 I was expecting to create. 

 

Well, so what?  It still works and I’m happy not only to send it, but to make more of them in future!  A quick note:  I used a pair of thin magnets to hold the flap closed.  For display, it looks good when the card is angled and the flower-covered panel faces forward . . .

 

Take a look at my next post on Thursday which will show what the card was supposed to look like!

 

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

Dies:             AlteNew Dotted Scales, Marianne Rose-Centered

Lace Panel, TEMU Rose Flower & Leaf, TEMU 

Vertical Words: Happy

25 Years

My priest is celebrating twenty five years behind the pulpit and has done a fine job which needs to be acknowledged . . .

Originally, the background layer was a light green which appeared insipid next to the silver card base.  So I brayered over it with a darker shade of green.  The results were an artsy splotchy look and the richer color set off the glitter-backed dandelions wonderfully well.

 

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Orion: Silver, Strathmore #140

Watercolor, Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink Silver Sparkle         

Inks:             Distress Rustic Wilderness

Dies:            InLoveArtShop Blooming Dandelion Background, 

DieNamics Basic Stitch Lines, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric

Tiny Type Upper, Impression Obsession Flags, 

Memory Box Alphabet Soup              

Doo Dads:    Dennison Crepe Paper Rope Leaf Green, Candi Dots 

Hardware, Kat Scrappiness Sparkling Clear Droplets  

You're in My Prayers

This one began as a boo boo . . .

 

I was going for an artistically splotchy small background with various blues and greens.

Didn’t work.  I perked it up with clear embossing powder.  Not good.  Solution?  Cover up 90% of the mess with a flowery background floral die cut.  Embellish with a butterfly and a sentiment and we can look at it without cringing.  Yay!

 

Cardstock:   Unknown Textured Turquoise, Strathmore 

#100 Bristol Smooth        

Stamps:       Unknown “You’re in my prayers”

Inks:             Distress Peacock Feathers, various alcohol inks

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Hero Flower Garden, Memory Box Butterflies:

Vivienne, Darla, Cottage Cutz Nested Stitched

Scallop Square             

Thinking of You

My brother’s recovery from a stroke he had about four months ago continues.  Maddeningly, it’s taking a lot longer than we all thought 

it would.  

So, encouragement cards along the way are certainly in order . . .

 

The focal image looked adrift on the formerly plain card front but when the textural layer was added, that changed everything.

For some odd reason, I glued down the text off center.  I often do that on purpose, but not this time, and it didn’t look right.  So I added the leaf spray to restore some balance.  As I’ve often and happily observed, there’s always a way out of boo boos in the rubber stamping world!

Cardstock:   Strathmore Ultimate White, Scrap Deep Yellow

Stamps:       All Night Media Flower Boy, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             ColorBox Black

Waterclrs:    LuminArte assorted watercolors

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Glitz Abstract Net, Gina Marie Stitched Rounded Squares,

 Impression Obsession Foliage, TEMU Sentimental    

Shadow Words: Thinking of You               

Doo Dads:    USArt Quest Opal Essence Glitter

Mike & Becky

It was a total joy to make this card, mostly because it celebrates my beautiful niece’s wedding, but also because it was so much fun to put together . . .

While the die design looks intricate, the die cuts are easy to place.  When finished, the card stands up nicely for display.  Even though the design is quite dimensional, the card folds easily for mailing.  The stand-out oval panel can be used to showcase any event, so I think there are countless events I’ll be happily commemorating in future. 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Pear, Leapfrog, Strathmore #140 Watercolor, 

Constellation Raster White

Colorants:    Zig Real Brush Sugared Almond Pink, Yellow

Dies:            TEMU Rectangular and Oval Shapes, Wedding,

Luxury Purple Red Stem, Scrapbook Bow Toppers, 

Cheery Lynn Tiny Flower Kit     

Emb Fldr:     Crafts-Too Sweet Flowers

Doo Dads:    Couture Creations Glitter Silver Shimmer         

New Home

My stepson has just bought his first house, so heartfelt congratulations are definitely in order . . .

I use this adorable little house on nearly every housewarming card I sent out.  I think it perfectly captures the delightfully cozy feeling every new homeowner hopes to achieve.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Bon Bon, Capri, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth         

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up House

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White, Black, Gina K Whisper

Colorants:    Inktense Hooker’s Green, Burnt Orange, Saddle Brown

Waterclrs:    Zig Real Brush Light Blue, Mustard

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black, Hero White

Dies:            Impression Obsession All-in-One Frames: Squares, 

Karen Burniston Border Blends: Party    

BOO!

I took one look at this pair of crow dies and knew immediately that I would have them standing guard on a gatefold card . . .

 . . . both stately and spooky and lots of fun to put together!  Most gatefold cards stand up on their own, but the crows have so much cardstock removed that they were a little on the wobbly side.  So I attached another black card base to the back of the gatefold card. Perfect solution . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Designer paper Purple Harlequin

Dies:            TEMU Halloween Crow, QuicKutz Bats            

Love

Here’s another collapsible bridge card in a different color scheme . . .

 

Both of the flowers in the middle are attached to wobble springs and these collapse nicely for mailing.  

Cardstock:   Strathmore #140 Watercolor        

Inks:             Distress Oxide Villainous Potion, Bundled Sage,

 Peeled Paint, Abandoned Coral, Carved Pumpkin

Dies:            Waffle Flower Poinsettia Frame, Memory Box Pinpoint

Leaf Plate, TEMU Rectangle Dotted Effect, DieNamics 

Stitched Oval Scalloped Edge Frame,  TKOnline 

Celebration Set: Love, Punch Bunch Flower Centers

Stencil:        Waffle Flower Poinsettia Frame

Doo Dads:    TEMU  Wobble Springs, Gelly Roll Clear Star   

Smile

Another fun idea with vellum that I borrowed from Jennifer McGuire . . .

 

 . . . after brayering the mesh background on the vellum panel, I heat embossed the white flower.  Then I turned the vellum over and colored from the back!  That kept the front looking neat and tidy.  When coloring vellum from the back, you need to use darker inks than you would normally because the vellum tones down the color quite a bit.  Experiment with a vellum scrap to make sure you’re getting the depth of color you want.

 

Liquid glues make vellum pucker so I always use double-sided tape.  Here’s a fun thing I discovered:  it’s virtually impossible to find a tape or glue that doesn’t show through vellum, but I found that if I cover the entire background with 4” wide double-sided tape, it doesn’t show through at all!

 

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

Love

Thanks to a recent tutorial from Jennifer McGuire featuring cards made from vellum, I decided to give it a try . . .

Vellum is too floppy to stand up on its own, but with the addition of regular cardstock pieces glued to the inside front, inside back, and outside back, it stands up beautifully, and is just as sturdy as regular cardstock.  Check out her blog for her excellent video on “Creative Uses of Vellum”.

I’m also excited about figuring out how to make word die cuts stand out against busy backgrounds when no shadow dies are included.  Basically, it’s just using the familiar technique of cutting the word die in a contrasting color and gluing it offset on the back of the original word.  But my idea is to make two die cuts in the contrasting color and gluing one of them offset on each side of the original word!

 

Yes, two layers are involved and you might think this differentiation would be visible and look clunky.  But it doesn’t – even a close-up look with my magnifying glass doesn’t reveal anything amiss.  I don’t think even a skilled stamper who received a card having this trick would be able to see how it was done.  Experiment with various colors and cardstock thicknesses to see if this would work for you!

 

Cardstock:   Glama #40 Vellum, Scraps Green, Strathmore 

#140 Watercolor

Inks:             Tsukineko Dauber Duos Pale Blue, Raspberry, Canary,

 Royal Blue

Dies:            AlteNew ZeroWaste Leaf Pattern, Memory Box butterflies:

Corden, Powell, Spellbinders Wonderful Wings,

 Papertrey Ink Super Succulents Set: Love   

Doo Dads:    Class Appeals Stickers Silver, Wink of Stella Clear