So Many Candles

One of my friends is a chef, so naturally I like to use cookery-type images for his birthday cards . . .

Once I got everything cut out and glued down, I thought I was done.  But then I figured out a much better layout.  After some judicious and very careful removal, the cake stand is now grounded instead of floating in the air.

Cardstock:   Folder* Navy Blue, Strathmore #100 Bristol Vellum, 

Tim Holtz Silver Sparkle

*Every year, my accountant returns my tax papers in a linen-textured navy blue folder.  The cardstock used is #80 and there’s plenty of blank space for me to cut them up into cards and card front layers!

Stamps:       Hero Large Canvas Stripe, Savvy Cherry Cake,

Impress “So many candles…”

Inks:             VersaFine Majestic Blue, Hero Soft Brown, Distress 

Carved Pumpkin, Chipped Sapphire

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            TEMU Garden (Apron), Kitchen Tools, Rectangle

Candle Window, Savvy Cake Plates                  

Birthdays are the best

How I love the vibrant colors Washi tapes are famous for . . .

I decided a black background would be a great frame for those colors and little glittery interest on top would also work well.  

Hope I was right . . . what do you think?

Cardstock:   Bazzell Raven        

Dies:            Elizabeth Craft Stitched Rounded Rectangles,

 InLoveArtShop Simple Clover, Creative Expressions 

“Birthdays are the best days”    

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes,  American Crafts Jute Green,

Wink of Stella Black     

Happy Birthday

A blogger inspired me to try a novel little trick with this one . . .

I used a label die to cut a narrow horizontal window into the Washi tape panel.  Then I raised the panel with pop dots to frame the Happy Birthday sentiment.  The camera may not show this very well, but in real life, it looks great!

Cardstock:    Bazzill Raven        

Dies:             DieNamics Traditional Tags Stax, TEMU Words Set:

 “Happy Birthday”

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes, metallic dot stickers

Birthday Cheers!

Lots of text and lots of texture . . . what more can a stamper want?

I had fun embedding the Cheers text in the bottom of the frame.  The wavy cancellation image was added at the last minute to cover up a boo boo.  Lots of action going on here and I am happy with all of it!

Cardstock:    Marcos Jute, Strathmore Ivory

Stamps:        Stampers Anonymous Newspaper Scraps

Background, Impression Obsession Bark, Studio

Borders L2E, Studio Borders VI, Stampin’ Up Trefoil

Border, Ornamentum Cancellation, Hero December

Postmark

Inks:             Hero Black, Distress Brushed Corduroy

Dies:             Lawn Fawn Say Cheese, Simon Says Cheers!, 

Tattered Lace Everyday Sentiments: “Birthday”,

 Impression Obsession Flags

Doo Dads:    May Arts Jute, Distress Stickles Black Soot

Celebrate

For this one, I wanted to experiment with using an accent piece made of just one light color family atop a black and white Washi tape panel . . .

I like it, but I think a more vibrant color family on the accent piece would have been better.  That’s because the black and white background is awfully loud and likely needs a stronger color accent to balance it out.  We live and we learn!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Steel Blue, Splash, Ash   

Dies:            Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, Tim Holtz 

Feathered Friends, TEMU Sentimental Shadow Words:

 “Celebrate”

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes      

Hello Fall

My friend Bonnie isn’t enamored of birthday acknowledgements, so I’m sending her a Happy Fall card instead . . .

I’ve covered rows of very colorful Washi tapes with an openwork leafy die cut panel.  This tones down the exuberance somewhat but still allows plenty of color to shine through.

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

Strathmore #140 Watercolor, Scraps Red, Orange      

Stamps:       Impression Obsession Bark

Inks:             VersaFine Majestic Blue

Dies:            AlteNewStriped Leaf, DieNamics Layered Leaves, 

Marianne Decorative Tags, TEMU Autumn-Themed

set: “Hello Fall”          

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes, Gelly Roll pen Silver    

Smile

Early into my current love affair with Washi tapes, it occurred to me that a picket fence would be a lot more fun if it wasn’t always white . . .

Of course, your local autocratic Home Owners Association might react with horror. But as artists, we creative types can do what we like.  YAY!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Splash, Unknown Rich Cocoa, Scraps Green,

Purple, Yellow, Orange, Pink, White         

Inks:             Distress Vintage Photo, Tea Dye, Lost Shadow

Dies:            Impression Obsession Large Fence, Sea Birds, 

TEMU Flowers, Sweet ‘n Sassy Fence, Grass, &

Border Dies, Clouds & Raindrops, Recollections 

Word Fetti: “Smile”              

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes, Fun Flock     

Celebrate

My adventures with Washi Tapes continue . . .

Black and white are warmed up with a few gold glints plus a creamy textured background.  Yum!

Cardstock:   Marcos Speckletone Cover — Cream         

Stamps:       Judikins Origami Background

Inks:             VersaMark

Emb Pwdr:   Stampendous Aged Black

Dies:            Frantic Stamper Deckled & Torn Edgers, Memory Box 

Cordon Butterfly, Darla Butterfly (body only), 

TKOnline Celebration Set: “Celebrate”      

Emb Fldr:     Taylored Expressions Rosy Posey

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes      

Love

Here’s another example of dry embossed Washi tapes . . .

After applying various lengths and widths of Washi tapes to a panel, I dry embossed it with an embossing folder.  Those tapes are there to stay!

The smoothness of the envelope makes it stand out against the textured background – at least it does in real life.  I hope the camera makes this distinction . . .

Cardstock:   American Craft Primaries Set: Blue, Neenah #110

Solar White

Inks:             Distress Peeled Paint, Candied Apple

Dies:            Mama Elephant Botanic Envelope, TEMU Flowers, 

Recollections Word Fetti: “Love”            

Emb Fldr:     Stampin’ Up Fancy Fan

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes      

Hosanna

The primitive rendering of the cross image is a stark reminder of what our Lord willingly endured for us . . .

I wanted the cross to be elevated, but because the cross pieces are so narrow, even my tiniest pop dots would have shown.  So I backed the cardstock with double-sided tape and then die cut the cross pieces.  After peeling off the release paper, I added lengths of dark brown jute cording which, happily, stuck firmly to the tape.  This gave me just the height I needed for the cross to stand out from the fern background.  Best of all, the cording doesn’t show . . .

~ A most blessed Easter to each and every one ~

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Marcos Jute, Recollections 

#110 Dark Green, The Paper Cut Orion: Bronze       

Stamps:       Rollagraph Wheel Texture

Inks:             Ancient Page Pine, Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            InLoveArts Simple Cross, Hero Palm Fancy, Nellie’s 

Straight Dotted Oval         

Emb Fldr:     Taylored Expressions Weathered

Happy Birthday

For this one, I thought it would be fun to use some Washi on a slimline window card . . .

 . . . as the windows are on the small side, it was a good time to use my narrowest tapes in order to fit in a variety of designs.  They provide a fun backdrop to the Foamiran flowers I perked up with a 3 second blast from the heat gun.  They will stay perky even after a coast-to-coast romp through the postal system.

Cardstock:   Neenah Desert Storm, Scrap Red, Foamiran    

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo

Dies:            Rubbernecker Rounded Square, Nellie’s Photo  

                    Frames, TEMU Flower, Divinity Designs 

“Happy Birthday”        

Stencil:        Concord & 9th Splatter Texture

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes      

Celebrate

This one provided me with such a fun and unexpected surprise . . .

After laying down the Washi tapes onto a small panel, I ran the panel through an embossing folder.  I then cut a window into the card front, mounted the panel, and added a frame.  What I was not expecting to see was the backside of the Washi panel . . .

I framed it too and I love the added fun the inside of the card now provides.  I am going to be doing this maneuver scores of times in the future . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven

Inks:             Wink of Stella Black

Dies:            Arich Rounded Corners Stitched Rectangles,

 Impression Obsession Congrats Word Set: “Celebrate”                

Emb Fldr:     Tim Holtz Lace

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tape, Hero Arts stickers Gold 

With Love

A variety of blue Washi tapes sparked with white . . .

 . . . plus a wonderful Chrysanthemum die I’ve never used.  Until now.  Better late than never, yes?

Cardstock:   Bazzill Emperor, Kachina  

Dies:            Memory Box Prized Chrysanthemum (Outline &

Background), TEMU Label Strip, Dee’s Distinctively 

“With Love”                

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes, Waffle Flower Enamel Dots:

White

Make a Wish

Lots of neutrals with a pop of color to wake everybody up . . .

One of the Washi strips had a red image on it so I went with that for the focal point text.

This layout could also work well for a Guy Card . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Cinder, Scrap Red  

Dies:            DieNamics Traditional Tags Stax, InLoveArts Make

a Wish Text               

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes, Pearl stickers    

Shamrock

This was my first experience with card-making using elements from The Greetery’s incredible Rosemal Collection . . .

 

For readers who have just joined theCardsmith.blogspot.com, the Rosemal collection utilizes a combination of dies and embossing folders which produce a virtually unlimited number of layout options.  I really don’t think it’s possible to make a bad card with this collection!  There’s plenty of inspiration from the Gallery on Betsy’s TheGreetery.com website.  See for yourselves!

 

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Brown Umber, LCI Paper Tindalo Brown, 

Neenah #110 Solar White, Scraps Dark Green 

Stamps:       Studio G “Shamrock”

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White, Distress Brushed Corduroy

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            The Greetery Capsule Filigree Borders, Capsule Basics,

Shortbread Shapes Snowflake, Regency Bow #1, 

Poppy Crafts  Bunch of Four Leaf Clovers, Verve 

Charming Banner            

Emb Fldr:     The Greetery Shortbread Shapes Snowflake, Rosemal

Reflections

Doo Dads:    Perfect Pearls Green Patina        

Celebrate

How about some Washi on the diagonal . . .

The word die I used for this came with a shadow die which is what I used to cut out the shape in the middle of the panel.  After propping up the panel with 1/8” thick pop dots, I then used the matching word die to cut out “Celebrate”.  I added some shimmer to the word and glued it to the card front below the opening. 

Hopefully the camera will at least hint at the lower level the word is on . . . in real life, it makes for a really neat look!

Inks:            Wink of Stella Black

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Eames White       

Dies:            TEMU Sentimental Shadow Words: “Celebrate”          

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes      

Best Wishes

This makes a pretty good Guy Card, I think . . .

I needed a rather substantial tree in order to prevail over the rather busy background.  But there was no texture to it – just flat and boring.  So I dug up a large leaf stamp that had lots of veins on it and used it to overstamp the tree.  Now it’s got some texture and looks a little more interesting . . .

Cardstock:   Unknown Rich Cocoa, Marcos Jute        

Dies:            DieNamics Traditional Tags Stax, Marianne Tree,

TEMU English Phrases & Titles: Best Wishes                  

Emb Fldr:     Paper Discovery Ornamental Gravel

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes      

Celebrate

Currently, I’m on a wonderful Washi tape jag, so you’ll have to bear with me while it runs its course . . .

How I love this hobby of ours – SO many wonderfully creative ways to play!  One caveat with Washi:  I don’t trust the stick-to-it-ivness of Washi as it’s usually fairly low tack.  This isn’t a problem if my design allows me to wrap the tape around the ends of the panel I’m sticking them to.  If not, I either add glue to the strips or if I’m covering a large area, I’ll cut a piece of double-sided tape and add the Washi to that.  Those tapes are now secure for good!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Palo Verde, Festive, Peach, Neenah #110

Solar White 

Inks:             Stampin’ Up Always Artichoke

Dies:            Studio Calico Nested Rectangles, TEMU Flower, 

Tim Holtz Holiday Greens, TEMU Sentimental

Shadow Words: Celebrate”                    

Stencil:        Tim Holtz Speckles

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes      

Celebrate

My love affair with Washi tapes continues . . .

Obviously, I went all out for color on this one.  Still and all, I thought a couple rows of lacy trim to contain the exuberance a bit wouldn’t go amiss . . .

Cardstock:   Stedner Bright White, Neenah DieNamics Traditional

Tags Stax Border, Spellbinders Fancy Tags Two, 

Impression Obsession Congrats Word Set: “Celebrate”             

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes, Mark Richards Stickers Silver

MSG: Greenbrier International Happy Birthday st w/VersaFine Imperial

Purple and Trans emb

Cheers

I really love making window cards . . .

Enough of the card front remains on this one so it was easy to keep  the sentiment inside from showing through the window.  In this case, I die cut a vertical “Happy Birthday” and mounted it on the right hand side.

Cardstock:   Canson Mixed Media #98, Scraps Purple, Aqua          

Inks:             Distress Chipped Sapphire, Pine Needles, Dusty

Concord

Dies:            TEMU Door Frame, Sissix Floral Arch, Simon Says 

Snowball Bouquet, TKOnline “Cheers               

Emb Fldr:     Taylored Expressions Weathered

Happy

 A little bouquet for a little slim line card, complete with doily . . .

 The oval focal point is actually separate from the card front and is glued to the inside of the card.  This leaves it with no place to put a sentiment.  So I put it on the back under a flower-bedecked flap . . .

    

Yes, a little unconventional, but now I have a place for a message and a signature.  I wonder – does this now qualify as an interactive card?  They are all the rage these days and it’s nice to be in style once in awhile!

 

Cardstock:   LCI Paper Tindalo Brown, Scraps Gold, White,

Dark Green, Red, Blue, Purple        

Dies:            The Greetery Capsule Basics, Capsule Filigree Borders,

Bigger Holiday Botanicals: Wax Flower, DieNamics Mini

Doily Circles, YPP Craft Words: “Happy”