Palma Arbor #2

 

 . . . and here is the promised second post featuring cigar bands . . .

My shoe box of bands features quite a number of styles that are primarily white, black, and gold and I thought that making a background of just those colors would look rather posh.  My feelings about cigars are that they are gross, disgusting, and their stench is revolting.  People who smoke those while in the company of innocent bystanders definitely have an attitude problem. 

However, when it comes to cigar bands, well, my outlook is kinder and I do appreciate the beautiful artwork.  I do wish you could see these in real life:  most are dimensional with raised gold embossing you can easily see and feel with your finger.  Exquisite!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Cigar Labels, Hanko Echizen Gold       

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, TopUnder Palm

Trees, DieVersions font Noodles            

Doo Dads:    Nuvo Gilding Flakes: Gold

Palma Arbor

Priscilla was the mother of one of my dearest friends and for many years, she worked as Receptionist for a large cigar manufacturing and distribution company.  One of the perks was permission to take home discontinued cigar boxes and label overruns which her daughter Carol generously shared with me.  The sturdy boxes are great for storing and stacking tons of stamping paraphernalia.  But the cigar bands have been at rest in a shoebox until I could figure out how best to use them . . .

Most of the bands have a large rounded design feature in the center of the strip, so I couldn’t figure out how to put them together for a background.  But after doing some sorting, I found plenty of straight edged strips I could use between those with larger seals in the centers. 

Then I cut a piece of double-sided sticky tape sized to use on a Slimline card, peeled the release paper off one side, and started sticking down the labels.  I purposely left some random spaces with the sticky tape showing.  Then I dusted everything with Gilding Flakes which I burnished for good adherence and then brushed off the excess.  The remaining release paper was pulled off the back and the layer was added to a  Slimline card base.

The words “Palma Arbor” are Latin for “Palm Tree”.  At least, that's what Google says.  Black seemed the best choice as a backing for the opulent art work on the labels, so I went with that. 

My next post will feature an A2 card with cigar labels chosen to fit an elegant color theme of black, white, and gold, so stay tuned!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Cigar Labels, Hanko Echizen Gold       

Dies:            Spellbinders Layered Palm Tree,  DieVersions font

Noodles                  

Doo Dads:    Nuvo Gilding Flakes: Gold, Gelly Roll Clear Star pen

Clear 

WOW!

Inspired by a blogger who used Twinkling H₂O’s on a background, I realized I hadn’t used my stash of those lovely watercolors in quite awhile.  So it was time to break them out and have me some fun . . .

I like the results so much that I think I’ll leave them on my worktable for awhile so that I’ll be reminded to use them.

The rounded leaves were done by swirling a ball-tipped stylus on the back of each leaf.  To keep the shape in the mail, I backed each leaf with a small pop dot.

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Canson Montval Watercolor #140

Inks:             Distress Shabby Shutters

Waterclrs:    Twinkling Waters Moss Green, Yellow Rose, Celestial Sun

Dies:            Memory Box Lorelai Leaf, Stitched Rectangle Trimmings,

Tattered Lace “You’re”, DieVersions “80”, “WOW!”              

Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Tile, Mini Textured,

Tim Holtz Speckles

Doo Dads:    Prima Chalk Paste Chalky White     

Happy Birthday

Here is the second of the two cards I did while playing with my stash of circular images . . .

After changing the colors, orientation, and text, I like the fresh new look – hope you do too!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Canson Mixed Media #98  

Stamps:       Simon Says Amazing, Lots of Dots, Hero Circular

Designs, Just For Fun Water Ring Small

Inks:             Distress Candied Apple, Carved Pumpkin, Stampin’ Up

Always Artichoke, Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            Ali Express “Happy Birthday”, Lil Inker Stitched

Mats Rectangles             

Doo Dads:    Kat Scrappiness sequins Shimmering Platinum 

Happy Birthday

When it comes to basic shapes, I tend to gravitate towards squares and rectangles when I design my layouts.  So my two large trays of circular images rarely get a glance at the spotlight.  That is a ridiculous waste of a really good stash.  I plan to reform, starting with my next two cards . . .

In making up for lost opportunities, I went overboard (which tends to be my style anyway) and had me a good time using almost twenty circular images on each card.  FUN!  I’ve got scores more to play with, so fasten your seatbelts . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Kachina, Canson Mixed Media #98        

Stamps:       Simon Says Amazing, Lots of Dots, Hero Circular

Designs, Just For Fun Water Ring Small

Inks:             Distress Peacock Feathers, Twisted Citron, Villainous

Potion, Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            Ali Express “Happy Birthday”, Gina Marie Only Pierced

Dots Nested Rectangle                

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Black, assorted sequins, crystals

America

For this year’s 4^th of July card, I once again dived into my collection of USPS postage stamps that were in use several years ago . . .

 

 . . . I loved the design (still do!) and find them a perfectly patriotic addition to one of America’s most important remembrances.

 

Happy Fourth of July!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill White, Marcos Carnival Cover Red, Ranger

Silver Sparkle        

Stamps:       Impression Obsession The Pledge

Inks:             VersaFine Majestic Blue

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Frantic Stamper Statue of Liberty, America, Spellbinders

Classic Rectangles Large            

Doo Dads:    USPS postage stamps      

Journey

As promised, here’s the second option with Tim’s very creative Woodgrain die set. .  .

 In case you missed it, take a look at my previous post for more details on this set . . .

 Cardstock:   Bazzill Wheat         

Dies:            Tim Holtz Woodgrain, Tattered Banners, Memory Box

Journey, Cheery Lynn Expandable Quilling Strip                      

Cheery Lynn Expandable Quilling Strip               

Doo Dads:    Viva Pearl Pen Cream, Wink of Stella Clear