Birthdays Are the Best

For a variety of reasons, I’m currently in a time crunch, so I’m having fun digging up a bunch of cards from earlier days and re-vamping them with some current ideas . . .

I like the energy that a diagonal treatment brings to the layout and I think I’ll do more of them . . .

Cardstock:            Bazzill Raven, Neenah Bright White

Stamps:                Unknown Leaves, Stampin’ Up Itty Bitty

Background,

Inks:                      VersaFine Spanish Moss, Superior India Ink

Black, Assorted colors

Emb Powder:         Vippies Transcendence

Dies:                      Creative Expressions “Birthdays Are the

Best Days”

Doo Dads:              Burlap strip Black

Celebrate

With time and a few health issues at stake, I thought a repeat of a rather successful card was in order . . .

Washi tapes can really make a statement – especially when applied on the diagonal . . .

When using pop dots for a panel attached to the card front, shadow dies intended to back coordinating text can really be useful for cutting out the shape that surrounds the text.   This frames the text nicely . . .

 Inks:            Wink of Stella Black

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Eames White       

Dies:            TEMU Sentimental Shadow Words: “Celebrate”          

Doo Dads:    Assorted Washi Tapes      

Love

Here’s a re-work of an older card . . .

I like the leaves and flower with their wonderful gleaming Pearl Ex colors, but I do wish I’d chosen a different color for the background.  It’s a bit gloomy for my liking.  Oh well, there’s always a next time and a chance to make better choices . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Dark Green, Raven, Scrap Dull Silver

Stamps:       Great Impressions Carved Leaves, Checkerboard

Flower                  

Inks:            Dove Blender, Pearl Ex True Blue, Misty Lavender,

Hunter Green

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Honey Bee Blanket Set: “Love”

Doo Dads:    Seed beads Black, screening mesh Black, Silver

dragonfly brads

Dig It

For this one, I used the crushed waxed paper technique to make a frame . . .

If you’re new to this blog, scroll back a few posts to learn the simple technique.  It involves crushed wax paper, a piece of cardstock, and a hot iron . . . doesn’t get much easier than that!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Hershey, Bon Bon, Strathmore #100 Bristol

Smooth

Inks:             Archival Coffee, Distress Antique Linen, Candies Apple,

Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint,

Stormy Sky, Dusty Concord, Oxide Walnut Stain,

Brushed Corduroy

Dies:            Impression Obsession Large Frame, Garden Tools, 

Alibbon Pot Plants, TEMU Let’s Dig it

Doo Dads:    Waxed paper

Love

Here’s a background I did with the crushed wax paper technique . . .

After ironing the crushed wax paper onto my cardstock, I used blending brushes to smooth on two shades of blue.  I love the subtle interest this technique gives to the background . . . the texture is a nice backdrop without taking away from the floral focal points.

Happily, the perky flowers will stay perky, even after their wild ride through the USPS system.  That’s because they’re made with Foamiran.  Once heated for 3 seconds with a heat gun, the petals curve upwards and stay that way.  Cardstock flowers will always get crushed in the mail, but Foamiran flowers will look just as good for the recipient as they did when I made them.  Miraculous stuff, for sure!

Cardstock:   Bazzill White, Neenah Bright White        

Inks:             Bazzill Oxide Evergreen Bough, Faded Jeans, Copic 

Rose Mist

Dies:            DieNamics Pierced Rectangle Frame, TEMU Zinnia,

 Papertrey Ink Super Succulents Set: “Love”                

Doo Dads:    waxed paper, The Art Institute Floral Transparent Set, 

Foamiran, American Crafts Jute Pink 

Hello Fall

This one uses a technique I had fun with decades ago.  Thanks to Gina K’s video on Wax Paper Techniques, I’m hooked on it all over again . . .

I took a 4” x 5” piece of wax paper and crumpled it into a small ball.  Then I smoothed it out over a piece of cardstock, covered it with another piece of cardstock, and ironed it with the hottest setting and no steam.  When cool, I used blending brushes to smooth on color.  The wax residue resisted the ink while a wonderfully textured pattern was left behind.  After toweling off any ink left on the wax, job done.

You’ll be seeing more of this easy technique for sure!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Hershey, Neenah #80 Bright White, 

Fox River Cream    

Stamps:       Memory Box Maple Leaf

Inks:             Archival Coffee, Distress Antique Linen, Oxide Walnut

Stain, Brushed Corduroy

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            DieNamics Pierced Square, Memory Box Maple Leaf, 

TEMU Autumn-themed Set: “Hello Fall”,

Spellbinders Fall Botanical           

Doo Dads:    Crushed Wax Paper

Cheers

As with my previous post, most of these layout elements came from my beloved Scrap Box . . .

I backed the cutwork leaf with white cardstock so it wouldn’t be lost against the busy background.  Still and all, I love how the background turned out and am quite happy that it shows up so well behind the leaf . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth  

Stamps:       Technique Junkies Watercolor Flowers, Travel

Documents

Dies:               Kat Scrappiness Woodgrain Framed Diamond

Wire, Prima Forest Leaves, Lil Inker Stitched Mats

Rectangles, Simon Says Cheers

Inks:             Distress Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy, Antique

Linen, Black Soot