Japan

Here’s another take on using padded, die cut shapes for dimension . . .

 

An earlier post on August 14 showed a quilted-look card inspired by a kit from Hanko.  It was entitled “Washi Paper Quilting Cards”.  Scroll down to the earlier post for more details on how to put this look together . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Blue, Scraps Washi Papers         

Stamps:       Unknown “Japan”, Chop

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Memory Box Double Stitch Rectangle Cut Out, Lavany

“Asian Ocean”        

Stand Tall

With my granddaughter off to her first year of college, it was time for some advice disguised as encouragement . . .

 

The dotted background on this layout is fabric!  It’s part of a collection of              forty two 5x5” pieces of printed cotton and all of the designs are intricate and gorgeous.  I used 4” wide double-sided tape on the back, die cut it with a deckle-edged die, then peeled off the release paper to mount it to the black layer.  Quick and easy!

The three giraffes are pop-dotted to stand out against all of those dots.  Love the color combo of mustard, cream, and black . . . hope Audrey will too.

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Antique Linen, Love Nicole Licorice, Scrap

Yellow

Stamps:       Rubber Stamps of America Leopard Spots, Technique

Junkies Stand Tall: “Stand Tall and Be Strong“

Inks:             Distress Mustard Seed, Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            Penny Black Antique Frame, DieNamics In&Out

Stitched Rounded Squares, Memory Box Giraffe Trio               

Doo Dads:    123 Stitch fabric Achroma Charm Pack  

Happy Birthday

This die was one of those I snapped up the second I saw it . . .

  . . . it was the color scheme of whites, and the soft blues, greens, and tans used in the ad that hooked me.  So I dug through my supply of patterned papers and got as close as I could. 

As each color requires a separate cutting with the die, I wound up with scores of pieces I could use to make more of these backgrounds.  So I did – fourteen of these lie in wait for future projects.  Don’t worry, I won’t sock you with all of them – maybe just a few here and there.

Cardstock:   Canson Aquarelle #90, Assorted patterned papers      

Dies:            InLoveArts Diagonal Stripe Background, Lychee

Flower Stitched Circles, Ali Express “Happy Birthday”  

Doo Dads:    Hemp cord Tan      

Happily Ever After

When I make a card for a wedding anniversary, I like to use a design involving two of the same lovely element – in this case, the two irises . . .

 

 . . . that’s because I want to emphasize that the couple are a beautiful pair that have sustained a loving relationship for a number of years.  May they enjoy many, many more!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Dahlia, Graphic Products Decorative Papers:

White Mulberry, Glama Naturals Translucent Vellum

Clear, Scraps: Purple, Violet, Yellow        

Stamps:       A Stamp in the Hand “Script”, Studio G “Happily

Ever After”

Inks:             Stampin’ Up Always Artichoke, Distress Milled

Lavender, ColorBox Gold

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Kat Scrappiness Mini Slimline Distressed Edge,

InLoveArts Iris, Spellbinders Hemstitched Squares                

Doo Dads:    Class Appeals Stickers Gold Sparklers   

Happy Anniversary

Having recently come across an intriguing die of a widely branched tree that was designed to embellish a four-panel card, I decided to give it a try – especially as the price was extremely low . . .

I think I’ll try for somewhat lighter colors the next time.  With the pearls, plus lots of double layering for dimension, the card is too bulky to mail when folded into quarters.  But when folded in half, it works very well . . .

 

Cardstock:   Premiere #140 Watercolor, Scraps Dark Brown

Colorants:    Nuance Dried Ink Powders Bright Yellow, Jade,

Bister Red, Yellow, Green, Blue

Dies:            InLoveArts Four Panel Tree Border, Tattered Lace

Everyday Sentiments: “Happy Anniversary”                

Doo Dads:    Various pearls, some colored with Stampin’ Up

Daffodil Delight, Copic Garnet, Dark Bark, Marine Green,

Wink of Stella Clear         

Comfy Cozy

At the time of the writing for this post, the NJ annual Fair was just two weeks away.  My friend Barb is the Director of the Home and Hobby building and for many months, she’s been hard at work in getting hundreds of entries catalogued, organized, and displayed.  One of those things involves the display of my own cards in the rubber stamped category!  Her job is a huge undertaking involving most of a year, so a Thank You card is certainly in order . . .

 

Barb is also a world-class quilter, so that’s the theme I usually go for in making her cards.  The four focal elements on this layout consist of Washi paper wrapped over foam-covered pieces of chipboard.  The foam creates a soft, lightweight dimension that is fun to poke and yet is easy to mail.

Cardstock:   Premiere #140 Watercolor  

Inks:             Distress Barn Door

Dies:            Spellbinders Classic Rectangles Lge, Sm, DieVersions

font Noodles:  “COZY, COMFY”, Papertrey Ink

Angled Labels                   

Stencil:        Paper Pizzazz Easy Stitches

Doo Dads:    Wood flower buttons, American Crafts Jute Red         

Birthday

Here’s another look at my new venetian blinds die . . .

 

The card base is white but I thought the outer edges needed to be toned down a bit.  So I tried out a new idea:  with my water brush, I stroked it across my Brushed Corduroy inkpad and painted around the edges with it.  I needed to re-load the brush every two inches or so, but I got just the muted effect I was after and it matched the interior wallpaper as well.  Win Win!

 

Cardstock:   Premiere #140 Watercolor, Scraps Black, Washi Paper         

Inks:             Distress Fossilized Amber, Brushed Corduroy

Dies:            Impression Obsession Large Frame, Frantic Stamper

Ten Fun Felines Set, TEMU Shutters         

Peek-A-Boo

Having gotten a most unusual new die, I had to try it out immediately . . .

It’s called “Shutters” but would be more aptly named “Venetian Blinds”, because that’s certainly what they are.  My original inspiration featured an all white card base and frame but perhaps there should be a little more contrast?  I tried that with my next version of this die – check it out this coming Thursday . . .

 Cardstock:   Bazzill White, Neenah Naturals Tan, Brown

Inks:             Distress Rusty Hinge, Peeled Paint, Brushed Corduroy,

Tombow #977

Dies:            TEMU Shutters, Impression Obsession Large Frame,

InLoveArtShop Potted Cactus, Kscraft Hanging Pots,

                     Tim Holtz Alphanumeric Tiny Type, Upper              

Happy Birthday

Scroll down for another look at the results of my current over-sized stencil frenzy.  But first, I did some rearranging recently and came across a Washi Paper Quilting kit by Hanko that I’d bought years ago at a show and forgotten I had.  The kit features several sheets each of foam and chipboard, lovely pictures of some colorful ideas and samples, and a page of suggested shapes to trace.  The kit was marketed years before dies came into being so the assembly time has greatly been shortened by using them instead of tracing and fussy cutting.  HankoDesigns.com has a number of these for sale.

I die cut the foam and the chipboard with the pear die and glued the two together.  If the foam extends beyond the edges of the chipboard, trim it off.  I cut some two-sided sticky label paper with the pear die and attached it to the back of the chipboard.  I added a bit of tape to the Washi paper and attached it to the foam.  The Washi paper was trimmed down to a ¼” edging. 

After peeling off the release paper, I then folded the Washi paper to the back, and stuck it down onto the sticky label paper.  Dealing with curved edges is easy if you make little snips into the Washi paper about 1/8” apart before folding to the back.

The result is a puffy embellishment (but not too much) and is a very lightweight enhancement to a card.  I’ll be doing a lot more of this . . . my plan is to write an article on the method and hopefully, RubberStampMadness will publish it.  We’ll see . . .

Here’s a look at the back . . .

Cardstock:   Premiere #140Watercolor, Scrap Metallic Copper,

Unknown Washi paper  

Inks:             Distress Black Soot

Dies:            W+9 Pears, Purple Daisy Happy Birthday                   

Stencil:        Ichiyo Wabi Sabi Collection

Doo Dads:    Gelly Roll pen Copper, Hanko Washi Paper Quilting Kit