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”

Thinking of You

 Thought I’d try some vivid pops of color for this one . . .

The flower was cut from a jumbo set that is perfectly sized for the large embossed background.  There is a smaller flower detail set that works with the smaller background options in this collection.

Cardstock:   American Crafts Brights Blue, The Paper Cut Eames

White, Scraps Turquoise Blue, Dark Green  

Stamps:       The Greetery Rosemal Reflections Sentiments:

“Thinking of You”

Inks:             ColorBox Cream White

Emb Pwdr:   B’Muse Eggshell

Dies:            The Greetery Rosemal Reflections, Jumbo                 

Emb Fldr:     The Greetery Shortbread Shapes Snowflake

Celebrate

One of the elements I love using with The Greetery's Rosemal Collection is the cardstock they like to use . . .

LCI Paper makes a woodgrain cardstock that is unique in its texture.  The package says the weight is #110, but it feels even sturdier than that.  It comes in several colors – I like the Kraft color and the white the best,  Somehow, the organic woodgrain works really well with the more elegant style of the Rosemal Collection. 

 Cardstock:   LCI Paper Tindalo Brown, Limba White, Scraps Silver,

Dark Green  

Dies:            The Greetery Capsule Basics, Capsule Filigree Borders,

Bigger Holiday Botanicals: Wax Flower, TKOnline 

Celebration Set: “Celebrate”, Spellbinders Back

to Basics Tags                         

Doo Dads:    May Arts Jute, Class A’Peels Silver Stickers     

Love

Recently, Jennifer McGuire did a video on a design for an Interlocking Gatefold card. It captivated me and I gave it a try . . .

 

LOVE IT!  It’s fun, easy to do, and packs perfectly flat for mailing.  The simple instructions are on her blog – I highly recommend taking a look at them and trying out this charming technique.

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Ruby Slippers, Neenah #110 Solar White, 

Scraps Red, Black   

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up Itty Bitty Background

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            Impression Obsession Large Frame, Goodculler 

Stitched Rectangles, Spellbinders Hearts Two,

Shoot!, Avery Elle Peace, Love, & Joy set: “Love”              

Hooray For You

 My love affair with The Greetery's Rosemal Collection continues unabated . . .

 

Every time I open up the sets in the collection, I find fun new ways to put them together. And I’ve hardly started . . . lots more to come, dear readers.

 

Cardstock:   LCI Paper Tindalo Brown, Limba White  

Stamps:       Marianne Banners & Text: “Hooray for You”

Inks:             ColorBox Frost White

Dies:            The Greetery Capsule Basics, Capsule Filigree Borders,

 Bigger Holiday Botanicals: Olive, Wax Flower,  

Marianne Banners & Text   

Doo Dads:    Waffle Flower Enamel Dots White

Rest

When my friend and fellow stamper recently had her hip replacement, this is what I sent her . . .

 

Fun Fact:  In my job as Staff Writer for RubberStampMadness magazine, I often pick up great tips from the artists I interview.  This one is a neat idea for lining up individual die cut letters evenly.

I happen to have a grid pattern printed on a piece of clear acetate which really came in handy here.

1. Die cut the label that the letters will be glued to.

2. Use low tack tape to fasten it behind the acetate grid.

3. Die cut the letters and arrange them on the acetate over the label.

4. With a strip of low tack tape, lay it down over the bottom half of the letters.

5. Carefully pull up the tape and adjust any letter that needs it.

6. Remove the label from the acetate, add glue to the letters and attach to the              label.

7. When dry, remove the tape.

Works wonderfully well!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Precious, Uncle Paul Bamboo Green,

Assorted Patterned Papers, Scraps White, Gold   

Dies:            Goodculler Stitched Rectangles, Memory Box 

Alphabet Soup, TEMU Flowers, DieNamics 

Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangles           

Happy

This card features the center panel from the dry embossed frame I worked with for my previous post . . .

Since the background coloring was already done last Thursday, this card came together quite quickly.  The dark Crimson background sets off the embossed panel nicely.  As the Rosemal collection features elements sized for larger cards, it’s nice to have interior elements available to use on smaller creations.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Crimson, Rain Forest,  Strathmore #100 Bristol

                    Vellum, Hanko Echizen Gold     

Inks:             Distress Old Paper

Dies:            The Greetery Capsule Basics, Capsule Filigree Borders,

Regency Bow #1, DieVersions font Hint of Lime: “Happy”      

Emb Fldr:     The Greetery Rosemal Reflections, Sizzix Textured

Impressions 

Bloom

For this post and the next one, I’ve used two elements from the same embossing folder: the frame for today, and the center panel for my next post on Monday . . .

After die cutting the frame and panel, I inked the concave side of the embossing folder by dragging the ink pad over the surface, inserting the cardstock, and running it through my die cutting machine.  After repeating this three times, I got the aged look I was after.

I brayered the edges of the card front with the same ink to match.  Then I assembled various elements from The Greetery’s Rosemal collection and added them to the card.

 

A major part of the fun in working with this multi-die collection is playing around with the countless ways the various elements can be put together.  I really don’t think there’s a limit!

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #100 Bristol Vellum, Bazzill Crimson, Hanko 

Echizen Gold

Inks:             Distress Old Paper

Dies:            The Greetery Capsule Basics, Capsule Filigree Borders,      

Regency Bow #1, Bigger Holiday Botanicals: Amaryllis,                   Impression Obsession “Bloom”, DieVersions font Hint of

Lime: “Happy”   

Emb Fldr:     The Greetery Rosemal Reflections, Sizzix Textured

Impressions 

Happy Birthday

A birthday card for my lovely college roommate of many decades ago . . .

 

After die cutting the frame and center panel, I dry embossed the frame and then skimmed over it with a flat stamp having no image. The embossing folder is 3D which made it very easy to pick up just the design and not the background.

 

For the center panel, I brayered light blue over the oval shape and when dry, I embossed it in the same folder.  Then I lightly sanded over the design.  This exposed white highlights from the original cardstock which emphasizes the pattern.    

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Arctic, LCI Paper Tindalo Brown, Strathmore 

#140 Watercolor     

Stamps:       Sizzix Banners & Labels

Inks:             Distress Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            The Greetery Regency Bow #1, Capsule Basics,

Capsule Filligree Borders, Sizzix Banners & Labels        

Emb Fldr:     The Greetery Rosemal Reflections

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear

Thanks So Much

My wonderful neighbor kindly gifted me with a fruit basket, so naturally I have a delightful reason to make a Thank You card . . .

I decided to make a mini slimline version using my favorite new products from The Greetery . . . there are so many creative options in their Rosemal collection that you’ll be seeing plenty more samples in my upcoming blog posts.

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Lilac, Hyacinth, Tim Holtz Silver Sparkle

Stamps:       Patelai Words: “Thank you”

Inks:             VersaMark, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White, Stampamania Silver Dollar

Dies:            The Greetery Mini Frame, Capsule Basics                  

Emb Fldr:     The Greetery Rosemal Reflections

Blessings

 This one uses some of the smaller elements in The Greetery’s Rosemal Collection . . .

 

In addition to the neutral colors I’ve been using with this collection, I’m branching out with some lovely colors.  These two shades of green seem to fit the design style perfectly . . .

 

Cardstock:   LCI PaperTindalo Brown, Strathmore #100 Bristol

Vellum Finish, Scraps Dark & Light Greens, Dull Gold  

Dies:            The Greetery Mini Frame, Bigger Holiday Botanicals

Holly #1, Capsule Basics, Capsule Filigree Borders, 

TKOnline “Blessings” 

Emb Fldr:     The Greetery Rosemal Reflections

Celebrate

 This card is for a March birthday and I like it so much, I hate to wait so long to send it . . .

 

The Greetery produces a unique line of gorgeous products and I admit I’m hooked.  Each set in their Rosemal collection is filled with highly creative elements that are interchangeable, producing a virtually unlimited variety of layout options.

 

Cardstock:   LCI Paper Tindalo Brown, Strathmore #100 Bristol Vellum

Finish, Scraps Dark Green, Dull Gold     

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy

Dies:            The Greetery Regency Bow #1, Hang It Up, Bigger

Holiday Botanicals Paper White, Capsule Basics,

Capsule Filigree Borders 

Emb Fldr:     TKOnline Celebration Set: “Celebrate”, The Greetery, 

Rosemal Reflections

Cheers

I had fun creating a stone background topped with a little texture and a couple of perky flowers . . .

 

Then I gilded the lily, so to speak, when I got the idea to brush on some Perfect Pearls.  These are mica powders mixed with fixatives that will permanently anchor the powders in place.  You can draw with a Dove marker and then just dust on the powders.  The excess is lightly buffed off.  A pearlized gleam remains and it lights up the whole layout.  Most likely, the camera won’t pick it up, but in real life, it’s so very pretty.

 

I haven’t used Perfect Pearls in years and have no idea why.  That changes now!  I have a nice collection of these lovely powders and I can’t wait to put them through their paces . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Cinder, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth

Stamps:       AlteNew

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black, Memories Soft Stone

Waterclrs:    Zig Clean Color Pink Flamingo, Bright Yellow, Yellow,

Mid Green, Olive Green

Dies:            Simon Says Layered Scallop Tags, TKOnline 

Celebration Set: Cheers, The Greetery Regency Bow #1

Stencil:         Tim Holtz Stone, Frantic Stamper Stitched Quilt, 

The Greetery Regency Bows #1

Doo Dads:    Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste, Perfect Pearls 

Perfect Sparkle, Lemon Sparkle    

Home

My long-time friend, stamping buddy, and fellow church-goer Anna is moving from NY to Delaware.  Closing on her home is next week and I’m hoping this will be the first mail she gets in her new home . . .

 

I wanted some high contrast and that’s what I got.  However, instead of a daytime scene, I now have an unexpected evening one.  I like it!  I hope Anna does too . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Bazzill Blue, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth, 

Scraps Yellow, Green, Brown      

Dies:            Impression Obsession Congrats Word Set: “Home”, 

Spellbinders Home Sweet Home, TEMU Christmas

House (trees only), Divinity Designs Clouds & Raindrops, 

Hero Cloudy Sky (birds only), DieNamics Grassy Edges            

Cheers

Blue and icy white – perfect colors for a January birthday card, yes?

As this is a guy card, I thought a dry-embossed birch tree background would look good. The tag is deckle-edged and instead of a bow, I just passed the ribbon through the tag hole and anchored it with a sticky dot.  A few frosty drops and we’re done!

Cardstock:   Stedner Bright White, Neenah Bright White      

Inks:             Distress Faded Jeans, Stormy Sky

Dies:            Impression Obsession Deckled Tag, TKOnline Celebration Set:                                  “Cheers”  

Emb Fldr:     Stampin’ Up Woodland Textured

Doo Dads:    TEMU Clear Drops, Blue & White fiber