Thinking of You

My dear friend Anna recently gifted me with a lovely Hero set of stamps and matching dies . . .

The set is called “Wisteria” and even though purple is my favorite color, I decided to use a warm color scheme instead.  Then after die cutting the image, I turned it upside down and made it look like a garden border filled with tall spikes of beautiful flowers. 

How I love finding different ways to use such lovely products in my stash!

Cardstock:   Bazzill White, Rain Forest, Breathtaking, Strathmore 

#100 Bristol Smooth

Stamps:       Hero Wisteria Set

Inks:            Distress Peeled Paint, Crushed Olive, Wild Honey,

Mustard Seed, Weathered Wood, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Pwdr:   Hero White

Dies:            Hero Wisteria Set, Impression Obsession Sea Birds,

Large Frame, Lil Inkers Cloudy Sky         

Doo Dads:    Stickles Yellow       

Autumn

I’ve a dear friend who does not have happy memories of long ago birthdays, so for her, birthday cards are out.  But Friendship cards are happily received . . .

In my ongoing experiments with Dragonfly Tissue, I thought I’d try it out over some bright colors to see what would happen.  The rich colors still came through but the Dragonfly Tissue gives a subtle, misty look that is quite appealing. I really love this stuff and am very glad I’ve got lots of it in my stash!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Festive, Strathmore #140 Watercolor, PaperArts

Dragonfly Tissue     

Stamps:       Hero Delicate Blossoms

Inks:            ColorBox Black

Colorants:    Distress Crayon Flickering Candle, Jack-O-Lantern,

Hocus Pocus, Studio Gesso Black, Wink of Stella Black

Waterclrs:    Inktense Pencil Fern

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Spellbinders Small Deckled Mega Rectangles, Paper Smooches “Autumn”             

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black        

Inspiring

I tried out a new idea I learned from a recent video by Jennifer McGuire and absolutely love it . . .

 . . . it's another great way to use the fabulous sets of coordinating stencils and embossing folders that are so popular right now - 3D folders will give the most dramatic results.  The first step is to emboss your cardstock.  Then, place the stencil over the embossed image and it will fit like a glove.  Ink with the Life Changing brushes in your choice of colors. 

The embossed design will survive the inking quite well, but once dry, you can always put it back into the embossing folder for another run-through.  This really freshens and crisps the embossed dimension.

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Palo Verde, Strathmore #90 Mixed Media        

Stamps:       Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Friendship: “Your

                     strength is inspiring”

Inks:             Distress Oxide Iced Spruce, Mustard Seed, Fossilized

                     Amber, Hero Black

Colorants:    Bob Ross Gesso Black

Dies:            Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, Slender

                     Leaves, Taylored Expressions Simple Strips                           

Stencil:        Crafters Companion Poppies

Emb Fldr:    Crafters Companion Poppies

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black        

Here With You

With this card, I have re-discovered the beauty of Encore inks.  They are a pigment ink that will dry without being heated and they have a glorious, fine-grained metallic sheen to them that is quite unique.  Too bad the camera doesn't do them justice . . .

 Sadly, they've been out of production for several years, but my pads are in good shape and I'm fully stocked with reinkers.  So, marketing decisions be damned - I'm still in business!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Parakeet, Strathmore Bright White, Ultimate

                     White 

Stamps:       Pink Fresh Sweet Blooms, Taylored Expressions Simple

                     Strips Friendship: “Wish I could be there with you”

Inks:             Encore Purple, Pink, Honeydew, Hero Black

Dies:            Impression Obsession Large Frame, Taylored

                     Expressions Simple Strips  

Stencil:        Pink Fresh Sweet Blooms

Doo Dads:    American Crafts Jute Green        

Thinking of You

I've invested in some of Tim's new Oxide Distress inks and am having some fun experimenting with them . . .

They're very creamy, blend well, and when spritzed with water, they splotch beautifully.  There are scores more interesting techniques to try with these and I plan to do just that!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Ocean, White, Strathmore Ultimate White         

Stamps:       Hero Blossoms, Studio G “Thinking of You”

Inks:             Distress Oxide: Salty Ocean, Evergreen Bough, Wilted

                        Violet, Black Soot

Emb Powder:   Sweet Stamps Detail White

Dies:            Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio Two                      

Stencil:        The Crafters Workshop Mini Tile Texture

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear, Wendy Vecchi Embossing Paste,

                           black enamel dot

                        

Old Friends

This card features a used dryer sheet, a paper towel and a new dried die powder named Mango Blaze whose lovely claim to fame is that it contains mica.  So it shimmers and gleams wherever it's applied.  

Gorgeous stuff for sure . . .

Five more dried die powders were used on this card front.  They were scattered over a used dryer sheet which I wanted to use because I loved its texture.  I laid the sheet over a paper towel to absorb the extra water and color.  Yet the sheet was so thin and lacey, it didn't retain much color.  But the paper towel sure did, so after heat drying them, I used spray adhesive to attach the two.  To add more body, I attached them with more spray adhesive to a piece of cardstock, and then die cut the stack with a deckled-edged die.  I hope the camera picks up some of the glimmer . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Limeade, Dryer Sheet, Paper Towel, Generic

                           cardstock White         

Stamps:        My Sentiments Exactly Pear with Names, Stampers

                           Anonymous Pear, Red Rubber “It takes a long time . . .”

Inks:               Distress Pine Needles, Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron, Forest

                           Moss, Vintage Photo            

Colorants:    Dried Die Powders:  Bister Green, Blue, Yellow, Nuance

                           Jade, Bright Yellow, Pixie Powder Mango Blaze

Emb Powder:   B’Muse Aztec Gold, Stampendous Ivory Pearl  

Dies:              Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges, W+9 Pears, Spellbinders

                           Framed Tags One, Memory Box Cascadia Butterfly Trio 

Doo Dads:    Oriental Trading Pearl Bronze

Thinking of You

This is actually a Sympathy card . . .

 . . . when is there a better time to say  "I'm thinking of you"?

White on White is a current trend and I hope it lasts forever.  The Clean and Simple style is one I really admire, but sometimes it seems too bare to me.  I want something with a little more textural interest added to the mix.  My frequent solution is to die cut a frame from another piece of the same cardstock I've used for the background, run it through an embossing folder and layer it over the card front.  The result is added texture, yet still with a Clean and Simple feel . . . works for me!

Cardstock:   Generic Watercolor paper

Stamps:        Hero Newspaper Tulips, Stamp Pad “Thinking of you”

Inks:               Distress Spun Sugar, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick,

                           ColorBox Cream White

Emb Powder:   Stampendous Ivory Pearl, Shabby White

Dies:              Spellbinders Petite Ovals Small, Curved Matting

                           Basics A, Tim Holtz Tattered Banners

Impression Plate:   Cheery Lynn Burble

Doo Dads:    1/8” Cream ribbon

Wishing you . . .

This one was for my niece’s birthday in June – we’re on opposite coasts, hence the non-traditional text for her birthday card.  She collects wonderful palm tree images and loves Hawaii, so this stamp seemed tailor made for her . . .

For the background, I smooshed the two Distress pads on a wavy-edged acrylic block, spritzed twice, and laid it down on watercolor paper.  I loved the resulting texture but knew the stamped image would never show up against it, so I simply sponged the same two colors on a watercolor scrap and then stamped.  Before attaching the image with foam dots, I traced around the background with a stylus for a little added dimension and then cut it out freehand – really not difficult or time-consuming to do.  Of course it’s not perfect, but I’m hoping that counts for a little added charm . . . yes?   Say yes . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Jacaranda, Watercolor paper, Neenah Solar White

Stamps:        Great Impressions Palm Trees/Hut, all text from Simon

   Says Sketchy Banners

Inks:               Distress Stormy Sky, Antique Linen, Hero Black

Dies:              Spellbinders Classic Squares Large, Simon Says

   Sketchy Banner Greetings, Impression Obsession

   Tiny Flowers

Doo Dads:    Gelly Roll Clear Star pen               

Wishing the Best

 Tried a little artsy smudging on this one . . . not really sure I succeeded . . .

I sorta do, and I sorta don’t.  I plan to try this again and maybe next time, some new perspective will help me figure out how I could have improved on this one.  I’m thinking a lighter hand with the smudging for starters . . .

Cardstock:            Generic textured Blue, Burgundy, Beckett Iceberg

Stamps:                 Stacy Stamps Ivy Geraniums, Simon Says Tilted Banner 
                                     Sayings “Wishing you . . .”

Inks:                       ColorBox Gold, Distress Aged Mahogany, Mustard

                                   Seed, Peeled Paint, Faded Jeans

Emb Powder:         Ranger Detail Gold                         

Doo Dads:              Gold stickers, bow

Sparkle

I don’t know what it is about bicycle images that always brings a smile to my face . . .

. . . maybe it’s the happy memories of my own bike-riding childhood?  Then again, maybe not:  my first and only bike was a two ton, fat-tired behemoth that took a great deal of effort to propel downhill, let alone on the flat.  Going uphill was absolutely out of the question.  Still, I have a nostalgic grin on my face – maybe I should go borrow a bike somewhere and climb on for a ride?  But this time, I’ll take one with gears, please . . .

Cardstock:              Marcos Jute, Wausau Firecracker Red, Generic

                                   Oatmeal
Stamps:                    Hero Joy Ride, Envelope Pattern, Viva Las Vegas
                                    “Don’t let anyone . . .”
Inks:                          Distress Brushed Corduroy, Memento Tuxedo Black
Colored Pencils:     Prisma Scarlet Lake
Dies:                        Simon Says Sketchy Banner Greetings
Impress Plate:        Dies Direct Cement
Doo Dads:               Crystals

A Wonderful Day

I love watercolor crayons because they don’t dry out on the rubber, thus giving me plenty of time to work with them.  They also have the wonderful ability to make me look more skilled than I really am . . .  and I’m always up for that!

A few strokes of the crayons on the rubber, followed by a spritz or two of water can give  you easy, artsy results.  All you have to do is get over the idea that you’re gonna be able to predict exactly how it’s going to turn out.  No way . . . and isn’t that part of the fun?

Cardstock:               PaperCut Brown Umber, Watercolor paper
Stamps:                   Hero Envelope Pattern, Evolving Images Leaf
                                     Spray, Great Impressions “May your day . . .”
Inks:                         ColorBox Frost White
Crayons:                  Caran D’Ache watercolor Red, Blue, Dark Brown
Emb Powder:          Judikins Opaque White
Dies:                        Memory Box Pippi Butterfly
Doo Dads:               Gelly Roll Clear Star pen, Jute twine

Thinking of You

A pink, grey, and white combination always seems to work – especially when sparked with a little silver . . .

In the 7^th grade, my school choir decided on full, gray skirts and pink blouses for our uniforms.  In the mid-Fifties, this was the age of as many petticoats as you could possibly cram under your skirt, which gave each of us a walking diameter of at least four feet.  We used entire bottles of starch to get this effect, which made the petticoats so stiff that our legs bled from rubbing against them.  We couldn’t have fallen over if we tried . . . and how we managed to fit ourselves onto those skinny risers for performances baffles me to this day.  But those were happy times with great memories, and I still love using pink, grey and white together.

Minus the dangerous petticoats, of course.

Cardstock:               Bazzill Ash, Emma, Generic Glossy White

Stamps:                    My Sentiments Exactly ”Thinking of You”                   

Inks:                           Ancient Page Flannel Gray

Emb Powder:          Vippies Transcendence

Dies:                          Spellbinders Petite Ovals Small, Mega Classic

                                    Scalloped Ovals Large, Cheery Lynn Dancing

                                    Doily Lace Border, Marianne Creatables Leaves

Doo Dads:                Gelly Roll Clear Star, Silver pearls

A Friend's House

This card was a success on several levels – none of which have anything at all to do with the layout . . .

I keep a stash of my classroom projects as they never turn out to be my best work.  While in class, I’m in a rush to keep up, my favorite tools and embellishments are at home, and I’m concentrating on learning a new technique rather than making a card worthy of display in the Louvre.  The focal image on this card was rescued from this stash – all it needed was a little love to turn it into something worth giving.

The corrugated card base came from a package of over-sized cards I’ve never used.  Once I cut it down to a standard A2 size, I was off to the races.  The trimmings will be saved for embellishments on other projects.

Lastly, I reacquainted myself with my Crop-a-Dile.  That sucker is awesome and I have no idea why I’ve hesitated to use it on any of my gazzilion eyelets.  It sets them perfectly, easily, and silently (no matter how thick the material) and the eyelets never get crushed the way they do with a hammer. 

I think I’ll put forty eyelets on my next card.  Just because I can . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Festive, Generic Corrugated Kraft, Dark Brown

Stamps:         Amuse (?)

Inks:               Memento Tuxedo Black, various Copic markers

Dies:              Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Squares Large, DieNamics

                          Sentiment Strips

Doo Dads:     Jute twine, copper key charm, Dark Brown eyelets

Just a Note

A beautiful moon, some dark cardstock, a little bit of judiciously applied bleach . . .

 and voila!  A misty, peaceful night scene – perfect for freeing up pleasant thoughts and sending them off to a dear friend . . .

Cardstock:              Beckett Prairie, Generic Dark Blue          

Stamps:                   Stacy Stamps Antique Background, Moon/Sun, “Just a Note”

Inks:                          Memento Tuxedo Black 

Emb Plate:               Papertrey Ink Woodgrain

Doo Dads:               Black brads