Glad Tidings

Given the current and well-justified frenzy over the Clean and Simple concept, I thought that a Christmas card having this design would be a good one to post.  Clean and Simple – or CAS as it has become known in the trade – is a great idea for Christmas cards as these tend to be assembly line endeavors which can use all the help one can get for streamlined ops and minimal fuss.

The image was matted on Black smooth cardstock to provide a subtle change in texture from the card itself.  Two holes were punched to accommodate the ribbon, and the bottom two corners were notched for visual interest.  The ribbon is wire-edged so a simple loop-through was enough – no fussy bow-tying was necessary.  I glued a Gold sequin star at the top of the rays streaming down over the building and that was my only doo dad.  A piece of fun foam under the parchment for dimension and a very mail-able Christmas card was under control for that year.  Would that they all came together so smoothly!

Cardstock:     generic Black textured, Black smooth, and Parchment cardstock

Stamps:          Silver Crow “I bring you glad tidings”

Inks:                Document Black

Punch:            Marvy Southwestern corner   

Doo Dads:      Gold sequin star, wire-edged Gold mesh ribbon

Kindred Spirit

This was our wedding anniversary card;  we are kindred spirits indeed, and I was happy to be able to make a die cut that would say so this beautifully . . .

Cardstock:     Bazzill Pinecone, generic speckled Beige

Stamps:         Horrors – NONE!  Except for the message on the inside . . .

Inks:              Versamark

Emb Powder: Bear Rubber Melded Metallic*

Dies/Emb Folder: Cuttlebug’s Friends Forever set which includes the embossed flower and the die cut text

Doo Dads:      Distress Brushed Corduroy Stickles to dot the i’s, White-stitched Brown ribbon knot

After using my deckle-edged scissors around the sides, I put my simple UTEE edging technique to work (see my post of 3/27/12 for the easy details).

*  Melded Metallic is a glorious amalgamation of Platinum and Bronze that can work on just about any design.  Sadly, Bear Rubber is no longer with us and I have no idea if their stock was bought by someone else.  However, Stamp ‘n Doodle makes almost exactly the same color in regular embossing powder and I have just added it to my stash.  Oh how I LOVE to be rescued!

Flowering Stripes

The title of this card refers to the fact that I was looking at some striped wallpaper one day and wondered what it would look like if I changed the stripes into rows of flowers instead.  My stash includes scores of really small stamps that weren’t getting much use, so this seemed a good way to hold them accountable for their room and board.  I stamped them in loose formation, used 2^nd generation stamping as well, and didn’t stress over placement.  This is good therapy for those of us who tend to be anal retentive . . .

The background was done direct-to-paper with the same colors on water-misted and heavily textured watercolor paper to get a diffused look.  I do up whole sheets of these at a time and then cut what I need for the current project.  The remainder lives at BB’s (my Background Box) until I need it for the next stamping session:  instant inspiration and a time-saver to boot!

Cardstock:   Beckett Iceberg, Watercolor paper, Blue velvet

Stamps:       Assorted small images

Inks:             Vivid Straw, Ultramarine, Olive, and Butterscotch, Gold marker

Punches:      Assorted small leaf punches

Doo Dads:    Gold floss bow 

Tip of the Day:  Free stamping materials are everywhere!  The Navy Blue layer on this card is part of a molded flocked liner that was used to cradle my husband’s new electric razor.  Under the lid and in between the molded impressions, there was plenty of flat material I could repurpose for stamping needs.  Their waste is my gain!

Chessman's Birthday

My husband Igor is a rated chess player who, despite memory issues, still knocks the socks off almost anyone he plays.  While there don’t seem to be a lot of chess-themed stamps out there, I’ve collected most of what there is and enjoy changing them up for his birthday cards.

The background on this one came from one of Blockhead’s recent excellent online tutorials.  It’s super-easy, very quick, and works the first time out of the box.  This goes especially well with Kraft or other soft-hued cardstock, although you can get interesting effects with other colors as well.  Using a non-detailed image having a goodly amount of open spaces within the design, stamp it at random over your background with VersaMark.  Color in the open spaces with a White pencil.  Done!  The effect is subtle but looks good enough to be mistaken for pre-printed watermark paper.  As an amateur, I call that a good thing!

Cardstock:     Bazzill Black, Bazzill White, Quest Putty

Stamps:          Art Impressions Chess Rook, Chess King, Unknown ’Journey’

Inks:                VersaMark, Archival Black,  Judikins Opaque White

Pencil:             Prisma White

Emb Powder:  Judikins Detail White

Dies/Punches: Spellbinders Fleur de Lis, deckled scissors

Doo Dads:        Black brads

Father's Day Duds

With Father’s Day waiting in the wings, here’s a Clean and Simple take on what’s probably a way-too-common gift for Dad.  I know a lot of Dads who would be happy if this card was the only shirt they got on their big day! 

The shirt is the result of following one of Jennifer McGuire’s favorite admonitions to try and get more use out of our stamps.  I needed a tiny texture for the small shirt and came across a scrap left over from stamping out several mosaic pumpkins for Thanksgiving a few years ago.  Voila – perfect fit!  The tie is a no-talent, hand drawn event:  I simply smudged another scrap with the same ink pad I used on the shirt and cut it out.  For those who do not feel up to hand drawing a tie, Papertrey Ink has a new stamp set entitled World’s Greatest which features seven terrific ties, including an outline image so that you can stamp over any pattern you choose. 

Happy Father’s Day!

Cardstock:         generic textured Taupe, Beckett Iceberg, Bazzill Black

Stamps:             unknown Shirt, Eureka Mosaic Pumpkin

Inks:                   Archival Black, Distress Spiced Marmalade

Emb Folder:       Cuttlebug  Argyle

Punches:            EK Success Scalloped Photo Corner, unknown Notched Corner

Doo Dads:         Black bead for tie tack

Floral Easter Bunny

Clean and Simple re-visited:  this card is a one-layer wonder that is absolutely bursting with life!  My friend Carol Chiaramonte has really scored with this delightful take on Lost Coast’s unique, floral bunny. 

Carol allowed a generous and wonderfully uneven border when masking the bunny which truly makes him a standout.  He’s a very happy little guy, but then who wouldn’t be, sitting in the midst of all of those gorgeous flowers?

 

Stamps:           Lost Coast Bunny, Hero Arts Sunflower (an oldie but goodie & still one of Carol’s faves)

Inks:                Document Black, Ancient Page Pink Pizzazz, various Tombow markers

           

Bathing Beauty

 . . . I have enjoyed sending this one to all of my female friends on their birthdays. 

The sentiment reads:

“85% of women hate their thighs in America.” 

And on the inside, “the rest hate their thighs in other countries.” 

A hilarious take on a nearly universal irritant! 

Cardstock:         generic Gold speckled, Dark Green textured cardstock, Beckett Iceberg              

Stamps:              Judikins Flower Swirl Background, Onyx Thigh Lady and sentiment

Inks:                    ColorBox Frost White, Black

Emb Powder:    Judikins Opaque White, Detail Black

Doo Dads:          Green, Black brads