Wintergreen Thanks

Inspiration

Here’s a quick thank you note I put together – it uses all Stampin’ Up! materials – all of which have been on my shelf for ages!  (I’m still on the mission to use up some of my myriad supplies).  The cards come pre-cut to go with the “Fresh Cuts” stamp set. I used the retired color “Sage Shadow” – a very cool wintery green shade.  The ribbon was a lucky match – I had it left over from a couple of Christmases ago and it matches the Sage perfectly.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4” x 4”

Fresh Cut Notes (SU!)	pre-cut, 4” x 4”
Sage Shadow (SU!)	3 3/4” x 3 3/4”, plus a scrap
Whisper White (SU!)	small scrap

Ink

Versamark (Tsukinedo), Sage Shadow (SU!)

Stamps

Fresh Cuts (SU!) 

Accessories

Spring Flower Bouquet punch (SU!); Tiny flower punch (Punch Bunch); White embossing powder (Stampendous); Heat gun; Sparkly ribbon (Michaels); Bow-Easy; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Glue dots; Scissors

Instructions

Background Image

Using the embossing ink pad, stamp the design pattern on the green cardstock, and cover with the white embossing powder. Heat with the heat gun to set.

Greeting

Stamp the greeting on the front of the card using the green ink.

Assembly

Mount a ribbon around the front of the card following the folded edge.  Tie a bow using the Bow-Easy, and mount it in the center of the ribbon using one or two glue dots.

Apply adhesive around the edges of the FRONT of the embossed green panel, and mount it facing forward on the back of the front of the card, so that the image shows through the cut outs of the card.

Punch a flower from the green scrap, and a tiny flower from the white scrap and mount them in the center of the flower cut out, using glue dots.

Final Notes

Envelope

Since it costs more to mail a square card than a standard rectangle, I used my A2 envelopes to send this card.  Since the card is only 4” x 4”, it fit just fine!

Thanks for stopping by!

Forecast: Warm & Sunny

Inspiration

Well, who’s ready for some bright, warm sunshine? Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This one is a card to send someone some warm greetings in the middle of a cold, dreary winter. I used it for a birthday (or two), but it could be used for any warm greeting you want to send.

Ingredients

Paper

Note – card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Moonstruck Blue (CTMH):	a)  4 1/4” x 11, score at 5 1/2” b)  3” x 4 1/2” c)  1 1/2” x 4 1/2”
Bashful Blue (SU!):	4” x 5 1/4”
Barely Banana (SU!):	1” x 3 1/2”
Striped paper (unknown):	2 7/8” x 4 3/8”
Stamper’s Select White (PaperTrey):	2 1/2” x 2 1/2”

Stamps

SunMan (Stamp Cabana); Elegant Post (Gina K)

Ink

Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories

COPIC Markers (Imagination International); Sunshine charms and thin jewelry wire (unknown); Paper piercing tool; Glue Dots; Foam Tape; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Stamp the sun in black on the white square of cardstock.  Color with COPICs; I used Y13, Y15, Y17, and YR000.  Trim the image closely.

Greeting

Stamp the greeting in black in the lower right corner of the patterned paper.  I positioned the greeting based on the stripes – use your imagination to make it fit.

Charms

I sized the yellow panel to hold the charms based on the size of the charms I had.  I made it just long enough to hold the 3 charms with a little margin around them.  Once I had the panel cut, I laid the 3 charms in place and used the paper piercer to punch 2 holes for each charm – one in the middle of the circle, and one just above it.  Then I put a glue dot on the back of the charm and pressed it in place, and finished it with a small piece of wire through the two holes.  I twisted the wire on the back to hold it in place.

Assembly

Now it’s just a matter of stacking the layers.  Start with the light blue mat, followed by the dark blue/patterned paper panel.  Add the dark blue/charm panel.

Mount the sun in the upper right corner using foam tape for added dimension.

Final Notes

Inside

I cut another blue mat, sized 4” x 5 1/4”, and stamped the greeting in black.

Thanks for stopping by! (and stay WARM!)

 

Hb Birthday Wishes

Inspiration

I’ve been playing with paint and chipboard ever since I created the framed greeting in my last post.  Here’s another quick frame – this one painted with glossy black.  This card uses embossing, too.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 12”

Basic Black (SU!)	4 1/4” x 11”, score at 5 1/2”, and 2 1/2” x 1 1/2”
Taffy (CTMH)	4” x 5 1/4”
Urban Garden DSP (SU!)	4” x 5 1/4”
Whisper White (SU!)	2 1/2” x 2 1/2” and 2 1/2” x 1 1/2”

Ink

Basic Black (SU!), Versamark (Tsukineko)

Stamps

Party Punch (SU!); Kokopelli (PSX)

Accessories

Designer Label punch (SU!); Chipboard Frame (SU!); Glossy Acrylic Craft Paint – Black (Anita’s); Foam brush (Hobby Lobby); Terra Cotta Tapestry Embossing powder (PSX); Clear Embossing powder (Stampendous); Heat gun; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Glue dots; Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Paint the chipboard frame in black, and let it dry.

Using the embossing ink pad, stamp the kokopelli image on the larger white cardstock panel, and emboss with the terra cotta embossing powder.  Using glue dots, mount the image centered in the chipboard frame.

Prepare the Hb greeting by first inking the stamp with the embossing ink, then black.  Stamp on the remaining white cardstock.  Emboss with clear embossing powder. Trim the greeting closely. Punch a label tag from black cardstock, and mount the greeting in the center of the punched label.

Assembly

Mount the taffy paper on the black card base.

The designer paper is cut at angles – I wanted the right angle of the paper to form the point at the top of the card.  I rotated the paper until I like the pattern of the paper, the cut the paper to fit.  Use the pattern of your chosen pattern to help you determine where you cut the paper, and mount it on the taffy mat layer.

Add the kokopelli image in the upper right corner, and the Hb greeting in the lower left area.

Final Notes

Inside

I cut a taffy layer for the inside (4” x 5 1/4”), stamped my sentiment directly on the taffy in black.

Thanks for stopping by!

Framed Birthday Greeting

Inspiration

Since I’ve shared a couple of masculine birthday cards, here’s an “equal time” post - here’s a girly card I made for some January birthdays. I was going though the various embellishments in all the cubby holes in my studio, and got the urge to stack them on. This card uses a sticker frame. It was plain ivory, so I colored the embossed shapes with COPIC markers.

 

Since I only had one sticker frame, for the other cards I made, I used a chipboard frame, painted with glossy white acrylic paint. I thought it was a little plain, so I added some paper flowers with brad centers.  Here’s a close-up of the greeting area.

 

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 6” x 6”

Bordering Blue Textured (SU!)	6” x 12; score at 6”
Bella Birds DSP (SU!)	a) 5 3/4” x 5 3/4” b) 2 3/4” x 5” c) 2 1/2” x 4”
Whisper White (SU!)	2” x 2”

Ink

Bordering Blue (SU!)

Stamps

Happy Birthday (Stampendous) 

Accessories

Sticker Frame: Sticker frame (unknown) and COPIC markers (R20, G21, B21);  Chipboard Frame: Chipboard frame (SU!) painted with Acrylic Paint, Foam paint brush (Hobby Lobby), Paper flowers (Imaginisce); Crop-A-Dile (We R Memory Keepers); Brads (Spare Parts by Paper Studio); Glue Dots; Scor-Pal; Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Stamp the greeting on the small square of white cardstock using the blue ink.

If you have the plain sticker frame, use COPIC markers to color the embossed areas with colors to match your patterned paper. If you are using chipboard, paint the chipboard to match, and let it dry.

Attach the sentiment to the frame carefully getting the words centered in the opening.

Assembly

Mount the large square of patterned paper on the base card.

Punch a hole in each of the two left corners of the longest piece of patterned paper, insert the brads and bend the backs open to hold them in place.  Mount this on the card toward the left.

Punch a hole in each of the two right corners of the shorter piece of patterned paper, insert the brads and bend the backs open to hold them in place.  Mount this on the card toward the right.

Attach the assembled frame and sentiment in the center of the patterned papers.

For the chipboard framed greeting, insert a brad through the middle of each flower and bend the backs open. Mount them on the lower left of the frame using glue dots.

Final Notes

Inside

Inside, I stamped directly on the blue card base using Bordering Blue ink.

Thanks for stopping by!

Three Candle Greeting

Before the Sunday card post, I just wanted to note – I’ve had quite a crafting week!  There are 2 stamp shows in Dallas every January.  I had the privilege of working with Heartfelt Creations at both shows – demonstrating the Spellbinder’s Grand Calibur die cutter, and some of the really cool stamp/die combinations that are exclusive to Heartfelt Creations.

AND, as you may know Spellbinders is doing a “To Die For” blog hop to introduce their next release of dies.  I won the “day 2” drawing – click here to see the announcement!!! So much fun! I can’t wait to get the new dies to try out!

So to start your crafting week – on to the card…

Inspiration

Here’s a card that is perfect for a masculine recipient, and I used inspiration from two Splitcoast challenges:

Color Challenge 303, which uses Night of Navy, Old Olive, and Daffodil Delight:   

and Sketch Challenge 315:

Here’s my card:

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Night of Navy (SU!)	5 1/2” x 8 1/2”; score at 4 1/4”
Old Olive patterned paper (SU!)	2 3/4” x 4 1/4”
Daffodil Delight (SU!)	1” x 4 1/4”
Whisper White (SU!)	about 3” x 8 1/2” - enough rectangle mat, candles, and greeting

Ink

Night of Navy (SU!); Old Olive (SU!); Daffodil Delight (SU!)

Stamps

Big Birthday Candle (SU!); Perfect Punches (SU!)

Accessories

Large Oval Punch (SU!); Acrylic block (SU!); Deckled Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); White Taffeta ribbon (SU!); Sponge; Scor-Pal; Double-sided tape (PK Glitz); Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Cut the rectangle mat using the deckled rectangle die. Run it through twice - once to cut, and once to emboss. Using the sponge, lightly dab blue ink around the edges.

Stamp the solid candle on the white cardstock in olive 3 times; then add the candle decoration using the lined stamp and blue ink. Trim the candle sticks closely. Stamp the flame part of the solid candle stamp in yellow on the white cardstock, and add the flame outline in blue. Trim the flames closely.

Mount the trimmed candlestick images on the mat, and add the trimmed flame images.

Greeting 

Stamp the greeting on the remaining white cardstock, and punch it out.

Assembly

Mount the olive patterned paper on the blue base card, followed by the yellow strip. Adhere the mat with the candles, just where it crosses over the line between the green and yellow papers.

Apply the ribbon horizontally across the center of the candles, using the double-sided tape. Just a note - I tie the knot on the ribbon before I mount it to the card.

Finally, mount the greeting oval over the center of the candles.

Final Notes

Inside the card, add a layer of the patterned paper, 4” x 5 1/4”. Mount a white layer sized 3 1/2” x 4 3/4”. Stamp a birthday sentiment in blue.

Thanks for stopping by!

Two Hearts

Inspiration

Here’s a card I made for January anniversaries, then thought it looks like a Valentine - you could certainly use it for either occasion!

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Close to Cocoa (SU!)	a) 4 1/4” x 11; score at 5 1/2” b) 1 1/2” x 1 3/4”
Very Vanilla (SU!)	a) 1 1/2” x 4 1/8” b) 1 3/8” x 1 5/8” c) 3 3/4” x 5”
Candy Lane DSP (SU!)	a) 3 1/2” x 4 1/8” b) 2 1/2” x 4 1/8”
Riding Hood Red (SU!)	4” x 5 1/4”

Ink

Versamark (Tsukeniko); Riding Hood Red (SU!)

Stamps

Grateful Greetings (SU!); A Word for You (SU!)

Accessories

White Detail Embossing Powder (Stampendous); Heat Gun; Sweetheart Charms Favor Accents (Wilton); Edge Punch (Martha Stewart); Glue Dots; Scor-Pal; ATG (Scotch); rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Greeting

Stamp the greeting in the lower left corner of the larger piece of patterned paper, and sprinkle with embossing powder. Shake off the excess, then heat to emboss.

Assembly

Use the edge punch to punch one side of the strip of vanilla card stock.

Mount the patterned paper at the bottom of the card, then add the punched strip. Add the smaller piece of patterned paper over the punched edge, leaving the punched pattern visible.

Mount the small brown block in the upper right area of the top patterned paper, and the small vanilla block on top of that.

Add the hearts charm, using glue dots to hold it in place.

Final Notes

Inside

Inside the card, I added a mat layer of Robin Hood Red and a layer of vanilla.  I stamped a sentiment in matching red ink on the vanilla panel.

Thanks for stopping by!

I’m Late, I’m Late!

Inspiration

This was my “theme song” for December, so of course, I missed a couple of birthdays around the Christmas/New Year holiday.  This is the card I made for those folks I missed.

The layout is based on a past SCS Sketch Challenge - #296.

I used a digital image I found on a “coloring pages for kids page” – it’s a Disney image available in tons of places on the web, but not something that can be sold, just use for personal greetings. 

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

So Saffron (SU!)	4 1/4” x 11; score at 5 1/2”
Basic Black (SU!)	2 1/2” x 5”
Real Red (SU!)	a) 3 7/8” x 3 7/8” - 2 pieces b) small scrap for red circle
Jackpot DSP (SU!)	a) 3 3/4” x 3 3/4” - 2 pieces b) 2 3/8” x 4 7/8”
Stamper’s Select White (Paper Trey)	large enough to run through your printer for image and sentiment

Ink

None - image and sentiment are digital; I used an EPSON Rx620 printer, set to print on heavy weight paper.

Stamps

Digital image from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland 

Accessories

COPIC Markers and SPICA glitter pens (Imagination International); Circle punches (SU!); Foam Tape; Scor-Pal; rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

After printing the image, let it stand for a while, or heat it with a heat gun to prevent smearing of the printed lines.

For me, if I print first, then cut all my other cardstock pieces, by the time I’ve completed the cutting and gluing to get the card base done, the ink is plenty dry.

Color the image with COPIC markers and SPICA pens, then cut it out, trimming closely. Here are the colors I used:

Umbrella-B21, B24, E44

• Coat - R24, R29
• Vest - Y21, Y24
• Pants, Tie - C3, C5, C7
• Clock - Y26, Y28, Gold SPICA
• Clock hands - Red SPICA
• Ears, Nose, Mouth - R20, R22
• Eyes - R20
• Eyes, buttons - Pitch Black SPICA
• Highlighting the white fur - C1, C00, BG0000

Sentiment

Print the sentiment in red on white cardstock, and punch it out with the smaller circle punch. Punch a red circle, and mount the sentiment on the red circle.

Assembly

Mount the patterned paper onto the solid color mats. You should end up with a rectangle matted in black, and two patterned squares mounted on red.

Mount the black matted rectangle across the lower portion of the card, followed by a square rotated to have a corner pointed vertically at the left end of the rectangle. Mount the second square onto the first one, with a flat side of the square across the top.

Add the sentiment in the lower right corner; then mount the image using foam tape.

Final Notes

Inside / Envelope

Inside the card, I stamped directly on the yellow card base using Real Red ink and the “I’m sorry I’m late” sentiment from the SU! set Birthday Greetings.

I made 4 of these - although I’m hoping I don’t have to use one again soon!

Thanks for stopping by.

Triple Chocolate Cake

Inspiration

Everyone is watching their weight in January right???? Well, here’s a calorie-free cake three times over.  Plus it’s easy to make and ready to enjoy.

I needed some quick cards that could be used for masculine birthdays, and I needed them fast!  The embossing folder used to create the background pattern makes it a snap.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Kraft (SU!)	5 1/2” x 8 1/2”; score at 4 1/4”
Baja Breeze (SU!)	4” x 5 1/4”
Chocolate Chip (SU!)	small amount to mat 3 cake images
Whisper White (SU!)	small amount for 3 cake images

Ink

Chocolate Chip (SU!)

Stamps

Quick & Cute (SU!)

Accessories

SU Markers: Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand; SPICA glitter pens: Yellow, Chocolate, Clear; Brown Ribbon (Hobby Lobby); Happy Birthday A2 Embossing Folder (Provo Craft); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Foam tape; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Stamp the cake 3 times on the white cardstock, and color in with markers. Trim each one very closely, then mount the images individually onto the brown cardstock. Now, trim each one slightly larger than the stamped image to create a brown mat for the cake image.

Assembly

Run the blue cardstock through the Cuttlebug using the birthday embossing folder. Apply the ribbon vertically down the embossed panel using the double-sided tape.

Mount the blue panel onto the kraft base card. Using a piece of foam tape on each cake image, mount the cakes down the ribbon.

Final Notes

Inside the card, stamp a sentiment in brown ink directly on the kraft paper – no extra layers. I used the birthday saying from the Quick & Cute set.

These were quick enough I was able to make 8 in about an hour (lots of coloring).  If you have ideas for quick cards, I’d love to see your designs – drop me an email, or post a link to your card in a comment.

Thanks for stopping by.

Shiny New Year

Inspiration

Happy New Year!  Here’s a card designed based on the Splitcoast sketch challenge #312 from 12/22.  A nice simple layout that fits the occasion nicely.

I always like to use metallic paper for the New Year greetings I send – it fits a mood for shiny celebration.  On this one I used a copper metallic paper, and I found a patterned paper a coppery accent, too.  The image is embossed with glossy clear powder that adds a little shine. All the shine makes a photo of the card a little tougher!

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Basic Black (SU!)	a) 4 1/4” x 11, scored at 5 1/2” b) 2 1/4” x 4 1/4” c) 2 1/8” x 3 1/4”
Castle Copper (Wassau Royal Metallic)	4” x 5 1/4”
The Natural Stack (DCWV)	2” x 4 1/4”
Very Vanilla (SU!)	2” x 3”

Ink

Brilliance Graphite Black pigment ink (Tsukineko)

Stamps

A Brand New Year (SU!) 

Accessories

Clear embossing powder (Stampendous); Heat Gun; Chocolate SPICA pen (Imagination International); Black eyelets; Crop-A-Dile (We R Memory Keepers); Clockworks 5” x 7” embossing folder (Provo Craft); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Using the black pigment ink, stamp the image on the vanilla panel.  Cover in clear embossing powder, and shake off the excess.  Heat until glossy.  Color the bubbles with the glitter pen.

Assembly

Emboss the copper panel using the embossing folder and the Cuttlebug.  Set the 3 eyelets in the lower right corner. Mount the copper panel on the base card.

Add the mid-sized black paper across the card above center, and mount the patterned paper onto it.

Mount the smallest black panel vertically toward the left, and add the image on top of this last black panel.

Final Notes

Inside / Envelope

For the inside, I cut another copper panel (4” x 5 1/4”), and a vanilla panel (3 3/4” x 5”) and layered them on the inside.

I wish you all the best of everything in this shiny, new year! Thanks for stopping by.