Happy Mother's Day

Inspiration

Happy Mother's Day! I hope all the mothers out there are being pampered and spoiled as they so richly deserve! My husband is at home in Tennessee this morning taking care of his mom, like the very good son that he is. Happy Mother's Day, Caroline! And Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, too! I showed you the card for my mother yesterday - Today's card is the one I made for my mother-in-law.

Ingredients

Note: finished card size is 5" x 7"

Stamps

Poppies (A Stamp In the Hand)

Happy Mother's Day (Stampendous)

Paper

Perfect Plum (SU!)	7" x 10", scored at 5"
Old Olive (SU!)	4 3/4" x 6 3/4"
Cottage Wall DSP (SU!)	4 1/2" x 5"
Elegant Eggplant (SU!)	4 1/4" x 4 1/4"
90lb Watercolor Paper (Canson)	4 1/4" x 4 1/4"

Ink

Distress Inks (Ranger): Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord, Old Paper, Crushed Olive

Elegant Eggplant (SU!)

Accessories

Fleur De Lis Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)

Ink Blending Tool (Ranger)

Mister (Ranger)

Corner Rounder Punch (SU!)

White Ribbon (Hobby Lobby)

Becca's Peg Bow Maker (ODBD)

3-D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives)

ATG (3M)

Scor-Pal

Rotary Trimmer (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD and MAT

Start with a piece of light purple card stock measuring 7" x 10", score at 5" and fold.

Cut a mat of dark green card stock 4 3/4" x 6 3/4", and round the corners with a punch. Cut a piece of patterned paper measuring 4 1/2" x 5", round the top two corners with a punch and mount onto the green mat. Stamp the sentiment in dark green ink in the lower right corner of the green mat.

Tie a double bow of white ribbon, with a ribbon strip through the bow, and mount onto the mat across the seam between the patterned paper and the sentiment, with the bow on the far left side of the mat.

Mount the mat with the bow onto the front of the card.

IMAGE

This card uses the "Brushless Watercolor" technique that I learned in the Creative Chemistry 101 course a few weeks ago. Start by tapping the Distress ink pads directly on the stamp. I used mostly the light purple and green pads, then touched the edges of the blossoms with the darker purple shade. Now, mist the stamp with water and stamp it onto the watercolor paper.

Cut/emboss the image using the largest Fleur De Lis square die, and remove it from the die. Use the ink blending tool to add purple shading to the embossed edges of the die cut.

Cut a dark purple mat measuring 4 1/4" x 4 1/4", and round all 4 corners of the mat. Mount this onto the card front above the ribbon, using foam squares. Finally, mount the image onto the mat using foam squares.

Another Version

It's a very versatile design - here's another one I made to use for a special birthday - Same ink and method, but slightly different paper.

Thanks for stopping by, and again, Happy Mother's Day!

A Valentine for My Husband

Inspiration

I'm late posting Valentine's cards - I made 3 special cards this year (not my usually stack!) - so you will see 3 extra posts this week! I'm starting today with the card I made for my DH, Joe. He's a dancer (West Coast Swing), so I always like to make cards with a dance or music theme. This one was fun - and I really like the black sparkle embossing powder from Sweet Stamps for the dancers image.

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size: 5" x 7"

Stamps

Because of You (Gina K)

Happy Valentine's Day (Stampendous)

Border Builders (SU!)

Paper

Baja Breeze	7" x 10" scored at 5", and 4"x 4", and 3" x 5" (2 pieces), and 3" x 3"
All Dressed Up stack (DCWV)	4 7/8" x 6 7/8" (2 pieces)

Ink

Versamark

Memento Tuxedo Black

Baja Breeze

Accessories

Scalloped Hearts Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Fancy Tags 2 Shapeabilities (Spellbinders)

Grand Calibur (Spellbinders)

Nestabling (Want 2 Scrap)

Heart charms (unknown)

Sew Easy Fancy Floss (We R Memory Keepers)

Black Sparkle embossing powder (Sweet Stamps)

Heat Gun

Tape (Scotch)

Scissors

ATG (3M)

Scor-Pal

Rotary Trimmer (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD and MAT LAYER

Cut a piece of blue card stock measuring 7" x 10", score it at 5", and fold. Cut the designer paper so that the swirl pattern is in one corner, and the piece measures 4 7/8" x 6 7/8". Mount this on the card front with the swirls in the lower right corner.

CHARMS

Tie pieces of the sparkly floss to each heart charm. Use a glue dot to hold the heart charm where you want it on the card, and tape the top of the string to the card. Make sure the top of the string will be under the heart when you mount it on the card.

DANCERS

Stamp the dancer image with Versamark ink on white card stock. Heat emboss with black sparkle embossing powder. Trim the image with a narrow margin around the edges. Cut/emboss a medium scalloped heart from blue paper, adhere a matching Nestabling heart sticker. Mount over the strings of the heart charms, using foam squares. Mount the trimmed dancers image over the heart center using foam squares.

SENTIMENT

Cut/emboss a fancy tag from the same blue card stock. Stamp the sentiment in black ink in the center of the tag. Adhere a matching Nestabling sticker, and mount in the lower center of the card front.

INSIDE

On the inside, cut and mount the same mat layer as you did on the front, except now put the swirls in the upper left corner. Cut/emboss a smaller scalloped heart, and stamp the sentiment in black ink on the heart. Because my sentiment fit better by placing it on the right of the heart instead of centered, I stamped some tiny hearts with blue ink that matches the card stock. Mount this on the upper right of the card inside. Cut and emboss a matching tag and mount at the bottom of the inside - it doesn't give you a lot of space to write much more than "I love you", but I think that's all you need!

Thanks for stopping by!

Embossed Acetate

Inspiration

I found a neat technique on a video in You Tube for embossing acetate with ultrathick embossing powder. For this one, I used summery colors that really work well with the coppery colored powder. The only thing you have to be careful of is heating the acetate when you emboss the image - keep the heat gun moving, or the transparency will melt!

I really like the method - you'll definitely see another one from me using this technique!

Ingredients

Note: Finished card size is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Paper

Basic Black (SU!)	4 1/4" x 11"; scored at 5 1/2"
Barely Banana (SU!)	4 1/8" x 5 1/8"
Transparency (3M)	4" x 5"

Inks

Versamark (Tsukineko)

Stamps

Sun (Judikins)

Birthday Whimsey (Stampendous)

Accessories

Alcohol Inks & felt applicator (Ranger)

Ultra-Thick Embossing Powder (Ranger)

Black Embossing Powder (CTMH)

Heat Gun

ATG (Scotch)

Scor-Pal

Rotary Trimmer

Instructions

TRANSPARENCY LAYER

Stamp the sun image with the embossing ink in the lower right corner of the transparency, and cover in ultra-thick embossing powder, and shake off the excess. Heat with heat gun to emboss, constantly moving the heat so the transparency does not melt.

Apply a few drops of alcohol ink to a felt applicator and pounce onto the transparency. I used the colors Butterscotch, Terra Cotta, and Copper metallic additive. I "pounced" color over the sun, too.

Stamp the sentiment in embossing ink centered in the upper area of the transparency. Use the ink pad to sponge ink around the edges of the acetate sheet, with a little more in each corner. Cover in black embossing powder, and shake off the excess. Heat the acetate again with heat gun to emboss, constantly moving the heat so the transparency does not melt.

ASSEMBLY

Mount the yellow cardstock onto the black card front, followed by the transparency. I used small pieces of double-sided tape in the corners, under the black embossing so the adhesive doesn't show.

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!

Whimsical Wishes

Inspiration

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving weekend – filled with family and friends, and many blessings.  Mine was a whirlwind!  A road trip to Branson, MO, to celebrate the holiday with my dear cousins. BTW, Andy Williams still does an AWESOME Christmas show!

Here’s a simple Christmas card – right out of the Card Maker’s Sketch Book – Christmas Celebration.

Ingredients

Paper

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

Baroque Burgundy (SU!)	4 1/4” x 11, score at 5 1/2”
Forest Foliage (CTMH)	a) 2 7/8” x 5 1/4” b) 2” x 2”
Kraft (SU!)	a) 2 3/4” x 5 1/8” b) 2” x 2”
Stamper’s Select White (Paper Trey)	3” x 4”

Ink

Rich Cocoa (Memento); Forest Foliage (CTMH)'; Baroque Burgundy (SU!)

Stamps

Forest Friendzy (Cornish Heritage Farms)

Accessories

COPIC Markers: E0000,E000,E00,E02,E41,E43,E44,G24,G28,R02,R20,R59, W00,W1; Markers: Baroque Burgundy (SU!); Easy Stitch Stencil (Paper Pizazz); Curvy Label Punch (SU!); Curly Label Movers & Shapers (SU!); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Dazzling Dots Star Stickers (Stampendous); Gems (Paper Studio); Dress It Up Holiday Buttons (Jesse James Beads); Burgundy Ribbon (Ribbon Warehouse); Liquid Applique (Marvy); Heat Gun; Scor-Pal; Foam Tape; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors; Post-It Notes 

Instructions

Image

ELF - Stamp the image in brown on the white cardstock. Color with COPICs.  Here’s the colors I used:

• Hat: G24, G28
• Boots: E41, E43, E44
• Suit: R59
• Face: E0000, E000, E00, E02, R02, R20
• Beard: W00, W1

Trim the image closely, and finish by apply Liquid Applique on the fur trim of the hat, and heat it using the heat gun (just until it puffs up a little).  Glue a sparkly button at the tip of the hat.

TREES – Stamp the tree on a Post-It note, and trim it to use as a mask.  Stamp the left-most tree in green on the Kraft cardstock panel.  Put your mask on the stamped tree, then stamp another tree overlapping the first.  Add a star sticker at the top of each tree, and some gems on the tree.  Finish by adding a border with the burgundy pen, using a simple stitch pattern.

GREETING – Stamp the greeting in burgundy on the small scrap of Kraft paper, then punch it out using the curly label punch.  Run the small scrap of green paper through the Cuttlebug using the Movers & Shapers label die.

Assembly

Put together the tree image first:

• Mount the tree image on the green cardstock panel.
• Add a ribbon across the trunks of the trees.
• Mount the greeting near the top of the tree image.
• Adhere the entire stack to the front of the burgundy card base.

Mount the elf image using foam tape on the bottom right of the card.

Final Notes

Inside / Envelope

I cut a solid green panel (4” x 5 1/4”), stamped my sentiment on a smaller white panel (3 3/4” x 5”) and layered them on the inside.

Thanks for stopping by.

Summer Butterfly

Inspiration
This card is a blatant “CASE” of Michelle Zindorf’s work – I copied her Butterfly Season tutorial as exactly as I could.  She creates the most beautiful work, and explains it so well on her blog, that I had to give this one a try.  Her step-by-step instructions are fabulous, and have given me a lot to think about in how I can improve my own tutorials here.  I hope you’ll go to her blog and check out the beautiful work!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Valentine Countdown: Day 12

Inspiration

One of my favorite creative efforts is “made to order” cards – my customer provides a favorite color or hobby, and I create a card specifically for the recipient. When their eyes widen, and the smile bursts onto their faces, I know I’ve hit the target and that is the greatest reward for me.  Today and tomorrow, I’ll show you a couple of special-order Valentines I made for customers.  On Valentine's Day, I’ll post the creations I’ve made for my husband (I have to hold out until then, so he won’t get a hint!)

This one is a Valentine created for a friend who is a newly-wed (only a few months!).  She asked for something for her husband that used something from the text read at their ceremony.   I designed a card that could be it’s own envelope – it folds over, and is held shut with a small set of magnetic snaps.  But I always like to decorate a matching envelope for such a special day.

My friend sent me two quotations, and I picked out a sentences describing a couple as “two balloons” from a  Richard Bach excerpt (close up of text is below).  I used this heart-shaped balloon stamp, one in each color and drew the strings entwined below them.  The lower panel is blank, so she can add her own special message.

The text is printed from the computer using Microsoft Word 2007.  The text box comes with the pretty brackets, so I used them to create a frame for the quotation.

 

BTW - I realize I’ve shown you lots of cards in pink and brown – I promise tomorrow we go back to RED RED RED!

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK: Base: Very Vanilla (SU!); Trim: Close to Cocoa (SU!)

STAMPS: CARD: Rose (Hero Arts), Sentiment from Holidays & Wishes (SU!), Balloon (Stampendous).  ENVELOPE: Rose (Hero Arts), sentiment from Short & Sweet (SU!)

INK: Pink Pirouette (SU!), Close to Cocoa (SU!)

ACCESSORIES: Make up sponges, Threading Water border punch (Fiskars), stitched ribbon (Michaels), Hodgepodge Hardware (SU!), Magnetic Snaps (Basic Grey), Close to Cocoa marker (SU!), Computer, inkjet printer, scissors, Rotary trimmer with straight straight blade (Fiskars), redline double-sided adhesive, ATG with ¼” adhesive (Scotch)

Instructions

BASE CARD:  Cut a piece of vanilla cardstock to measure 5 1/2” x 10”, and score it twice – once at 4 1/4” and once at 8 1/2”.  Fold on the score lines to make a tri-fold card.  Use the border punch on the long edge of the top panel of the card.  Using the a make up sponge, rub pink ink around the edges of the top panel in a circular motion to create a soft blush on the card.  Then do the same with brown ink on the lower panel that will be facing forward.

BROWN TRIM: Cut a strip of brown paper measuring 1 1/2” x 5 1/2”.  Adhere the brown strip under the front panel of the base card, leaving a small edge showing beneath the punched scallops.

QUOTATION: Print the quotation on vanilla cardstock, and trim it closely.  Adhere it to a piece of brown cardstock and trim it to show a narrow brown border around the quote.

IMAGES: OUTSIDE: Stamp the sentiment in brown in the lower right corner of the front panel just inside the brown edge.  After inking the rose with brown ink, stamp it once on scrap paper, then stamp it on the top panel.  This “stamp off” technique produces a lighter image than the fully inked stamp.  INSIDE: Stamp a balloon in pink, then one in brown next to one another on the left of the inside panel, leaving space for the quotation to be mounted.  Draw string on the balloons using the brown marker.

FINAL CARD ASSEMBLY: OK!  Slip the hardware buckle onto the ribbon, then adhere the ribbon around outside of the card, about an inch in from the left of the card.  The ribbon I used has a little give to it, so the card still folds easily.  Attach the quotation inside next to the balloons.  Finally attach the magnets to the inside of the top flap and the front of the card as a closure.  Hint: The adhesive on the back of the magnets was not too strong – I peeled it off and used tiny squares of redline adhesive instead.

ENVELOPE  I’m guessing you can see how the envelope was made to match: 1) sponge pink and brown on 2 edges, 2) using the stamp-off technique, add the rose, 3) finish up with the sentiment below the rose.

Thanks for stopping by & be sure to check back each day for a new Valentine!

Ballerina Birthday

Here’s a card for a 7-year-old who loves to dance! The green layer is embossed with the Cuttlebug, using the Swiss Dots embossing folder. The ovals were cut using the Cuttlebug and Nestabilities large oval dies. I stamped the tutu on Whisper White in basic black, and then outlined with a sparkly gel pen. It is mounted using foam tape on the ovals. I finished with a sparkly pink ribbon tied in a bow, and mounted with a glue dot. The enveloped is bordered with another Stampendous stamp in Basic Black, and colored with Copics. Cardstock

• Base: Pretty in Pink (SU!) 8½” x 5½” - scored at 4¼”
• Mat layers: Sage Shadow (SU!) 3¾” x 5”, Pretty in Pink (SU!) 3¼” x 4½”
• Ovals: Whisper White (SU!) and Pretty in Pink (SU!)
• Image: Whisper White (SU!)

Stamps

• Tutu: Stampendous
• Envelope border: Stampendous

Ink

• Basic Black (SU!)

Accessories

• Cuttlebug
• Swiss Dots embossing folder
• Nestabilities dies – large ovals
• Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Star pen
• Copic markers (E00, RV11, Y13)
• Ribbon – from the Christmas sale at Michael’s
• Scotch ATG 714 – ¼” adhesive tape
• Glue dot
• Foam tape

Thanks for stopping by!