Lightly Layered - Sketch Flower Spray and Sketch Blooms by Jean Okimoto

Sketch Blooms add layers of dimension to an embossed Sketch Flower Spray background on a card designed to brighten someone's day.   A greeting from the Rose Garden Clear Stamps Set and gem stickers complete this thoughtful greeting.  Hello, Jean Okimoto here with some just-in-time inspiration for May's Embossing Extravaganza Challenge.  

Enjoy the versatility of the delicate Sketch Flower Spray by pressure-embossing it instead of diecutting it to add a subtle background for the crisp white blossoms.

Cut green cardstock with the 4-¾" x 3-½" Rectangle Basics die.  Pressure emboss it with Sketch Flower Spray using the plates and embossing mat recommended by your machine's manufacturer.  Cut the flowers from white cardstock.

Cut Sketch Blooms from white cardstock - save both the outline and the solid offcut. 

Create multi-layered flowers with the white diecuts.

Stamp the greeting from the Rose Bouquet Clear Stamps Set on light green cardstock with Shady Lane VersaFine Clair.  Trim it with the ¾" x 2" Rectangle Basics die.

Attach the diecuts to a green side-folded card.  Add yellow and green gem stickers.

Happy thoughts and big thanks to everyone from Monday's SEATTLE STYLE class at Impress!  We're so lucky to have so many great papercrafting companies right here in Washington - and it's always fun to combine their products.  Memory Box, Poppystamps and Birch Press Designs look great together and allow us to get more from our stashes of their genuine,  American-made products.  Special thanks too - Shari and Karen - for helping everyone fill their baskets.

Thanks for visiting!

 

Supplies

 

94250 Sketch Blooms craft die

94248 Sketch Flower Spray craft die

CL5241 Rose Bouquet clear stamp set

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

You Brighten My Day Card by Isha Gupta

Hello Everyone! It’s Isha today sharing a Clean and Simple card using  embossing powder onto the die-cuts and creating a resist background using colored embossing powder.

Clean and Simple doesn’t mean you can’t play with techniques you love. It’s simply lots of white space. Today, I decided to play with some special embossing powders and the products from the new release. Have you checked it out yet! It's AWESOME!

I started by creating a yellow card base. I then cut a white mat layer using the canson missed media paper. I then simply applied versamark inkpad direct to paper and embossed using mint embossing powder. Heat set it. I then added some yellow distress oxide ink to create a watercolor wash. The embossed part will resist the wash.

Now, I die-cut the Scribble Frond background using a vellum. I then die-cut the Scribble Front outline from white cardstock. Apply versamark ink to it and then embossed it using the Bang embossing powder from the  WOW! Confetti trio set. Love the effect it gives to the die-cut.

I now adhere the outline to the vellum background and kept it a bit offset.

Stamp and emboss the sentiment onto a black stripe. Assemble everything together.

Supplies

 

94273 Scribble Frond Background craft die

94272 Scribble Frond Outline craft die

 

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

 

Birthday Wishes by Donna Sledzik

Good morning everyone!

I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend!  We're finally getting a break from our rainy weather and enjoying some sunny days! That's what inspired my background for today's card.

To create this card, I blended Distress Oxide Inks onto white cardstock. I started with the lightest color and moved down to my darkest color.  Once I was happy with the background I spattered it with plain water and gold ink.

I die cut the Clarkia Flower Frame from white cardstock and glued it to my background.

I stamped my sentiments on strips of white cardstock and adhered them to the card front with foam tape.  

I glued the card front to a white card base and finished it off with some Gold Nuvo Drops.

I hope you have a great week and thanks for stopping by!

 

Roses and Thanks by Melissa Rusk

Happy Monday! Today I have a sweet and simple thank you card featuring the new Antique Rose Cluster Label die. It makes card making so easy when the dies are this pretty!

First I die cut the Antique Rose Cluster Label die in white paper. Then I colored the die cut piece with Copic Markers. Once the outline was colored, I glued it to a piece of white paper that is 3 3/4" x 5". At this point it looked nice and I could have just stamped my sentiment and finished the card but I decided to add some more color with my markers and I filled in the open spaces on the roses and the leaves.

After I got the coloring how I wanted it I stamped the Thank You from the Big and Little Words stamp set. I glued it to a pink card and finished it off with some sequins.

Thanks for stopping by the blog, have a wonderful and crafty week!

 

Supplies

 

94261 Antique Rose Cluster Label craft die

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

How to Make a Solid Background for an Open Die by Dave Brethauer

Here's a quick tip that I use for creating a background piece for a die - and it is an easy tip that I have used over the years! 

Sometimes when I design an intricate die, I create a coordinating solid die that can be cut out and placed behind the die. This adds a bit of dimension to the die and gives it another look.

For example, the Scribble Rose dies have a set of outlines and a set of backgrounds. I can use these together to create a dimensional project like this...

But other times, I don't create a background die - in this case, if I do want to fill in the background I have found a way to create a "solid" background.

I discovered this at one point when I ran my die through my machine and noticed that the die didn't cut all the way through. This usually happens with thicker cardstock - and it happens all of the time with watercolor paper! I am betting that this may have happened to you before as well.

Instead of running it through again, or adding a metal adaptor plate to get a clean cut and have all of the inner pieces fall out, I realized that with all of the inner portions intact, it could be used as a background piece.

As you can see here, I have run the die through the machine with watercolor paper. This is 140 lb cold press watercolor paper (it has a little bit of dimpled texture to it). Without a metal adaptor plate, the pieces don't cut all the way through, so all of those little petals stay stuck.

This is great!

I wet the paper and added some watercolor to it - just start by painting with plain water then add a little yellow in the center and some pink around the flower. The wet surface will let the paint move a bit.

While the watercolor piece is drying, cut the die out again on some plain white cardstock.

This time you want a clean cut - I always use a metal adaptor plate on these intricate dies when I do want the inner portion to come out.

Now all you have to do is glue the white cardstock piece onto the watercolor piece - and presto!

It looks as though you had a background piece all along!

Since the watercolor paper is a bit warped, I flatten things out by running this glued piece through my die cut machine - this flattens things together lickety split.

This will work with any die - the trick is to use some thick paper, like watercolor paper, and get a "bad cut". Because of the way a die presses inside the machine - the edges get the most pressure, so they cut through, while the insides get less pressure and tend to stay intact.

This works perfectly on the Fringed Peony - shown here - but look through your stash and this little tip will give new life to designs you may already have!

Add a simple inked background and a sentiment - and you have a gorgeous card!

 

Cool Baby Wipe Technique by Trina Pham

Happy Sunday everyone!  As I mentioned in my last post, I learned and played with different techniques at my retreat.  One very cool (and easy) technique was a baby wipe technique involving distress oxide inks (DOx) and photo paper.  There’s a video tutorial for it by Kia HERE.  Here’s my CAS card.

Started by ink smooshing Lucky Clover, Mowed Lawn and Peacock Feathers DOx inks one at a time onto a piece of photo paper.  Let the ink dry in between each color.  This resulted in a cloudy chalky look.  Now comes the cool part.  Take a baby wipe and buff away at the surface to reveal the bright glossy background.  I wiped away only the bottom half of the panel in the photo below to show the difference.

I’ve heard some trying this technique with glossy paper, so I thought I would do a comparison.  I used the same DOx colors for both and as you can see, my glossy paper turned out very different.   I was advised that certain photo papers do not work either, so it could very well be my brand of glossy paper.  

To complete my card, the Scribble Leafy Branch Background was die cut from the panel and from a scrap of white glitter paper to be inlaid.  The inlaid panel was adhered behind a window cutout made with the the Rectangle Basics set on a Bristol piece.  Stamped the sentiment from Big and Little Words stamp set with Archival black ink, then mounted with fun foam to a white top folding card base  to finish.

Now I couldn’t let that positive leafy cutout go to waste, so I made a CAS birthday card... possibly for a male?

 

Two more leafy branches were die cut from Bristol cardstock and the sentiment was white heat embossed on black for this second one.

This was another fun technique that I think you should give a try.  Having the correct paper is key.  And that’s it from me.  Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful week.  

 

Supplies

 

94275 Scribble Leafy Branch Background craft die

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

Sending Happy Thoughts by Laura Fulcher

Greetings friends.  I hope you are having a great start to the weekend.  Today I want to talk about adding a little extra shading to your diecuts.

For my card today, I started with the new Brilliant Sunflower die that looks like this:

I wanted to show you the die so that you could see that it will cut a solid piece of the flower that layers behind the outline of the petals.  You don't have to do any paper piecing.  Yeah!

To make the card, I cut out the flower a couple of times using dark blue for he circle, light blue for the background, black for the floral outline and yellow for the solid flower.  The sunflower looked nice enough as is, but I wanted to add a bit of dimension.  Therefore, I colored the center of the petals with a Y13 and Y17 Copic markers.  In the picture below, you can see the regular cardstock flower on the left and the flower shaded with Copic markers on the right.  The right one definitely has more oomph.

When I assembled the card, I popped up the flower on the right with foam tape and glued the stem down with gluestick. 

When you cut out the leaves, the die will cut in the center as well as emboss veins at the same time.  You can glue it flat or fold it in the center for extra dimension.  I did both on my card.  Here are the leaves:

Here is what happens when you layer the pieces:

Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94257 Brilliant Sunflower craft die

CL5241 Rose Bouquet clear stamp set

Saying “Hello” with Birds and Blossoms by Jean Okimoto

The Birds and Blossoms set is quickly becoming a new favorite - it's perfect for anyone, young or aged to perfection.  Diecut it, ink it and add a quick greeting from the Big and Little Words Clear Stamps Set.  The sweet little felt bird diecuts contrast the glossy embossed flowers and leaves.

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with another design from our Garden Bouquet Collection.  It's easy to see why everyone loves this die set.  It's great for spring and summer cards - and would brighten anyone's day.

Cut Birds and Blossoms from Twig cardstock - keep the diecut and the offcut togeter - it's easier to ink it that way.  Use a cotton swab to ink the leaves with Lime VersaColor.  Ink the flowers with Electric Coral Radiant Neons.  Heat-emboss the inked areas.  

Stamp the greeting from the Big and Little Words Clear Stamps Set on white cardstock with Pinecone VersaFine Clair.  Stamp the frame too.  Heat-set the inks.   Trim the frame  and round the corners - I used the 4mm corner rounder section from a WeRMemoryKeepers punch.

Attach adhesive label paper - or a sticker sheet - to turquoise felt.  The paper backing stabilizes the felt and keeps liquid adhesives from saturating the felt.  Cut three birds.  

Attach everything to a side-folded A-2 card - use foam dots for the right side of the greeting.  Add turquoise gem stickers.

These little felt birds are cute and sweet right now...but they'll be perfectly spooky in black felt with fall colors for Halloween.

If you're looking for something creative this weekend - join us for the SEATTLE STYLE class at Impress on Monday, May 27th.  Our cards will feature our favorite made-in-the-USA stamps and dies from our favorite Seattle companies.  We're making a sweet (and simple!) little origami sailboat too.

Thanks for visiting...see you again next week!

Supplies

 

94243 Birds and Blossoms craft die

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

Light and Layered Sketch Flower Spray by Jean Okimoto

The new Sketch Flower Spray is light, airy and great for any occasion.  Hi, Jean Okimoto here with a simple design that works for grads, birthdays, weddings, new jobs, a promotion.  Add a greeting - this is from the Rose Bouquet Clear Stamp Set - and you're all set!

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Use a soft rubber brayer to ink a quick background by repeatedly rolling  it over a Melon Melody Kaleidacolor inkpad. Spritz it lightly with water, then roll the inks onto watercolor paper.  Air-dry the inks for a few minutes, then spritz it lightly with water to add  some splotchy interest to the background.  Cut it with the 2" x 3-¼"Rectangle Basics die.

Cut Sketch Flower Spray from Lime Crush Cardstock.  Cut three sets of the flowers from white cardstock.  Ink the center of one flower set with Cheerful VersaFine Clair.  Cotton swabs are great for little jobs like this!

Attach two uninked flowers behind the inked flower - slightly offset.   Attach the diecuts to an A-6 (4-½" x 6") white card.  Add yellow gem stickers.

Stamp the greeting - from the Rose Bouquet Clear Stamps Set - on white cardstock with Shady Lane VersaFine Clair.  Dry the ink, then trim it with the smallest Rectangle Basics die.  Attach it with foam dots.

Thanks for visiting - hope you love flowers too!

 

 

 

Supplies

 

94248 Sketch Flower Spray craft die

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

CL5241 Rose Bouquet clear stamp set

Cut Up Rose Bouquet by Trina Pham

Hello there.  I’ve been at a crafting retreat this past week and sadly, today is the final day.  We had six jam packed days of playing with different products and techniques.  One of the techniques we tried, and one that I’ve wanted to try, was Jennifer McGuire’s  Cut Up Stamping.  I knew the gorgeous Rose Bouquet stamp set from the April release would be perfect to use for it and I was right.  I ended up with three cards!

The gist of the technique is to cut strips from stamped panels and then pop up sections with fun foam to add dimension and interest.  For my first card, I stamped the bouquet with Copic friendly black ink on X-press It cardstock then coloured it in with Copics.

Next, the sentiment from Big and Little Words stamp set was stamped in black on the card base using the MISTI.  Adhered the coloured panel with temporary adhesive to the card base, then stamped the sentiment on that.  

Trimmed the sentiment from the coloured panel and assembled with fun foam.  Added clear shimmer to the flowers to finish.

The same steps were repeated for my second card, but in contrast to the first, I kept it monochromatic.  

The bouquet was black heat embossed on Bristol paper and the sentiment was white heat embossed on a black card base.

And finally my third card was created slightly different than the first two.

The bouquet was stamped with Copic friendly black ink on X-press It cardstock in opposite corners and the area between them was coloured in with a B28 Copic Sketch marker.

Cut up the panel in a grid pattern then added the Happy Jotted diecut sentiment to finish.

 

This truly is a fun and easy technique and the possibilities are endless, especially with the Rose Bouquet stamp.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a great day. 

 

Supplies

 

CL5241 Rose Bouquet clear stamp set

CL5242 Big and Little Words lear stamp set

94107 Happy Jotted Script craft die