Hello Card by Donna Sledzik

Hello everyone!  The inspiration for the background of today's card came from this video I watched by Mary Beth Shaw. 

To create the background I took a page from a magazine and placed a stencil underneath it. Next I used a sanding block to lightly sand across the the paper. 

I think dark images work the best and a light hand in sanding is key.  I ripped a few pages before I got the hang of it.  

I glued my image to a piece of cardstock and then trimmed it to fit on my card.  Next I mounted the background on a kraft cardstock mat, then glued it to a white card base.

Using kraft cardstock, I die cut 2 small circles and 1 medium circle from the Geodesic Circle Die set which I glued to my card front.

Next I stamped, watercolored, and die cut my flowers and leaves then glued them to my card. I spattered the card with gold ink and while this was drying, I die cut my word hello from gold metallic cardstock.  

To finish the card I adhered the word hello and added Gold Nuvo Drops to the center of the flowers.

That's it for today!  I hope you have a great week.

 

 

Supplies

 

94408 Geodesic Circles

94105 Big Hello Premiere

88615 Leafy Rows Stencil

CL5258-D Wild Rose Stem clear stamp and die set

Leafy Tree Frame Best Wishes by Anne Thompson

It's Sunday night as I write up this post and almost everything that could go wrong in this process has gone wrong.  Ever have one of those days?!  The computer has been acting up and the camera died after three photos.  So I'm just going to have to work with what I have because this goes live at 3:01 AM.

I've spent the month of June making birthday cards to replenish my dwindling supply.  Today's card with the sentiment "best wishes" could be used for a birthday card or for any occasion when you want to send best wishes.  I used watercolor paper, two dies, and two pieces of the same dot/stripe paper on a white notecard.

I started with a piece of Memory Box WATERCOLOR PAPER WP101 and green paints from my Kuretake watercolors.  I wet the paper first with a wide brush and clear water and then dabbed on various shades of green paint with a smaller brush and let the water move the colors to blend them. 

After the painted paper was dry I cut it using the LEAFY TREE FRAME 94420 and the BEST WISHES BANNER SCRIPT 94394.

I cut two pieces of the same double-sided dot/stripe paper 5 1/4 X 4, placing the dots on the front of the notecard and the stripes on the inside.  This paper is from the SPRINGTIME BOUQUET STRIPES AND DOTS PAPER PAD PP1007.  I used very narrow Scor-Tape and a glue pen to add the die cut pieces to the dotted paper on the card front.  I found a sticky-back green gem to dot the i.

I like the way the Leafy Tree Frame embosses the leaves on the tree and lines on the frame, giving it a lovely texture.  Perhaps I could have gotten even more dimension if I had die cut the image while it was still damp.  I find that even lightly misted paper often gives a better impression than really dry paper.

That's it!

I'm really ready for a new challenge, a new theme.  I wonder what July will bring...

Happy Crafting!

 

 

Paper Weaving With Die Cuts by Laura Fulcher

Greetings friends.  When I first saw the Diagonal Stripe Collage die, I knew that I wanted to try paper weaving with it.  When you cut out the die, you are left with this:

It cuts diagonal stripes on your card, but it doesn't separate the bottom of the card from the top.  You could put decorative paper behind the lines, but I decided to weave some paper.

Before we get to the weaving, I want to talk about the process of cutting out the die.  I wanted a top folding card, so when I ran the die through the machine, I had to run it through like this:

This is not the ideal way to run a long die through a machine.  Ideally, you want to run it the other direction (horizontally) so that the roller slowly moves across the die as you cut.  I had to run the die through the machine though because of the layout of my card.  Another hint...  tape the die down to your plate so that it doesn't shift as you cut. 

Next, I chose some left over strips from the new Garden Folly paper pack:

The advantage of using a paper pack is that you know all of the papers will coordinate and work well together.  The papers are all 65lb, which is perfect for weaving.  It is thin enough to weave in and out of the openings without creasing or tearing.  Heavier cardstock is really hard to weave.  You could measure the strips, but I just randomly cut pieces of various sizes.

Once I wove all of my strips, I glued down the pieces at the edges and then used my paper trimmer to cut everything nice and even:

To be honest, I kind of liked the card "as is" because it really focused on the weaving.  I also like that the weaving on the outside of the card matches the weaving on the inside of the card.

I did go ahead and pop up a peony flower and added a sentiment to finish the card:

To color the peony, I used Copic markers (YR21, YR23, YR24, G82, YG95) and added the sentiment in Blue Spruce ink from Impression Obsession.

How would you have finished the card?  Would you have left the weaving alone?  Just added a sentiment?  Add a flower and sentiment?  I'm curious.

 

 

Supplies

 

94401 Diagonal Stripe Collage

PP1005 Garden Folly 6x6 pack

CL5255 Peony Garden Corner clear stamp and die set

Gloriosa Butterflies, Geodesic Ovals and Glitter by Jean Okimoto

There are so many ways to combine the great dies, papers and stamps in our 2020 collections.  Take advantage of the coordinating colors and themes to create quick cards for any occasion.  

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with two cards using the same papers, dies, stamps and colors to streamline the process and save time.  The tools and supplies are ready - make some cards for your stash, or for gifts.  

 

Cut the Gloriosa Butterfly Duo Backgrounds from Juicy Pear cardstock.  Cut the Gloriosa Butterfly Duo Outlines  and center/antennae sections from the lime green glitter cardstock in the Twinkling Jewel 6x6 Glitter Pack.  Cut the tiny butterflies - from the Butterfly Meadow die set - from the green glittered cardstock too.

Cut the leafy green Garden Folly 6x6 print with the big little Geodesic Oval dies

Score, cut and fold an A6 (4-½" x 6-¼") card and a top-folded A2 card of Easter Grass cardstock.  

Stamp the greetings - from the Poppystamps Greeting Basics Clear Stamp Set - on light green cardstock with Shady Lane VersaFine Clair.  Quickly heat-emboss it with detail clear powder.  Trim the greetings with the Rectangle Basics dies.

Assemble the cards - use foam dots for the greetings and butterfly wings.

Take a few extra minutes to make duplicate or similar cards with the tools and supplies you're working with.  Save some time now, have handcrafted cards ready when you need them... and have a great weekend!

 

Thanks for visiting...

 

Supplies

 

94418 Geodesic Oval Trio

94387 Gloriosa Butterfly Duo Background

94383 Gloriosa Butterfly Duo Outlines

PP1005 Garden Folly 6x6 pack

30086 Rectangle Basics Set

CL490 Greeting Basics

94238 Butterfly Meadow

GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

Abstract Alcohol Ink Background by Laura Fulcher

Greetings friends.  Today I want to share a card that I made with some Yupo paper and alcohol ink.  For this project, you can use any alcohol ink that you like.  Ranger makes a ton of colors, but I often use Copic marker refills.  I like the refills because I can use them for alcohol ink projects as well as refill my markers.

Yupo paper is a synthetic paper that is really slick and the ink moves well across the surface.  You can also use glossy paper, but the results aren't quite as good. 

Here are the colors I used for the project:

I added a drop of ink onto the paper and then used my airbrush to splatter the color:

Don't worry if you don't have an airbrush.  You can use a simple straw and blow the ink around the paper.  The only trick is that you need to work quickly because the ink will dry fast.  Add more colors and then repeat the process until you get the look that you want:

Bonus project- you can spritz your alcohol ink with Copic blending solution or regular alcohol that you buy at the drug store.  The alcohol with give you little "bleached" dots:

Which look do you prefer?  The regular alcohol ink splotches or the ones that were sprayed with alcohol to get a bleach look?

I found the abstract background to be a great way to highlight whatever sentiment I wanted.  Have a great weekend!

 

Supplies

 

94393 Celebrate Cursive Script

Border Die Background by Michelle Bala

Michelle here, sharing a card I created for my husband.  I wanted to create a lace pattern for the background. 

I used the Clementine Border Die and two pieces of cardstock. The cardstock can be any color/ colors you choose. I made 4 die cuts, 2 from teal paper and two from gray paper. 

I adhered the 2 teal die cuts directly to the center of the card base.  For each corner I adhered a piece at a time.  Cut the gray die cut paper in half and add glue to back of the die. You will have the extra hang over. Turn your card over and trim the excess from the back.

This is what the background pattern will look like. It resembles a delicate lace pattern. This will look so pretty in a white pattern on kraft paper.

Next, I die cut Love Airy Script sentiment from Twinkling Jewel Glitter Paper. I used one of the stamp sentiments from a Poppy Stamps Set, Friendship and Kindness.  I cut the stamp so I can piece the words in different positions. I embossed the words with white embossing powder.

I positioned the words and adhered them with foam tape. Before adhering the words I added some silver thread. 

Thanks for taking a peek!!

Have a great day!

 

Supplies

 

94426 Clementine Border

94326 Love Airy Script

GP1003 Twinkling Jewel Glitter Pad

CL492 Friendship and Kindness

Diecut Wide Washi Tape Stickers by Jean Okimoto

Memory Box and Poppystamps dies create unique washi tape stickers for any project  Add them to cards, giftbags, tags, party favors or decor for color-coordinated accents with a very strong adhesive.

Hi, Jean Okimoto here with 2 easy summer cards.  I use a lot of labels, sticker sheets and laminates - I'll have a stash of of the liner sheets if I save them.

Attach Cornelia Aqua Wide Washi Tape to a recycled liner sheet from address labels.  Cut it with the Poppystamps Thank You Stitched Tag. Cut the Poppystamps Grosgrain Bow and the tag's "thank you"  from pale peach cardstock.  Attach everything to a side-folded blue 5 x 3 ½" notecard.  

Cut the middle-sized Geodesic Oval from the washi tape too.  Cut the Geodesic Oval again from natural white cardstock - we're using the frame. Place the smallest Poppystamps Flora Bloom in the 2 ¼" Flora Blooms Solids die.  Cut natural cardstock with the double-die. Color a light-colored Delicate Pastel glitter cardstock sheet with a marker.  Let the ink dry, then punch ¼" circles.  Cut a scrap of it to fit behind the circles in the diecut flower.

Stamp the greeting from the Peony Garden Corner Clear Stamps on natural cardstock with Morning Mist VersaFine Clair.  Attach the Geodesic Oval, Flora Blooms and greeting to a top-folded A2 card of Coral Cream cardstock.  Add the glitter dots.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 

Supplies

 

CL5255-D Peony Garden Corner clear stamp set

2333 Flora Blooms

2365 Thank You Stitched Tag

2358 Grosgrain Bow

2331 Flora Bloom Solids Set

94418 Geodesic Oval Trio

GP1001 Delicate Pastel Glitter Pad

WT509 Cornelia Aqua 1 inch Washi Tape

Thank You by Donna Sledzik

Good morning everyone.  For today's card I have a fun technique that I saw on Jennifer McGuire's blog, which she called Faux Die Cut Monoprint.  

To create this card I inked white cardstock with Distress Ink Pads.  I rubbed the ink pads directly onto my paper to get good ink coverage.

Next I die cut my image from the inked cardstock.  I was left with the outline and negative shape of the die cut.  

I sprayed the die cut outline with plain water and placed it face down on another piece of white cardstock.  I run this through my die cut machine several times to transfer the ink.  Next I gently pulled the die cut off the paper.  If you are having a hard time removing the die cut from the cardstock, heat it with a heat tool to help release the paper.

On the white cardstock you are left with a watercolor like image of the die cut.  

I decided to place my print behind the negative space of the die cut. To add a little texture to my inked background, I placed a stencil over the cardstock and rubbed through the stencil with a baby wipe to remove some ink. 

Next I glued the outline die cut to a white card base and trimmed the other inked piece to fit on my card.

I stamped and white heat embossed the sentiment on black cardstock. Next I fussy cut the word and used foam tape to adhere it to my card.

To finish the card I glued a few embellishments to the front of my card.

I hoped you enjoyed today's card and thanks for stopping by.

 

 

Supplies

 

94413 Sofia Butterfly Border

42030 Ring Tike Stencil

CL5255-D Peony Garden Corner clear stamp set

Tulip Trio Frame Birthday Card by Anne Thompson

I'm still making birthday cards this month to replenish my supply.  I like to have a variety on hand to choose from when I need one.   Here's a bright, sparkly new one to add to my stash.

From the front you could imagine this card could be for any occasion.  But when you look inside...

...there's the birthday message!

This was a very simple card to make.  I chose two coordinating prints from the GARDEN FOLLY 6X6 paper pad PP1005 and some white cardstock to make the paper layers on the white notecard.  I added pieces from the TULIP TRIO FRAME 94440 cut using a piece of bright red glitter paper from the TWINKLING JEWEL 6X6 glitter paper pad GP1003 as the focal image for the card front.  There is plenty of room on the white cardstock to add a name or other stamped or handwritten message once I know where this card is going.

On the inside of the card I layered more of the red plaid paper and white cardstock as a backdrop for the BIRTHDAY CURSIVE SCRIPT CIRCLE 94396 and two solid candles from TALL BIRTHDAY CANDLES 94395, both cut from more of the same red glitter paper.

That's it!  Easy peasy.

Want to submit your birthday card in this month's challenge?  Check out how to here.  We would love to see what you've been making!

Happy Crafting!

 

 

You’re the Best by Trina Pham

Happy Sunday.  And happy Father’s Day to all the fathers and father figures out there.  I have a clean and simple (CAS) card that I made for my dad to share today.  Unfortunately, he’s going to receive it late. 🙈  

Anywho, a very easy card today.  Started by ink blending Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed distress inks (di) with sponge daubers through a DIY circle stencil on a Bristol panel to create the sun.  Spritz with water and blot with a paper towel to give it texture.

The lighthouse, waves and letters were all die cut from Bristol paper three times and stacked for dimension.  Blended Black Soot di on the top letters for an ombré look.  White heat embossed the sentiment on black cardstock then trimmed into a strip.  Assembled the card and mounted the panel on two pieces of black cardstock to finish.

And that was all there was to it.  Thank you for stopping by.  Have a wonderful day.

 

 

Supplies

 

99736 Oceanside Lighthouse and Waves

94341 Vintage Varsity Alphabet

CL5255 Peony Garden Corner clear stamp and die set