Friday, February 28, 2014

Cutting and Stamping

I've done some things a little bit differently with today's card. When I was a Stampin' Up demonstrator, I felt like I had to use mainly SU! products. While I still love SU, not being a demo any more means I can use any products that I want! And I have lots of products!!
For today's card, I wanted to have something a bit lacy. I looked but found that my supply of doilies was totally empty so I started looking at what else I had available. That led me to my Cricut Expression. I mean, why have a machine, if I'm not going to use it? This is what I came up with combining my Cricut and my Stampin' Up!

Materials needed:
Field Flowers stamp set (#122762)
Melon Mambo card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Coastal Cabana card stock, at least 5 1/2 x 6"
White card stock
Cricut Expression machine
Wild Card Cricut Cartridge p. 39
Dahlia Adornments (#127556)
White fiber or yarn
Wild Wasabi ink
Bermuda Bay ink
Baked Brown Sugar ink
Glue Dots (#103683)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1. Place the Coastal Cabana card stock on the Cricut sticky mat. Set the machine up for the Wild Card cartridge and use a 5 cutting depth. The cut that I used is found on p. 39 of the Wild Card book. It cuts an oval on both sides.
Cut the two ovals apart and remove all the cut pieces from the design.
2. Place adhesive on the back of the oval frame. It's not necessary to completely cover the design with adhesive. Place it in the center of the Melon Mambo card stock.
3. Stamp the images from the Field Flowers stamp set using Wild Wasabi for the stem and leaves, Bemuda Bay for the flower and Baked Brown Sugar for the seeds.(These are 3 separate stamps.) Stamp this on white card stock. Cut out around the image. Place dimensionals on the back and stick this to the top of the lace oval.
4. Place adhesive directly on to the card stock about 1" from the bottom of the card.
Press the fiber on to the adhesive going across the bottom of the oval and the tip of the flower stem. This is some fiber that I have had for a number of years & I do not remember the name of it. It's real fuzzy and light and sticks easily to the adhesive. Wrap the ends around to the back of the card front.
5. Add some Dahlia Adornments to the top left using glue dots under them.
6. Adhere the card front to a card base to complete your card.



Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Pink Florets

Materials needed:
Fabulous Florets stamp set (#123027)
Framelits Labels dies (#125598)
Melon Mambo 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon (#115611)
Melon Mambo card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Gumball Green card stock 3 x 4 1/2"
Greenhouse Gala patterned paper (#117167) 2 1/2 x 3 1/2"
White card stock
Sponge Daubers
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)
Melon Mambo ink

1. Layer the patterned paper on top of the Gumball Green card stock. Round the corners.
2. Adhere ribbon at the top and bottom of the patterned paper wrapping the ends around to the back. Adhere this to the center of the Melon Mambo card stock.
3. Stamp an image from Fabulous Florets stamp set in Melon Mambo ink on white card stock.
4. Cut it out with the smallest Framelits Labels die. Use a sponge dauber to apply Melon Mambo ink to the edges of the cut out.
5. Place dimensionals on the back of the cut out and adhere it to the center of the patterned paper.
Adhere this to a card base and add your greeting or note to the inside.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Silhouettes & Watercolors

 Materials needed:
Serene Silhouettes stamp set (#127324)
Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (#128748)
Old Olive card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
White card stock or watercolor paper 2 1/2 x 4 3/4"
Gumball Green card stock
Always Artichoke ink
Green Galore ink
Daffodil Delight ink
Ballet Blue ink
Subtles Brads (#119738)
Modern Label punch (#119849)
Word Window punch (#119857)
3/16" Corner punch (#119871)
Aqua Painter (#103957)

1. Cut your white card stock or watercolor paper and round the corners. Pick up a small amount of blue ink with the Aqua Painter and brush it across the top 1/3 of the paper. Do the same with the yellow across the middle and the green across the bottom. Two of  the colors I used are retired colors but still work just as well. Lay this aside to dry.
2. Stamp the image from Serene Silhouettes with Always Artichoke ink to cover the Old Olive card stock for a background.
3. When the white card stock or watercolor paper is dry, stamp the same image from Serene Silhouettes over the top of the watercolor splotches in Always Artichoke. Adhere this to the left side of the background card stock. 
4. Punch a Modern Label out of Gumball Green card stock. Stamp a greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes on white card stock. Punch it out with the Word Window punch. Adhere it on top of the Modern Label punch.
5. Place this at the top right of the card front, overlapping the colored image a bit. Punch holes on both side of the greeting label. Add brads and bend to the back.
As always, we will adhere this to our card base.


Friday, February 21, 2014

Rippled Poppies

Material needed:
Pleasant Poppies background stamp (#129499)
Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set
Greenhouse Gala patterned paper (#117167) 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Snow Festival patterned paper (#126908) 3 1/2 x 4"
White card stock
Old Olive card stock
Raspberry Ripple In Color ink
Gumball Green In Color marker
Raspberry Ripple In Color marker
Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Satin Stitched ribbon (#126845)
Brights Candy dots  (#130931)
Word Window punch (#119857)
Modern Label punch (#119849)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1. Use the brush tip of the markers to color the Pleasant Poppies stamp. Stamp it on white card stock.  Cut the flower & stem images out, cutting out the excess white card stock. You will want to cut fairly close to the image but it doesn't have to be fussy cutting. Leave overlapping images and close images connected.
2. Add Stampin' Dimensionals to the back of the images, trimming the dimensionals so that they fit. Place the image on the starred patterned paper with the bottom lined of the stems lined up on the bottom of the paper.
3. Adhere this from #2 on to the Greenhouse Gala patterned paper.
4. Place adhesive on the back of about 5" of ribbon. Place it on the right side of the patterned paper wrapping the ends to the back.
5. Punch a Modern Label out of Old Olive card stock. Stamp your greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set in Raspberry Ripple ink on to white card stock. Cut this out with the Word Window punch. Adhere the greeting on to the Old Olive Modern Label. Adhere this to the top right overlapping the ribbon.
6. Add the color dots to the greeting label to look like you've added brads or you can actually add brads if you wish.
7. Adhere the card front onto the card base. Add a greeting or a note to the inside.


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

I'm Not Lion

Ok, so I know this is corny but I still think it's cute for a birthday card!

Materials needed:
Zoo Review stamp set (#122197
Old Olive card stock 2 1/2 x 3 1.2"
Greenhouse Gala patterned paper (#117167)
White card stock
Crushed Curry ink
Old Olive ink
Candy Dots Brad Bases (#132293)
Regale Candy Dots (#130932)
Always Artichoke marker
Xeron Little X 
Ravie font

1. Stamp the lion image on white card stock with Crushed Curry ink. Cut out around it. Adhere it to the center of the Old Olive card stock.
2. Adhere that to the bottom left side of the patterned paper leaving about a 3/8" border. 
3. On your computer, use the Ravie font to print your greeting on white card stock at a font size of 48. Also print "I'm" from the Ravie font in a size 18. Cut these out and run them through your Little X sticker maker or put adhesive on the back. Place the "I'm Not" across the top of the patterned card, above the lion. Place the "Lion" on the right hand side, slightly below the "I'm not" and slightly overlapping the top right corner of the lion piece. 
4. Punch holes in the top left and bottom right corners of the embellishment. Insert brads with a dark yellow candy dot in these.
5. Use the Always Artichoke marker to draw lines under and around the lion so he doesn't look like he's floating in thin air.
6. Adhere the card front on a card base. 
7. On the inside of the card, I stamped a birthday greeting from an old SU! set that I've had for years. Above that, I adhered the "I'm" greeting to complete the not lion thought. Of course, if you are familiar with your printer program, you could print the entire inside greeting.
   Ok, I don't know why this looks gray. I have a new printed/scanner so maybe I didn't do something quite right. This is really on white card stock.

Tie up a bunch of flowers

Well, we're not really tying up our flowers but I do hope that you think this card has that look.
Materials needed:
Field Flowers stamp set (#122762)
Greenhouse Gala patterend paper (#117167)
Crisp Cantaloupe card stock 3 x 4 5/8"
Coastal Cabana card stock 2 7/8 x 4 1/4"
Wild Wasabi ink
More Mustard ink
Crisp Cantaloupe ink
3/8" Old Olive Stripe Organdy ribbon (#129291)
3/16" Corner punch
Glue dots

1. Use the corner punch to round all the corners on the Crisp Cantaloupe card stock and the Coastal Cabana card stock. Adhere the Coastal Cabana to the top of the Crisp Cantaloupe. Adhere this to the center of the patterned paper.

2. Cut about 5" of ribbon. Place adhesive on the back and place the ribbon across the patterned paper and the layers of card stock.
3. Stamp the flower image from Field Flowers stamp set on white card stock. First stamp the stem and leaves in Wild Wasabi. Then carefully stamp the bud on the top stem in More Mustard ink. Finally, stamp the flower in Crisp Cantaloupe ink. Cut out around the outside edges of the stamped image. Adhere the flower image to the Coastal Cabana card stock and over the ribbon.
4. Tie a bow with more of the ribbon and cut the ends in an angle. Place glue dots on the back of the ribbon. Place the bow on top of the ribbon and flower stem image.

Hopefully, this will have the look that the ribbon is tied around the flower stems.
5. Adhere the card front to the card back. Add your greeting or message to the inside and send to a friend for a special occasion or just because.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Washi tape and Lily stamp

I have come to love using Washi tape on my cards. It really makes the work so much easier.

Materials needed:
Secret Garden stamp set (#129144)
Secret Garden framelits dies (#129372)
Framelits Labels dies (#125598)
Old Olive card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Coastal Cabana card stock
Melon Mambo card stock
White card stock
Scotch Expressions Washi tape 3 pak
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1. Use the blue dot and the bright pink 3/4" Washi tape and the blue dot Washi tape to outline the Old Olive card stock.
2. Cut the Coastal Cabana and the Melon Mambo card stock with the Framelits Label dies and your Big Shot machine. Adhere the Melon Mambo die cut to the center of the Coastal Cabana die cut. Place dimensionals to the back of the Coastal Cabana die cut and place it in the center of the card front.
3. Stamp the lily image from Secret Garden stamp set on white card stock with Coastal Cabana ink. Cut the lily image out with the Secret Garden framelits die.  Add a dimensional to the back of the cut out and place it in the center of the Melon Mambo.
4. Place the card front on a card base and add your note or greeting to the inside of the card.

I thought I was so nice of the Scotch company to make washi tape in colors that go so well with my SU! card stocks! lol Just kidding. As far as I know, these 2 companies have nothing to do with each other but the colors do go well together.

Friday, February 14, 2014

All About You

This is the background that I made a few days ago when I was first learning the Batik technique. I don't like to waste things, even when I've made a mistake. So today's card is using the mistake background for a unique card.

Materials needed:
Raining Flowers stamp set (#122767)
Really Good Greetings stamp set (#130333)
Framelits Labels dies (#125598)
Melon Mambo card stock
Coastal Cabana card stock
White card stock
Primrose Petals In Color ink
Gumball Green In Color ink
Pistachio Pudding In Color ink
3/8" Stain Stitched ribbon Gumball Green (#126848)
Decorative Label punch (#120907)
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)
Background card stock made here

1. Stamp the flower from Raining Flowers stamp set in Primrose Petals ink on white card stock. Cut out.
2. Cut out a 3 1/4" Framelits Label die from Melon Mambo card stock and a 2 1/2" die from Coastal Cabana card stock. Adhere the Coastal Cabana label die cut on top of the Melon Mambo die cut.
3. Stamp the greeting from the Really Good Greetings stamp set in Primrose Petals ink on white card stock. (Note: I often use this greeting on the inside of birthday cards.) Punch the greeting out using a Decorative Label punch.  Add Stampin' Dimensionals on the back of the greeting and place in the center of the Coastal Cabana die cut.
4. Adhere ribbon across the top  of the background card wrapping the ends around the back.
5. Adhere the flower image to the top left side of the card, overlapping the ribbon. If the flower sticks out over the card edge a bit, trim it off to even with the edge of the card.
6. Adhere the label die cut stack that you made on to the right hand side of the card.
7. Adhere the card front to a card base. 
Always try to find ways to use your mistakes. You might come out with some of your best cards using mistakes. Besides, no one else will know that you made a mistake unless you tell them!

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Simple Sympathy

I don't think that all sympathy cards need to be black, white or beige. Yes, those colors can look great but IMO other colors can look nice too.
Materials needed:
Birds of a Feather patterned paper (#126899) 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Wild Wasabi card stock 3 x 4"
White Card stock 2 x 3" 
So Saffron card stock scrap
Simply Sketched stamp set (hostess #129672)
Scallop Dot Border punch (retired)
3/16" Corner punch
Large Oval punch (#119855)
5/8" Whisper White Satin ribbon (#114616)
Old Olive ink

1. Punch the Scallop Dot border on one long side of the Wild Wasabi card stock.
2. Stamp the stem image on to white card stock with Old Olive ink. Use a round punch to round the corners. Adhere the white card stock to the center of the Wild Wasabi card stock.
3. Adhere this to the center left of the patterned paper.
4. Cut a piece of ribbon about 7" long. Apply adhesive to the back and place it on the right side of the patterned paper. Wrap the ends around to the back.
5. Stamp the greeting in the Simply sketched stamp set on to a piece of So Saffron card stock. Use the large oval punch to punch it out. Adhere this to the top right of the card front overlapping the ribbon and a bit of the embellishment.
6. Adhere the card front to a card base and place a note of sympathy inside the card. People feel more like you care when you actually write a message inside of just stamping a nice saying inside.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Hello you

 Materials needed:
Dictionary Stamp (#130351)
Regarding Dahlias stamp set (#130327)
Wild Wasabi card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
White card stock
Curly Label punch (#119851)
Season of Style washi tape (#132155)
Scotch Expressions washi tape
Sponge dauber
Old Olive ink
More Mustard ink
Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

1.Stamp the large Dictionary background stamp on the Wild Wasabi card stock in Old Olive ink.
2. Choose several patterns of Washi tape that you like. I chose some from Stampin' Up! and some from Scotch Expressions. Press them on to the Wild Wasabi card stock diagonal, vertical and horitizonal.

3. Stamp the dahlia image with More Mustard ink on white card stock. Carefully cut out around the edges of the image. Add Stampin' Dimensionals to the back of the dahlia image and place on the left bottom of the card stock. 
4. Stamp the "hello you" from the Regarding Dahlias stamp set on white card stock with More mustard ink. Punch the greeting out using a Curly Label punch.
5. Use a sponge dauber to dab More Mustard ink around the edges of the greeting. I find it is easier to put ink on a piece with many edges using a sponge dauber instead of brushing it directly on the ink pad.
6. Adhere the greeting to the top right hand side of the card.
7. Adhere the card front on the card base and add your greeting or note to the inside.



Saturday, February 8, 2014

Friday, February 7, 2014

Acrylic Batik Cards

Ok, so I was talking to a friend a few days ago and she told me that she is entirely into digital scrapping and card making now. She has given all of her hands on products away. We decided that since I am really a tactile person, I'm one who likes to get my hands dirty. Well, today's cards will really get your hands dirty or at least, they did mine! I've got 2 different cards today with the same technique and the same card map so I'm going to show you both of them.
I saw this technique on Split Coast Stampers. This is my take on it. I've got lots of pictures so I'll try to show you step by step.

Materials needed:
I'm listing all materials for both cards.
Secret Garden stamp set (#129144)
Secret Garden Framelits dies (#12937)
White card stock for each card 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Acrylic paint (I use Liquitex but any brand is fine. Craft paints work also)
    Cadmium Yellow Medium Hue
    Cadmium Red Deep hue
    Cerulean Blue (for friend to friend card)
    Burnt Sienna (for happy card)
Wild Wasabi card stock 2 1/4 x 4 or 2 x 4"
Primrose Petals ink (for friend card)
Gumball Green ink (for friend card)
Crushed Curry ink (for happy card)
Versa Mark ink
Pistachio Pudding ink (for happy card)
Brads Subtles (#119738)
Clear Embossing Powder
Word Window punch (for friend card)
Large Oval punch (for happy card)
 A piece of plastic like a credit card or an old drivers license 
Paper towels or wet wipes(optional)

1. Choose a background stamp or cover the white card stock with designs, like I did with the Secret Garden stamps. Stamp the entire white card stock with the images and Versa Mark ink.

2. Sprinkle clear embossing powder over the entire design. Shake off the excess and heat set it.



This one is the background I used for the happy card.
Now, I want to show you what happened when I left out the 2nd step. This shows that you need to check your directions often. lol
Actually, I think I might use this for another card but it doesn't show the stamped images. Don't forget step 2! 
This is more what it is supposed to look like, with the images showing through the paint.

3. Choose 3 colors of paint and drip, dot or splash it on to the stamped card stock.
4. Use your plastic card to move the paint around. Move it in different directions to get the paint covering the entire card. You don't want to leave any white showing.
This was the part that was so messy. You want to be sure to have paper or something to protect your table. You will be wiping paint off the card onto whatever it is sitting on.
Wipe the paint with the plastic until the embossed images show.
Give it about 10 minutes to dry.
5. On white card stock, stamp your leaf and flower images from the Secret Garden stamp set. Cut them out with the Secret Garden Framelits dies and your Big Shot machine. (or with a pair of scissors) Adhere them on to the Wild Wasabi card stock. Adhere the Wild Wasabi on to the dried painted batik background that you made.
6. Stamp your greeting on white card stock. The friend greeting was stamped with Primrose Petals ink. Punch the greeting out with the Word Window punch. Rub the edges directly to the Primrose petals ink pad to ink the edges. Adhere it to the bottom right of the card and add brads.
For the "happy" greeting, I didn't have one exactly like I wanted. I chose a "happy birthday" stamp from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set. I used a piece of scrap paper to cover up the "birthday" when I stamped it with Crushed Curry ink.
This way only the "birthday" had ink on it. I stamped it 3 times for the "happy, happy, happy" saying. Yes, I am a fan of Duck Dynasty!
I cut this greeting out with the Large Oval punch. Then I rubbed the edges on the Crushed Curry ink, just as I did the friend one. I place this one at the top right and added brads.
Because I used so many warm colors on this card, I decided to use some cool green brads here.
7. Adhere the completed card front to a card base and then add your message to the inside.
Always be sure to sign you creation somewhere on your card. I have a stamp that I found years ago that says "handmade just for you" that I stamp on the back of all my cards. I then add my initials and the year. (jj/14)






Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Jar Full of Hearts

Here's another idea for Valentine's Day.
Materials needed:
Patterned paper 4 1/4 x 5 1/2" (I think this paper was from a patterned pack call Print Poetry from SU!                                                           I've had it a few years & I can't find the UPC info.)
Pink card stock 3 1/2 x 4 1/2"
White card stock
Scraps of a red based patterned paper
Perfectly Preserved stamp set (#126692)
Hearts a Flutter stamp set (#129252)
Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (#115370)
Framelits Cannery dies (#127822)
Hearts a Flutter dies (#130159)
Edgelits Adorning Accents die (#125595)
Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon Melon Mambo (#115611)
Subtle collection Brads (#119738)
Word Window punch (#119857)
Modern Label punch (#119849)
Melon Mambo ink
Early Espresso ink
Early Espresso marker

1. Place the Edgelits die on one end of the pink card stock. Run it through your Big Shot machine. Adhere this to the left side of the patterned paper.
2. Stamp the jar from the Perfectly Preserved stamp set in Early Espresso ink on white card stock. Stamp hearts from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set in Melon Mambo ink on white card stock.
3. Place the Framelits Cannery die and the Hearts a Flutter die on top of the stamped images. If you place a red patterned paper under the hearts images, you can cut 2 layers at the same time. Run your dies through your Big Shot machine. Repeat to cut more hearts. I did 3 stamped hearts and 2 patterned paper hearts. If you cut some more, you can place some hearts on the inside of the card.
4. Stamp 1 heart in the center of the jar image. This will make the heart layering easier. Adhere the jar to the left side of the pink card stock that has already had a border cut. Adhere 2 more hearts "inside" the jar. Use the Early Espresso marker to draw lines over the hearts where the heart covered up lines from the jar.
5. Adhere 3 hearts on the right side of the pink card stock near the scalloped border.
6. Stamp the greeting from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set in Melon Mambo ink on white card stock. Punch this out with the Word Window punch. Rub the punched item across the surface of the Melon Mambo ink pad to ink the edges.
7. Cut a piece of Melon Mambo ribbon about 6". Apply adhesive to the back and press it on the right side of the patterned paper. Wrap the ends around the back of the card front.
8. Punch a Modern Label punch from your patterned paper. My patterned paper is two sided so I flipped it over & used the reverse side. Adhere the greeting on top of the Modern Label punch. Adhere it to the top right side overlapping the ribbon. Punch holes on each end of the label and insert brads. Fold to the back.
9. Adhere the card front to a card back. On the inside, you can add extra hearts and a greeting to your loved one.

Monday, February 3, 2014

Washi Tape Valentine

Here's another Valentine card for you. Hope you like it.

Materials needed:
Blushing Bride or Melon Mambo card stock 4 1/4 x 5 1/2"
Real Red card stock 4 x 4"
White card stock 3 1/2 x 3 1/2"
Hearts a Flutter Framelits Dies (#130159)
Striped Organdy Ribbon Melon Mambo (#129293)
Little Friends stamp set (#122667)
Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (#115370)
Washi Tape
    This n That (#131269)
    Gingham Garden (#129314)
Melon Mambo ink

1. Adhere the white card stock in the center of the Real Red card stock. Using the ruffled heart die, place it in the middle of the white card stock and make your sandwich for your Big Shot. Run it through the Big Shot machine cutting both pieces of card stock at the same time.
2. Lay this on top of the pink card stock in the center. Lightly mark where the cut out heart will be.
3. Lay strips of Washi tape about 2 1/2" long across the pink card stock over the heart marks. Place each strip of washi tape touching the next strip so that there are no lines between them.
4. Adhere the red and white card stock with the heart cut out over the pink card stock and the washi tape. Be sure the the washi tape shows through the opening.
5. I stamped the "love you" from the Little Friends stamp set and the "happy valentine's day" from the Teeny Tiny wishes stamp set in Melon Mambo ink.
6. Adhere ribbon across the bottom part of the card. I am not good with bows so I did this in 2 parts. I adhered a strip of ribbon across the bottom of the card front first.
Next, I tied a bow (like tying a shoe), cut it and attached it to the other ribbon with glue dots.
7. Adhere the card front to a card base and send this to someone you love.