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!

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.

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.

Silhouettes &

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)

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.

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.