Ruffled Valentines

Now these really aren't ruffles, they are scallops.
The larger scallops are from a Sizzix
extended cut die and the two smaller ones
from Quikuts dies.
The papers in the top card are from
DCWV Madly In Love Stack and the lower
from DCWV Rustic Stack.

On the lower card all the edges have been sponged,
which fits very well with the vintage rustic look of
the paper.
The Valentine stamp is unknown.
Punches, larger heart, Punch Bunch,
other punch unknown.

A few more thanks

Should be obvious by now that I went a little overboard this spring when it came to this particular design. What was really fun about it all was that NONE of the designs are exactly the same. Similar, but not the same.

A lot of die cut and punched flowers in various sizes and colors are used. That's it! Some sponging around the edges of the card bases and a Sizzix extended cut flourish.

I hope you are inspired to create your own version of this design.

Mom's Day

It finally dawned on me that Mother's Day was this Sunday.

Here are my quickly assembled designs.

The flower stamp is a clear design by Hot Off the Press,

while the elegant flourished phrase is from PSX.

I have used die cuts, punches and decorative

scissors to achieve the various decorative edges.

More Blue Snowflakes

The white and dark blue card stock layers have been die cut with a Spellbinders Labels die. Now that white card stock has been a little "altered". I got out my snowflake stamp collection and went a little over the edge. (aka - out of the box) I also used some white sparkle embossing powder for one snowflake. There are also die cut and punched snowflakes floating around on it too.

The label was cut in half so there are two cards. Note the epoxy bubble over the snowflake on the phrase. It is left over EnviroTex from my last Friendly Plastic session. I used Crafter Pick Ultimate glue to attach it.

Blue, Tan and White

This color combination and the use of snowflakes was inspired by my stamping friend's blog. Carol Norby has a blog called Stampin Hot In Arizona and it is a "hot" blog. Carol has some great ideas, so stop by her blog and be inspired.

The shades of blue paper used here is from K & Company. I stamped one of my many snowflake stamps on the paper and embossed with a sparkly blue embossing powder.

The Sizzix die cut snowflake is dark blue cardstock. VersaMark ink was brayered on then holgram embossing powder was used.

The ink used on the rest of the stamped images is Blue Iris Chalk ink.

The Leaves Are Falling

Some the trees here in western Nebraska are still dropping leaves. The slightest breeze has a cascade of leaves to intrigue our half grown kittens.

My stamping buddy and good friend, Bettye, had a stack of 8 1/2 x 11 papers that she did not want. Bettye is constantly giving me stamps or paper that she is no longer using or can't figure out how to use. What a great challenge!!!!

So with a thanks to Bettye, here is what I did with some of the papers. The last card is the only one that actually has stamping on it. The dark torn background has VersaMark stamped leaves with clear embossing powder.

I buy very little scrapbook paper with scrapbooking in mind. I am a stamper and card maker first and that is how I think and see papers and embellishments.

Stamping on Your Dictionary

Another look at using resist stamping on a dictionary page. Two different stamps were used for the resist. The flourish background is from Stamp Camp. Judikins is maker of the brown swirly background.

This lovely little girl is an image by Second Star On the Right. I bought mine in 2003 but can not find them anywhere now. I know the stamp line sold to another company and was available there for a while, but has now disappeared.

The highly detailed art stamps work best on glossy paper. I use a brayer to ink my stamp and go over it repeatedly to prevent any lines. Noe that I lightly sponged the edges of the image.

Quickutz is the maker of the die cuts framing the card that is in shade of brown. I sponged darker brown ink around the edges of the die cuts.

Smile

I really really like this card. It turned out very well. The card base front is covered with scrapbook paper and the edges have been sponged with dark brown ink.

The stamp is by Hero Arts. The word smile is an outline that I filled in with a felt tip marker. It has been stamped on a piece of scrapbook paper and layered onto dark brown paper.

The dark brown flourishes are die cuts by Bosskuts. That company has some of my very favorite dies.

Just Because

What to do with those scraps? The paper crafter in me can not throw them away. I just can't.

The butterfly is a Quickutz die, with the base being polished stone. Polished Stone is alcohol inks on glossy paper or reinkers and alcohol.

Here are some links to some great tutorials for various way to get that Polished Stone look:

U Stamp 4 Fun - a very good video using reinkers

Stamping TV - exceptional video

Split Coast Stampers - a print version

My preferred method is to use the Ranger Adirondack alcohol inks - to see more of this product click here.

The applicator is nothing more than a block of wood with Velcro glued to one side. The handle is nice but not necessary. You don't have to have the "official" alcohol inks to do the polished stone technique. All you really need are reinkers and alcohol. This is how I started when I first did the Polished Stone Technique.

The flourish is a Boss Kuts die. I spray glittered after I cut it out. I think spraying the paper before cutting might be the way to go. I had to chase it down in my spray box after spraying and do again as the aerosol blew it all over. Had glittered fingers by the time I got done. Oh well, glitter is a form of fiber for crafters. (husbands usually don't think so, but I know this is so, just ask any crafter who uses glitter)

Staircase Photo Card

Peeking in the window of an old house on an isolated abandoned farmstead, this is what I saw. So steep with the red paint still visible. How long since someone had occupied this lovely old house? I don't know, but there must have been years of joy and sorrow lived on this farmstead.

The cardbase has covered with scrapbook paper that has the edges sponged. The Spellbinder's die cut on the left side was cream card stock that was inked with dark brown ink.

The photo has the corners punched with Stampin' Up's ticket punch, then it is layered onto a dark brownie-green cardstock, trimmed to a narrow border using a layering ruler and that layer is punched as well.

Inspirational Scripture Card

I really like my scripture stamps, but don't use them very often. Several months ago in the midst of a stamping fenzy, I stamped up some of my scripture stamps onto scrapbook paper. Well then I ran into the problem of what to use with this lovely, but very oddly colored scrapbook paper.

The background for the card is pastel olive chalk ink by Colorbox. (one of my favorite brands of ink) I simply stamped the same flower over and over until the front of the card was covered.

The die cuts are architectual corners by Sizzix. They rather difficult to cut, but worth the effort to shim until they do cut. The black strip at the bottom is the final touch. It seemed to finish it off nicely.

Faith

This is one of my favorite phrase stamps. There is a lot in my life lately that has not been easy, but with faith in God and by God's grace those things have been possible.

The background is done with foliage stamps by Fred B. Mullet. The phrase stamp is by River City Rubber Works. I used fine line black embossing powder. The lattice border is a dye cut from the Cuttlebug line. It was cut in white card stock then sponged the same green as was used on the foliage. I also used that green to sponge around the edges to create a subtle frame.

As The Deer

One of my favorite scripture songs is As The Deer Paneth for the Water. It is such a wonderful acknowlegement of the grace of God in our lives and how we desperately need Him.

The Rubber Stamp Avenue mountains are stamped on the upper portion in dark tan on a light tan cardbase. Next are the trees which are stamped in dark green and positioned almost at the bottom of the card.

The deer are a die cut by Quickutz. They have been cut out in a reddish brown cardstock. The entire outline of the deer has been sponged in dark brown ink.

The phrase is computer generated, cut out in a rectangle and layered first on the same reddish brown cardstock as the deer and then on dark brown cardstock. I used a large enough dark brown border to enable the use of a decorative corner punch.

Sweet Grass Stamps

Sweet Grass stamps sponsored a Designer's Challenge at Stampers Quest. These two designs will not appear on Stampers Quest.



The black and white design on the left is very very basic.
The band of black and white down the left side of the card is a piece from a background stamp that was stamped on plain white card stock and embossed with fine line black.



The phrase from Sweet Grass Stamps has been embossed using fine line black embossing powder and cut out with a Spellbinders die. The edge were then sponged in black.

I believe the card base for this card is from a DCWV stack called Luxury. It has a pearlie sheen to it that is lovely.

The die cut is by Quickutz. It is an extended cut die, this means if is close to 12 inches long. I like the bold, yet elegant statement that it makes.

The Sweet Grass phrase is stamped with VersaMark and embossed with fine line gold powder. After rounding the corners it was placed on the same cardstock as the die cut, rounding the corners on this layer as well.

Scenic Winter Cards

My stamping pal, Bettye S., had a stamp that she just could not do anything with. She gave it to me to play with several months ago. It has been sitting out in my studio, staring at me for that time. Finally today I had an inspiration and several ideas. Here are two that actually worked. I just love it when the vision in my head comes together and looks good as a card.

The stamp is by Creative Impressions. I am not the greatest colorist in the world, so I knew that was not going to be the answer. On both cards the image is stamped on light blue cardstock with Clearsnaps Colorbox Fluid Chalk Blue Iris.

With the first card I highlighted with Ranger's Inkssentials white gel pen. By using the pen at the same angle over the whole card, a 3-D effect is achieved. The finishing touch was Sizzix's Sizzlet

Architectural Corners in navy cardstock. These are glued down with Crafters Pick Ultimate Glue, applied to the back side of the die cut with a toothpick.

With the second card, I went crazy with a silver glitter pen. The well glittered image was then mounted on navy cardstockand trimmed closely.

One of my favorite accents with cards is metallic gift wrap. In this case it is a brushed metallic silver. Double sided tape was used on the card base, the gift wrap attached. I then turn it over and use a scissors to trim the gift wrap to the exact size of the card base. The card itself provides my guide for a clean straight cut.

Enjoy Bettye and thanks for the challenge.

Punches, Die Cuts and Stickers

A new Anna Griffin punch inspired this little creation.

The beginning was a piece of scrapbook paper glued
to an A2 card base. (A2 - 4.25 x 5.5 when folded)

The die cut is three repeats of the same die cut that
were carefully cut apart and reassembled to cradle
the "Prayer" sticker.

I punched out the cross and then centered it in
an oval punch. Two narrow strips of the same
paper at the top and bottom of the card provide the
finishing touch.

Penguin Trio

Part of my birthday present this year was

a die cut of this really darling penguin by Bosskut.

I would highly recommend this brand of die cuts

to anyone. For me they cut well in any machine that

I have AND they have some wonderful designs.

OH, those penguins are such fun to play with.

Above is the first card with a penguin.

The gift box is also a Bosskut die.

The paper is from DCWV Debbie Mumm Holiday Mat Stack.

Here is another penguin cutie.

The die cut corners are by Quikutz.

The stamp is by Inque Boutique.

And the final penguin.

These die cuts were just so perfect with the

DCWV Debbie Mumm paper that features

glittered penguins.

The "paper ribbon" on the left side of the card

has a layer of corrugated white cardstock.

The Christmas phrase stamp is by

Hampton Art Stamps.

Using a little bit of everything

This card was a lot of fun to make.

My materials came from everywhere.

You can see that the "thirds" basic design

is very effective and pleasing to the eye.

The card base is covered with scrapbook paper.

A Fiskars corner scissors was used to round the edges.

The "ribbon" is a Fiskar border punched text weight paper,

under cardstock, with real ribbon as the final layer.

A Spellbinder geometric circle die was used for

the metallic silver circle frame. Vellum was

talced, then stamped with Hero Arts phrase

and embossed with fine line black embossing powder.

THEN position the silver circle frame over the

vellum and glue in place. Trim excess vellum

and attached to card.

The next step - the silk flowers and leaves were placed,

with "jewels" glued to the center of the flowers.

BASIC DESIGN RULE - always use an odd number

This is evident in this card;

the paper ribbon is place 2/3 of the way down the card,

there are three flowers and five leaves

and the silver frame is 1/3 of the way from the left edge.

Gift Wrap?????

This card front is made from gift wrap.

While in the local farm and ranch supply store I spotted

this roll of gift wrap. It is Charles Russell sketches and comments.

It is far too lovely to be wrapped around a gift, then

torn and thrown away, so it became a perfect man's card.

The whole front of the card is covered in gift wrap.

The die cut corners are even a leather look gift wrap

that has been carefully postitioned in a Cuttlebug A2

embossing folder for a tooled leather look.

Gift wrap is an inexpensive paper source

for card making. I am always scanning the

gift wrap sections in stores for new colors and designs

to add to my already healthy stash.