Sunday, February 28, 2010

From a Different Point of View


This is my favourite card of this collection. I used the scalloped border punch vertically, rather than horizontally. Look at things from a different angle for fresh ideas.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Whipper Snapper Designs
Ink: Colorbox Queue and Versaink black
Papers: Kevin & Granny Smith cardstocks (Bazzill), black cardstock (stash), patterned papers (American Traditional)
Accessories: snowflake, button, embroidery thread (stash), Spellbinders rectangles and scalloped rectangles, border punch (EK Success), blender pen (Marvy)

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Rhinestone Accents


This stamp, and others like it, were designed to accommodate rhinestones. To bring attention to the scarf, I only added the embellishments to it.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Ink: Versaink black
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), black cardstock (stash), patterned papers (American Traditional)
Accessories: Spellbinders flowers, rectangles and scalloped rectangles, ribbons (stash), rhinestones (Kaiser), button & embroidery thread (stash)

Friday, February 26, 2010

Odd Numbers


These next four cards were also made from the same set of coordinating patterned papers. In addition to using 3 circles, I kept to an odd number of elements to achieve balance by using a ribbon bow and two rhinestones.

Natalie

Stamp: ? from Wendy
Ink: Versaink black
Papers: white (Georgia Pacific), Granny Smith (Bazzill), Kevin (Bazzill), patterned papers (American Tradition)
Accessories: Spellbinder Circles, ribbon (stash), rhinestones (Kaiser)

Thursday, February 25, 2010

A Fancy Flap


I cut the top flap of the card base and some patterned paper with a Spellbinders die by putting the paper 3/4 of the way under the die.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), red cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Creative Imaginations)
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels (two varieties), snowflake button & white ribbon (stash)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

In the Spotlight


Here is another take on the Rule of 3: striped border, patterned rectangle, snowman circle.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), red cardstock (stash), patterned paper (Creative Imaginations)
Accessories: corner punch (EK Success), scalloped scissors (Fiskars), Spellbinder Circles and Scalloped Circles, rhinestones (Kaiser)

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Using Border Punches with Large Patterns


The trick to using larger patterned border punches is to centre the pattern in the middle of the card. This card is also unique in that the snowman is adhered to the inside of the card. I made a window by cutting out a circle with my Spellbinders die, once the card layers were assembled.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), red cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Creative Imaginations)
Accessories: Spellbinders Circles and Scalloped Circles, scalloped border punch (EK Success), ribbon (stash)

Monday, February 22, 2010

When the Ink Doesn't Match...


I did not have ink to match the patterned paper so rather than stamp the image on white cardstock, I stamped and embossed the sentiment on the patterned paper. Fortunately, the embossing powder went well with it.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Stampendous
Ink: Versamark
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), red cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Creative Imaginations)
Accessories: Starry Nights embossing powder, Spellbinder Circles and Scalloped Circles, ribbon (stash)

Sunday, February 21, 2010

The Magic Number


This is also an example of the Rule of 3: one patterned paper rectangle, one image rectangle and the snowflake.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hampton Art
Ink: Colorbox pigment and chalks
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), red cardstock (stash), patterned paper (Creative Imaginations)
Accessories: scalloped scissors (Fiskars), Spellbinder Rectangles, snowflake, button & embroidery thread (stash)

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Chalk Inks and a Blender Pen


The snowman image was coloured by loading a blender pen with chalk ink. This softened the ink lines.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: ? from Wendy
Inks: Versafine black, Colorbox Queue charcoal and red
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned paper (Creative Imaginations)
Accessories: ribbon (stash), rhinestones (Kaiser), Spellbinder Squares, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Marvy Blender Pen

Friday, February 19, 2010

Frame a Sentiment


This card clearly follows the Rule of 3. The framed sentiment, the ribbon bow and the matted snowman balance the layout of the card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Stampendous
Ink: Colorbox blue and red
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned papers (Creative Imaginations)
Accessories: ribbon (stash), Spellbinders Labels, Scalloped and Regular Circles

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Different Card Patterns, Same Paper Patterns


Over the next eight days, I will be sharing cards of different designs made with three sheets of coordinating patterned papers. For a change I used three different buttons to create an arrangement, rather than put one button or brad in one corner of the card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: ? borrowed from Wendy
Ink: Versamark black
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific--recommended for Copics and watercolouring), red cardstock (stash), patterned Creative Impressions
Accessories: buttons, embroidery thread, ribbon & brad (stash), snowflake punch (EK Success), Copic marker (Carmine), Staedler watercolour pencil (orange)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Ivory Flower Soft for Fur


The Ivory Flower Soft was perfect for embellishing fur to match the snowflakes in the cardstock. On the second card I stamped the image a second time in black in order to cut out her face and give her black hair.

Natalie

Card 1 Recipe
Stamp: Stamping Bella
Ink: Versaink black, Colorbox Queue
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), patterned paper (October Afternoon)
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, Ivory Flower Soft, ribbon (Laura Secord)

Card 2 Recipe
Stamp: Stampin' Up
Ink: Versaink black, Colorbox Queue
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), patterned paper (October Afteroon)
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels, snowflake punch (EK Success), brads (Doodlebug), Ivory Flower Soft

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Framed in Bling


I really liked the idea of partially matting and partially framing an image. The rhinestones are balanced with a big bow.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Imaginisce
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), patterned paper (October Afternoon)
Ink: Versaink black, Colorbox Queue pink
Accessories: ribbon (stash), rhinestones (Kaiser), Spellbinders Circles

Monday, February 15, 2010

Winter Works


For the next few weeks, I'll be sharing winter themed cards. In the past I never seemed to make a lot of use of my snowmen and penguin stamps and appreciate the opportunity to do this. Here I used a type of stamp new to me, which leaves the coloured impression of the background. I inked the stamp with pink ink on off white cardstock to coordinate with the patterned paper.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Papers: off white (stash), patterned (October Afternoon)
Ink: Colorbox Queue
Accessories: ribbon (Laura Secord), Spellbinders, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Send Flowers...


Isn't the saying, "What better a way to show you care than to send flowers?" I've just applied this to a card--literally.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Papertrey Ink
Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned paper (Basic Grey)
Ink: Colorbox Queue
Accessories: large flower (Heidi Swapp), small flower (Bazzill), brad (Bazzill), Quickutz tag die




Saturday, February 13, 2010

A "Tilted" Heart


Once again I used pieces of two die cut frames to make one, with two patterned papers. Ribbon covers where the papers meet. The heart was tilted for movement in the design, thus leading the eye to the sentiment.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Colorbox Queue
Papers: kraft cardstock (Bazzill), patterned papers (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Spellbinder Hearts & Scalloped Hearts, ribbon (stash), Sizzix frame die (Stampin' Up)

Friday, February 12, 2010

A Krafty Valentine


I took the opportunity to incorporate the warmth of kraft cardstock into this Valentine when I found a complimentary patterned paper. This is one way to make a unique Valentine using current trend. And put those Fiskars patterned scissors to good use again!

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: sentiment (Papertrey Ink)
, background (Stampin' Up)
Ink: maroon (Color
box Queue), white (Colorbox)
Papers: kraft cardstock (Bazzill), patterned paper (Basic Grey)
Accessories: scalloped scissors (Fiskars), ribon (Fabricland), corner rounder (Marvy)

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Top Embossed


I have used embossed papers both as layers and to cut out shapes, but this time I partially dry embossed the face of this card. This was required in order to have a flat surface to stamp the sentiment. Just another interesting way to use an embossing folder.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Papertrey Ink
Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Basic Grey)
Ink: Colorbox Queue
Accessories: ribbon (stash), heart punch (Emaginations), brads (stash), embossing folder (Cuttlebug Swiss Dot)

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Put Some Bling in Your Heart


Nothing adds pizazz like rhinestones. I found that a patterned paper with a somewhat larger design was a good base for accommodating a detailed rhinestone pattern. Though I don't usually combine a great number of elements on the face of a card, I was pleased with these results and think I'll try to be a little more adventurous from now on.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Sizzix Folk Heart Die, ribbon (stash), rhinestones (Dollarama--note: these embellishments are not the quality of others in that the design twists once removed from packaging and is very difficult to work with)

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

A Tree for All Occasions


I have often seen a tree decorated with shapes relative to a particular season, i.e. brown & red leaves in the fall, snowflakes in the winter, leaves of different shades of green in the summer. With a Valentine in mind, I put hearts on the punched out tree. To add a little something to a simple design, I used a corner punch. See if you can put something you've had for some time (like a corner punch) to use again on new card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Papertrey Ink
Ink: Colorbox Queue
Papers: white & brown cardstocks (stash), pink cardstocks (Bazzill)
Accessories: hand heart punch (unknown), tree punch (EK Success), Spellbinders Ovals & Scalloped Ovals, corner punch (Marvy)

Monday, February 8, 2010

Move It On Over


I often find myself putting the same sized and shaped elements in the same space on my card front. This time I moved the circular sentiment down and balanced the design with two pearls in the top left corner. A little movement results in a big change.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PSX
Ink: Colorbox Queue
Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Spellbinders Circles & Scalloped Circles, ribbon (Fabricland), brads (Wilton)

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Simply Dramatic

This time I punched out hearts from the coordinating patterned papers, rather than from one sheet of paper. They fit perfectly into the dry embossed pattern of the Quickutz embossing folder. I can't take credit for using the embossed paper "sideways". Thought this was a great idea and shows the versatility of one folder. The white embossed layer on the white cardstock layer is quite elegant.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Basic Grey)
Accessories: embossing folder (Quickutz), embossed heart punch (Martha Stewart)

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Go Vertical


For a different "slant" on things, I stamped the sentiment horizontally instead of vertically. The strip of brown glitter underlines the words, guiding the eye to the design title. Trimming the heart die off at the edge of the card also provides movement in the design and leads the eye from top left to bottom right.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Colorbox Queue
Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Basic Grey)
Accessories: brads (stash), double sided tape (stash), glitter (Martha Stewart), Spellbinders Regular & Scalloped Hearts

Friday, February 5, 2010

Hang In There


A hanging element on a card provides movement to design.
For a change from satin and gros grain ribbon, I used velvet. I was pleased that this ribbon did not add extra bulk to the card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Autumn Leaves
Ink: Colorbox Queue
Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Basic Grey)

Accessories: velvet ribbon (Walmart), brown ribbon (stash), folk heart die (Sizzix)

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Making the Same Die Cuts Unique

Though I wanted to make a balanced arrangement with four framed hearts of the same size, I cut out each heart with the pattern of the paper in mind. Also pay attention to the colours in the patterned paper, getting a bit of each in each die cut, if possible. This adds interest to the design while maintaining some consistency.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Basic Grey)

Accessories: Spellbinder Label & Heart dies, ribbon (Costco)

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

The "F" Word
















As we have seen, Valentines don't necessarily have to have hearts or "love" on them. After all, didn't we all start exchanging these cards with our friends in elementary school? There's no better way to personalize the notes than by incorporating "Friend" into the design. I used a simpler patterned paper to cover a chipboard letter so that it would work with the other patterned papers in the pad. Glue stick was my adhesive of choice and I sanded the edges of the chipboard letters with the Basic Grey File Kit (it's worth every penny). The design in the patterned paper in the first card filled the space in the top left hand corner. For the second card, I used buttons for balance.

Natalie

Card Recipes
Stamp: Stampin' Up

Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Basic Grey)
Ink: Staz On Timber
Accessories: paper flowers (Prima), pearls (Kaiser), ribbon (stash), chipboard letters (stash), Martha Stewart border punch, Spellbinders Labels, buttons & embroidery thread (stash)

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Cut It Up


To continue with a design in multiple pieces, I cut a strip of patterned paper in 4 equal parts, adhering them to the face of the card in subsequent order. Not only does this allow parts of the card to create one element in an interesting way. Furthermore, the eye is drawn from the left to the right side of the card, to the sentiment below. Another simple and sophisticated idea.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Stampin' Up
Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned paper (Bazzill)
Ink: Colorbox Queue


Monday, February 1, 2010

Design Continuity


Noting the maroon line in the patterned heart, I chose a flourish of similar "weight" to enhance the card front. In addition, by using inks and an embellishment matching a colour found in the patterned paper, the design appears coherent.

Natalie

Card RecipeStamp: Technique Tuesday
Papers: white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Bazzill)
Ink: Colorbox Queue
Accessories: brad (Bazzill), Spellbinder Scalloped Hearts