Saturday, July 23, 2011

Can't Beat the Heat

No air conditioning here so, needless to say, don't have any cards to post at this time. Hope to be back on track soon. In the meantime, keep cool!

Natalie

Friday, July 22, 2011

Elegant Posts


I finally broke open my Spellbinder Elegant Posts. This is just one of many cards I'm sure I will create with these gorgeous die cuts. I thought that the Nested Hearts were along the same style so I incorporated the die cuts in the same card layout. To add more fine details, I included a paper flower, sprayed with Glimmer Mist in a colour close to the Distess Ink used.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PTI
Papers: green cardstock (Bazzill), patterned paper (K & Co. Madelaine), off white cardstock (stash)
Inks: Distress Shabby Shutter, Antique Linen & Vintage Photo
Accessories: Spellbinder Nested Hearts, ribbon (Fabricland), Quickutz Tag Die, embroidery thread (stash), button (stash), paper flower (Kaiser)

Thursday, July 21, 2011

A Bird of a Different Pattern


Working with floral patterned paper is always a challenge, so images of birds and/or butterflies often adorn my cards. This bird came patterned, another trend in stamp images this year. A perfect "any occasion" card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Technique Tuesday
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), green cardstock (Bazzill River Reed), patterned (K & Co. Madelaine)
Ink: Staz On Timber
Accessories: Spellbinder Lacey Ovals & Classic Ovals Large, ribbon (stash), brads (stash)

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Another, Unlike Any Other


This card was also based on a card sketch. Consequently, it's unlike any other card I have designed in the past. The sketch helped me work "outside the box". For the first time I used Close to My Heart Adhesive Kraft Borders. It was wonderful to see that they matched Jillibean's kraft mini alpha's. The edges of the patterned paper pieces were softened with Distress Antique Linen ink.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: Bazzill Tall Pines & Dark Fawn, patterned (BG Stella Ruby)
Ink: Distress Antique Linen
Accessories: ribbon (stash), border strip (CTMH), mini alpha stickers (Jillibean)

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Ticket Taker


I have been meaning to use my ticket die and stamps and plan to do so even more often in the future. It's another great embellishment for a card and another creative way to frame a sentiment. I used a card sketch found on the internet to design this card. I plan to save and print more sketches to help me "kick start" my creativity.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PTI
Papers: cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (BG Stella Ruby)
Ink: Stazon On Timber
Accessories: ticket die (Sizzix/Tim Holtz), Spellbinder Lacey Circles & Standard Circles), ribbon (stash), scalloped scissors (Fiskars)

Monday, July 18, 2011

Fabulous Find


One of my newest acquisitions is the Stampin' Up Square Lattice embossing folder. Its pattern is quite apparent on this piece of patterned paper and gives the card wonderful texture. The card layout is new to me also. I liked the border on the right hand side of the card, for a change.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: sentiment (PTI), image (Impression Obsession)
Papers: cardstock (Bazzill Light Olive), patterned (BG Stella Ruby)
Ink: Colorbox Chestnut Roan
Accessories: Spellbinder Long Classic Rectangles Small & Scalloped Rectangles, Distress Vintage Photo embossing powder, CM Oval Punches, ribbon (Fabricland), Stampin' Up Square Lattice embossing folder

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Short and Sweet


I've noticed many birthday cards with an "HB" so I thought I was use this idea in an effort to use my letter stickers. Also note that the Spellbinder Classic Ovals Large work with the Labels 18. I also kept in mind the design in the patterned paper when placing my elements on my card front.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: cardstock (stash), patterned (BG Stella Ruby)
Accessories: alpha stickers (BG Stella Ruby), Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Large & Labels 18), ribbon (Fabricland), brads (stash)

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Big and Beautiful


The large flower in this pattern paper warranted a 6 X 6 card. Consequently, a wider ribbon was appropriate. The iridescent colours in the ribbon worked well with the colours in the patterned paper. The wire was removed for a softer bow. The knot in it was purposely placed on the flower's stem. I chose an antique brass embellishment since it was one of the tones in the patterned paper too.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PTI
Papers: cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (BG Stella Ruby)
Ink: Staz On Timber
Accessories: brass embellishment (WeR), ribbon (Judy G)

Friday, July 15, 2011

A Bird of a Different Feather


This is my version of an idea I found online. I used a doily stamp to create the pattern on the bird. The Distress Embossing Powder gives it texture. Love this idea! The paper flower was coloured with Glimmer Mist. At first I found the mist too light, so I dipped it in the excess mist which had pooled on my craft sheet. I was annoyed with how the flower soaked up the mist and turned quite dark. However, once dried, the flower was lighter in colour and complimented my card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Basic Grey Doily
Papers: cardstock (Bazzill Tall Pines), patterned (BG Stella Ruby & 7Gypsies)
Ink: Distress Antique Linen, Encore Metallic Gold
Accessories: Spellbinders (Standard Circles Large, Lacey Circles), Sizzix/Tim Holtz Bird Cage Bigz Die, Olive Vine Glimmer Mist, Distress Antique Linen embossing powder, pearl (Kaiser, coloured with Pilot Permanent Gold Marker), paper flower (Kaiser)

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Sorry, I'm Late


I've been working on the next week's worth of cards, all made from the same Basic Grey Stella Ruby papers and finally got around to posting them. On this card, I found the natural twill to be a perfect accent to cover the stitching in the wide, pleated ribbon--another popular ribbon at this time.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PTI
Papers: patterned (BG Stella Ruby), blue/green cardstock (Bazzill Tall Pines), olive green cardstock (stash)
Ink: Distress Walnut Stain
Accessories: pleated ribbon (Hobby Lobby), twill (Wright's), tag (stash)


Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Take a Strip Off of It


I thought this card design was a fabulous idea to use a strip of patterned paper to create a simple yet elegant card. A swirly line was drawn in pencil and dotted with a brown marker.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hero Arts
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), patterned (K & Co.)
Inks: Distress Bundled Sage & Vintage Photo, Staz On Timber
Accessories: butterfly punch (Nankong), pearls (Kaiser), Copic E19 Cashew

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Using Part of a Label Die Cut


To create the fancy brown edge on the bottom of this card, I made a partial die cut from a Labels 13 die.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Verve
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), patterned (K & Co.), brown cardstock (Bazzill)
Inks: Distress Vintage Photo, Staz On Timber
Accessories: Spellbinder Circles, Scalloped Circles & Labels 13, brads (stash)

Monday, July 11, 2011

Small Labels


Rather than cut tiles out of regular squares or rectangles, I went for a design of more interest using my Spellbinder Small Labels dies.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamps: image (Inkadinkado), sentiment (PTI)
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), patterned (K & Co.), brown cardstock (Bazzill)
Inks: Distress Vintage Photo, Colorbox Chestnut Roan Chalk
Accessories: string of beads (Linda G.), Spellbinder Small Labels, border punch (EK Success), ribbon (Fabricland)

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Plastic Stencils in the Big Shot


Since Stampendous designed a plastic stencil specifically for this stamp, I thought I would try it in my Big Shot for my stamped image. Like the plastic embossing folders, this worked very well. However, due to the thinness of this plastic stencil, paper shims were required. I left the stencil on the dry embossed image in order to ink the raised surfaces only.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Stampendous
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), patterned (K & Co.)
Ink: Distress Vintage Photo
Accessories: stencil (Stampendous), ribbon (stash)

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Fancy That


This fancy image of a piece of cake compliments the theme of the patterned paper. To add a hint of bling and achieve a look of satin, I coloured the cherry and cake paper with a gel pen.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Impression Obsession
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), patterned (K & Co.)
Inks: Colorbox Chestnut Roan Chalk, Distress Vintage Photo
Accessories: gel pen (Crayola), ribbon (Fabricland), Spellbinder Labels 18, eyelets (stash)

Friday, July 8, 2011

Another Combination


The Fancy Tags 3 die cut fit well on top of a Labels 21 shape.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: image (Embossing Arts), sentiment (unknown)
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), patterned (K & Co.), green cardstock (Bazzill Rivereed)
Inks: Colorbox Orchid & Chestnut Roan Chalk
Accessories: brads & ribbon (stash)

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Combining Die Cut Shapes and Tags


A Mega Ovals Large die worked with this Fancy Tags 2 die. The larger, Labels 18 die cut, nicely grounds the smaller shapes. It will be easier, however, to find an image to fit in the oval when the die cuts are used horizontally, rather than vertically.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PSX
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), pattenred (K & Co.), green cardstock (Bazzill Witch Hazel)
Inks: Colorbox Lettuce & Orchid
Accessories: Spellbinders Fancy Tags 2, Mega Ovals Large & Labels 18, brads (stash)

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

A Perfect Fit


Another challenge in using the Spellbinder Tags is finding sentiments that fit. Here's where a substantial collection of stamps is necessary.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Cloud 9
Papers: off white cardstock (Bazzill Walnut Cream), green cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (K & Co.)
Ink: Colorbox Dark Brown Chalk
Accessories: Spellbinder Fancy Tags 3 & Mega Ovals Large, ribbon (stash), brads (stash)

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Vintage Signage


This Spellbinder die reminded me of a wrought iron sign--the perfect place to put my card sentiment.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Cloud 9
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), patterned (K & Co.), brown cardstock (Bazzill)
Ink: Colorbox Chestnut Roan Chalk
Accessories: Spellbinder Fancy Tags 3


Monday, July 4, 2011

Very Vintage


It's certainly a challenge to figure out which Spellbinder shapes work with the Spellbinder Fancy Tag dies. In this case, the Classic Oval Large fit perfectly in the Fancy Tags 3 die cut.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PSX
Papers: off white cardstock (stash), brown cardstock (Bazzill Milkshake), patterned (K & Co. Madelaine)
Inks: Colorbox Chalk Chestnut Roan , Distress Walnut Stain
Accessories: ribbon (May Arts?), Spellbinder Fancy Tags 3

Sunday, July 3, 2011

A Stampover


I love how many cardmakers are stamping sentiments over solid images. Just had to give it a try. The swirl pattern in the butterfly is also in the ribbon. Another way to pull things together--find elements with a common pattern.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamps: image (Impression Obsession), sentiment (Stampin' Up)
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), purple cardstock (Bazzill)
Inks: Colorbox Lime, Memories Violet
Accessories: ribbon (Dollarama), buttons (stash), rhinestones (Kaiser)

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Rows Upon Rows


Though this is very much the same as the last card posted, it is important to note that the pattern in this paper is very linear. It is more of a challenge to use paper scraps of this type; if the strips are not cut accurately, the error is immediately apparent.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Gina K
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Distress Crushed Olive
Accessories: circle punch (Creative Memories), brad (Making Memories), ribbon (Stampin' Up), Spellbinder Blossom 2 & Daisy Heads (for leaves), border punch (EK Success)

Friday, July 1, 2011

Matching Panels


I reduced the number of panels on my card to allow for spacing in between each one, cut from the same piece of paper. In this case I had a coordinating piece of solid paper to support the strips of patterned paper.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Gina K.
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (Basic Grey Eva)
Ink: Distress Mahogany & Spun Sugar
Accessories: Spellbinder Blossom 2 & Daisy Heads (for leaves), border punch (EK Success), brad (Making Memories), ribbon (Fabricland)