Can`t Beat the Heat

Hope all of you are enjoying your summer and finding relief from the heat and humidity. Unfortunately, there's no air conditioning here, so the weather has put a crimp in my crafting. Hope to find my mojo soon and have more to post. In the meantime, if anyone else has something they would like to share, please forward it to me and I would be happy to put it on the blog.

Natalie

Thanks from Linda G.

Ladies - thanks so much for the talents that you have shared with me in the cards that I received. Each one used a different technique and of course, I looked at each one individually figuring out how you did them. Linda

Owl Thank You

The original idea for this card was done by Shari Carroll for Hero Arts. The owl image was divided into parts using a fine tipped black marker. Each section was coloured with a different Distress Marker. These markers are more translucent than others, allowing the pattern in the stamped own image to show through. I loved the idea of using clear buttons with black rhinestones in the middle for eyes.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: owl (Hero Arts), sentiment (SU)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (BG Mellow)

Inks: Versafine Black

Accessories: Spellbinder Rectangles SM & LG, Distress Markers (Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Walnut Stain), clear buttons (stash), black rhinestones (Kaiser)

Layering with Vellum

I love layers, but especially ones with vellum. This time I stamped a sentiment on vellum to use over another stamped image. It's a good idea to use a more solid image in this case, so it can be identified through the vellum and stamped sentiment. Applied the adhesive on the vellum, behind the twine, so not to be exposed. Can't recall where I got this card idea, but saw it somewhere online.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: rose (Hero Arts), sentiment (PTI)

Papers: cardstock base (Hero), patterned (Memory Box Aerial), white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), vellum (stash)

Inks: Staz On Black, ColorBox Cranberry & Deep Green

Accessories: twine (The Twinery)

No Bounds

Got this idea from Chrissie Stokes. Thought the oval die cut of the embossed paper, framed with another die cut, was a fantastic idea. Backed the punched butterfly with a hand cut butterfly shape to give it more colour.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: CTMH

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), orange cardstock (Bazzill), black cardstock (scrap)

Ink: Versafine Black

Accessories: butterfly punch (MS), rhinestones (Kaiser), Spellbinder Classic Ovals Large and Labels 18, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Christmas in July

While rummaging through my supplies for cardmaking, I found this card front that I had saved from a Christmas card. Just trimmed the edges and adhered it to this card base with foam squares. Added my personal touch with a bow.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Paper: green cardstock (Bazzill)

Accessories: ribbon (stash)

By the Light of the Moon

Got this idea from Patricia Rose. I die cut a circle out of a piece of scrap paper to use as a template to ink a circle with Distress Ink. Then I stamped the butterfly image within the coloured circle. The butterfly was coloured with a coordinating Distress Marker. Faux stitching was added with paper piercing and the same Distress Ink Marker.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (CTMH), sentiment (PTI)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), gold cardstock (Bazzill)

Inks: Versafine Black, Distress Wild Honey

Accessories: Distress Marker Wild Honey, Spellbinder Circles

In Season

Got this idea from Taylor Usry. Thought no better a time of year to use my strawberry stamp that I have had for ages. Stamped the focal image directly on the border cut cardstock and then stamped, coloured and fussy cut a second image to adhere on top of the original, with foam squares. Gave me a chance to blend Copic markers on a small scale.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: image (Rubber Stampede), sentiment (PTI)

Papers: kraft cardstock (Bazzill), cream cardstock (Core'dinations), patterned (BoBunny)

Ink: Staz On Black

Accessories: Copics, twine (Twinery), border punch (EK Success), corner rounder (Marvy)

Lady Luck

I wanted to use my ladybug patterned paper with this cute ladybug ribbon. Unfortunately, the background of the patterned paper was not as white as the ribbon, so I solved the problem by "breaking things up" with a strip of black paper. The small pattern in the paper allowed me to stamp my sentiment directly to it.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: image (Technique Tuesday), sentiment (SU)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), black cardstock (stash), red cardstock (scrap), patterned (?)

Ink: ColorBox Scarlet, Versafine Onyx

Accessories: ribbon (stash), rhinestones (Kaiser), Spellbinder Squares & Fleur de Lis Squares

Big, Bold Butterfly

Got this idea from another online stamper. Was pleased to be able to use this ornate butterfly image; it can be a challenge to use because of its size. I stamped it on white cardstock and coloured it with Wild Honey Distress Ink, applying more on the edges and less as I worked my way toward the centre. Detail colouring was done with Distress Markers. Always enjoy incorporating a number of stamps into the design of a card. Adhered the butterfly directly to the gold, patterned paper through the layered frame. Should have "popped" the frame layers for more dimension...

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: butterfly (Inkadinkado), music background (Stampington), leaf background (Hero Arts), sentiment (unknown)

Papers: kraft cardstock (Bazzill), green cardstock (Bazzill), gold cardstock (stash)

Inks: Versafine Onyx, Distress (Peeled Paint, Wild Honey)

Accessories: Spellbinder Double Ended Tags, Circles, Distress Markers (Fired Brick, Peeled Paint), brads (stash)

Three Piece Suit

When I first starting collecting these floral images by PSX, I thought their use limited due to their size. I was glad to see how another card maker was able to incorporate "pieces" of the stamped image in a card design, in an interesting way. I coloured the image first and then die cut and sliced it.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: PSX

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), green cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (Over the Moon)

Ink: Versafine Onyx

Accessories: ribbon (Martha Stewart), Spellbinder Labels 4, Copics (G21 Lime Green, R37 Carmine, R35 Coral), button (stash)

Another Version

Made another card with a dry embossed, suede background so I could use my other cameo stamps. I have to make a point of pulling out some stamps that I couldn't wait to have, but seem to have neglected!

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: CTMH

Papers: off white carstock (Core'dinations), suede paper (stash)

Ink: ColorBox Dusty Plum

Accessories: ribbon (Fabricland), embossing folder (Crafts Too Leaves)

Dry Embossing with Velvet/Suede Paper

Got this fantastic idea from our very own, Deb! I was thrilled to find a new use for this paper that I have had tucked away for years. Just thinking...I could have used the Cracked Glass technique on the cameo to give it a more vintage look.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: CTMH

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), blue cardstock (Bazzill), suede (stash)

Ink: ColorBox Cape Cod

Accessories: ribbon (stash), embossing folder (Cuttlebug Fleur De Lis)

Cut Out the Middle, Man

When I saw this idea on another card, I couldn't wait to make my own version. Here's where stamps with coordinating dies are put to good use. I die cut the butterfly out of the middle of the patterned paper and then cut out a "slice", wide enough to accommodate my sentiment. After adhering the two pieces of patterned paper to the green cardstock, I stamped the butterfly image. Then I stamped my sentiments.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (Verve), sentiment (My Favorite Things)

Papers: blue cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (BG Mellow)

Ink: Versafine Timber

Accessories: ribbon (Fabricland), rhinestone (Kaiser), butterfly die (Verve), edge die (MFT)

In the Sky

This more realistic patterned paper is also ideal to use with hot air balloon images. The rustic border stamp was the perfect compliment to the vintage image.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: image (Inkdadinkado), border (Sandylion)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (BG Mellow)

Ink: Versafine Onyx

Accessories: Copics

More Zing

This card shows the quality of Zing! embossing powder. Not only did I get good coverage (the patterned paper does not show through), but I also got a nice, crisp, heat embossed image.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: image (Sandylion), sentiment (Stampabilities)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (Memory Box Dewfrost)

Ink: ColorBox Frost, Staz On Timber

Accesssories: ribbon (stash), Zing! embossing powder

Resist with Distress Inks

Once you have mastered the application of Distess Inks, the next step is resist. Start by stamping and embossing an image with white ink and embossing powder (Zing! is best) on white cardstock. Apply your Distress Inks in a fashion that will hi light the stamped image. The darker the colour of ink used, the more the stamped image will "pop". My ink colours were chosen based on the colours in the patterned paper. I tried to go from darker to lighter in the hopes of creating some dimension. This takes practice.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Impression Obsession Flower Sentiments

Papers: green cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden)

Inks: Distress (Wild Honey, Peeled paint, Crushed Olive, Worn Lipstick, Bundled Sage, Iced Spruce), ColorBox Frost

Accessories: ribbon (stash), pin (Jenni Bowlin), embossing powder (Zing!), pearls (Kaiser)

Direct to Paper with Distress Inks

This is another simply way to use Distress Inks. I wanted to create a weathered wooden background. I started by cutting my kraft cardstock 4 X 5 1/4" and scored it every 1/2". I wanted the raised lines to be emphasized with the ink, so I dragged my Distress Ink pad from top to bottom on the left hand side of the embossed piece of paper. After turning the paper 180 degrees, I dragged the same ink pad, in the same way, to colour the other side of the piece of paper. This can be continued until you get the coverage you desire. This was my solution for having this style of background paper without having to buy a whole pad of paper to get the sheet I wanted! I also directly applied Pumice Ink to the paper I used to matte the rooster image and to stamp the ticket; I didn't have a coordinating colour of cardstock. Rooster and ticket images were stamped in Versafine Onyx ink, to get a more crisp result. Distress Markers were used to colour the rooster's small parts so that they coordinated with the Distress Inks used. The ticket was left blank so I can fill it in with the appropriate "birthday number" for the card recipient.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: tag (Stamper's Anonymous), rooster (Anna Griffen), chicken wire (JudiKins)

Papers: kraft cardstock (Bazzill), white cardstock (Georgia Pacific)

Inks: Distress (Fired Brick, Pumice Stone, Antique Linen), Versafine Onyx

Accessories: Distress Markers (Wild Honey, Fired Brick)

Oops!

My original intention was to make this card front with the larger oval Embossing Diffuser. After dry embossing my cardstock, I stamped my sentiment in the smooth, oval area. However, I "messed it up" and went with Plan B. I used an oval Spellbinder die to create an oval frame with the dry embossed cardstock and stamped the sentiment directly on the exposed card front. Something can always be salvaged from a boo boo!

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Impression Obsession

Papers: light pink cardstock (CTMH), dark pink cardstock (Core'dinations)

Ink: gold

Accessories: Spellbinder Ovals, ribbon (Fabricland), pearls (Kaiser), embossing folder (Sizzix Vintage Wallpaper)

Introducing Tim Holtz' Embossing Diffuser

Though I didn't get the crisp results using the Embossing Diffuser that I expected, it did create a smooth area for me to directly stamp my sentiment. This makes things easier, since it is more difficult to adhere a die cut stamped with a sentiment to a dry embossed card front.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Hero Arts

Papers: kraft cardstock (Bazzill), red cardstock (Core'dinations Kraft)

Ink: Versafine Onyx

Accessories: ribbon (stash), Tim Holtz Embossing Diffuser (oval), embossing folder (Sizzix Vintage Wallpaper)

Just a Little Different

This card was done in the same way as yesterday's card, except that I adhered the strip of cardstock to the card front before I stamped the focal image.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: wheat (Impression Obsession), background (Prima), sentiment (MSE)

Paper: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific)

Inks: Distress (Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass, Walnut Stain)

First Step to Distress

This card idea is a great way to start using your Distress Inks and get a feel for the product and its application. Merely cut a strip of white cardstock (I thought 1 1/2" in width was appropriate in size) and colour it with two different inks. I used one of the same colours of Distress Ink to stamp the background image. Then I stamped my focal image in Versafine black over the entire strip. Finally I stamped my sentiment in the same black ink, after adhering the strip to the card front. Your choice of inks, background stamp and focal image will make your card(s) uniquely your own design.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: floral (Inkadinkado), background (Stampington & Co.), sentiment (My Sentiments Exactly)

Paper: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific)

Inks: Distress (Milled Lavender, Bundled Safe), Versafine Onyx

Fussy Cutting

I'm not a fan of cutting out stamped images and, consequently, appreciate stamps that come with coordinating dies. In this case, however, this image was meant to be used with this patterned paper, so patience was required. Hot air balloons are currently a popular icon and can be found in both stamps and in patterned papers.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Inkdadinkado

Papers: bone cardstock (Core'dinations), patterned (MME)

Ink: Versafine Onyx

Accessories: Copics, ribbon (stash), brads (stash)

Hats Off

This is my version of a card made by Amber Daigre. The set of stamps included 4 hats, each of which were stamped somewhat randomly on off white cardstock to make a monochromatic patterned paper.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: images (Impression Obsession), sentiment (Hero Arts)

Paper: Core'dinations

Ink: ColorBox Sepia Black

Accessories: ribbon (stash)

Top Hat

Distress Black Soot ink was the perfect finishing touch for this card. The image of the old hat warranted this softening touch.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: background (Stampin' Up), image (Impression Obsession)

Papers: off white cardstock (Core'dinations), black (stash)

Inks: ColorBox Sepia Black, Distress Black Soot

Accessories: Spellbinder Squares, ribbon (stash)

Stampin' Stars

I've stamped different star images from different stamp sets, in different colours to create my own pattern. To draw attention to the sentiment stamped directly on the card front, I cut a frame out of two Spellbinder dies.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: PTI

Paper: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific)

Inks: ColorBox Citrine, Mango Tango,Surf & Picante, Versafine Onyx

Accessories: buttons & embroidery thread (stash), Spellbinder Labels 1

From a Different Angle

This card uses almost all of the same elements as a previous card, but is constructed width wise, rather than length wise. Just another variety.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Uptown

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (Cosmo Cricket)

Ink: Versafine Onyx, Distress Antique Linen

Accessories: Spellbinder Labels 22, Copics, buttons & embroidery thread (stash), ribbon (stash)

Happy Canada Day

This card is actually for my sister's birthday. A simple card, layering coordinating papers from a MME paper pad.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Papers: kraft cardstock (Bazzill), red glitter cardstock (Lisa M.), patterned papers (MME Union Station)

Inks: Distress Antique Linen & Tea Dyed

Accessories: maple leaf punch (Linda G.)