Friday, July 27, 2012

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

Thursday, July 26, 2012

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

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

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)

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

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)

Monday, July 23, 2012

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

Sunday, July 22, 2012

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)

Saturday, July 21, 2012

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

Friday, July 20, 2012

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)

Thursday, July 19, 2012

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

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

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)

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

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)

Monday, July 16, 2012

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)

Sunday, July 15, 2012

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)

Saturday, July 14, 2012

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)

Friday, July 13, 2012

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

Thursday, July 12, 2012

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

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

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)

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

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)

Monday, July 9, 2012

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)

Sunday, July 8, 2012

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)

Saturday, July 7, 2012

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)

Friday, July 6, 2012

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

Thursday, July 5, 2012

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)

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

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)

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

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)

Monday, July 2, 2012

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

Sunday, July 1, 2012

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.)