Popping Pieces

Although this stamp set was made with separate images (i.e. the cake) you can always cut out part of an image and lift it with foam squares. In addition, you can also stamp the same image on patterned paper, as I have done for the pants, to add pattern to the stamped image and make part of it visually "pop".

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Stampin' Up
Paper: off white cardstock (stash), patterned (CTMH)
Ink: Adirondak Raisin
Accessories: mini brads (American Crafts), scalloped rectangular die (Stampin' Up)

Puttin' the Pieces Together

By embossing two colours of cardstock with the same folder we can highlight different parts of the face of a card. Simply glue the secondary coloured pieces to the fully embossed piece of White Wash.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Paper: Sea Salt & Devil Red cardstock (Bazzill), Core'dinations White Wash
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, rhinestones (Kaiser), orange & brown coloured sand

"Peep Toe"

While admiring new shoes in the store, I came up with this idea. By altering the dry embossed top layer, we can give the card more depth by exposing the layers underneath.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Paper Inspirations
Ink: Staz On Jet
Paper: Rain & Red Devil cardstock (Bazzill), Core'dinations White Wash
Accessories: oval punches (Stampin' Up), rhinestones (Kaiser)

Same Die, Different Pattern

By combining coordinating plain and textured solids with different patterns, an original design can be created.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Magenta
Ink: CTMH
Paper: green & off white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (CTMH)
Accessories: ribbon (stash), Spellbinders Label 1, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Green Eyes

Another way of bringing eyes to life is to use rhinestones.
I thought that these green embellishments were purrfect (pardon the pun).

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Ink: CTMH
Paper: green & off white cardstock (stash), patterned (CTMH)
Accessories: ribbon (stash), Spellbinders Scalloped Rectangles, border punch (Martha Stewart), label punch (Stampin' Up)

Oh Christmas Tree!

Enjoy, Natalie

Card Recipe
Paper: Rain & Red Devil cardstock (Bazzill), Core'dinations White Wash
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, pearls (Kaiser), ribbon (stash)

Core'dinations & Christmas

This Cuttlebug embossing folder was well worth the wait!
The White Wash Core'dinations was a natural match.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Paper: Rain & Red Devil cardstock (Bazzill), Core'dinations White Wash
Accessories: Cuttlebug Holly Embossing Folder, rhinestones (Kaiser), ribbon (KI Memories Alpine)

A Perfect Combo

Cuttlebug embossing folders and Core'dinations White Wash make a perfect couple. I finally got around to using them and was very pleased with the results. Unlike regular Core'dinations, which have an outer and inner colour of different tones, this line has a coloured core and a white exterior. Sanding the white wash brought out the black core colour, outlining the image perfectly!

Natalie

Card Recipe
Paper: Sail & Orange Juice cardstock (Bazzill), black (stash)
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon (Martha Stewart)

Jiggling Embellishments for a "Hoppy" Birthday

I love embellishments, especially ribbons, buttons and brads. Though a safety pin is a step "outside the box", another type of embellishment can bring your card to life. You can put a little movement in your creation by adding a few googly eyes.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: All Night Media
Ink: Staz On Timber
Paper: cardstock (stash), patterned paper (stash)
Accessories: Marvy scalloped square punch, paint (Liquid Shimmers), velvet ribbon (Walmart), googly eyes

Watercolouring with Pencils on Coloured Cardstock

When using water colouring pencils on cardstock, be sure to use a heavy weight paper to avoid having the paper bulge. I was pleased with the colouration of the white pencil on the pink cardstock.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: CTMH
Ink: Staz On Jet Black
Paper: pink & green cardstock (Bazzill), patterned cardstock (3 Bugs?)
Access0ries: Spellbinders, oval punches (Stampin' Up), safety pin (Making Memories), ribbon (stash)

Design a Shape from Embossed Papers

What started as a heart ended up as a four
leaf clover. Think outside the box and cut different shapes from embossed cardstock to create a uniquely designed, textured image.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Paper: off white cardstock (stash), green cardstock (Bazzill), patterned paper (DOTS)
Ink: Colorbox Evergreen
Accessories: buttons (Making Memories), embroidery floss (stash), Marvy scalloped circle punch

Colouring Ribbons

Can't find a ribbon to match? You can dye
white ribbon with the same ink that you stamped. Simply drag your ribbon across your ink pad until the ribbon is adequately saturated with ink.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: The Artful Stamper
Paper: white cardstock (stash)
Ink: PSX Sentiments Moss
Accessories: ribbon (stash), stencil (Ornare)

Small Patterned Papers

Another example showing how well small patterned
papers work as a background on a card. Smaller versions
of your favourite patterned papers are now being sold in "shrunken" versions as 6 X 6 paper pads--ask Deb about it.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Adirondak Cranberry
Paper: off white cardstock (stash), patterned (DOTS)
Accessories: Spellbinders, brads (Doodlebug), ribbon (stash)

Making Paper Ribbon

No matching ribbon? You can always use a strip of paper that has been embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. Adds wonderful texture to your cards and another good way to use up your scrap cardstock.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamps: "October" (Hero Arts), "31" (Technique Tuesday)
Paper: cardstock (stash), patterned (Doodlebug?)
Ink: Staz On Jet Black
Accessories: Martha Stewart witch punch

Non-traditional Christmas

Keep in mind that Christmas cards don't have to be in green and red. I find plaid patterned papers suit the season.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Santa image (Gumball Graphics), sentiment (Stampin' Up)
Paper: brown & blue cardstock (Bazzill), patterned paper Kelly Panacci
Ink: Staz On Timber Brown
Accessories: ribbon (stash), circle punches

Christmas in July with Cuttlebug

Pulled out a card from the "stash" for today. Wanted to show you a third way to use part of an embossed Cuttlebug image. I liked how this turned out, especially since it would have been difficult to matte this embossed image on a 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 card, due to its size.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Colorbox
Paper: red & off white from stash
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbon & button & embroidery floss (stash)

Paper Pierce a Border

Once again the versatility of a product can be seen when we use part of it. In this case, I used part of a stencil to create a border for this card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Colorbox Queue Chalk
Paper: white (stash), coral (Bazzill)
Accessories: stencil (Ornare), ribbon (stash), Spellbinders, rhinestones (Kaiser)

Negative can be Postiive

By using the negative of a Spellbinders die cut I created a popped layer to bring focus to an element on a card. After removing the die cut scalloped heart, I adhered the patterned paper layer with foam to give it some height. This created a perfect space for the embellishment.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Paper: white cardstock (stash), patterned paper (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Spellbinders, ribbons (stash), brass heart (stash)

Dry Embossing Black

I was thrilled with the results of dry embossing with black cardstock. What a great way to make a more masculine card. Try it, you'll like it.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Paper: cardstock (stash), patterned paper (Paper Patch)
Accessories: gros grain ribbon (stash)

My Favourite Cuttlebug Birthday Card

Once again I have used part of an embossed piece of paper as a layer in a card. I balanced the visual weight of the embossing on the left by "popping" the squares on the right. Great way to use scraps!

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Paper: green (Bazzill), white (scrap), red & blue (Canon)
Ink: Staz On Jet Black
Accessories: Making Memories rub on, ribbon (Costco), Martha Stewart border punch

Partial Cuttlebug Embossing for Border

Sorry for the delay in posting, but I was trying to find this card in order to provide you with a better scan. Guess I already gave the card away! Just wanted to show you how part of an embossing folder can be used on the side of a piece of cardstock to create a border. Once again, sanded the embossed cardstock to highlight the pattern.
The sides of the cardstock were also distressed to expose the core colour of the paper.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Penny Black
Paper: green (Cor'dinations), pink (Basic Grey)
Ink: Colorbox Queue Chalk Inks
Accessories: ribbon (Doodlebug)

Another Partial with Cuttlebug & Cor'dinations

Here I've used part of another PSX floral image. The background for the image is achieved by dry embossing a piece of Cor'dinations cardstock with a Cuttlebug folder and sanding the embossing to bring out the core colour of the cardstock.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PSX
Ink: Staz On Brown Timber
Paper: Cor'dinations and brown from stash
Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, coloured sand, ribbon (stash)

Using a Partial Image

Once again, rather than use the entire image of a stamp, I used part of one by cutting out a mask with an opening the size of the centre of this card. This allowed me to avoid getting ink on the paper piercing on the front of the card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PSX
Ink: Staz On Jet Black
Paper: Bazzill cardstock
Accessories: Ornare stencil, Liquid Shimmers paint, ribbon (stash)

Framing a Monogram

Monograms are also a current trend in stamping. Here I have incorporated one into a Spellbinders frame. Though the original stamp image is all one sentiment, I only inked the "H" and stamped it on co-ordinating cardstock to "pop" it. Then I inked the remainder of the sentiment and stamped it directly on to the patterned paper.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PSX
Ink: Staz On Timber & Colorbox Queue Chalk Dark Brown
Paper: pink cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Spellbinders (frame & butterfly), rhinestones (Kaiser)

Having Multiples

Using multiple die cuts of either the same size or shape can be very eye appealing. If combining different patterned papers, make sure that the patterns are relative in size to the die cut shapes. Here I have used the smaller, checked pattern on the smaller hearts and the larger, striped pattern on the larger heart. Both patterned papers are co-ordinated in colour.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Paper: white & pink cardstock (stash), patterned (Daisy D & Chatterbox)
Accessories: Spellbinders, Cuttlebug Swirl embossing folder, ribbon (stash)

Framing Sentiments

Besides using images as a focal point of your card, sentiments can also make a beautiful work of art.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Cloud 9 Simple Thought-Happy Birthday
Paper: blue cardstock (stash), patterned (Daisy D & Doodlebug)
Ink: Staz On (black), Colorbox (orange)
Accessories: Spellbinders, flower (Daisy D), brad & ribbon (stash)

'Tis the Season to Combine Spellbinders

Here I've used a scalloped rectangle to cut a mat for my image and a regular rectangle to emboss around my image. My goal was to achieve the look of a professionally framed and matted picture, with many layers.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Stampendous
Paper: white & black cardstock (stash), patterned paper (Basic Grey)
Ink: Staz On Jet Black
Accessories: rhinestones (Kaiser), ribbon (stash), Spellbinders, border punch (Martha Stewart)

One Beautiful Bloom

Yes, even one bloomin' flower can be brought to life with a little Flower Soft.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hero Arts
Paper: off white cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Basic Grey)
Ink: Colorbox Olive
Accessories: Spellbinders, Flower Soft, glitter glue, ribbon (stash)

Build a Bouquet

Here I've used multi-coloured Flower Soft to fill a basket with a bouquet of flowers.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: PSX
Paper: off white & burgundy cardstock (stash), patterned paper (DOTS)
Ink: Adirondack Raisin
Accessories: Spellbinders, Flower Soft, ribbon & brad from stash