Smokin'!

I have found Black Soot Distress Ink to be the perfect medium to create a softened, "smokey" look. Though not clearly evident in the scan, the hearts in the boots and the green dots were highlighted with Stickles to add a little sparkle.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hampton Art Studio G
Papers: patterned (Heidi Grace), yellow cardstock (Bazzill)
Inks: Versafine Black, Distress Black Soot
Accessories: Spellbinder Labels, Stickles

Oh My Gloss!

To give these pumpkins dimension, I covered them with Glossy Accents. I added a felt button for texture. Felt embellishments are very popular right now.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Ink: Versafine Black
Papers: gold & green cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (Heidi Grace)
Accessories: felt button (?), ribbon (stash), brads (stash), Spellbinders Labels, Glossy Accents

Rub It On

In an effort to make each of my cards unique I thought I would use rub ons. I was pleased to see that there was no problem using it on the striped paper which has glitter on it. To cover the "seam" between the two types of patterned paper, I applied a line of Stickles. For a little more dimension, I dry embossed a piece of black cardstock in Tim Holtz Bricked embossing folder to use as a layering piece.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: black & patterned cardstock (stash), striped (Debbie Mumm)
Accessories: Black Magic Stickles, rub ons (stash), Spellbinder Labels, Tim Holtz Embossing Folder

Leftovers

This purple, oval frame was left over from cutting down the stamped image of the cat from the previous card. Not wanting it to go to waste, I used it on this card to frame a water coloured image.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Stampin' Up
Papers: black & purple cardstock & patterned paper (stash), striped (Debbie Mumm)
Inks: Colorbox Wisteria, Picante, Charcoal & Lemon Grass, Versafine Black
Accessories: Spellbinder Ovals, brads (stash)

Flock It

Rather than use microbeads to give this image dimension, I chose to use black flocking. I thought it would emulate the animal's fur. Due to the weight/quality of the purple cardstock, I stamped the image in black ink and applied a layer of tacky glue to adhere the flocking to the cat. The rhinestones were smaller than any googlie eyes I had and I think they give the card a good shot of bling.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Papers: black & purple cardstock and patterned paper (stash)
Ink: Colorbox Black
Accessories: Spellbinder Ovals, flocking (Stampendous), ribbon (Fabricland), rhinestones (Kaiser)

A Few Words

I chose this stamp for my card front because of the "shabbiness" of the font that I thought worked well with the patterned paper.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hampton Arts, Studio G
Papers: black cardstock (stash), yellow cardstock (Bazzill Lemonade), patterned (stash)
Ink: Versafine Black, Colorbox Charcoal
Accessories: ribbon (Zellers)

Bead It

I made an interesting discovery when making this card. For something different, I stamped and heat embossed the witch with clear ink and sticky embossing powder, with the intention of adhering microbeads to the stamped image. To my disappointment, the ink dried too quickly for all of the embossing powder to stick to the paper. I believe that the weight and quality of the cardstock will be a factor to consider when heat embossing. To solve the problem, I applied a tacky glue to the "bald spots" and added more microbeads where necessary.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Papers: black & purple cardstock & patterned papers (stash)
Inks: Versamark, Colorbox Blackberry & Charcoal
Accessories: ribbon (Michael's), Spellbinders Scalloped Circles, small circle punch (?)

Define It

Many companies have come out with definition images. They are very versatile since they can be used to create patterned paper, as a sentiment inside a card or as the focal point on a card front. The text does not compete with the design in the patterned paper.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Impression Obsession
Papers: orange cardstock (Bazzill Aztec), patterned (stash)
Ink: Versafine Black
Accessories: Spellbinders Long Rectangle, brad (stash), ribbon (stash)

Spellbinders and Sentiments

It's a good idea to keep in mind the "basic shape" of a Spellbinders die when choosing which ones to purchase. They are primarily square, rectangular, round or oval. I found, in making this card, that many of the sets of dies I have purchased accommodate rectangular images/sentiments, but not square ones. To solve the problem I will be getting more label dies. Works for me!

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Papers: black cardstock (stash), orange cardstock (Bazzill Sun Coral), patterned (stash)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: Cuttlebug Herringbone embossing folder, Spellbinders Labels die, button (Doodlebug), embroidery floss (stash), ribbon (stash)

Stamp in Triplicate

As time goes on I am pleased to find more ways to use the same stamped image. Rather than just stamp and colour this, I stamped it three times, twice on orange paper and once on the yellow. I cut out portions from the yellow and second orange images to layer on top of each other. This is a great way to get more use out of a stamp while creating a very dimensional card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Rubber Stampede
Papers: patterned (stash), orange & yellow cardstocks (Bazzill Aztec & Lemonade)
Ink: Versaink Black & Colorbox Charcoal
Accessories: ribbon, buttons & embroidery thread (stash)

This Is It!

Here I've used the last scrap from this particular Creative Imaginations patterned paper collection! The stamped images were coloured using a pigment inks, applied with a water brush. I used star stickers as masks on the striped paper before applying Silver Glimmer Mist. The ric rac was added once the Glimmer Mist was dried.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamps: Lockhart Stamp Co.
Inks: Verafine BlackOnyx, Colorbox (Amber, Surf, Wisteria, Charcoal)
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (Creative Imaginations)
Accessories: ric rac (stash), star stickers (Mrs. Grossman's), water brush

Coordinating with Colour

To finish this card I dug out accents based on the colours within the patterned paper. Once again, positioning of the ribbon and bow are important in the appreciation of the elements in the patterned paper.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), black cardstock (stash)
Accessories: orange brads (stash), ribbon (stash)

What I-Lets?

When I have a scrap of paper that's large enough to cover most of the face of a card I don't like to cut it up and try to use it as it. To "dress it up" I added an embellishment I made myself. The idea came from the dotted circles within the patterned paper. Now I remember what those eyelets were for!

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Stampin' Up
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (Creative Imaginations)
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx
Accessories: Spellbinder Scalloped Circle, black eyelet (stash), ribbon (stash)

Stamping Sentiments on Patterned Paper

This is a little tricky. You must make sure that your sentiment is "heavy" enough to be recognized once stamped on the patterned paper.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Studio G
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), orange carstock (Bazzill Sun Coral), patterned (Creative Imaginations)
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx
Accessories: buttons & embroidery floss (stash)

Don't Forget the Chip Board!

It's always a good idea to repeat an element found in the patterned paper. Here I found a chip board star, similar to the stars around the ghosts. First, I inked the chipboard with white ink. After it dried I applied Glossy Accents to use as an adhesive for the diamond glitter.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hero Arts
Papers: grey cardstock (Bazzill Thunder), orange cardstock (Bazill Sun Coral), patterned (Creative Imaginations)
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx
Accessories: Sizzix Label Die, chip board die (SEI), glitter (stash)

My Favourite Card Design--Again

You may find this card design familiar, since I used it to create a birthday card some time back. I took the opportunity to use the smallest of my Hallowe'en paper scraps to make a holiday version of the card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hampton Art Studio G
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), black cardstock (stash), charcoal cardstock (Bazzill Thunder), orange cardstock (Bazzill Sun Coral), patterned (Creative Imaginations)
Inks: charcoal (Colorbox), black (Versafine)
Accessories: Cuttlebug Pumpkin embossing folder, ribbon (Fabricland), pumpkin punch (Martha Stewart), square punch (Creative Memories)

Using Up Coordinating Patterned Papers

I struggled to find a complete image within the patterned paper to frame. Then I realized that an "off set" image might be more interesting; it also allowed me to incorporate bling in the cardstock frame.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), orange cardstock (Bazzill Sun Coral), patterned (Creative Imaginations)
Accessories: Spellbinder Scalloped Rectangles, ric rac (stash), rain drop brad (stash)

In a Jiffy

This has got to be the fastest card I have completed to date. I simply cut down two complimentary papers to fit the face of the card front and adhered a band of ribbon tied in a knot.
Wonderful papers such as these found in the DCWV Midnight Spell Matstack make for unique yet simply made cards.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Papers: off white cardstock base (stash), patterned (DCWV)
Accessories: ribbon (Fabricland)

I Just Couldn't Decide...

which one of these cards made with the drippy goo border I liked the best. When I saw how another card maker had used striped paper with this punch, I had to use the same idea.

Natalie

Card Recipes
Stamps: witch, bat & cat (Inkadinkado), boots (Stampendous)
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (Basic Grey Eerie), drippy border punch (Martha Stewart), ribbon (Fabricland)

A Bow of a Different Texture

For something different, I used lace seam binding to make the bow at the top of this card. Just another way to use up what we have on hand.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hampton Art Studio G
Papers: blue cardstock (Bazzill Ocean), orange carstock (Bazzill Sun Coral), patterned (Creative Imaginations)
Ink: Versafine black onyx
Accessories: mini alpha stickers (My Little Shoebox), tab punch (Stampin' Up), brad (stash)

Frame an Inchie

Inchies have become quite popular in the stamping world. These small, square images lend themselves to many creative uses. Here I framed one with a Spellbinders Label die.

I was somewhat leery of using a ribbon with words on it because the designs in the patterned paper. However, I managed to place the ribbon in such a way (away from the words in the patterned paper) that I don't think it the elements are "competing".

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hampton Art Studio G
Papers: orange cardstock (Bazzill Sun Coral), grey cardstock (Bazzill Thunder), patterned (Creative Imaginations)
Inks: black (Versafine), charcoal (Colorbox)
Accessories: ribbon (stash), Spellbinders Labels 1

Cornered Again

I love it when I find a matching ribbon! It was the perfect finish to this card. The ribbon bow balanced the "bite" out of the corner of the card that I used to frame the punched and embossed pumpkin. I also used foam squares to adhere the pumpkin to the face of the card to give it more dimension.

Natale

Card Recipe
Papers: orange cardstock (Bazzill Canvas), patterned (Creative Imaginations)
Ink: Colorbox Rousillion
Accessories: Spellbinders Scalloped Circled die, ribbon (stash), pumpkin punch (Martha Stewart)

A Border of Square Scraps

I cut scraps all to 1 1/4 " squares to fit the width of a 5 X 5" card base.

Natalie


Card Recipe
Stamp: Hampton Arts Studio G
Papers: cardstock (Bazzill Sun Coral), black suede cardstock (stash), patterned (Creative Imaginations)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Accessories: spider punch (Marvy), googly eyes (stash), wrought iron border punch (Martha Stewart)

Break It Up!

To pop this sentiment stamped on solids and distinguish it from the busy patterned papers used on this card, I framed the stamped image with a solid Spellbinder die cut.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamps: Hampton Art Studio G
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), orange cardstock (Bazzill Sun Coral), patterned papers (Creative Imaginations)
Inks: Versafine Black Onyx, Colorbox Roussillion
Accessories: Spellbinders Label 1 die, ribbon (stash)

Just a Note

You may wish to go back and look at the posts for the last few days. Unfortunately, time did not permit me to write the "copy" before the cards were posted. I have updated these entries as of Monday afternoon. Thanks for your understanding.

Natalie

Stamping Sentiments on Solids

I have a greater appreciation of solid images now that I have seen how cool it looks to stamp "words" over them. This explains why you need a variety of stamps of the same type--some very detailed to colour with Distress Inks, some somewhat detailed to colour with Copics/pencil crayons/inks and some solid. BTW, I only inked part of this sentiment stamp so that it could fit on the square. To make sure that I didn't get ink on the part of the rubber that I didn't want inked, I used masking tape and then removed it once the stamp was inked.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Stampin' Up
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), blue cardstock (Bazzill), patterned Basic Grey Lime Rickey
Inks: Onyx Black Versafine,

Distressing a Glossy Image

What good is a recipe without all of the ingredients! Thought I would start posting Hallowe'en cards to give you enough time to use the ideas that you like. Love the results of sponging Distress Inks on glossy cardstock. Misting the inked image blends the inks well.

Natalie

Card Recipe:
Stamp: Peddler's Pack
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (DCWV Midnight Spell)
Inks: Distress Black Soot, Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey

Really Rustic

Sorry about falling behind with the text!
In an attempt to be consistent with a rustic theme, I chose elements that I thought were complimentary. I embossed the Cor'dinations cardstock with a Tim Holtz embossing folder and found the results very defined. Sanding the raised parts of the paper let the design show well. The mulberry paper framed the stamped and ink distressed stamped image.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hero Arts
Papers: yellow cardstock (Cor'dinations) white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), mulberry (stash)
Inks: black (Versafine), Distress--Aged Mahogany, Bundled Safe & Wild Honey
Accessories: wood grain embossing folder (Tim Holtz), button & embroidery thread (stash)

Creating a Distraction

I wasn't pleased with the heaviness of the Aged Mahogany Distress Ink; it somewhat "blurred out" this part of the stamped image. As a coordinated distraction, I used a flower of the same colour to embellish the card.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hero Arts
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), Slicker (Bazzill)
Inks: Verafine black, Distress--Spun Sugar, Crushed Olive, Mustard Seed & Aged Mahogany
Accessories: brad (American Crafts), flower (Prima), Cuttlebug Textile Texture embossing folder

Pumice & Pewter

In making this card, I discovered a few perfect matches. This pink CTMH cardstock from their Spring Harmony pack is the same colour as Spun Sugar Distress Ink. Distress Pumice Ink will compliment pewter embellishments. Just like the brown Distress Inks, the grey also provides a nice border.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Hero Arts
Inks: Versafine black, Distress--Spun Sugar, Antique Linen, Bundled Sage and Pumice Stone
Accessories: buttons (American Crafts), yarn (stash), distressing tool

Balancing Backgrounds

Usually I stick to small patterned papers for background on cards, however, a small pattern would compete with the details in the stamped image. The argyle pattern is still small enough to be appreciated on the card face, behind the focal point. Note that the blue CTMH cardstock matches the Tumbled Glass Distress Ink. Glossy accents was used to highlight the circular element in the image and Pearl Glimmer Mist was used to tint the white space in the image; the white embossing is never truly white.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamps: background (Stampin' Up), image (Hero Arts)
Inks: Versafine black, Colorbox Frost White, Distress Tumbled Glass, Wild Honey & Milled Lavender
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), blue cardstock (CTMH Spring Harmony Package)
Accessories: white embossing powder (stash), distressing tool, ribbon (stash), Glossy Accents