Perfect Pearls and Crafter's Workshop Templates

To make the patterned paper more interesting, I used a Crafter's Workshop Template and Perfect Pearls. With the template in place, Versamark ink was applied. The template was removed and the Perfect Pearls were applied with a round brush to the paper, sticking only to the areas inked with Versamark. Excess Perfect Pearls were removed with a fan brush. A fine mist of water was sprayed on the paper as a fixative for the Perfect Pearls.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: PTI

Papers: Dark Tangerine and Bitter Chocolate cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (stash), copper (stash)

Inks: Versamark, Staz On Timber Brown (to insure drying on glossy copper paper)

Accessories: Spellbinder Fancy Tags and Squares, PTI car die, ribbon (Fabricland), pearls (Kaiser), Copper Perfect Pearls, Crafter's Workshop Numerals Template

Stamping Over Crafter's Workshop Templates

First I coloured the white cardstock with Distress Inks, with the template in place. Without removing the template, I inked a crackled patterned background stamp and stamped directly on top of the template; this allowed only the exposed parts of the cardstock to be stamped. Pattern, colour and texture make this paper appealing.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamps: background (Judikins), sentiment (Gina K)

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

Inks: Distress Worn Lipstick, Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shutters and Pumice Stone, Versafine Black Onyx

Accessories: flower (Petaloo), brad (stash), butterfly punch (Nankong), oval punch (Stampin' Up), rhinestones (Kaiser)

The Real Thing

Here I have not stamped a doily, but used an actual one. I just folded it in half and cut most of the back half off. They compliment any tea images nicely.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: image (PSX), sentiment (PTI)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), green and blue cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (Chatterbox)

Inks: blue (Colorbox), black (Versafine)

Accessories: Stampin' Up Oval Punches, Spellbinder Squares, doily (stash)

If the car works...

You wouldn't expect to find a car on an Easter card, but I thought it was a cute way of sending the same sentiment. This is one of Papertrey Ink's stamps, designed to work with one of their own dies. Coordinating stamps and dies are a new trend in the paper crafting world at this time.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: PTI

Papers: cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (AMM)

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx

Accessories: googly eyes (stash), ribbon (stash), Spellbinder Scalloped Rectangles, brads (stash)

Filling In

I wanted to make sure that all of this dry embossed image was covered with colour so I first used Distress Inks and then spritzed the whole thing with Glimmer Mist. I tried to keep the blue in the upper portion to portray sky and the brown tones on the grasses.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Verve

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), rust and blue cardstocks (Bazzill)

Inks: Distress Vintage Photo and Tumbled Glass

Accessories: ribbon (Fabricland), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Library Card Images

Library Cards and stamped images of such have become a current icon in paper crafting. Here I used it to support my floral image on this spring themed birthday card.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: library card (CTMH), flower (Hero Arts), sentiment (PTI)

Papers: peach cardstock (stash), guacamole cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (Basic Grey Two Scoops), mulberry (stash)

Inks: Celadon (Colorbox), Salmon (PSX Sentiments)

Accessories: Spellbinder Classic Ovals Large and Labels 5, ribbon (stash), brads (stash)

One More Time

A variety of Thank You cards made with the same altered design, but different coloured elements, could be used to fill a gift box for someone special.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Papers: green & burgundy cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (K& Company)

Accessories: ribbon (Fabricland), Quickutz Die

Another, Like the Other

Here I rearranged the elements of design in the previous card and used paper products in other colours to create another unique card.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Papers: green & blue cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (Chatterbox)

Accessories: Quickutz die, ribbon (Fabricland)

Downsizing Die Cuts

This die cut is a very large one which makes "give thanks". I cut it down to size to accommodate my Thank You cards.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), blue cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (Chatterbox)

Accessories: ribbon (Fabricland)

Stamping Felt Flowers

I not only die cut the layers of this flower out of felt, but I also stamped them. Heartfelt Creations has made stamps which coordinate with Spellbinder dies. The results could never be replicated so precisely without these products.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: Heartfelt Creations Innocents Flowers 2

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), gold cardstock (stash), patterned (dots--Paper Patch, stripes--AMM)

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx

Accessories: Spellbinder Blossom 2, Alpha Stickers (MLS Carrot Juice), rhinestones (Kaiser), brown flocked brad (stash), border punch (?)

Fancy Kraft Envelopes

This flower was die cut from wool felt. This felt is much richer in colour and has more body than regular craft felt. I plan to search for more of this product in other colours.

These kraft envelopes by Maya Road come in a variety of sizes and styles. They make a great embellishment for a card and can also serve as a holder for a small gift or message.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: PTI

Papers: Vanilla cardstoc (Bazzill), patterned (AMM)

Ink: Colorbox Chestnut

Accessories: Tim Holtz Tattered Florals die, Maya Road envelope, button & embroidery thread (stash), pin (Jenni Bowlin)

Stamping Solid Images with Acrylic Blocks

The background for this floral collage was created by inking and spritzing an acrylic block with Distress Ink. The ink reacts with water to create a mottled effect and is more concentrated on the edges, framing the stamped images nicely. The inked botanical image stamps were also spritzed with water. The entire surface of the stamped paper was sprayed with Apple Glimmer Mist to tone down the white cardstock.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: flower (Inkadinkado), grasses (Hero Arts), sneitment (Impression Obsession)

Papers: Bazzill (Candle, Berrilicious), white cardstock (Georgia Pacific)

Inks: Colorbox Chalk Dark Brown, Distress (Wild Honey, Worn Lipstick, Crushed Olive, Mustard Seed, Tea Dye)

Accessories: Apple Glimmer Mist

A Gatefold Card

I fell in love with the card that inspired this one. For instructions go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_QczSVC5FU

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: image (PSX), sentiment (PTI)

Papers: Bazzill (Bitter Chocolate, French Vanilla), CTMH (brown), patterned (Rusty Pickle)

Ink: Staz On Timber

Accessories: border punch (Martha Stewart), oval punches (Stampin' Up)

Bring on the Botanicals

Don't limit your stamp images to eggs and bunnies when making Easter cards. Botanical images are very versatile.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (Impression Obsession?), sentiment (PTI)
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), pink cardstock (stash), green cardstock (Bazzill guacamole), patterned (AMM)
Inks: Verafine Black Onyx, CTMH Seafoam

Accessories: brads (stash), Spellbinder Scalloped Squares

Likin' Letter Stickers

For more interest many paper crafters are using a combination of a stamped word and letter stickers to create an interesting title.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: CTMH

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), pink cardstock (stash), patterned (AMM)

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx

Accessories: EK Success border punch, letter stickers (Making Memories), brads (stash), ribbon (stash)

Velvet Bows

Because of the thickness of velvet ribbon, I separately create a knotted bow and adhere it to the line of velvet ribbon with a glue dot.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (PSX), sentiment (PTI)
Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), pink cardstock (stash), patterned (AMM)

Ink: Staz On Black

Accessories: Spellbinder Labels 1 and Classic Squares, markers (Copic R20, Tombow 99, 312, 98 and Marvy 67, 83), ribbon (stash)

Embossed Square Accents

I created dry embossed squares just as I previously created embossed eggs. However, in this case, I only used one embossing folder. Selection of your folder depends on the size of the pattern on it.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Impression Obsession

Papers: pink cardstock (Core'dinations), brown cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (AMM)

Inks: Distress Vintage Photo, Staz On Black

Accessories: Spellbinder Mega Ovals Large and Squares, Copics (R27, R20, G29), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Perfect Paisley)

Clues for Colouring

One advantage of wood mounted stamps is that they often come with a coloured index. What I mean by this is a coloured image on the surface of the wood block. This is what I used as a guide to colour this rabbit. A combination of Copic ink and gel was used.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (Whipper Snapper), sentiment (Verve)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), pink and purple cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (KI Memories)

Ink: Staz On Black

Accessories: ribbon (Doodlebug), Spellbinder Ovals and Scalloped Ovals, Copics (E01, BV02, R20, BG15), gel pen (Pentel K106)

Button Brads

Just had to use these new brads that were given to me as a gift. Keep your eyes open for unique embellishments. They add so much to a card.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (Stampin' Up), sentiment (Verve)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), purple cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (KI Memories)

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx

Accessories: Copics (E01, BV02, R20), ribbon (Fabricland), Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Large, Classic Scalloped Ovals Large), button brads (gift)

Back to Brass

I used another brass stencil to create the dry embossing bunny. Without the brass stencil with me, I decided to highlight the ears and feet by carefully colouring these areas with a fine paint brush and Distress Ink.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: PTI

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (KI Memories)

Inks: Distress Spun Sugar, Versafine Black Onyx

Accessories: rhinestones (Kaiser), ribbon (stash), brass stencil (Lasting Impressions)

Masking

I got the eggs "in the basket" by placing a sticky note across the top of it and then stamping my eggs.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: CTMH

Papers: purple cardstock (Bazzill), white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (KI Memories)

Inks: Distress Spun Sugar, Colorbox Plum Berry

Accessories: brass stencil (Lasting Impressions), ribbon (Fabaricland)

Spellbinder Small Labels

I recently acquired the Spellbinder Small Labels die set and love how the dies immediately create a formal frame around stamped images.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: PSX

Papers: light denim cardstock (Bazzill), brown cardstock (CTMH), patterned (Rusty Pickle)

Inks: Colorbox Brown, Distress Vintage Photo

Accessosries: Spellbinder Small Labels, ribbon (Fabricland), embossing powder (Merlene L.)

Chocolate Eggs

To get a satin look to my egg, I heat embossed the image with Ultra Chocolate embossing powder. Pull out those embossing powders and take a closer look for the different properties (shine and texture) they have.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: PSX

Papers: light denim cardstock (Bazzill), brown (CTMH), patterned (Rusty Pickle)

Ink: Colorbox Brown, Distress Vintage PHoto

Accessories: ribbon (Fabricland), embossing powder (Merlene L.)

Making Patterned Eggs

This time I used patterned paper for eggs, once again, taking into consideration the lines in the pattern when making my die cuts. Due to the thinness of my ribbon, I used 3 rows of it to create a band of appropriate size for my eggs.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: PTI

Papers: Creative Memories

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx

Accessories: Spellbinder Nested Eggs and Fancy Tags, rhinestones (Kaiser), ribbon (Stampin' Up)

Embossed Eggs

I dry embossed pieces of Core'dinations cardstock in 7 different embossing folders so that I would have 7 different eggs. Then I used the egg dies to cut out the shapes, noting the pattern in the dry embossing. After sanding, I wanted to bring out the dry embossing so I applied ink to the eggs, carefully sweeping the pad across the raised areas.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: PTI

Papers: pink cardstock (Core'dinations), yellow cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (AMM)

Ink: Distress Vintage Photo

Accessories: Spellbinder Nested Eggs and Fancy Tags, Cuttlebug Embossing Folders (Textile Texture, Perfect Paisley, Diamond Rough, Floral Fantasy, Herringbone, Swirl), Sizzix Embossing Folder (Finial Press)

Coordinating Embellishments

Here I tried to pull the card together by using buttons of colours found in my patterned paper. I must say that I was very pleased with the results of colouring the background in the image with a Copic marker--no brush strokes at all!

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Stampin' Up

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), pink cardstock (stash), patterned paper (AMM)

Ink: Versafine Black Onyx

Accessories: buttons (stash), ribbon (stash), pom pom (stash), Copic Markers (E01 Pink Flamingo, R20 Blush, Tombow Markers (98), Marvy LePlume Markers (83 Butterscotch)

Eggs in a Row

For more interest, I stamped eggs of different patterns on this card. Though the card that inspired me had an Easter sentiment below the die cuts, I chose to put my words on the inside of the card to maintain design balance.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: CTMH

Papers: Creative Memories

Ink: Colorbox Plumberry

Accessories: Spellbinder Nested Eggs, Fiskars scalloped scissors, ribbon (stash)

Eggsactly

I was thrilled to learn that the CTMH Egg stamps were a good fit for the Spellbinder Nesting Egg dies.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: CTMH
Papers: cameo & brown cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (AMM?)

Ink: Fresco Chalk Florentine

Accessories: Spellbinder Nested Eggs, EK Success Border Punch, Lasting Impressions Basket brass stencil, ribbon (stash)

Turn a Sentiment into an Image

I gave the "Easter" an ear and a tail to make it a bunny. Just another Easter card idea.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Verve

Papers: pink & purple cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (KI Memories)

Ink: Verafine Black Onyx

Accessories: Spellbinder Small Labels, anchor & brad (stash), pom pom (stash)

Cracked Glass

I often use the cracked glass technique when using images from old calendars to create cards. At least 4 layers of clear embossing powder must be heat embossed on the image before it is put in the freezer. Once cold, the image is removed from the freezer and bent to your satisfaction to create the cracks that you like. Brown ink is worked into the cracks, while being careful not to detach the "glass".

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: PTI

Papers: pink cardstock (Bazzill), calendar page, patterned (AMM?)

Ink: Colorbox Brown

Accessories: clear embossing powder (PSX), Spellbinder Labels 8, Stampin' Up Oval Punches, ribbon (stash)