FYI

I'm afraid I don't have any postings prepared at this time, but hope to get back on track soon. Thanks for your understanding.

Natalie

Stretch Your Imagination

I often try to think of different card themes for the same stamped image. Here I've used a piece of grid paper, similar to what I have used on recent cards, to create a Valentine. Without the date, of course, this card could be transformed into a card for another occasion.

Sentiment was printed on the computer.

Card Recipe

Stamp: date (?)

Papers: patterned (Tickled Pink, Fin & Dandy)

Inks: Colorbox Stucco, Distress Tea Dye & Vintage Photo

Accessories: Spellbinder Classic Hearts, paper flowers (I Am Roses), border punch (EK), pearls (Kaiser)

The Perfect Palette

For this card, I stamped on almost every element: the background, the library card and the border. Varying the sizes of the stamped images allows them to stand on their own.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: background (SU), library card (CTMH), text (Hero Arts), flower (Basic Grey), foliage (?)sentiment (PTI)

Papers: off white cardstock (Staples), Tim Holtz Cor'dinations Distress Fired Brick

Inks: Distress Vintage Photo, Fired Brick and Bundled Sage

Accessories: ribbon (stash), buttons (stash), embroidery thread (stash), border punch (EK Success)

Distress Cor'dinations Cardstock

Here I've dry embossed and sanded the Distress Cor'dinations cardstock to bring out the underlying cardstock colour. Having the matching Distress Inks made the stamping a breeze.

Card Recipe

Stamps: PTI

Papers: cardstocks (Tim Holtz Distress Fired Brick and Bundled Sage), patterned (MME Stella Rose, Hazel)

Inks: Distress Fired Brick and Bundled Sage, Versafine Onyx

Accessories: brads (stash), Spellbinder Standard Circles Large & Small) and Labels 18, Sizzix Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, ribbon (stash)

On the Grid

Grid patterned papers and stamps are found in many product lines at this time. They provide a perfect base for stamping images and sentiments. The Distress Inks compliment each other so well that any choices result in a coherent result. The Distress Cor'dinations papers, which match the inks, make card making even easier!

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: PTI

Papers: coloured cardstock (Tim Holtz Distress Cor'dinations Worn Lipstick), patterned (MME Stella Rosa Hazel)

Inks: Distress Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick, Wild Honey

Accessories: button & embroidery floss (stash)

Time for Tea

This card could be used for anything from "Thinking of You" to a birthday celebration. The coordinating "solids" in the Basic Grey patterned paper pads are perfect for matting your focal image since they coordinate perfectly with the patterned papers.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (Basic Grey), sentiment (PTI)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned paper (BG Perhaps)

Inks: Colorbox Pink Pastel, Staz On Timber

Accessories: ribbon (Fabricland), embossing folder (SU Square Lattice)

Sweet & Very Simple

Here's a quick solution for a card using the library card image. Foam squares elevate the stamped image from the card base, giving it dimension. The ribbon scrap and paper clip are inexpensive embellishments for this card.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (CTMH), sentiment (PTI)

Paper: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific)

Inks: CTMH Seafoam, Versafine Onyx

Accessories: ribbon (stash), paper clip (stash)

Play Your Cards Right

In this case, in addition to using contrasting colours to separate the sentiment from the busy patterned paper, I used a somewhat simple element (the library card) to make the word stand out.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (CTMH), teapot (Basic Grey)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), pink cardstock (Bazzill Orange Peel Cotton Candy), patterned (BG Sultry)

Inks: Versafine Onyx, Colorbox Pink Pastel

Accessories: twill (Martha Stewart), rhinestones (Kaiser), border punch (EK Success)

A Million Little Things

It is a challenge to have a card design which includes many elements to have those elements be recognized. Keep contrasting colours close to make individual elements "pop". White alpha letters with a black background make the sentiment easily identifiable.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: CTMH

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

Ink: Versafine Onyx

Accessories: doily (stash), buttons & embroidery thread (stash), tiny alpha stickers (MLS), floral sticker (Mrs. Grossman's), ribbon (Fabricland)

Rounded Corners

I don't know why I don't think of it more often, but rounding the corners of a square or rectangular element within a card design also adds interest.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: doily (Magenta), sentiment (Verve)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned papers (BG Perhaps)

Inks: Memories Crimson, Versafine Onyx, Colorbox Antique Pewter

Accesssories: fabric brad (Sandylion), paper flowers (Prima), pewter brad and velvet brad (MM)

Just for a Change

In addition to varying your card design, it's fun to make a card of a different size, just to mix things up and make things interesting. The CTMH adhesive border strips take ink wonderfully, making it easy to have them coordinate with your card elements.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: doily (Magenta), bird (Technique Tuesday), siwrl (Autumn Leaves)

Papers: cardstocks (Bazzill)

Inks: Colorbox Lettuce & Dark Brown

Accessories: adhesive border strip (CTMH)

Non-Traditional Christmas

Using non-traditional Christmas colours to make a Christmas card is always a nice surprise for the recipient. A little bit of glitter always brings snowflakes to life.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: doily (Magenta), snowman (Inkadinkado), sentiment (Gina K)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), blue cardstock (Bazzill Stonewash)

Ink: Colorbox Smoke Blue

Accessories: Spellbinder Squares & Labels 16, PSX Diamond Sparkles Glitter Glue

Ribbons in the Wind

Attaching the ribbon to the metal embellishment creates some movement on this card front. Once again, the red ink colour was chosen to match the cardstock.

Natalie

Card Recipe

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

Papers: Bazzill cardstocks

Ink: Distress Aged Mahogany

Accessories: ribbon (Fabricland), metal embellishment (WeR)