Hanging By a Thread

Just another way to incorporate hearts into a card design. Here too Distress Ink was used to "finish" the different pieces of patterned papers.

Natalie

Card Recipe
Stamp: Autumn Leaves
Papers: cream cardstock (Core'dinations), patterned (MME Market Street)
Inks: Staz On Timber Brown, Distress Festive Berries
Accessories: scalloped scissors (Fiskars), ribbon (Fabricland), heart die (Sizzix), heart punch (EK Success), Spellbinder Mattes, brown marker

A Sign of Hallowe'en

This set of stamps from Papertrey Ink is so versatile. A hanging sign can be made for almost any card theme. I love that the pumpkin stamps the reverse image; this allowed me to use a piece of the orange background paper for the pumpkin sign.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: Papertrey Ink

Paper: black cardstock (stash), patterned (Basic Grey Ambrosia), text (old dictionary), kraft (Bazzill)

Inks: Versafine Onyx, ColorBox Ochre, Distress Pumice Stone

Accessories: ribbon (stash), Spellbinder Circles, Fiskars patterned scissors

Dark Doilies

Black just seems to "pop" on kraft cardstock. Using the Black Soot Distress ink on to distress the edges of the card front also adds to the drama. Adhering the bow to the left of the centre of the card balanced the card design.

Natalie

Card Recipe

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

Paper: kraft cardstock (Bazzill), black cardstock (stash), patterned paper (7Gypsies)

Ink: Distress Black Soot

Accessories: patterned scissors (Fiskars), flower punch?, ribbon (Fabricland), button (stash)

Extreme Coordinating Patterned Papers

What I mean by "extreme" is that this line of paper had one which was relatively light and one which was relatively dark. This allowed me to cut a border out of the darker paper which would stand apart from the card front base. Keep this in mind when choosing coordinating papers.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: PTI?

Papers: cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (from Linda G.)

Ink: Distress Walnut

Accessories: Spellbinder Circles & Lacey Circles, Fiskars Scalloped Scissors, velvet ribbon (stash), blue gros grain ribbon (SU), buttons (stash)

A Bird of a Different Pattern

Working with floral patterned paper is always a challenge, so images of birds and/or butterflies often adorn my cards. This bird came patterned, another trend in stamp images this year. A perfect "any occasion" card.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Technique Tuesday

Papers: off white cardstock (stash), green cardstock (Bazzill River Reed), patterned (K & Co. Madelaine)

Ink: Staz On Timber

Accessories: Spellbinder Lacey Ovals & Classic Ovals Large, ribbon (stash), brads (stash)

Ticket Taker

I have been meaning to use my ticket die and stamps and plan to do so even more often in the future. It's another great embellishment for a card and another creative way to frame a sentiment. I used a card sketch found on the internet to design this card. I plan to save and print more sketches to help me "kick start" my creativity.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: PTI

Papers: cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (BG Stella Ruby)

Ink: Stazon On Timber

Accessories: ticket die (Sizzix/Tim Holtz), Spellbinder Lacey Circles & Standard Circles), ribbon (stash), scalloped scissors (Fiskars)

Stamping a Second Generation

The wildflower image was inked and stamped twice, filling the "white space" and creating dimension with the illusion of depth.

Natalie

Card Recipe

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

Papers: cardstock (stash), patterned papers (Rusty Pickle)

Ink: Memento Pearlescent Chocolate

Accessories: Fiskars patterned scissors, ribbon (stash)

I Love Ladybugs

When I saw a portion of a die cut circle on another card, I thought this was a unique element to include in one of my designs. The patterned paper made me think summer, so using a ladybug instantly came to mind. Its design perfectly accommodates rhinestones. Red, black and white elements pull the card together.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: sentiment (CTMH), image (Inkadinkado)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned paper (stash), embossed red cardstock (stash)

Ink: Verafine Black Onyx

Accessories: black rhinestones (Kaiser), ribbon (Fabricland), Spellbinder Circles, buttons (stash), patterned scissors (Fiskars)

Textured Flowers

To create texture on this flower, I stamped each layer of it with a crackled background stamp. Applying Wild Honey Distress ink to the edges of the petals also creates dimension. The leaves were curled also.

Natalie

Card Recipe

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

Papers: orange, pink and green cardstocks (Bazzill), patterned (AMM)

Inks: Versafine Black Onyx, Wild Honey Distress

Accessories: Spellbinder Blossom, Daisies and Petite Ovals Large, ribbon (Fabricland), brad, (stash), Fiskars patterned scissors

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)

Tag Dies

Spellbinder Just Rite Tags provided me with the appropriate sized tag for this card. Though I had a set of Spellbinder Tags, I didn't have the correct size for this card. Compare die sizes to create a collection of various sizes to suit various projects. Just Rite is just one company working to create stamped images that work with dies.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Gina K

Papers: blue cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (Basic Grey Lime Ricky)

Accessories: Spellbinder Just Rite Tags, Fiskars patterned scissors, twill (stash), button & embroidery thread (stash)

Another One, Just Like the Other One

I softened the edges of the patterned papers with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (Inkadinkado), sentiment (Papertrey Ink)

Papers: pink cardstock (Bazzill), patterned (Basic Grey Sultry)

Inks: Versafine Black Onyx, Distress Vintage Photo

Accessories: Crayola pink gel pen, Olive Sharpie, Spellbinder Ovals, Fiskars patterned scissors

Bloomin' Butterflies are Back

Though I've always loved butterfly images, they seem to have made a comeback at CHA Winter 2011. This time I stamped it on a finely detailed patterned paper. This is probably the most popular Hero Arts stamp ever made!

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: image (Hero Arts), sentiment (Papertrey Ink)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), patterned (Basic Grey Sultry)

Ink: Staz On Timber

Accessories: ribbon (stash), scalloped scissors (Fiskars)