Acrylic Blocks and Distress Inks

The first step to this card was stamping and heat embossing a script image in clear ink and embossing powder. This would resist any ink to be applied afterwards. I tried something new by inking an acrylic block with Distress Ink. Then I misted the inked block and stamped it on white cardstock to create a frame to work within. The next step was to ink and stamp the crackle background. Finally, the flower image was inked and stamped. The result was cut to fit the front of the card and the edges were inked to finish it.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: crackle background (Judikins), flower (Artful Inkables), sentiment (Stampin' Up)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), coloured cardstocks (Bazzill)

Inks: Distress (Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Milled Lavender, Peeled Paint, Wild Honey), Versamark

Accessories: acrylic block, Spellbinder Circles & Scalloped Circles, ribbon (AMM), clear embossing powder

A Quickie

This card took no time to complete. The image was coloured with 3 Distress Inks, distressed on the edges and mounted on a card base with a layer of coloured cardstock. The image already incorporates a sentiment. A little bling was added, along with a knotted ribbon to complete the design.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Hero Arts (?)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), green & pink cardstocks (Bazzill)

Inks: Distress (Antique Linen, Spun Sugar, Peeled Paint)

Accessories: ribbon (stash), clear rhinestones (Kaiser)

Fill a Vase

The Close to My Heart stamp set with vases is a "must have". It can be filled in so many ways and works very well with a long card design. In this case, I added texture to the card with a paper flower and ribbon bow. Since the "white" in the patterned paper wasn't as bright as the base cardstock, I sprayed the entire face of the card with Pearl Glimmer Mist, bringing the white tones closer in colour.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: CTMH

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

Inks: Versafine Black Onyx, Colorbox Amber Clay

Accessories: paper flower (stash), Pearl Glimmer Mist, Spellbinder Labels 8 & Ovals & Scalloped Ovals, ribbon (stash), pearl (Kaiser)

To Bling or Not to Bling

In my version of this card, I added a little more dimension by using foam squares between the red and top layers of the card. It may not be apparent in the scan, but a dry embossed line 1/4" from the edge of the white cardstock frames the face. I did this with a Scor-Pal. The design appealed to me because I liked the use of a few small squares, stamped with the same image, but in a different way, to show movement. The original card had rhinestones in the middle of the snowflakes. Though I didn't include them on my card, I think they will be added before the card is mailed.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamps: Inkadinkado

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), red cardstock DCWV)

Inks: Colorbox Frost White & Cranberry

Accessories: Scor-Pal, Creative Memories Square Punch, white embossing powder

Elegant Elements

To support this elegant image I chose to use elegant embellishments. The Spellbinder Fleur De Lis Squares and the textured buttons did the trick.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Stamp: Hero Arts (?)

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), kraft cardstock (Bazzill), black cardstock (stash)

Inks: Verafine Black Onyx, Distress (Antique Linen, Fired Brick, Peeled Paint)

Accessories: buttons & embroidery thread (stash), Spellbinder Fleur de Lis Squares, Creative Memories Square Punch

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)

Negative, In a Good Way

For this card I used a Crafter's Workshop Template to dry emboss white cardstock. I fed the sandwich through my Big Shot as I would an embossing folder, however, paper shims were required. I used folded pieces of text paper as shims and found that different weights of cardstock warrant different numbers of shims. You can keep feeding the sandwich through the Big Shot until you get the definition you desire. The numbers were cut out of the dry embossed paper using number dies. I layered the negative of the dry embossed paper over coloured cardstock to make the focal point of my card pop.

Natalie

Card Recipe

Papers: white cardstock (Georgia Pacific), coloured cardstocks (Bazzill)

Accessories: Crafter's Workshop Template, number dies (Papertrey Ink), ribbon (Doodlebug)