Flower Power Puppy

Today I'm sharing a 5.5" square card using the new "Friend" set from the Everyday in Mulberry Wood line.

I started by stamping the image in black ink on to white card stock.  I colored him with my Spectrum Noir markers, and then die cut him with a large circle.  I die cut a scalloped circle in turquoise as the mat.

Next I shifted gears to the card base, which was a folded 5.5 card in saffron yellow.  I prepped the next two layers of the 5" square flowered designer paper matted on a 5.25" square of pumpkin card stock.

I then ran ribbon through two slot-punched openings in the circle.  I used saffron grosgrain and rust colored rick rack from my stash.  A friend who sews gave me a bunch of leftover pieces of rickrack and it is fun working them in to designs.  After adhering dimensionals behind the circle, I taped the ends of the ribbon to the back of the pumpkin layer.  Finally this was all adhered to the base folded card with glue dots.

Final touches were an oval punched greeting accented by a turquoise flower and pumpkiny-orange brad.  (Tip on the greeting:  I stamped it regular size, then scanned it and shrunk in in Word to better fit in to my small oval punch.)  The greeting itself is from the Birthday Wishes set.

Because it is a large square card, I made a coordinating envelope to go with it using the Envelobox Creator.  Just start with a 8.25" square piece of paper and score all four sides at "G" on the tool.  So easy!

Even though it is floral, I think the colors make it perfect for a cheery autumn birthday card.  Hope you enjoyed it!

Distressed Destination

I loved this Destination image from Sheena's A Little Bit Sketchy line ever since I saw the beautiful cards that stampin' sister and fellow design team member Trena was making with it this summer. To make it my own, I did heavier distressing and added twine and beads.

A little back story.  I have a colleague, Kate, at work who has been working on a major project for about 18 months.  Tonight, we deploy.  (In fact I'm writing this as we wait at 2:00 am for the OK from IT to go in and test it and give the final green light.)  Throughout the whole time, she kept focus despite all the windstorms that threatened to throw the project ship off course.  I thought this card was destined for her.


First I stamped the image in black on to white card stock.  I used walnut ink (you dissolve the crystals in water; more water gives a less intense brown) to heavily sponge the edges.  Since it is a liquid, it tends to soak in and spread, giving a more saturated, vintage feel.  I then used my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers to shade pale grey on the sails, and tan on the land where the walnut stain hadn't hit.  A touch of grey-blue defined the ocean shore.

I distressed the edges and layered it on to a white mat, also distressed.  Because the walnut ink was so dark, I wanted the white for a bright contrast. This was then mounted on a side-fold A2 tan card base.

To finish it off, I added twine around the left fold, and beads, including some rolled paper beads that I made from scraps cut into long thin triangle shapes.  (Yes, I save my scraps, LOL).  I frayed the edges of the twine, and it was done!

Patchwork Snowman

Remember last week I did a quilted background for my stocking buddies card?  Well, I had so much fun with the quilting that I decided to use that technique again this week.  Except for this card, which uses Sheena's A Little Bit Festive "Happy Snowman" set, the quilt is the sky.

I started by making the quilted sky.  I chose various shades of blue, and used a 3/4 inch punch so that I could get smaller squares for more variation in design.  There's no discernible pattern here, just lots of blue paper arranged somewhat randomly.  I trimmed the quilt layer down and mounted it on a black mat, which then was layered on to a folded A2 card base in a saffron yellow.

Next, I stamped the snowman image in black ink onto white card stock, and colored it with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers.  I stamped the 'Let it Snow' greeting along the bottom.  Then, I cut out the image and liberally applied fine glitter to the rooftops and the snowman.  I love winter scenes, they are a perfect excuse for glitter.  :-)

I was going to glue it on top of the quilted sky.  But it didn't look right, the image faded away with the busy-ness of the quilt.  Hmmmm, what to do for a rescue?

What the card needed was  a visual separation of sorts.  I dug out some white mulberry paper and did a guided tear along the line of the rooftops and the snowman.  Much better!  I mounted this with dimensionals for a bit of a 3D effect.

Final touches were small black dew drops for the buttons and eyes, and blue dew drops that are supposed to be snowflakes, in the sky.  Here's a closer look.

Hope you enjoyed it!  Have you started your Christmas cards yet?

Quilted Stocking Buddies

You know how sometimes the image itself dictates the design?  That's what happened with me and the  "Waiting for Santa" stocking image from the new Strawberry Kisses Christmas line.  The stocking looked quilted and homespun, so I decided to go with a quilted background and carry that feeling throughout the card.

Quilted backgrounds are nothing more than pieced paper, and are a lot of fun to do.  Also they are great to use up paper scraps, or paper that is a little bit out of style.  Years ago I had bought a huge slab of Christmas designer paper and still had most of it left.  So I dug in and punched one inch squares from four coordinating papers.  The plus side is that it makes you feel very virtuous to be using up those old supplies!  (Tip:  you can cut the squares on your cutter, but it sure is faster and more consistent to use a square punch.)

You can Google quilt designs for pattern ideas.  This one is fairly simple, using squares and triangles.  Time saving tip -- you really only have to "quilt" the edges because the middle usually gets covered up.  A mixture of patterns and solids usually works well. I ran the solid squares through my trusty Swiss Dot embossing folder for texture.  Then just start gluing down on the mat layer (in my case burgundy), starting 1/8" away from both corner edges and working square to square  The quilted layer was then adhered to a 5.5 inch top folded white card base.

Once I had my background done, I colored my image with Spectrum Noir markers to match.  Then I mounted that with a very narrow 1/16 inch border on to blue.  I felt that if I used olive green or burgundy it wouldn't stand out enough from the quilt background.

Final touches were applying tulip snow for the fur on the stocking, and faux-sewing 4 buttons and using glue dots to adhere -- three in the upper left and one on the greeting (which I scanned and shrunk to fit my small oval punch).  I deliberately used white buttons and white thread because although I wanted the homespun feel and added interest, I didn't want all those buttons to compete with the focal point or even the background.

I used a fifth coordinating designer paper to make the envelope.  It is so easy to make custom-sized envelopes with the Envelobox Creator.  For an envelope to fit my 5.5 inch square card, I started with an 8.25 square piece of paper and scored at row G on all sides.  That was it!  Another great way to whittle down that slab of paper, and it removes the reluctance that I used to have to make these large square cards, for fear that I didn't have an envelope to fit.

Hope you enjoyed today's card!

Cross-stitched Poppet

Isn't the new Paintbox Poppets Winter Collection by Christine Haworth too sweet?  I really like the nostalgic feel to these images.  Today I decided to use the Yuletide Logs set.

For a change, I picked out my background paper first.  I had a big slab of Christmas paper and I decided to use it.  So, I used my Spectrum Noir alcohol-ink markers to color the poppet's dress to coordinate in shades of moss, olive, rose red and pale blue.  (You'll understand why I used blue when you see the envelope.)  I used my oval die to cut and emboss, and then cut a scalloped oval from rose red for the layer.

Before adhering the layers, I hand-stitched with white embroidery floss.  I did cross stitches along the left side of the oval; satin stitched the hat's pompom; and tied a little white bow on her vest.  Use a piercing tool and a template for even stitches.

The stitched image was then adhered to the red scalloped layer.  This went on to a dry embossed white layer (doesn't this embossing folder remind you of a knit Norwegian sweater?), then on to the patterned paper, then layered on olive, and finally on to a folded white card base.  

Inside, I used coordinating paper and mounted the greeting on a moss scallop-punched oval.  The final touch was a coordinating envelope made with the Envelobox Creator.  It is so easy to make coordinating envelopes, and doesn't even take a full sheet of paper!

Hope you enjoyed today's card.  Have you started your Christmas cards yet?  ;-)

Winter Panda Bears

Today I have a card done with a new set, "Winter Wonderland", from the fun Christmas in Mulberry Wood line from Crafter's Companion.

I decided to make my bears Panda's, although what Pandas are doing in the snow, I'm not really sure.  But in my craft room, imagination is allowed :-)

First, I stamped the image and greeting in black ink on to white card stock.  Then I colored with my Spectrum Noir markers. I liked the way that fellow Design Team member Taylor colored the winter trees blue on her recent card here.  

I layered the main umage on to black to draw out the black in the Pandas.  I scalloped the edge of this layer and added an assortment of blue polka dot and black gingham ribbon.  This was then layered onto blue patterned paper which I also punched with a fancier scallop.  This went on to a top-folded white card base.

I decided to reprise the scallops a third time, on the bottom opening edge of the card.  I added some rhinestone snowflakes and some tiny rhinestones under the bottom scallop flap and it was done!

Hope you enjoy it and have a happy Sunday!

Happy Birthday to Crafter's Companion!

It's Crafter's Companion fifth birthday, and we are celebrating with a CC Design Team blog hop!  The hop runs August 6 - 10.  Crafter's Companion is generously giving away a $100 gift card as the grand prize!  I'm also giving away a Popcorn the Bear birthday-themed stamp set!  Instructions for both are at the end of this post.

If you reached my blog, that means you came from Lisa Hunt's, and after me you will go to Stacy's.

I wanted to make Crafter's Companion a birthday card to celebrate.  I chose Popcorn the Bear and he's bringing an armful of daisies as a birthday gift from the Thanks a Bunch set.  Isn't this little bear adorable? 

 

I started by stamping in black ink on to white card stock.  I colored him with my Spectrum Noir markers.  Then, I layered him onto mossy green card stock.   

At that point, I embellished with hand stitching in yellow embroidery floss and lots of subtle white French knots. I used a hole piercer and template to keep the spacing even.  This was then layered onto cheerful yellow polka dot paper, and then on to a folded white card base.  The finished card is 5.5 x 5.5 inches.

Inside, I put a Happy Birthday greeting, layered in to a mossy green scalloped mat.  I reprised the stitching theme from the front of the card with yellow cross stitches.

  OK, now the rules to win prizes:

1. You need to be a follower of my blog
2. You need to be a follower of the Crafter's Companion blog
3. You need to leave a comment on this post
4. You need to find the secret letter on each Design Team member's blog that spells out a secret phrase.  HINT:  My secret letter is "W"
5. You need to be a US resident

When you have visited all the blogs in order and collected all the letters for the secret phrase, email the phrase to Bindy at bindy@crafterscompanion.com .  When the blog hop is over, Bind will select by random number generator the grand prize winner of the $100 gift card.

I'll select the winner for my blog's give-away (the Popcorn the Bear birthday stamp set) by random number generator from those who have left a comment here, and post the winner's name here on August 11th.  Be sure to check back to give me your mailing address if you are the winner (or have your email in your profile so I can contact you).

 

Sweet Daisy Girl

Aren't these new Morehead stamps just too adorable?  Today I chose the "Raindrops" image.  Like Meg Ryan in 'You've Got Mail', I love daisies - they are just an unassuming and happy flower.

I started by stamping the image in black on to white card stock.  I then colored it with my Spectrum Noir markers.

I had a scrap of daisy patterned paper, and it seemed perfect to go with this image.  I combined it with tiny yellow polka dots and blue checked gingham paper.  I love the juxtaposition of the structured checks with the looser floral design.  The background of mixed papers was layered on to pink, and this was layered on to a top-folded white 5.5 x 5.5 card base.

For the main image, I put just a slim strip of the polka dot paper on the left edge.  This was then layered on to pink,  and then on to the background.

I used the "Hello" greeting from the Beatrix Potter Timmy Tiptoes set -- it was just the right size and cheery sentiment. I oval-punched it, then used a larger oval with a scrap of the yellow polka dot paper as a mat, to reprise it.  I adhered it with dimensionals in the lower right corner, being sure to overlap the image and the gingham as a sort of 'bridge' for the eye.

Finishing touches were three white buttons, each tied with embroidery floss in blue, yellow and pink respectively.  These were attached with glue dots.  I like to 'faux sew' my buttons.  To me seeing the holes in a button looks a bit naked.  ;-)

Now for my confession.  I used to stay clear of making the large square cards because I never had an envelope on hand that would fit.  But with the Envelobox Creator, making square envelopes is so easy!  I find that I'm doing more and more of the square cards. Start with 8.25" square of paper and use row G on the tool for a perfect fit.  I used a wavy yellow gingham for my coordinating envelope.

Hope you enjoyed it!

Sunset Scenes

I am loving these new "A Little Bit Scenic" stamps by Sheena Douglass.  Today I'm using both her new Silhouette Grasses and Silhouette Highlands sets.  I really love bold images -- they let me go crazy with the backgrounds!

I decided to dig out my pastel chalks which were getting a bit dusty.  I've been neglecting them since I discovered Spectrum Noir markers but I love the soft look that chalks give, so they got some long overdue love on this card.  I used yellows, oranges, reds and a hint of burgundy, from light to dark, and blended with a cotton ball.  Fast with dramatic results, and even faster when you do two similar designs at the same time!  The only drawback to chalks is that you get very messy fingers, so be sure to wash your hands between steps so you don't get smudgy fingerprints where you don't want them.

I added a glittery moon by 'painting' a circle with glue and then using yellow glitter. After drying, this was layered on to a black mat, and then I added a die cut corner element with a yellow rhinestone.  This then went on to a folded apricot card base for the island scene, and on to a burgundy folded card base for the wildflowers.


It really could not be easier than that!  (Which is probably another reason I love bold images, LOL!)

Hope you are inspired to make your own sunset cards!

Frosty Window Scene

Hello all!  Today I want to share with you a frosty window scene that I made with the Art-Kure Timeless Britain collection.  I used the "Clapper Bridge, Devon" image.  Just imagining sitting inside all cozy and looking out to the lovely stone bridge and snowy trees helps to take the heat off our MidWest heat wave.  (Well, that, and a whopper of an air conditioning bill, LOL.)

I started by stamping the image in black ink onto white card stock.  I colored it with my Spectrum Noir markers.  I wasn't too happy with how the blue sky turned out...so after fretting and mulling it over a few days, I added white puffy clouds as a camouflage for my mistake.  Do you ever do that?  Tip: My clouds were done with a cotton ball dipped into a dab of white acrylic paint.  Blot it a few times to 'dry off' the cotton a bit before dabbing onto your sky.  I went from hating it to loving it!

As the paint clouds were drying, I added tulip snow and lots of glitter.  The tulip snow adds dimension, and it seems like every card I've done with this collection screamed for glitter.  What, your cards don't talk to you?  ;-)

When dry, I trimmed the image to fit behind the window die, which I did in a semi-gloss white card stock to emulate paint.  The rest was easy -- I layered that on to a light blue layer that had been run through a Swiss dot embossing folder (I seriously could not be without this folder), then on to a darker blue, and finally on to a folded white card base. Three tiny pearls at the base of the window are the finishing touch.


Hope you enjoyed today's card!

A Purr'fect Christmas

Today I have another of Ian Hallow's "Mulberry Wood" images to share with you.  This one is called "Purr'fect Christmas" and it would be great for the cat lover on your card list.

I was loving doing the snowy scene in the middle of this 100 degree Midwest heat wave.  Plus it was an excuse to use glitter again, LOL ;-) Finally the weatherman predicts the heat will break tomorrow. 

I stamped the image and greeting onto white card stock and colored it with my Spectrum Noir markers.  When I stamped the greeting, I was sure to leave enough room to add a ribbon.  I used red glitter on the garland, and liberally applied Tulip snow and ultrafine glitter on the ground and dots for snowflakes.

I corner punched the top edges, and used a scallop punch on the bottom.  I had folded the white card base as a top fold, specifically so that I could do a scalloped bottom edge.  The white layer was then layered onto green, which I also scalloped, and then on to the white card base, again scalloped.

A snowy Sent with Love

Hello!  Today I am excited to give you a sneak peek of Ian Hallows' new "Christmas in Mulberry Wood" stamp line from Crafter's Companion. I chose this image of a little critter in an envelope to use - isn't he just adorable?

I stamped the image onto white card stock, and colored it with my Spectrum Noir markers. I cut out the upper outline, because I wanted to layer him on a Swiss dot embossed background, reminiscent of snow.  Before I did that, I added lots of Tulip Snow and ultra-fine glitter.

Then he was layered on to the white background with pop dots, and then onto a rose layer, to pull out the soft colors of the poinsettias.  This then was adhered to a folded white card base.

The greeting was oval-punched and layered onto a red scallop punch, to bring out the brighter red in his hat, and adhered with pop dots.


Hope you enjoyed this frosty scene in what has really been a sweltering summer.

Sunset Harbor

I am just loving these new stamps by Art-Kure.  Today I'm using the 'Blackwater, Essex' harbor scene.

I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir markers.  I experimented by adding pinks and purples to the blue in the sky and water.  I was really happy with how my sunset sky and water it turned out. Don't be afraid to add the color reflections to the water, it gives it a lot of life. After coloring the image, I layered it on to black.

This was then layered on to a sheet with white, purple and blue watercolor-y splotches...the technique is called smackin' acetate.  Here's a great tutorial.

The background was layered onto black and then on to a mauve folded card base. I thought about adding some embellishments, but I restrained myself.  The image is just too breathtaking to need anything else.

If you like scenic stamping, be sure to check out this Art-Kure collection.  There are some stunning trees as well that are very versatile.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Another Purple Bear

Here's another card using the new Meadow Cottage Bears by Christine Haworth. Last week I shared a card in purples with this adorable little guy.  I liked him so much that I did a variation in purple and sage green with this Happy Birthday bear set for today's post.

Once again, this is a simple and classic symmetrical layout, using a large central image and a greeting underneath.

First I stamped the image in black, and colored with my Spectrum Noir markers.  I did pick out my designer background paper first, so that I could be sure to color the bows to match.  The main image was matted on to a scalloped purple card stock.  I layered two coordinating purple print papers, a stripe and a paisley,  onto a folded white card base. Don't you love the way a stripe adds structure to a coordinating paisley or floral? Lastly, I added the greeting, a pearl and a little ribbon on the right of the greeting.

Hope you're inspired to do a little creating of your own this week,  Have a wonderful summer Sunday!

Provence Altered Box

I have an altered box for you today, using a beautiful image from Sheena Douglass' Provence collection.  I've shared before how I have a large pile of empty jewelry boxes, and I decided to dig into that pile for today's project.

This little box will either be used to 'wrap' a gift card for a house-warming gift -- or with the 'home' image, I might use it to store the keys that my neighbors give me when they ask me to check their mail or feed their cats while out of town.  Currently I throw the keys into a mug in the kitchen cupboard.  How much more charming this would be!





First, I started by stamping the image in black on to white card stock.  I colored it with my Spectrum Noir markers, and sponged the edges in a mossy green ink.

I adhered the image to the box lid.  Next, I wrapped ivory ribbon around the lid, followed by a sheer turqouise polka dot ribbon which I tied in to a bow.  All that was left to do was to punch leaves out of several shades of green, and glue the leaves to the opposite corners of the box lid.  The final touch was to glue small paper flowers in the corners.  I used my Spectrum Noir markers to tint the flowers a deep pink.

Hope you enjoyed this little box! 

Poppet and Daisy Chain

Today I have for you a cute little poppet card and matching envelope. I think that Christine Haworth's Paintbox Poppets line is so sweet -- this one is called Daisy Chain.

I started by stamping the image in black ink, and colored it with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers. I used an oval die cut and layered it on an oval scallop in mauve.  This was then layered on to two different designer papers from the Fairyopolis 12x12 paper pad collection. I ran the designer paper through a Swiss dot and a Stripe embossing folder, for a little extra textural interest.  This was then layered onto white, for a fresh look.  I added a bit of white lace, and hand sewed two aqua colored buttons with white floss. 

Tip:  it is easier to sew through card stock if you use a mini glue dot to position the button, and then use a paper piercer to poke the holes.  The final step was to mount it on to a sage green card base. I decided to make a coordinating envelope out of the leftover paper (it only takes a 7 3/4 inch square). Crafter's Companion very affordable Envelobox Creator makes it so easy!

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday, and happy Mother's Day to all of the moms out there.  I'm off to mail this sweet little card to one of my favorite aunts who is in a nursing home.  I think it will surely brighten her day.

Wine and Friendship

I know exactly who this card using the new SWALK images is going to! The "wine and friendship" greeting is perfect for my friend Mary.  We've done our share of wine tastings together -- and I was with her in France when she checked a very important item off of her bucket list -- to have burgundy in Burgundy!  So it is made for her, n'est-ce pas?

 I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers, and then layered it on black.

I used the same basic layout for a 5.5 inch square card as I did last week.  I added 2 different designer papers in pink and green, and a strip of turquoise over which I added a sheer white ribbon.

The best part?  I found the perfect use for a small grapes charm that I bought quite a few years ago.  I love hunting through my stash for just the right thing! And oh, in case you are wondering, here's my friend that this card will be sent to.  Perfect, right? 

Girl Talk and Hearts

Don't you just love these new Humphrey stamps? They are so much fun. Today I am using the "Girl Talk" set from this line.

Because of the image size, especially after I added the greeting, I decided to do a 5.5 inch square card, which I don't do too often.  But it worked out great for this image.

I colored the image with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers (of course!) and then layered it on black. Note the grey shading around the whole image.  I have been using color IG1 for shading and like the results. Here are the rest of the marker colors I used. The markers that you can't see the labels for are IG1 and IG2, and the blender.

The matted image was layered on a mix of designer papers from my stash -- polka dot yellow and gingham red - to pick up the colors in the dresses.  I love the cheery look that the bright primary colors give. This was layered on black for cohesiveness.  I added a white ribbon and a narrower blue polka dot ribbon.  Then it was mounted on a white card base.

The final touch was to add two glittery red hearts in the upper right. I started with red card stock, and covered the whole surface with Versamark ink.  I then used tinsel red embossing powder and my heat gun.  Once I had a shiny, glittery sheet, I punched two hearts and popped one up with a dimensional.  By going over the edge of the black mat, you visually tie the different elements of the card together.

Tool Bookmark

Today I have a bookmark using sneak peek from the new Stamp It release from Crafter's Companion.

The original stamp had the tools in a diamond shape, surrounding the words 'Happy Father's Day'.  Sadly, my father has passed on, so the greeting wasn't appropriate, but I still wanted to use the images to make a masculine bookmark for my son Tom, who is an avid reader.

So, I simply colored them with my Spectrum Noir markers and cut them out!   These tool images are crisp and open, and lend themselves to coloring.

I used some paper from my stash that had a tone-on-tone gears design, rounded the edges with my corner punch, and layered it on grey card stock, also rounding the corners. Then I simply adhered the tools in a vertical fashion.  I snipped through the scissor blades to position the paint brush handle through it.

I added some alpha circles at the top to spell "READ".

The final touch was to use my 1/4 inch circle punch to punch the ribbon hole at the center top. I selected various ribbons from my stash - a very broad grosgrain red, a measuring-tape twill, and a thin seam binding to tie it and to thread some beads through.


Here are the marker colors I used.  Fun and functional, I think he'll like it!



 

Altered Sunflower Box

Today I have an altered box to show you, that uses the sunflower image from the new Art-Kure 'Britain in Bloom' collection. These floral images are so crisp and realistic, they are a joy to color. Speaking of which, my image was colored with the affordable Spectrum Noir alcohol ink markers, which have become my go-to coloring tool.Here's the front view:

I started my project with an empty jewelry box from Coldwater Creek.  It was serendipity that the top and bottom were this marvelous tan/kraft color - so no painting on covering needed! I stamped the sunflower image on white, colored it, and sponged the edges with Tim Holtz distress ink in Vintage Photo. This was matted on dark brown card stock, and then adhered to the box lid.

Next I went to my ribbon stash and found this leopard print ribbon.  It was wide and pulled in the brown tones, so I went with it. I think it gives it a fun and funky, slightly unexpected look. A second narrower ribbon in golden yellow was placed on top.

The final step was embellishment.  The sunflowers just cried out for these micro seed beads, which I glued on with crystal lacquer. I was careful not to cover the entire circle with seeds. The final touch was punching three leaves and putting a mini sunflower in the upper right corner. 

Notice how the leaves are textured.  I hold scrap card stock under the water tap, crumple it into a ball when wet, and then smooth it onto the counter to dry.  You get marvelous creases and texture with that easy method.  Sometimes I'll confess I might iron the result, if it is a little too bumpy.

Enjoy your Sunday, and go look for old boxes that you can cover! I think I'll use mine to keep address labels in on my desk.