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!

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!

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!

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.

Traveler's Wings and Encaustic Wax

Today I have a dreamy card made with Stamp-It's new "Hummingbird Wings" stamp. You know how the image really dictates the feel of the card?  Well this lovely quote just said "artsy" to me, so I pulled out my encaustic wax supplies to do a background with lots of motion and texture.  Not to worry, if you don't have encaustic wax, you can get a similar feel with the polished stone, shaving cream or heated pearls technique, among others.

After making the background, it was layered on black and then on a lavender base.  I stamped the main image in black ink, onto white card stock. I did a border embossed swirl on the right of the image, to reprise the swirly tail feathers.  I then sponged around it with lavender, blue, and amethyst inks. I layered it on black, adhered it with dimensionals, and added some tiny pearls as a finishing touch.

This card went together so quickly that I decided to make a custom envelope with Crafter's Companion Envelobox Creator.

For an A2 size card, I get good results starting with a 7 3/4 inch square of paper and scoring opposite corners on the E and H grooves.  I found this purple and blue paper in my stash that coordinated like a charm. I love making the envelopes special as the finishing touch for the recipient.

I think this would be a great Bon Voyage card or a Graduation card, with a sentiment about "exploring your world" inside.