Tuesday, July 30, 2013

I have several family members who celebrate wedding anniversaries during July and August. This is the card I made for one of my nieces and her husband. The top portion of the card uses multiple stamps to create a background, so I am linking this post to Papertrey Ink's Make It Monday #127: Double Backgrounds.

* The light blue card stock was stamped with Spring Rain ink and three different stamps from Polka Dot Basics. I wanted to create a feeling of water and sky - the polka dots reminded me of 'bubbles'!! This layer was also impressed with Tin Types Impression Plate.* The sentiment was a combination of a Close To My Heart stamp (Free Spirit) and the ANNIVERSARY stamp from Pretty Peonies. The edges of the blue card stock were also stamped with Sew Simple Borders in Blueberry Sky. * I used a Bo Bunny paper pad (Double Dots) to make the sun and flip flops, along with the matching stamps (Back Pocket Basics) and dies.* The card front was mounted onto a Kraft card base.

* I wanted to place the flip flops on a 'wooden dock', so I used a combination of the Background Basics: Woodgrain stamps and Impression Plate. After stamping and impressing the card stock, I cut it into strips and then sponged the edges of each with Kraft ink. They were glued back together on the lower portion of the card front. A brown dot was added to each corner.

* I carried the water theme to the inside of the card. I mounted a blue panel to the card base and then cut a smaller piece that was embossed with a Cuttlebug Embossing folder. I swiped the ink pad over the raised portion and the cut edge of this section and then adhered it to the lower edge. * The Mini Blooms die collection has 2 dies that reminded me of star fish. I die cut these out of the yellow dotted paper, inked the edges and then added them to the 'water'. The center of each 'star fish' was stamped with a small stamp from Framed Out #6.* The sentiment (Embroidered Blooms) was stamped with blueberry Sky.Card Details(PTI, unless noted)Stamps - Polka Dot Basics, Background Basics: Woodgrain, Back Pocket Basics, Sew Simple Borders, Pretty Peonies, Embroidered Blooms; Close To My Heart: Free SpiritInks - Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky, Kraft, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, Berry Sorbet;Memento Rich CocoaPapers - Kraft; Recollections: Blue, Caramel; Bo Bunny: Double Dots Soft ShadesDies - Back Pocket Die Collection, Flip Flop Die Collection, Mini BloomsOther - Tin Types Impression Plate, Woodgrain Impression Plate; Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls Embossing Folder; 3D Foam Dots; 7/8" circle punch

Thursday, July 25, 2013

I love all of the colour schemes in this month's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge - it was a hard decision to pick just one, so I created a second

project using this inspiration photo:

I made a set of four square note cards (3 5/8")using Irresistibly Ikat.Once I figured out the
design and colour position, these were fast and easy to create. They
really do remind me of all the bright citrus colours of oranges,
grapefruits, lemons and limes!!

After stamping the background and sentiment they were impressed with theCanvas Impression Plate. Each card uses one of the sentiments stamped with Orange ink.

This month we were challenged to use
the "Fruits of Summer" color schemes on Nichole Heady's blog here. Summer is officially in full swing and nothing beats the heat like cool
fruity flavors! The fruits of summer are bold, colorful and just pure
eye candy.

Popsicles and Summer = Fun.

I couldn't resist this delicious combination and the icy cold look of Popsicles, so I literally made a Popsicle card!! I received a Paper Creations(Summer 2013) magazine for Mother's Day that contained a template/pattern for this Sweet Treat!! The July Blog Hop was the perfect opportunity to try this shaped card.

I stamped a piece of card stock with three different widths of stripes (Distressed Stripes) using the colour scheme. I then cut it out using the template and scored it several times in the center, to create a groove between the popsicles.The Kraft popsicle sticks were cut from the Movers & Shakers: Spinners die, impressed with the Woodgrain IP and then sponged with Tea Dye ink.

A second template was used to cut the card base. In order to assemble the card the popsicle sticks were positioned on the card base and then the stamped card front was glued on top. The tag (Tiny Tags) was stamped with a sentiment (Winter Penguin) and matted onto Scarlet Jewel. A piece of Baker's Twine was wrapped around the card front, attached to the tag and then tied with a bow.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Rev Up the Fun!!(Stampin' Up) is a fun set for masculine cards. I used the racing car stamp for my son's birthday card. He owns a silver/grey car, so I thought this image would be perfect for him.* I used a colour scheme of black, red, white, silver and yellow. Stamper's Select White was used for the card base. * Two
strips of black gingham paper were adhered to Pure Poppy card stock and
then mounted onto the card front. The Rick Rack Border die was cut from
yellow card stock and positioned on the center of each piece of
gingham.* A red star button (from my button stash) was added to the top panel and accented with red embroidery floss.

* The 'dust' was stamped along the center of the card front using black ink and then highlighted with a clear glitter gel pen.* The racing car was stampedonto a small piece of cardstock with Versamark and then heat embossed with silver embossing powder. It was fussy cut and then added to the card with 3D foam dots. * The tires were stamped onto Soft Stone card stock with Versamark, heat embossed with black EP, cut and glued to the original image.* Finally the number panel (using the tiny numbers from Postmarks)was stamped onto a yellow circle and also added for a touch of colour. * The sentiment panel was made with Fabulous Frames stamp and die. The sentiment was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with black EP.InsideI used more of the black gingham with a red trim on either side. Yellow card stock was used to cut a Double-ended Banner Die and then the sentiment (Stylish Sentiments: Birthdays) was layered on top.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Erin Lincoln hosted this week's Make It Monday #125: Defined Watercolour.I wasn't planning on a card for this challenge but when I found a set of watercolour paints and paper in the craft section of the newly opened Target store, I decided to give it a try!! There's so many watercolour inspiration for card making, so I knew I would use it more than once!! Here's my first attempt at this watercolour technique using Spiral Bouquet.

* I used Erin's method to colour the flower heads and then stamped over them with Berry Sorbet, Harvest Gold and Twilight (Colorbox). Each flower was accented with a mini pearl.

* The stems were added and accented with Limeade Ice.

They came out a bit messy, so I decided to stamp the sentiment

(Embriodered Blooms with Royal Velvet ink) over them. Now I'm not

sure if it draws attention to the stems or camouflages them!!

* I mounted the oval focal panel onto a strip of Rustic White card stock that was stamped with polka dots (Off Beat Backgrounds: Waltzingmouse Stamps) with Limeade Ice ink. A panel of Berry Sorbet was impressed with the Cane Prints IP, and then stitched to the card base (also stamped with polka dots)* Green grosgrain ribbon was also layered under the focal panel before attaching it to the card front.

* The final detail was a butterfly (SU: Beautiful Wings). Using several layers of papers (Harvest Gold, Limeade Ice and a pink patterned paper from my stash) I sewed the layers together on my sewing machine and left the threads hanging to resemble the butterfly's antennae.

Inside of card front

An Unexpected Detail: When I machine stitch a front panel, I usually do it before
I mount it onto the card base. But this time I had attached the Berry
Sorbet card stock and then decided to add the machine stitching. That
meant that the stitching was visible on the inside.My solution? I pulled all of the thread ends through to the back (inside card) added a butterfly, and used the thread ends as the antennae again. The thread ends were coloured with a grey copic marker.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

My nephew and his girlfriend are expecting their first baby in late August. While they were visiting in early July we had a family gathering/baby shower for them. I had lots of fun making a card, tags and a baby banner with my stamps and paper. I also made a fabric bag to hold one of the gifts, but it will make a perfect little tote bag for the new mama as well!!

BannerThe largest gift really needed something extra special, so I made a 'baby girl' banner with pinks and light purple card stock. I purchased little fabric butterflies from the Dollar Store and used them at each of the corners. I also left extra ribbon at each end so it could be used in the baby's room as a decoration.

This was the first banner I've ever made, so I experimented with various techniques!! It has lots of dry embossing, stamping and die cuts, but unfortunately you can't see that clearly in the above picture. I used Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circles and Modern Alphabet Lower Case dies (Papertrey Ink), layered on top of Spellbinders Nested Pennants. The daisies were cut with a EK Success Border Punch.

Each of the flowers and leaves were coloured with copic markers, before adding the sentiment (Hanging Out - PTI) and the focal panel. (C.C.Designs Itzie Inkies Flower Power). Some green patterned paper (from my stash) and 4 mini pearls were added to the main panel. I used the end of a ticket (Just the Ticket Border Die) to stamp the word ADORABLEfromTiny Tags IIand then attached it behind the top of the focal panel.

The envelope was also decorated with 'BABY'(Polka Dot Alphabet - Close To My Heart) and 'For your ... Girl' ( Baby Words: Stampendous) and the butterfly from Sweet Spring(PTI).Butterfly Tag I cut Tag Sale #4 die with Soft Moss card stock and then stamped 'sweet baby GIRL' (Sweet Spring & Sweet Baby)three times around the outer edge with Winter Wisteria ink. Three daisies were added to the top and accented with Dot Sparkles. The butterfly (Butterfly Dreams)was cut twice - one pink card stock and one vellum. The vellum was stamped with Hibiscus Burst ink and then attached along the `body`to create a dimensional look.

Fabric Bag & & Tag I had this precious fabric in my stash and it was perfect for a gift bag. I love all the images (butterflies, frogs, castles, hearts, princes and princess) and words included on the fabric. Bright pink fabric was used for the handles and the trim around the upper band.

I added a big yellow button to the front of the bag -

it was the perfect place to attach this gift tag:

I made this gift tag for one of the Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-Faire 2012 challenges: Homemade Embellishments. You can see the original post with details here.

The complete baby shower set/gifts were a real hit with everyone. Now we`re all anxiously awaiting the arrival of another little sweet baby girl in our family!!Thanks for visiting today.Karen C.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The current challenge on the Festive Friday blog calls for a holiday project focusing on SNOW!! Kind of hard to fathom winter flurries when we're in the middle of a heat wave here (and lots of rain too!) The news reporter likened our weather to the type you would experience in a rainforest!! This isn't something we're used to in Northern Ontario!!

* The background of the card was created by cutting 3 strips of blue card stock and then embossing them with a "Snowflake" embossing folder. These strips were mounted to Confetti White (Stampin' Up) card stock. * I swiped the front of this with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. This really made the snowflakes 'pop' against the blue. * Pure Poppy was used to mat the card front and then this mounted onto a white card base.

* The focal panel was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, coloured with copic markers and then cut with a square Nestibilities die. The little snowflake dots were highlighted with a clear glitter gel pen. * Several mat layers of Pure Poppy and blue card stock were added so the main image has some added dimension. A red ribbon and bow were added to the top of this panel and then adhered to the card front.

* A Holiday Photo Finishers die was cut from blue card stock, stamped with Versamark and heat embossed with white embossing powder. Three red dots were added to accent the berries on the sentiment panel.

* The inside of the card was finished with snowflakes(Winter Penguin) and a faux stitching line (Sew Simple Borders)using Bashful Blue ink (Stampin' Up). A sentiment from Silent Night was stamped with Pure Poppy ink.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

This post has been linked to: Papertrey Ink:Make It Monday #124 - Decorated EnvelopesMoxie Fab World:Birthday Card ChallengeMelissa Phillips from Papertrey Ink, demonstrated how she uses stamps and dies to decorate envelopes in this week's Make It Monday #124 video. I love the idea of carrying the theme of a
card to the interior and the envelope. I had just finished making a
card for my brother's birthday and decided that a decorated envelope
would be a great finishing touch!!

When I saw the Stampin' Up set Rev Up the Fun!! I knew it would be great set for masculine birthday cards. My
brother and sister-in-law have gone on many motorcycle tours of Canada,
United States and even South Korea. They just returned from a tour of
the eastern U.S. last month, so I decided to use the motorcycle image for his birthday card.

I started by using Watercolor Wonder and several colours to stamp a background. Off the Grid (Stampin' Up) was stamped with Versamark and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. The sentiment was stamped in the top corner with black ink. This panel was cut with a square nestabilities and then matted with Hawaiian Shores card stock.

The motorcycle was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and then fussy cut. A few details were highlighted with copic markers and a clear glitter gel pen. It was mounted with 3D foam dots for added dimension. The 'dust' was accented with a gold gel pen on both front panels.

Two banners were die cut and mounted onto a white card base that was impressed with the Linen/Canvas Impression Plate.

About Me

After teaching for 31 years, I retired in order to spend more time travelling, gardening and crafting!! I have always loved to sew and knit, but after I left teaching I decided it was time to organize all of the family pictures into scrapbooks. I haven't gotten too far on that project, as I started taking card making classes at the local scrap booking store and then became fascinated with stamping... now I can be 'lost' in my crafty room for hours at a time!! I have two grown sons and a very understanding and supportive husband.