Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Working With Vellum

Today is tutorial day over on The Kraft Journal and I'm sharing how I make vellum overlays.

I love the elegance of a vellum overlay and try to incorporate them as often as I can into my cardmaking. For this example, you will need a 4.25 x 5.5 ivory card base and a 4 x 5.25 piece of vellum.
The first thing I like to do when working with vellum is to lay out my stamps so I get a good feel for positioning and fit. It wouldn't be so much fun to get half way through a project and find there isn't space for the sentiment you had picked out! What better use of a vellum overlay than a wedding card? I thought this would be a nice example for our celebration challenge this week!
I then stamped the cake and the cake stand into the center of the piece of vellum where I know I left room for both sentiments.
Doing a final alignment of the text stamps here. Make sure they fit underneath the vellum and that there's even spacing around the cake.
Now I stamp the card base with both sentiments in black ink so they will show through the vellum nicely. I've adhered the vellum overlay with special vellum adhesive. Believe it or not, it really doesn't show through! I've adhered pearls to the cake for some extra pizazz.
The final step for this wedding card was to add a black satin ribbon threaded through the card fold. I punched two holes in the card and then tied it in a big bow. I hope this has encouraged you to give vellum a try! It doesn't take a lot of effort to make something that looks quite special!

Thanks for visiting!


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Congratulations


Hello friends - and this time it isn't a pre-scheduled hello from the road! We just got back yesterday from a wonderful two-week vacation visiting family and having some fun! Once I get through the photos, I promise to share a few with you! Today is what we call a "buffer day" - a day off at the end of a trip before trying to get our heads around working again in the morning. :)

I made this card with the chandelier stamp from Rubbernecker's Opera Set and I love how this handmade background paper came out! I stamped the chandelier in both pink and black on crisp, white cardstock and then added Stickles for a bit of shimmer. I tied a big, black, satin ribbon around that panel, layered it on some damask patterned paper, and attached it all to a black card base.

I think this card would be perfect to welcome a new baby girl, or congratulate any woman (or pink lover) in your life! :)

Don't forget about "Tuesdays With the Team" over on the Rubbernecker blog - there is a lot of fun inspiration today and every day of the week!

Supplies: Stamps - Opera Set (RN), DP/Congrats Banner - Chic Baby Girl Collection (Teresa Collins), Cardstock - Whisper White, Basic Black (SU!), Ink - Pretty in Pink, Basic Black (SU!), Stickles, Ribbon (Kate's Paperie)


Saturday, August 27, 2011

Good Luck

Happy Saturday, friends, and welcome to another fantastic challenge at Waltzingmouse Sketch!! This week we have a great tag sketch by Anya as our inspiration - I've been in love with tags lately and had so much fun with this sketch! I used a large shipping tag as my base (approx 3x7") and created my tag which was inspired by the end of summer! I think I'm getting a bit nostalgic for its passing already! :)

The base paper is a pretty firework pattern which inspired three nautical "flags" from the Bitty Banners set which I stamped in red, yellow, and navy and added a sentiment to the center of th navy one. Bon Voyage would have been better but "Good Luck" is a pretty great substitute, right? I finished the tag with some "airmail" twine, two mini clothespins, and some pretty navy ribbon.

Thanks for visiting and I can't wait to see what you cook up for this one!

Supplies: Stamps - Bitty Banners, Fancy Phrases (WMS), Tag (Uline), Ink - YoYo Yellow, Riding Hood Red, Night of Navy (SU!), Ribbon (my stash), Clothespins (The Kraft Outlet), Airmail Twine (Divine Twine)


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Beautiful Wishes

Today I have a tag to share that I made with the lovely daisies stamp from Rubbernecker Stamps! I stamped the flowers onto white cardstock and then colored a bit with my Copic Markers. I adore daisies and am particularly fond of the African Daisies or blue-eyed daisies and tried to replicate those here. I trimmed the flowers and adhered them to the tag using foam squares for dimension and stamped the "beautiful wishes" sentiment. I finished the tag with a layer of crochet trim, some shabby purple ribbon to match the flower centers, and a vintage rhinestone button.

Supplies: Stamps - Daisies, Beautiful Wishes (RN), Tag (Tim Holtz), Crochet Trim (my stash), vintage button, Ribbon (Memriemare), Copic Markers, Ink - Basic Black, Garden Green (SU!)

Monday, August 22, 2011

Scarecrow

Just a quick post today to share this card that I made for this week's Kraft Journal "Movies, Songs, or Books" challenge! As you can see, my card was inspired by one of my favorite movies, The Wizard of Oz!

There are so many fun papers out there these days, and one of my favorite companies is Graphic 45 and these Oz-themed papers sure don't disappoint! I started the card with a light kraft base and layered patterned paper over it. I fussy cut Scarecrow from one of the patterned papers and popped him up for some dimension, adding a little clothespin to one of his shoulders to help prop him up. I finished the card with some movie reel "ribbon" and some raffia which was inspired by the straw that fills Scarecrow. I'm really happy with how this card came out!

I hope you can join us this week for this fun challenge!

Supplies: Cardstock, Movie Reel Ribbon, Clothespin (TKO), DP/Chipboard - The Magic of Oz Collection (G45), Raffia (my stash)


Saturday, August 20, 2011

Round Up the Posse

Today I have a fun card to share with you that is my reveal for this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge based on this amazing sketch from Sarah -
I love this sketch and had this card immediately pop into mind when I was thinking about what to make. I've had this replica travel poster paper (cut from an old calendar) on my desk for a while waiting for the right time and this week is it!

I stamped the kraft base with the woodgrain stamp from the Way out West set and then inked the edges for a whitewashed look. I stamped the cacti from the same set, fussy cut them, and added them to the card. I stamped a little ticket with the "posse" sentiment from Back in the Saddle, adhered it to the card over a few pieces of rope twine, and finished the card with a pretty gold star.

I can't wait to see what you make with the sketches this week! Have fun and link up by Friday for a chance to be chosen Top Mouse and/or to win your very own WMS set!

Supplies: Stamps - Way out West, Back in the Saddle (WMS), Cardstock - Crumb Cake (SU!), poster image (my stash), Glitter Star (Memriemare), Ink - Very Vanilla (Craft), Chocolate Chip, Garden Green (SU!), Ticket Die (PTI), Rope Twine (SU!)


Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Thinking of You

Today I've got a fun card to share with you that I made with the fabulous trio of pocket watch stamps from Rubbernecker Stamps! I love these stamps and pocket watches are a hot trend right now!

I stamped a cream panel with various sizes of watches in three different colors (including my fabby new "Pool Party" from Stampin' Up! I adore that color!!) I layered that panel on a piece of patterned paper and then stamped and cut out the largest watch image from another piece of coordinating paper. I stamped a small tag with the "thinking of you" sentiment and tied it around the top of the watch stem. I popped the image off of the card using foam tape for some dimension.

Thanks for visiting - I hope you enjoyed this! I'm really happy with how this project came out!

Supplies: Stamps - Watch Set 2, Thinking of You (RN), DP - Ladies and Gents Collection (Webster's Pages), Cardstock - Kraft (The Kraft Outlet), Select Cream (PTI), Ink - Pool Party, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Tag (The Kraft Outlet), Twine (PTI)

Monday, August 15, 2011

World's Greatest Dad

Hello friends! Today I've got a fun card to share with you as part of The Kraft Journal's "anything goes" challenge featuring stamps from Tradefish Designs!

I used the Happy Father's Day set to create this card which would be perfect for dad any day of the year! I adhered a vintage paper bingo card to the kraft base using some fun polka dot paper tape from The Kraft Outlet. I then stamped images from the set, cut them out, colored them with my Copic Markers, and popped them off the card using foam squares. I finished the card with the "world's greatest dad" sentiment.

Have fun this week doing whatever you want and link up by Sunday. Don't forget to use a kraft base or products from The Kraft Outlet for a chance to win some great prizes!

Supplies: Stamps - Happy Father's Day (Tradefish), Vintage Bingo Card (PaperSource), Paper Tape (TKO), Cardstock - kraft (TKO), Select Cream (PTI), Ink - Basic Black (SU!), Foam Squares, Copic Markers


Saturday, August 13, 2011

Christmas Greetings


Hi friends! While I'm getting nostalgic for summer as I feel it draw to a close, I'm getting excited about the upcoming holidays! There is nothing more fun than crafting Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas cards in my book! Today I have a holiday take on the latest sketch challenge over at Waltzingmouse!
I cut and stamped the topper and layered it above another gorgeous patterned paper from the Jovial collection. I then stamped two amazing ornaments from the Vintage Ornaments set, one in silver and one in gold, fussy cut them (before I remembered I had the dies, lol!), and added some gold glitter for a festive touch. I hung each from pretty silver twine and added a little bow for a finishing touch.

I sure hope you play along with us this week! Don't forget to use at least one image from Waltzingmouse (there are freebies in the store if you don't have any stamps yet...) and you can be chosen Top Mouse and/or win a set of your very own!

Supplies: Stamps - Vintage Ornaments, Compliments of the Season (WMS), DP - Jovial Collection (Basic Gray), Twine - Crafta, Ink - Basic Black (SU!), Silver, Gold (Encore), Scallop Punch (EK Success), Glitter Glue (Crayola)


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Budget Fashions

Hi friends! Today I've got a quick post to share a tag I made that was selected to be published in this month's issue of Cards Magazine! It has been so long since I made this tag and I'm actually re-inspired by my layout, lol!

I layered a piece of patterned paper under an embellishment card on top of a large shipping tag, rounding the corners and distressing the edges on both. I stamped a happy birthday sentiment at the bottom and finished the card with some shabby ribbon and a vintage button tied with twine.

Thanks for visiting!

Supplies: DP/Wild Card - Modern Homemaker Collection (October Afternoon), Ribbon (Memriemare), Vintage Button, Twine (PTI), Ink - Basic Black (SU!), Tea Dye Duo (PTI), Corner Chomper

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Go Confidently

Hello, friends! Today is Rubbernecker Tuesday here on my blog and there's a great "Tuesdays with the Team" feature over on the Rubbernecker blog! Head over to see some great inspiration!

I made this card stamping the wonderful "go confidently" sentiment onto a rectangle die cut that I sponged with a bit of ink to make it stand out better over the light background paper (a simple trick when you don't want a lot of layers.) I finished the card with some beautiful lace and some coral shabby ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps - Go Confidently (RN), DP - Trend Setter Collection (Webster's Pages), Cardstock - Old Olive, Very Vanilla (SU!), Ink - Basic Black (SU!), Tea Dye Duo (PTI), Dies - Wonky Rectangles (Spellbinders), Lace (my stash), Ribbon (Memriemare), Vintage Button

Monday, August 8, 2011

Soar

Happy Monday! Today I have a fun card to share with you that I made as part of the new challenge over at The Kraft Journal! This week's theme is "carnivals, parades, or parties" and I made this fun carnival card! I am also playing along with this week's Lawnscaping challenge which is to use the distressing technique.

I started off with a kraft card base and added coordinating patterned papers from the "Le Cirque" line from Graphic 45, cutting the striped paper to resemble a circus tent. I stamped and colored a ferris wheel image and inked up the edges of all papers for a vintage look. and finished the card with some baker's twine, a glitter star and some great Tim Holtz tickets!

I hope you get a chance to play along with us this week - it is such a fun theme and we're running out of time to celebrate the pastimes of summer! Link up by Sunday for a chance to win some great prizes!

Supplies: Stamps - Admit One (Lawn Fawn), DP - Le Cirque Collection (G45), Cardstock - Kraft (TKO), Select Cream (PTI), Baker's Twine (TKO), Tim Holtz Tickets (TKO), Glitter Stars (Memriemare), Copic Markers, Ink - Basic Black (SU!), Tea Dye Duo (PTI), Edge Punch (EK Success)

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Happy Birthday

Happy Saturday! Today I've got a card that I made for this week's sketch over at Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge! This amazing sketch was drawn up by our very own Kelly and I'll have to admit, it had me stumped (and still does!) :) I can't wait to see what you create with it!I went for a birthday theme using bright colors and some fantastic patterned papers. I cut out a label #4 die cut and then stamped it using a sentiment from Say it Loud. I edged the die cut with some glitter glue for some extra punch. I finished the card with a coordinating bow.

Link up by next Friday for a chance to be Top Mouse and don't forget, one random participant will be the lucky winner of their very own WMS stamp set! Have fun!

Supplies: Stamps - Say it Loud (WMS), DP/Embellishment - Confetti Collection (American Crafts), Cardstock - YoYo Yellow, Whisper White (SU!), Ink - Basic Black (SU!), Glitter Glue (Martha Stewart), Labels 4 Dies (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug, Foam Squares

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

French Knots

Hello friends! Today is tutorial day over on The Kraft Journal and I'm sharing a quick tutorial on how to make French knots! I've always loved the look of these on both fabric and paper crafts and when I realized how easy they were to make, I've loved incorporating them into my projects.

The first step is to thread an embroidery needle with as many strands of embroidery floss as you like. I typically use 3 or 4 but sometimes it is whatever I can see to separate. :) Thread the needle through your paper at whatever spot you'd like. I typically use these knots as little buds but they'd be great in a bunch as flower centers or snowflakes, little apples, whatever you'd like them to be!
Once you've pulled the thread through the paper, wrap the thread around the needle about 3 times. As with the number of strands you choose, the number of times you wrap the thread will end up being the size of your knots. Once you've wrapped the needle, stick it back into the cardstock but don't pull through yet.
Slide the wrapped thread to the bottom of the needle and hold tightly while you push the needle through the paper.

Pull tightly and you have your knot! Here's a photo of a card I made for the Kraft Journal Walk in My Garden challenge this week.


I encourage you to give it a try or have some fun with something else you haven't tried before. Sometimes you'll be amazed that it really isn't as hard as it seems. :)


Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Princess

Hello friends! Today I've got a fun card to share with you that I made using a great chandelier stamp from Rubbernecker Stamps! Isn't it funny where we get our inspiration sometimes? I knew I wasnted to make a card using the Opera Set and while I was straightening up some of my craft supplies, I found this paper kit from Teresa Collins and this chic baby card was born (please forgive the pun...) :)

I stamped the chandelier with clear embossing ink and used some glittery pink embossing powder to finish it off. I layered the wonky label over another piece of the gorgeous patterned papers and finished it with a "Princess" label from the kit.

If you haven't been over to the Rubbernecker blog lately, head over! There are new posts every day of the week with fantastic inspiration! Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps - Opera Set (RN), DP - Chic Baby Girl Collection (Teresa Collins), Cardstock - Whisper White, Basic Black (SU!), Ink - Big & Bossy, Embossing Powder - Zing (American Crafts), Dies - Wonky Rectangles (Spellbinders)

Monday, August 1, 2011

Walk in My Garden

Hello friends and welcome to challenge day at The Kraft Journal! This week, the theme is "walk in my garden" and any project is welcome if it uses projects from The Kraft Outlet or kraft in some way. I encourage you to play along! I love the botanical feel of this card and think it is a great one to enter in the Moxie Fab World Fanatical About Botanical challenge, too!

For my project, I stamped a little scene onto a kraft label with some Waltzingmouse Stamps and added some French knots to give it some pop (check back here on Wednesday for a tutorial!) I layered some patterned paper with some paper tape and finished the card with some Tim Holtz botanical butterfly stickers.

Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to see what you create this week!

Supplies: Stamps - Teeny Trees, Vintage Labels 10 (WMS), Cardstock - Kraft (TKO), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Ink - Garden Green, Whisper White (craft), Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red (SU!), Jenni Bowlin Paper Tape (TKO), Tim Holtz Salvage Stickers (TKO), Embroidery Floss (Michael's)

 
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