HYDRANGEAS

Most the time when creating cards, you learn something new.

With my hydrangea card I learn a few new steps.

First, using puff paint.  Ripping watercolor paper and tying a know instead of making a bow.

With this card, I used the embossed stamp process, and then hand painted with acrylic paint and water.  I then use the yellow puff paint in the center of each pedal group.  It adds a nice texture.  However, it has to be the final touch of the card, since it takes over night to 24 hours to dry!

I'm not a huge fan of ripping paper.  I can be a bit anal retentive, and messy edges runs against my grain.  But I do have to admit it does make a nice effect on the card.

I also like the tied ribbon instead of a bow.  A bow can be a bit too girly, taking a card over the top.  Yet the tied ribbon has a more subtle, maybe even more mature touch.

Sadly I gave both of these cards as a sympathy card. 

BLOOMIN' CHRISTMAS TREE

I love the excitement I get over creating a new card.  I can hardly contain myself.

I get pen and paper out and start writing my shopping list of goodies I need and can't wait to find my way to Scrapbook Island.  Let the shopping begin!!!

I wish I could bottle that kind of excitement energy.  Would be great at 7pm when I get home from work at night.

I found this card in one of my card books, and I know instantly "I can do that!"

I've never been one for traditional Christmas red and green.  Nowadays, the colors seem to be muted, which just seem drabby to me. It doesn't feel festive.  But to see this card in pastel lit my fire!!!

I've got the two different sized flower punches, and the flower hole punch.

I had the glitter paper, and the pink and green paper was simple enough.

I found matching green and pink brads, and of course white ribbon is simple enough to find.

I've always been a big fan of getting ribbon at Michaels, especially the store close to home.  It's a fairly new store and larger than most, so it's a great resource.  Recently I've discovered a good selection of ribbons at  Jo-Ann's.

The only hard part, not that it was hard, was creating a Christmas tree template, and base template.

Now that says, Have a Merry Festive Christmas!!!

JUST BEACHY

After making 12 three image shell cards, I simply hadn't had enough.

However, this time, I made the image a bit more simple.  One image instead of 3 per card.

A consolidation of  concepts of the "Walking on the Beach" card and the layout of some prior cards I made.

Just a little more beachy fun!

I need to make some more of these cards.  I just love them!

RELAXING WALK ON THE BEACH

So I go over board with stamps again.  I purchased a series of shell stamps.

I love anything ocean or sea related.  I'd love to spend my day on a beach listening to the ocean, walking through wet sand hunting for shells.  When I saw these stamps I had no self control.  I had to have them.

I saw an inspiration card of 3 images on one palette.  Running with that concept I tried my hand at it.

I found beautiful shell paper.  One print was dark with dense rich colored clusters of shell.  The other design has light beachy colors with a less-dense layout.

With the idea of walking on the beach, I know I need to have foot prints on the beach!  So I  found a small footy foot punch!  Viola!!!

It's now time to make my card.  I stamp and embossed  the images, a process I've grown to love.

Once dried, I begin water painting the images using acrylic paints and water.  The details were so tiny, taking the smallest of dot to add color,  I was caught off guard on how long it would take to paint.  The fact that I'm making 12 cards, I realize I've taken on a huge project.

But I finally do finish painting.  It took a whole weekend of spare time.  Once the paint was dry, I framed each image in coordinating card stock.

I fold the card.  I cut the first layer of paper, being the shell print.  I add velum, cut a tad smaller than the design print.  I do this so the true color of the print can be seen, yet the velum mutes the majority of the print for effect.  I then adhere to the design paper with sanded brads.

I add the individual images, and glue the footy foot punches.

Final steps involve gluing the whole vignette to the card and top with a fine satin ribbon with a beachy/sea styled charm.

As I always try to bring a little surprise within the greeting card, I placed more foot prints inside, as if the stroll continued inside the card.

A massive project, but I think a definitive proud moment once done!

THIS GIFT IS FOR YOU

Two years ago I'm at Beverly's,www.beverlys.com , and I see the cutest sheer Christmas flocked paper.  Actually two designs. 

I can't help myself and I buy a few sheets of each.

I actually hate when I do this.  I buy supplies I have no plans for using, and then inspiration never hits.  I also do this with printed ribbons.  Design is so cute on the ribbon, and then the ribbon clashes with everything I want to make.

So, for two years the beautiful paper sits.  What a waist.  What's to point of having pretty supplies if all they do is live in a dark box, and no one can enjoy it.

Then one day last Christmas season, while looking at a Christmas advertisement that involved simply wrapped gift boxes, inspiration appears!  Make a card that looks like a gift box with lid!!!

I can finally used the sheer red flocked paper, and sheer white flocked paper.  The white flocked paper I use to overlay a red card and a blue card. 

Worked nice, since I could actually use some of my printed ribbons.  How exciting is that!

What a simple design as well.  A basic folded card with an extended lid added to the folded edge.

I overlay the card first with the flocked paper.  Then I cut the lid piece of card out of the same color stock paper, and overlay as well. Then adhere to the card.

Then I add the ribbon.  With an x-acto knife, I slice a cut in the fold seam the exact width of the ribbon.  Pull the ribbon through.  I cut both ends of the ribbon on a slant, and over lap the ribbon on the inside of the card.  Having a slant edge actually makes over lapping easier and cleaner.  It makes a nice finished edge.

I create a bow for the top of the card, and the project is done. 

I found the wired edge ribbons work better.  The bow has more body and doesn't appear so limp and lifeless. 

Over all I think it was a good idea.  Better yet, it was a fast and simple card.  It can be used for birthdays, weddings, and anniversaries.

BUNDLE OF BOUQUETS

Back at my punching addiction, I purchased more punches for my garden collection.  A dragonfly punch and leaf punch.

Also for Christmas, my sweety bought me a cutting tool kit.  It can cut up to 12 x 12 page, with 3 different die cutters.  Wave, scallop and zigzag.

In this card, I used mostly scraps.  I had to buy green paper for making stems and card stock for the actual card.  But I basically had enough scraps to do all the punching.

And as with so many projects, the punching begins.  Flowers, leaves, butterfly and dragonfly.

I use my lattice punch for the face of the card.  I begin the punching at the line of the fold.  Thought it would be tricky, but wasn't a problem. 

I'm also excited to use my new cutting tool.  I cut a color inspiration piece for the top of the card, using my scallop tool.

Once I have the color inspiration piece, I begin punching the coordinating flowers.

I think the card speaks for itself in terms of all the punch work and placement.

I placed the 3D flower on the finish line of the lattice punch.  I thought I covered the edge cleverly.

I had to remember, place the ribbon on the card first, and glue the stems on top of the ribbon.  Makes life much easier then trying to lace the ribbon through after the fact!

So a light begins to shine!  If I can layer the 3D flowers with a floral center piece/dot to cover the center hole I can also layer other flowers with a floral center piece/dot.

Sometimes it take awhile for an idea to bake!

I have punches, and I'm not afraid to use them!

It must be falling flowers!

With a $100 gift certificate from mum and dad from Christmas, I went hog wild purchasing punches from Michaels. http://www.michaels.com .  With the 40% discount per one item coupon I get every week, either from a prior store visit, or via their weekly ad, once a week I went to Michaels and purchase one punch.  After a few weeks I eventually had a garden of punches.  Starting at at least $10 a punch, a 40% savings was significant.

In a prior posting I indicated I have a sickness.  I am addicted to stamps.  I think I'm addicted to punches too. 

I got a 3D floral punch, other floral punches, a butterfly punch, an oak leaf punch and a beautiful thick garden lattice punch.

I begin punching away!

For this card, after punching the lattice bottom, I used ribbon to hide the top edge of the punch.  I then begin gluing away.  The ribbons were fun.  They have a nice suede texture, so it adds a nice touch to the card.

My concept was to have small flowers cascading from the upper left top of the card, expanding to larger flowers, all the way to the lower right side of the card.  And a lone butterfly flying away.  Looks like it worked!

In reflection, it's funny how I had the idea to make the butterfly 3D and not flat.  I also had the 3D punch giving the flower dimension. But I never had the idea to make the flat flower punches 3D in effect.  That concept never struck me until later.    

Additionally, the 3D floral punch has a hole in the middle.  I had the idea to use the itty bitty floral punch to cover the hole in the 3D flower, yet again, the concept to layer the punches didn't occur to me until later.

ONE LATOUT DIFFERENT OUTCOMES

Using the same design layout I used with my shoe card, I created another card on the fly as a birthday card.

Reviewing my stock on hand, I created this cute purple flower card.  In this case, I took advantage of using my floral border punch.  With a floral back drop, and floral center piece, makes sense to have a floral border!

I have to keep this one in mind for future reference.  It's great for the last minute birthday card.  Simple, fast, and I'm proud to say it's homemade.

This was one of the few times I used pre-made flowers.  

GIRLY GIRL CARDS

So I find I have an addiction.  Rubber stamps.  I see these beautiful stamp images and inspiration over takes me.  I purchased a beautiful dress stamp, shoe stamp and purse stamp online.  This gives birth to my "Girly Girl" series.

I had just purchased a new Martha Stewart punch set, which creates a looped frame.  One punch for the straight edges and the other punch for the corners.

After a night of practicing, a big lesson learned:  Use the back side of the stamp to decide and gage the length of the edges.  Makes matching the corners much easier.  However, making the four edges meet perfectly to the corner punch takes practice.  Especially when you wish the frame to be large enough for the image inside yet small enough for the card design outside the frame.

Anyway, I was out window shopping and found a beautiful printed wrapping paper.  I then found the textured orange paper to match.

So, putting all the tools together I created the Girly Girl orange dress card.

I made a blue dress too, using the same designed printed wrapping paper, matched with a textured light blue paper.

The embossed stamped dress is hand painted and enhanced with a clear gem. above the bodice.  The image is centered on a black loop punched frame.  The two papers are cut to fit the card, and the seam is concealed with an orange ribbon.

I think this card speaks to our girly side.  It just sweet and innocent.

 

Still using the loop frame punches I created the Girly Shoe card.  During the same window shopping trip, I found the soft peach and beige stripped wrapping paper.

I had the hardest time finding a perfect match of peach card stock.  To this day, I find it hard to believe it can be so difficult to match specific colors.  Sometimes it can appear to be the easiest of colors to match, but you learn quickly, that which seems to be the easiest can be the hardest thing to do.

Side bar:  I purchase almost all my paper products from Scrapbook Island, (visit them in Facebook).  They have the biggest selection in solid and designed paper.  

So I used a trick of using clear vellum.  I cut the vellum a quarter inch shorter than the stripped paper.  It mutes the stripped paper, thus a perfect match is no longer an issue.

I matched the beige frame to the beige stripped.  The embossed stamp is hand painted in peach.  An offset  peach block panel adds color interest, and the card is finished with four square brads appearing to hold the vellum in place, and a pretty sheer peach bow.

For any woman who loves to shop for shoes, and like pretty girly shoes, a Girly Shoe card can hit the spot!

 

To round out the Girly Girl cards, there is the Purse card.

It's obvious I want to keep up my frame making skills, thus using the loop frame punch yet again.

Now, when I purchased the stamps online, I really didn't fully understand just how big the stamps are in real life.  You see 4" X 4" in black and white, and it doesn't seem that big.  You look at a ruler, and still it doesn't seem to be that big.  But when your card is only 5 1/2" wide, a 4" stamp is a monster.  Especially when you want to frame the image.  But I was able to make it work.

I hand paint the embossed stamp in a pale yellow.  In the cross hatch of the quilted purse I used yellow puff paint to add texture and interest.  

My only regret is, I wish I had used real boa fluff over the designed boa fluff.  I could have found an embellishment clasp as well.

I used a simple soft yellow polka dot ribbon to add more interest to the card.

It still seemed blah to me, so I added a little bling by adding three gems, offset, on either side of the ribbon.  I used a mix of clear and yellow gems.

In the end, the purse came out nice, but it's not my finest work.  The next time I use the stamp, I think I'll use the real boa fluff, and make the card smaller.  More square than rectangle.  Not so sure on the ribbon, and 86 the gems.  There'll be no need for the gems if I use the embellishment clasp.

Waterfall of Flowers

Again I found inspiration in the gallery of Scrapbook.com.


The original inspiration card had flowers made of fabric.  With my "garden" of stamps, I decided I would hand punch, layer and fluff my punched flowers to be all 3D.  So long to flat images!!!

I used two different backgrounds. One background is on a white-on-white striped card stock. The other is a textured floral embossed card stock. 

There are three colors pallets in the series: Pink, Blue or Purple. 

Each card features multiple 3D flowers, hand punched, arranged individually or in groups, held together with coordinating center brads or jewels, with a sprinkling of sparkling jewels.

Of course you cannot have a floral arrangement without a passing butterfly. Additionally, each card has a cut out leaf-laced window with it's own centered 3D flower. Inside the card, you have a surprise of a few more flat embellishments. For the embedded cards, a "greeting" insert has been added for signing ease.