Sympathy - Bird and Branch

Made this card for a friend Gail who lost her husband recently.  The DSP is Stampin Up Almost Amethyst.  I cut it to leave a small border then cut it at the 1.75" mark and turned to smaller piece over.  I adhered these and then placed a piece of white gross grain ribbon across the join. I created the bird with the SU Bird Builder punch.  White for body, a piece of teh DSP for the wing and the bring is Certainly Celery. Punched the Modern Label in same color and color printed a greeting for the Word Window.

Card Club - Jan - Baby Bird

The girls in card club requested a baby card.  I finally broke down and drew my own bird image.  This way I could color it as I wanted.  I made some blue, pink, yellow, and purple which will allow the girls to choose the color based on the babies expected in their family circles.  The bird and branch is color printed with a matching border.  It was trimmed to leave a border of card. I added a strip of card stock about .75 tall and the width of the border.  I flagged then right hand end then adhered below the bird.  I designed the greeting as well, so I had the the same ability to change the color as needed.  I punched it with the large oval punch.  It is mounted over the card strip with 3D foam tape.

Card Club - Jan - Butterfly HB

This card would make a great card for a female.  This is a versatile design because changing the card allows for a quick variety.

I color printed the greeting layer to match the card color.  I then trimmed this layer to leave a small border.  I then ran the layer through the Big Shot with the Sizzix Winged Beauties butterfly die.  I added wax paper between the metal die and the card stock which made removing the diecut from the die very easy.  Good Idea!!!  The greeting layer was then glued to the card front.  I placed adhesive only on the body of the butterfly and placed it back into the hole in the greeting layer.  Then the wings can be brought forward gently.  Clean and simple card.

Card Club - Jan - Masculine HB

This card was designed around a photo from last year's calendar. I chose a blue card onto which I printed my plank board background in black. I cut the 4" photo with the Stampin Up Deco Label Framelits.  I then cut a black one of the same size.  I cut the black one in half and glued the halves to the back of the photo die cut offset on the left and right hand side. I adhered this to the top of the card.  I designed a circle greeting in blue and black.  I punched it with a 1" circle punch.  It was mounted on a black ribbon slider cut with a Cuttlebug die.  I used white seam binding, strung the ribbon slider onto it and placed near the bottom of the card.  I placed a slot in the fold, pulled the end through and taped it to the inside of the card. I wrapped the right hand end to the inside of the cad and taped it down.

Card Club - Jan - Heart Doily

This is my nod to Valentine's Day.  I colored the white paper doilies with scarlet and bronze liquid color.  You can check the process in this post.

I stamped dots on the hearts with a VersaFine Onyx ink pad to repeat the dots in the background. I printed the polka dot background I designed onto a 4.25 x 11 inch card.  Once folded, I placed adhesive on the solid center of the heart and placed it near the fold at the top of the card.  I used a piece of thread which was dyed that the same time as the heart and added a piece of black thread.  These were wrapped around the card front and knotted once.  The metal heart charm was then added and then the another knot was made. The ends were trimmed.

Card Set - Card Club Thank You

I made a set of small note cards as a thank you to the ladies who signed up for Card Club.  I used Stampin Up digitals.  I tried to match the card colors with the envelopes I had on hand.

This card is from the Eventful Year collection.  I placed the banner and used the Thank You from the same collection in Poppy Parade.







This card is a flower stamp from the Fresh Vintage set.  The color is Lucky Limeade with a black outline.  I added a thin black border.

This birthday card is done with Pretty Petites in Groovy Guava and Chocolate Chip.


The star is from Sprinkled Expressions in Baja Breeze.

On this card I used Feeling Sentimental in black on white card with pink envelopes.  I used the phone booth and the ferris wheel

This is a set of cards which adds to the recipients supply on hand. They can quickly write up a quick note or add to a gift when needed.

Card Club - My Thank You

This is my thank you card to the ladies who signed up for Card Club this session.
I used flat panel card and envelopes sets. The envelopes were not A2 sized so I had to cut down the white card before I planned the other pieces. The colored flat panel was then cut down to leave a small border.  I used my Big Shot with the Memory Box Thanks greeting die and cut the hole.  I punched the ribbon border with a Fiskars punch being careful to have an odd number of slots on right and left hand sides.  I ran chose white seam binding to match the card and ran it through he slots and knotted it on the front. Trimmed the ends. This layer was then adhered to the white card front.  I chose not to glue the hole pieces on the a and k.

Cards - Photos ReUsed

I made another couple of cards with reused 4x4 photos from last year's calendar.  That's how I designed my calendars.
I cut the photo down to 3.75 square and adhered it to the top of the card.  I added faux stitching all the way around the photo with a black marker.  I choose turquoise card to work with the blue in the patina of the bell.









I glued a Cricut diecut leftover from this project below the photo.  I used my quick dry paper adhesive which has a very pointed end on the bottle which was helpful with the small pieces here.  I choose a warm green to work with the various greens in the foliage.  I really like this zebra pic.

Chinese Photo Collage

I took these photos on a recent visit to the Conservatory. The feature pavilion had a Chinese theme.  I really liked the tree on the bottom of the collage. There were terrific stone sculptures of lions, turtles and dragons.  The water feature is terrific.  There was a large bronze gong but no hammer to ring it.  Okay that was likely a good idea.  A terrific red Chinese lantern.

HPC - Butterfly Trio

I made this card for the Home Page Card Challenge.  We were asked to use one of our new crafting supplies.  The butterfly is a new thin die for me. It's the Sizzix Winged Beauties thin dies.  I used the 2nd in size.  I had hoped to make the card landscape but 3 across does not fit so I switched the orientation to portrait.  I cut the butterflies from sparkly decorative paper. I applied adhesive just to the centre of the die. I layered them onto a banner of white and added thin borders of black card stock on either side.  I offset this accent to the left a bit.  I stamped some small flowers on the right hand side with black Onyx Versafine.  I added a black die cut banner from the Stampin Up Itty Bitty Banners.

Cards - Shrink Plastic Flowers

Here are the cards I made with my shrink plastic flowers. Check this post for details on how to make the flowers.

I found yellow buttons to put in the centre of the flowers which I will string into the holes I made in the shrink plastic flowers.  I made a background starting with a white quarter sheet which I sponged with Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Tattered Rose (light) and Victorian Velvet (darker). I stamped the SU Background Builder (script) stamp with Paprika ink in several directions. I glued this layer to a warm rosy ginger card leaving a small border. I cut the stem and leaves by hand and glued them to the card front.  I tacked the flower in place, used a push pin to make the holes through the card front using the holes in the flower.  I strung yellow thread through the button, the flower and the card front and tied in a knot on the front.



For the card on the right I used  Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Antique Linen (light) and Crushed Olive (darker). I stamped the SU Background Builder (script) stamp with Paprika ink in several directions.

These cards likely will not go through the mail without extra postage.

How To: Mixed Media - Shrink Plastic Flowers

I have decided to stretch myself this year and try more mixed media techniques.  Today, I worked with shrink plastic and alcohol inks.  I used Ruff 'N Ready shrink plastic.  I used a collection of Tim Holtz® Adirondack® Alcohol Inks to color the ruff side. I placed a couple drops of each purple, red, orange, green, and yellow then used rubbing alcohol to dilute the colors as I applied them to the shrink plastic.  It dries really fast and you want it quite light because it will concentrate the color when it shrinks.  Once dry, I used the Sizzix Bigz Flower #2 to cut a large poinsettia flower that was over 4" in diameter. I used a 1/8" long reach hole punch in the centre of the die cut flowers.  I then placed them on a pizza pan covered with parchment paper in a 275F oven and waited.  Soon they started to curl and shrink. After a couple of minutes they flattened right out. The final flowers are half the size of the originals at 2" across. Check in a bit to see the cards I made with these flowers.

Blog Giveaway - Mixed Media Question

I'm wanting to expand my use of Mixed Media Techniques in my card making.  I started with Shrink Plastic and Alcohol Inks.  Check this post for how to.

Please answer this question: 

What mixed media techniques will you use or try this year?

I will pick 2 people randomly from those who leave a comment with a profile on this post. Anonymous comments will not be considered.  I will make the selections on February 20th, 2015.
I have the calendars below to give away.

I'm looking forward to reading what you are working on.

I did a bit of research on-line.

Alcohol ink on hard surfaces        Beeswax Collages                    Shrink Plastic accents             Packing Tape Transfers                Air Drying Clay                        Start an Art Journal
Mono Printing                              Sewing Machine Stitching        Using Fabric                                 Paste in a Stencil

Here are some sites which provide information on Mixed Media Techniques if you need some inspiration.
https://techniqueszone.wordpress.com/site-menu/mixed-media-techniques/
http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/mixed-media-collage/
http://mycreativescrapbook.blogspot.ca/2013/02/mixed-media-techniques-by-yuko-tanaka.html
http://artfulparent.com/2014/11/create-mixed-media-flowers.html
http://lindapetersondesigns.blogspot.ca/2013/07/8-of-best-of-mixed-media-monday-video.html

Exchange Cards - Reused Photo

I made these 2 cards for my card exchange.  I cut down photos from my photo calendar from last year to 3.75" square.  I found card stock that worked with the pink in the flowers.  Adhered that to the card front.  I glued a flourish which came from the edges I had cut for the gift calendar I made as a Christmas gift.

I then added a stitched border by hand with a find black felt tip marker.

This makes a smart looking single layer card and allows me to re use the photos from the calendar which I really wanted to do.

I'm happy with these and I hope the girls like them too!

R2G Card Kits - Valentine - Red Heart Punch

Here's the last card design in the set of card kits. I started with Crate Paper Love Notes DSP.  I chose the heart side and cut the paper to 2" x 5". I designed the Valentine greeting and color printed it.  It was cut to 3" x 5.25".  I adhered the heart DSP just above the greeting. This layer was adhered to the centre of the warm blue card front. I added a Stampin Up Sweeheart punchie in red. The punchie is raised with 3D foam tape. It still needed something and a bit of red polka dot washi tape was just the ticket.  I placed a piece on the top right hand and bottom left hand corners.

R2G Card Kits - Valentine - Antique Map Heart

I started with the antique map heart.  I used my Cricut with the Folk Art Festival cartridge to cut the solid heart at 3". with a 4" sheet on portrait I was able to cut 4 per 12 inches. I created a gate fold card from kraft card stock.  I scored from each end at 2 1/8".  When I folded the card I made sure I had a bit of a space left in the middle.  The antique map designer card stock is by Gartner - Bon Voyage - Map. It is double sided with solid red on the back.  I cut a .75 x 5.5" strip and adhered it to the back side of the left hand flap leaving at half showing which creates this thin red line when the right hand flap is in place.  I placed adhesive on only one half of the heart and adhered it to the left hand fold. I aligned the centre of the heart over the red line. I think it makes a classy simple card.  The fact that the right hand flap is sandwiched between the red strip and the heart keeps the card closed.  Works well!

Alternative: Turn the heart over and you have a red heart!  It works well on the kraft card.

R2G Card Kit - Valentines - Owl Heart Circle

Do all Valentine's card need to be pink or red?
I don't think so.  I found this blue and green round tag freebie at Poppies at Play.  I sized it to 2" and cut it with one of the smooth circle Spellbinders nestabilities.  Then I cut a heart circle frame with SB - Heart Circles nestabilities which was perfect for the 2" circle.  I added a 2" strip of black card stock layered onto a wider strip of white card stock.  This was placed onto a blue card.  Once the owl greeting was adhered to the green heart circle it was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.  I thought the sentiment was great!

R2G Card Kit - Valentine - Paper Heart Doily

This is the first card design of a large order of Ready 2 Go Valentine card kits I have just finished preparing.  It was an order for 100 card kits. Valentine is not my usual thing so creating these card designs was a bit of a stretch for me.

You will remember these doily hearts from this posting.  I created a polka dot background in black that I printed directly onto the card.  This card is 4.25 x 11 and therefore has the fold at the top of the card.  I wanted to add a bit of black to the heart to help tie it all together. I used a Stampin Up Itty Bitty Background stamp with Versafine Onyx Black. I placed my adhesive on the solid centre of the heart and placed it at the top of card. I dyed the thread at the same time as the hearts so they match perfectly.  I added a black thread as well which I wrapped around the card front and knotted on the front.  I added a metal heart charm before I tied the second knot. I trimmed the thread ends and added my insert.

HB - Windows Frame & Prima Flowers

I made this card for a friend celebrating a birthday today.

I started with a Stampin Up! So Saffron card base.  I cut a piece of striped Really Rust DSP with the Window Frames Collection Framelits.  I then cut a 3" square of copper metallic card stock which I placed behind the die cut aligning the corners.  I adhered these two the card front. I chose the Chocolate Chip marker and ink the birthday stamp in the Sincere Salutations set and stamped it in the bottom right hand corner.  I then used the fine end of the marker to add stitching around the copper square. I then, selected 2 Prima Flowers - a large light yellow and a smaller orange.  I then added a smaller rust and a smaller still handmade paper yellow one.  These were layered onto each other from smallest to largest.  They were placed in the center of the die cut and held in place with a dark brown brad.

Christmas Thank Yous

I used the gift wrap from one of my gifts to make my Thank You cards. I really appreciate those who remembered me this Christmas season in many ways.

I ripped the bold red and white snowflake paper.  I glued it to white card stock.  I then cut it down to 4"x5.25" and glued it to a black card.  I then added a strip of green card stock across the bottom third of the card.   I found this chalkboard background  onto which I added my chalkboard sentiment.  I printed them and trimmed them close.  It is mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Here's another version as I have a hard time making all the cards the same.  Once the gift wrap was glued to a white card, I stamped the Stampin Up Print Pattern background stamp onto the gift wrap in black ink.  I then embossed it in clear powder.  I stamped one line of the pattern onto the white strip.  I rubbed the greeting with my Versamark ink pad and then added clear powder.

Sympathy - Floral District

I made this card for a friend who lost her grandmother just after Christmas.  I used a Stampin Up Groovy Guava card.  I created the layer by cutting one of the DSP from Floral District with the Deco Label Framelit.  I then created the sentiment with the butterfly from the Bliss Stamp set in Baja Breeze and the sentiment in Tango Tangerine. This was cut with a circle framelit. It was glued to the Deco die cut. I wrapped a piece of Baja Breeze seam binding across the middle of the card and tied a knot to the right. The sentiment layer was then mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.

How To: Color Paper Doilies

I created colorful doilies for a Valentine project I'm working on.  I have put together a How To Tutorial.
1. I set up a plastic mat on my counter so I would not stain it.  I have to get gloves so I don't stain my hands cause that will take a few days to disappear.
2. I selected pink and purple as my colors.  I am using dye stamp pad re-inkers.  The colors are Nick Bantock Passion Plum and the hot pink I've owned forever from the Great Canadian Stamp Company.
3. I diluted the ink with water and applied it with a foam brush.
4. I placed the dyed wet doilies onto white computer paper with extra sheets to absorb the moisture and pressed them under heavy books.
5. I'm going to need thread to match so I dyed some heavy crochet cotton at the same time to ensure that the colors match perfectly.  I placed the wet thread on parchment paper and placed that on a cookie sheet and put it into a warm oven - I had turned it off.
7. Several hours later I have perfectly flat and wonderfully colored doilies ready to use.

Keep an eye out here for the project in the weeks to come.

Christmas Card Challenge - Jan - Snowflake Masking Tissue Paper

Here's my card for January's Challenge.
Tissue Paper - I created a tissue paper background. I glued ripped blue tissue paper to white card stock in random pattern in a landscape orientation.  I left some wrinkles as I saw fit.
Masking - I cut a mask which left a large border. I placed it in the center of the blue card. Using a sponge with my Stampin Up Whisper White Craft Ink pad I brushed white ink away from the mask onto the blue card leaving the blue border.  I trimmed the background paper to smaller than the masked area and glued it down. Snowflake - I punched a Martha Stewart snowflake from pearl paper and layered it onto another punched from the same color as the card. I added a small circle of the same as the card to the center of the white snowflake. I mounted these onto the card front with 3D foam tape.  I designed a long banner greeting in the same color as the card.  I trimmed it by hand with scissors. This was mounted with 3D foam tape as well.

2015 Christmas Card Challenge

Here are the challenges I have prepared for making Christmas Cards in 2015.  If you have been following me for a while you will know that I have learned that it maintains sanity to get Christmas cards made each month so that December 1st all I have to do is address them and send them off.  In order to achieve this goal I create guidelines for my card challenge each month.

Each month has a Focus / Technique / Element.  You can choose one or two or all three to help you stretch your creativity.   I hope you will join me in making cards each month.  If you do, please post a comment with a link to your card so all can enjoy it.

                     Focus                 Technique        Element

January         Snowflake          Masking              Tissue Paper

February       Star                     Layering              Ribbon

March           Gingerbread       Stitching              Plaid

April             Peace                  Coloring              Large Greeting

May              Snowman           Paper Piecing      Tag

June              Nativity              Brayering            Glitter

July              Santa/St. Nick    Spattering            Buttons

August          Joy                     Embossing           Chipboard

September    Skates                Die Cutting           Banner

October         Angels               Stamping             Vellum

November     Wreath               Folding                Fiber

December      Love                 Stenciling             Doily

Looking forward to another wonderful year of inspiration and creating.  Let the challenge begin.  I will post my card the first of every month.  This year I'm going to add a running total of the cards I make for this challenge to encourage myself and you.

Happy New Year 2015

Wishing you all a very happy new year and all the best in 2015!  May we find new paper crafts to do, new ways to do what we used to do (die cutting, coloring and much more), and add more dimension to our lives which include healthy exercise and habits.