Black Printing on Backgrounds - Cards

My sister was visiting me for a couple of days over the long weekend.  We tried out printing black images onto alcohol ink backgrounds we had created. 

The alcohol ink background was 4x6 so by aligning the graphic knowing that I needed to trim .75 inches off,  I printed it on the inkjet printer. 

Once trimmed, I adhered it to the purple/blue card front.  This water lily graphic is from CLker.

I added a layered Stampin Up Modern label greeting in coordinating colors adhered with 3D foam tape.

It allows for a reasonably quick card.

For this technique to work well you need backgrounds that are on the subtle side rather than bright and colorful. 

Sometimes in the process of making backgrounds I end up with lighter ones as I am cleaning up.  Of course one can make them lighter if you intend on using this technique. 

This card has a dandelion clip art again from Clker.
Printed, trimmed to 4.00 x 5.25 and adhered to the front of a warm teal green card.

I adhered a Stampin Up Decorative Label greeting with 3D foam tape.

These are off to my Card Exchange buddies.

Christmas Cards - Refurbished Set 3

I used to print greeting cards with a Gocco printer.  This ivory wreath card is my own design that I printed in gold ink on ivory card stock along with the greeting.  I added the ivory organza ribbon onto the wreath. 

To refurbish - I trimmed the card front to leave a small border and mounted that onto a brown card front.




If you want to check out the Gocco printing process I found this video on line.  Turn the sound down on your computer before clicking.

This card features a small nativity clipart image.  It is layered onto a layer of white card stock. I then chose a piece of purple mulberry paper.  It was wet with a paint brush in order to be able to rip it in the shape desired.  I dried the paper with an iron then adhered it to the card front which had the greeting color printed onto it then mounted the other layers.

To refurbish this card I trimmed the card front to leave a small border and mounted it onto a purple card to coordinate with the purple mulberry paper.

 This card features a Christmas tree in a modern design.  It is stamped onto a white layer with a green ink pad.  It was mounted onto a piece of coordinating green bond paper and trimmed with decorative scissors.  It was then mounted to the greeting layer which has a greeting color printed in red.

To refurbish the card I trimmed the card front to leave a small border.  I then mounted it to the front of a coordinating green card.

 This is a card I designed for my work a few years ago.  It features coordinated digital images of the star and the word PEACE. 

To refurbish I trimmed the card front to leave a small white border. Then I layered it onto a red card stock layer then onto a warm green card.

This card features a small store bought card in turquoise with a bright red bird. 

I mounted the small card front onto white pearl card stock leaving a small border. Then onto the front of a black card which picked up the black in the words on the card.

Baby Boy - Customized Frame

I made this frame for my nephew's baby boy who was born recently.  We are having a shower for him today.
I started with a good quality yellow metal frame.  I cut a 20 x 24 inch sheet of Mi-Tentes card stock in navy blue down to match an 11x14 inch mat I had, leaving a tiny border around the center opening.  These 2 layers were adhered together with quick dry adhesive.  The opening is 9.5 x 7.5 inches.
I cut the letters with the Cricut and the Storybook cartridge.  This alphabet is great because it is mono spaced so figuring how large the letters needed to be was very easy.  They were cut at 2.25 inches tall from the same card stock paper as the mat.  I added the the date of birth which was cut at 2.00 inches tall to get more elements into the space.
I added a central decorative element of owls on a limb.  The clipart is from CLKER. I colored the owls navy. I duplicated the image and reversed the one on the left.  I printed it onto vellum then clear embossed it.
I chose a sheet of Stampin Up Daffodil Delight which matched the frame perfectly.  To it, I adhered the letters of his name along the top, the date of birth along the bottom, the owl vellum and the red heart punchie between the large owls.  I adhered the yellow card stock to the mat.  I cleaned the glass and reassembled the frame.  Super happy with the finished product.  Photographing it was the biggest challenge.
I always get a book for new babies and their parents.  Reading is important. 

House Cards

I created these cards for a monthly card exchange group.
I had cut a couple when I made this card so I chose to use the second one here.   The front layer was cut from white cardstock with the Folk Art Festival cartridge and the Cricut.  I cut the shadow from royal blue card stock.  I then layered a piece of red behind the heart and yellow behind the windows.  I created a hill with some green card stock which I just cut free hand.  I punched the sun from yellow using a circle punch and placing only a corner of the piece in the punch.  It needed something and I considered spattering but could not decide on a color so I chose pencil crayons instead.  I added some depth to the green hill and pulled some grass growing from it.  I created subtle clouds in the sky with grey and blue.  Pulled some sun rays from the yellow sun in the corner.  I added a bird in the sky with a black fine tip marker.

For this card I had printed this crooked house clip art which is available for free on several websites. I colored it digitally then printed it. I fussy cut around the edge leaving a narrow white border.  I create a grass layer with some ripped card stock which I glued down and trimmed to the card edge. I punched a sin with a circle punch and adhered it in the top left hand corner.  I created a sidewalk to the front door with a piece of white card stock cut by hand.  I adhered the house over the sidewalk. I pulled out the pencil crayons and added some depth.  Yellow sun rays from the sun, smoke from the chimney in grey, cloud was grey and blue, green grass growing up and a subtle image of a tree on the right hand side with green and brown. The embellished white layer was adhered to a navy card base which matched the house roof.

These cards are headed to their new homes today.

Card Club - Oct - B&W Plaid Masculine

I started with the black and white plaid card stock. I cut this card stock at 4 inches square then I added a piece of black thread placed on the left hand side and taped the ends to the back.  This layer was adhered to the card front.   I was looking for masculine images for guy cards.   I printed some black and white clipart images I found on the web which were printed on white card stock at 3 inches square and trimmed. In the same card stock as the card I cut a layer at a generous 3 1/8 inches­. The image was layered onto this solid square. This layer was adhered over the b&w plaid square with 3D foam tape.  The greeting was color printed in color to match the card and punched with the Stampin Up Word Window.  This was adhered to a Modern Label punchie from the same black & white plaid card stock.  I then punched a black Modern Label which I cut in half crosswise.  This was glued to the back of the plaid one offset to the left and right.  The greeting was then adhered to the card front below the plaid square as shown.

This set had a tree on a green card, a rooster on a red card and a house on a brown card.

Recipe Box Divider Tabs

I'm working on items for our craft sale on November 8th which will raise funds for world missions.

We are having a Kid's Corner where children can shop for their parents.  I am making some of my unused supplies go to a new home.  As participants we are all donating items to the Kid's Corner.

These were purchased several years ago for a 5 year calendar but the concept or the time did not come together.  So, I decided to just make up dividers and fill them with index cards and maybe somebody's Mom or Dad will enjoy it.  I selected card stock which coordinated with the box. I cut pieces of ivory card stock at 3.75 x 6 inches.  I designed the tabs for the Stampin Up Round Tab punch.  I added the word at the center and wanted something to fill the bottom.  After a bit of searching on Ckler I found exactly what I needed.  I decided on 12 dividers. I put names on 10 and left 2 blank. I was able to print 12 tabs on a 4.25 x 11 piece of card stock.  Once printed, I punched them out, folded them in half, applied adhesive and carefully aligned the front one and pressed the back one to meet it.

Christmas Card Challenge - August - Music

The challenge for August is to use music on your card.  That can include carols, hymns, music notes, carolers, drummer boy and much more.  It can be the background, the focal element, a 3D embellishment.  What will you use?

I chose a music background that I could change it's color.  I gave this one a blue hint of color.  I printed it and trimmed it to be smaller than my card front.  I found the nativity on Image Arcade. I made it navy and printed it onto vellum.  I trimmed it to be a bit bigger than the music background.  I added a color printed greeting at the top.  It was printed on white card stock and then I flagged the ends.  It is mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I think I will make some of these in several different colors.

Nifty Notes - New Images

I made some more Nifty Notes for a co-worker who is leaving.  She going to a job where blank note cards will come in handy.  She thought the tea pot was particularly cool.  I agree.

This cards are produced by overlaying a white clip art in white onto a decorative paper which I created. These images are from Clker. Some I've changed and added features.  The background images range from alcohol ink, watercolor and stenciled. Because these are wide on the card I was able to use different images that I used in the past.

Here's a couple links to the ones I made a while ago. Images with Words and just images.