Enjoy a Cup of Tea

I started by watercoloring a warm brown muted background on white card stock.  I cut it with the Sizzix Squares Thinlits.  I rubbed the edges with a Versamark ink pad and dipped it in gold embossing powder and heated it which gave me a nice rough frame.

I then cut the frame with the Lil Inkers Instant Camera thin die.  I added some water color wash to it which was similar to the background.  I stamped the sentiment with a small clear stamp and gold embossed it as well.

I cut the tea cup with the Cricut and the Joy of the Season cartridge.  I cut it at 1.5 inches from Authentique 12x12 paper - Hope Collection - "Adorn" using the polka dot side.  I then rubbed it with the Versamark ink pad as well to allow me to repeat the gold embossing one more time.

I chose a warm brown card and I embossed the front with the Stampin Up Polka Dot Textured Impression folder. This allowed me to repeat the dots.  I adhered the watercolor background at an angle, added the frame evenly spaced on card then applied the tea cup with 3D foam tape in the center.

I'm joining the Coffee Loving Cardmakers - Design Team Case link party.

Card - Spring Colors

Many of us are so waiting for spring.  This card has yellow and green which hopefully bring on the flowers and green grass.
I chose a dill green textured card stock.  I put a strip of yellow striped washi tape on an angle from top left to bottom right.  Putting it directly on the green paper toned it down a bit. I sponged watercolor paper with Chrome Yellow and Sap Green liquid acrylic color. I ripped the paper to have rough edges on all sides.  I stamped a flower in Versafine Onyx with a small clear stamp.  I added the words with the same ink on the block of textured yellow card stock.
I am submitting this card to the Less is More Challenge 214 Yellow and Green.

Card - Sunburst Two - Scrap Buster

Here's my second Sunburst card.  I'm really happy with it.  I chose to put the focal point in the center this time which means rays all the way around.  I should have adjusted my paper strips to 3" x 1" but this worked out pretty well. Live and learn.  Here's a link to Frances' great tutorial for this technique.
I cut my paper strips then cut them diagonally from corner to corner giving me triangles.  I kept my designer paper in the yellow and pink colors.  I cut my piece of card stock for holding the sunburst at 4x5.25 inches.  I think its best to start with a bit bigger and trim it later.  Layout your triangles before you start gluing so you can balance color and texture. I marked my focal point.  I started at the top and then just placed each right next to to the other.  Do your best to keep your points on it but don't sweat it too much because it will be covered.  I used snail adhesive because the excess rolls off very nicely with your adhesive eraser.  Once I had glued all my triangles then I turned over the piece of card stock and trimmed off the designer paper to the edge of the rectangle.  I decided to add a black layer so I trimmed my sunburst a bit more.  I added the pink grosgrain ribbon across the center covering the focal point and taped the ends to the back. This layer was glued to the black layer then glued to the card front.  I stamped the birthday cake in black with a small clear stamp on yellow card stock then punched it out with the Stampin Up! Artisan Label punch.  I highlighted the edges by running a black marker along the edges. It was mounted over the focal point and over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.  I did the same to the greeting punched with the SU! Word Window punch. I mounted it in the bottom right hand corner. This is definitely a scrap buster technique. Love it!

Challenge - Stitching

I make this card for this week`s challenge at Weekly Christmas Card Challenges - Sparkles which is stitching - real or faux.  I chose real which makes it good that I am only making one of these.  I started with this great red foil card stock which I upcycled from a really nice chocolate box at Christmas.  I cut a strip with the Stampin Up! Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.  I then stitched it with gold thread so I end up with this even pattern of up and down stitches.  I applied double sided tape on the back to keep the thread taut.  I printed the SU! Bunch of Backgrounds - Weathered in Always Artichoke on the cream card front.  I stamped my greeting three times across a strip of Always Artichoke with a small clear stamp.  I then adhered my stitching to it with Zots.  I cut three ornaments with the Spellbinder 2011 Heirloom dies in the same red foil card stock. I taped the gold threads on which the ornaments are hanging to the back of the Always Artichoke strip. I decided to leave the ornaments hang loose.

Card - Father's Day photo

I made this card for my Dad. I started with a photo I took last summer at the Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough. This is a reconstruction of a workshop of a man who made canoes.  It reminded me very much of my Dad's workshop.  I mounted the photo onto a mustard piece of card stock.  I stamped the greeting with my small Close to my Heart acrylic alphabet in Chocolate Chip.  I added three mustard brads below to anchor the top element.  I will spend Sunday with my Dad!

Card - Purple Happy Birthday

I made this card for my niece who has a birthday party today. 

I started with  textured card in a dusty purple.  I punched a MS daisy border then ripped the other side and glued that down on the left hand side.  I used daisy confetti in white and plum and created accents with tiny purple brad in their centres to keep them to the card.  I stamped the greeting in Eggplant on the bottom right hand side.

Cards - Thank You - Stampin Up Party

I hosted a Stampin Up! Party the first week of February.  It's a great time to have a party because the rewards are so good during Sale-a-Bration!   I've ordered myself a few new goodies.  I made thank you cards for the girls who placed orders.

I started with Mellow Moss cardstock.  I stamped it with one of the Itty Bitty Backgrounds in Always Artichoke. I made it to fit a No. 6 3/4 envelope so I cut the cardstock 3.5"x 11.  Placed a fold at 6.25" which left my front flap a bit short.  I added a piece of parchment cardstock which had been trimmed with the Martha Stewart Daisy border punch.  I added a length of Spring Moss gross grain ribbon to hide the join on the inside of the card.  I stamped the greeting in Always Artichoke on the bottom right hand corner.  The paper flower is attached with a green crystal brad.

On the card on the right I used striped decorative paper by Anna Griffin which I placed over the whole length of the card front.  Again, I placed a length of Spring Moss to cover the join on the inside of the card.  I printed the greeting on white, punched it out with 1" circle punch and then rubbed the edges with Always Artichoke ink pad. The paper flower is attached with a green crystal brad.

On the bottom card I used the same cardstock with the additional piece of parchment cardstock.  I placed a square of Anna Griffin decorative paper on the left of the border punch and ribbon.

Card Club - April - Reused Book Pages

I have to say that I resist tearing apart books but sometimes they are beyond functional and reusing the pages is a good earth friendly idea.

The tag was cut from an old book page with the Sizzix large cresent tag die. I stamped the large U then embossed it with black detail powder. Really makes it pop. The greeting was printed on the same paper that was used behind the tag. The word was trimmed and tucked above the U. I added some black yarn. Remember to put the fiber on the tag before gluing it down to the card.

Cards - Kid Cards

I set out to use a scrap piece of gift wrap. I thought this would make very nice cards for little girls. I was right. The paper had Snow White, Mulan, Ariel the mermaid, Jasmine, Rapunzel and more. I had to do a bit of research just to figure out which was which. The stamp is a clear set from Michaels in the $1.50 bin. I used a tiny brad to dot the "i" in the stamp. The colors were great.

Card Club - Sept - Handmade Paper

I love the colors in this handmade paper (white, royal blue and turquoise). I found ribbon to match the cardstock. The crescent tag was cut with a Sizzix die then I highlighted it's edges with the ink pad. The greeting is from a clear set from Michael's. I used a itty bitty brad to keep the tag attached to the handmade paper and form the dot on the i in birthday at the same time. Hot glue is a good choice to get handmade paper to stick to cardstock.

Card Club - Sept - Daisy Punch

I have owned this daisy punch for at least 2 years but I have not used it till recently. I have decided to make an effort to use what I have instead of buying more "stuff". This punch leaves the hole instead of the shape which takes a bit of a different approach. The layer behind the daisy is also cardstock I have had for a long time. The decorative paper is new and it sort of brought all these colors and materials together. The rubber stamp is from a clear set from Micheal's and I really like it a lot. Some kits had blue and green cardstock with similar decorative paper.