Another simple card with a bit of a twist. I cut a rectangle off the front of this card and then applied decorative paper to the flap that was left. I stamped the image added a layer and glued it to the front. I added a small square on the inside of the card for writing my message!! I just love this image!! It was one of the images in the Hostess set I earned at my SU party.

I hope you enjoy these cards!! Make them your own!!

Have a creative day!!


Therese

Mixed Media Market
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mixedmediamarket/

This is a little folder card!! I added a little flap to a regular card and then added an element on the front that I could tuck the flap under. I added decorative paper to the front and then added an embossed image.

A very simple design!!

Therese

I loved this little design that I found several different places!! I just made a rectangular card and cut off a triangle off of each side. Several of the girls were going to add a little handle to their pink cards to make a cute little girl's card that looks like a purse!! This one could truly be embellished several different ways for so many different looks!! Consider creating an apron, coveralls, brick of gold, etc. with this design.

I colour printed the oval design and then punched it with my large oval punch from SU. I am really looking forward to exploring the possibilities of this punch!!

Enjoy!!

Therese

A triangular fold card!! I had downloaded an image of a similar card somewhere along the way and worked up my design from that image. Several of the girls at the class mentioned that Splitcoast had a tutorial posted to their site last week with all the instructions and samples. So if you are interested in more information you can check

www.splitcoaststampers.com

Check their tutorial section under Resources, I believe, and you should be able to find their tutorial. Another very different card that would easily hold a photo or a little something for someone special!! They require accurate scoring but are not difficult to put together. I use my clear quilting ruler for scoring!! The best tool for that purpose!!

Therese

For this month's cardmaking session I was exploring folds and shapes!! This card is a variation of the one we made at my SU party. It has a triangular base instead of a rectangular one!! In the process of designing this one I had to come up with a solution to keeping the pop up part of the card - popped up!! In the rectangular based one the paper on both sides of the slit grabs the pop up and keeps it from sliding back into the base. With the triangular base there is less pressure so I ended up adding a staple at the place I wanted the pop up to stay. The back catches the staple's little bumps and the front hides the front of the staple! It was so effective and the group enjoyed the different option for the base! I just love this Terrific Tulip set (retired) from SU. Made these cards in a lot of different colours. They are a great way to herald in the spring or to celebrate Easter!!

Therese

This faux leather technique has a few more steps than the others but is still very effective!! I would have added the last coat of sealer to the surface to get a bit of sheen and also to protect the surface of the paper. I chose a rather non - leather colour - bright blue - but the texture is wonderful and it surely makes very interesting and effective background paper. Both the cardstock layer and the tissue could be stamped before layering them to create yet more dimension. I would recommend making several sheets of any of these papers while you have your paints and tools out!!

Therese

Yet another faux leather technique!! This one is also very easy but a bit time consuming - it took me 10 minutes to apply the tape to this small piece of cardstock!! You simply rip ivory masking tape into small pieces and apply to cardstock overlapping slightly and leaving rough edges showing. Once your cardstock is covered apply ink to the surface in any colour you choose. I used Chestnut Memories for this one. Just rub in the ink with your finger or a small piece of paper and let dry. DONE!! Very effective and the favorite at the class!!

Therese

This is a very quick and easy faux leather technique. It requires a heat gun, a stamp, a dye ink pad and some fun foam. The fun foam softens very nicely when you heat it with a heat gun and will take the impression of a stamp. I used a feather stamp for this card and a black ink pad. It is not necessary to use ink on the stamp unless you really want to highlight the image. You could easily create a textured background instead of an accent for your card by using a large background stamp instead. Lots of possibilities with this technique! I highly recommend giving it a try. If you are not happy with the result simply reheat and redo.

Enjoy!

Therese

Faux Leather

Faux Leather!! This is a technique I have been doing for quite a while but just recently taught a class with it and several faux leather techniques. I use Plaid Glaze Vernis so on the weekend when I was into Michael's I inquired about the availability. They no longer carry them. I will have to find another source or consider developing my own glazes. I think that I could certainly use neutral glaze and add acrylic paint, tube watercolour, ink, etc to it to make up the colours I would need for my paper. I will have to do some research, see what my options are and do a little playing to see what works the best. I have developed this technique from an article in one of the Somerset Gallery issues. I really like the look of this paper and it works so well for covering books and frames. Here I have used it as a background paper - very similar to a card I made for my last cardmaking session.

Therese

A group of my friends and I are going to swap silk hydrangea flowers in April. I have posted these just to give everyone an idea of the colour options available in these cool little flowers. I have bought the purple ones in the top left hand corner. This bunch had a variety of colours from light lavendar to a darker more warm purple and even some with a greenish hue. The lower left hand corner is what Susan has bought to swap - a nice warm yellow with some orange ones mixed in. The purple, pink blue and green ones are those Catherine has for swapping. I am looking forward to swapping!! I really like the detail in these flowers and they are generally a good size for cards - less than 2". It will be fun to see what colours the others will have picked to swap. We are packaging them in small ziplocs and swapping 10 for 10. Michaels has a wide variety of colours, sizes and textures of hydrangea silk flowers and quite a few of them are on sale - 50% off this week until Friday!!

Celebrating spring!!

Therese