Anniversary card featuring a paper collage background, a lacy heart die cut, some embossing and a stamped greeting

For this card I started with a large envelope from my stash and made a brown card to fit inside.  I created a paper collage for my background using paper scraps and regular tape on the back to hold them together.  I trimmed the collage to fit on my card before adhering it in place.  I die cut a lacy heart using one of my new dies - works really well with a thin shim.  I used the next die - a stitched heart - to cut an opening in a piece of brown cardstock and then embossed it with a flourish embossing folder.  I used white glue in a fine tip applicator to adhere the lacy heart to frame the opening.  I layered this focal element over my background and adhered it in place with 3D foam tape.  I stamped the greeting on ivory cardstock, trimmed it to size, flagged the end, layered it onto red cardstock and then ran my tracing wheel over both long edges to add a bit more texture.  I used 3D foam tape to secure it to my card front.  To finish my card I added some red rhinestones to my heart using little dots of white glue.  Works so well to have the glue in a fine tip applicator.  I left it to dry completely before pressing my card.  

Therese

A birthday card featuring layered stamped floral elements, a paper collage background and a digital greeting

For this birthday card I started by creating a white card to fit in a large envelope from my stash.  I created a paper collage using paper scraps and regular tape trimming it to size before adhering it to my card front.  I found these little stamped floral elements in my stash (SU) and watercoloured them to coordinate with my background.  I layered them onto pink squares once they were dry.  I trimmed the laser printed greeting (Desert Diva digital) to the same size as the floral elements, watercoloured it and mounted it to a pink square of cardstock as well.  I played with the layout of all the elements until I was happy and adhered them to my card front using 3D foam tape.  To finish off my card I added five little clear rhinestones to the greeting.  Done!! Love the colours!!

Therese

Exchange card featuring a black upcycled denim feather, black lace and a layered greeting

For my second exchange card I decided to use a black upcycled denim feather which I recently created.  You can check here for more information.   I trimmed a blue green card to fit in my envelope.  I added the decorative paper in two pieces and created a layer to cover where they join.  I started my layer with a strip of bright yellow cardstock and added a length of black lace securing the ends to the back with double sided tape.  I stitched on a length of yellow ribbon before mounting the strip to my card front.  I created a swirl at the top of my feather, placed it over my ribbon and tied a single knot to secure it to my card front.  I added a layered greeting to finish off my card.  My greeting consists of a yellow scalloped circle (Nestibilities), a black circle punchie (SU), a stamped circle greeting all held together with a gold star brad.  I mounted the greeting to my card using 3D foam tape.     Therese

Exchange card featuring a black denim feather, a little birthday greeting tag and washi tape

 This is one of my exchange cards for this month.  It is another I have created using an upcycled denim feather which I created recently.  I am really enjoying making cards with my little fabric feathers!!

For this card I combined a strip of pink cardstock to a piece of blue green using pink and black washi tape.  I burnished it really well so it would hold the two together well.  I trimmed the piece to fit inside an envelope I found in my stash.  I stamped a feather on the pink portion and a harlequin pattern on the bottom section in two different colours and then a worn pattern over that in black to help the card work with my feather.  I created a little tag for my greeting by layering a little oval font greeting punchie sponged with pink to a larger scalloped oval punchie in black.  I punched a small hole, added a gold knotted cord.  I added a swirl to the top of my feather and looked for a way to add them to my card.  I decided on a black ribbon which I attached to my card using a small glue dot.  I pressed the middle of my piece of ribbon to the glue dot and pressed firmly.  I threaded the tag onto one side and then tied the ribbon around the top of my feather.  Done!!  Love these little feathers!!    Therese

All occasion card featuring a wood grain and embossed background, ribbon and a butterfly

 My favorite colour combination is pink and green so I made one of my wood grain backgrounds using those colours.  I embossed it with this rose embossing folder (SU) and then highlighted the raised areas with dark green.  I added a coordinating ribbon and then a little butterfly punchie which I embellished with three little rhinestones.  I am really liking how varied you can get in the colours when creating wood grain backgrounds.  Pretty much anything goes!!!  

Therese

An all occasion card featuring a wood grain and embossed background, ribbon and three die cut leaves

I found the plain die cut leaves in my stash and decided to embellish them a bit before adding them to my card.   They are the Tim Holtz Tattered leaves and I embossed them all with the coordinating embossing folder.  The navy I left as it was, highlighted the brown one with a bit of brown ink to emphasize the texture and the last one was white core cardstock so I sanded it a bit which really brought out the embossing.  It was really nice to have them all look a little different in that they were all the same die cut.  I added a length of white ribbon near the top and then played with the leaves until I was happy with the lay out.  I used white glue in a fine tip applicator to adhere them to my background.  I added a tiny white brad on the stem of the sanded leaf and tied a short piece of kraft cording to it before pressing it all the way down which captured it very nicely.  I mounted my large element to a navy card front to finish off my card.  

Therese

All occasion card featuring a wood grain & embossed leaf background, ribbon and some embossed leaves

 I created this background using a wood grain technique using green and brown inks and then embossed it with a leaf embossing folder.  I highlighted the raised areas with dark green, red and some brown ink.  I added a deep red ribbon and then mounted three leaf punchies over it.  The punchies have been embossed with a portion of an embossing folder.  I like it!!  I mounted my background to a brown card front to finish off my card.  

Therese 

Birthday card featuring a stamped scrapbook paper background, an embossed layer, floral digital image (mine) and an epoxy greeting

For this card I started with a large rust coloured card which I created for a large envelope from my stash.  I trimmed a piece of scrapbook paper with words on it.  Wanting to give it a bit of interest I decided to stamp it with a floral stamp (SU) using generational stamping - inking once and stamping several times.  Stamped a little quote about kindness (SU) on the bottom right corner as well.   I found the scrap of embossed and inked cardstock in my stash.  The floral image is one that I doodled a while back and have sized and laser printed.  I watercoloured it, distressed its edges and then stamped it with a stipple stamp for a bit of texture.  The birthday greeting tag was created using a bit of scrapbook paper on which I stamped the greeting (SU), applied the epoxy tag and then trimmed around neatly.  I tied on some orange fiber.  I adhered all my element to my card once I found a layout I liked.  To finish off my card I added five little butterfly punchies.  Fun!!!!!  

Therese

All occasion cards featuring washi tape, embossing and butterfly diecuts

I have a little stash of washi tape - both handmade and purchased and after seeing several cards featuring it I thought I would give it a go.  

I placed several strips of coordinating washi tape onto a 4" x 5.25" white cardstock layer, embossed them and then used them to make cards.  

My first card features blue and green washi tape and I embossed the layer using circles to echo the dotted green/blue tape.  I mounted this background onto a green card front.  I found this little butterfly in my stash.  I sponged its edges, embossed it and then die cut a black body for it with a die from a different set.  I glued the body to the butterfly and then mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

My second card is pretty much the same procedure.  I used pink, gray and black washi tape, embossed the layer with a swirl embossing folder and then mounted a large black butterfly die cut over the background using 3D foam tape.  Lots of room on these ones for greetings when the time comes to use them!!         Therese

 

An all occasion card featuring a collage background and an uncycled fabric feather

 I have been using up the pieces of a paper pack which I opened up a while back.  It is really unbelievable how many cards I have made with these papers and there are still several whole sheets to go!!    For this card I pieced several of the aqua pieces that were sitting on my desk along with a section of the words sheet.  I just adhered them to each other using regular tape on the back and then trimmed this collaged piece to fit on my dark gray card front.  I positioned my little fabric feather in order to be able to read most of the little sayings.  I used a push pin to make a hole in my background, added a swirl to the top of my feather, captured the wire between the tangs of a brown brad and mounted the feather to the background. To finish off my card I mounted the background to my card.  These little feathers make me happy!!  

Therese

All occasion card featuring a wood grain with a debossed flowers, ribbon and a little dragonfly

 Another blue background I created.  This one has a debossed design.  I like how it worked out but I was expecting it to be the other way around.  I had the folder flipped over.  I added a ribbon and tied on a short piece with a single knot to simulate a bow.  I added a little dragonfly punchie.  It was punched from a glossy yellow background scrap and I used a black permanent marker to colour its body.  I like the contrast!!  I adhered this large element to a navy card front.  

Therese

All occasion card featuring a drapery fold, ribbon and decorative paper

 Happy with my first drapery fold card I decided to make another one!!  I changed the orientation to portrait and put the start of the fold on the right hand side.  It was mostly all assembled when I realized that I had not sponged any areas but it was too late to make any changes.  

I used a kraft card front and trimmed a teal/brown paper for my background.  I created my drapery fold from coordinating paper.  My error in this piece was that I switched the long side so I should have folded it the other way for the drapery folds to show on the front.  I am happy with the way it looks!  I adhered my drapery fold to my background, added a piece of dark brown ribbon securing the ends to the back before adhering this large element to my card front.  The little globe came with the paper pack.  I cut two circles - oatmeal and dark brown.  I embossed the oatmeal one using a Tim Holtz embossing folder selectively so I could get the checkered pattern in the center and the distressed areas on the outside of the circle.  After embossing it, I sponged the edges which really helped.  I added the globe with double sided tape then glued the oatmeal circle to the dark brown one.  I mounted this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  It was fun to experiment with the drapery fold and I will use it again now that I have figured out how to use single sided papers effectively.  Therese

All occasion card featuring a wood grain & embossed background, ribbon and a little bird

 Another background I created which has green wood grain technique and an embossed leaf design which I highlighted with dark green ink.  I added a length of ribbon across the bottom portion and tied on a shorter piece using a single knot to create a bow.  I stamped my little bird and punched him out (SU), added some detail to his beak and a tiny brad for his eye.  Punched a dark brown wing and embossed it with a swirl before adding it with double sided tape.  I used double sided tape to mount my little bird just tucked a bit under the ribbon.  

Therese

All occasion card featuring a drapery fold, silk flower and ribbon

I have often looked at the cards on the Splitcoast Stampers gallery that feature the drapery fold and thought I would very much like to give it a go but I have very little double sided paper!!  So I did!!  This technique works better with double sided paper but in the end I sponged the back folds to coordinate with my paper which worked just as well.  Beccy has a tutorial on her blog if you would like to know how make this fold.  I started with a black card, added a background of yellow decorative paper and then cut the piece I needed for the fold from a coordinating paper.  I scored and then folded my paper and trimmed just a little bit off the end so it would fit on my background.  I identified the areas of my folded piece that showed on the front, turned over the whole piece and added several layers of colour until I was happy with how it looked.  I glued my folds at the top and then adhered it over my background.  I added a length of black ribbon securing the ends to the inside with double sided tape.  I found some silk flowers that I combined to create this one and sponged the layers with yellow to get it to coordinate more closely.  I layered the flower pieces, added a black sequin and secured them all together using a yellow brad.  I used 3D foam tape to adhere my silk flower to my card front.  Very happy with how this one turned out!!         Therese

All occasion card featuring a punched leaf, decorative paper and thread

 

I gave another go at making a leaf card.  I punched the leaf from a green circle and backed it with multicoloured foil which really looked great!!  I layered a strip of green decorative paper with narrow strips of black before mounting this element to a dark green card front.  I ran my pattern tracing wheel above and below the strip to add texture.  I added a green brad to my leaf element, adhered it to my card using 3D foam tape and then ran some red crochet thread several times around my card and tied the ends around the brad.  I really like the punch of colour that the leaf provides this card!!  Therese

All occasion card featuring a wood grain embossed background, a velvet ribbon and a butterfly embellishment

 I had a great time making backgrounds inspired by the carved wood grain technique by Gina K even though I was not able to reproduce a background quite a well executed as hers.  

This one is wood grain in blues on white cardstock  and then an embossed design which I highlighted with ink.  Most of the inks were Distress ones.  I created a border punched layer (SU) in white cardstock on which to lay my beautiful blue velvet ribbon!!  I mounted the ribbon to the border and then adhered this element to my background.  I added my silver butterfly die cut using a tiny black brad because the texture of the velvet was very raised making 3D foam tape ineffective.  I added 5 clear rhinestones to complete the rest of its body.  Once I added that bling I decided I needed a bit on my border too so I added dots of clear glitter with a gel pen.  I mounted this large element to a royal blue card front to finish off my card!   Therese

All occasion card featuring wood grain decorative paper, ribbon and a punched leaf

 As I was digging through my paper stash the other day and I found this weathered wood colour printed paper which I have never used.  I decided to see if I could incorporate it in my next card and this is what I came up with.  

I started with a red circle and I punched a leaf from it.  Next, I cut a red card base and mounted my trimmed background to it.  I trimmed out a strip of black cardstock, punched it with my scallop border punch and pierced the scallops with a push pin.  I found  some ribbon in my stash that worked perfectly so I mounted a piece of that to my strip securing the ends to the back.  I ran my pattern tracing wheel on both sides of the ribbon to add some texture.  The red circle seemed to not have quite enough presence on its own so I cut a scalloped circle (Nestibilities) from black cardstock to layer behind it.  I did cut a circle from the middle of it so the leaf would highlight the wood grain.  I layered these two together and then mounted this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I decided to add a bit of bling - three silver brads to the strip over the ribbon before mounting it with double sided tape to the front of my card below my leaf element.     Therese 

All occasion card featuring embossed background, ribbon and a watercoloured flower

 I used pretty much the same supplies as my last card but changed up the sketch!!  I used some fairly opaque vellum for my background and embossed it a circle embossing folder.  I adhered it to my blue card front using glue stick and there was no evidence of it on the front.  I took a piece of  purple decorative paper and added a strip of green to echo the green in it which I embossed with Swiss Dot before attaching it with regular tape.  I layered this piece onto a dark pink layer and then added a length of purple organza ribbon securing the ends to the back.  I mounted this to my card front over the embossed background.   I watercoloured the embossed flower to coordinate and mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

Therese

Carved wood technique for backgrounds

 I tried the carved wood technique by Gina K after seeing a few examples on Splitcoast Stampers in the past few days.  I did not have all the supplies she used so I assembled what I had and got started.  Making the plain wood grain pattern was pretty cool and so effective with so little time and supplies!  I had not tried it before but I will be doing it again.  It took a few tries to get the look she got.  My best one is the top right hand one.  I realized that she created a dark wood grain and after debossing with the vine embossing folder used a light colour pigment ink which left a dark coloured debossed pattern which in her example really looks like carved wood.  Mine a little less because with my pad I could not get the contrast she did with her colours.  So I just decided to make some woodgrain embossed backgrounds and have fun!!  I will certainly give it another go at another time!!  I made quite a few more than these ones but I got into making cards and just realized I should make a blog post about the backgrounds before I blog the cards!!

Therese

All occasion card featuring watercoloured and embossed flower, decorative paper and ribbon

 As I move ahead with getting some all occasion cards made for my stash I am experimenting with new sketches and using supplies and tools that have been sitting for a while. 

For this card, I am using a flower (SU) as my focal element that has not seen much use as of late.  I decided to stamp and emboss it with silver embossing powder on white cardstock.  I stamped several more while I was at it and have added them to my image stash.  I created my background using some white embossed pieces, a yellow strip and a strip of bright purple decorative paper.  I layered the purple strip over the yellow one and trimmed the edges to leave a bit of on each long end and even on the short ends.  I trimmed the white embossed layer and added some on each side of my accent piece then trimmed it to fit on my pink card base.  I added a purple organza ribbon around my background overlapping the purple decorative paper, secured the ends to the back with double sided tape and then tied on a short piece with a single knot to simulate a bow before adhering it to my card base.  I watercoloured the flower to coordinate and mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  Lots of white with some punches of colour!! Perfect!!          Therese