Birthday Card for a Friend

THIS is the card that I referred to in a previous post, that I made for a friend of mine who wasn’t the "zebra type." I don’t have much in the way of masculine stamps but I do know that he likes the outdoors so thought the set "Stem Silhouettes" from Stampin’ Up! would work out fine done with the right colors and papers.

The recipe:
Sets: Stem Silhouettes, Warmest Regards, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Paper: Always Artichoke, Really Rust, Naturals White, Copper Shimmer paper
Ink: Always Artichoke, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: hemp twine, Tiny Mosaic Cuttlebug embossing folder, Cuttlebug embossing machine

I could have probably used the confetti white card stock to get the spotted detail on the main piece, but wanted more spots so instead used the Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp with Always Artichoke ink. I don’t have a background stamp that looks like tree bark so went with the Tiny Mosaic embossing folder for the Really Rust card stock, which added an additional bit of dimension and that I actually liked better. Matted that to the copper shimmer paper. My main element didn’t want to stick to the embossed cardstock using my double sided tape cartridge, so I had to use my ZOTS clear adhesive dots instead. (The flat medium, not the 3D ones). I’m really pleased with how this turned out.

The Finishing Touch

After I got the cards done, I realized that I needed something to put them in. I came up with this idea based on the directions that I got online some where but I can’t remember who to give credit to. Sorry to whoever made up the template for this card holder. It went together really quickly, the hardest part was figuring out how to embellish it.

Paper: Always Artichoke and Whisper White card stock, floral print paper
Accessories: Fiskars Lace border punch, crystal glitter glue

Mom was thrilled with the gift, especially since I’d made a duplicate set for HER to use! Don’t forget the envelopes.

PS. Mom already placed another Quilt Group "order" for this Christmas, 2008. At least I have a "few" months to see what new papers are available. Gee, maybe I’ll have to make a set for MYSELF this time.

Last But Not Least - My Favorite

I think this is my favorite card of the group. I’d gotten a bit "tired" of the same old card format and wanted to try something different with the background without overpowering the main focal element, the patterned paper. I just like how the embossed background sets off the rest of the elements.

Stamp set: Sincere Salutations
Paper: Naturals White, Pixie Pink, and Mellow Moss card stock, floral print paper
Ink: Rose Red
Accessories: Ivory organdy ribbon, crystal glitter glue, Cuttlebug D’vine Swirls embossing folder, Cuttlebug embossing machine, dimensionals

Continuing On.........

Stamp set: Small Script
Paper: Brocade Blue, Pretty in Pink, and Whisper White card stock, floral print paper
Ink: Always Artichoke
Accessories: Dark Mauve satin ribbon, Fiskars Lace border punch, large and small oval punches, metallic pink brads, 1/16" hole punch, crystal glitter glue

A Little Outside The Box

Stamp set: None
Paper: Brocade Blue and Always Artichoke card stock, floral print paper
Accessories: Fiskars Leaves border punch, crystal glitter glue

I went a little bit outside the box on this one using the blue and green together, plus most people would look at it with the border design going across the bottom instead of down the side. I just liked the way the whole thing went together but figured with this layout, the recipient could use the card any direction she chose. I purposely didn’t put a sentiment inside the card for that reason.

I cut a bit off the right edge of the blue paper, punched it, and then layered over the full size artichoke card. Love how the crystal glitter really shows off areas of the floral patterned paper!

Here's another card for Mom's set. Again, another perfect example of making a very pretty card without one rubber stamp!

Recipe:
Stamp set: None
Paper: Pixie Pink, Always Artichoke, and Whisper White card stock, floral print paper
Accessories: Ivory satin ribbon, Fiskars Lace border punch, crystal glitter glue, ribbon glue

Because I put the ivory ribbon over the brighter pink paper, it makes the ribbon look light pink. That was OK since I’d used the ivory because I didn’t have any white and it looks like it "goes." I like how the lace border stands out against the dark green background. The glitter shows up pretty well too in this picture.

Different, But The Same

This is the first of the set of cards that I made for Mom.

Recipe:
Stamp set: Warmest Regards
Paper: Pretty in Pink and Mello Moss card stock, floral print paper
Ink: Always Artichoke
Accessories: Fiskars Leaves border punch, ivory satin ribbon, crystal glitter glue, ribbon glue

OSW (One Sheet Wonder)

I’d heard about the OSW principal but had never tried it. The idea is to take a 12"x12" sheet of printed paper (either single or double sided), cut it into a variety of shapes using up the entire 12x12 sheet (with maybe a couple of little scraps left over) and then use those elements to make between 8 and 10 different cards. The pieces can be background or foreground elements. You can use different coordinating solid papers, sayings and embellishments, but the general color scheme is the same. You can also stamp your own paper, but I chose to use a single sided print. I didn’t make all 10 and used the idea mainly for inspiration. The great thing about this is that you can make these cards without even using a rubber stamp as you’ll see in upcoming samples, meaning that you don't have to have rubber stamping as a hobby to make a great set of cards.

The force behind these cards was the fact that my Mom needed something for a Christmas gift for someone in her quilt group that had nothing to do with quilting.. She wondered if I could use my cardmaking skills to make something for her that would be worth about $10. I thought what better way for a creative lady (my mom) to give something creative, then for her to give a set of hand made cards?

I had made this card front for myself originally and used this same color scheme to make the cards for Mom. You can just barely see it in the picture but the "happiness" oval has a layer of clear embossing on it.

Recipe:
Stamp set: Small Script
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, and Naturals White card stock, floral print paper

Ink: Always Artichoke
Accessories: Ivory satin ribbon, Fiskars Leaves border punch, large oval punch, crystal glitter glue, metallic pink brads, Versamark, Clear Embossing Powder, heat tool

I like how the printed paper and the label "frame" offset each other with the leaf "border" in the middle. Not bad for my first attempt at the OSW.

Zebra

A friend of mine has a birthday coming up this month and I wanted to make him a nice masculine card. I made this card using the "In The Wild" set from Stampin’ Up! I then realized that he wasn’t exactly the "zebra type", that he was more a stateside outdoors type of guy, so made something different instead. But, I still like how this card turned out because it shows the neat effect that you get when you use bleach for stamping on dark paper.

Recipe:
Set: In The Wild, Itty Bitty Backgrounds
Paper: Black, Creamy Caramel
Ink: Black
Accessories: Paper Crimper, dimensionals, hemp twine, bleach, More Mustard eyelets, 1/16" hole punch.

To do the bleached zebras on the bottom of the card, I put bleach on several layers of paper towel in a foil pan, then used the stamp just the way I would use it if I were inking it up with color, only I used the bleach instead. Using the paper towel instead of simply putting the stamp in the liquid bleach in the pan (which I have tried), makes a clearer image on the paper without the bleach running and making everything look smeared

Baroque Motifs - With A Twist

I made this card for my SU! demo because of the wonderful friend that she is and as a thank you for the Christmas "loot" that she sent home with me New Year’s Day. She’s just too nice to me.

Recipe:
Sets: Baroque Motifs
Paper: So Saffron Designer Series Paper, More Mustard, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky
Ink: More Mustard, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky
Accessories: Adhesive Rhinestones by Brenda Walton, Gold organdy ribbon, scalloped circle punch, 1-3/8ths" round punch, white glaze gel pen

The medallion is made by using the scalloped punch for the Blue Bayou circle, then the 1-3/8th’s punch for the Soft Sky circle, and then the top element is hand cut out so that the scallops are more defined and the Soft Sky paper shows a bit more. My first try was using the circle punch and that didn’t have enough "kick" detail. I like how this color combination came together, so much brighter than what I'd seen in the SU! mini catalog with the somewhat drab greens and browns.

I almost didn’t want to send this card out because I like it that much, but the idea is to brighten someone ELSE’s day with a hand made card and what good would it do anyone if I kept it? I guess that’s what digital cameras are for.

Happy Birthday - Victorian Style

I needed a birthday card for a very special person who I used to work with and who lives in a house that is very Victorian. I was trying to make a card that looked like it was a painting on a wall and came up with this. It took some work to get all the colors coordinated and to achieve the proper effect without being too busy, but I think the card got the effect across.

Recipe:
Stamp set: Best Bar Codes, Harlequin Pattern Block (Hero Arts)
Paper: Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy, Naturals Ivory, silver metallic, patterned paper from Old World Mat Stack
Ink: Sahara Sand, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Organdy ribbon, staple, silver "Fun Wire", ticket corner punch

I have seen the "S" spiral clips but didn't have any myself, so made my own using the silver "Fun Wire" that I got at Michael's. It's a thicker more "plastic" feeling wire, very easy to bend and form and holds it's shape better than the fine wire. Also doesn't kink as much which made it easier to make into the spiral shape.

More Stem Silhouettes, Another Masculine Card

This card was made for the same soldier who’s over seas. I wanted to put a bit more work into this one and use one of the new In Colors along with one of the regulars. This is the result. I really love this set!

Recipe:
Stamp Set: Stem Silhouettes, Small Greetings by Hero Arts
Paper: Groovy Guava, Always Artichoke, Naturals White
Ink: Groovy Guava, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Always Artichoke grosgrain ribbon, ticket corner punch, antique copper square brads, 1/16th" hole punch, sponge