Hugs, You’ve Been Wonderful!

Waltzing Mouse Stamps is having a blog hop for teachers! We still have at least 5 weeks worth of school here but I like having cards made ahead of time! I’m also entering this in Deconstructing Sketches 101. I know this isn’t so teacher-y but I figure teachers are regular people too and probably get tired of teacher themed stuff. So I only added a subtle nod to a teacher theme with the printing practice lines paper.

While making this I came up with a couple of tips. First, if you want to colour veneer shapes with mists, did you know you can just use the tip or side of the mister straw instead of getting out some sort of applicator or brush? I hate wasting product and even though it’s small, there is always some waste with an applicator. It worked perfectly and was quicker than I thought; I only dipped it in twice. Secondly, never sponge ink into your project with dirty scratch paper behind. You probably already know this but as I usually work with my paper in my hands, this didn’t dawn on me until the navy ink on my scratch paper started making my coral mist look very dirty. Bummer! Embellishment opportunity! Hello sequins!

Last, I needed a colour of red I didn’t have. First I tried second generation stamping, not right. Then a technique I love which is to stamp a strong colour that’s too strong and stamp off, then add another colour of ink to the remaining ink and use the blended ink. While this technique rocks, the result was a bit too pale. I settled for a pure red then regretted it, too bright. I continued making my card but really wasn’t happy. Then I got the fabby idea to overstamp with Antique Linen Distress ink, a deep ivory colour, to darken and remove the brightness. I took a deep breath and prayed that I would be able to line it up, stamped and yeah! Not only did I line it up correctly but the colour was just right, nicely muted but not too dark! So consider these three tricks when you don’t have the right colour ink!

Like my embellishment? I wrapped the butterfly with wire threaded with some cheap crystals. I don’t often use good ones for cards. Here’s how to get the wrap tight without using pliers to twist the wire tight (which will mar the antennae). Fold the wire in half, thread with beads and place over the butterfly. Bring the front wire to the back and the back wire to the front keeping the wires straight. We aren’t going to twist the wires, just keep bring one wire to the front then the other, then one to the back then the other. The trick is to always start with the same wire and consistently work towards the same side otherwise you will twist and untwist the wire never getting anywhere.

Enjoy the hop. Please visit again and feel free to sign up by email subscription if you’d like. I also have RSS feed but I think it’s the kind that’s ending soon so I have to look into getting a new one.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: WMS
Ink: real red-SU!, Antique Linen
Paper: kraft, white CS-PTI, DP-carta bella
Accessories: Studio Calico chevron stencil, boss lady, opaque white mists, butterfly veneer, beads, wire-stash, tag die (rotated and die cut twice to remove the tag top), twine-PTI, sequins-fabricland, foam dots-Jody Morrow,

Flip Card for Waltzing Mouse Stamps Challenge

Waltzing Mouse Stamps has a challenge right now to make a moving or interactive card. I decided to make a shaped flip card.

I used a partial die cutting technique to cut the flip portion of the card. And I modified the card to make the center portion narrower which allowed more to show through the opening when the card is closed. The part the thank you is stamped on. I did a trial using the paper sizes and score lines used the tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers and there wasn’t enough showing to stamp on or to look right. Which also meant making the overall card smaller to maintain an overall size of 4.25x5.5”.

Other than that, I just decorated the card as usual. I was a bit tricky to mat the front of the card with patterned paper. I wish I had added it before doing the die cutting but I managed.

When the card is closed you can’t see this flourish but I added it because you can see it from the back where I will put my message to the recipient.

Enjoy, Rebecca

Elegant Floral Sympathy Card

Sadly I needed a sympathy card last week. An old fellow from my congregation passed away at over 90 years old after nearly 67 years of marriage, a pretty good run huh? He had a long, good life. The weekend before he passed he was at a party listening to us all sing karaoke! Apparently not his thing even though we tried to get him to join!

So this card was for his sweet wife. I tailor the card to the recipient, I don’t base it on the gender of the deceased. Is that what you all do? I layered ribbon, twine, leaves, small flowers and a larger rose then tucked in a tied bit of tulle. It made for a lovely embellishment cluster. This is such a heartfelt sentiment isn’t it? It really sums up how I feel when someone I really care about loses someone close.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: JustRite
Ink: chocolate-PTI
Paper: dk green, red SU!, light green, ivory CS-PTI, DP-Webster’s Pages
Accessories: rose-Prima, white flowers, tulle, ribbon-unknown, twine-PTI, oval Nestie dies, May Arts lace

Soft and Shabby for PTI Angled Blog Hop

The challenge this month is to place some elements on an angle. This wasn’t too hard! I enjoy asymmetrical designs and most angled designs are.

I made all three of my flowers on this card. I used a Cheery Lynn Dye for two of them and a tutorial from Pretty Little Mess blog (see sidebar) for the third.

I also used this week’s Deconstructed Sketch. Click on it to visit the blog post.

 

I’m also entering this card in this week’s Joan’s Gardens Challenge to use the word Tulips as an acronym for items used in the card.

T-Trim, I used lace
U-Upside Down, I used the corsage pins facing down rather than up like I usually do. (this one is really hard)
L-Lavender, I used lots on the card
I-Items from Joan’s Gardens, the Cheery Lynn Die I used for the flowers
P-Pearl tips on the corsage Pins, also designer Paper and Perfume bottle
S-Sentiment

I hope you enjoyed my card. If you have any questions, feel free to email me and don’t forget to subscribe by email or RSS if you’d like to visit again and be sure to not miss future posts.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages
Ink: Winter Wisteria-PTI, Frayed Burlap Distress ink
Paper: MME DP, kraft CS-PTI
Accessories: May Arts ribbon, corsage pins-Michaels, flower making die-Cheery Lynn, perfume charm-Jesse James buttons, hexagon, circle dies-PTI, lace-Fabricland, ticket corner dies-SU!, Bow Easy

Chevrons and Roses Thank You Card

I love this card, no really, I LOVE this card. I hope you agree! I’m especially glad I love it because I know the couple I gave it to keep my cards out on display for months and even years! Sweet huh?

Hubby took this photo for me thus the different angle than I usually take pictures from. I volunteered to make this card for a group to sign but forgot to make it until the last minute so the second I finished it, I rushed upstairs to quickly shower so we could get going out. Everything else about it is fine though so it’s all good.

I CASEd a card by Nichole Heady for the metallic chevron base. Sorry but I don’t have a link handy. After that, my card differs a lot. I was inspired also by the  CAS-ual Fridays 97  challenge to use chevrons and flowers. This is a colour combo I’ve seen lately but have never used myself and really like. I credit Dawn McVey for making me brave enough to layer coral with red for the flowers! It always looks great when she does it.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Sweet Life, Thanks All Ways-PTI
Paper: aqua mist, white, enchanted evening-PTI, gold CS-SU!
Ink: berry sorbet, moss, chartreuse-PTI, navy, red, pink pirouette-SU!
Accessories: sweet life dies, label dies-PTI, foam dots-Jody Morrow, sequins-Fabricland (cut off of trim)