90th Birthday

Hello! Today's card was made for a friend who asked that I make a card for a neighbor lady who was turning 90 years old in August. I was inspired by a card I came across created by Debbie Stevens, whose cards are amazing! 

I began with creating my focal panel. On a 5x5 inch panel of white card stock I cut out my leafy image by using a Cheery Lynn Ivy Corner Flourish die to create a negative space. The cut-out was put aside to be adhered later.  I added a piece of GKD Ocean Mist card stock behind the negative space. Next, I used a rectangle die to create an opening on my panel and then created a frame for the opening using 2 rectangular dies, one larger and the other smaller. This frame was positioned and attached over the opening. At this point the actual cut-out of the ivy corner was adhered to the card on the right side.

Next, I prepared another white panel about an 1/8 inch larger than my focal panel and determined where I needed to stamp my sentiment in order that it could be viewed through the frame on the focal panel. Once it was stamped, I layered the focal panel over the larger panel and adhered it with dimensional tape.  This was then matted with GKD Ocean Mist card stock and adhered to a white card base.

The flowers were cut and embossed using Marianne Floral Fantasy dies and then colored around the centers and outside edges of the petals with Copic markers. I added some microbeads and some glitter to the centers. I needed to put these aside for them to dry. When dry they were adhered to my focal panel. As a final step,  I added the "90" numerals to the card. This completed my project.  

Thanks for stopping by! Until next time, happy crafting!

Tissue Technique Rose

Hi there, crafting friends! Have you ever worked with tissue paper in any of your card projects?  Facial tissue, wrapping tissue, even bathroom tissue?  I never have......until today. That was this week's challenge at Stamp TV.

I chose to use white wrapping tissue paper in my project. Never having done this before, I found a few videos demonstrating how it's done. Here's a link to one of the tissue technique videos.

 I selected a rose image from GKD Pressed Flowers and stamped it on the  tissue paper with GKD Peach Belini ink. Next, I used an outline image of the rose from GKD A Year of Flowers and stamped it over the image on the tissue paper using Memento Potter's Clay ink. I added a stem and leaves from the same sets using the same method,  stamping with Memento Bamboo Leaves and GKD Grass Green inks. My sentiment is from GKD Flowers Bloom and was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

Having completed the stamping, in the next step I crumpled the tissue and then opened it up and gently adhered it to a white panel without smoothing it out. Any excess on the edges was cut off. This created that wonderful looking texture.  To make the rose flower really stand out, I repeated the technique on another piece of tissue paper, cut out the image and then adhered it with dimensionals over the rose on my panel. 

To complete my project, the focal panel was adhered to a layer of GKD Tomato Soup card stock which had been embossed with a textured linen embossing folder and then adhered to my base card which I prepared in white. I just love how this turned out. The texture the tissue paper created looks like an embossed background. I will have to use this technique more often.

Thanks for coming by! Don't be afraid to try this technique. It is not difficult and really a great way to add a little something extra to your card.  

Til next time, make it a great day!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s) 

StampTV  -  STV15MON29 - Get Out the Tissue
613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #133 - AG
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #69 - AG 
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #95 - AG

Sister Act  -  Challenge #115 - AG
TTCRD  -  Challenge Jul 21   -  AG

Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #192 - AG

Favorite of the Bunch

Hello everyone!  I know, I know, it's too early to be thinking of autumn. And we all know what comes after autumn. Here in the states summer just began about 3 weeks ago. But this card was made for a challenge at Stamp TV where this week's theme was to "put your mask on".  So I chose the pumpkins and wheelbarrow images for my masking project. 

In the first step I die cut and embossed a piece of white card stock that I would be using for my focal panel.  The dies used were Lil' Inker Stitched Rectangles and Sue Wilson's Kefalonia die.  Before removing the dies, I sponged around the edges of the center die with Memento Cantaloupe ink. I put this aside to work on my images.

I used 3 different images for my focal point. The wheelbarrow image is from GKD Beyond Baskets stamp set, the pumpkin trio from GKD Heartfelt set and the single pumpkin is from GKD Autumn Splendor STV Kit.  I began with first stamping the single pumpkin on white card stock and stamped it again on another piece of card stock and then cut this one out to use as my "mask". The purpose of "masking" is to cover a stamped image in order that other images can be stamped around it. I used the mask to cover my pumpkin image and adhered it with repositional adhesive. I then stamped the wheelbarrow over the mask so that it would appear that the pumpkin is sitting in front the wheelbarrow. Next, I stamped the wheelbarrow image once more onto a piece of card stock and cut it out. I used this cut-out as a mask to cover the  wheelbarrow on my focal panel. I then positioned and stamped the pumpkin trio over the mask. This made it appear as if the pumpkins were sitting inside the wheelbarrow. After all the masking, I colored my completed image with Copic markers, cut it out and put it aside. The hard part was done.

For my card base, I used PTI Dark Chocolate card stock. My focal panel was then adhered to the base. At this point, I positioned and adhered the cut out wheelbarrow image to the focal panel using dimensionals. I stamped my greeting (from GKD You're My Favorite stamp set) using Memento Rich Cocoa ink and this completed my card. 

If you haven't tried the masking technique, have a go at it. I know you'll be pleased with the results. There are several video tutorials for those of us who, like myself, like to see techniques visually in lieu of reading "how to" tutorials.

Thanks for stopping by!  Until next time, make it a great day! 

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

Stamp TV  -  STV15MON28 - Put Your Mask On
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #68 -  AG
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #78 - AG 
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #94 - AG
Papertake Weekly  -  July 14 Challenge - Don't be a Square
Sister Act  -  Challenge #115 - AG 
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #192 - AG

Cloudy Skies

Hello! I hope every one has had a fantastic week and is looking forward to the weekend. BBQs, visits to the ocean or pools, outdoor band concerts, carnivals and festivals and all sorts of activities are happening. Hope you'll be taking part in some of these fun things.

The sky is just beautiful this time of year (summer here in the states), bright blue even when there are clouds. And that was one of the themes for this week's challenge at the Mod Squad.  We had a pick of either water or sky. I chose sky for my project.

I began with die cutting my focal panel in white card stock using a die from Sue Wilson's Ornate Pierced Squares. Masking the edges of this panel, I created the clouds using a cloud template and Memento Summer Sky ink. In the next step I stamped the floral image, from SU Serene Silhouettes stamp set,  in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and added the fern image (from GKD Triple Play Frame set). The butterfly image is from GKD Sending Sunshine, the mountain from GKD Mountain Wilderness, and the birds and geese are from Stampscapes stamp sets.

My focal panel was matted in GKD Black Onyx card stock which had been cut and embossed with a die from Spellbinders 6x6 Matting Basics A.This was then adhered to a panel of SU Spring Rain card stock which had been embossed with a Sue Wilson Tartan Trellis embossing folder. Adhering this to a white card base completed my project.

Hope you'll find time to create this weekend amid the cookouts and swimming or any other fun thing you plan to enjoy. Whatever you do, make sure you make it a great day!


This card was entered in the following challenge(s):
Mod Squad  -  July 15 Challenge  -  Water or Sky

Let's Party!

Hello everyone! Today I'd like to share a card I made for my sister-in-law's birthday. For some odd reason, the last several cards I've made have been huge ones. I ended up having to make my own envelopes and adding additional postage to make sure they were not returned to sender....that's me!

Anyway, today's card  is one with a "party" theme. I created the dress and then added some various drinks to give it the "party" look. It was a fun card to make. I used a die from Spellbinders A2 Scalloped Borders to create the dress. Vellum was used to create the various colored drinks. The sentiment was computer generated along with the balloon graphic within the sentiment.

Below is a complete list of the products used:

Card Stock/Paper:  GKD ivory, GKD Wisteria Lane paper pack, GKD Garden Tour paper pack, vellum

Embossing Folder:  Creative Expressions Textured Linen

Dies:  Spellbinders A2 Scalloped Borders, Spellbinders A2 Distressed Edges, IO Mixed Drinks

Other:  ribbon, adhesive, dimensionals

Thank you for stopping by! Until next time, make it a great day!


(PS: I was honored to find out that this card was a Design Team Favorite at Crafting from the Heart Challenge)

This card was entered into the following challenge(s): 

613 Avenue Create  -  Challenge #132 - AG
Crafting from the Heart  -  Challenge #68 - AG
Creative Moments  -  Challenge #72 - AG
Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #93 - AG
Inspiration Destination  -  Challenge #41  - AG
Papertake Weekly  -  July Challenge - AG
Sister Act  - Challenge #114 - AG
The Sisterhood of Crafters  -  July 8 Challenge - Happy Birthday
TTCRD  -  Jul 7-13 Challenge -  AG
Word Art Wednesday  -  Challenge #191 - AG
V's Sweet Ideas  -  July Challenge - Celebrate

 

Pergamano Project

Hello, crafting friends!  I'd like to share with you all my very first Pergamano attempt. I happened to run across some absolutely beautiful Pergamano craft card project ideas on line and decided to try it out. I purchased a starter kit which came with instructions, patterns, parchment paper, perforating mat and a few basic tools

Before I did anything else, I watched video tutorials on how to do this parchment craft. My favorite tutorial is by Craft Academy which has a 5 part series. Here is a link to Part I - An Introduction to Parchment Craft.  Even though the kit came with instructions, I am a visual person and like to "see" how techniques are done. I learned what tools to use for various Pergamano techniques. And there are many, many tools out there each having a different purpose or result. As I master this craft, I will probably purchase more tools.

I began by selecting a pattern from the kit that I felt would be an easy one. I placed my pattern on the perforating mat followed by the parchment paper over the pattern. Next, I traced the pattern with the white gel pen provided in the kit. In the next step I embossed the areas marked on the pattern with the embossing tool. Then the flower petals and the butterfly were embossed using the "feather" technique (which is similar to feathering with Copic markers). The final step was to perforate around the entire image using a 2-needle perforating tool. This is where it became a challenge for me. I could not do a neat perforation around my image. This will entail lots of practice. I ended up cutting the image out, also a challenge for me around curves. Straight lines I can do just fine.....curves give me problems.  LOL

Anyway, although it's not the best job, I hope that with practice, I will get the hang of it. I gave myself a grade of B-. What do you think? Was I fair? 

There are some beautiful patterns out there, some you can download free on line. If you haven't tried this beautiful parchment craft, I encourage you to do so. I promise, you will fall in love with it just as I have.

 Let me know what you think of my first attempt. I would love your feed back. See you again soon with another card project. Have a wonderful day!

For You

Hello!  Happy Sunny Saturday! Hope your day is as beautiful where you are as it is here in my neighborhood....sunshine, warmth and a gentle breeze. Perfect weather!

Today's card that I'm sharing was made for Mod Squad's  "fast and easy" challenge. The products used in the challenge are as follows:

Card Stock  -  GKD pure luxury white, SU Blackberry Bliss
Stamps  -  GKD Stately Flowers 7, Signs of Spring
Ink -  Versamark
Dies  -  Spellbinders 6x6 Mattuig Basics A, Triple Floral
Other  -  white EP, Copic Markers, bleach, adhesive, dimensionals

For the floral image, I stamped it in Versamark and then embossed it with white EP. Next, I used the bleach technique to lighten the image. However, I don't feel it lightened it enough to give the result I wanted. I could have left the image as a white outlined form but I wanted to add color. .Because the image wasn't lightened enough, the colors I used didn't take all that well. Maybe it looks more like a water color image??? After a while it must have started to grow on me because I liked it....... a little bit more. 

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time..........make it a great day!

This card was entered into the following challenge(s):

Mod Squad  -  Fast & Easy Challenge
Tuesday Throwdown  -  Challenge #252 - No Patterned Paper
Sister Act  -   Challenge #114 - AG
Word Art Wednesday  -   Challenge #191 - AG
Inky Impressions  - Challenge #217 - 2 or More Die Cuts
Papertake Weekly  -  July Challenge - AG 
TTCRD   -  July 7-13 Challenge  - AG

Fan-Tastic Tuesday  -  Challenge #93 - AG