Always delightful

 Always Delightful

stamps used:  ginakdesigns Always Delightful stamp/die set

Been having some fun with this stamp and die set by Gina K designs.  I like the different size flowers, and the wonky-ness of the shapes. Is wonky-ness a word?  Well, it is for me. 😊  I did get out my Catherine Pooler   inks, because if you follow my blog you know, they are my favorite ink of late.  

Check out the shape of the top of the card ... I used a border die from SU.  I never thought I would like border dies, but lately I have been using them a lot in my cards, and treasure books. I'll show some of my treasure books in upcoming post.  But first ..... thanks to my friend Holly.  I got a card from her in a swap showing me how to use the border die.    These cards with the border fronts are what I call platform cards.  You can see more samples and details on platform cards here or here.  As always if you type platform cards in search bar more will come up for you to see.

That's it for now.  Thank you for stopping by and, please come back soon.

***not affiliated with any of the above companies just satisfied customer***

Happy Anniversary to you

 Happy Anniversary to you

stamps used:  Unity stamp co. I did,I Do, I Will stamp/die, Pop dots

I needed a couple of anniversary cards to send out, for the end of December.  I decided to get out a new big background image, and word die from Unity stamp co.  

 Of course, I got out my CP inks to make lots of colorful backgrounds on that big image. 

The pop dots background image is the perfect size to fit an A2 card ..... the anniversary stamp and die worked great mounted over the top of the background.  

Simple card but effective ... don't you think?  I ended up making a bunch of them to have on hand for a local card swap group. 

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***not affiliated with above companies just happy customer***

Avocado papers

 Avocado papers

Here is a better photo of avocado dyed papers.  This photo shows a better color likeness of the papers.  If you want to know more about avocado dying check out this post.

This is just a short post to show a better photo of my avocado dyed papers.

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Avocado dyed papers

 Avocado dyed papers

papers laid out to dry.

a bunch of papers, tags and envelopes that have dried.

I tried my hand at dying papers/tags/envelopes with avocado skins and pits. You would think they would come out brown but they don't ... they are more on the reddish side. 

The photos don't capture the true colors...trust me they are more red than brown.

 It is a bit of a time consuming process, because first you boil the skins/pits then simmer for an hour or so. After that you need to strain it into a container, then you place in all your papers in, and let them soak for a few hours.  Next you need to lay all the papers/tags out to dry.

you can dye just about anything...above are envelopes.

Here are papers and tags ... look close and you can see printed papers.

I learned this process watching videos at Treasure books on youtube.  Her name is Natalie and she has a lot of videos about dying papers and more.

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Wreath builder cards

 Wreath builder cards

stamps used: GinaKdesigns wreath builder set

Wreath builder cards are fun and addictive to make, as you will see in the photos here in this post.

These are also book binding cards!  These are only a few that I have made.  Look at more book binding cards here, and more wreath builder cards ..... to see more I have done in the past just type wreath builder in the search sidebar.

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3D Pointsettia folder cards

 3D Pointsettia folder cards

3D pointsettia folder by Altenew stamp co.

Once I got this 3D folder I just fell in love with it and couldn't stop creating cards using it.  

With all of these cards I inked up the 3D folder, placed the cardstock in it then ran it through my Big Kick.  I used different inks ... dye and pigments.  I loved all the results.  I guess you can figure out I loved this 3D embossing folder and the technique.

Thanks for stopping by and come back again soon.

***not affiliated with above company just happy customer***

Emboss resist

 Emboss resist

Emboss resist is an old technique but a good one.  I learned it way back when I was working at a stamp store before it closed.

                                                        stamps used:  MFP (out of business) and Unity stamp co.

Basic instructions for emboss resist:

Stamp image with clear embossing ink, sprinkle with either clear or white embossing powder.  Remember to dust cardstock first with embossing buddy pouch to get rid of most of the static.  Heat with embossing tool to melt the embossing powder.  Next is blend or sponge on color.  You can add as much or less color as you like.  Buff off embossed images with soft cloth to make the image pop under the color.  That's about it.

Check out this post from 2009 or here back in 2013 when I was teaching classes.  See more here, and here, if you want to see more just type emboss resist in the search box on my side bar.

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Book binding cards

 Book binding cards

For these cards all you need do are a couple of scored lines, fold and add a strip of double sided tape ... and done.  Except for the stamping and/or decorating.

Here are a couple of vertical cards using my book binding card template #1.  The fun thing with template #1 and with template #2 you can turn them to create a different look.  

For the two above cards I used Altenew 3D Pointsettia embossing folder.  On the red card, I sponged on ink after running the card with the 3D embossing folder through my Big kick machine. With the kraft card I inked up the embossing folder with the card, then put it through my machine.

Here's a look at a couple of card where I turned them horizonal using the same template.

The snowflake card using Sizzix TH snowflake dies that I put onto my gelli plate, inked then pulled the print.

This is template #2 

Both these cards are vertical using the same snowflake dies and 3D embossing folder.

Just thought you might want a look at the gel press backgrounds before they were made into cards.  You can see above the card with the die cut snowflakes that was done on the gel press.  You can see more with the gel press cards here, and here.

Thanks for stopping by.  Come back again soon.

***not affiliated with any of the above companies just happy customer***

Herringbone technique

 Herringbone technique

papers used:  Stampin' Up DSP

This is a classic technique I learned years ago, in fact, I have it in my background sketch book.

In my sketch book back in 2010, as you can see I used carpet tape for the base.  That tape is strong!  Now I just use whatever is in front of me ... could be glue, double stick tape or the full sheets of double sided tape.  

To see more samples with this technique look here, here, here, and here.  As you can see, I do like to bring back old techniques to life ... once in a while.

When I make these backgrounds into cards I will post them.  

***sorry won't be able to show cards ... sent out before I photographed them***

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Mixed media w/Friends #12 and #13

 Mixed media w/Friends

#12 and #13 

Sue #12 Puffins

I used Catherine Pooler Puffin party stamp/die set to create this fun MMw/F jumbo playing card.  With mixed media the sky is the limit as you can see with the puffins standing on top of each other. 

JAGS #12 Believe in magic

She did some beautiful ink blending for the background of her MMw/F jumbo playing card.  She stamped a fairy in black on a trio of mushrooms.

Sue #13 Little boy

Here I used an old book page for the background then layered TH paper doll/small talk on a corrugated tag.  Added some ripped papers and a couple other die cuts for interest.  Glued some beads to simulate the ground.  Distressed the background with ink.

JAGS #13 Inspire

She started out with black cardstock for the base.  Added an oval that was ink blended then mounted a beautifully colored sunflower onto the oval.

Hope you liked a look at our MMw/F jumbo playing cards.  If you want to see from the beginning look here and to see more of the MMw/F journey just type mixed media w/friends in the search block on the left side of my blog.

Thanks for stopping by.  Come back again soon.

***not affiliated with any of the above companies just happy customer***

Tags

 Tags

I decided to die cut some tags, and just play, so here are the tags. What I did first was get out my GinaKdesigns mini tag wreath builder template out.  

Luckily the tag die I have ..... fit into the template perfectly.  If you look at the photo above, you will see the tag on the left is just randomly stamped.  The tag on the right is used the way the template was intended ... to make a wreath image.  The other tags on the table I just added left over pieces of pattern papers.  I figured why not use up some of the pattern papers that were out on my table.  As you can see they are odd shaped, so I adhered them on the tags on an angle and done.  That's all for today ... hope you like my left over tags.

Thanks for stopping by.  Come back again soon.

***not affiliated with above company just satisfied customer***

Accordion pop out fold card

 Accordion pop out fold card

stamps used:  various companies

Another accordion style fun fold card ... there are a lot of this style card out there!  This one has a pop out mini card on it.

measurements:

base card:  5 7/8" x 9 3/4"

mini card: 3" x 4 1/2" fold in half.

Cut layers to fit accordion fold sections.

On long side of black card score at 1 3/8", 2 3/4", 4 1/8" and 5 1/2".  Accordion fold, and this will form the front of the card.  Tape the mini card to the first and last accordion folds.  Add saying to mini card.  Adhere layers to inside of card, and add saying.

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