Two for one card

 Two for one card

stamp used:  Unity stamp co. Seraphim wings, scallop die set (unity), Hero Arts postage die set
Instructions:

On a piece of 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" white cardstock I blended a colors of inks.  Then I stamped the butterfly over the blended colors. I cut the butterfly in half and then cut the stamped piece in half.  Next I die cut each half of butterfly with postage die.  Layered the postage pieces onto black layer then onto colored A2 card.

Simple but effective ... don't you think?

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Masculine cards

 Masculine birthday cards

stamps used:  SU-waterfront stamp set, MFP&stamps-happy birthday, Unity stamp co.-Amazing saying, Sunday Int'l-mesh background, Penny Black-tree, SU-clelebrate, MFP&stamps-happy birthday

Like everyone says masculine cards are one of the most difficult cards to create ... or ... is it just me?  Anyway, I need two masculine birthday cards for September, so I figured I better get a head start on making them.

Card #1 (top card) I got out my SU (Stampin' Up) waterfront stamp set, which I haven't used in a while, so I thought it would make good masculine cards.  Made a scene with some of the images in this stamp set ..... I like the way it came out.  I die cut the stamped card with Hero Arts infinity postage die set, then die cut straight layers with another Hero Arts infinity die set.  Layered it all on a black note card (A2 size) to finish it off.

Card #2 (bottom card) I really went old school using wood mounted stamps from back in the day.  The mesh is stamped with a kraft ink, then over stamped with the tree/sayings with black ink.  Simple but effective, I think.

Let me know what you think of my masculine cards in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by and come back again soon.

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

Dovetail Butterflies

 Dovetail Butterflies

stamps used:  Altenew Dovetail butterflies stamp/die set and A splash of color stamp set

I had fun with these card because I used Lawn Fawn plaid stencils, and Hero Arts nested frame postage dies along with Dovetail butterflies.

basic instructions:

1.  make plaid backgrounds using Lawn Fawn plaid stencils.  Depending if you use one or both of the stencils together will create unique backgrounds.  Example: the green background used only one of the stencils, but the other two cards used both plaid stencils.

2.  Layers are die cut with either Hero Arts nesting rectangles or postage dies.

3.  stamp and die cut the Altenew dovetail butterflies then layer onto the cards.

4.  stamp sayings from Altenew A splash of color stamp set with black ink.

thank you for stopping by and please come back soon.

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

Black magic cards

 stamps used:  Stampin' Up and Magenta

 stamps used:  Stampers Anonymous, Magenta and Hero Arts

stamps used:  Stampers Anonymous and Endless Creations

Black Magic technique has been around for years, and I just thought it would be fun to bring it back to life.  Although, I was reminded of it on one of Gina K designs FB lives recently.  Here is a post I did back in 2017 with a video.. ... but I know it goes back farther than 2017.  I did a google search and found the Black Magic technique going back to 2010 but I think it goes back father.

Basic instructions:
1.  stamp solid style images onto black cardstock with white pigment ink.  Let it dry.
2.  add color over pigment ink with color pencils.
3.  add dots, dashes or doodles with white gel pen.

below is just information for sending envelopes through the mail.
Sizes for Letters

You probably have a picture in your mind of what a "letter" is. Possibly you're using a standard No. 10 envelope for your letter, so that's easy to picture. However, if you decide to create a mailpiece with its own special envelope or if you are designing a piece that will be folded to letter-size, be sure to keep in mind the following size requirements for letters:

What Are You Mailing? Domestic

Knowing the shape of your mail determines the price you will pay.

Postcards Maximum thickness 0.016 inch	Letters Maximum thickness 1/4 inch	Large Envelopes Maximum thickness 3/4 inch	Packages Maximum length plus girth 108 inches (130 inches for USPS Retail Ground)

Mailpiece Dimensions

SHAPE		LENGTH	HEIGHT
Postcards	minimum maximum	5 inch min. 6 inch max.	3-1/2 inch min. 4-1/4 inch max.
Letters	minimum maximum	5 inch min. 11-1/2 inch max.	3-1/2 inch min. 6-1/8 inch max.
Large Envelopes	minimum maximum	11-1/2 inch min. 15 inches	6-1/8 inch min. 12 inches
Packages	Maximum length plus girth 108 inches (130 inches for Retail Ground)

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Crooked layered cards with video

click on photo to make bigger
stamps used:  Rose bud/sayings by Altenew, background images by Hero Arts, Hot Potatoes, Magenta

This is my way of making what I like to call Crooked layered cards.  My way is just go for it and no measuring.  

If you would like to see how I created the layered backgrounds please go to this post with video or here to see another sample plus more links to yet more samples.

You can watch video below in this post or at my you-tube channel.

sorry for quick ending my battery ran out.  I will have another video with a little more information for these cards soon.

Thank you for stopping by and please come back again soon for more on this technique.

Background Check - day 1

 Today was the first day for the Background Check online class and here are my homework samples.  Blended the inks with  Ranger blending tool on both of these samples.  The one on the right has some basic masking done on it.






The 2 samples on the left have lots of distress inks blended on the cardstock.  For the one with all the colors I sprayed the Hero Arts background stamp with Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists biscotti.  In person you can see all the shine....now the brown one is using the same stamp but with just water for a faux bleach effect.  The 2 cards on the right is the smooshing technique on watercolor paper.  Looking forward to tomorrow's lesson.

Cut away card

Hope I didn't post this before...if so...here it is again.  I did this cut away card for a swap a couple of months ago.  I like the idea of cutting the background piece then piecing it together with a saying stamped in the empty section.  More cut away cards of mine shown here and here.
card details:
stamps - big background by Hero Arts,  saying by StacyStamp
ink - Encore multi color ink pad

another faux paint swatch

Here is the last faux paint swatch I have made but I do plan on doing more.  To see my other faux paint swatch cards go here and here .  It is such an easy and fun technique. 
card supplies:
stamps: Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps! a Heinrich Company Sit and relax, Oh, Beans!
inks:  Hero Arts shadow inks
blue painters tape: to make the faux paint strips
corner rounder punch
enjoy!

faux paint swatch

This is a fun technique I saw on Frenchie blog recently and thought how clever.  It's a simple technique using blue painters tape, yes, go raid your husband's tool box but in my case my stamping draws.  lol!  whenever my husband needs a tape or tool he comes to me or our son.  The reason for the name is it looks like a paint swatch/chip you would get at store to take home to see if you like the color on your walls.  Now usually a paint swatch would be a variation of one color but I had to be different because I had these new (to me) ink pads on my table and wanted to try them.  What you do is put blue painters tape down on ink pad to transfer ink to it then stick it to cardstock, peel away and viola!  a strip of color.  I used the same piece of tape for all the colors because all the ink does transfer to card so no need having a bunch of strips of tape.  try it and have fun!  I will be showing more samples with this technique very soon.

card supplies:
stamps:-Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps! a Heinrich Company Recipe card starters and mini recipe starter
ink pads - Hero Arts shadow ink mid-tones bubble gum, green hills, pool, cup-o-joe
twine - Really Reasonable Ribbons 
paper punch- SU

Sending love...or Winter Wonderland

a little early for Valentines then maybe an anniversary card or just a thinking of you winter card.  what do you think?  Both cards feature cover to cover Impression Obsession Rubber Stamps which I do like because you can stamp...use all of it or part of it as you can see with my card on the right.  My card with birch trees makes me think of a winter wonderland...the bare trees with the snow falling in the distance.  My chevron card was inspired by Jennifer McGuire  ...she has lots of good ideas that I have used in the past which I learned in a class she taught a couple of years ago. Also did one of my favorite technique cutting out a banner.  hope you enjoy these cards.

entering in the following challenge:
1.  impression_obsession_news/ - sending love
2.  CAS-ual Fridays - dashing thru the holidays (make a 10 min. card)
3.  One Stop Craft Challenge - song - Winter Wonderland

card #1:
stamp - Impression Obsession Rubber Stamps CC100 Birch Trees
ink - Hero Arts shadow ink bubble gum mid-tone
crepe paper for ruffle
heart paper punches
card #2:
stamp - Impression Obsession Rubber Stamps CC108 Chevron
ink - Hero Arts shadow inks mid-tone bubble gum, pool, cup o' joe
heart paper punches
brad

More cards for class

 Our first class was last Thursday and we had a lot of fun making these cards plus the Distress stain card showing here on the left.  This week we will be doing a fun circle cut out card with a sick owl inside.  How about making a card with an ordinary lunch bag from your kitchen cabinet then a lift up swing card.  I think it is going to be another fun night of stamping.  Used stamps from Hero Arts, Stamping Up, and StarvingArtiststamps.  Of course some coloring with Prisma color pencils.

Just a card

Here is a card I made with left over pieces on my table.  Background is an embossed piece of cream card stock next added a couple of strips of May Arts sheer ribbon that was laying around.  You might remember last year I took a class with Jennifer McGuire using Hero Arts stamps and lots of inks well.......the die cut piece is one of the Distress stains I did here at home after the class and never used in a card till now.  The oval piece is stamped with Rogue Redhead Designs fashion ladies and colored in with Prisma color pencils.  that's it....enjoy!

12 Days of Tags - day 9

Here is my version of Tim's tag #9.  I do like the technique of double embossing but the problem I found was sticking the die cut house to it....I used foam mounting tape but this is not permanent.  I know Tim uses glossy accents maybe I should pick up a bottle of it but I have so many other glues....guess I'll just have to do a trial and error technique to see what works.  I do own the  Ranger winter Distress inks so did get to use them for the double embossing technique.  The Sizzix haunted house die was painted with Ranger gold paint dabber, added a couple of gems and some left over punched leaves from another tag.  Hope you can see them they are from piece of alcohol inked glassine paper. Look back here to see alcohol inked glassine paper that I created.  Thread May Arts red and green striped ribbon through hole in tag.  The background image is from Hero Arts. 

Traditional holiday cards

I started making holiday cards with traditional colors but knowing me I will have to create one or two with colors not expected for our holiday.  As you can see in photo three are traditional holiday cards but what do you think the kraft card is going to be?  I will be putting these cards together while at a stamping weekend with friends so planning to get a little heads up on my holiday cards.  Images used are from Stamps by Lasting Impressions with Panache and Hero Arts plus all coloring is done with P R I S M A C O L O R color pencils.

***just want to let you know I have no affiliation with any of the companies listed above ...... just like to add links to make it easy for you, my blog readers, to find the stamps or supplies if you like what you see here.***

collage stamping with roses

 You are probably tired of all these collage stamping cards ...... last two for now anyway.  Used Impression Obession roses cover a card background stamp for the main image on these two cards.  I bought this stamp at Springfield convention because the rose is the flower for June which is my birth month.  On the red card I also used Hero Arts envelope pattern background - that's the hatch work type looking background with Ranger Distress burlap ink. Do you see those ribbon roses on the side of the card?  That is actually a May Arts ribbon...cool, huh.  Second rose card I did on a ochre type color cardstock that I got from Hollo's PaperCraft Brunswick, OH @ hollos.com .  A great warehouse type store that if you are ever in the neighborhood of Brunswick is worth the trip.  Back to the card over the top of roses I stamped Judi-Kins big crackle background and added tan crochet ribbon from Stampin'Up.  Another Stampin'Up product I used was the photo corner punch unfortunately mine doesn't really work that well...it gets stuck when I can get the cardstock in it.  Anyone else have problems with this punch?  would love to hear how you have resolved it. 

More at Jennifer McGuire class-last two cards

Been waiting a long time for the last two cards from Jennifer McGuire Ink class haven't you.  better late than never.  First off a reminder all cards are Jenifer McGuire designs and images are from Hero Arts .  The card on the left is stamped and embossed then colored with Gelatos which to me are like a creamy crayon.  Card on the right was our homework card.  I colored in the image with H2o's (sorry for colors only had greens and oranges) then stamped around the edge of the image with background stamp.  added some distress inks along the edges, taped it to orange notecard stamped with same background then stamped saying to finish card.

Resist and Fingerpainting

Back to regular scheduled program.  Got distracted with other cards for a while but here are two more cards I did in Jennifer McGuire class back in May.  The one on the right is a resist technique with a little twist that will be explained in another post.  The next card has a white embossed flower then to do the color we fingerpainted.  Yes, we got our fingers all full of ink.  What fun it was just like being back in kindergarten.  Just a reminder all the images are by Hero Arts and all the inks by Ranger Ink. 

Fantasy Dragonfly Faerie bookmark tag

Get out some ribbon and stamp on it!  I've been having fun stamping and colorizing different May Arts ribbons.  On the Fantasy dragonfly (Faerie Song Art Stamps ~ Fantasy Themed Images) bookmark tag I stamped the background with Hero Arts Flower Bursts pattern in Colorbox pastel pink chalk ink then stamped Faerie Song Art Stamps ~ Fantasy Themed Images saying Fantasy with Ranger Ink Archival ink jet black.  Stamped Faerie Song Art Stamps ~ Fantasy Themed Images dragonfly faerie on white cardstock with same jet black ink and colored her in with Prisma color pencils.  Add some Stickles glitter glue and black craft wire for antenas then mount her on bookmark tag.  Glue some more different ribbons from May Arts ribbons on the bottom of bookmark tag to finish.  Go to May Arts blog to see more ideas to use ribbons.

Faux bleach & Distress Stains

Here are two more cards I did in Jennifer McGuire class last month.  What we did on brown card was to ink up the card doing the DTP (direct to paper) technique with Ranger Ink Distress pad, think I used vintage photo.  Anyway DTP just means taking the ink pad directly to the card and rubbing on ink color.  For the faux bleach technique (full details can be found on Tim Holtz blog) you spritz your stamp with water then press it to inked card, hold it there for a good 10 to 15 seconds to let the water sink into card then remove stamp and viola!  I have found with this techniqe the more ink and darker the better results.  Add buttons to inside of flower cut outs then mount to card, add saying and you are done.  The shape card is one of my favorites for two reasons first it's a shape .... second got to use Ranger Ink Distress Stains.  I am liking the Distress stains!  Instead of ink pads we inked up the stamp with Distress Stains then spritz with water and pressed the stamp to watercolor paper that was die cut.  Easy!  and I like the effect.  All images are from  Hero Arts.

Once I have posted all my cards I created in class I plan to do a inspired by Jennifer McGuire cards....you know show her card then one I would do with new cards I am going to create. 

*****It's June and as promised I will be doing a blog drawing this month.  Will put up a picture of prize soon but in order to be included in drawing you need to post a comment starting on my birthday June 5th.  details to follow.*****

cards 3 and 4

 Here are two more cards I made in class with Jennifer McGuire, remember these are her designs.
For both of these cards we used Faber Castell markers to color directly on stamp then print onto pattern paper then onto white cardstock.  We were supposed to do second generation stamping on white cardstock but it was just to light for me so I overstamped it using the Fiskar stamp press.  Another thing I did a little different is with the scallop edge card we were supposed to cut both the front and back of card to make it thinner......well......I just cut off some of the cardstock from the front of the card and left the back the size it was because I liked it better that way. 
All images are from Hero Arts