Encore, encore - Blossoms

I came across a fun challenge from Stamps R Us while visiting Lynn and thought it was an extremely clever and fun idea.  All you have to do is re-post an older project that you made, but no backlinking.  I chose Blossoms that I created about a year ago.  It was a fun card to make and incorporated several different techniques.

I colored the Magenta rubber stamp vase with Distress Inks and an aqua brush.  The posy branches are from Heartfelt Creations and are fussy cut to fit into the vase.  I also added pearl centers to each flower.  The background was created with glossy cardstock and walnut ink.

Here's a close-up of the flowers and a better shot to see the vellum flowers that were added to a few of the blossoms.

Hope you enjoyed this encore presentation.

Christmas Mail

This shaped card was created using Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Ovals.  It's pretty easy to do.  Just make sure part of the die is hanging off your pre-scored paper so that it won't cut that part out.  When you open it up, your card is ready to enhanced.

I chose Heartfelt Creations' Cardinal Holiday Mailbox pre cut rubber stamp set for both my image and the sentiment inside.  I stamped my image with Memento ink and colored it in with Copic markers.  I highlighted the berries and the bow on the package with Smooch pearlized inks for added sparkle.  After cutting it out, the mailbox was layered onto a piece of patterned paper that was cut with a smaller Classic Scalloped Oval. 

For the cardinal, I stamped him onto glossy cardstock that I had applied alcohol inks to and embossed him.  Next I cut the cardinal out using the Cardinal Family dies made by Spellbinders for Heartfelt Creations.  Then I layered him on top of the mailbox for added dimension.

Here's a close up so you can see how sparkly the Smooch inks are.

And this is what the inside looks like.  Although the photo doesn't capture it very well, I chose a pine branch stamp from the Holly Berry Filler stamp set and used VersaMark ink to watermark the center and then stamped the sentiment on top of this monochromatic image with Memento inks.

Snowman Wreath

These images are part of the Snowmen Melt Your Heart and Holly Berry Filler rubber stamp sets by Heartfelt Creations.  First, I stamped the holly leaves multiple times using Memento inks and cut each one out.  Next, I adhered them to a circle, cut with Spellbinders, to resemble a wreath.  The snowman is colored with Copic markers, cut out and centered inside the wreath opening.  These are layered onto the green paper that was die cut using the Wonky Squares by Spellbinders.  I distressed the edges of the purple cardstock.

The inside of my card looks like this:

I watermarked the purple cardstock using the holly stamp and Versamark ink pad to create a monochromatic look.  A smaller Wonky Square die was used to cut the green center.  I stamped the sentiment, also from the Holly Berry Filler set and the holly leaves with Memento inks.

Cardinal

Today I designed a very simple card using Spellbinders dies,  rubber stamps and die cut sets from Heartfelt Creations, and a little Liquid Applique.


First, using Distress inks, I stamped the tree branch from the Heartfelt Creations' Holly Berry Filler set onto white cardstock, which was pre-cut using Labels One from Spellbinders.  I also used my clear Spica glitter pen to highlight each pine needle as well as the outside of this first layer.  I used a Copic marker to color in the branch itself and then applied the Liquid Applique for snow.  Distress ink was also used to ink the edges of the other two layers die cut with Labels One.


The cardinal was a bit trickier for me because I have the Heartfelt Creations dies, but not the rubber stamp set that goes with these dies.  So I improvised a little since I do have the Holiday Cardinal Mailbox pre-cut rubber stamp set.  So I stamped the image onto glossy cardstock that I pounced red alcohol inks to make a background, then embossed him with black embossing powder.  I then cut the cardinal out using the Cardinal Family die cuts and adhered my cardinal onto the branch.


My sentiment (which I also outlined with a clear Spica pen for added sparkle) also came from the Holiday Cardinal Mailbox set and was stamped onto my label created using the Ribbon Tags Trio from Spellbinders.   Used a little bit of raffia, and tied everything together.

You Melt My Heart

Even though we still are having 80+ degree days, I decided to make a winter card.  Several techniques were used to make this card.  First of all, I embossed the front of the card base with the Spellbinders Snowflake Impressabilities and then inked it with Memento inks (both outside and inside the front panel).  Next, I cut an X in the center and curled back the edges so you could get a peak on the inside of the card.

Here is a close up of the front with the edges curled back:

I also used the same embossing and inking technique for the inside panel as well.  The rubber stamp image and sentiments are from Heartfelt Creations.  I colored the snowman in with my Copic markers, fussy cut it out, and adhered it to my snowflake panel on the inside of the card.  The snowflake at the bottom is actually a piece of May Arts ribbon that I purchased at Hambo Stamps (they had lots of cool designs).  I stamped the sentiment and then went over it with a black glitter pen.
Here is the inside of the card:

Give Thanks

I want to give my heartfelt thanks to those of you who leave comments, not only here, but at any blog.  These comments really can make my day (even if it's only a couple words) and they are SO MUCH appreciated!!! So THANK YOU for leaving a little bit of love all around blog land. 

I chose an image from Heartfelt Creations and decided to highlight the pumpkins.  I used Copic markers to color the smaller pumpkins and my pumpkin Spellbinders dies were used for the large one.  I also curled small pieces of green for my stems.

The inside of the card looks like this:

I used my Eastern Rectangle Nellie Snellen Multi Frame die and then stamped my image (part of the set).  I went over the lettering with my sand colored Spica pen and I used Antique Linen Distress Stickles to outline the entire thing.

Blossoms

I used a variety of techniques while making this card.  Since I didn't have any patterned or solid paper that I liked with this, I made my own base using glossy card stock sprayed  with Cornflower Walnut Ink by Tsukineko.  I blotted some of the excess spray to give it more of a mottled look. 

This gorgeous vase is an older stamp by Magenta.  I used Distress Inks to color in the image with an aqua brush.  This is a simple technique where you stamp the ink pad colors onto your craft mat and use a small aqua brush to pick up the colors.  I combined a couple different colors until I came up with the shades I wanted.  Since I wanted the vase to be raised, I outlined the image onto chipboard and cut it out; then I adhered the vase to the chipboard so it would have a solid feel to it.  (I didn't think pop dots would give me the exact effect I was looking for.)

The posy branch is part of a set from Heartfelt Creations.  I stamped the image several times, masking the previous ones, until I had the look I was going for.  I did use Copics (RV00, RV02, YR61, G03, G07, E25, E27) to color this image.  I then fussy cut the branchs using either my Exaco knife or my Color Bee scissors by EK Success.  These are the best scissors for cutting out tiny details.  It cuts through the paper like it was melted butter.

Heartfelt Creations also has die cuts (made by Spellbinders) to match a number of their rubber stamps, including this one.  I used the smallest flower die to cut out some blossoms in vellum.  I airbrushed the white vellum with YR 61 to match the blossoms better.

Here is a close up so you can see the vellum flowers better:

I used a tool from my cake decorating supplies to curl each individual vellum petal.  (This is the same tool used to curl petals made from gum paste or fondant.  Don't worry, I have more than one, so this one is now in my craft room.)  Who knew these tools would serve a dual purpose : ) ?   Next, added small pearls to the four corners and to the center of each flower.  The final step was to layer this onto black cardstock.

Thanks for checking it out..

Posy Patch purse

This was a really fun card to create.  I began by stamping the purse image (from Make An Impression) onto a subtle piece of patterned paper.  For the flowers, I used the Heartfelt Creations posy patch stamps and coordinating diecut sets.  I stamped four different sizes of flowers in both a light purple and a darker purple cardstock using Dusty Grape Distress Ink.  Before cutting out each flower with the posy die cuts, I used a glitter pen to highlight the center and the veins of all the flowers.  I then curled the edged and layered the flowers to give a dimensional look.  For the purse clasp. I adhered two black and silver brads.

Here is another angle so you can hopefully see how much dimension there really is on this card:

When I cut out the stamped image, I scored the paper at the top of the purse opening, folded it, and then cut around the image - all except the very top, making it into a note card.  On the inside, I adhered a few more flowers and added my sentiment.

Happy creating!