Witchy-Poo!

…Bothered & Bewildered…

Bloom Builders…

Even though I am SO over the heat, humidity and weather identity crisis (and ultra-ready for Fall and beyond)–there is something about a great flower that always reminds you of the good things that come from Summer. The front of this card has a great flower (if I may be so bold as to say to).

The flower on this “get well” themed card was created with one Papertrey Ink’s fantastic steel dies. I have many of the dies they have created and this one, “Bloom Builders #3” (released in the August 2011 collection) is one of my very favorites. The die cuts five layers of petals in one pass through a standard die-cutting machine. Three layers will have the centers removed (to avoid the build-up of paper bulk in the center of a flower) and two will have solid centers. I used Papertrey Ink’s cardstock in “Spring Moss” and cut the five layers twice–for a total of ten layers to create the flower.

As you layer the same size flower to one another, simply rotate the petals to create the maximum effect of as many petals showing as possible. I used a Zig two-way glue pen to adhere my layers together. To add a bit of pop to the flower (and card), I used a Kaiser Craft Sparklets stone (love these!).

For the card base, I used some mica cardstock in an A2 size. The mat is a 4″ x 5″ piece of Papertrey Ink Stamper’s Select White cardstock. I used the Martha Stewart French Scoll corner punch on two corners of the mat. The vine image was stamped twice in reverse directions. It is from a Kaiser Craft clear acrylic stamp set called “Blae & Ivy”. I stamped the image using Tsukineko Brilliance pigment ink in Pearlescent Thyme. The paper for the inside journaling block is from Webster’s Pages.

Well, I hope wherever this crazy weather finds you that you and yours are safe and sound. Be watching for a Giveaway coming up very soon…

Cupcake Dreams (An Idea I Can Get Behind)…

Medallion…

This giant medallion background rubber stamp was introduced about two seasons ago by Stampin’ Up! (and is still currently available). I can’t tell you how many times I reach for it to make invitations, notecards, background images, etc. It’s such a large stamp, that many times, I only use a portion of it on my project (as below). These types of images are great for gender-neutral projects and are terrific for experimenting with different mediums or heat embossing.

For this card, I used a piece of bronze-hued mica cardstock as a card base. The mat is a 4″ x 5″ piece of Stampin’ Up! Early Espresso cardstock. To create the image, I offset the stamp (which I unmounted) and used some Papertrey Ink pigment ink in Fresh Snow. I really like the contrast of the white ink with the dark papers.

Once the image was completely dried, I used a double wrap of 1/8″ taffeta ribbon in Early Espresso (with white edging) to create some visual interest and break up the main design. I used a vintage brooch-inspired brad from Pink Paislee/House of 3 “Parisian Anthology” collection. I think the smoked jeweled clusters are the perfect contrast to the stark white stamped image–hard and soft.

Iconography…

It’s interesting that Teresa Collins and her design aesthetic is one that tends to polarize people. Or at least that’s the way it seems to me in my chats with other crafters. It seems most either love her style or hate it–and very few in between. I for one love her work and designs. I find her muted use of color and reliance on classic French elegance and iconography appeals to my sense of style and design. You all know how much I love keys, crowns, damask patterns, fleur-de-lis, ornamental wrought iron and the like. So, I love Theresa Collins’ papers and accessories–and I’m beyond the moon that she is now teaming up with ProvoCraft to lend her artwork and style for use with the Cricut machines and Imagine.

Today’s card project was created with artwork and patterns from Teresa Collins’ Cricut Imagine cartridges called “Baby Boutique” and “Black & White”. It may be a bit much on design overload, but I like it. Then again, I always thought I should be king of something….or everything. I’m joking. I think.

Feeling Loopy…

Today’s card project is a hybrid of some artwork created with my Cricut Imagine and a newly acquired Martha Stewart Punch-Around-The-Page Combo Punch called Ribbon Loop.

Using my Cricut Imagine and the “Lori’s Garden” art cartridge, I cut this kaleidoscope inspired layered image (pg. 18 of the handbook) at 4″. The image consists of five separate layers that I printed and cut on Bazzill textured white cardstock. I used Stampin’ Dimensionals to attach each layer to provide a bit of depth and visual interest to the dimensional effect. The card base is a piece of Stardream So Silk! mica cardstock in Shocking Green. The mat is a 5″ x 5″ piece of Memory Box decorative paper from the “Minuet” collection. I then used the Martha Stewart punch set on the edges. There was a similar Martha Stewart edge punch that did a loop look; However, I really like the offset look of this PATP set.

For the inside journaling block, I used a piece of Fancy Pants decorative paper and cut a zig-zag edging to three sides. The final addition was an acrylic and pearl button from Webster’s Pages to accentuate the center of the kaleidoscope pattern. I purposely left off any type of sentiment, as I thought this would make a nice general purpose/stationery type card.

Hello…

Spring (Wishful Thinking)…

The weather is nothing if not a strange mistress. From the horrible tornadoes and massive flooding in the East, to the unpredictable whirling winds and fluctuating temperatures in my neck of the woods, it would seem Mother Nature is having a bit of an identity crisis. I hope wherever today finds you, that you are safe and sound (and warm) in your crafting cocoon.

Today’s card project involves materials and/or techniques that are relatively new in my wheelhouse. I thought perhaps a card celebrating Spring would remind Mother Nature that Spring has indeed sprung…at least in theory. The birds have indeed returned to the trees around my home to start their nests and produce the next generation. Their morning song is a welcome replacement to a dreary alarm clock. The trees, themselves, are a bit confused by the fluctuating temperatures–debating whether it’s time to unveil their new blooms and buds. Yet, the nippy winds send a whirl of cold wind around my back, tapping my neck to remind me that they are not ready to make their depart.

I recently acquired two paper pads from Core’dinations recent partnership with Tim Holtz and Ranger Industries: a 36 sheet collection Distress Collection with a palette derived from the popular distressed ink line, and a 24 sheet collection of the Adirondack alcohol ink line colors. I have to confess that I have not worked very much with Core’dinations cardstock, so I was looking forward to playing with this cardstock.

The mat of this card is a 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ piece of Core’dinations cardstock from the Adirondack Collection in Stream. The card base is a piece of Stardream Fuse Mica cardstock in Amethyst. The artwork is from the Cricut Imagine Art Cartridge called “Enjoy The Seasons” and was printed and cut using Bazzill textured cardstock.

To work with the Core’dinations cardstock, I decided to use my Cuttlebug and a Tim Holtz Alterations Texture Fades embossing folder, “Rays”. I liked this image as it reminded me of streams of sunlight against a deep blue sky. After I ran it through the Cuttlebug, I used Tim Holtz’s Idea-ology Sanding Grip to sand areas of the top layer of the embossed impression to allow the lighter inner core color to bleed through. I suppose how much and where to sand is a matter of personal taste and preference. I just experimented with different amounts of pressure on different areas–and I stopped when I liked the look I had achieved.

After I layered the pieces of my Spring banner, I attached the artwork to the front of my newly sanded card front using Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Dimensionals. After staring at the card for a bit, I felt it needed a little bit of a pick-me-up to convey the promise of Spring. The first thing I added was a Webster’s Pages flat back pearl button to the center of the large yellow flower at the bottom of the banner. The second thing I added was something I’ve had in mind to use on a card for a long while–but never quite mastered the logistics of how I wanted to use it (or how to attach it). I used a piece of Swarovski crystal chatelaine chain from my jewelry craft kit to add a bit of Spring bling.

After I played around with the chain and how to drape it perfectly with the Spring banner, I used two secret things to attach the chain to my card. Because you are all such close friends, I’m going to let you in on the secret: Scotch tape and Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher. I love the look and effect of the crystal chain. As it has moveable joints between each cup set crystal, it drapes and moves along the card as you move the card around. (I’ve told you before that I’m a sucker for the shiny and sparkly.) I really think it’s the perfect addition to this particular card.

The last addition to the card was an inside journaling block that was cut from a piece of Pink Paislee decorative paper. Overall, the card is deceptively simple–and yet has a lot of work and little touches that make a memorable one to make and eventually give (if I can bear to do it).

Furry Friends…

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Materials Used:

Cardstock: Stardream Fuse Mica in Bronze, Papertrey Ink in Fine Linen, Bazzill Textured in Snow;
Decorative Paper: Basic Grey “Max & Whiskers” Collection. Jenni Bowlin “Victoria” Mini Papers;
Artwork: Cricut Imagine, Cricut Imagine “Enjoy The Seasons” Art Cartridge;
Ribbon: Stampin’ Up! 1″ Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Chocolate Chip;
Tools: EK Success “Deco Scallop” Corner Punch, Stampin’ Up! Modern Label Punch;
Stamp: “Friends” sentiment from Teresa Collins “Freestyle” Clear Stamp Set;
Ink: Tsukineko Memento in Rich Cocoa;
Miscellaneous: AdTech Mono Adhesive, Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Dimensionals, Stampin’ Up! Basic Rhinestone Jewel Accents;