Valentine Cards

Here is the card I made my husband for Valentines day:

and here are some close ups as well:

I used Tattered Rose and Old Paper Distress inks on this card and the rosette which I made with the Eyelet Pendant dies from Spellbinder.  I also used the Labels 8 set to create the sentiment plaque up top.  The heart I created by die cutting 5 hearts from a Sizzix set, 3 using the same colors as the rest of the card and 2 a matching peachy pink  pearlescent cardstock.   Some bits or ribbon and a button and done.

I made my son a tag instead of a card, he's a teen and the way to his heart is .... well FOOD!  The ribbon down the middle is a sticker - looks real ribbon doesn't it.  The heart tag and name plaque are Sizzix dies.  I stamped several different "sayings" on the heart from a set that is no longer available.  The embossed heart cardstock is more of the pearlescent cs in another color that I ran thru a heart embossing crimper and then cut into strips.  The cherub is from a package of dies I got on clearance forever ago.  Found out why the stuff was super cheap when I got home.  Weird colors!!   This cherub was originally green, ummm ick but a little acrylic paint and now I had a very shiny and beautiful cherub to use on my card.

Have a great weekend.  I hope to have my Mardi Gras doll done and mailed out soon.  Once the recipent has received it I can share some pics of her.    I have received my MG doll and all I can say is WOW!!  I was blown away when I opened her up and more than a little intimidated to create something even close to that level of "majesty" with my doll.  Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Pat aka CritterPortraits, what a true treasure she is!!


I will try to get some pics to show you of her as well but it is going to be dark, dreary & rainy all day today. 

At least Texas is getting rain, we still need lots to refill the lakes around here. 

nothing new to show

Sorry but I haven't gotten to do much in the way of stamping this week, so I don't have anything new to show off.  Only stamping related work has been in the way of gathering supplied for the Mardi Gras doll I'm making and I can't show that off yet.  I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise for the recipent.

There has been lots of family stuff going on, including ordering my son's cap, gown and graduation annoucements, sigh.  That all by itself can go a long way towards squashing the need to be creative.  On a happier note, the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is in town.  I thought since I don't have any new cards to show you I could post a couple of pictures for inspiration instead, be it the colors or the western/cowboy theme.

I'll be finishing up DH's valentine card and starting one for my son this weekend so hopefully I'll have something to show you in the next couple of days.  I also received my Mardi Gras doll in the mail!!  All I can say is WOW!!!  I will post a few pics of her for you also, just as soon as I can get a few taken and uploaded.  In the mean time here are the pics from the rodeo.   Just click on them to make them bigger.

Have a great weekend y'all.

More Neg Ink Embossing Cards

I have two more negative ink embossing cards to show you using Cuttlebug folders.  I used the same ink on both of them, Ranger's Old Paper and Marvy's Salvia Blue.  I also used the same Hero Arts Happy Birthday stamp on them, on the first one I used Ranger Old Paper and the second one I used Marvy's Jungle Green.  I then hand cut the birthday tags out.  The first one also has a Sizzix die and another Cuttlebug border that I also used the reverse inking technique on.

The second one I used the same Fiskar corner punch on all the layers and then glued a hand cut teacup image in Salvia Blue on top of the layers.  When I folded the base card I left about half an inch of the inside flap showing.  I then opened up the card and masked off that border area so I could "stamp" it.  I took one of the embossing folders I used on the front of the card and inked up the raised impression side (a reverse of before) this time and then used that as my stamp.  To balance the inside of the card I did the same thing to the left border as well. 



my stamped border



inside with borders on both sides

The stamps inside are: Hero Arts, Lasting Impressions with Panache and Stamps By Judith.  The Tea Cup on the front is by a company that hasn't been around for a long time - sorry.

Now I just have to decide which of the three cards to drop in the mail this weekend for a friend's birthday and I'm having a really hard time choosing just one!

Dress Form with Negative Embossing

I have been spending a lot of time looking at gallery uploads at SCS this week.  Their Monday "Try a New Technique" posting has resulted in the the most gorgeous cards being uploaded.  It was a simple technique but with a twist.  The actual technique is very simple: add ink to the side of an embossing folder that is recessed.  When you run the card stock thru your machine the embossed parts don't change, only the background color changes.  The twist was to use white or cream card stock and a pale golden or beige color ink, resulting in an almost bisque or pottery looking finish.  Super elegant!  Of course I had to give it a try.

Here is a close up of what negative embossing looks like:

and here is my completed card:

Supplies used were a dress form template that I had cut out, Spell Binder Labels and a Spellbinders Fancy Tag dies sets, Hero Arts stamp, Ranger Antique Linen Distress ink, Kromecoat glossy card stock in white, creamy off white hand made paper, ribbon and lace, green thread, white silk flower and white stick on dots for the fancy tag.

I've got some bits left over from playing with this technique and hope to have more cards to show you.  In the mean time why don't you give it a try and for more info on how to do the actual technique go to SCS: Inspired By Belleek Pottery

 

A neighbor’s barely 20 something son had knee surgery this past week so I needed a masculine card with a touch of humor.  Sounded to me like the perfect time to get out and use some of my new purchases.

This card stock is called Rusted Metal and I got it in the clearance bin from Paper Cuts during the Heirloom convention.  Not sure why it is called “rusted”, it is a beautiful old fashioned metallic gold color with a black core.  It’s perfect for embossing and sanding, especially on masculine cards.  I cut a sheet into fourths and used the new to me TH folders “clock works & steam punk” and as you can see for yourself they look amazing.  The other piece is a Cuttlebug folder I already had and will be using some other time as well as the 4^th piece of still plain card stock.  As in love with this cardstock as I am though they probably won’t sit unused for long!

I took both the steam punk and clock works embossed card stock pieces and cut them into smaller pieces.  Four each, for a total of eight.  That gave me enough to frame my base card, leaving a hole in the middle for my central stamp image to over lap onto.  Before I glued the pieces down I lined all 4 sides of the base card with a gold leafing pen to tie it and the embossing together.  I love the look alternating the 2 different embossing folders gives to the card.

The stamped image of the man on a bike is from Rubbernecker Stamps, don’t you love him.  I do!  I first stamped him in black then masked him so I could add sky colors around him.  Next I pulled the off mask and dabbed white “clouds” around and over him.  I used 2 Labels 8 dies from Spellbinder to cut him and a black mat out.  I rubbed the edges of both with a silver ink pad to make them stand out more.  The gold and black embossed pieces were over whelming everything until I used the silver.  It is often the little details that make a card work.  Unfortunately the blue above the man in the bike got cut off when I die cut him out, so I’m not sure the feeling of “flying thru the sky” comes across but I hope so.

I then used an extra large needle to run the string around the bike tires, leaving enough tail to later attach up top.  Next I stamped, colored and cut out the arms, they are from Lost Coast stamps.  I glued the hands to the top of the card and then pulled the strings up thru the hands to the inside of the card with the needle and taped them down. 

The inside of the card I did by computer on another piece of paper  so I could hide the strings.  It says, “Need a lift?  Hope this card gives you a laugh and does the trick.  Get well soon”. 

There you have it: masculine, steam punk, and I got to use several of my new toys all in one card making session!!

Another card for the Anything Goes group over at the Planet.  The Garden image is a PSX stamp and I stamped it with Ancient Page Cobalt Blue.  I created the frame by stamping a border stamp from Lost Coast 4 time in the same color of ink.  I then cut corners at a 45 degree angle with a craft knife.  After it was taped together I used a silver leafing pen around the inside edge for depth.

The label is from the Spellbinder's Fancy Tags 2 set.  I cut a white oval from their Petite ovals set.  The thanks is from K & Company, stamped with the same Cobalt Blue I used on the other 2 images.

Whoops!!  Looks like I need a coupon for some new cutting plates for my Big Shot. 

What do you think?  "LOL!!

I guess that noise you hear as you run your stuff thru isn't always "normal".