Vintage Vogue Wedding

Today's Card is rather foo-foo but I liked the look! I embossed the images on the yellow Sweet Pea DS paper with white craft ink and white embossing powder. The Flower was cut out and the saying punched out with the lg. oval punch. I weaved the ribbon around the back edge of the 1 3/4" punched circle. Adding extra ribbon, the scallop edge and the hat pin finished off the look!

Supplies: ~Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Together Forever. ~Paper: Whisper White, Barely Banana C/S, Sweet Pea Paper Stack. ~Inks: White Craft Pad. ~ Accessories: 1 3/4" Circle punch, Scallop trim border punch, Large Oval punch, White Organza ribbon, Pretties Kit.

Paper Crafters Sampler

As a member of the excited Design Team, this Sampler is filled with wonderful cards, projects, stamp camp ideas, gifts and more. Need a little inspiration? This newsletter is for everyone with step by step directions for re-creating everything you see! Click on the link to the right and join today! Use code PCSCF

Oh and let me know what you think!

PCS Blog Hop

Supplies used for these adorable little hats are Bride Specialty Paper, Pretties Kit, Scallop Trim Punch and Organza Ribbon. These little hats would also be perfect for Bridal Showers, Decor, the possibilities are endless!

Monday, February 8th is the Paper Crafters Sampler Design Team blog hop. Each design team member has created an Easter Bonnet/Hat using the PCS Hat Template. The team will be offering subscribers and blog viewers, samples of these adorable bonnets starting February 8th. This template was created exclusively for our PCS subscribers! So subcribe today, you don't want to miss this issue! Click on the PCS Widget to the left and use code PCSCF to sign up today!

Click to hop over to Melanie's Bonnet!

Altered Picture Frames

I bought several plain white mat picture frames. These had no actual frame but just a solid back that clipped onto the glass with the mat behind the glass. It was impossible to get a good photo of this to see the detail but if you click on the picture, you can enlarge it. I stamped and embossed the retired Musical Score Background stamp around the mat using white embossing powder. Then I went over the whole thing with Radiant Pearls. The Radiant Pearls says how long ago I made this, Stampin'Up! hasn't carried those for awhile! I love the shimmer! And I still have my Radiant Pearls...somewhere! I wanted a very subtle texture and white on white look because my living room has mainly textures with various whites and off white colors. Because my Piano is the focal point, I wanted to add the music into the picture frame design! This is quick and easy  and also just very slightly altered!

Vellum Collage

I really love the Stampin' Up! Cardstock weight Vellum, in fact I prefer it over regular vellum. The heavy weight Vellum works better for embossing with less puckering and looks better adhered to a project with less 'show through' of adhesive lines and of course the heavy weight is just as transparent as the regular vellum! For this card I stamped the image from the Fresh Cuts set with Basic Black on Cardstock Vellum. Turning the image over I used Markers to color the entire image. I inked just the writing on the same stamp with Basic Black marker and stamped off first and then randomly stamped it on a Whisper White Panel. I also stamped the writing on a scrap of vellum along with the Thank You from the same set and punched it out with the Modern Label Punch. I used DS paper from the Welcome Nieghbor Paper Pad found in the SAB mini Catalog to add texture and color under the vellum pieces. Lastly, I colored over the front side of the solid leaves with the Mellow Moss marker 

Supplies Used: ~Stamps: Fresh Cuts. ~Paper: Cardbase Vanilla C/S, Whisper White C/S, Cardstock Vellum, Welcome Nieghbor Paper Pad. ~ Inks: Basic Black Pad, Markers: More Mustard, Summer Sun, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Mellow Moss. ~ Accessories: Modern Label Punch, Playground Designer Buttons.

Sneek Peek for February Paper Crafters Sampler

I made this for my friend Lisa (lisacat)

Just in time for Spring! This Mini Birdhouse sneek peek project is found in this month's Paper Crafters Sampler. To get this project template and more, subscribe to the Paper Crafters Sampler today! Use Code: PCSCF

Wash Away Flowers

A few days of sunshine and I'm pulling out all my flower sets! LOL

For today's card I wanted a Vintage look so I stamped and watercolored the main flower pot on watercolor paper. I knew I wanted to keep the panel at 5" x 3 3/4" and not cut down the image size but it needed more. So I masked off the flower pot image and then stamped the En Francais Background stamp with Elegant Eggplant Classic ink. This was a nice look but again I wanted a Vintage, softer look so I got out my heavy watercolor brush and dipping it in water, I dropped water over the background words and then blotted it up with a paper towel. I didn't want any water to run into my flower pot so I carefully turned and slanted the panel so the water would run off the edges and away from the focal point. Also I placed different color matching ribbons across the panel but they were all too dark for me so instead of ribbon I used a 1/8' wide piece of watercolor paper washed with ink and just wrapped it around like I would my ribbon. I really like this look! Wash Away Ink Technique! 

Supplies Used: Stamps: Bloomin' Beautiful, En Francais.~Paper: Watercolor Paper, Garden Green, Elegant Eggplant.~ Inks: Stazon Black, Elegant Eggplant Pad, Garden Green Pad, Bordering Blue Pad, Markers: Sahara sand, Elegant Eggplant, Mambo Melon, Rich Razzleberry, Regal Rose, Garden Green, Old Olive, More Mustard. ~Accessories: Large Oval Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Hodgepodge Styled Silver Hardware, Aqua Painter, Watercolor Brush, Crystal Effects inside the ribbon charm with Fine Cosmo Orchid Glitter sprinkled over it!

Tab Punch Bread!

The first thing I saw when I looked at this Tab Punch was a loaf of bread! I just couldn't resist! LOL

Bling, Bling and more Bling!

This card is just over the top! LOL~ Flower was stamped on Shimmery white C/S and then watercolored and cut out. I applied crystal effects and Dazzling Diamonds glitter along with flatback rhinestones. I did use the Gold Painty on the inside but the overall effect was Blingy!

Lil' Paws Bear Cards

I made this Card for a dear friend who helped me out with a Stamping Event and I know she'll check in here and see it, before she gets it in the mail...he he he...I like the idea of using these little die cut bears in different scenes! The Oval is cut out with the big shot and the Scallop Oval die using Naturals White C/S. The background card is Kraft cardstock with an embossed So Saffron panel scallop punched and Pretty in Pink Satin ribbon wrapped around it. The flowers did not stamp as well as I liked so I stamped the flower again on Whisper White C/S and cut it out. I cut out 3 bears using Creamy Caramel under Close to Cocoa C/S and Welcome Neighbor Paper for the heart. Pink Taffeta ribbon is tied around his neck because what teddy doesn't have a ribbon? Thank You stamped on Naturals and punched out! Simple and so sweet holding a flower! 

This card is for my Niece who just turned 3! Lil' Paws Build -a-bear die. This is actually more pastel looking but the artificial light is just wrong....the bear is again die cut 3 times using Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa and Regal Rose Cardstocks. The Cupcake and balloons were stamped on Whisper White with Basic Brown ink. All the images were colored with the full set of Watercolor Crayons and layered on the cute heart paper with Dimensionals and the necklace is background paper as well. That Cute paper is from Welcome Neighbor Paper Pack. I used Regal Rose, Gable Green, Ballet Blue and Summer sun crayons to color the balloons. Linen Thread makes great balloon strings and the words were trimmed to fit into each balloon after I stamped them on a scrap of heart paper! 

Stippled Wet Inks

For this card I started with glossy cardstock, 3 ink pads and my stipple brushes. I stippled the colors over the glossy panel using a pouncing motion with the brushes and then using a wet cosmetic sponge, I dabbed it over the ink. Then I repeated those steps again and decided I liked the look, soft and muted. I stamped the background images on the stippled background and then stamped the square bird seperataly on Glossy C/S and stippled directly on that piece with just the stipple brush and no wet sponge and punched it out. I had a piece of Bride Specialty paper already punched with the Eyelet Border Punch so I added that and then I darkened the flowers, butterfly wings and Right side of the Scallop Square with the marker to give it a little detail! I decided this card wasn't too bad, I am going to play with this technique more! 

Supplies Used: Stamps: Of the Earth  (hostess set) ~ Paper: Handsome Hunter C/S, Glossy C/S, Whisper White C/S, Bride Specialty Paper. ~ Inks: Handsome Hunter Pad and Marker, Certainly Celery Pad, Garden Green Pad. ~ Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, 1/16" circle punch, Square scallop punch, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Stipple Brushes, Cosmetic sponge.

Watercolor Feather

I needed a few Masculine Birthday Cards that could be sent easily through the mail. Sometimes I struggle with ribbons and scallops and what not....should I include it on a masculine card or not and most times......NOT! LOL ~Simple is good too. So for this card I watercolored the focal background with re-inkers and an aqua painter brush. After it dried, I just stamped the Feather with Night of Navy ink! Simple, Easy and Fast! I love this feather stamp, I'm always drawn to it when the set is sitting open in front of me it seems! The background feathers are stamped with Taken with Teal, Handsome Hunter and Night of Navy inks and the same re-inker colors were used for the watercoloring. The card and layers are Taken with Teal and Night of Navy C/S. Background and focal image stamped on Shimmery White C/S and Bold Brights Brads!

Awaiting Spring

Today's Card uses the Friends 24-7 and Nature's Nest Stamp Sets. I thought the Birds Nest went well with this bird. For this Card I used my big set of SU watercolor crayons and an aqua painter. I wanted a softer look so I chose the crayons. I watercolored around the background of the bird using the Bashful Blue crayon. Each layer is sponged with Basic Brown ink as well. Supplies Used: Stamps: Friends 24-7, Nature's Nest. ~ Paper: Kraft C/S, Naturals Ivory C/S. ~ Inks: Basic Brown Pad, Watercolor Wonder crayons. ~ Accessories: Scallop Square and 1 1/4" square punches, Elementary Ribbon Orginals, Paper-Piercing tool, Mat Pack, Sponge, Aqua Painter, Chocolate Chip Marker. 

Circle of Flowers

Today's Card uses the Greenhouse Garden and Inspired by Nature Stamp sets. I wanted to pop out the center some how so I chose Gable Green as my card base instead of matching it to the center Scallop which is Certainly Celery. That pretty much did the trick. I like to keep my scraps together according to colors, so all the greens are together and reds, pinks, ect. I have found this makes it easier to pair up colors together that are similar but still go together by keeping the colors together side by side!

Supplies used for this card are: Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Greenhouse Garden.~ Paper: Gable Green Card base, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Shimmery White Cardstocks. ~Inks: Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Rose Red, More Mustard, Apricot Appeal Pads. Markers: Regal Rose, Apricot. ~Accessories: Pinking Hearts Border Punch, 1/16" circle Punch, Mambo Melon Ribbon, Soft Subtle Brads, Bigshot, Perfect Details texturz Plate, Scallop Circle Die, Circle cutter with Glass Mat and White Gel Pen.

Feb. Class Card

Today's post is one of February's Class Cards using the Easel Card Layout and 5 layer button technique.

I wanted to incorporate the 5 layer button into this card, each person made the button and then waited to apply the crystal effects at home. I actually pre-made the buttons for their projects due to drying time needed.

Supplies Used: Stamps: Friends 24-7, Le Jardin Botanique, Well Scripted. Paper: Artichoke C/S, Suede C/S, Shimmery Wt. C/S, Throughly Modern DS Paper. Inks: Artichoke, Old Olive and Soft Suede ink pads, Markers: Suede, Caramel, Bordering Blue, More Mustard, Artichoke (for coloring the bird)

Accessories: Linen Thread, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1/16" circle punch, Gold brad, sponge wedge, Elementary ribbon Originals, 3/4" circle punch, paper piercer, sanding block, crystal effects.

Click to see Five Layer button instructions!

http://stampcrave.blogspot.com/p/five-layer-button-technique.html

Greenhouse Garden with Rose Leaves

For today's card I stamped the leaves from A Rose is a Rose stamp set and cut them out to use with the flowers from Greenhouse garden stamp set. Supplies used for this card: A rose is a rose leaves and saying, Greenhouse Garden. Paper: Regal Rose C/S, Shimmery Wt. C/S, Razzleberry Lemonade. Inks: Apricot, More Mustard, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Celery, Old Olive, Basic Black. Acessories: Clips, Moss Taffeta ribbon,

Easel Valentines

I love Valentine's Day! These were my swaps for my stamp group, I made the 5 layer heart buttons and then decided on the roses! LOL~ Usually we make the card first and then add an accessory or two but I made the buttons first, go figure!

So for these cards I made them 4 x 4 square and stamped the roses on Shimmery wt. C/S and then water colored with the aqua painter and re-inker drops on a paper plate. I will post the directions for the 5 layer button this week so if you don't allready have that, check back!

Supplies: Stamps: Fifth Ave. floral, Holiday Best (hostess) Paper: Pretty in Pink C/S, Real Red C/S, Shimmery White C/S, Sending Love DS specialty paper Inks: Basic Black, Markers: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Regal Rose, Re-inkers: Real Red, Pretty in Pink. Accessories: Wide Oval and Scallop Oval and Pinking Hearts Border Punches, Bold Brights brads. For the button I used the Heart to Heart punch, crystal effects and Linen Thread.

Stamped Herringbone

This technique is so fun to do! For today's card, I stamped the cardstock using the Greenhouse Garden stamp set. I thought this turned out pretty good, very colorful! Wheels would be great with this technique too! I stamped the flowers very close together, I think that and bright color choices are the key for stamped herringbone strips that really pop out! Supplies Used: Stamps: Greenhouse Garden, Well scripted, Very Vintage wheel.. Paper: Certainly Celery C/S, Mambo Melon C/S, Whisper White C/S, Pretty in Pink C/S. Inks: Melon Mambo pad, Rich Razzleberry pad, Crushed Curry pad, Certainly Celery pad, Razzleberry and Melon markers. Accessories: Scallop trim border Punch, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry and Celery ribbon. (I cheated and used the Celery ribbon from the Holiday mini Mistletoe ribbon Originals on pg.33) It just matched perfectly!   

My Anniversary Card

Today is our 23rd Anniversary so I made this Card for my husband! He's been on a low carb diet so I knew I wanted a card with a cupcake or something on it! LOL....ok so this is dorky but he'll like it and that's all that matters! Supplies: Stamps: Voila, A Happy Heart, Party Hearty, Teeny tiny wishes

Paper: Real Red, Shimmery White, Sending Love Specialty DS paper. Inks: Basic Black, Markers: Blush Blossom, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Real Red. Accessories: Dimensionals, 1/2" circle punch, Red satin ribbon, circle cutter, Lg. oval and scallop oval and Heart to Heart punches, silver bead duo, crystal effects.

Sweetie Bird

I just love everything about this card, the colors, set and layout! I made a few of these about 3 months ago, just to have on hand for any occasion. I pulled out my retired in-colors because I miss them so........

Soft Sky is my ultimate in-color, I don't consider it a pastel but more of an antique blue! Anyway, I stock piled that one so I will pull it out every so often and use it because it brings me joy just to look at it! LOL

I darkened the edges of the bird with Baja Breeze straight from the pad using my aqua painter, very dry, tiny amount of water. The wing is stamped with Baja Breeze on soft sky c/s, they go together so well! I love Baja Breeze too! The wing is cut out and layered on with a dimensional.

The flowers are stamped with Riding hood red on Pink Pirouette c/s and cut out and layered with dimensionals.

Supplies used: Stamps: Wings of Friendship Paper: Soft Sky c/s, Candy Lane DS paper, Bella Rose DS paper, Whisper White c/s, Kiwi Kiss DS paper, Soft Sky DS paper, Pink Pirouette c/s. Inks: Kiwi Kiss, Ridinghood Red, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, More Mustard marker for feet and beak and Old Olive marker.

Accessories: Eyelet Border punch, Jumbo Grommets, Dress up- ribbon originals, sponge wedge, aqua painter.

Herringbone Technique

Glittery Paper really shows off this super fun Technique! This Herringbone Technique is from the Dec/Jan issue of Technique Junkies. I used the Vintage Vogue Stamp set with this Card.

Cardstock and Inks:: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip. Sending Love Specialty paper. I would really like to stamp some cardstock and try that instead of the DS paper with this technique so check back because I will be posting a stamped version of this technique. I HOPE! LOL-