Snowflake Inspiration

When I saw Jenny Gropp's Snowflake card way back in September I knew I had to try it too.  Had to have that die and this is what I did with it.

CARDFRONT DETAILS:

1. Embossed Lg. Snowflake die onto a piece of  4.5"4.5" white cardstock.  Next time I'd use 4.75" square.
2. Used a glue pen to add glitter (starting from the outside first).  The snowflake itself is actually 4 snowflakes.
3. Mounted pearls with Glossy Accents in my needle nose bottle and QuickStik.  It's really rare if I used the GA bottle to apply it any more.
4. Mounted bow and used Glossy Accents and a little glitter.
5. Stamped CAC Ornate Snowflakes, inked with Memento Summer Sky, on white cardstock.  Trimmed it to 5.0"X5.0".
6. Using Spellbinders Adorning Squares largest die (outside edge) as a stencil, placed in the center of the 5.0" square, traced around it and then used an X-acto knife to cut it out, leaving the frame for the snowflake. (Saved the inside for the inside of the card).
7. Cut a piece of white "Laid" cardstock 5.25"X5.25".
8. Mounted the embossed snowflake behind the Ornate Snowflake frame.  Rounded the edges with the punch.
9. Mounted it to the Laid cardstock and rounded the edges with the punch.
10. Cut a piece of cardstock 5.25"X10.5", scored length at 5.25", and used Rounder punch on the edges. 

INSIDE CARD:

1. Adorning Squares and the second largest die cut from Lg. Snowflake were used on the left-hand side.  Pearls and glitter were added as shown.
2. The right side is the third from the smallest die form Resplendent Rectangles.  It was used as a die and then as a stencil with Magic Matter to get the white area for the stamped sentiment, Most Wonderful Time.
3. Small Snowflake die set was used for the two snowflakes on the sentiment.  Glitter and pearls were added.

ENVELOPE:

1. Leftovers from Ornate Snowflake background were used for the strips on the envelope and edges inside the card.
2. The snowflake is the smallest one from Lg. Snowflake.  Glitter and a heart pearl were added to it.

A fun card!!  One last note.  I have been using a QuickStik lately to mount some of my pearls.  It isn't as sticky as the Sticky Sticks, that just won't let go.  I was surprised to see how easy it was to pick up things and how easy to release when setting the pearl, etc., down on Glossy Accents or glue.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Swirls And Pearls

Glitter drives me crazy sometimes. It never looks in a photo like it does IRL. Anyway, the image was stamped on white cardstock and then glitter was used to fill in the swirls. I worked with the lightest color first, then pink, then gold. The tree has snowflakes, but I chose to used a die to mount them over the ones already there. I used the two on the right and cut them down. The one on the top was used for the larger ones. Large Pop Dots were used just below the snowflake on top and then the right and left swirls on the bottom and the center top of tree trunk.

The background is a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I am trying to do more layers. Most of my images are too big to do a lot of it. I used an oval punch for the words and then Magic Matter to do the edge seen around it. The circles on the outside frame are from snowflakes I cut down for the tree. They are from the one on the right on the die below.
The regular dots were made with a White Signo Uni-ball pen. The ribbon is May Arts and I love it. I love how easy it was to use. Glitter glue and pearls were added to the tree snowflakes, the brass snowflake and the tag for the final touches.

I decorated the inside of my card and envelope with the embossing folder and painted with Twinkling H2O's Iridescent Gold so it matched the BG area.

Supplies:
Image:
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80lb cover cardstock 4.25X5.5" and 5.5"X8.5" folded
Brilliance Galaxy Gold
Impression-Obsession: Swirl and Snowflake Tree
Glitter Glue - I suggest one that dries clear.
Art Institute Glitter:
Sea Shell Transparent
Baby's Breath Transparent
Fool's Gold Opaque
Curious Metallic Ice Gold Cardstock 2X2" to fit Die
Cuttlebug Die Snowflake #2
4 Large Pop Dots

Tag:
Curious Metallic Ice Gold Cardstock
Stampin' Up 1.75 Oval Punch
Stampin' Up Pixie Pink or Medium Pink Cardstock
Magic Matter

Background:
Curious Metallic Ice Gold Cardstock 4.25X5.5 trimmed and cut to 3 strips of 1 5/8"X3 7/8"
Cuttlebug Snowflakes Embossing Folder

Embellishments:
Stickles Diamonds glitter glue
Gold (Brass) Snowflake
SnowflakeMark Richards Crystal Effects Pearls 3mm and 5mm
Signo Uni-ball White pen

Don't forget, if you have questions, you can email me by clicking on the EMAIL Me on the right sidebar. Thanks for stopping by the blog to look and share!

 

 Shirley

 

Which One?

I can't make up my mind. Do I even need to? You tell me. Both cards have the image, Poinsettia and Holly by Impression-Obsession, stamped in Brilliance Galaxy Gold on Curious Ice Gold text weight paper (first cut with Spellbinder Nestabilities Large Scallop Circle third from largest die), and was painted with Twinkling H2O's Garnet and Sweet Alfalfa. The poinsettia image was stamped 3 more times on the Ice Gold paper and then cut-out and layered as shown on each other with glue dots. The final layers were mounted on the paper with a dimensional pop dot.

The largest Scallop die was used to cut 1 circle from Curious Ice Gold text weight paper, and 2 circles from Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80lb cover cardstock for the inside of the card.

A 1/4" Magic Matter guide was used to trace around one of the Solar White scalloped circles twice on a folded 8.5X11 folded piece of Glama Navtural Clear Vellum 48lb. Cover Vellum (bought on sale) to get the outside vellum card. The two scallops at the top were left connected and then reinforced with another piece of vellum to support the final card.

I got this idea from Lynda Benden at Stamp Act here. You really should check out her blog. She is one great card artist and designer. Mine is different because I wanted a bigger card, so my outside scallops are not as deep by using the Magic Matter.

Impression-Obsession Sprig (Leigh Hannan uses this design on a lot of her stamps as fill in. It looks great for inside the card and envelopes. A little design and not a lot of extra work.) was used to go around the edge of the vellum card with Brilliance Galaxy Gold and then painted the leaves with Twinkling H2O's Sweet Alfalfa.

Glossy Accents sprinkled with Butterscotch Translucent Mini Micro Beads were applied to the center of the poinsettia and allowed to dry. A light amount of Stickles Yellow glitter glue was applied on top to make them glisten a little, and they do. :-) The image was mounted to the middle of the Vellum cardfront. The ribbon is from Michaels.

Now the dilemma. Stickles Garnet was added around the Poinsettia on the Holly Berries. Stickles Diamonds was added to the Berries with the Sprigs near the Poinsettia and on the Sprigs near the scallops. On the second card I added more of the Stickles Garnet to the scallops on the main image and also to the scallops on the vellum. I can't seem to pick.

Thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to visit and to look.

 

 Shirley

 

Pearly Swirlies

The first time I saw Poinsettia Swirls online at Impression-Obsession, I had an idea of what to do with it. I had also just looked at Jay's first post about doing only portions of Cuttlebug embossing folders on Indigo Inklings. Her blog is incredible and you should go look if you haven't already. There are tons of ways to use your embossing folders and she also uses them in more than just the Cuttlebug.

I stamped the image on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80lb cover cardstock with Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink and heat embossed to dry. The image was painted with Twinkling H2O's Garnet and Mellow Moss. Indigo Inkling's technique for Partial Cuttling was used to do the pieces of the cardstock you see that is embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots.

The Poinsettias only were stamped 6 times (three for each flower) with Brilliance Galaxy Gold , painted with Twinkling H2O's Garnet, then cut out. A pop dot was used on the bottom and glue dots were used for the layers to give them dimension. Stickles Orange glitter glue was used in the center of each flower. Mark Richards Crystal Stickers Elements 3mm and 5mm Pearls were applied as shown. The front was mounted to Stardream Fairway text weight paper.

The Merry Christmas, also by Impression-Obsession, was stamped on Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth 80lb cover cardstock with Brilliance Galaxy Gold ink and heat set with a heat gun. Parallel lines were drawn on the top and bottom of the words and a rounded edge was drawn and trimmed. They were mounted to Stardream Fairway text weight paper. A Magic Matter with a pencil was used to get the edge around the words.

The ribbon is from Michaels eons ago. Thank goodness. I didn't have any other red that matched.

Thanks for stopping by 'the blog' to look.

 

 Shirley

 

Butterflies In the Air Everywhere

I saw a blog banner similar to this somewhere and couldn't get it out of my mind. Then I saw the stamp I wanted for it on Impression-Obsession with their new stamps and had to try it.

First I ran half of the white cardstock through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots embossing folder. The stamp is Butterfly Group by Impression-Obsession and was stamped with Brilliance Galaxy Gold, then painted with Twinkling H2O's. The pearly areas on the butterflies were done using Rangers White Opal Liquid Pearls.

The words, Just A Note, also by Impression-Obsession, were stamped with Brilliance Galaxy Gold on an EK Success punched 1" white circle. Then it was mounted on Curious Metallics Caramel text paper by Arjo Wiggins Company. I used my Magic Matter to draw the edge around the white cardstock on the Caramel paper. I used the same Curious Metallics Caramel cardstock as the frame around the White card front. The pearls are by Mark Richards. The ribbon is from Michaels and I don't remember where I got the faux pearl buckle. I have had it for eons.

(CARDSTOCK TIP - I order TEXT 80 lb. weight in metallic papers whenever possible because I usually end up using them as background papers and text is cheaper and thinner and just as easy to use. In some cases it is easier.) Of course, I also make all of my card fronts separate and mount on either Domtar White, or other cardstocks by Neenah Papers that are 8.5X5.5 folded in half. That way if I screw up a card front it doesn't cost me a whole 8.5X5.5 piece of paper. Most white and off-white cardstock is cheaper than colors, embossed, or metallic, etc.

Thanks for stopping by "the blog" to look, and if you ever have questions, please don't hesitate to ask by emailing me. My email is located in the right side bar of this page.

 

 Shirley

 

Art Deco Natural Humming Bird

The image, Hummingbird, is one of several beautiful stamps I bought from I Brake for Stamps. I swear Della, the owner, has something for everyone, and you always get at least one free stamp. The Hummingbird was stamped with Brilliance Galaxy Gold and painted with Twinkling H2O's. I highlighted the centers of the daisies and the lily with Rangers Stickles Yellow glitter glue. (I found the colors for the hummingbird on Google under photos of hummingbirds. This one lives in Central America.) The circular frame was done using a template, with no name of the company who makes it, on Black Glossy cardstock. *Tip 1 (The edges of black glossy are white and can show and look awkward to me. I run a thick black Sharpie around the circle with my right hand, while I hold it in my left hand. I did the same thing with the black glossy cardstock behind the background.)

The back ground was done with the 5 leftover templates from Cuttlebug 2X6" Floral Borders. I still have the white die cuts to use on another card. That's kind of backward, but it worked here. Ha! I taped the left over stencils together, taped them to a 4.25X5.5" piece of Stampin' Up Very Vanilla cardstock. I used my sponge brayer to cover the stencils with Brilliance Lightening Black. The heat gun was used to dry the ink before removing the tape and the stencil. It was then mounted on the Black Glossy cardstock. The upper left hand corner was done with EK Success Large Rounder Corner Adorner.

The circle for the word is Very Vanilla cardstock using the same template. I created the mat around it with the 1/8" metal disc from my "Magic Matter" from Puzzle Mates Designs. By the way, their price is high based on other sites that sell their product. It pays to "Google". The word is from the Word I Plate from Rubber Stamp Tapestry. The rhinestone accents are from Mark Richards Crystal Stickers Elements. I buy mine at A Cherry On Top or their sister online store, Stickers Galore.

TIP 2 - Now for the ribbon. I didn't have any ribbon that seemed to be the right color of green, fuchsia, yellow, etc. Well, I painted my white $1 bin Michaels ribbon with the same color I used for the pink lily, Twinkling H2O Jasmine. Ha! I wondered if it would work and it was so easy. I used one of my big tipped Niji waterbrushes. It only took it about 20 minutes to dry. I think it looks pretty good. If you already knew this, good for you and now good for me too!!!

I want to thank you for stopping by "the blog".

 

 Shirley