Christmas Postcard

JUSTRITE CHRISTMAS POSTCARD

Well, I am back sooner than before.... Some of you really made me feel guilty about not starting early on my Christmas cards.  Well I started this one last September before I got side tracked and finished it this week!! Below is how I did it:

CARD FRONT/BACK & ENVY:

1. Stamped whole image twice and the holly sprig once with Golden Glitz on white cardstock.  Painted one of the whole images and the holly sprig with Twinks.  Trimmed around the watercolored whole image and the corners for the back of the card.  Trimmed around the edges of the unpainted whole image and shadow painted around the holly, mistletoe, and bell for the base.
2. Mounted the shadow painted base on a remnant frosted tan piece of cardstock.  Turned the Twink painted image over and embossed edges with stylus on mat and then mounted over the image on the base with 3D pop-dots.
3. Mounted a 4.25X 5.25 piece of white cardstock on the back of the front. Trimmed around the leftover edges of the corners of the painted image and mounted to the corners of the white cardstock on the back. Used a glue pen for the edges, snowflakes, and words on the front and the corners on the back.  Applied glitter.  (I keep my glitter in a plastic bowl with lid.  It has a cup so I can apply quickly.  After dry, I have a soft brush I use to sweep off extra that might be loose.)

   

   ELIZABETH CRAFT DESIGNS - 745 MERRY CHRISTMAS

4. Applied Glossy Accents to the Cranberries, Mistletoe berries, and the bell 'ding'.  Applied tiny 2mm pearls to the large snowflake.
5. Did die cut in white cardstock, painted with Garnet Red like the Cranberries, and mounted with GA.
6. Peeled cardstock back layer off the last Cranberry image and leftover snowflake corners for the envy.  Thinner for mailing.  Added the glitter and a thin layer of Glossy Accents.

**If you are wondering about the eraser in my supplies list, I use it to erase dry Glossy Accents that might come out from beneath the edges of some of the images.  It doesn't leave any marks and the paper looks like new.

That's all for now.  I am off to take a look at what you ladies have been doing!!  Can't wait to see.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

 Shirley

 SUPPLIES:

A New Card, Die Set Storage Idea, & Google's New "I'm Not A Robot"

IO QUILT VASE, CAC DOTTED ARGYLE, & GREETINGS DIE SET

I need to schedule time to do what I love best since Spring is here.  For this card I chose another Tara Caldwell image.  She has only been with IO a short time.  I have fallen in love with her designs.  Here is how I used her Quilt Vase design:

DETAILS:

1. Stamped the image with Timber Brown ink 1 time, and then the flowers 3 times on white cardstock and painted with Twinkling H2Os.  Cut around the main image and embossed from the back with a stylus.
2. Used largest Spellbinders Labels 40 die twice with white cardstock to get the front and back side of the card, mounted on red cardstock.  (Mounted using ATG tape in the middle of the die cut and then used needle nose bottle with Glossy Accents (GA) to tack down the lace area in places.
3. Stamped Argyle background with Blazing Red.  Used the center of the die as a template to get the portion I wanted for a tablecloth look, traced with a pencil, and cut out.
4. Mounted tablecloth with 1/4" ATG tape, mounted the vase with ATG along the bottom of the vase and 3D pop-dots from middle to top.
5. Cut out flowers and leaves from second image, embossed from the back and used GA lines on matched flower/leaf, let dry just a little and mounted flower or leaf with a tad of glue dot at one end.  Highlighted areas with Vivas, Wink of Stellas, and Stickles.  Mounted gold sequins and heart stick pin with gold bow.
6. Die cut the "Hello" using the red and gold mirror cardstock.
7. Trimmed the other 2 flower images and mounted as shown with tape and GA.
8. Below is the back of the card with one of the flower images at the bottom.
9. The third image was mounted on the envelope as shown above.  (The cardstock has been peeled to make the image thinner in case I mail it.  If mailed I will also place a clear piece of packing tape over the corner area with at least .25" overlap to the back side.  That way it slides right through the mail postage reader.)

DIE SET STORAGE SUGGESTION

I store my die sets in plastic ziploc bags.  I hate all the dies collecting on the bottom as it's to sort them to find the one I want.  It's hard enough reading them 'backwards'.  ;-) Another bad habit I have is saving anything that looks like I can use it for my cards, etc.  I save the magnetic strips that have come on the telephone directories, etc.  Below is what I did:

1. Taped two of the magnetic squares together using duct tape.
2. It was too big for the back of the IO cover, so I added ATG to the back of the magnetic strip(s) and mounted from the top and center on the IO cover back.
3. Trimmed the bottom of the magnetic strip to match up with the IO cover bottom.Mounted the dies.  Love it!!!

 GOOGLE UPDATED
"PROVE YOU'RE NOT A ROBOT"

Many of you probably already know about this, because that's how I found out.  Some of us chose to use the 'Prove You're Not A Robot" feature and many of us hated it as commenters because of the time taken to figure out what the image said, like the one below which is easy compared to most.

OUT WITH THE OLD

One of the first things I noticed when blog hopping again was the NEW "I'm not a robot", shown below. Most of the time I didn't have to read a caption anymore (unless the Show Word Verification is checked in your Settings-Posts and Comments area).  Even then it was just three or four letters that were easy to read.  ***Below is the best part.

IN WITH THE NEW

With the NEW as Blog Moderator:

1. "I'm not a robot" is automatic.
2. They have also given us a choice of continuing to use the Word Verification or not.  It too has been improved with simple to read short letters.  I have mine turned off because I tested having it on or off and I still didn't get those pesky ads anymore, even on old posts. (If any of you have questions, just email me).

Well that's it for this post and I can guarantee you the next one will be shorter!!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.  Thanks for all of your welcome backs too!!!  Big hugs.

 Shirley

 SUPPLIES:

A Big Hello

IMPRESSION OBSESSION THOUGHTFUL BOUQUET & CAC FRENCH TEXT

To all of you.  I especially want to also say thank you to my friends who emailed me to ask what I had been doing.  I am sorry I didn't post about why I had not been posting.  I had some difficult family matters and had to take care of business.  :-)

For today's card I chose a new Impression Obsession stamp.  Below is how I created the card:

IMAGES:

1. Stamped Thoughtful Bouquet with Espresso Truffle on natural cardstock once and the flowers on top on white cardstock twice.  Painted flower images with Twinkling H2O's ( they have shimmer.  Trimmed around main image and flowers.  Embossed main image and one flower image from back with stylus on mat.
2. Stamped CAC French Text with Espresso Truffle on natural cardstock twice.  Stamped the corner of a natural envelope with the text too.
3. Embellished the flowers with the Yellow and Purple pens from my Wink of Stella set.

DIE CUTS:

1.  Did 2 die cuts from Spellbinders new Labels 39 die set.  I had to do the die cut and then trace around the edges of the die before removing it.  Then I trimmed the penciled edge as shown above and just below.

BACK OF CARD

ASSEMBLY:

1. Trimmed 2 pieces of French Text to 4.0"X5.25" and mounted on 4.25"X5.5" white cardstock for front and back.  (I have found I really like the cards without the fold and it saves on cardstock.)  Used watercolor around the edges for a shadow or aged look.  Mounted the ribbon through the centers of the die cuts as I mounted them as shown.  Used Glossy Accents in my needle-nosed bottle for the die cut edges.  Taped my centers with ATG tape. (BTW you don't need the gun to use the tape.  Let me know if you want me to explain how).  Added bows and white pearl hearts to front and back.
2. Tore the piece of French Text done on the envelope diagonally and painted on the edge as shown.  Added to envelope corner.
3. Mounted the layered Bouquet image on the front and laid the bouquet image on the back.
4. Cardstock has layers and I took the bottom layer off my last bouquet image before mounting it to the envelope.  If I send it in the mail I will cover the corner with clear package tape so it will glide through the postal thingy.

 Shirley

 SUPPLIES:

Christmas Wreath Two-Sided Card

Just a reminder to vote in my poles at the left if you haven't already.  You can keep up with the results too if you like by pressing on the view button.

I have another Christmas card so I don't get caught like last year, with not enough cards for all.  I still really liking making the card with just a front and a back (another green idea) when I can.  The photos make the red look more true red.  Mine is actually a deep pink red.  A very easy card as you will see:

IMAGE AND CARD FRONT:

1. Stamped wreath on white cardstock 3 times (once for base, once for dimensions, and once for the back of card and envy.
2. Painted all of first image, parts of second image for dimension, and trimmed parts for back and envy with twinks.
3. Trimmed and embossed Holly leaves, bells, and bow from back and mounted with 3D pop-dot REMNANTS. (Go green and don't waste the left-over of pop dots.  They work even better than the dots/squares sometimes, if not just the same.)
4. Put white cardstock through Cuttlebug with Sizzix Dots folder, painted the flourish with Twink H20 Solar Gold.
5. Used Bazzill Pirouette taped to Merry Christmas portion of Merry Tree die.

ASSEMBLY AND EMBELLISHMENT:

1. The Bazzill base is 6.25"x4.5".  The white embossed cardstock (5.5"x4.25) was mounted in the middle.  A plain white piece was mounted on the back.
2. The wreath was mounted and then Viva Crystal Clear was added to the bells and Mistletoe.  When dry Stickles Diamonds was added lightly to the Mistletoe berries.  The same treatment was done on the backside of the card with the holly, bells, Mistletoe, and the bow. Spica AtYou pens were used to high light the leaves and bow edges where needed.
3. Two strips of the Bazzill was added to the envy and then the Holly, Mistletoe, etc. like on the back of the envy.
4. The hearts were added with a dot of GA and then hearts added to them with a Quikstik.

That's it for today and thanks so much for stopping by to look and share.

Shirley

SUPPLIES:

New To You Stamps Happen Santas

Still getting out those old images to use, while incorporating some of my new 'stuff'.  I had several images of the Santas With Stars by Stamps Happen.  I decided to make a couple of cards with them and the fact that I usually layer really made it more appealing to me.  The only place I could find the stamp for sale was on EBay, etc.  I am also unmounting all of my woodblock stamps to make more room, so it worked well for that reason too.

IMAGES:

1. The Santas W Stars was stamped on white cardstock 6 times with Brilliance Gold, heated to dry the ink, painted with twinks, used a black Sharpie for the eyes, then fussy cut for the front, back, and envy, leaving a thin white edge around the images.  Fussy cut 3 of the stars on one of the other images for the cardfront and 2 sides on the back.
2. The Merry Christmas from the IO Merry Tree die was used with Bazzill deep pink cardstock.  I cut a 1.25 X5.5 piece of the cardstock.  Tape was placed on the die and paper on top to hole it in place.
3. The Santas had been painted with twinks and were mounted as shown.  The stars were embellished with Stickles Buttercup glitter glue.  Flower Soft/Glossy Accents was used for the fur on caps and Viva Decor Ice White Pearl pen was  used for the beards and hair.
4. The ribbon is from my stash and the Czech glass heart bead was added to the pearl corsage pin.

CARD FRONT/BACK AND ENVY:

1. They were created using Spellbinders Enchanted Labels 28 largest die.   White Laid cardstock was used for the front and regular white cardstock was used for the back.
2. All images were placed on the die cuts first.  ATG tape and was used to place the centers back to back, and the Glossy Accents was used on the 4 corners.

HINT - Someone asked about the needle nosed bottle for the Glossy Accents.  It has worked well for me for about 8 years.  It has only plugged up a couple of times.  I found leaving the bottle on its side keeps it from doing that.   When it did I used a long beading needle to unplug it.  If you have more questions don't hesitate to ask.

As you can tell, life is still taking place here, even more so with the cool weather for this time of year.  See you soon I hope and will be hopping your blogs to see your wonderful creations!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Peacock Nouveau

I fell in love with the peacock and feather image when I saw Karen Amidon's and Jenny Gropp's designs on their blogs.  I started my card some time ago and then life happened and I got side tracked, but today here it is:

IMAGES:

1. Peacock was stamped once and the limb (feather) was stamped 3 times and on an envelope with Memento Nautical Blue ink.  They were painted with twinks an fussy cut.  The circles on the feathers in areas were painted with Golden acrylic Iridescent Gold Deep.  Cupped and flat sequins were used too.  The flat sequins are are blue-green AB (Aurora Boreale) and show as different shades of blue and green. The itty bitty gold circles on the bird are left-over punched centers from a bottle of the sequins.  The bow is May Arts.

BACK AND ENVY:

1.  I am really liking using the back of my larger card fronts as the area for writing my letter to the receiver.  I did it on this card too.  It is thinner for mailing and I even though I layer.
2. Spellbinders Enchanted Labels 28 largest die was used for the front and back of the card.
3. Lil' Inker Mat Stitched Circle die cuts were used to mount the image and the sentiment (which was also stamped with Memento Nautical Blue).

I want to thank those of you who sent cards to Edith and her family.  Her sister has been posting thank yous on Donna's blog.  You can go there with the link in my upper right-hand sidebar.

Don't forget to vote by reading the polls in my upper left-hand sidebar.  You can follow the results there too.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share.  Have a great week and weekend!!
Shirley
SUPPLIES:

A Special Request

CAS FROM KAREN AMIDON'S POST.

One of our fellow craft and stamping friends, Sue Drees, recently shared some sad news with Donna Ellis at Creative Smiles.

Sue's sister, Edith, fell and was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  On June 25, the tumor was successfully removed. However, the biopsy brought back devastating news of a fast growing Brain Cancer. Edith is determined to fight this all the way. She began physical rehabilitation on July 4.

Sue is helping Edith in every way possible.  She and Edith's husband go together to the hospital each day and check up on changes and her care.  Sue has not asked for help.  Because Donna has kept in touch with her, she asked if Edith would enjoy receiving cards of encouragement and support.  Donna said Sue was so grateful that the on-line community might help in this way - it was something she had not considered.


Will you please consider sending a note, tag, or card (or two or three? :-)) offering encouragement to her? Edith has a disability in addition to this new challenge. I think she is such a role model to be so determined in her fight to get better.

Cards can be sent addressed to Edith c/o Sue and she will take them daily to the hospital.  Edith enjoys quilting and LOVES flowers! Edith's beloved fur child is a little pug, and both miss each other very much.

I will be glad to send you Edith's address if you email me HERE.  Donna has a tab at the top of her blog for Updates On Edith.  I added a shortcut in my right-hand sidebar for you too for future use.

I am posting my first card to her at the top of my post.  My card is pretty straight forward, but if you have questions, please feel free to ask.  Thank you so much for helping me send Edith well wishes and for stopping by to look and share.

Shirley

Ladybug Hugs To You

I found some really cute Ladybug cards while hopping at Miriam's Delirium, One Krafty Kat, and Paper Lilies And Ink that had me ordering Serendipity's Ladybug Stamp and Die Set.  I found that all of the images and die in the set can also be purchased separately.  For my card here is what I did:

CARDFRONT:

1. Created a white ladybug die cut with white cardstock and a black ladybug head using glossy black cardstock, painted the white body pink, mounted glossy black ladybug head over the white one, cut slit in the tail between the wings, mounted body on glossy black cardstock and cut around.  Colored legs black with Sharpie black pen.
2. Used the lid from a Twinks for a circle and traced with black pen, stamped the smaller ladybug using Tuxedo Black ink, painted with Twinks, trimmed around circle.  Stamped ladybug 2 more times, painted, embossed from the back, mounted with 3D pop dots.  Stamped sentiment with Tuxedo Black ink, traced around with pencil and then black pen, cut out.
3. Die cut using Divine Eloquence with glossy black cardstock.  Used same die as stencil for center traced on white cardstock, stamped with stamp from Fancy Labels, painted with Twinks, mounted on black die cut, mounted on pink cardstock.
4. Mounted large die cut ladybug with 3D pop dots, added dew drops and pearls as shown with GA and needle nosed bottle.  Used pearl pin with Czech beads and mounted with pin under die cut with attached bow.  Mounted smaller ladybugs and sentiment.  Added GA and pearls to smaller ladybugs.

 INSIDE And ENVY:

1. Inside - Created top and bottom trim using die used on front, added stamped images with Tuxedo Black from Fancy Labels.  Added GA and pearls to ladybug.
2. Envy - Stamped images from Fancy Labels with Tuxedo Black on envy.  Stamped ladybug on white cardstock, painted with Twinks and mounted on envy.  Used Viva Decor Ice White pearl pen for eyes and GA for black spots.

Thanks for stopping by to look and share!

   Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Flowers on Crackle Stenciled Background

You can barely see the stitches on the flowers and leaves, but they are there!!  I would never have tried the stenciled BG with modeling paste if I hadn't taken the Online Stencil Class.  Below is how I created the whole card:

IMAGES, STENCIL, AND DIE CUTS:

1. Stamped Stitched Flowers 3 times with Golden Glitz ink on white cardstock; painted two completely and one just the flowers with Twinkling H2O's; embossed the leaves and flowers from the back.
2. Used the Crackled stencil with gold modeling creme applied with a palette knife to white Laid cardstock.  It dries relatively quick.  I left it for 3 or 4 hours.
3. Die cut two 'hugs' on white cardstock; used leftover negatives from die cuts for exclamation mark; painted one 'hugs'  and exclamation mark with twinks.
4. Die cut Romantic Rectangles Two large, smallest, and next to smallest from white cardstock.
5. Cut two BGs (one for front and one for inside middle) from Crackle BG.
6. Die cut for inside top and bottom edges and envy using largest die with Crackle BG.

ASSEMBLY:

1. Mounted Crackle BG to largest die cut; mounted first flowers with glue dots and leaves with 3D pop-dots; mounted second layer of flowers with glue dots in centers and 3D pop dots on petals; added Viva Decor Ice Pearl Pen to flower centers.
2. CARD FOLD:  Used a pencil to mark edges of largest die cut near die center; measure twice the length; cut and folded and applied to the back of the Card front.  It still stands just fine by itself.
3. Added die cut edges to inside top and bottom; applied Crackle BG to next to smallest die cut; mounted to inside top center; added bow to bottom.
4. Watercolored edges of center embossed area on smallest die cut; double decked with painted 'hugs' on top and mounted to smallest die cut; mounted that to front lower right; applied sequins with GA here and there.
5. Divided pieces of die cut edges and mounted to lower left of envy.

That's all for now. Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

  Shirley
 SUPPLIES:

Something Old And Something New Two

I'm back with the kind of new thing again!  I created the background using a technique from my Online Watercolor Class.  I had the images from an earlier card and just changed them around a little.  Here is how this card was created:

CARDFRONT:

1. Stamped Rose Pitcher on white cardstock with Brilliance Galaxy Gold, painted with Twinkling H2O's.  The roses and the bud with stem were both stamped 3 more times and painted with twinks.  All were fussy cut, embossed from the back and mounted on the cardfront with 3D pop-dots and w/o on other areas.  The lace tablecloth open areas were cut out with an X-Acto Knife and a healing mat.
2. The background area was created with CAC Craquelure and Twinkling H2O's using a technique I learned in the Online Watercolor Class series.

 Building Card:

1. Front -  White Laid cardstock was used for the base.
2. The Craquelure BG was mounted on that.
3. The image was mounted on die cuts from Spellbinders Lacey Squares using white and natural cardstock.  It was then mounted on the Craquelure.
4. Inside - Die Cut edges were mounted with strips of the Craquelure BG.
5. A small die cut was used for the Rose and a rose with stem was mounted to the right.
6. Envy - Two of the Lacey Square edges were mounted back to back and a rose with stem added. The lacey edges were peeled to thin before mounting and so was the rose with stem.  I start the separation by flipping the edge back and forth with my X-acto knife, see it starting a little and open it up enough to gently a little at a time holding one side flat or with the free hand.
7. The bow is May Arts and the heart pen is Maya Roads with a Czech bead added by applying Glossy Accents to the stem.

Off to clean some rain gutters.  LOLOL  No rest for the wicked....or is it the stamping.  ;-)  Thanks for stopping by to  look and share.

 Shirley
SUPPLIES:

Brilliant Peony Painted, Stenciled And Beaded

 If you haven't seen the Stamping With Bibiana blog, get on over there.....right after you look and what I did after seeing her beautiful tutorial on using Brilliant Peony using her made gel and beads.  I just happened to have Golden Bead Gel on hand.  She sponged her stencil, but since I took the Online Watercolors for Cardmakers class, I painted with my stencil.  I didn't have the Memory Box mask for the stencil, so none of my backgrounds are shaded using it.  Here is where you can also see her tutorial as a PDF.  Bibiana, you are one talented lady!!  TFS your art!  Below is how I did mine.

CARDFRONT:

1. Taped Brilliant Peony Stencil to white cardstock, traced around it with soft lead pen.  Painted stencil areas with Twinkling H2O's with well inked Niji waterbrush (the tip needs to have a lot of the color so it doesn't run under the stencil (if it does a little use white out, etc. in those areas.  Applied the *Bead Gel with thinly a thin palette knife (scrubbed stencil immediately after with soap and dish brush). *My already made gel dried on the flower over night.  Fussy cut around the flower and used an eraser to get rid of any showing lines around the edges.  See the flower below:
   
2. Mounted on white laid cardstock with 3D pop-dots and then dark olive green cardstock.
3. The 'hello' was die cut using dark olive green cardstock and mounted on the laid CS.
4. The circles were created using the Circle Explosion Stencil by painting all first and then applying the gel beads after.  The circles were ready to go after about 3 hours.
5. Mounted a pearl heart at the bottom right for a hug and a round one in the center of the flower using Glossy Accents.
6. A piece of Tim Holtz Idea-ology paper string was tied as a bow on one of the stems.  (What I noticed was the string is 2 twisted twines.  If you wanted thinner you could easily just divide.)

BACKSIDE AND ENVY: 

1. Used a piece of white cardstock for the backside.
2. Used the center of the stencil and some of the leaves for the upper left, traced lightly for the stems so I could watercolor and then erase lines, applied bead gel first to flower and when dry did the leaves.
3. Used Circles Explosion stencil along the bottom and applied bead gel to some of the circles.
4. Applied some circles randomly to the envelope as shown.

I am really liking doing just the backside of the card for my note.  I still add my signature along the bottom, but briefer since I sign my note.  I actually have two other cards in process and hope to be back sooner.  I've said that before.  ;-)  I've had company and you know how that goes!!

Don't forget to vote in my poles, if you haven't already.  If you click on the 'View' you can see how the vote has been going.  Thanks those of you who have voted, and to all of you for stopping by to look and share!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:
(If I could not find the product at a good price online the link is back to my blog when someone clicks on it.)

Online Watercolor Class - Victorian Bird

Don't forget to take part in my polls to the left.  This time they won't disappear!!   BTW, I am so sorry I am late in getting to some of you.  It's those comments on separate pages and I can't remember the card!!  ;-)  Just teasing.  I have over a hundred of your wonderful art blogs I am following and I can't not read them.  Whaaaah!!

Truth be told I did an card a long long time ago with this same image and coloring.  I had more than one image and what I was thinking I don't have a clue!!  Since I have started the Online Watercolor Class, I am trying to use anything I have that needs to be used!  The first and second days of the class are dedicated to backgrounds.  Below is how I did my images to use with the background I created.

IMAGES:

1. The image, Victorian Bird, by Impression-Obsession, was stamped with a Stazon Jet Black ink.
2. The image was painted with Twinkling H2O's and Black Diamond glitter glue was used for the legs, beak, and a little of the heart 'wing'.  Glossy Accents was added to the eye. Mark Richards Crystal Stickers 2mm Black Onyx Rhinestones were added to the wings as shown. If you click on the image they are easier to see.
3. A Royal 3/8" Soft Grip SG 730 was used for the grass.  Below is a picture of the brush.
4. The "hello." is from Impression Obsessions Social Greetings 2 clear stamp set was stamped with Luxe Tuxedo Black and embossed with clear embossing powder.

The background was created using Glossy white cardstock, Twinkling H2O's, and Tim Holtz Layering Stencil Honeycomb.  Remember how I did the back of the cardfront like I would normally do the inside.  I did it on this one too.  I did the same technique only on the corners and on white cardstock.  I also did the corner of the envy the same way.  See below.

I kind of like it.  I am off to do another card.  This time it is a CAS with some watercolor techniques too.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Online Stencil Class Days 3 And 4

Days 3, 4, and the Bonus were filled with tons of techniques and step by step instructions on pdf and videos for download.  I liked that you could use whichever one you liked most.  I chose to do a quick card I had in my mind so I could move on to the watercoloring class!!  I got the idea for the colors in the flower after seeing Jane's on her blog, Cards By Jane.  Thank you, Jane, for sharing your beautiful card.  Here is what I did:

IMAGES:

1.  Stamped the flower on white CS with black ink, painted with Twinkling H2O's, applied GA to the flourishes; used Black Inkssential for the tiny dots and berries; Gold glitter glue for the frame edge and the center of the flower (in the photo it looks silver and that's because it is lighter than their Golden Rod).
2. The hello die was used on black cardstock and mounted with GA to the pink background.

STENCILING:

1. Used the Dots stencil first with Memento Tuxedo Black applied with a dauber.  I found rubbing was better than dabbing.  LOLOL.  Then I used a spatula with Golden Gel Medium Regular - Gloss.  I don't think I will use it for stencils again.  It is great for copying and transfer of photos, but it stayed tacky and didn't dry until the next day.
2. Mounted to pink cardstock.  Image mounted with 3D pop dots and the sentiment too.  Used leftover black and white dotted ribbon for the bow.

BACK OF CARD AND ENVY:

1. So in my blog hopping I thought I saw someone doing the back of the cardfront like the inside w/o the other side.  Hope I didn't confuse.  The photo should clear it up.  So I thought I would try it with this one and kind of like it.  Figured my signature after my written message with a date could suffice for signing the card.
2. I stenciled again with the black ink but did not use the medium.  I used the gold glitter glue to offset the dots a little.

I found FREE polling software so you can tell me what you prefer to use for posting comments and the size of photos in posts.   I hope you will leave me your answer to the questions posted in the upper left-hand sidebar.  I used Blogger for the first attempt and all of a sudden the votes disappeared.  I want to thank all of your who chose before and be assured that Pollcode.com said I could have the poll open for a year with no problem.

I am not off to start the watercolor class over at Online Card Classes.  The stencil for 5 days was $12  and the watercolor for about 12 days of lessons I think.  You get pdfs and videos for each day that are downloadable if you like to do that.

Hope your weekend and holiday were great.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Stencil Class Day 2 - A Rose Is A Rose

Stenciling Day 2 covered using stencils with stamps, masking, watercolors, colored pencils, and using the negative portions of sticker sheets, etc. as a stencil.  Another packed lesson with the lessons in downloaded pdf and videos too.

I chose to use my stencils with inks, stamps, and watercolor too.  This is what I did:

STENCIL IMAGES AND SENTIMENT:

1. Stenciled CW Echoes with TH Antique Linen on white cardstock.  Used tiny leaf and dot stamps from IO Branches Of A Tree inked with Memento Pistachio and Angel Pink over the AL.  I did the same to the corner of a wrong A2 envy.  Trimmed the corner and mounted on square envy so could still mail at cheaper rate.  Used Lil' Inkers Square for die cut.
2. Taped MFT Rose Builder onto white cardstock.  Painted stencil areas with twinks.  Went over inside edges for depth with Niji waterbrush and ink gathered from ink pads for Pistachio and Angel Pink.  Embossed white areas with stylus.
3. Used the negative leftover image from Day 1 on Dotted Swiss CS mounted on white CS as sentiment for today.

ASSEMBLY:

1. Mounted Echoes BG on pink CS, then green, the white.
2. Mounted rose on leaves.
3. Mounted rose and leaves on Echoes BG with 3D Pop-dots.

 INSIDE CARD:

1. Lined with dotted swiss and white CS.  Used left over remnants from stenciled Echoes for sides.
2. Used Stitched Square die cut, sponged frame, added leftover Echoes remnants to frame, added smallest Spellbinders Classic Hearts die cut from Echoes leftover.

EMBELLISHMENTS:

1. Added Wink of Stella to some of the little pink stamped dots, the edges of the rose and leaves, the white area of hello, inside for the same pink dots.  Added white pearl heart stickers as shown and white pearl corsage pin with dotted swiss bow.

Off to do Day 3.  Loving all of it so far.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Stencil Class Day 1 Card

 

I was so thrilled with the class.  They had 3 different excellent instructors and 4 videos.  They give you a supply list, but I tried to use what I had. since I've been stamping 14 years.  I learned about inking and masking with stencils and using inks and sprays with them.  Above is my first card that I inked with a stencil on the card front.  I did not use their masking technique on the envy, but it is masked and I can explain how I did that below.  Here is what I did.  The background sample is one I saw on Pam Sparks' blog HERE, while looking at their great pre-course gallery.  She even had a tutorial for it HERE......and yes, I ended up ordering the flower die she used too.

IMAGES:

1. Stamped image on vellum with Golden Glitz; painted with Twinkling H20 watercolors, highlighted with a Spica At You glitter pen; mounted the waxed white string bow.  set aside.
2. Envy - Stamped smaller image on vellum twice.  Once for mask on envy and once for inside to mount on the left like I did the card front. When I did mask I used Tombow removable tape between the mask and image. To remove it you just rub it off.  Very easy.

CARD FRONT and INSIDE LEFT:

1. Card front - Used Bazzill Dotted Swiss for card base.
2. Daubed (sponged) Burlap stencil with Golden Glitz, Peeled Paint, and Worn Lipstick randomly.
3. Die cut BG using Lil' Inkers Stitched Rectangles Mat; mounted; mounted image.
4. Die cut 'hello' using Bazzill Dotted Swiss CS; mounted as shown; added hearts to corners.
5. Inside - Stenciled Burlap down the center of the left side to match the card front; laid a piece of Bazzill CS on the left margin; painted the vellum stamped smaller image like the one on the envy and mounted in the center.
6. I always use cheaper cardstock of the same weight and same brightness for my card folds.

ENVY:

1.  Stamped small image on envy as shown, place stamped mask over it.  Stenciled with same colors as card front; peeled mask off and painted image with twinks and SAY glitter pen.

I would never have tried this without the lesson and, BTW, you also get a pdf with the lessons that were taught in the video.  Very cool.  When I am done with this class I want to take the watercolor class.  Big thanks to all of you who went before me so I could see your gorgeous cards that inspired me!!!  If you don't see supplies in my list below or you click and it comes back to my blog, it means I couldn't find where to buy it or already had it and didn't know the brand, etc.

Off to look at Day Two!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Sweet Treats For You

IMPRESSION OBSESSION -  SWEET TREATS

IMAGES :

1. Stamped  image with Golden Glitz three times, painted with twinks, trimmed around base image, embossed from backside with stylus.
2. Trimmed around needed flowers, etc. on 2nd image as needed to mount on first image.
3. Trimmed around cupcake for inside and fondant cake for envy.

CARDFRONT AND ENVY:

1. Card fold - Used Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles for four die cuts for card as described in Hinged Filigree Card Type 2 Tutorial.  
2. Cardfront Background - Used the die as a stencil for the cardfront background with some leftover DP; used Tim Holtz Bubble stencil with a dauber and Brilliance ink over the lower right corner of the DP; mounted Sweet Treat image; mounted flowers, cupcake, butterfly cookie, whipped cream with chocolate bits, fondant cake, and bow on cake in window as shown; added sequins on stenciled circles.
3. Envy - Mounted one leftover corner of DP from stenciled BG to envy; used Pentel eraser refill for dots with Golden Glitz; added fondant cake (separated cardstock to make it thinner); added sequins; mounted (separated) Sweet Treats sign.

INSIDE CARD:

1. The top and bottom trims were done using the bottom of the largest die.  The inside die cut behind the cupcake was done using a Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles die; sequins were applied and the cupcake was added to the die cut.

EMBELLISHMENTS:

1. The white cake and cookie frosting is Golden Iridescent Pearl Finish; the Pussy Willows, whipped cream, and candy dots on fondant and cake are Viva Decor Ice White Pearl Pen.
2. The flower centers are Stickles Orange and Yellow Glitter Glue and Viva Decor Bronze Glitter Glue (which is also the edge of the butterfly, on cookie, wings.
3. The chocolate bits on the whipped cream are Viva Decor Bronze Pearl Pen.
4. The bow is May Arts ribbon.

That's enough for everyone, I am sure!!  ;-)   I am off to try and learn how to do things simpler.  ;-)  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

My First Almost Christmas Card!

PARTRIDGE IN PEAR TREE

I have had this image forever and to prove it, it is from Rubber Stampede and I could not find it for sale anywhere but on EBay.

IMAGE:

1. Stamped on white cardstock with Brilliance Galaxy Gold and heat gun used to dry the ink.   The pears were stamped again and the leaves too.  They were all fussy cut.  They were painted with twinks, and all but leaves turned over and embossed from the back with stylus.  Added Glossy Accents to bird's eye.  After it was mounted I brushed on Wink of Stella Brown. It looks great next to the Galaxy Gold.

BACKGROUND:

1. (To the best of my recollection) - This BG was done eons ago, just like the image!!  Stamped a fern here and there on natural cardstock with VersaMark, covered with Clear EP, and embossed.
2. Spayed Radiant Rain Fern here and there, sprayed with Radian Rain Solar Gold, sprayed with a little water to mix a little and then laid aside to dry.  
3. Heated with heat gun to dissolve the Clear EP.  BE careful not to burn if you try this.  Laid aside for years. ;-)
4. Added the green trellis leave border stamp with Memento Bamboo Leaves and painted leaves with twinks.

CARD FRONT AND FOLD PREP:

1. Two die cuts from white cardstock and 2 die cuts from white text paper.  The text cuts are to line the backs of the cardstock die cuts so it looks more finished.  The nerd in me.... ;-).  They were put together like it describes in my tutorial HERE   Cut two smaller die cuts from white cardstock for inside top decor.
2. Used the largest die as stencil on the prepared BG and mounted to cardstock side; added ribbon across the front and taped in the middle on back.

ASSEMBLED:

1. Mounted bird in middle of front.  Mounted pears on back for inside top.
2. Used largest die inside to trace pieces of BG for inside top and bottom as shown.
3. Added a corner of BG to envy (Peeled top layer of cardstock so it is thin); peeled of top layer of 2 leaves and added to the corner of envy.
4. Embellishments added are:  Viva Ice White Pearl was added to dots on BG pieces and to make a heart on envy; baby half hearts were added to front and inside card as shown.

If nothing else it's a loving start toward Christmas!!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Victorian Spray

WOODWARE - VICTORIAN SPRAY CARD FRONT WITH ENVY

All I can say is it's a mixed bag!!  It started when I ran my hand across the stamen of the flower, while it was wet with glitter glue.  Yuk!!!  I almost always paint with Twinks and since most everyone else uses Copic, Shinhan, etc., I haven't listed the H2O colors.  If you ever want them, feel free to email me.  I also started out with something totally different in my head and here is how I got the above:

IMAGE:

1. Stamped image on white cardstock twice with Golden Glitz ink and used heat gun to dry ink; painted all of one with Twinks. Painted all but the flower on the second.  Fussy cut around the outside of the completely painted image.  Fussy cut around one corner, the leaves and the berries of the second image.

CARD FRONT:

1. Used largest die cut, from Spellbinders A2 Curved Matting Basics - B, as a stencil for a piece of dark purple card stock.
2. Used an old 4.25"X5.5" Lavender striped piece of DP with the largest die cut; daubed the smallest cirles corner of Circle Explosion stencil on upper left and lower right of die cut and mounted on the dark purple piece.
3. Mounted the image in the middle of that.
4. Embellished with Stickles orange and yellow glitter glue - rubbed my hand across it before it was dry. :-(
5. Applied Stickles Golden Rod to spots and berries on image; applied here and there on the Circle Explosion area.  Brushed just a touch of Wink of Stella Clear along the darkest purple lines of the flower.  The ribbon for bow was a gift for a purchase somewhere.  I secured the heart bead with GA to diamante stick pin.

INSIDE CARD

 INSIDE CARD and ENVY:

1. Cut two pieces of dark purple cardstock .75"X5.5"; taped to each side.  
2. Used the IO Circles Cut Out on a piece of the striped paper ( NOTE - There are no borders on the circle die.  You can place it anywhere on any piece of paper, (i.e. in the middle if you want) and you just get holes.  Saved the negative holes.  Cut it in two pieces with 2 rows on one and one row on the other.  Taped to purple as shown.
3. Taped to right and left as shown.
4. Mounted fussy cut leaves and added Golden Rod glitter glue as shown.
5. Applied the "leftover dots" from the Circles Cut Out here and there using Glossy Accents applied with needle-nosed bottle and a QuickStik for the dots, embellished with Golden Rod glitter glue.
6. Used GA and needle-nosed bottle to apply corner of image to envy and berries with leaves; embellished with glitter glues.

That's it for now.  Almost have a Christmas card done!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

A Belle Flower Hello!

BIG BOLD BACKGROUND BELLE FLOWERS

Okay, so the minute I see a background stamp with distinct image, I often think how I can also use them for the inside and envelope.  I am sure because when I was growing up the insides of cards always matched the outside and sometimes even the envelope too.  So when I saw Chocolate Baroque's Belle Flowers that's exactly what I pictured.

IMAGE:

1. Stamped Big Bold Background Belle Flowers with Golden Glitz on white cardstock twice.  Once for cardfront and once for inside and envy.  Painted with Twinkling H2O's.  Used AtYou Lipstick around the pink flower.  Embellished with Viva pens and Stickles glitter glues shown in supplies below.
2. Trimmed BG to 5 1/8" square and Mounted on piece 5.25" piece of Phoenix cardstock.

DIE CUTS:

1. Die Cut the 'hello' sentiment using white cardstock.
2. Die cut sentiment tag from Polka Dots long narrow die using the red Phoenix cardstock.
3. Mounted 'hello' on red die cut.  Ran gold cord through holes on red die cut and attached to back.  Tied bow.  I didn't want to cover any of that wonderful Belle Flower background!!
4. Added Maya Road white pearl pen and Viva Bronze glitter pen dots too.

INSIDE AND ENVY:

1. Fussy cut pieces of the second background for inside and envy as shown.
2. Used X-acto knife to separate cardstock so I could peel the images for the envelope and inside.
3. Attached trim form the largest Polka Dot die to top and bottom as shown.  Attached images to inside and envy with Glossy Accents from my needle-nosed bottle.
4. Hints about bottle.  (I keep the bottle on its side so the needle part hardly ever gets clogged.  When it does I use long fine bead needle to unclog it.)  *Hint - When I flattened flowers sometimes the GA gets on the cardstock.  It comes right off any paper or cardstock with the non-abrasive Pentel eraser shown in my supplies.

That's it for today.  I am off to get my box for the winner of the blog candy ready to mail and to address the card and color page images ready to mail to Lauryn!  I want to thank all of you for your contributions of cards and/or donations.  Big hugs!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Just Because And How To Keep A Post On Top Of Home Page

Hero Arts Large Flower Background

I've had this stamp for a long time and decided to use it. I had a really difficult time getting a good photo because of the shine I wanted you to see. Oh well, and then I really didn't like how the inside turned out.....so you don't get to see it!! ;-)  I also didn't want to cover that gorgeous background.  I paint with Twinkling H2O's and for this card I used Ice, Luv-U-Pink, Buttercup, and Moss Green.  IRL it has a wispy look and shines!!

1. I stamped the Large Flower BG image on white CS twice with Memento Cocoa Brown, painted with Ice, Luv-U-Pink, Buttercup, and Moss Green; added Gold glitter glue to the centers of the tiny Buttercup flowers.  Added white AB sequins with glue dots to the flowers here and there (like dew drops).
2. I did cut out painted portions of the second image and mounted on the inside I'm not going to show you.  LOL  Anything you do with that will be better than mine I think.  We all have bad days.  The envy has a piece of that background too.
3. Used the Perfect Layers 1/8" ruler for the shiny brown layer around the image.
4. Used the Perfect Layers 1/4" for the white Laid CS layer on the bottom.  The card measures 4.75"X6.0".
5. The tag is the smallest die cut from Spellbinders A2 Curved Matting Basics B.  With die in place watercolored edge with Moss Green.  Stamped with sentiment from Flourishes Garden Picks.  I would link, but have no idea what is happening for sure at Flourishes.  I do know Power Poppy is open.  The ribbon was a gift with a purchase on EBay.

And that is it.  I am off to make a card for the little girl in the post you see at the top of my posts, Lauryn Newsome.  She is 2 years old and fighting for her life with treatment for Leukemia.  She loves Princesses and Superman!!!  Please pray for her and her parents and send some love for Lauryn.  The information is there so you can visit her Facebook page or go to this blog to purchase stamps, where the proceeds will go to her fund and/or make a direct donation through PayPal.  Thank you all for any help you can give.  Thanks for stopping by to look and share!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES: