Thursday, October 13, 2011

... "packages tied up with string"

MFT top shelf gift stack card

A random card for a random week. Mouse (the cat) and
I have been sick & we're all sleep-deprived.
(Though Mouse has been sleeping during the day):


(in the recycling basket) heehee

I have some kinda nasty bug, again. And she's in heat, again. She's been so reactive to medication and she's so tiny that we've been afraid to have her fixed. She lives on the 15th floor so no worries about boys... But we have to give in: next week is the date to take her in. I'm worried silly (as only a crazy fur-mommy can be). Sigh....

Anywho, here's the details about this birthday card:

MFT top shelf card detail

The gift images are from an MFT stamp set called Top Shelf.
They're stamped on digital patterned paper from TracyAnnDigitalArt on etsy.

And they're popped up in the most affordable way possible.
(Those of you who love foam dots may cringe at this,
but I don't really like them much).
Sometimes, they're just too thick & do you ever wonder
how they stand up to the test of time?

But most of all, You can see them from the side.
(Crafter's O.C.D. all the way, baby!)


(Paper instead of foam dots
under images for dimension)

Sooooh... if we're going to go to all the trouble of adding special
touches to a card why have foam undies show?

Here's my fave, free (and acid-free)
alternative to foam dots.
It's nothing revolutionary: paper...



Scrap paper for dimension:

1) Stamp your image on paper.
2) Then, stamp the images again on scrap cardstock.
3) Cut the scrap paper out so that it's smaller than the image.
4) Stick the layers together with your adhesive of choice.



Flexible options: Stamp several times so you can
cut out more scraps for various levels.

I love that paper is so flexible that way. You're not limited to one width,
of whatever foam dot you have; you can add however many layers of
paper you want to add under an image).

black thread around packages

Hard to tell from the photo, but the bottom gift has more layers
of paper under it than the top.

Then they all have thread
stitched around them to look like string.

stitched bow & printed embossed vellum tag

The bow is pierced & stitched by hand, onto the pressure embossed argyle.

The vellum cardstock tag is stitched on too.
To get a heat-embossed font on it was easy peasy:

1) Cut a piece of vellum cardstock in half (to fit the printer).
2) Type out your text in a word document & colour it.
3) Have clear embossing powder ready to go.
4) Print the text out on the vellum cardstock.
5)Quickly sprinkle clear embossing powder on wet printer ink.
6) Gently heat with a heat gun to melt the embossing powder.
7) Use your heat-embossed computer sentiment however you like...

circle punch rock candy crackle flower

If you're curious about how the flower was made with a
circle punch, there are directions here.

Other Supplies: Kraft, White, Blue, & Vellum cardstock; Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 5 (with the sides trimmed off); Argyle Cuttlebug embossing folder; Blue, green, white & black thread; YG00 Mimosa Copic marker & white souffle pen to make leaves.



This is the ledger I used here (printed on kraft cardstock).
You can download it from this older post, here:
Ledger 3 Print fit-to-page or on 12 inch or legal paper
(or on Flickr here).

The lined paper white cardstock
is here with some other freebies:



Hope you're having a lovely week,


15 comments:

Kim Etherington said...

As usual, stunning! What a gorgeous card hon! When are you going to post those jewellery thank you cards you made for me? I LOVE them! Such a thoughtful gift for me to give to my Lia Sophia hosts. Love ya!

Priscilla said...

Gorgeous card as usual. Hope you shake your bug soon. Don't worry about mouse, my kitty was too tiny and the vet said bring her back in a couple of weeks (I'm sure he questioned her age at the time....that was 13 years ago. She's fized and fine.
Thanks for sharing your card.

Sherri G. said...

Another gorgeous card with so many wonderful details that make it extra special.

How did you punch the holes to stitch such a perfect happy birthday on the bottom panel of the card? I really like the look, but I have no idea how to do something similar myself!

vdoyle8 said...

You are an amazing artist as well as unbelievably generous. Thank you so much for all you share! Your work is absolutely beautiful, each and every post!

Moka said...

beautiful as usual. Your cat caught my eye - I thought I was seeing the ghost of my little cat Peanut. She looked exactly the same and like yours, was a tiny thing. There should be no problem in getting her fixed.

Diane said...

I can't believe I have never thought of the paper trick before. I hate being able to see foam from the side, and for me the 3d glues always seem to go solid in the tube before I get my monies worth out of them. Your paper idea is inspired. I am never going to buy foam squares and dots again! Thank you for the freebies too, hope you feel better soon.

Ann said...

This is so clever and eye catching you have done a brilliant job on this and thanks for the tip re layering I too hate sticky foam pads and this is a great alternative!

Ruth S said...

Beautiful card Mel - your detail is so wonderful, especially the thread 'string' wrapping around the parcels ;)
Hope you and Mouse are feeling better soon!
Rx

leslie (crookedstamper) said...

"foam undies" bwahahahahaha! LOVE the clean look of this card!

Dawn said...

Sorry to hear you've been sick AGAIN! sheesh!!! Oh, and Mouse will be just fine.

Looove the card, so cute over the ledger paper! And, yes, a fab trick that I use too! I love it when we think alike... makes ME feel smart!! hahahahahaha

xoxo

Deepa Gopal said...

Lovely card and lovely colours... you have so many things to realize your ideas into reality... wonderful!I hear so many new things when I visit your space... It's just dazzles my imagination.
Thanks Mel:)

A Spoonful Of Sugar said...

Fantastic card - thanks for the tip about adding dimension with paper!

Erum Tasneem said...

A-mazing! I do this too Mel! I use scraps and if I want more dimension I fold them up :) this is indeed a super saver and a cool way to use scraps.
I love that fabulous shape as a focal point. your stitching is AWESOME. Love how you coloured the vellum green, it also shaded the thread somewhat which I am loooovin!
I like that digi background too (ledger one, written), but things tun green on my Kraft CS. That wood grain background was also printing in green lol i will have to make small tiles of diff shades of brown and try printing, will save the best possible outcome for future.
I love your stacked gift boxes and tying them up with a thread is,again, a brilliant idea.
I downloaded your 6 petal ornate flower template in SVG and it cuts absolutely fine. I will post a link as soon as SCS approves my card.

Dawn Woods said...

Hi, I am a newcomer to the crafting world, and this blog has been a god-send to inspire me, that fantastic goodies can be made. I Love your templates and the tutorials are so helpful.

I wanna say a big thank you, and I look forward to your next post xx

Sue said...

Brilliant card and i am sure Mouse will soon recover after her opp Luv Sue x