Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Ephemera Birthday Card (+ cheap tricks for digi papers)

Happy Leap Day!

ephemera birthday card SU image mel stampz

Finally a card! It's been a while, hey?
This one is a birthday card for someone special,
made with 2 of those ephemera paper freebies

The Hexagon & the Chevron (with a tight zigzag):

7_SAMPLE_JPEG_ephemera_hexagon_DARK_300dpi_melstampz

&



For some odd reason, I actually cut out a bunch of the hexagons and
stuck them on a piece of cardstock and did some faux stitching:

ephemera birthday card  mel stampz

The bow

is made using some vintage seam binding
hat was a gift from my Mom for Christmas:

vintage seam binding

(As you can imagine, I wept for Joy!)

.

The flower has an amber center made from a little antique crystal
from a necklace that broke. The flower itself is a DIY book-page flower
(Template & link to the tutorial here):







(Sanding digital papers)

Do you find that sometimes
when you print a digital element it just needs

a little extra bit of texture?

cheap trick - sand digital paper  free printables mel stampz

Distressing digital papers with sand paper makes them
look like fancy-schmancy papers from a paper pack.


It's so easy to sand digi papers:

Step 1) Print your digi paper image.
Step 2) Let the ink dry a little - if you use an inkjet printer
Step 3) Then simply sand it wherever you like.


And you are not limited to the edges
of the paper, of course:


sanded digi paper lowers contrast

Sanding all over a digital print
can really help reduce the contrast or soften the look
&
it adds lovely texture that can be quite fabric-like:

sanded digi texture

A Little Tip: I like to sand the whole sheet before trimming it, or tape a section of the paper down to a card or flat surface first to prevent unwanted tears or bends during sanding.

Another Little Tip: I have sanding blocks but I prefer a little wee piece of 150 grit sand paper, since it gives more control than a block & the scuff marks it leaves are organic shapes instead of the straight edges that a block can leave. (Not to mention, a bit of sand paper is way cheaper & greener than foam blocks!) :-D




(colouring bits of digital paper)

quick trick add marker to printed  digital elements to customize them

The black measuring tape strip is from
this Echo Park set that I bought at Jessica Sprague...



The numbering was cream, but the blue bow seemed to need something to tie it in, so.... it's coloured with a Pale Blue B32 Copic marker. I printed a bunch of that border (that pasted into another document) to use later -- and they can be coloured any old way.



  • Ephemera paper freebies from this post.
  • White cardstock & an inkjet printer, Sandpaper
  • Echo Park For The Record border coloured with B32 Copic
  • Faux-stitching: Paper piercer & Copic multiliner
  • Retired S.U. birthday cake stamp from Little Hellos
  • Black cardstock, White Color Box pigment ink
  • White & gold Prismacolor pencils
  • Silver Liquid Pearls, White Sakura Souffle gel pen
  • White thread dyed with Antique Linen Distress ink



Thank You ever so much for checking this out.
Hope you're having a the most lovely week,


P.S. Don't worry, I haven't forgotten that I was gonna link up the Graphics Fairy images used to make those ephemera papers. Just thought that it was about time for a card around here, already!

13 comments:

Elaine A said...

Mel -

The card is gorgeous! I love it! The bow is perfect as is that sweet little flower! Awesome job! And if I have not said it, thanks for all your hard work.

Elaine Allen

Pat (mspfd) said...

Absolutely gorgeous creation! Your design is fabulous and that bow is beautiful. Lucky you to receive such a fabulous array of vintage seam binding.

Margie said...

Great card and thanks for the tips. What a great present you got - I love the vintage seam binding so am envying your lovely collection!

Tiffany said...

Great to see a card today! Hope you've been doing super fantastic! LOVIN' these Ephemera papers! Thanks <3

Glennis F said...

Love your card - it is great inspiration for the papers TFS

Bonnie said...

Really enjoying your site. Thanks!

Suzi said...

Never would have thought of sanding digi paper! Of course! Way to go, Mel! Thank you!

Sue said...

Fabulous card,love the flower.The papers are fab,thanks for sharing.

Marianne said...

Love the card. Very inspirational. Thanks again for the papers and your great tips.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work Mel! This is a great technique... those vintage seam bindings are beautiful! and thank you for the ephemera digi papers!
LoretteC

alexandra s.m. said...

Oh my Mel! Yu did it again ;-)
I adore your project!!
and thank you for all the visual and constant generosity!!

Dawn said...

Mel, dear...MY birthday isn't untill Fall, but you're ahead of the game now, aren't you!!! lol

fabulous card and soooo GOOD to see you creating! LOVE the seam binding...you have a good mom!!
love the sanding too!!

xoxo

Janet a.k.a. swanlady21 said...

Love your card! And thanks for the great tips and the paper!