Mini (3 Inch) Square Note Card & Envelope Template

Wee little Valentines are so fun! This one is a 3 inch square card with the mini envelope to match. This post is linked to a project I'm working on: a template webpage built from scratch (me scratching my head trying to figure out how the heck to write in xhtml.) Whew is it tricky!!! Makes me appreciate blogger's WYSIWYG editor madly!

Card Supplies: Stamps: Simply Said Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Purely Pomegranate, & Berry Bliss designer series paper. Ink: Black Craft, Really Rust Craft, Rose Red Accessories: Stampin Up pink grosgrain ribbon (distressed), Sakura glue pen & clear e.p. (to emboss resist the hearts), white Signo gel pen, Giga scallop punch. Techniques: Acrylic block stamping with Stampin Up stamps, with Glue pen emboss resist & distressed ribbon.

Thanks so much for reading,
:0)
Mel

P.S. Here is a link to the template PDFs for three mini envelopes (instructions there too...)

Standard & Large Envelope Templates (& Family Tree Card)

I have gone template crazy: making envelope templates & joy of joys I've finally figured out how to save them as PDFs!!! This card is made in my favourite size: 5 1/2 square. I actually made the envelope first. It adds so much to the card, but it only cost 25cents for a piece of designer paper to make it with and it only took 4 minutes! (Can you tell I'm thrilled to be making my own envelopes?)

Here's the link for the envelope templates (It also includes two others: a standard 4 2/8" x 5 1/2" & a 5 x 6 1-2 inch card.) The instructions for the large ones are important--if you want them to print fully--so please read 'em & let me know if they don't work for you. :0)

Other card Details:
This card is for my Dad. He's a Tree Doctor (also known as an Arborist) ;0) The inside is going to say "I'm so glad you tend the family tree!" heehee (The designer paper is called Genealogy Collage, so it suits a family tree theme. It's by Karen Foster Design 60332.) The stamp is called Scroll Tree (by Hero Arts) I've embossed it in Chocolate Chip craft ink & clear e.p. I've drawn in little black hearts hanging from the branches & doodled a line of grass with a Stamp'n'Write marker. The shaded areas are Chocolate Chip ink sponged on and I've distressed the mat & the hinges with Black craft ink. The hinges are made using a round tab punch and the brads on them are SU's Vintage brads. The word "Love" is an SU Rub-on (Saleabration.) The brown mat with text is the By Definition background stamp on glossy cardstock done in the emboss resist technique (Versamark & clear e.p. heated, cooled & sponged with Chocolate Chip ink.)

Thanks for reading & Happy crafting!
:0)
Mel

Beady-Eyed Dragon Fly (Emboss Resist over Images)

A second card I made for my Secret SBS2 Sister the super-talented Maria.

I wanted the dragonfly's wings to have some texture, so I used the set Define Your Life to add text & then emboss resisted them:

I used two dragonflies for this card; I like to make a few at a time.

To emboss resist the dragonflies just:

1. Stamp them onto Naturals White cardstock (sturdier) in Black Stazon (or emboss them in black craft/black e.p.)
2. Stamp over them in Versamark with Define Your Life stamps (or any texture stamp or background)
3. Put clear embossing powder over the Versamark & heat it
4. Allow to cool & go over with a sponge and a reinker wash (Tempting Turquoise here.)
5. Dry & cut out.

I liked the way the effect turned out, so being a weirdo I wanted to do something with the scraps. Punched with a circle punch they made a super quick, but somewhat detailed, scallop:

Just put a strip of adhesive on the back of your mat and stick the circles on to make a scallop

Centering your circle scallops: If you layer & cut your mat to fit your image first, and flip it over & mark the center in pencil on the back of your mat, then you can start adhering the circles in the middle and work out. You just trim the ends. It gives you a perfectly even scallop every time. Using your cutting mat to make sure they all stick off the same distance makes it super quick.

He has a brad for a head and beady little eyes.

The dragonfly (from Winged Things) is attached with a little bit of Crystal Effects & a brad. I also used Crystal Effects to glue beads on for his eyes. His body is coloured with a silver pen & a glitter pen. There's a bit of glitter pen on his wings too. The patterned paper is Basic Grey (Romany from their Gypsy line GYP-531) The tab is punched with SU's scallop punch & the Rub-on phrases are from SU's new Saleabration mini. Cardstock: Naturals White, Cool Caribbean, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, & Certain Celery.

Thanks so much for taking time out of your day!
:0)
Mel

ETA P.S. A fab video that shows this scalloped edge method (and other great ones)

Busted! Secret Identity Blown (and paint embossing on acetate)

I'd make an atrocious super hero. I was so careful to try and hide my identity in making cards for my secret sister, then in my excitement at mailing them off I threw in some hand-dyed silk flowers & some home-made primas (that are a staple on here--so they're a dead give-away!) My duh!

Well, I can now brag about my secret sister...she's Maria (of Stampin Inspirations and Card Inspired by Maria fame!) and she's one awesomely talented lady! I wanted to try something different for her, but also use new Stampin Up stuff (since I don't have any Close to my Heart products--which she sells. I love it & it sells in Canada, but I'm still in the process of finding a demo...) So...I embossed the new Saleabration set Friendship Blooms on an overhead sheet:


Things I did to make this card:

1. Stamped the Friendship Blooms flower (in Black Stazon) onto printable overhead sheet (it's an acetate with a bit of tooth that can buy at office supply stores.)
2. Painted on acetate flower (with pure Real Red reinker on an aquapainter)
3. Sprinkled clear embossing powder onto the wet reinker.
4. Gently heated e.p. with heatgun
5. Cut out embossed acetate flower.
6. Punched center flower with SU punch & added it with a black SU Vintage brad.
7. Cut Basic Grey paper (sorry searched everywhere for the name...It's discontinued I think...)
8. Cut mats out of: Real Red, Cool Caribbean, White, & Black
9. Layered new SU Rub-ons (Saleabration mini) onto Basic Grey paper
10. Added more black brads & adhered everything.

Thanks for looking!
:0)
Mel

Envelope Templates

Edited to Add: Here is a link to the template PDFs for three mini envelopes (instructions are there too!)

This gift card is 4 2/8 inches x 2.5 inches and it's made with the cardstock remnants of making two 4 2/8 inch square cards. It's a great way to avoid wasting cardstock. I've finished the templates for the custom envelopes--with the help of the SU five-in-one Card-Cover template. I just wish I knew enough computer-wise to tell you how to get a good printable version of them by saving these pictures (if you know, I'd absolutely love to be clued in!) ;0)

If you want a printable version just leave a comment with your email or email me at mmmccart@sfu.ca & I'll send it to you.

Happy Crafting!
:0)
Mel

P.S. The card was super easy to make. The stamp is Riot of Petals Background, embossed with black craft ink & clear e.p. and I've water-coloured it with pretty in Pink wash on an aqua-painter. For steps to distressing ribbon <--click that link.

Edited to Add: Here is a link to the template PDFs for three mini envelopes (instructions are there too!)

4 minute Custom Envelopes (Plus Distressed Ribbon & Tinted Signo Gel-pen)

Edited to Add: Here is a link to the template PDFs for three mini envelopes (instructions are there too!)
Pretty envelopes are so fun for Valentine's Day! If anyone would like custom envelope templates just click here.

This fits into the what the heck and why didn't I think of this sooner categories... :0) Envelopes are so hard to find in good sizes & Stampin Up's 5-in-one template is amazing, but it fits a weird sized card: 3 and 6/7" by 6 3/8" Am I missing something? What's with that? Why wouldn't it fit a standard card??? Anywho, I've decided a couple of times a month, I'll be making custom envelope templates & tutorials to share with you. They take 4 minutes or less, and you can customize them by stamping them or using designer papers.

The first template I've made is pictured above. It fits a 4 2/8" square card. (Easily made by folding a standard sheet of cardstock in half --vertically--and then cutting at 4 2/8" twice.) You get two of these square cards out of a standard sheet with a cute little long note left over. [I'll make a template and tutorial for that too and share both by Sunday.] The envelope can be made on standard paper size too.

Distressed ribbon is fun to make & you get a new look for free. This ribbon used to be just pink! :0)

To make distressed ribbon, just:

1...Cut a strip of ribbon
2...Place it on a scrap piece of paper
3...Take a stamp pad & (I've used Black Craft here; I like the wetness of the craft inks for this & Classic Black has more of a purple tinge than Craft does)
4...Angle your stamp pad (in your dominant hand) on top of the end of the ribbon at about a 15 degree angle lightly touching the ribbon.
5...Pull the ribbon (in your non-dominant hand) through under the stamp pad and adjust the pressure until you have the desired ink coverage. It looks great tone on tone!


Envelope Supplies: Whisper White cardstock to print template. Berry Bliss designer series paper, double-sided tape, & SU envelope glue to construct envelope.

Card Supplies: Stamps: Simply Said & Stitched Background. Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Berry Bliss designer series paper. Ink: Black Craft, Really Rust Craft, Pretty in Pink Accessories: SU eyelets (Soft Subtles), Stampin Up pink grosgrain, Sakura glue pen & clear e.p. (to emboss resist the hearts), white Signo gel pen, Giga scallop punch. Techniques: Glue pen emboss resist

Thanks so much for reading,
:0)
Mel

P.S. If you'd like tinted White Signo Gel pen, just go over your white dots/stitches a couple of times with a Stamp'n'Write marker. (Works best on dark cardstock colours)

Edited to Add: Here is a link to the template PDFs for three mini envelopes (instructions are there too!)

Valentine's 2-5-7-10 Box

The cards are made with all of the ingredients from my last post, with one exception: the large (5 1/2 square card has nifty circular scalloped paper on it--which is accented with paper punched dots.) The 2-5-7-10 Box is one of my favourites. There's a great tutorial for it here on splitcoaststampers. It's really easy to make. I always make one change to the tutorial though: before step 8, I like to score in the middle of the side panels (1" in--3/4 of the way down.) Then, "Line up front of box with back of box at top and pinch together. Release." Scoring ensures a perfect fold every time.

To make these projects I used:

Stamps: Simply Said & Stitched Background for the scallop tag. Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Cameo Coral, Basic Black, Berry Bliss designer series paper, My Mind's Eye Tres Jolie paper Je t'aime "love" TJ1090 & Mon Cheri "girl" TJ1155, Making Memories scallop circle paper. My Mind's Eye Tres Jolie Stickers. Ink: Black Craft, Really Rust Craft, Cameo Coral Accessories: brads, ribbon from Michael's dyed with Rose Red reinker. Stampin Up black grosgrain, Sakura glue pen & silver e.p. (to emboss the hearts), white Signo gel pen, glitter, SU scallop punch, Giga scallop punch. Techniques: Emboss resist & Glue pen embossing (and glue pen resist)

Thanks for poppin' by,
:0)
Mel

P.S. ETA: here's a great video tutorial series on how to make a 2-5-7-10 box part 1 SCORING, & part 2 CUTTING, & Part 3 ASSEMBLY & part 4 FINISHING

Simply Said: Don't be afraid to UNmount that Rubber!

I love this Simply Said set, but I found I really wasn't using it. It was hard to center the images. Now that I've UNmounted it I am happily using it and getting pleasing results. To unmount yourstamp, all you do is heat it (on the block) for a few seconds in the microwave, then peel it gently off (the grey foam stays attached). You can always use Crystal Effects to re-adhere it later, so why not try it? You'll be able to use rubber on an acrylic block for precision stamping:

This three set stamping process is MUCH easier when you use an acrylic block

The black scallop along the bottom was easy to do. Just punch out circles & adhere them.

Centering your circle scallops: If you layer & cut your mat first, then flip it over & mark the center in pencil on the back of your mat, then you can start in the middle and work out. This gives you a perfectly even scallop every time. Using your cutting mat to line them up makes it super quick. The hearts on here are done by glue pen embossing. (just swipe your embossing buddy, draw the shape you want in glue pen, then emboss as usual.) :0)

To make these cards I used:

Stamps: Simply Said Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Cameo Coral, Basic Black, Berry Bliss designer series paper, My mind's Eye Tres Jolie paper Je t'aime "love" TJ1090 & Mon Cheri "girl" TJ1155 Ink: Black Craft, Really Rust Craft, Cameo Coral Accessories: brads, ribbon from Michael's dyed with Rose Red reinker. Stampin Up black grosgrain, Sakura glue pen & silver e.p. (to emboss the hearts), white Signo gel pen, glitter, SU scallop punch, giga scallop punch. Techniques: Emboss resist & Glue pen embossing (and glue pen resist.)

Happy Craftin'
:0)
Mel

ETA: great scaptime video on unmounting by Christine

A RAK: Thank You Secret Sister!!!

Check out this bright beautiful lovely! I came home to a slew of mail last night. It's so exciting to get cards; I usually just send them. ;0) Makes me want to send more, 'cause it's so fun to get 'em. I just LOVE the fresh colours and the layout on this...The layers with all their painterly detail. The text on that flower is AWESOME isn't it? And the ribbon detail: how divine. I feel a case coming on!

Thank You Secret Sister. You ROCK!
:0)
Mel

Painting Designer Series Paper & Glue Pen Embossing

What are the odds that on the day I wanted to make a special card for our fabulous friend "Russer," I would get a birdie stamp in the mail so I could be just in time to play along with the amazing Alison's (Queen of link-love!) theme for the week (birdies), and that I would just squeek in under the deadline for Anna's special birthday card challenge that I found on Alison's treasure trove of a blog? Neat, huh? (I love the blog-community!)

Believe it or not, I used the new Berry Bliss designer series paper to paper piece the bird. I just painted it blue to make it blue. That way I got those pretty little dotted circles showing through. I am in mad LURVE with my Sakura glue pen. It's a ballpoint, so it adds the most teensy details. I put wee dots of glue along the wing and birdie hairdo, then sprinkled it with silver embossing powder. Super FUN to do! Then I wrote the phrase"Happy Birdie" in glue pen (free-hand) and I embossed it too. Click on the pic if you'd like to see the details close up:

I found this great burlap paper at the dollar store. The package said acid & lignin free; do you think that's a fib? How do they do it?

Anywho... Russer is very special to us, so I wanted to make something unusual for his birthday. The big FOUR OH! (He's even more dear to me for being the only one of our close friends who's older than me.) All hail Russer! ;0) Well, I've heard life begins at forty; I'm prepared to believe it!

Happy Birdie...

The best thing about the glue pen is that you can emboss your own phrase inside the card--anything you want to write.

It's way easier to do this with the glue pen than it is with the Versamarker. I love that you can emboss a the name of the person you're giving the card to-->on the envelope, in or on the card, on a box... [Russer is his nickname, based on a kid's show character & it always makes me smile. I holler it whenever he's on the phone or visiting; it drives him bonkers I think, but hopefully it tells him how much he's loved!]

More card details: Rhonna Farrer stamp: Nature Stamps. The body of birdie is done in embossing on Berry Bliss d.p. in Chocolate Chip craft ink; his feet & hair on Soft Sky in Not Quite Navy craft ink (clear e.p. for both.) Really Rust & Not Quite Navy cardstock.

Thanks so much for stopping by!
:0)
Mel

Tone on Tone Painted Paper Dots

I've seen a lot of cards in the new SU catalogue that have dots of cardstock on them & when I was making these flowers I punched some centers. Then I thought "Hey! I could punch lots of circles & put them on." It's a little time consuming, but it gives you something kind of different. Here's a tutorial, cause I just can't seem to make a card without one, lol. :0)

Flower Card with Tone on Tone Paper Dots:

Emboss flower (Black craft ink & clear embossing powder.) Paint with Lovely Lilac ink wash. Make extra areas of paint wash to punch flower centers out of.

Stamp the dotted stamp as a guide for where you'll glue your paper dots. You could also draw the dots on with more spacing, so that you need fewer (I used Lovely Lilac cardstock & ink here.) Then trim paper after stamping so that dots are straight

Paint cardstock with Lovely Lilac ink, dry (with a heatgun perhaps?) Punch dots out of it with hand-held circle punch (or another shape if you like...) The dots collect in your punch & you just open the back of it to set them free! How nifty is that?

This is a little fiddly but fun. Put little dots of Crystal Effects onto the stamped dots & then adhere the paper punched circles. I like to do two rows at a time & allow a few seconds for the crystal effects to set a bit (this keeps it from smooshing out and getting where you can see it.) You could also use glue dots, but that's a lot of glue dots! If you plan your design ahead you can avoid going to the trouble of putting dots where they won't show. Click the pic for a closer look:

Other card Details:

The center flower is the Friendship Blooms stamp (Saleabration set). I embossed it on Naturals White cardstock (Black craft ink & clear e.p.) Then I used Lovely Lilac classic ink to paint a wash on it. The two green flowers are cut out of a Stitched background emboss resist piece (made with Glossy white cardstock, Versamark & clear e.p. heated, then sponged with Mellow Moss ink.) Their centers are just circle punched SU lilac glitter & more of the ink washed cardstock (see tutorial above.) :0) I've scratched the back of the gem to make it look like a cracked glass gem.

Other card ingredients:
Cardstock: Lovely Lilac, Mellow Moss, Almost Amethyst, Elegant Eggplant. Hand-dyed ribbon (Mellow moss 5/8 grosgrain.) Rub-on (Saleabration.)

Thanks so much for checkin this out! Happy craftin'
:0)
Mel

Making Your Own Card-Kit Elements for FAST Cards

Sometimes you just have to have a card yesterday! :0) I had all of the elements ready for these and I forgot how speedy you can be when you do that, so I thought I'd share some ideas:

--Precut & Altered Mats: I had these Tempting Turquoise mats cut & distressed & rubbed with the same colour ink pad. You can have pre-crimped mats, pre-stamped mats, doubled-up mats... I just added rub-ons to these & they were ready.

Pre-done images make it much easier to create note-card sets as a quick gift.

--Prestamped & Coloured Images: I have a lot of images pre-done. I like this so much, because sometimes I'm just in the mood to do one element: colouring or cutting or stamping and I'm not in a layout frame of mind. It's a great way to get inspired if you're stuck. You can also emboss scenic or critter stamps that you can watercolor & add to a card later. One major advantage is that you can stamp & emboss on one sheet of paper, then colour on that single sheet and cut apart later. (This saves mess & effort, but it also means you always get a perfectly centered image, since you cut to suit it.) You can cut ovals or circles too of course...

--Homemade Primas: Flowers are my favourite things to have all set to go. (I Have to make more colours though!) Here's an alternate idea of Dee Jackson's that's sheer brilliance: you just pre-stamp & Cut flowers, then you can colour when needed. If you do pre-paint a bunch of primas, it's handy to leave some sans embellishments so you can get variety.

I have Tupperware containers with pre-cut & folded cards in all of the colours. Very handy!

Precut cards: Some of these are pre-stitched like the cards I made this time. I also like to precut square cards & am thinking of doing circles too. One advantage to this is that your creative mind isn't limited by what colours you have out, since you have a plethora of hues at hand. (Heehee, plethora...) ;0)

Colour Themes & Storage: For images & mats, I find it's easiest to stay with a monochromatic look of your favourite colour (IF you like that look.) Then, you're sure to use the bits that you take the time to make. You can always mix the colours up later. They store well in ziplock baggies or a tupperware box. I like to pack them up by stamp set or theme.

Thanks so much for reading!
:0)
Mel

P.S. Other Card details: These Not Quite Navy cards were pre-folded, stitched on the sewing machine, and the line was drawn in with a white Signo gel pen. Stamps: Doodle This stamp (left) Delight in Life stamp (right); Cardstock: Not Quite Navy & Tempting Turquoise. Flowers are embossed on Naturals White in Chocolate Chip ink & clear e.p., painted with Turquoise & Not Quite Navy reinkers, & they have a Gem brad & beads for centers.

Sanded Emboss Resist is a Riot

The crafty peoples on Split Coast Stampers are doing some amazing things with this Riot of Petals background stamp. I've wanted to try emboss resist with it since I first saw it in the catty.Then, after I had this card all assembled I thought it needed something, so I attacked it with a nail-file--Yup, I'm wacko! :0)

I have a new easier plan for saving cardstock & weight; just freehand cut the center out with an hobby knife. I was punching shapes out of my mats to save weight and to use the cardstock, but some of my larger non-SU punches that work really well for that are really close to the edge (and I found I don't use the pre-punched shapes. Now I can punch out these scraps. I just have to keep the blade & cutting mat handy (But I always use my mat to line things up anyhow....)

I like to get deeper tones of cardstock for mats (especially with Chocolate Chip.) I thought it'd be fun to also get some shine on this mat, since this card is minimalistic layer-wise. So, I just wiped on some Chocolate Chip craft ink (direct to paper technique) and then embossed it with clear embossing powder. Massively easy! I can't wait to try making my own metallic cardstock mats this way: with grey paper and Encore ink. :0)


Some things I did to make this card:

The main image:
1... Stamp Riot of Petals background in Versamark on Glossy cardstock
2...Heatgun it & cool, then apply Chocolate Chip classic ink
3...Add concentrated Chocolate Chip craft ink details with an Aquapainter. Let sit to dry well
4...Sand the image to distress. Also distress edges with the Cutter Kit
5...Direct to paper distress the edges with Chocolate Chip ink pad
6...Add brads (these are SU's vintage brads.)
7...Put little dots of Sakura glue pen on the flower centers & sprinkle on Dazzling Diamonds. Click on this pic if you'd like to see the details:


The rest of the card:
8...Cut Soft Sky mat (& remove center to save weight)
9...Cut Chocolate Chip mat (remove center.) Apply Chocolate Chip craft ink & clear e.p. (Creates glossy card stock--see pic above.)
10...Punch key tag for the tab & add rub on sentiment (Saleabration mini)
11...Cut main Soft Sky card to size & stamp Sanded Background (Sahara sand ink)
12...Distress layers & adhere everything. (I always extra strong double-sided tape, but if you use a regular adhesive, you may find that the embossed mat needs a stronger one to stay put)

Thanks so much for looking & happy happy happy crafting!
:0)
Mel

Using Basic Grey's Matchbook Kit Bits on Cards

I ordered the Phoebe matchbook kit by Basic Grey online, even though I didn't know what it was. And I don't really scrap yet, so I don't need to make a matchbook album. I did want to have fun with it on a card though. The pieces fold up to make the perfect square, & then you get to see both sides of the paper! I find it a bit of a luxury item, ($5) but I don't have a Cuttlebug to make the die cut bits, sighhhh... ;0) This is a standard 4 2/8 x 5 4/8 inches, so that gives you an idea of the size of the Basic Grey bits (3 6/8" sq after folding.)


A couple of lil' pointers for working with these precut bits:

--After you pull them apart (and when you take the tiny pieces out, for instance holes) they leave little bits of paper. I used a nailfile to remove them, but I like the looks of Basic Grey's file set ($7)
--The ones I used have precut holes, so if you don't want them to be holes, just put a little bit of tape over the back & they stay in.

You can see the indent of the little hole (on the pink section) if you click on this pic below, but it's not an obvious thing on the card:

Card Details:

If you'd like, here's a tutorial to make the flower. Other things I used: hand-dyed SU ribbon (River Rock double-stitched and Very Vanilla 5/8" Grosgrain (dyed with Always Artichoke reinker to get Mellow Moss ribbon); altered Pixie Pink cardstock--rolled with Speckled Stampin Around wheel (in White craft ink) and with direct to paper Versamagic chalk ink (in Perfect Plumeria); plain Sage Shadow mat & Soft Sky main card stamped with Sanded background (in Versamark) then stamped with the wee cloud from the By Air set (White craft); torn bit of Chocolate Chip cardstock to make soil. All the paper is distressed & the sentiment is a Rub-on (Saleabration mini) :0)

Hope you have an astoundingly beautiful day!
:0)
Mel

P.S. I'm not affiliated with Basic Grey; I just like their papers & thought I'd share a different way to use this schtuff. :0)

How to get Detailed Emboss Resist with a Glue Pen

I got my Stampin' Up order in yesterday for my first stamp club ever! Can you tell I'm ultra excited? I was trying out a glue pen emboss resist technique as a test run for the gals; hope they like it. It's really easy and fun. You can get so much detail with it, and what a hoot to colour with the glue pen. Made me feel like a kid again. :0) Here's a tutorial in case you'd like to try it:

1) Stamp image (craft ink) & emboss. I always stamp homemade primas on Naturals White cardstock, because it is thicker than Whisper White, so it makes them easier to shape and more durable. Paint them with reinker wash. Dry with heatgun if desired

2) Colour over areas (that you'd like to resist the next application of colour) with a glue pen (the bright blue areas on the top flower have the glue.) Do large areas first, so it stays wet--or work in batches (embossing then adding more details)

3) Sprinkle embossing powder over the wet glue and gently emboss.You can skip this step altogether, if you're willing to wait for the glue to dry. I'm not! Soooo... I emboss. It may bubble. That's okay

4) Ink up a sponge dauber (or sponge) and cover the flower. Cover enough area for cutting petals. You can also get this monochromatic look by drawing details on top of the fresh ink with a signo gel pen: some of the colour will bleed through and it'll give you the same colour in a few shades lighter than the ink you've used.

5) Sketch the shapes of petals that you'd like in a signo gel pen (after you cut it out, you can use the sponge dauber with left over ink to remove this guideline.) If you've like to skip this step, you can just use your scallop punch on the flower; it fits perfectly. Cut out flowers & shape them with your fingers (to give the petals a little curl.) I've also added black lines around this one, by using Black craft ink on an aqua painter; Makes it look more like it's stamped

I used another flower to cut out a center adhered it & then added a dot of Crystal Effects & S.U's new glitter. [The colours are deeper than in the catalogue & it has more sparkle.]

More Card Details:

The flower is from the Kind Thoughts stamp set (the main card is stamped with it too.)

The Mellow Moss background is made with the emboss resist technique [embossing the new Stitched background on Glossy White cardstock (with versamark & clear e.p.) then adding ink on a sponge] I made the leaves out of a piece of this background; I just took a piece folded it in half, and drew a leaf on the back until I was happy with the shape. Then I cut them both out at the same time. Next I added the black edging to both the background square & the leaves using craft ink on an aquapainter. It's easy to fix any mistakes because it's on glossy cardstock. Just wipe with a damp paper towel. :0)

Other ingredients:

The Tempting Turquoise strip is just cardstock with the Sanded background stamped on it repeatedly in white craft. I wanted Basic Grey paper, but didn't have the right colour. In the end, I like this better (That's crazy, huh?) Rub-ons (from saleabration mini,) Basic Black cardstock & black S.U. grosgrain ribbon.

Thanks for Looking,
:0)
Mel

Tag! You're it! (and Valentine's-ish cards)

Catherine tagged me with all kinds of juicy questions, and I'm tagging Kim & Becky, & Ruth
(in case it might inspire her) :0) So here goes:

1. Name your two favorite scrapbooking topics: Need to start again, then...family & trips
2. What are the two best places you’ve been to? BC (and then I moved there) and Hawaii
3. Name two things you do every day: Spend too much time on the computer & read
4. Tell us two things that everyone pretty much knows about you: I'm goofy & I'd much rather be called Mel than Melissa
5. Two places you wish to visit: Hungary & Prague with Charles.
6. Two things you may not know about me are: I write poetry & collect playdoh (I have no kids!)
7. Two nicknames you’ve had at some time in your life: Melizzard and Mdgkpa
8. Name two of your favorite drinks: Ribena and Sobe green tea
9. What are two interesting (in a good or bad way) jobs you’ve had in your life? Day care (where I was an assistant teacher, but also cleaned a lot of toilets.) Aerospace where I was a janitor (& LOVED driving a forklift then graduated to deburring airplane parts.
10. What are two things you would like to learn? Scrapbooking & crocheting


11. What two things would make your scrapping/stamping work space work even better for you? An OTT light and my own room--darn it! so I can make noise!
12. What are two of your favorite stamp companies? eat cake graphics (cute) & Above the Mark (collage)
13. What are your two favorite stamping tools? heat gun (can't not emboss) & Cutter kit
14. What are your 2 favorite occasions to make cards for: Thank You & no reason at all!
15. What 2 times are the best for you to get stamping done: Middle of the night & middle of the night!
16. What are the last 2 cd's you bought or 2 artists you last downloaded: Imogen Heap & Feist
17. What are your 2 favorite colors: Blue and very recently Pink(!)
18. What are 2 crafting products/tools that you want to try but never have? Cuttlebug & Nestabilities. Come on lottery!
19. What are your two favorite types of inkpads (pigment, chalk, dye, Palette, catseye, etc...) SU! Craft inks with clear e.p. & Versamark
20. What are your two favorite designer paper lines: Basic Grey anything and more Basic Grey!
21. My Question: What's your favourite 3D project you've ever made & why? Link it here :0) Wait! Do I have to answer that? Ummm... a card box one post before this, because I made a template for the first time & used all kinds of good stuff instead of cheapin' out!


Thanks for Looking,
:0) Mel

P.S. all ingredients for cards can be found here.

Tutorial for Deep Card Box & Valentine's Day Chip Board

After seeing the card box in the new catty on page 120, I was dying to make it, but there's no pattern for it on the Stampin' up demo site, so I made my own. I've written a wee tutorial in case you'd like to make one too. :0) The box is 3" deep, so you need to use two pieces; sounds tricksy, but it's actually easy & precious. Honest!

Here's what you'll need:

Cardstock or designer paper (12 x 12 or 2 standard sheets)
A scoring tool (I used the one from the S.U. Cutter Kkit)
Ruler (I like the Stampin' Around wheel guide, cuz it has no-slip grips)
Cutting Mat (or a scorepal)
Optional: more cardstock to line it, ink to distress edges, ribbon, chipboard pieces & Mod Podge to glue d.p onto chipboard.

Here's how:

1) Cut two pieces of cardstock (or hefty designer paper) so that they measure 5 1/2 inches high by 8 inches wide. You'll only need to score 3 lines.

2) Lay your piece on the vertical--the way the white piece is below:

3) Score at 3 inches (on the vertical)

4) Then turn the same piece on the horizontal--the way the coloured piece is above. Note: you should always score on the white (or on what will be the inside of your box.)

5) Score it at these 2 increments: 1/2 inch and 3 1/2 inch.

5) Cut the smallest section on the left out. (Marked in red stripes on the drawing below)

6) Cut a slit in the middle of the bottom pieces. (Marked in red on the drawing below)

note this template is not to scale (but measurement figures are correct)

7) Repeat the scoring & cutting on the second piece.

8) Crease your score-marks well & do a dry fit.

9) Put double-sided tape on the smallest two (1/2") sections (on the coloured side.) Then attach the two pieces together and close the bottom with more double-sided tape.

10) Embellish as desired.

Here's a close up of the details I added and a list of what I used:


Other Materials:

--On Board Accents
--Basic Grey paper (Pheobe line: Ashbury Street phe 755 & Angel Island phe 757 )
--S.U. Cardstock: Rose Red, Certian Celery, & Chocolate Chip.
--Hand-dyed ribbon: S.U.Very Vanilla 5/8 inch & dollar store flower (Tutorial here.)
--S.U. sab Rub-ons & Basic Grey Rub-ons,
--Crystal Effects to adhere gems & flower ribbon
--White Signo gel pen
--Sakura glitter pen

Thanks for reading! Have a spectacular day,
:0)
Mel