Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Nope, not an April Fool's joke... it's a real blog post. :-)

faux bleach Hero Arts flower card DETAIL

Dear sorely-neglected Blog Friends,

Hello again! Well, where to start? (I guess, I should first say, despite the date, this is not an April Fool's joke!) :-) How the time passes; it's been over a year since I've blogged?

So many things have happened in the past year or so -- starting with technical craziness with my computer that has set the entirety of my PC contents out of my reach for the time being (digital papers, cut files, and even tutorial photos). Though hopefully I'll be able to retrieve them all soon.

Looking back I think losing access to all of my work broke my mojo. I just couldn't seem to craft much and blogging felt so off. I didn't feel right posting anything until I could share the free cut files and papers that went into making things.

On a personal note, my apologies for being away so long and being so silent. I have missed You all ever so much, but wasn't sure how to reconnect. Now though, I will be here weekly and hope to find my blogging voice again. That and start making new schtuff, so I can share with You again!

So, without further ado, a card:

faux bleach Hero Arts flower card


I did this stuff to make the card...

Step 1) Heat embossed a Hero Arts Delicate Blossoms stamp in white ink & e.p. on My Favorite Things, Steel Grey cardstock.

Step 2) Created a faux-bleach technique by painting on white Distress Paint (Tim Holtz Picket Fence) watered down and applied with a paint brush. Added white splatters as well & then allowed it to dry.

Step 3) Added colour (the turquoise and yellow) with Copic markers & a colourless blender pen.

Step 4) Made the sentiment banner using 2 layers of Canson Tracing Paper (on which I stamped a Tim Holtz Reflections stamp on the back of in White Stazon).

Step 5) Created a "Hello" cut file in Silhouette Studio (using Lobster - a free font); cut it from white cardstock & coloured it with a black marker. Adhered it onto the tracing paper.

Step 6) Adhered the image & sentiment to a piece of yellow cardstock Staples Canary cardstock. Added some hand-stitching in white thread & stuck it all on a white card top-fold A2 card.



The stamp text/numbers on Tim Holtz's Reflection stamps are reversed, since they were designed by Tim for kissing techniques and for use with embossing folders:

tim holtz reverse stamp on tracing paper white stazon


However, I wanted to be able to use them for regular stamping, and stamping them on the back of tracing paper allows it to show right side up:

tim holtz reverse stamp on tracing paper white stazon (2)


free cut file

I made a silhouette file to share, with some card fronts and the sentiment.
(They're set up for print & cut if you want to fill it with a pattern or photo).

hello card panels - lobster font - free cut files by mel stampz

Details: These cut files are designed to fit an A2 card while leaving a band of coloured cardstock or whatnot exposed at the side. (They are 5.5" tall x 3.72" wide, but you could easily change the width to be 4.25" to cover the whole card if you prefer).

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To download the free Silhouette file,
click the image or click this link.
 
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SVG files are available here:



This digital work is offered up for free, but mainly for personal use or handmade sale items only.
Please do not use these to make digital papers or kits for sale, nor mass produced items.
If you have any questions, please be sure to read my terms of use here or email me. Thanks!


Thanks so much for stopping in,

52 comments:

Unknown said...

Yay and thank you!! How is Mousy & your family?

Tasnim said...

So glad to see you making 'schtuff' and blogging again! Welcome back :) The card is simply delightful! It's amazing that you colored those flowers on gray card stock, the result is stunning!

kksb said...

Yeah Mel! I am tickled and delighted you are well and creating.You make the world a better place.

Vicki Dutcher said...

WELCOME BACK! You were missed. What a BA BAM entering with your beautiful [trendy] card!

Lisa - papergrace said...

Welcome back, sweet thang!! Sure did miss you and your crafty self. Love what you've created so much. As always, you make me smile. ♥

Lenoria said...

Welcome back! I have missed your posts although I don't create very often I still enjoy reading your blog and seeing your wonderful ideas!!

Paula's ponderings said...

Hey Mel

So GOOD to see you back, well and crafty 😃.

See how you are missed?. Life has got in the way of my craftiness also, but I do try and do a little every day.

Much love to you x

BSI said...

I kid you not, I was just thinking about you yesterday and hoped you were doing well. Glad to have you back!

ursula Uphof said...

Welcome back Mel. What a great return with this gorgeous card. I was looking to do something special for a friend, and think I will be using your ideas. Thanks for sharing and have a Blessed Easter. hugs, Ursula

Annie said...

So pleased to see you back in blogland - love what you have shown today and I have a silhouette myself now so am really grateful for the cut file too.
Ann xxx

AiyanaKalyna said...

Welcome back Mel. Missed you too. How is Mouse? Beautiful card as always. I missed your inspiring posts.

Edna Siu said...

Wow, so excited to see you back, can't wait to see your tutorials, designs, free stuffs - thank you so much, you always bring us huge surprises, that is so creative too.
Hugs to you.

Glennis F said...

Welcome back - you have been SO missed!

Unknown said...

Hope you can restore all your files and mojo soon :) Love this card - thanks for revealing your techniques.
Best wishes, Maya S. | Croydon Carpet Cleaning

itsazoo said...

Welcome back......You were missed......Love that Gorgeous card......

mybonnetbee said...

Bentornata, Mel! Mi sei mancata!
Welcome back! I really missed you! ^_^

Crafting Queen said...

Great to see you back and what a lovely card.

Dotty Jo said...

hello mel, I've missed, miseed, missed you! Great to have you back and creating magic once again! Jo x

ike said...

Hey !! :-D Great to have you back and what a smashing card that is. :-) I am so pleased to see you blogging again xoxox

Ike in Greece

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Welcome back! I'm so happy to read your posts again!! Your blog is a must!
Great card, I haven't a Silhouette, but you give me a great inspiration, your poppies looks great!!
Thanks for the tip to stamp reverse on tracing paper! Another clever idea from you!!

Dawn said...

OMGoodness.... I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw your name in my inbox!!! Soooooooo GOOD to see you again!! You don't know how many times I've thought of you:)
Beautiful card, you've still got it, kiddo!!
big hugs and welcome back!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm sooooo excited that you are back! Yay for us!

patti said...

Glad to see you back!!!

Nicole Maki said...

Welcome back! Your card is gorgeous!

I had wondered what had become of you. It really was a treat to see your post pop in in Digg Reader.

Yay!

Warmly,
Nicole

vdoyle8 said...

I am so happy to hear from you! I hope you are well. Your card is gorgeous! Love the faux bleach technique - thanks for the inspiration!

linda from arizona said...

Miracle of miracles! So glad you are back. You have no idea how you've been missed!

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

So happy you're back! And with such an amazing card. So glad you shared the tip about painting with the white Distress Paint. I was just wondering what else I could do with mine.

Peggy said...

Welcome back
Your dreams were
Your ticket out
Welcome back
To that same old place
That you laughed about

Well, the names
Have all changed
Since you hung around
But those dreams
Have remained and
They've turned around

Who'd have thought they'd lead you
(Who'd have thought they'd lead you)
Back here where we need you
(Back here where we need you)

I can't get that song out of my head now, WELCOME BACK!!

Unknown said...

Glad you're back!!!

Elena said...

Glad to see you're blogging and creating. :)

bkazoo said...

Wonderful to read a post from you. Agreat card, I love it!

Jackie said...

I am so glad that you're back! Thanks for the cut files and I look forward to read more from you.

Terri S said...

So happy and so awesome you're back!! Continued wellness all around to you!!

Sue from Oregon said...

I thought I was hallucinating!!!! Hello Mel!!! How the heck are ya? I see you have not lost your magic touch...still as crafty as ever! So glad to have you post again girlie!!!

Chelsea said...

Yay!! You're back!!! I've missed your posts, your humor, your creativity. Thank you for a delightful post today, and I hope your mojo is back with a vengeance! You are such an inspiration.

Marie said...

Yes ! nice to see you again. I missed you too ! and thank you for all you do for us.

Nicky said...

Yes ! nice to see you again.
I missed you too !
thank you for all you do for us.
Nicky

the Blackbird said...

So nice to have u here again in blogland! Welcome back from an italian follower :)!

Anonymous said...

Welcome back. Some days, it isn't all about stamping but should be about you. Missed your chatter and glad to know you are okay. Love the card!

SiskiyouSue said...

So glad to have you back! You have been missed. Thanks for the fun file!

SonjaK said...

So happy to see you back in blogland! If only started following you shortly before you've stopped to blog all those months ago. Can't wait to see what you'll show us in the next weeks and months.

Leslie Hanna said...

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel!!!!!! So good to see you back! LOVE that card!

Marianne said...

Great to see you're back, and with such a gorgeous card too!

GetSilvered said...

Welcome back Mel.
I was just thinking about you the other day when I used two of your digital papers for an Easter project.
Great to see you blogging again. Fabulous card too.

Miriam Prantner said...

This is so beautiful! I'm so glad to see you back!

Debbi Tehrani said...

Beautiful card! So happy to see you back!

Sweet Paper Bliss said...

Great to see your back and well! Love the card, by the way.

Unknown said...

So so happy to see you are back and blogging again. I have missed your wit and creations. WELCOME BACK!!!! :)

jill said...

glad you're back - and ty!

adele holcomb said...

Just randomly ran across this fabulous card on Flickr and had to stop by here and see how you made it. You've given me so many ideas this morning that my brain is buzzing! Will stop by again.

Sue VanDeVusse said...

It's so good to have you back here! I have missed seeing your blog posts and I love your papers.

Heather said...

I am so happy to see posts from you again! I have missed your beautiful work. I recently received a cutting machine and now I can use your files. Thank you for all your hard work. I hope you are doing well health wise.