As Time Goes By

This layout on page 66 of the Idea Book captured my attention immediately when I saw it way back in January:

I love the way the stamps from Simple Memories are used to create the background for this paper.

So I finally sat down this morning to create something using this idea.

The colors in this card are Bamboo, Colonial White, and a touch of Heavenly Blue ribbon.  I used Bamboo ink on Bamboo cardstock to create the partial background in the same patters as the layout.  I embossed the medallion to give it a little more pop, and the Designer Rhinestone Brad finished it off.

I think it's wonderful to sit down with a stamp set and create the background with just ink and cardstock.  So often the result is so wonderful, and in this case, very elegant.  

Don't forget that it's STAMPAGANZA month!  During the month of June, when you buy one stamp set, you get one free.  You can go here to start shopping!

Happy Birthday

I am having an embossing class in March.  Here's the information:

Friday, March 9th at 6:30 pm

or

Saturday, March 10th at 10:00 am

5 cards for $10.00 and all supplies are included.

Just bring yourself!

I wanted to show you one of the cards we'll be making.  This is basic embossing mixing dry and heat embossing using the upcoming March Stamp of the Month.  I will start my class with this card because I want to make sure the basics are covered.  Then I've got 4 other wonderful embossing techniques to share that will be used to create the other 4 cards.

Now, if you are interested, I want you to sign up early!  The spots are already starting to fill up, and space is limited for this class.

Gift Card Holder

Have you been looking for ideas for gift card holders for Christmas?  I love this 3-D "french fry" box that you can cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge!

I've cut this box at 5-1/4", and it folds up to be approximately 2-1/2" wide by 3-1/4" high.  I used one of the sheets from the Elemental paper packet.  It just happens to be olive print on one side and cranberry print on the other, so this sheet is perfect for Christmas.  Now the cranberry star is from the Love Life stamp set.  Isn't it great that so many sets can be used for all occasions?  The other star is a Milepost Shape that is made of corrugated kraft.  I simply squished the top on a versamark pad (don't you love my technical terms?), and then dumped some embossing powder on it.  I mixed my own embossing powder to get a nice Christmas sparkle.  The three items I used are white daisy and silver embossing powders along with a little prisma glitter.

Do you make a lot of your own items for Christmas?  It makes things a little more hectic, but it sure is fun to give!

Life Unscripted

I am taking an amazing online card class called Inspiration Showcase.  It's day two, and I have learned so much from Jennifer McGuire!  The past couple of days, she has been demonstrating resist techniques, and I had an idea right away.  I used the card sketch at Frosted Designs as a jumping point for this card (click on the link to find the sketch).

I wanted to not only use the emboss resist technique, but I wanted to make sure this card had a vintage and distressed feel for the Shopping Our Stash challenge.   I used a bamboo cardstock base, and I stamped some weeds with Versamark.  If you look closely (just click on the picture), I also have two small circles with weeds.  I used white embossing powder mixed with a very teensy bit of prisma glitter.  I tried something very different and sprinkled flecks of the embossing powder toward the bottom of the card.  Not enough to be defined, but rather to look like splatters.  After embossing, I sponged the front with goldrush ink and the edges with chocolate.  Next time I will try more sprinkled flecks, but for my first try, I loved the look!  This card front was attached to a clear scalloped card.It's always so much fun to try something new!!

Items used:
Clear Cards
Bamboo Cardstock
Goldrush Ink
Chocolate Ink
Unscripted Stamp Set
White Embossing Powder
Prisma Glitter
Versamark
Mocha Opaque Gems
Chocolate-Striped Grosgrain
Art Philosophy

Painting with Embossing Powder

I have been working with a new technique that I learned about yesterday. This is a technique from Stampendous. Click here to view the You Tube video. I have used versamark to emboss an entire sheet, but I didn't know a couple of things that the video teaches. Tell me what you think after you watch it! I came up with a couple of examples that I really enjoyed making!!

In the first card, I've used 3 embossing powders, Chocolate Zing, CTMH Vineyard Berry, and Vanilla Zing.The video will show you how to stamp over your "painting," but for this card I really like the CTMH rub-ons.

I went for a whole different color scheme in the next card, using CTMH embossing powders Heavenly Blue, Baby Pink, and Buttercup. This seemed to me like a very soft winter card, so again I used CTMH rub-ons. I hope that you can see the snowflakes and corner flourish. (Remember you can click on any image to view it larger!) I finished off the card with some pink velvet ribbon and a clear slide. To me, it was perfect!

I LOVE investigating new techniques and ideas! It makes paper crafting new and fresh every day. I have the next 6 days off from work, and there are a lot of new papers and ideas I am looking forward to sharing with you!