File Folder Card and Hand Cream Box

My daughter gave me a tube of L'Occitane hand cream a long time ago.
I have been saving the cool looking box.
The design reminded me of a stamp!
So, I cut out parts of the box
and added them as embellishments to this file folder card.
And added an old library pocket card.

For the inside "file" I sponged some distress scattered straw through a mesh bag
that contained lemons from the grocery store.
The Michael Strong mini flower is stamped in distress broken china.
I drew the stem and leaves with a peeled paint distress marker.
I'm not sure how I will use this card, so I left room for the sentiment.

Here is what is left of the hand cream box.

Thanks for visiting!

Friday Card of the Day-File Folder Card

Happy Friday dear friends! As you can see I'm still on the File Folder kick!

Today's card features Michael Strong's large cloisonne flower.

The design is simple, quick and easy.

I have not decided if it will be a birthday or a "hello" card.

There is blank space to write on the library card

and also in the inside layer to personalize it.

I made this file folder card without the envelope punch board.
In case anyone is interested I wrote up a tutorial for that method HERE.

Here is the inside "file", simple with room to add a sentiment.

Stamps: Michael Strong

Ink: distress ripe persimmon

It's been fun being card captain at the Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group.

Thanks for visiting!

File Folder Card Tutorial

Here is my file folder card tutorial
for my friends at the Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group.
I shared a file folder card for today's Technique Thursday HERE
Just wanted to share this method in case you don't have the envelope punch board.
Either way, it's very easy and fun to make these cards.


Start with a piece of cardstock measuring 4.25 x 5.5 inches.
Fold as usual for making a card.
For the tab, cut away a 1/2 wide strip (12-13 mm) on the narrow end
using your paper trimmer, making the tab any size you wish.

This shows the cut line.

 Here you see where to trim off that 1/2 inch wide piece by cutting with a scissors.

Now you see the tab before the corner punch is used...

...and after using the corner punch.

 To make the insert, cut a piece of cardstock 4.25 x 5.25 inches.
The tab is made in the same way as the folder.
After checking the fit I trim a little off the bottom.

Here's the finished look.

Hope you have fun making these File Folder Cards.
I would love to hear from you and see your creation!
You can check google for other variations!
Enjoy!!
Thanks for visiting!

Thursday Card of the Day-File Folder Style

Happy Thursday dear friends!

It's been a busy week so I am revisiting the "file folder" technique.

I'm showcasing Michael Strong's mini butterfly and mini dragonfly stamps

for my friends at the Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group.

Here's my method of making the file folder card:

I cut kraft paper in half

to measure 4.25 x 5.5 inch
 then fold that like a card.
I make tabs with my Envelope Punch Board
then cut away the approximately 1/2 inch wide strip with my paper trimmer.
Before I had the Punch board, I just made the tab with my paper trimmer,
scissors and a corner punch.

Here's a LINK with info on how I used acrylic paints for my background.

I sponged the edges of the painted panels with distress walnut stain ink. 

I attached the layers with dimensional foam.

For the inside of my file folder card, I made a "file" from cardstock. Then sponged dried marigold distress ink over a pieces of the mesh bag (that lemons are packed in from the grocery store). 

Materials

Dina Wakley heavy body acrylic paint

Stamps: Michael Strong, Hero Arts, PrintWorks

Inks: distress ripe persimmon, twisted citron, dried marigold, walnut stain

Wednesday Card of the Day-Birdhouse and Painted Background

Happy Wednesday dear friends!

Today's card features the small birdhouse from Michael Strong's Little Houses stamp set.
I used colored pencils on the birdhouse and fussy cut it--very easy!

Using a scrap of watercolor paper, I added gesso first and let it dry.
Then I experimented by applying my new Dina Wakley Heavy Body Acrylic Paints
with brush, stencils, stamps and sometimes I just spread the paint with my finger, ala Dina!

I was pleased to find that Matte medium does a wonderful job of attaching/gluing paper.
Before I tried this, I didn't realize what a nice finish the matte provides.
I used a torn images from an old book.

I stapled my muslin fabric scrap to secure it
and added Mike's bird house over it with dimensional foam.
Stamped the Thank You on paper, sponged the edges with ink and attached with dimensional foam.

Additional details:
Liquitex Basics acrylic gesso

Golden soft gel medium matte
Inks: Versafine black onyx, Stampin' Up! pink passion

Thanks so much for visiting!

Happy Valentine's Day and Tuesday Card of the Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I just love Valentine's Day.
It's such a special day to celebrate love and friendship!
My parent's were married on Valentine's Day way back in 1953!

Today I'm sharing some file folder Valentine cards I made by cutting kraft paper in half
to measure 4.25 x 5.5 inch
 then folding that like a card.
I made tabs with my Envelope Punch Board
then cut away the approximately 1/2 inch wide strip with my paper trimmer.
Before I had the Punch board, I just made the tab with my paper trimmer,
scissors and a corner punch. Easy and fun!

For the inside I added this "file" stamped with 

Dina Wakley's big Handwritten Heart Collage stamp. 

Stamps:  Michael Strong, Hero Arts, Ranger-Dina Wakley, PSX

Ink: Versafine black onyx, 

Distress-worn lipstick, festive berries, barn door, mowed lawn.

Thanks for visiting
and

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!

Monday Card of the Day

This week I'm card captain at the Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group.

I used Mike's cloisonne hearts to make flowers, adding the stems from a Stampin' Up! set.
Used a strip of printed paper on the left. Drew squiggly lines and dots with a PITT India ink pen,
my latest favorite black marker.

I dug out my old crimper for texture on the white layer here.
Then sponged the edges and added the "fussy cut" typewriter
along with the stamped sentiments and printed paper.

Stamps: Michael Strong, Hero Arts
Inks: Versafine black onyx,
distress festive berries and worn lipstick

Thank you for visiting!

Painting a Lady Face in my Art Journal

A great big thanks to Amy Joy Johnson aka HapaChicCreative for her

Jane Davenport Portrait Paints - Demo & Unboxing YouTube tutorial.

Amy gives wonderful directions for using Jane Davenport's portrait paints and face stencil.

I'm so happy I gave this a try...and glad to have used this paint kit on the actual day I bought it!

So many times my supplies go into my stash and sit there unused!

This is my second "entry" in my art journal, a Canson 5.5 x 8.5 inch with 138 lb. paper.

I applied gesso ahead of time. I used a stabilio pencil to "draw" in the stencil lines, 

whereas Amy used a Derwent Inktense pencil.

Here you can see my work area with my iPad nearby

so I could watch Amy's YouTube over and over.

 The aqua brush was included with Jane's paint and stencil kit.

Also used brushes from my stash.

Here are the paints I used. I forgot to include a photo of Dina's Ruby red paint.

This paint tray pallette worked well. For the black outline/definition I put a dab of black paint on the top of this pallette and thinned it with a little water. Used it to accent the lines on the face, including around the eyes, the eyelashes, nose, mouth and eyebrows. I don't have Jane's mermaid  brush markers for the hair so I used Dina's Lapis blue mixed with some Liquitex Basics titanium white and Dina's Ruby red for the strips on the shirt. Don't have the white PITT pen to add highlights. Next time will try to use white acrylic paint for that.

This was very fun and relaxing to try make this face with Jane Davenport's stencil.

Thanks for visiting!