Bubble Wrap Background Cards

I made these "bubble wrap background" cards after seeing Natasha Foote's Youtube:  #UseWhatYouHave - BUBBLE WRAP Edition! Inking/Cardmaking fun with BUBBLE WRAP! from  Nov 25, 2020. 

https://youtu.be/jHszW6hZ6o4?si=omedl-1wXPzecOvn

I cut a used bubble wrap bag from Amazon to fit my 4 by 5-1/4 inch layers of cardstock, cutting the bubble wrap slightly bigger so it would extend over the edge of my cardstock.

I dabbed the ink pad directly onto the bubble wrap. Then pressed that onto my cardstock sitting on scrap paper on my desk.The bubbles transferred nicely, just pressing with my hands. I did not sponge a second color of ink like Natasha did. May try that sometime. I liked her brown and victorian velvet combo.  

I used distress oxide inkpads: wild honey, broken china and worn lipstick.. However after these were done, I did a test comparing the plain distress ink with the oxides and both looked very similar.

Once the bubbles were dry, I trimmed to 3-1/2 by 4-3/4 inches except for the blue one, which was an odd shaped small scrap, 3-3/8 by 4 inches.

Butterfly from Momenta Set of 5 Embossing Folders Hello There Butterfly

Leaves from Gina K Perfect Poinsettia, stamped in Gina K sandy beach ink

Oval vellum layer cut from Hero Arts Nesting Oval dies

The kraft card base was from my stash which already had the white small circles stamped on the edges. I think that was white acrylic paint.

Butterfly from Martha Stewart Butterfly punch, broken china ink blended onto it

Scalloped circle vellum layer cut from Spellbinders

Leaves from Gina K Perfect Poinsettia, stamped in broken china and distress hickory smoke

Used a pumice-grey cardstock from my stash.

Butterfly die cut from Momenta Hello There Butterfly set. Distress spun sugar ink blended onto it.  Used a cut out layer of the center of the butterfly from a separate, botched butterfly.

Leaves stamped in distress hickory smoke.

Used a pumice-grey cardstock from my stash.

Butterfly stamp from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Mixed Media collection Stamps/Stencil THMM144 (wow that's a big name for a stamp set!). Stamped in oxide worn lipstick and fussy cut.

Leaves stamped in distress broken china and distress hickory smoke.

Leaves from Gina K's Perfect Poinsettia set,  stamped in  distress broken china and distress hicory smoke.

Thank you for visiting!

Peace and all good!

Stampfest at Lynette's, May 16, 2023

Lynette and I had a great time stamping and visiting yesterday, May 16, 2023. We started with a nice walk along the river in the beautiful warm sunshine. Then Lynette served us a delicious lunch at her house: her famous mostaccioli crab salad, potato salad, tossed salad and lemon squares for desert. I should have taken a picture of the food! ...and should have asked Don take a picture of Lynette and me with our cards. Maybe next time!

You can click on any image to view a larger version.

Inspired by a card viewed online somewhere...we used Stampin' Up! Pool Party color paper. Thank you Linda B. for giving us all that cardstock!

I think we used Stampin' Up! whisper white card stock.  Also, we noticed the ink color seems more vibrant on the SU white card stock, when compared to stamping on Walmart's  white cardstock.

To get the very narrow black framing layer, 

We cut the black layers 4-3/4 x 3-1/2 inches

and cut the white layers 4-5/8 x 3-3/8 inches

I had trouble cutting at first, getting all confused, so Lynette took over the task. Thanks, Lynette!!!

Cuttlebug embossing folder: Birds and Swirls

Stamps: 

Stampin' Up! Nature Walk.

Gina K Fearless Flyers-sentiment

Inks: 

Gina K ocean mist and jelly bean green

Versafine onyx black

Colored pencils to color the fussy cut birds.

This card was stamped using Gina K's Tropical Blooms set. Thank you Mona S. for giving me this stamp and dies set along with the whole kit: the Hearts & Flowers StampTV Kit from January 2018. It's so much fun stamping these flowers!

Inks:

Gina K bubblegum pink, passionate pink, jelly bean green, fresh asparagus

Versafine onyx black

Using heavy weight white cardstock (I think from Hobby Lobby?) we stamped the butterflies with Versamark ink. Then used white embossing powder and heat set the butterflies.

We used wrinkle free distress technique by dabbing three distress inks onto a craft sheet

broken china, blueprint sketch and wilted violet.

We spritzed the inks with water. Then we placed our paper on top of the inks, lifted the paper and then dabbed the edges of the paper back into the inks a few more times to get color on the edges.  We set these layers aside to dry. When dry, Lynette placed some big acrylic blocks on top of these to try and flatten the paper. Then we used thin foam tape to adhere to our white cardstock base.

Thank you for visiting!

Wishing you Peace and all good!

Fluttering Fall Stamp and Stencil Bundle

I treated myself to Gina K's Fluttering Fall Stamp and Stencil Bundle. Found Gina's YouTube tutorial Washi Tape Background Technique and a Fluttering Fall Card Idea very helpful. Gina gives excellent advice on cutting the stencils out first and using removable tape to keep the cutout in place on your work surface. Then it is easy to center the stencil. I kept my flowers simple-using only 2 ink colors, a light color first, with the larger stencil. Then a darker color for the smaller stencil. I omitted the circle oval and the dotted center stencil parts as shown in Gina's video only. This was a totally new technique of adding color with the stencil. I look forward to using more of the stencil parts next time.

Instead of using Gina's washi tape background, I made a faux woodgrain background that I learned from Gina's Creating an Ink Blended Window Scene - Stamp and Chat Live Replay. Scroll to about 18:31 minutes to see how she swipes an inkpad over scored cardstock to look like planks of wood. I used white paper and distress antique linen ink on this card.

For the butterfly I used distress shaded lilac, distress wilted violet, distress and a Gelly Roll 08 white pen for the dots.

For the leaves and twig: GK jelly bean green, GK honey mustard

The sentiment is from Gina K's Original Wreath Builder stamp set. 

Butterfly:  GK sea glass and tranquil teal

Flower same as above, but added dots with Gelly Roll 08 white pen.

Leaves: ink blended the GK jelly bean green first then added a touch of GK tranquil teal to give the leaves a two-tone look, see minute 44:00 in her YouTube video.

Sentiment; Love and prayers, are 2 stamps from Gina's Fluttering Fall Stamp set. 

Butterfly: distress mustard seed and dried marigold

Woodgrain:  distress weathered wood

Butterfly: distress spun sugar, GK bubblegum pink

Thank you stamp is from Hero Arts Message Circles LP114

Woodgrain: distress tumbled glass

Flower: GK wild dandelion, honey mustard

Single pair of leaves from GK Sketched Flowers

Enjoy and shadow die from GK Time to Coast Kit

"because it's the day you were born" sentiment from GK Enjoyable Greetings

Woodgrain: distress pumice stone

Thank you so much for visiting! Stay safe and healthy!

Peace and all good!

Butterfly Embossing Folder Stamping

To made these Embossing Folder Technique cards I dabbed the inkpad directly onto the raised side of the embossing folder, then spritzed with water. Placed a piece of white cardstock on it, closed the embossing folder and pressed down on it with my hands. I sometimes use a brayer to press down.

I set aside the paper to dry. Then after it was dry I ran it through my Cuttlebug. I generally do not run my embossing folder technique cards through the Cuttlebug, but this time I wanted to try something different. The purple card was made with Park Lane's Brush Dot embossing folder.

For the butterfly background I used the embossing folder from Momenta's Cut and Emboss 5 piece set. After the ink was dried, I tried to match the butterfly images to the embossing folder. Had to turn the paper over inside the embossing folder.

Materials Used:

Park Lane large circle embossing folder called Brush Dot, Momenta butterfly dies 

Stampin' Up 

Inks: 

Distress shaded lilac, worn lipstick, squeezed lemonade, dried marigold, abandoned coral, ripe persimmon

Stampin' Up tempting turquoise, going grey

Gina K bubble gum pink,

Stamps:

Momenta, Stampin' Up, Stampendous

Thank you for visiting. Peace and all good!

Stamp Then Emboss

In preparation for making some September birthday cards, I found wonderful inspiration from Frenchie at her blog post:  Beautiful Friendship, Stamp, Emboss without Layers.

CASEing Frenchie's card, I stamped the hydrangea and leaves from Stampin' UP!'s Beautiful Friendship set. If you have been following me, you know how much I love this set, a gift from my friend, Mona! Thanks again!!! 

After stamping, I had trouble running the card front through my Cuttlebug. I was using a Spellbinders embossing folder called, Flowers and Leaves. I think this embossing folder is a little thicker than other brands. It would not go through my Cuttlebug with two B plates, the usual formula. However, I was able to run it through with just one C plate and the base! Glad it worked....well sort of...the impression is not too deeply formed... But I think I can send it out! I used a creamy card stock from my stash-brand unknown. It has a laid finish.

Inks: Stampin' Up!  Lavender Lace and Wild Wasabi

For my second card, I just used a separate layer, 4 x 5 inches of Georgia Pacific 110 pound card stock. Stamped the Fiskars butterfly (Many Thanks set), the tulips from Stampin' UP!'s Spring Garden and the sentiment from SU's Simple Sketches. Attached to a card base of the same cardstock.

Inks:

Stampin' Up-Lavender Lace, Wild Wasabi and Rose Romance

Distress: Black Soot

Used a Faber Castell black PITT pen to draw the squiggle border

Thank you for visiting!  Hope you are enjoying happy moments!

Another Stencil Butterfly Card

 Another Stencil Butterfly Card

When I was making my other stencil butterfly cards, I stamped the big butterfly in Versafine onyx black ink. At that time, I thought the black was much too dark, so I set that aside. 

Now, after seeing Arjita's butterflies here I decided to use my black butterfly. I colored it with yellow number 050 Zig clean color real brush marker and fussy cut it. 

I used Gina K's water droplet stencil again, sponging it with distress inks: scattered straw, shaded lilac and can you believe it, worn lipstick. I know that's not the color of worn lipstick! The velcro sponge I used was contaminated with an orange inkpad. So the worn lipstick has an orange look! I recently saw that Tim Holtz has a new red ink...and he's calling it crackling campfire! I wonder how close my mixed up worn lipstick is to his crackling campfire color!

Sentiment is from Stampin' Up, stamped in Versafine onxy black. I added some of the Zig yellow 050 marker to the edges.

Thank you so much for visiting! Hoping you are having some fun this week and that you are staying safe from Covid-19.

Stencil Butterfly Cards

After seeing Hetty's beautiful card here, I was inspired to pull out my stencils, inks, sponging tools and blending brushes.

I liked how Hetty created a circle of intense color by making her own circle mask.  I gave that a try, putting my circle mask on top of my stencil. Then removed it and tried to add softer color outside the circle. I decided to sponge the edges of the card. 

I am using a cream cardstock from my stash that has a laid texture. Was surprised that it was easy to add color to it with a sponges and blending brushes. 

Stencil is from Gina K - Water Droplets.

Stamps are from Michael Strong - Mini Cloisonne Wings

Stencil is from a Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Mixed Media kit.

Stamps are from Inkadinkado - 96723 Garden Delight

Inks:

Stampin' Up! green galore, tempting turquoise, taken with teal, lavender lace,

Distress: worn lipstick (note...by mistake I used a sponge that had an orange ink on it, so the worn lipstick looks orange-y) twisted citron, mermaid lagoon

Aug. 20, 2020...thought I'd add a photo of the stencils used...

The stencil on the left came in a Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Mixed Media kit. I couldn't find the name of it. The stencil on the right is Gina K's Water Droplets stencil.

Thank you for visiting! Please stay safe and healthy!

November 20 Stampfest at Lynette's

Lynette and I had a wonderful time Wednesday visiting and making cards!

Our first card was inspired by Dawn Turley's butterfly card.
We used Tim Holtz' watercolor crayons-festive berries, seedless preserves, fossilized amber and peeled paint, scribbling on our craft sheet, spritzing with water and using a paintbrush to apply the color onto watercolor paper. I found the Tim Holtz distress crayon watercolor kit on clearance for about $14 at Michaels.

Once the paper was dry we stamped a Hero Arts script stamp in hickory smoke using Hero Arts H2141 Manuscript Background. Then we used a stencil from another kit: Tim Holtz distress  mixed media spray stain kit-numbers and circles.

Lynette stamped some butterflies in hickory smoke.

I added more stenciling with fossilized amber and picked raspberry. Used a stencil from my stash that I had bought in The Netherlands a few years ago-thanks Hetty!!
We dry embossed the layer with Park Lane's Flower Repeat embossing folder and sponged the edges in hickory smoke.

We used Lynette's Tim Holtz "butterfly duo" thick die and embossing folder for the butterflies. We sponged with a few colors ending with festive berry and hickory smoke.

 Our flower card was inspired by Karen Dunbrook's card. We spritzed the flower stamp, applied Tim Holtz watercolor crayons directly to the stamp, spritzed again then stamped on watercolor paper.

Stamps: Hero Arts: E2900 A Real Candytuft, F2897 A Real Wild Poppy, C3270 Verbena,
C2830 Real Wild Aster, C2899 A Real Bluebonnet

TH watercolor crayons: seedless preserves, peeled paint, fossilized amber, festive berries
We used the same Park Lane "Flower Repeat" embossing folder on the green layer for this card.

The butterfly is punched from a Martha Stewart punch and "painted" with picked raspberry

Our third card was inspired by Jacqueline de Groot's Winter Scene houses card.
We used Lynette's Stampin' Up set, In the City. We started stamping the houses at the bottom. Lynette cut out masks and we proceed to stamp above each row, using Stampin' Up creamy caramel ink. The stamp set has a separate stamp to fill in the color of the houses. Very easy and fun. Other inks used: SU close to cocoa, chocolate chip, pistachio pudding, pretty in pink, bordering blue, barely banana.

Thanks for visiting.
Wishing you a very special week of remembering our blessings and giving thanks!

Flourishes, Bird and Butterfly Birthday

I was inspired to make this card after being directed to  Linda Higgins' CARD from Pinterest.

Stamps: Michael Strong, Hero arts, Autumn Leaves/Rhonna Farrer

Distress Inks: pumice stone, scattered straw, salty ocean, ground espresso

Tim Holtz honeycomb stencil THS005

Stampin' Up! embosslit Sweetest Stem

Twine and gemstones

Cascading Cards

Made this cascading card for my daughter's 31st birthday which was on Easter this year!

Used paper from my stash. I think it's SU dsp.

This time I used LeeAnn Greff's tutorial on her Flowerbug's Inkspot blog.

Distress inks: crushed olive and ripe persimmon

Stamps: Hero Arts, Michael Strong, Stampin' Up! Savvy stamps

This card is for a friend. Again used paper from my stash.

Distress inks: festive berries, iced spruce

Stamps: Hero Arts, Michael Strong, Stampin' Up!

Butterfly Book Page Circle Card

After receiving a card similar to these, I just had to make some of my own.

Love the look of the dry embossing on the front of the card.

I placed the top layer of the card in the embossing folder sideways.

Not sure if that's the best method.

I listed the embossing folders beneath the images.

Butterfly punch is Martha Stewart.

Edge scallop punch is Fiskars.

Nestabilities scalloped dies.

Embossing folder: Lifestyle Crafts LACE

Printed paper:  Crate Paper Portrait Collection

Embossing folder: Cuttlebug Moroccan Screen

Embossing folder: Cuttlebug Perfectly Paisley

Embossing Folder: Lifestyle Crafts TIDE

Thanks for visiting!

Cascading Birthday Card

Made this birthday card for our daughter, whose birthday is today!

I hope my she doesn't mind me stamping her age, 33.

I am SOOOO HAPPY that she has blessed us with these 33 years!

We are going out to dinner with both of our daughters and their husbands tonight to celebrate! I can't wait!

Although I have made several cascading cards before, I referred to a tutorial.

Used Jan Farring's tutorial great tutorial. There are a few other tutorials listed on my old blog post here.

The paper I used was a thinner type and the back was tipping backward. 

So I reinforced the 2 back pieces with a strip of cardstock.

Maybe my add on pieces were too heavy or maybe I should have used a thicker cardstock.

Stamps: Hero Arts, Michael Strong, Savvystamps, Stampin' UP!

Inks

Versafine Onx Black, 

Distress barn door, weathered wood, wild honey

Anniversary Cards

August is ANNIVERSARY MONTH!!! Here are some cards I made...

Our friends love Hawaii. The sea side and palm tree reminded me of the beaches there. 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Hawaii too!

Stamps: Inkadinkado-Tin Can Mail Palm tree

Stampscapes- cling rubber water pattern sm 231C of Nature Sheet 8 (Lakeside Cove Lg.)

Distress inks: scattered straw, broken china, antique linen

Here is a combination anniversary and "challenge contest card" for the Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group.  This was sent to Mike and his wife to celebrate their 37th Wedding Anniversary!

Stamps: Michael Strong's Mini Cloisonne Shell,

Inkadinkado-Tin Can Mail Palm tree

Distress inks: scattered straw, dried marigold, broken china, antique linen, tattered rose

Distress markers for the palm tree: peeled paint, vintage photo

My dear stamping friend, Lynette, and her husband Doc are celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary today, August 19. Happy Anniversary!!!

Distress inks: scattered straw, broken china

Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder

Martha Stewart butterfly punch
This card was inspired by Connie Babbert's Venetian Elegance Butterflies

Card Captain-Day 4-May 2, 2013

Happy Thursday! My project for today is an altered book layout. Maybe not so much a tutorial but an encouragement...when you alter a book, there are no rules! It's really fun and relaxing. You can do whatever you want. And if you make a mistake, you can rip out the page and start again in another part of the book.

My stamping friend, Lynette, and used Dylusions spray ink outside in her backyard. The colors are bright and vibrant, but we had trouble with the spay mechanism on 3 of the 4 bottles. We both wanted the fine mist look. We tried stencils and masks. After spraying over the stencil, we closed the book to transfer the ink from the top of the stencil to the other side of the book.

Stamped Michael Strong's dragonfly, butterfly, bird and egg on cardstock with various ink pads. Added additional color with colored pencils. Stamped various sentiments on cardstock. Used wavy scissors and the end of Labels Ten Nestabilities die to trim. Added Distress inks to edges with foam applicator. Trimmed purple paper with scissors to create "grass". Used dimentional foam adhesive to secure the egg in the "grass". Used  a small amount Perfect Paper Adhesive to adhere part of the the trimmed dragonfly, bird and butterfly and the edge of the tag. Used several strands of variegated sewing thread for the end of the tag.

I am not a fan of the ink sprays. I find that the spray gets all over the place. I worry that I'll ruin my clothing or something in my home! I prefer to sponge distress inks on the altered books. However, you may be intererested in the sprays. There are many tutorials online. Here is one from Dyan Reaveley
(Sorry for the incorrect link. It should be good now)

First she sprays water on her surface, either paper or her journal/altered book. I think that helps to blend the color. However, I was looking for a misted look. I would love to hear your comments on any of the info presented here.

Materials:

An old book-nice to start with a book with sturdy/thick pages (instead of very delicate ones)

Dylusions Spray Ink: Fresh Lime, London Blue, Vibrant Turquoise

Inkpads: Tim Holtz Distress peacock feathers, scattered straw, Stampin' Up! marvelous magenta, Colorbox Chalk (a shade of purple from Lynette's house-possibly blackberry or lavender)

Various brands of colored pencils from Lynette's and my stash

Stamps:  

Hero Arts Treasure the Moments

Michael Strong's Cloisonne Dragonfly, Cloisonne Cameo, Mini Cloisonne Wings, Mini Cloisonne Shapes

TPc studios Playful Expressions & Secret Garden Collage

Cuttlebug Measure by Measure 7" embossing border
Perfect Paper Adhesive

Dimensional foam adhesive square