Partial Die Cutting Circle Flip Birthday Card - a Case

 I saw this card on Pinterest here and knew that I wanted to make it. The author , in her blog, provides written instructions as well as video directions on how to make this fold.

This is the card I made following her directions. I did add a second bird, using the reflection technique,

Card opened

Stamp:  Nested Friends

Inks:  Black Memento, Basic Gray, Early Espresso, Watercolor pencils, Stampin Blends (Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie)

Papers:  Basic White, Garden Green

Accessories:  Nested Friends dies, Dimensionals, Pearlized enamel effects (white) on eggs. Layering circle die

Peaceful Season Hand Stamped Sentiment #374

 This card was made for the sketch challenge with Hand Stamped Sentiments #374

I used one of my favourite stamp sets - Peaceful Cabin,  with its coordinating DSP  "Peaceful Place DSP"

The colour scheme of this card is monochromatic - mainly tones of Black, Gray and White.

The card base of Basic Gray is matted with a Silver Foil layer (with the middle section die cut which was used for the center).  On top of that was added a layer of DSP which reminds me of rain running down a window pane.

The focal image in the center is the die cut silver foil upon which is layered a Basic Gray layer, followed by a piece of DSP which depicts rows of trees, Across this DSP layer, near the bottom, is added a 2" strip of DSP (faint polka dots) with narrow strips of check pattern DSP at the top and bottom of this horizontal piece.

Above this horizontal strip is added 2  die cut foxes.

The sentiment, from the Peaceful Cabin stamp set, is stamped with Basic Gray ink and die cut with a layering circle die.  It is added to the focal image using dimensionals.

The finished focal image is added to the card front using dimensionals.

To finish the card, three elegant Faceted dots were added to the card front

The finished card looks almost like a framed picture.

Supplies Used: 

Stamp:  Peaceful Cabin

Ink:  Basic Gray

Papers:  Basic Gray, Silver Foil, Peaceful Place DSP, Basic White

Accessories:  Cabin Dies, Layering Circle dies, Stitched Rectangle dies, Dimensionals, Elegant Faceted dots,

A Christmas Wreath for Try Stampin On Tuesday #482

 This card, featuring a Christmas wreath, was made for the sketch challenge with Try Stampin' on Tuesday #482.  This challenge provided me with opportunity to play with the new stamp "Arrange a Wreath"

The wreath on the stamp set is a bit larger than expected, so the card size was changed to 5 by 7" so as not to overwhelm the card.

The wreath was stamped with Garden Green on Whisper White and fussy cut.  

Four large flowers were stamped in Real Red and die cut with a Wreath Builder Die. Small Daffodil Delight circles punched with the 1/8" Hand Held Circle Punch were added to the centers of these flowers.  The edges were sponged with Gold Delicata ink.  Before adding them to the wreath, they were shaped by pressing them with the Tombo glue lid.

Six smaller flowers die cut in Real Red card stock , were also shaped and added around the wreath as shown.

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The berries made with the 1/8" circle hand held punch were added randomly around the wreath.

At the bottom of the wreath was added a double ribbon of organza Real Red ribbon.

A die cut circle with a sentiment stamped with Garden Green ink, was added to the center of the wreath and Holiday rhinestones added to the centers of each flower.

The base card is Garden Green, layered with Whisper White card stock embossed at the right side with the Greenery Embossing folder.

Adhered to this Whisper White layer, towards the left side is a  Heartwarming Hugs DSP notched banner.  The completed banner is added to the lower end of this banner using dimensionals.

To finish, Boughs die cut with the Beautiful Bough Die were added to the upper left and lower right sides.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Arrange a Wreath

Ink:  Garden Green, Real Red, Gold Delicate

Papers:  Garden Green, Real Red, Daffodil delight, Whisper White, Heartwarming Hugs DSP

Accessories:  Layering Circle dies, Wreath Builder Dies, Beautiful Boughs dies, Real Red Organza ribbon, Holiday rhinestones, Greenery embossing folder, 1/8" Hand Held punch

Christmas Wreath using the Arrange a Wreath bundle

 The warm temperatures outside belie the fact that this is indeed well into the month of November, and Christmas is fast approaching.

Today I pulled out the Arrange a Wreath Bundle to make a Christmas card featuring a wreath.  I mostly used mainly the accompanying dies (Build a Wreath) to build the wreath.  The stamps were used for the sentiment in the center.

On a Garden Green card base is layered some Whisper White card stock followed by some Taste of Texture DSP.  Using one of the circles from the Layering Circle dies, a circle is die cut through all the front layers. The DSP die cut is circle was inserted through the aperture in the card front and adhered to the inside Whisper White layer.

To make the wreath, one layer (larger leaf) was die cut in Garden Green and 2 of the more delicate leafed layer in Pear Pizzaz. All three were adhered around the aperture.

The wreath was decorated with 3 larger, 3 medium flowers die cut in Real Red, and 4 small flowers in Whisper White.  Daffodil Delight centers were placed in the centers of each flower and the petals sponged with Gold Delicate ink.  After shaping them they were arranged around the wreath using glue dots.

To finish the wreath a double bow made using the Organza Real Red ribbon was added to the bottom.

Supplies Used: 

Stamp:  Arrange a wreath  

Inks:  Garden Green, Gold Delicata

Papers:  Garden Green, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Tasteful Texture DSP, Real Red, Daffodil Delight

Accessories:  Real Red Organza ribbon, Wreath builder die, Layering circle die, Glue dots.

Together we Make a Difference - Try Stampin' on Tuesday #457

I debated about using this stamp set, but in the end went ahead and used it for the sketch challenge with Try Stampin on Tuesday which has the optional theme of " dots and stripes."

Together, touching, hugging, such alien concepts in this pandemic.  Yet, this is so important when struggling with an illness, and/or when confronting life challenges positive or negative.

Two of my students have recently been diagnosed with cancer, several have been on self isolation since mid March, and the rest (including myself) have been practicing social distancing, wearing masks and gloves - all meant to do the opposite of what this stamp is all about.  We are all suffering from lack of hugs, lack of human touch, and lack of being together.

Yet despite this, we have found creative ways to be together, even to touch and hug each other without getting exposed to COVID -19 - such is the power of being together.

The image panel across the card depicts 5 people hugging and supporting each other.  Stampin' blends were used to colour this image and the panel was then matted with a piece of Gorgeous Grape card stock.

At the right side of the strip is a circle of Well Dressed DSP  (the pattern of which is dots and stripes) matted with a Blushing Bride scallop circle. Part of the circle extends over the card edge.  In the center is the sentiment that says it all:  Together we make a difference. In the stamp set, this sentiment is one horizontal stamp.  Each word, phrase was highlighted one at a time with a Basic Black marker and stamped on a precut piece o Whisper White.

The card base is Thick Whisper White card stock layered with  Purple Posy  card stock embossed with the Dot to Dot embossing folder.  The image panel and circle were adhered to this embossed layer.

To finish the card I added a 1/8" piece of Whisper White ribbon across the bottom of the circle and image panel.  Some rhinestones were added randomly on the circle and image panel.

A 1/8" of stitched Whisper White ribbon is added over the bottom of the circle and sentiment, as well as the bottom of the image panel.  I couldn't resist placing a double bow below the panel.

Supplies Used:
Stamp:  Artistically Aware
Inks: Black Memento, Basic Black marker, Gorgeous Grape, various colours of Stampin' Blemds
Papers:  Thick Whisper White, Whisper White, Gorgeous Grape, Blushing Bride, Well Dressed DSP, Purple Posy
Accessories:  Dot to Dot embossing folder, Layering circle dies, dimensionals, 1/8" stitched whisper white ribbon, rhinestones

I made a second card using the same sketch, and I am adding it below.  I wasn't sure which card represented the sketch the best.

Here for You - Freshly Made Sketches #428

Everyone in self isolation or quarantine have been on my mind lately, and I chose this opportunity to make a card reflecting my feelings.  Although I cannot physically be near those individuals, I would like them to know that I am still "here for you"

This card was made using the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches #428

The image is from the "Waterfront" stamp set is die cut with a layering circle die (with a bit of one side trimmed off).

It is added to the card front which is Sea Foam Vellum (SAB) adhered to Whisper White card stock.  The card base is Pear Pizzazz. All layers of the card are die cut with the Stitched Rectangle Dies.

The sentiment, added with dimensionals, is from "By the Dock"

The inside also has some stamping from the Waterfront stamp set as well as a strip of Vellum at the bottom.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Waterfront, By the Dock

Inks:  Black Memento, Image (Basic Gray, Mossy Meadow, Crushed Curry, Balmy Blue)

Papers:  Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Vellum Specialty DSP (SAB) Soft Sea Foam

Accessories:  Layering Circle dies, Dimensionals

Easter Greetings - Fab Friday #183

This Easter themed card is for the sketch challenge with Fab Friday # 183. 

I love the size of the Easter sentiment with the stamp set "Easter Promise" and because of that I made it the focal point of this card.

I die cut it with the layering circle die and matted it with some DSP before adding it to the card front with dimensionals. Then I punched 3 small flowers, sponged and shaped them, applied Crystal Effects and Dazzling Diamonds, and when they were dry I added them around the sentiment. A Leaf sprig was added to each bloom.

The card base is Calypso Coral, layered with Whisper White and then Bird Ballad DSP.  Two small notched strips of card stock, one in Mossy Meadow and one in Calypso Coral were adhered horizontally to the card front and the focal image was adhered over them.

Supplies Used:

Stamp:  Easter Promise

Inks:  Black Memento, Calypso Coral, Basic Black Marker

Papers:  Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Bird Ballad DSP, Mossy Meadow

Accessories:  Layering Circle dies, Small Bloom punch, Sprig punch, Self Adhesive sequins, Dimensionals, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds.

Snow Front Coasters - a home decor item

Sometimes cleaning a drawer has spin off benefits!
When I was cleaning the drawer in the tables beside the couch, I found a coaster with a scene on it - of mountains and trees and water.
My hands froze in mid air. I gasped! The stamp set "Snow Front" immediately came to mind.  I had made a lot of swap cards for On Stage Toronto using this very versatile set - sSo I had an Ah Ha moment. Use this stamp set to make some coasters!

Here is the result:

These are the first successful two.  I had made others but the process of sealing them caused the colours to run.  Mod Podge was the worst offender.
On a piece of water colour paper, I drew two circles approximately 3 5/8" in diameter (one of the layering circle dies), and used the pencil lines as a guide where to stamp the images. Then I used that same die to die cut them.

For the backing, I die cut two slightly smaller circles - one in chipboard and one in cork.  And for this I used one of the original 3 1/2" circle die by Sizzix.  I got the chipboard on Amazon, but you could use some thick card board instead, and the cork at the dollar store.

After the coaster was sealed using 4 coats of a Krylon spray followed by a spray Shellac all three layers were adhered together using a combination of tacky and hot glue.

The sealant used caused the colours to become darker and more intense, so subsequent coaster were made with a lighter colour of ink.