Easter Cards - #4

This one card is a green monochromatic Easter card.  You will notice the yellow rabbits.  These are
Martha Stewart punches.

The detail on these little guys is really nice. I added a white pearl for the little tail!

I hope that you are enjoying these pretty Easter Cards.  Come back tomorrow for another pretty card!

Remember to Leave Your Requests!

Remember to leave your requests!  I am happy to post instructions on my blog for specific techniques that you are trying to find or are interested in.

If you leave a request, I can respond within 1-2 days! 

So, if you are interested in specific:

• Embossing or debossing techniques
• Punch techniques
• Better ways of using papers (have you tried serendipity paper using your scraps?)
• How to make designs and placing them in your artwork (cornerwork, basework)
• Using inks (solvent, alcohol, dye, pigment, hybrid) and sprays
• Folding techniques

Let me know.  I can help!

Lis

Easter Cards - #3

This Easter card was inspired by a song I used to sing at school when I was a child.  "Here comes Peter Conttontail, Hoppin' down the bunny trail..."

I hope that these Easter Cards inspire you to make your own!  Happy Easter!

Easter Cards - #2

This Easter Card features ribbons, ribbons, ribbons!  I really love ribbons.  I don't think we use them enough on cards. There is such a variety and some truly spectacular companies  that produce some of the most beautiful ribbons I have seen (Mays Arts to name one).  Prima Flowers has some new selections in ribbons and many companies that make scrapbook papers also sell matching ribbons.

To add the ribbons below:

1. Take two ribbons and join them at one end.
2. Put a glue dot between the two ribbon ends and attach them together (this will make it easier to work with)
3. Take the one end and attach it with a glue dot to the back of your card front.
4. Twist the ribbons loosely around each other.
5. Trim the ribbons so that you have about one inch overlapping the edge of the card front.
6. Take another glue dot and attach the ends of the ribbons together.
7. Fold the ribbon ends to the back of your card front and attach to the back with a glue dot.
8. Make two bows - one of each ribbon.
9. Attach each ribbon with a glue dot on top of the twisted ribbons.
10. (You will notice that I attached the lighter ribbon on the top and the darker on the bottom.  I also matched the bows to the twisted part of the two ribbons that showed the most at each end. I hope this makes sense.)

Stay tuned for more Easter Cards!

Collage Card

This is truly a collage card!  I think I added everything but the kitchen sink.

Starting from the top and working our way down the front of the card:

1. A photo or film holder or slide holder.  This is a reproduction of orignals used with negatives.  Mine was painted with dye inks and has gold beads glued to it.  There is a picture of a rabbit in the center.  Did you know that you can buy a punch and punch out as many as you want?
2. A wooden bingo chip "N40".  I like using these as little embellishments. You can turn them around, paint them and stamp on them too!
3. A layered nameplate with a key on it.  Eyelets fasten the ends together and add to the golden decoration. The center is empty so that you can look at the papers behind it.
4. A little glass bubble that magnifies what is under it.  Although I used glass, you can find plastic ones that weigh much less.
5. A door handle made from shrink plastic and colored brown. On the door handle is a miniature door hanger  saying "hello".
6. Paper pieces of flowers, stamps, and other items that I cut out of various pieces of scrapbook papers.

Although I had to use a slightly larger envelope (because of the photo holder), it was a fun card to send and for my friend to receive.

I like this card because it is a feast for the eyes.  Each time I look at this card I see something else!

TImeless Christmas - Stampscapes Technique Card

Hi everyone!  Today I want to introduce you to Stampscapes!  Stampscapes are rubber stamps that create scenes when you put them together.  There is a website http://www.stampscapes.com/ where you can look at many samples, look for classes and instructors (I am one!)

I used four stamps to complete this picture. (Yes, I know it's a Christmas card, but I really like it)  The coloring on this card is a layering of colors which is the techniques stampscapers use.  These cards have a very typical "glow" to them.

There are a number of stampscapes techniques including using a foam applicator and airbrushing with copic markers or alcohol inks.  This is in addition to the traditional applicator with dye inks.  Most if not all stampscape cards are done on glossy white cardstock. The stamps are stamped in StazOn black.

If you are interested in seeing more of this kind of card or are interested in learning more about Stampscapes, let me know!

Seize the Day Lace Technique Card

Hi everyone! How are you today? 

Today I wanted to introduce you to yet another interesting technique called Lace (pronounced lay SAY).  The beautiful cutwork on the front of the card is done using a template where slits are cut into the cardstock (I use two-sided, two color cardstock for this technique).  After the slits are cut, the open work is then folded and woven into each other to create these beautiful designs.

If you would like to learn more about the lace technique or see more of this style of card, let me know!

Spirit

I love making cards using a letter of the alphabet.  Although there isnt much room to write a message on the inside, these cards are stunners and have great impact.  This card does open and fits nicely in an invitation envelope. 
To cut the "S", I used an accucut die. The letter is about 4 inches.  Sizzix also makes an alphabet about the same size in block lettering.  You can buy just one letter.  Depending on the one letter, you can use it for many , many meanings!

Faith

HI everyone! Hope that you are having a great week so far!

The card that I am doing today is called Faith.

Tick Tock Domino Clock Pin!

Hi everyone, I hope that your week is going smoothly.

I wanted to share another passion of mine.  DOMINOS!  Dom inos come in all shapes and sizes (including hexominos with six sides) I like to use mahjong tiles too!  I thought I would share a domino pin today with a time/clock theme.

To make this pretty pin all you need is a regular sized domino.  Stamp some clock images on the back (use a solvent based ink like StazOn).  Add some wire and brass charms.  Glue on some clock hands. And finish off with some glass beads attached to the sides of the domino.  Then wear your pin proudly!

A Domino Card! (Invitation to an Artist's Wedding)

Hi everyone,  I thought that I would share a couple of domino pieces this week.

You will notice that I used three mahjong tiles.  I stamped them, accented them with a gold paint pen and adhered them to my card.  I used sections of a single collage stamp for all three of my tiles.

If you make a card with heavier embellishments, be sure to add enough postage for them and maybe even place your art in a padded envelope to protect it. 

Different Techniques for Cards

For the next several days you are going to see some different techniques for card making that one does not normally see. 

• Lace (pronounced lay SAY)
• stampscapes
• dominos as an embellishment and as an ornament

Please send me a note or leave a comment if you would like to see more of these.  Also, if there is a technique that you hve heard about, send me an email or leave a comment.

I hope you enjoy these different cards!

What to do with scrapbook paper with large images

Hi everyone!

Have you ever purchased a beautiful piece of scrapbook paper because it had a beautiful scene or image on it?  Then you get it home and wonder how you can possibly incorporate it into a card because the image is so big?  Me, too!

Solution:  Cut out the image and either make it a central focus (example below) or use it in a collaged card.

The central image on the scrapbook paper that I bought was this pretty girl looking at a huge cupcake.  The right side was this really pretty glitter plaid. 

First, I used the plaid as a background.  I used a corner punch to make fancy corners. I added some music tissue tape (Tim Holtz) and some school desk tape (You can find this at your local school teacher supply store.  I highly recommend visiting this store.  They have all kinds of stuff to use in collage.  Would you like a pack of library cards like they have in the books at the library?  They have them here!  Tapes, tags, papers, magnets,  you just have to go!)

I cut the girl and frosting out.  I attached this to the mat with foam tape. Then I cut the cupcake part out and slid it under the frosting at the bottom.  It really gives this more of a 3-d look than if I had cut the whole piece out together.

I added a gold satin bow and ribbon and done!

How do you incorporate large images into your cards?

Two Perspectives

Hi everyone! 

Do you ever work on a card and just can't figure out what to do with a bald spot? Or look at your finished card and think"there just has to be something missing"?  Well, I do too!

Today's cards are actually the same card, just two perspectives.  I did it portrait and then landscape.  It is amazing how different they look. (I did cheat a little and added just a bit of extra ribbon to that bald spot on the landscape version.)

Which one do you think is the better design?

Here they are:

Beauty (Portrait)

Beauty (Landscape) 

What do you think?