Monday, February 27, 2017

DIY Buttons

Hello crafty friends! Today I'm sharing the DIY Cardboard Button tutorial I did for the CropStop Blog. 
Step One: Gather your supplies – Cardboard, patterned paper, glue, dies, paper punch Step Two: Cover the entire surface of your cardboard with glue and adhere patterned paper. Step Three: Die cut your shapes Step Four: Punch two holes in the center for button holes
Note: You can turn any solid shape into a button (heart, butterfly, square etc.), and you can also make your buttons large or small to suit your project.

To showcase this technique I made a card and matching gift bag!  For my card I started with Kraft colored cardstock and embossed it with the Circular Grid Embossing Folder from Anna Griffin.  I went over my embossing with a white pigment ink pad to make the texture show up a little better.  Along the left side I layered white die cut from Creative Expressions (Petite Striplet – Jubilee) under a piece of pink cardstock stamped with the  Seamstress  stamp from Prima in Brushed Corduroy and distressed along the edges with the Tim Holtz blending tool.
 To make my buttons I used Designer paper from the Barnwood Pretty stack (The Paper Studio) and the following  Spellbinders Nestabilities: Circle, Blossom, Blossom II. A piece of twine is tied through the center of each, and a strip of pink Baker’s Twine alongside.
That sweet little stamp is Bella Geste Friends stamped in Ground Espresso and colored with Colored Pencils.  Three Pink Blush pearls in gradient sizes adorn the lower corner and everything is sewn together with my sewing machine!  The gift bag also has two strips of paper lace punched with the embroidered lace border punch from Martha Stewart.
  I’d love to see how you use this DIY button technique so stop by and link up your projects that use CropStop products to the CURRENT CHALLENGE.

This post linked to:
Tuesday Throwdown - Favorite Embellishment  - (Pearls and Baker's Twine)
City Crafter Challenge Blog - A Few Stitches
Ooh-La-La - Embossing
Craft-Dee Bowz: Must include a handmade bow

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Spring Lamb


Today I'm sharing two mini cards I made to go along with several challenges this week.
I love my new Tiny Tattered Florals Die set from Tim Holtz - they are so easy to use and perfect for using as little embellishments that you don't want to be the main feature!
I have made mini shaped cards in a while, so it was fun to pull out my rarely used octagon nestabilities for these spring cards.

Supplies and Tools:
Barnwood Pretty Paper Stack (The Paper Studio), Tiny Tattered Florals (Tim Holtz), Pearls, Lamb Stamp (Rubber Stampede),  Baker's Twine, Prismacolor Pencils, Black Sharpie Marker, Square Punch, Word Die (Momento), Octagon Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Black Soot Distress Ink (Tim Holtz)

This post linked to:
Tuesday Throw Down - Favorite Embellishment (I love using flowers and pearls!)
ModSquad - Geometric
Little Red Wagon - Down on the Farm
Ooh La La - Die Cuts
City Crafter Challenge - A Few Stitches

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Color Bursts and Gesso

 Today I'm sharing two cards I made using one of my new Tim Holtz stencils, some color-burst powder, and gesso!

For my first card I sprinkled a bit of Ken Oliver's Colorburst (in Lime Green) onto watercolor paper, spritzed it with water and heat set it. I then laid my Lace Stencil (Tim Holtz) over the corners and applied gesso. The extra large sentiment is cut using the Sizzix letter set Nouveau and a few gold sequins accent the corners.
For my second card, I laid the lace stencil (Tim Holtz idea-ology) over my watercolor paper, tapped out a bit of lime green color burst, spritzed and then dried it with my heat gun. This simpler card has a tiny baker's twine bow across the top and the oversized sentiment in the bottom corner.
These cards were fairly quick to make and remind me of springtime when everything starts turning green again--can't wait!

This post linked to:
The Paper Players - Use a sentiment as your focal point
Allsorts Challenge - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Monday, February 20, 2017

Pocket Card

Today I’m sharing a lovely little pocket card I created for the CropStop Blog
DIRECTIONS: Step One: Cut a piece of kraft cardstock into a 4.25 x 9.75 inch strip.  Step Two: Score at 4.25 inch mark (with Scor-Buddy) fold on scored line.  Step Three: Sew or glue the sides to form a pocket for your mini card to fit in.
I decorated my envelope using The Blue Barn paper stack from The Paper Studio, a pretty Burlap Poinsettia from Petaloo, a lace bow, and an All Occasion Sentiment (Heartfelt Creations) stamped in Aged Mahogany (Distress Ink) on a Beaded Oval Die Cut from Spellbinders.
 Across the top of my pocket I stamped the fence stamp (Prima) in Aged Mahogany (Distress Ink) and added a embroidered lace punched border (Martha Stewart).
 My little (5 x 3.5 inch) card features matching paper from The Blue Barn paper stack (The Paper Studio), another punched lace border, a stamped rooster from the Rustic Rooster (Stampin’ Up) set, a navy burlap string bow, and a strip of pearls in the top left corner.  I also used some Antique Linen (Distress Ink) to lightly stamp the fence stamp over the rooster image.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this fun way to create a decorative pocket for your cards. I’d love to see your take on this technique, so drop by our CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up!

This post linked to:
Allsorts Challenge - Anything Goes
Craft-Dee BowZ - Handmade Bow (behind the burlap flower and on the mini card)
Ooh La La Creations - Die Cuts
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
 

Friday, February 17, 2017

It's a Boy!





Today I'm sharing a baby card and matching glassine bag envelope I made for a friend who recently had a baby boy!
I decorated the card and bag with matching baby print papers from my stash. The little deer came from  Pretty Grafik Design on Etsy. I bought the digi set a couple years ago to use in decorating for my great nephew's 1st birthday party! I forgot I had it till I pulled out these baby print papers and realized it match them perfectly!
 Supplies and Tools:
Glassine Bag, Nana's Nursery Paper Stack (DCWV), Baker's Twine, Buttons, Deer Graphic, Doily, Welcome Baby Die (Provo Craft), Vellum Sentiment


This post linked to:
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Celebrations
Craft-Dee BowZ  - Must include handmade bow
Crafty Creations Challenge - Anything Goes


Thursday, February 16, 2017

Heidi Swapp Stencils

Today I'm sharing two clean and simple cards I made with Heidi Swapp stencils and a few little die cuts.
I added a few drops of re-inker to my water-filled mini mister to make a colored spray to use with these fun designs.
A few die cut flowers and sequins add some "pop" to the cards without taking away from the CAS look.
Supplies and Tools:
White/Black/Pink/Blue Cardstock, Frames Stencils (Heidi Swapp), Mini Mister, Magenta/Blue Re-inkers (Ranger), Paper Clip, Sequins, 3-D Drop-Ins Framelets (Sizzix), Large Polka Dot Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug - Provo Craft)


This post linked to:
("Season of Love" - i.e.products from companies you love )
I use flowers, sizzix dies, Ranger inks, and Cuttlebug embossing folders all the time!
(Die Cuts)
(Anything Goes)



Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Masculine Vintage

Today I'm sharing a clean and layered card I created in with a masculine vintage theme. I used several Tim Holtz stamps and a fun embossed mini notebook page to create a collage on my distressed kraft panel.
Supplies and Tools:
White/Kraft Cardstock, The Journey (Tim Holtz), Curious Possibility (Tim Hotlz), Typewriter (Stampabilities), Vintage Stamp (Hampton Art), Aged Mahogany/Fired Brick/Ground Espresso Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Journal Cards Embossing Folder (Couture Creations), Twine


This post linked to:
(Anything Goes)

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Little Miracle

 Here's another way to use those free button cards I posted yesterday. I sent this sweet baby card to some very special friends who are expecting their 1st little miracle later this year! So exciting!!
Since I didn't know what the gender was when I sent this card with my congratulations gift I used both pink and blue roses on the button card.
To color my sentiment, I die cut it in watercolor paper and dabbed my distress ink pads over it. I then misted it with water and heat set it with my embossing gun.

Supplies and Tools: 
Circular Grid Embossing Folder (Anna Griffin), Watercolor Paper, Distress Inks, Free Button Card Printable, 3D Rose Die (Sizzix), Mini Mister, Heat Embossing Gun, Ribbon, Welcome Baby Die (Provo Craft)



This post linked to:
Wordart Wednesday
(Anything Goes)

Craft-Dee BowZ
(must include a handmade bow)
 
Ooh La La Challenge
(Die Cuts)

Monday, February 13, 2017

Free Button Card Printable

Today’s card (for the CropStop blog) features the fun technique of inked embossing folders. To create a background for your project you can apply ink to your embossing folder a) with a brayer or b) directly from the ink pad. Load your paper in, emboss, and wa-la a pretty variation on embossed backgrounds.
 I used the doily embossing folder from Tim Holtz Alterations (Sizzix) and lightly tapped the seedless preserves (Distress Ink) over top. I lightly misted the folder with my mini mister before putting my watercolor paper inside and running it through my Cuttlebug.  After the image was dry, I cut out the embossed doily and adhered it to my card front with my ATG gun.
 I printed out the free button cards (below) and stamped the Seamstress background stamp from Prima in fossilized amber (Distress Ink). The sentiment comes from the Heartfelt Creations set called All Occasion Sentiments and is stamped in mowed lawn distress ink. That pretty rose was made using the Floral Petals (Paper Blossom) punch, Flower Petals Die (Sizzix), and the Martha Stewart branch punch. A pretty pearl adorns the center of the flower layered on swirly ribbon.  To complete the card I added a few tiny sequins to the front, and a Petite Striplet Jubilee die (Creative Expressions)from cardstock on the inside panel.
 Each completed rose was inked in coordinating inks (Purple = seedless preserves/broken china, Yellow = fossilized amber ) and misted with my mini mister and heat set with my embossing gun.
 Follow this link to download a sheet of FREE BUTTON CARDS for use in your own crafting. I appreciate you linking back to my blog if you use these.


This post linked to:
(Texturize)
(Anything Goes)


Thursday, February 9, 2017

Playing with Gesso

Designing for Cropstop has  inspired me to think outside the box, branch out, and try new techniques and products! Today's card features my first experience with Gesso -- I think I'm hooked!
I laid the burlap stencil from Tim Holtz on a piece of kraft cardstock and applied the gesso over top. When I removed the stencil I had this great background that I heat set with my embossing gun. I love the texture it adds to the card, and I can guarantee you'll be seeing more Gesso projects in the future!!
Supplies and Tools:
Kraft/White Cardstock, Gesso, Burlap Stencil (Tim Holtz), Tattered Florals Die (Tim Holtz), Mowed Lawn/Fossilized Amber Distress Ink, Old Book Page, Ribbon, Lace, Sequins

This post linked to:
Text(urize)
(Anything Goes) 
(Anything Goes)




Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Valentine Bouquet

Here's the project I shared
on the CropStop blog.
to get the new link party started today!
 What says "I love you!" better than a bouquet of red roses?
(Especially if their accompanied by a box of chocolates!)
I created this mini picture tutorial to show you how
I made the rose bouquet on the front of this card.
Supplies and Tools: Spellbinders Scallop Circle Die, Flower Punch, Stylus, Cardstock, Hot Glue Gun,  Dictionary page or newspaper (also useful the Craft Molding Mat )
 
To start with Punch 4 flowers from cardstock and cut one Scallop Circle from dictionary page or newspaper  
Step 1 Fold Scalloped Circle as shown above 
Step 2 Using your stylus, lightly press the center of two punched flowers to fold upwards
Step 3 Using the small end of your stylus, fold two flowers up over the end to form a tight center for your rose 
Step 4 Assemble flower by hot gluing the two tightly folded petals together
 Step 5 Add inside layers to the two slightly cupped flowers to complete your rose
Free Heart Template

Supplies and Tools: 
Kraft/Red/Black Cardstock, Text DP, Paper Crimper (Fiskars), Word Die (Momenta),
Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Fired Brick), Spellbinders Nestabiblies (Scallop Circle), Frond Punch (Martha Stewart)
Flower Punch, Stylus, Red Baker's Twine, Crochet Lace Trim (Petaloo), Dictionary Page