Flower Box

This card is straightforward, but here's a quick rundown of the layers. The flower box die cut is white, with a polka dot background behind it, mounted on a solid teal square. The same polka dot paper (sorry, I don't remember the source) is layered on top of a white note card, with a square cut out -- inside which the flower box layers were centered. The sentiment banner was folded so that it stands up from the card for a little added depth. It might sound more complicated than it was!

Enjoy your week!

Supplies:

Stamps - sentiment from Hero Arts "Everyday Sayings"

Ink - Memento "Teal Zeal"

Dies - Pinkfresh Studio "Floral Squares"; Spellbinders square

Butterfly Doily

This designer paper is different in that it seems to change color depending on what colors it's around. When I saw it in the pad, it looked like a grayish hue. My husband saw it and thought it had some green in it. But I liked the look of it paired with this chocolate brown paper, which makes the print sort of a mocha color. I thought the little doily resembled the flowers, so that's how the card came together. The butterfly just happened to be something small enough to fit on the doily. I wish you could see the shimmer on the butterfly's wings though -- that's my favorite part of the card.

Have a great weekend!

Supplies:

Stamps - sentiment by Hero Arts "Everyday Sayings"; Butterfly from Penny Black "Enamor" clear set

Paper - from Love Nicole "Delicate Floret" 6x6 pad

Ink - Versamark for sentiment; Ranger Adirondack "Espresso"

Dies - unbranded doily

Accessories - White embossing powder

White on White

I've always thought cards with multiple white layers look very elegant -- especially when there is texture included, such as embossing. I've long admired others' cards, and finally took a stab at it myself.

I started by embossing the top layer, only I used a Darice embossing diffuser, in this case, a plate which has an oval cut out of the center. Used with the regular embossing folder, it keeps the area in the oval from being embossed, so it stays flat. After embossing the design, I then used an oval die over the flat oval to cut out the flat part, and also leave a nice border to the cut edge.

I stamped the sentiment on the bottom layer (the folded cardstock) and then adhered the embossed piece over it. Easy to do, and I like the results. If I wanted to make it more elegant -- such as for an invitation, a nice white satin ribbon would be pretty -- but I'm keeping this one flat so it's easier to mail.

Enjoy your weekend!

Supplies:

Stamps - Penny Black "All Great Things" clear set

Paper - plain white cardstock

Ink - Versafine onyx black

Dies - Spellbinder "Ovals"

Accessories - Darice embossing diffuser, Sizzix embossing folder

Stenciled Leaf

REMINDER: Now thru July 8, enjoy 40% off ALL Hambo stamps! See our SALE page for details. 

Now on to today's card:

I'm very happy with how this stencil (Carabelle Studio) worked! I didn't have to adhere it in any way; I just held it down with the tip of one finger, and sponged the Tim Holtz distress oxide inks around it. It stayed in place without slipping, and I got this really crisp image.

I layered this on a print from Love Nicole's "Aquarelle" pad for a cool monochrome look. The finishing touch was the Hero Arts sentiment, which was embossed in white.

Happy 4th of July!

Monochrome

This card was originally going to be a Mother's Day card for my mom. Problem was, while she can appreciate a hand-made card, she likes the mushy verses found inside Hallmark cards. I'm not a mushy writer, and though I attempted some nice lettering and a verse inside, and I even put the card in an envelope with a stamp on it -- I ultimately pulled it back out of the mailbox. Instead, I decided the Hallmark card was less of a gamble, so I bought and sent her one of those. (I actually sent a Hallmark birthday card instead of a Mother's Day card, because I liked the verse better.) Still, this card was salvaged. I cut the front off and mounted it on a new white card base. The monochrome look is very pretty in person.

The flowers are from a Penny Black clear set called "Enamor." It's a handy set for general purpose cards because it has several different flower stamps, a butterfly and a saying. You'll see that I used more of the stamps from this set on my next card.

Thanks for looking!