Vintage inspired stampings

Here are two cards I made then photographed with my hipstamatic iphone app which gives a beautiful hazy, aged effect.

For this project the edges of cream cardstock are antiqued (torn, distressed and inked) and the images are embossed for a nice contrast.  The card stock for the actual card is a rich chocolate color with a tapestry print.

In the first image, the bird stamp is duplicated, cut and layered.
In the second image I added a little dimension with a layered "adore" sticker, printed ribbon, a button, bling and tulle netting.

Both stamped images are delicately colored with distress ink to keep the vintage effect and then conservatively embellished with Stickles (less is more for this project).

For these cards I opted not to make either occasion specific (birthday, thank you, etc) and leave it open.

Corset Stamp - Stampendous
Bird Cage - Stamper's Anonymous, Tim Holtz

Hand Stamped Cherry Card Project

Here is a fun project - I usually make one of a kind cards but a friend suggested making many of the same type. This is not always possible, especially for embellishments that I may not have duplicates of, but this is entirely doable for simple cards.

 Here is an example of a set I tried. I did two different designs - one for "happy birthday and another for "thank you".  Between the two there are a few noticeable differences....besides the sentiment, thewidth of the border and the sparkly enamel bling, you may notice that the cherry image looks different.   One thing I tried is to use Glossy Accents on one of the cherry stamped images but you can see that it changed the color. It looks neat - much more like Ranier Cherries, but does not have the true red I was going for. I will be mindful of this the next time I use Glossy Accents over alcohol ink colored images.  On the plus side it blended the colors for a more seamless look.

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ORIGINAL IMAGE



entering into ABC Challenge - http://abcchallenges.blogspot.com/

White-on-White embossing technique

Yesterday I was reading through some paper crafting blogs and saw a technique using white embossing powders and Distress Inks.  Once I find the post I will update here.  I decided to try this but did most things differently so essentially made this my "own".   I think of it as using embossing as an ink resist technique by using white on white (white, opaque embossing powder on white paper).  Below I have outlined simple steps:

Materials needed:

- White Embossing Powder (I used Whispers Opaque White Embossing Powder), 

- Embossing Ink (Ranger Emboss It)

- Background Stamp (I used Carbonated Background from the Hero Arts Basic Clippings Collection) - Acrylic Block (I used the Tim Holtz Acrylic Grid Block Set).  
- Ink Daubers (I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink Stains in Vintage Photo, Bundled Sage, Gathered Twigs, Pickled Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Shaded Lilac,  Peacock Feathers and Bronze)
- Water Mister (I used  Ranger Inkssentials  mini mister)
- Heat Gun
- Circle stamp

Step One

Stamp with embossing ink, cover with power and then heat set"

Step Two

Dab paper with Distress Ink Stain Dauber in first color (Distress Stain Peacock Feathers)

Step ThreeDab paper with Distress Ink Stain Dauber in the second color (Distress Stain Bundled Sage) and then Mist generously

Step Four

Dab paper with Distress Ink Stain Dauber in the third and forth colors (Gathered Twigs and Vintage photo).  Mist generously and move paper around so the ink moves from side to side.

Step Five
Dab with all colors until covered.  Top with Bronze Distress Stain and then mist and rub with a cloth.  Gently and evenly dry paper with a heat gun.

Step Six

Trim sides and ink sides if desired).  Finished!

I have not finished a card with the bronze "patina" background but I did finish the mat.  For this I added Liquid Pearls in bronze and edged the sides in bronze ink from a Colorbox metallics pigment ink pad set.I plan to add a stamp to the middle to cover where the stamp missed the page.

See the picture below to see all of the finished papers.  I came up with three designs, one striped, one mottled Patina and one mottled "tie-dye". 

For this one I decided to use the front.  I rounded the corner and inked the sides in a lilac Tsukineko ink pad as you can see in the finished project.  

Finished!   

I added a border with fuschia and light lemon Bazzil card stock.  The sentiment (from Micheal's) was stamped on White card Stock and mounted on

Vintage Collection Retro Mod Squad fuchsia paper and then large circle punched die cut with a stamp from the Stampin' Up Circle Stamps collection

 Next I wanted to share how to use the back of the design.....For this project project I colored in the circles and then used the back side for the background.  Again the corners were rounded and the sides were inked but this time with both the lilac Tsukineko ink pad and with a hot pink Versa Color ink pad.

Dotted.......

Back Side

Finished Card!!!

NOTE:  I am entering this in the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge which this week is to create your own background using stamps

I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial!  If you use any similar techniques feel free to link them up here :)

quick embossing project

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Stamp and Scrap Art show in Winston Salem NC with a bunch of fun ladies from a scrapbooking group that I belong to.  We had a great time and I wish I had planned better for that shopping trip - next year I plan to save up in advance.

I was fortunate enough to win a gift certificate though and picked up some extra dies and embossing powders.  When I got home my youngest daughter and I had fun playing with our new goodies!  I had a huge stash of chipboard that we used  to experiment with the embossing powders.  Below is one of the finished pieces that we heat embossed.

The purple was from my personal stash.  The gold mottled and blue mottled accents were mixes from our new indie-embossing powders, both topped with a touch of recollections antique gold that I already had.  the purple square was also coated with clear distress paint for a vintage effect.   I am not sure how I will use this but it is propped up on my ink pad shelf for now.

Here are some screen shots below - the stickles bottle is for size reference

Holiday Gift Card Holders

I made these holiday Gift Card Holders using the new We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board.  These are available at many different retailers.

To make these cards I simply made the envelope according to the instructions, then embellished with baker's twine and hand made die cut flowers.  I ended up with a ton of these.  Here are some shots of the front, back and inside flap (with adhesive) as well as some different designs:

Happy Birthday Mouse

I usually do not buy "cutesy" stamps but I could not resist the one below.  Here is a card I made using the following materials:

- Handstamped and embossed birthday mouse on plain cream cardstock.  The stamp is designed by Tina Wenke (trademark Wenke Design Studios).

- The card is made from dual sided cardtsock - pink striped on one side and yellow polka dots with balloon from Momenta.

- I believe the matting is from the DCWV Mi Casa paper stack (turquoise and white cardstock)

- Webster's Pages turquoise bow

- Recollections bling

- Pink Stickles (it did not show up in photo but the icing is covered in sparkley glitter)

- Colored using Spectrum Noir and Distress Ink markers

In addition, I decorated the inside of the card as well with the same cardstock.  so cute!  Now I just need to make an envelope to match.

Simple Wall Art Project

I have not water colored in years.  I tried painting hydrangeas but it ended up looking like purple and green blobs.  I decided to repurpose the paper.  I added some colored pencil and chalk paint-pen accents, die cut (via punch) and edged in ink.  Most of the circles were perfect but a couple were intentionally irregular.


I love the outcome.  I do need a bigger frame or a smaller mat  (or both) - but this will suffice for now and is hanging nicely in our hallway!