Revisiting Old Card Kits

If you buy card kits, do you ever use them up before the next one arrives? Leave me a comment and let me know! I have to admit, I NEVER finish a card kit right away! in fact, I have ones going back to 2014! I think only 2 in that time are all used. So sometimes when I have some time, I pull out an older kit and try to make at least 3 cards with it. I don’t always manage three but I try even if I have to make a simpler card or CASE* one of the cards shown on the insert. 

*CASE stands for Copy and Stamp Everything, basically using someone else’s design as inspiration but changing it up to make it your own. As long as you don’t pass the card off as your own or try to sell it, you can even copy it exactly!

I was in a gold mood when I made these cards. Do you ever get in a mood to use a certain colour, a specific technique or product and use it over and over for a short while? I work in spurts like that. Then I move on to a new one for the next while. This card comes from a Simon Says Stamp kit all the way back from September 2015! I created a ‘background stamp’ using some of the small bows, triangles, circles and half-circles included in the Birthday Bits stamp set. I needed some more bits so I trimmed a couple of tiny shapes off of the small borders. I don’t prefer to cut my stamps apart but these are wonky borders anyway so realigning them perfectly isn’t important. I found a matching ink to the cardstock in the kit and stamped the grouping of stamps I put together on entire card front. Sometimes when I find a grouping I really like, I stamp an example and keep it with the stamp set.

I gold embossed some balloons on two of the papers by Pinkfresh Studio from the kit and on some scrap cardstock. I added some dots on the cardstock balloon. The strings are made of stretch gold cord which is my preference over plain gold string. The stretch means that you don’t have to be as precise when tying the strings together to make sure they all stay straight. I glued the knot to the card with glossy accents using a clothespin to keep it in place while it dried. The sentiment from Celebration Sentiments by Honey Bee Stamps is embossed with gold sparkle powder by WOW. I used banner dies by PTI but I trimmed the points so they weren’t so long.

In keeping with the gold theme, I made this card using the October 2015 Simon Says Stamp kit. The center panel is one of the journaling cards included in the kit. The cards and the patterned papers are by My Mind’s Eye, one of my favourite paper companies. The panel underneath has a gold-leafed I applied over Scor-Tape, then I rounded the edges to match the journaling card. I hand cut the balloons because the dies I have are too large. I added the same gold cord but this time decided to allow the strings to hang to the side whimsically. It’s hard to tell from this photo but the ‘Let’s Celebrate’ sentiment is gold foiled. A few gold confetti bits from Studio Katia finished off this card.

Thanks for joining me for these fun cards. I’d love to hear how you use your card kits. Do you subscribe or just buy a few here and there? Do you buy more than one? If you get any other than the MFT, SSS or Hero Arts ones, let me know which ones and how you like them! I’m dying to sub to the Spellbinders ones but I only have so many $$$!

Enjoy, Rebecca

Autumn Bouquet Thanks

I have to admit it is autumn here. The air is crisp and I really need the alpaca scarf/shawl my sister brought  me from Peru.

I used last year’s Simon Says kit for the paper and some new dies for the bouquet. I was playing a clean and simple challenge so I didn’t doll up the card like I might usually. I’ll be sending this to my sister to thank her for the scarf.

Enjoy, Rebecca

Entered in:

RECIPE
Stamps: SSS
Ink: archival brown-Ranger, various Distress inks
Paper: SSS kit, various SU! CS
Accessories: dies-Marianne and Elizabeth Craft, WRMK cork

Freesia Sympathy Card for The Shabby Tea Room

Once again I used the colour combo from this week’s The Shabby Tea Room sketch. There’s ivory, white, black and the little tidbits of purple on top of the hat.

I recently bought this freesia stamp set and coloured it with the no-line colouring technique. I used a very light green Memento ink so it wouldn’t show once I finished. Then I watercoloured it with my Kuretake watercolour set. Those colours are amazing! I also have the Derwent Inktense Pencils and honestly, I am not a huge fan of them. Save your money for the Kuretake!

Our sponsor this week is Paper Sweeties! The owner is also the owner of The Shabby Tea Room so I’m sure she would love it if you checked out her little store. She has great stamps, dies and embellies. I got the sweet little flower sequins and the seam binding from Paper Sweeties.  So head on over to the challenge blog or the store to see what is on offer!

I’m also entering this in the Winnie & Walter watercolour challenge.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: freesia-Altenew, sentiment-SSS
Ink: archival black-Ranger, pea sprout-Memento
Paper: Windsor & Newton watercolour paper, vanilla, eggplant CS-SU!, DP-Echo Park
Accessories: sequins, seam binding-Paper Sweeties, foam dots-The Sticky Stuff Store, Kuretake watercolour

Watercolour Butterflies

This is another challenge for Winnie and Walter’s WCMD challenges. The challenge was to use the provided sketch.

I plan on adding a sentiment later. I also used their colour challenge to use aqua, mint, yellow and kraft. I used my Kuratake watercolours, again! I do love them so!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Altenew
Paper: W&N water colour, kraft CS-PTI
Ink: archival-ranger
Accessories: Kuretake watercolours, rhinestones-Kaisercraft

Happy (Belated) World Card Making Day!

 

Yeah, another WCMD! I found a few challenges to play so here’s what I came up with.

This one is for the Winnie and Walter watercolour challenge. I had fun using my new Kuretake watercolours and the latest Simon Says Stamp card kit. The colours are more vibrant IRL, I don’t know what is with some cards and how they photograph!

I hope you had fun working on your WCMD projects!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: SSS October kit I See You
Ink: versamark, archival black-ranger
Paper: W&N watercolour paper, vanilla CS-SSS kit, My mind’s Eye paper and journaling card
Accessories: embroidery floss, hello die-kit, gold twine, EP-SU!, Kuratake watercolours

Thanks Card Set

Sadly my great-uncle is in the hospital dying. My poor great-aunt has been there as many hours as is humanly possible. Lots of people have been helping out, bring food etc. So I figured she will need some thank you cards shortly.

This first card is for the Sweet Sunday Sketch. I liked the wonky panel. I like my banners to point to the right though so I flipped the sketch. The banner is actually made from white CS swiped with Tattered Rose ink. It took ages because my pad is a bit dry. But the colour was perfect with this Theresa Collins paper.

This next one is one of my favourite CAS sketches. I die cut the Thanks and coloured it with Copic markers. I only used two so the ombre isn’t that pronounced but it looks nice. W5 and 7. Very simple but interesting.

The last card layout was one I stumbled upon. I started by trying out the colours I was thinking of using on a scrap in the bottom. I didn’t like the colours so I stamped another bunch of hexagons higher up. This colour combo was much better but when I looked at my scratch paper, I had a much more interesting layout than the single cluster I had planned. I added two more clusters, to balance everything out, and ta da!

I had one more happy accident. I had planned for a totally flat card. Very mailable but boring. But I couldn’t think of what to add. Then I goofed and inked the stamp I always stamped in yellow in the aqua ink and stamped. Not a pretty colour, NUTS! So I stamped it on scrap paper, cut it out and added it with foam dots.

The top left and bottom right most hexagons are up on foam dots. I hope my aunt likes these. I kept her in mind when I made them as she loves soft colours and quilting. I think the hexagons look like quit squares, don’t you?

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE

Thanks for Your Support and Ombre Thanks
Stamps: Thanks all ways-PTI
Ink: cup o joe-HA, tattered rose, frayed burlap-Distress
Paper: Theresa Collins DP, kraft, white CS-PTI
Accessories: die-Mama Elephant, W5, 7

Hex Thanks Cards
Stamps: Hexagons, Thanks all Ways-PTI
Ink: harvest gold, sweet blush, melon berry, aqua mist-PTI
Paper: white, harvest gold, sweet blush, melon berry, aqua mist CS
Accessories: foam dots-Sticky Stuff Store

Butterfly Shaker Card

This is for the latest CAS(e) this sketch Challenge.

I immediately thought about the center rectangle as a recessed area leaving the outer edge was a frame rather than elevating it as a panel. So what to fill the frame with? Of course, a shaker pocket!

I used Lawn Fawn and Pretty Pink Posh sequins along with Martha Stewart heart glitter which is so big it’s more like small confetti pieces. The inner panel was cut from the middle after stamping. It was a bit tricky getting the inner panel aligned correctly after adding all the foam without letting the sequins fall out. So I closed the back by replacing the panel and attaching it to the foam on the frame with a piece of copy paper. Then I added the entire thing to the card base.

Click on the sketch to visit the challenge.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Altenew
Ink: chocolate, hawaiian shores, hibiscus burst, raspberry fizz-PTI
Paper: white, aqua mist, hibiscus burst CS-PTI
Accessories: foam tape-Dollar store, sequins-as above, rectangle die-Spellbinders, Wink of Stella pen, love you die-SSS

Watercolour Smooshing for Make It Monday

I have to be honest, I prefer this technique with Distress inks but it was fun using some bright new colours. I’ve actually been doing this technique for a long time as it’s pretty much the same as Tim Holtz’ no wrinkle distress technique. I tried it on regular card stock and I’ve got to tell you, I didn’t like the result. The paper was all bumpy and yucky. No idea why, I used good cardstock!

I placed this panel on a hibiscus burst notecard which you can’t tell from the front view. I forgot to take a side view. It’s quite a fun surprise when you open it! To get the gold edges without using a big piece of pricey gold paper, I used a gold paint pen on the edges of the card base (disguising the bright pink from the front) and on the white panel under the aqua mist panel. It’s hard from this view to even see that it’s another panel and not just a gold edge on the aqua one but trust me ;)

I’m entering this in Make It Monday.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Thanks all Ways-PTI
Ink: hibiscus, melon berry, harvest moon, blueberry sky, winter wisteria-PTI, certainly celery-PTI, versamark
Paper: W&N watercolour paper, white, aqua, hibiscus CS-PTI
Accessories: Krylon gold paint pen

Runway Inspired Card with Smooshing

I was inspired by the most beautiful dress on the Runway Inspired blog. It reminded me of the rose gold Pearl Ex have had for so very long but never used.

I started with a 4x5.5” panel of watercolour paper. I smooshed it in a combination of pink watercolour paint and gold pearlescent watercolour paint. Shame it doesn’t show up more but it’s the perfect colour. Then I stencilled on some transparent embossing paste mixed with rose gold Pearl Ex using a diagonal line stencil. It looks so pretty. I’m amazed my picture shows it off at all! Then I die cut a piece of white cardstock covered in Scor-Tape. Next time I will try the new Ken Oliver thin adhesive and or thinner cardstock because it took me ages to get through both thick layers and the backing paper.

I mounted the panel to a pink card base with gold glitter tape on one side then covered the die cut liberally with warm micro fine glitter and burnished it well. I mounted it on foam dots, leaving a couple of leaves adhered to the background directly and a few with a double layer. This gives it a more realistic feel than if it was all on one layer. Last but not least was the gold embossed sentiment and a few sequins.

I’m entering this in the Runway Inspired challenge.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: SSS Love This
Ink: versamark
Paper: Windsor and Newton watercolour paper, blush CS-PTI
Accessories: gold EP-SU!, clear sequins-Pretty Pink Posh, W&N paint, Niji pearlescent paints, Wendy Vecchi translucent embossing paste, rose gold pearl ex

Whimsical Baby Card

The Friday Mashup for the next two weeks is a combination challenge. You have to choose two old challenges and use one or two elements from each. I chose #4 which is Make a Baby Project and Use Punches. And #7 to make a Feminine Project with Ribbons/Pearls. And just for kicks, I added the sketch from #21.

I used the punch to cut the scalloped edge at the top of the dotted panel. I used a pearl pen to ‘colour in’ the doodled lace on the onesie. I think the other elements are pretty obvious. I layered the heart and the word. The ‘baby’ die cut has all pink layers underneath. It looks so cute from the side. Same with the heart. I used a micron pen to doodle.

Thanks for so many great challenges Friday Mashup! Click on the photo to go to the challenge.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Paper: Echo Park New Baby Additions and Dots n Stripes, aqua mist CS
Accessories: baby, heart and onesie die-Echo Park, epoxy hearts-MME, ribbon-unknown, EK Success Scalloped punch,

Balloon Tag and Package

A matching tag and packaging was another PTI challenge. I had just made the tag in the post previous to this one with a set I neglect and thought about stamp sets I don’t use often enough for this tag.

I bought Everyday Button Bits a while ago second-hand and I’ve only used it once. So I decided to use it and use up some of those enormous buttons I don’t use much. I don’t use Vintage Labels a lot either so it made for a good match. I think this would make a good baby gift package.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: as above
Ink: archival black-Ranger, Hawaiian shores-PTI
Paper: white, aqua mist CS-PTI
Accessories: chartreuse, wisteria, spring rain buttons-PTI, labels 1 dies-Spellbinders, cloud dies-PTI, washi tape-stash, baker’s twine-Divine twine

Inspired by Maille

PTI has a ton of giveaways and challenges this week. This one was to be inspired by Maille Belles. (Isn’t that the best name?)

I realize that this is super simple. But since I was making multiples, that’s what I needed. I was able to make 12 cards in an hour and a half. That’s less than 10 min per card. I think I may still add some sequins but this is how it is right now. I used up quite a lot of older SSS card kit paper. Now I’m down to only scraps and a few sheets of DP.

Thanks for the inspiration Maille. Next I’m going to try stamping a floral border and trimming along the edge. I love this look!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: Hero Arts
Ink: Archival black
Paper: white CS-PTI, DP-SSS card kit from a while back

Chalkboard with Stamped Floral Wreath

I love trying new techniques and this one was introduced to me by Jennifer McGuire.

On kraft cardstock, I stamped the floral wreath with white pigment ink. Then I stamped over the white images with dye ink. Then I combined that technique with another from Jennifer, to add another colour of ink over the original stamping, to accent each flower and leaf. After stamping the first time with coloured ink, you ink up your stamp with the accent (darker or brighter)colour then remove some ink with a cloth. In this case, I removed about half the ink leaving the center inked. Then stamp over your original stamping, carefully lining everything up. That leaves the centers a bit brighter/darker. Click to enlarge the photo as it’s hard to see.

I added the sentiment with black EP and carefully trimmed around it. I added a few little random dots to make the wreath look more filled in and added it to a simple card.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: SSS
Ink: versamark white ink, various hero arts and PTI inks
Paper: kraft CS-PTI, DP-MME (I think)
Accessories: pearls-Dollarama, foam dots-The Sticky Stuff Store, Divine Twine

Bold Coffee for Mojo Monday

I know, I know, I never create in colours this bright and bold! But since I bought the October SSS card kit, I had to use it right? LOL!

 

I really liked this sketch and the scalloped DP is purple which my gal pal really likes. I know she prefers my softer styled stuff, but she also loves coffee! If I hadn’t been making this at the last minute I might have added a few sequins or rhinestones but oh well.

Enjoy, Rebecca

(PS: You get bonus points if you noticed that within the teal and blue paper, there are foxes as part of the print! I didn’t notice until I’d cut it the wrong way!)

RECIPE
Stamps: SSS What’s Brewing
Ink: Memento black, black Archival-Ranger
Paper: DP Basic Grey, CS-SSS doll pink
Accessories: foam dots-The Sticky Stuff Store, scalloped die-PTI

World Card Making Day!

Yeah, I know, I am jumping in the boat at the last minute here. I had a very busy day! But I still have time to add a couple of cards!

First up is a mixed media card I made for a sewing student of mine. I think this worked pretty well for a teenaged girl considering I don’t have any ‘hip’ dies or stamps to work with. I used pretty stick cardstock paper which held up well to the application of light moulding paste. I used a sketch for this card but it was an older one and I’ve forgotten who designed it. If anyone remembers it, please let me know so I can give credit.

Next up is a freestyle collage card. I know, it’s far from perfect but I am still learning this style. I adore it and can’t wait to get better at it! I coloured the wood veneers with Copic marker and used two different colours of thread together which I really liked. Looking at it now, in a photograph, I kinda wish I’d added a small flower to the bottom left of the frame. Oh well, next time.

This one is a clean and simple mixed media card. The solid butterfly is water coloured and I used a bronze coloured shimmer watercolour for the body. I coloured the homemade texture paste (white paint, white glue and baby powder) with G21 Copic marker refill. Then I flicked the same bronze watercolour paint on the background. I hope you like this one because I am really proud of it.

So my busy day? I started out (way earlier than I usually do) for the World Breastfeeding Challenge. I donated a set of jewelry and hoped that my baby, who no longer wants milk any time except at night, could be bribed to at least pretend he was nursing. um, yea, nope! Screamed and squirmed during the keynote speakers talk too. Grr! Then I ended up walking through the Farmer’s Market I had forgotten was there and the Mom to Mom sale. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s a sale where moms can pay a small fee for a table and get rid of old clothes and toys. Like a mother to mother garage sale.

Then we left and found our local fire station was having Fire Safety Week so we stopped there for a while. He ADORED the fire trucks and the bouncy castle-style slide. He’d still be there if I let him. Then I was so exhausted (may not sound like much but since I am disabled, it’s quite a lot for me) and slept all afternoon! So that’s why my post is so late!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
too much to list but just email me if there’s something you’d like to know about.

Feel Watts Better

I decided I’d better use up my SSS card kits so I made 3 cards at once. I needed a masculine card for my FIL at he last minute and realized I have very few masculine cards. I usually make them just when I need them and so don’t have a stash.

The third card is identical to the right card. I just liked the splatters better on this one! They are the same size; weird the right one looks larger. Must be the angle.

For this light bulb, I stamped it on white cardstock and coloured it with two colours of Copics. The white splatters are MrHuey’s mist. I just flicked the stem of the sprayer onto the card.

For this one, I stamped with yellow ink on white cardstock using the solid stamp included in the set. I prefer the Copic coloured one tho. Just as a note, I quite shamelessly CASEd the cards from the inspiration sheet they include with the kit. Why reinvent the wheel right?

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Love You Watts-SSS, Feel better Mega Mixed Messages –PTI
Ink: Memento black, summer sunrise-PTI, Archival black-Ranger
Paper: SSS card kit, HAwaiian shores CS
Accessories: Copic markers R27, 29, Y35, 38, foam dots-The Sticky Stuff Store, Mr Huey’s mist

Prairie Smile Card for Unscripted Sketches #254

Doesn’t this card remind you of a prairie dress? I love these patterns and colours.

I’ve been wanting to copy the paper piecing technique Melissa Phillips uses for ages. I finally decided it would be perfect with this card. You can see her card here. I’m entering this card in the CASE Study DT challenge.

I hope you will join us this week on Unscripted Sketches. I love the ‘sentiment/quote’ part at the bottom. I have tons of tiny stamps I love to stamp repeatedly as a border. What do you have in your stash that would work?

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages-PTI
Paper: white CS-PTI, navy CS-SSS card kit, DP-Basic Grey
Ink: night of navy-SU!, Versamark
Accessories: loopy flower die-Memory Box, vintage lace, button, twine-PTI, white EP-HA,

Speedy Recovery

I seem to make mostly Thank You, Sympathy and Get Well cards. Shame two out of three aren’t happy occasions but at least I can make something pretty and colourful to help cheer someone up.

This is pretty simple but in case you’ve never done this watercolour stamping technique, here’s how. Ink your stamp with markers then spritz with a fine mist of water or pearlized water. Stamp and then spritz again to get a lighter image. How much water will determine how crisp or watery the image will be.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Life, Healing Touch Sentiments-PTI
Ink: Plum Pudding
Paper: Cream, Spring Moss, Lemon Tart CS-PTI
Accessories: edge die, buttons-PTI, foam dots-The Sticky Stuff Store

Baby Thank You Card Folder for Unscripted Sketches #253 and Giveaway Winner

I love using the sketch for something other than basic cards. This week I was making cards for a friend who just had a baby and the sketch worked beautifully a folder to hold the cards.

I used some Webster’s Pages papers to make this. The yellow ribbon looks so pretty. I love that shade of yellow and the chevrons are awesome.

This is the inside of the folder. I designed it myself so if you like it and want the dimensions, let me know.

Here’s a closeup of the embellishments. The arrows are made from Craft-a-board then covered with white cardstock and washi tape.

This is the card I designed. Sorry that it’s hard to read the tag; it says ‘thanks’. I made the card narrower than the usual 4.25”. It is only 4” which helped because I wanted to get the most from a scrap of 12” wide paper and of course, 4” fits across 3 times but 4.25 only fits twice. That also allowed me to hang the trunk off the edge and still fit into a regular envelope.

I hope you will join us at Unscripted Sketches this week. Be sure to check this week’s post to see if you won one of our prizes! I look forward to making the jewelry I am giving away. My winner is Monika Reeck so please email me in the next 48 hours to claim your prize.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages, Bitty Baby Blessings-PTI
Ink: Harvest gold-PTI
Paper: lemon tart CS-PTI, Baja Breeze CS-SU!
Accessories: foam dots- The Sticky Stuff Store, Copic BG72, seam binding ribbon-Masterstroke Ribbon

I Love You Watts

I was so inspired by last week’s Unscripted Sketches that I made two cards. This one was for hubby; he’s been behaving himself lately so I needed to let him know. ;)

It’s hard to see but I coloured the backside of the vellum bulb bright yellow in the center of the heart and lighter yellow just outside of it. I love colouring hte back of vellum; such an awesome look. I wish it showed up more. The hearts are coloured with a Copic and then I added Glossy Accents to the top.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Watts and Watts-SSS
Ink: black Archival-Ranger 
Paper: SSS card kit, scraps white CS
Accessories: holiday shapes die-SSS, Copic R27, Glossy Accents