Card Stash

When I haven't been crafting for a while it takes a bit to get back in the creative mindset.  So I usually start out with cards.  Small projects that use different techniques and get me going again.  And I add to my card stash.

Time to use some of the stencils that I recently purchased.  Blending colours combined with layering the word die to create a chipboard effect

Love this technique by Jennifer McGuire using acrylic blocks to stamp watercolour effects

 Love the ideas that Jennifer McGuire shares.  This one is a swipe technique with stamping

This last one is from a Scrapbook.com class by young scrapbooker Simon Hurley Step by Step Cardmaking Techniques

Workspace Wednesday

The idea for Workspace Wednesday came from Marcy Penner.  I love the idea of the glimpes into what is currently on my desk, and it gives me motivation to keep working in my creative space.

While I had said that I had been aiming to get my story stamp for the month finished so I was ready for this month when it arrived it just hasn't happened.  We have been down for the count with the horrible bug that has been around and this week it was my turn.  The great thing is when I do finally get a chance it will still be there waiting for me to get to it.

In the meantime I was asked to make a card for a colleague at my husband's work.  It has been a while since I made cards so it took a bit to get back into the swing of things.  Loved it!  I am in my element pulling out things here and there and seeing how I can put them together.  One messy space.

Here is the end result.  Love how it turned out.  It looks much better in real life.

Baby cards

Whenever I have been away from scrapping for a while, making a card seems to get me back into the swing of things.  With a couple of friends having babies it was the perfect chance to get creative.  These bits and pieces haven't been out in a while so it was fun seeing what I could come up with.  I started with the girls card and once I had the design, adapted the colours and images for a boy.

Colours:  brocade blue, pumpkin pie, white

Stamps: baby (kaiser), storytime alpha (CDS), parateddy (elzybells)

Finishing touches:  striped ribbon (SU), wood veneers, letter sticker, stitching, paper (unknown)

Colours: lovely lilac, certainly celery, pink pirouette, regal rose

Stamps:  baby (kaiser),peek-a-boo (elzybells), wood veneers, letter stickers, stitching, paper (unknown), striped ribbon (SU)

On a roll with my cards

This kit of gorgeous papers has been sitting together for quite some time.  Everyday enchantment is by far my favourite paper from Stampin Up.  Haven't seen more like it though.  So I have definitely been hoarding it.  Time to use it.

I decided to keep these cards blank and will stamp the sentiments as I come to use them.  Handy to have some in your stash for different occasions.

Project of the Week

Of all my Use it or Lose it projects this one has been a favourite.  This is a favourite colour combo of mine and I still like the papers that were in the set.  But it is time for a clear out and the last of the papers would have continued to sit there if I hadn't done something with them.  When I was away on my crop weekend we all got scrapping magazines in our goody bags and some had free papers included.  The colour match was perfect.  The bonus was also using the Kaiser word stamps that I had purchased some time ago and have been keeping for another project that I have.

Colours: baja breeze, chocolate chip, sahara sand
Stamps:  words (kaiser)
Finishing touches:  papers (kaiser and scrapping magazine), rub on, grosgrain ribbon (SU), buttons, distressing tool

Sympathy Cards

A lot of thought goes into my sympathy cards.  It is hard to get across just the right message. Sad to have had to do so many of late.

This one started with the inspiration word stamp. The papers were just the right tones that I wanted .  I have been trying different layering ideas and the dictionary page gave a great layer to add to the mix.

 

Colours: sahara sand, blush blossom, calypso coral, wild wasabi, white

Stamps:  pleasant poppies and trendy trees (SU), inspiration (PTI), spatter (IO)

Finishing touches:  papers orchard (HG).  dictionary page, striped ribbon and pearls (SU), distressing tool, stitching

This card started with a paper pad that  I had recently received along with the stamp set.  It was a chance to have a play with some new supplies.  I like the torn vellum layer as it broke up the textures. 

 

Colours:  sahara sand, certainly celery, bravo burgandy

Stamps:  flowers (BG), whimsical words (SU)

Finishing touches:  vellum, ribbon and pearls (SU), stitching

It all began with the journal card and a new embossing folder.  I had a play with the sanding paper to see how it would work with the folder.  Simple but effective card.

Colours:  white, baja breeze, riding hood red

Stamps:  n/a

Finishing touches:  arrows embossing folder and essentials hardware clip (SU), journal card (pink paislee), buttons, sanding tool, sandable paper (echo park), maraschino bakers twine (TT)

Baby girl

I haven't needed as many baby cards lately.  Looks like I may have a few more to make in the next few months though as friends are due.  This card was a case from a card that I have pinned by Becky Jensen at Stamp That.  I changed the boy to girl and used some of the papers in my stash for the blanket.  Super easy when you need a card right away.

Colours:  early espresso, pink pirouette, certainly celery, rose red
Stamps: Onesie wheel (SU)
Finishing touches: heidi grace paper sweetest bug (HG), brads, dimensionals, coat hanger, square lattice embossing folder (SU)

Wish big

Making cards for special people rates high on my crafting things I love and you get to add special touches that are unique to the person that you are giving them to.  And as I make them I am thinking of and praying for the person that I make it for.

The idea for these cards came from this card from Danielle Flanders and this one by Maggie Holmes from a Studio Calico Kit that I had pinned on my pinterest board Cards for Her.  Great to have inspiration at your fingertips, especially when you haven't been creating for a while and are in a bit of a rut.  I used my alpha die from Papertrey Ink to recreate the WISH tag effect.  I had a couple of cards to make and decided to use the cut out letters to create another card rather than throw away or drop them in the bottom of a pile somewhere.  The washi tape made it super simple to do.

Colours: very vanilla, baja breeze, calypso coral, blushing bride
Stamps:  stylish sentiments - birthday and happy trails (PTI), sketchy flourishes (inkadinkadoo)
Finishing touches:  paper and ruffled ribbon (SU), watercolouring, rhinestones, headline alpha die (PTI), stitching, eyelet sticker, flower embellishment (rosies studio), essentials hardward clip (SU), washi tape

House warming card

Once upon a long time ago I had made a very similar card to this one for a friend that had moved cities.  I couldn't find it on my blog and wondered if I actually ever had.  Of late I realise too late that I haven't taken a photo of the card before I send it off. And of course I have been blogging them which doesn't help either.  I loved the colour combo and putting together different elements for the grid design. 

Colours:  going grey, basic grey, white, daffodil delight
Stamps:  Houses wheel and polka dot punches (SU), flourishes (inkadinkadoo), favourite memories (TT)
Finishing touches:  dimensionals, type writer alpha die (cuttlebug),  stitching, heart punch

Cards for sale

There have been a number of craft markets about New Plymouth that some of my crafting friends have had tables at.  When I got into stamping and cardmaking I bought products with the intention to sell cards that I had made.  Apart from making some for friends and my husbands work I haven't really made that many and branched any further into the market.  Seems like enough to keep up with making cards to give.  Anyway after being asked whether I wanted to have some cards to sell I put together what I had and made a stack more.

I started with repeats of cards that I had made.  You can see the originals here and here.

 And as the boy cards were few and far between I pulled out some boy products and picked a colour combo and had a play.

Colours:  white, basic grey, baja breeze, pacific point

Stamps:  kids zone (kaiser), itty bitty banners (SU),notes (studio g)

Finishing touches:  paper clip embellishments (unknown) , papers (various), star punch, notebook die (verve), banner die (SU), washi tape, circle punch, rub ons (rasberry), stars embossing folder (craft concepts), chevron embossing folder (SU)

Needless to say my cards didn't sell.  I had a chance to use them again at a ladies night fundraiser through our school.  I put together more of my organisation side of things and with my recent clean outs added a discount basket of supplies that was all but empty at the end of the night.  There is definitely a lot more to putting together a table for sales than just putting out your product.  What I did learn is that it isn't what I want to get into.  I will still make cards for sale but not for markets.  And my card stash is rather healthy.

Lego card

What was a lego party without a lego card.  I had pinned this card from Yellowbear Stampin and this was my take on it.


Colours:  black, white, real red, pumpkin pie, pacific point, daffodil delight, garden green
Stamps:  stylish sentiments - birthday (PTI)
Finishing touches:  distress tool (TH), dimensionals, headline alpha die (PTI), circle punch (SU)

Wedding card

I have made a few wedding cards in the past.  I tend to get out all my wedding related stamps and start from there.  This card started with the handmade paper.  I decided to keep the colours neutral and go all out with the details.

Colours: very vanilla, sahara sand, early espresso

Stamps:  sketchy flourishes (inkadinkadoo), frames, (rosies studio), polka dot punches (SU), wedding (kaiser)

Finishing touches:  satin ribbon (unknown), handmade paper, stitching, designer frames embossing folder, jewels - basic pearls, flower trim, crochet trim victoria and antique brad (SU)