New Ways to Eclipse with Double Stenciling

Hero Arts has a new release called You've Got a Friend and I got to play with several of the new stencils in that collection. The background stencil is called Check Please and is a perfect addition to anyone's stencil collection with classic checks. I combined it with the new layering stencil set called Bitty Floral and then cut strips raising every other one for a fun new way to eclipse.

I played with other ways to use the stencils on this shaped card cut out with Hero Arts Infinity Butterfly dies. I lightly added teal ink through the Check Please stencil, then moved it over and added some light yellow ink. I chose to overstencil with just two of the stencils in the Bitty Floral stencil and then cut another smaller butterfly out to raise and eclipse. The perfect addition to both of these cards were Spellbinders Color Essentials Gems.

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

No Time for Pop Up Cards or Paper Piecing? No Problem

One of my favorite booths at the Novi MegaMeet this last weekend was Scrappy Tails and they are known for their amazing Pop Up Cards with layers of paper piecing details. I know that we don't always have time enough to make that type of card. My two cards today were made in very little time because I decided to make them without the pop up feature and create the images as silhouettes. You can see samples of how to use the Gazebo Wrap Around Pop Up with all of the gorgeous layers here on the website. But my card shows a lovely way to make a shaped card and I created it in just minutes. Here is a look at the inside of this card:

Another Scrappy Tails die I couldn't resist was the Birch Tree Pop Up Tunnel and when I have more time I will definitely do the pop up with all the paper piecing. But I made this simple 5 x 7 card with silhouettes again and a pop of red in the cardinals and sentiment:

Cardmaking Joy and Hugs, Karen 

Waffle Flower Dad and Mom's Cards

I loved the new sets and stencils released at Waffle Flower last month and bought several sets at our local paper crafting store, Harts N Scraps where I teach classes. I featured Waffle Flower in last month's classes that I taught. Father's Day is next month and the new Postage Collage Dad Silhouettes are perfect for that. But I think it could be used for birthdays and other special days for Dad or Grandpa. The backgrounds on this card were created with the Postage Collage Wavy Lines Stencil. 

I used the new Mom Silhouettes stamps from Waffle Flower and a blue mono-chromatic stenciling and inking for this card. 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Sending Sunshine and Love with Spellbinders May Stitched Die of the Month

Sending love and sunshine with this bright cheerful card is easy and fun after stitching the May Spellbinders Stitched Die of the Month. I usually use metallic thread when I stitch on cards, but this month I used variegated shades of yellow floss to stitch the rays of this cute sun. I added googly eyes and a sentiment pennant from Spellbinders Gingerbread Plane and Banners die set. 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

Pink and Main Class Cards

I love dies that easily create pop up or interactive cards and I recently took two classes from Pink and Main that included several fun dies and a great cupcake embossing folder. This card was made with many pieces from the Celebrate Pop Up Card die set we received as part of the Birthday Bash event. I really liked the embossed candles and  the bow from that set and used them on several of the cards I made. This card lays flat to mail and then stands for display.

One of the cards taught in the class used this sketch and I changed it out to use many of the decorative dies from the set. 

In the SCT Cardmaking Delivered classes I took last month, we received Pink and Main's Pull and Surprise die set. I combined it with some rainbow paper we received in this kit as well as the candles. This card opens like this and then closes to mail like this:

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

April Class Cards with Spellbinders and Waffle Flower

This month at Harts N Scraps, my students had great fun making cards with some favorite products from Spellbinders and Waffle Flower. They could choose to make an Old Fashioned or Bloody Mary with a drink die and embossing folder from Spellbinders. Then they made a multi-colored tunnel with the Rainbow Slice Tunnel die from Spellbinders and a crackle embossing folder also from Spellbinders. 

Then the students made two cards with favorite dies, stamps and stencils from Waffle Flower. 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen 

New Toner Card Fronts and Foils from Deco Foil and Therm O Web

Did you know Deco Foil recently released a bunch of new spring Toner Card Fronts and fresh new colors of foil? I had so much fun playing with them along with new dies and a brand new fun fold. 

The new floral Toner Card Fronts are called Fresh Florals and Hoppy Spring and I feature them along with the new pink Love Potion and Royal Carriage foils on this fun fold card. The focal point is a new die from Poppy Stamps called Nordic Cozy Tea Cup. This card folds flat to mail in an A2 envelope and then opens to look like this:

I also created another card with this fun fold and a new Toner Card Front called Birthday Wish:

And here are a couple more cards I created with the new toner card fronts and foils:

If you like super easy ways to add the sparkle of foil to your cards, I urge you to check out the new products here at Therm O Web. 

Cardmaking Joy & Hugs, Karen