Video - Iridescent, Pearlescent and Mirror Cards Embossed for Gorgeous Texture

Tonic Studio's Iridescent, Pearlescent and Mirror cardstock is just beautiful and when you add texture with embossing folders, they make our cards even more gorgeous as I show in my newest video. Here is a favorite of the many cards I created for the video: 

I embossed Tonic Studios Firestone Red Iridescent cardstock with a new 3D poinsettia embossing folder from Creative Expressions, added a Cheery Lynn poinsettia with leaves from Spellbinders and a sentiment strip from Taylored Expressions.

I saw this card sketch idea on Pinterest from this blogpost and I cased it but the blogger admitted she also cased (copy and selectively edit) from another card maker so I don't know whose original idea it was. I used 6 colors of Tonic's Pearlescent cardstock on my and embossed it all with a Sizzix embossing folder. "Blessings" is also a die from Tonic Studios.

I love both these cards but in my videos, I always try to teach something new, so I created the card below which shows a version of the sketch above showing you don't have to use circle dies, and also how to extend a regular size embossing folder to create a slimline card (my current favorite card layout.) 

I used Tonic's mirror card for the stitched curved squares (dies from My Favorite Things), and show how I used templates to cut them easily in half. After attaching them, I embossed the card front with an embossing folder from Creative Expressions. I die cut the sentiment from Kat Scrappiness out of white with iCraft Easy Cut Adhesive from Therm O Web on the back, and added some yellow ink on the bottom to make it stand out a bit more before attaching with some yellow gems from Gina Marie Designs.

I hope you check out the many cards for all seasons with this lovely specialty paper from Tonic Studios in my newest video here.

Video - Spinner Cards 3 Ways - Front and Center and Inside Too

I love to make interactive cards, and my newest video features three different ways to make spinner cards. In the video, I show how to make this inside spinner card: 

I used Stampin' up's Silicone Craft Sheet to stamp a reverse image of the Inkadinkado bird which spins in t he center of the pop up center. I forgot to mention in the video that the teal inside piece was cut to 6 3/4" x 10" and scored in half and again at 3 inches from both sides to form the M with a die cut oval center cut out. The HB die is from Simon Says Stamp and the birds are from Sizzix. The front of this card is a homage to one of my most pinned and favorite cards of all time:

I show how I subtly stenciled the background with a Memory Box stencil and attached the layered sentiment from Tonic Studios and the leafy branch from Cheery Lynn. Poppy Stamp's Serene Bird was cut out of two sided sticky tape on cardstock and then covered with Nuvo Snow Glow Sparkle ultra fine glitter. I embossed the bird with a Crafter's Companion embossing folder and colored with peach and yellow distress inks. 

I love how this card came out both on the front and the inside spinner and hope you will watch the new video to see the process and many other spinner cards I made. 

I am entering this card in the Use A Stencil challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday.

A2 Sized Arrow Fold Cards with Tarnished Foil Embossing from My Two Most Recent Videos

The cards I am sharing today combine the arrow fun fold I share in this week's video along with the updated tarnished foil technique from last week's video. I wanted to make my arrow fun fold cards in the A2 size so I figured out the measurements to use and share them in the new video here.

I embossed Tonic Studio's new copper foil sheet with a 3D Sizzix Tim Holtz foliage embossing folder and applied embossing powders as is done in this double embossed technique. I added a punched copper flower and some pretty gems from Gina Marie Designs. Here is a look at the inside of this arrow fold card with a "thinking of you" die cut sentiment from Creative Expressions:

My second card again combines the arrow fun fold, tarnished foil, a 3D embossing folder and favorite dies. I used to only use aluminum foil for the tarnished foil technique but now can make gorgeous backgrounds starting with Tonic Studios copper and gold shades of foil card. They have pretty silver foil too. The 3D leaves embossing folder is from Sizzix and the leafy flourish die is from Cheery Lynn Designs.

On the inside of this arrow fold card I stamped a thankful sentiment from Gina K on a Gina Marie Designs leaf. If the A2 arrow fold intrigues you, find out how easy it is to create this look by watching my newest video here. And if you missed last week's video on updated looks using the Tarnished Foil technique, watch this video.

Cute Fall or Halloween Cards OR Anything Goes 4 Kids at Send a Smile 4 Kids!

It’s Saturday and time for another fun challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids! This year, all challenges at SAS4Kids are Anything Goes 4 Kids! We will often have an alternative theme that you can choose to follow, but are not required to. Create and link any card that is appropriate for a child and your card could be chosen as one of our top three cards and you could join us as a guest dt member on a future challenge.

The theme for this challenge is: Cute Fall or Halloween Cards 4 Kids OR Anything Goes 4 Kids.

I created a cute Halloween card for a child for this challenge using dies from Impression Obsession, Cheery Lynn Designs and Lil’ Inker. Be sure to check out the rest of the cards from TEAM SAS here and we would love it if you entered our challenge.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes Challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday.

 

Live Laugh Love Crackled Foiled Leaf Card with Therm O Web

We were challenged at our local stamp club to use a vintage seed packet in a card and I combined it with a gorgeous crackled foiled leaf for a card I just love! I learned how to make crackled foiled die cut leaves in this video from the Therm O Web blog.  I used my new Gina K. Designs Radiant Red Fancy Foil for the first wrinkled layer and Champagne Gold Deco Foil for the second layer. The leaf die I used is from Stampendous. As is always the case, still pictures do not do justice to the sparkle and shine of Deco Foils especially the glittery new ones from Gina K. and Therm O Web. I die cut Live Laugh Love from Cheery Lynn Designs out of another gourds seed packet and also out of black fun foam. I glued them together and attached it back on the seed packet. I raised the crackled foiled leaf up on mounting tape for dimension and added a few Gina Marie Designs clear green gems to complete the card. Here is a close up look at the dimension:

Leaves are not the only thing I crackled and distressed with my new Gina K. Therm O Web Fancy Foils and the technique I learned from Gracie here.  Tomorrow I am sharing another card I made and stay tuned for a series of YouTube videos with foil and fancy folds soon. Thanks for helping me #share the joy of creativity!

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday and the Scrapy Land's Anything Goes challenge (I used Cheery Lynn dies.) 

A Z-Fold Spring Birthday Card

I was playing with z-fold cards recently and remembered an old Martha Stewart fence punch and thought it would be perfect for inserts in the z-fold card. The fence punch was designed for Halloween with bats on the fence but I cut them off and the card idea started to come to life. I was also playing with new stamps that had not been inked and created my card front with an Altenew layered flower stamp and three shades of Altenew ink.I created the z-fold banner across the bottom and attached a "happy birthday" greeting cut with a Memory Box die. Here is a look at the card when it is opened:

I die cut Cheery Lynn's leafy stem and Poppy Stamps Hampstead Butterfly Stem and attached them to acetate and then onto the layered fences. I die cut a flowery butterfly from Die-Namites and stamped a "beautiful day' sentiment. To finish the card I added a bunch of small punched butterflies with sticker gems. 

I am entering this card in Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge called Things with Wings and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge to use more than one die or punch. 

Happy Halloween!

Today I am sharing the last Halloween card I made this year. This one was for my BFF and I created the front using the double embossing on aluminum foil technique I have shared so often recently here on my blog. I embossed with an old Cuttlebug spider web embossing folder and added black and gold embossing powder melted with my heat gun. I added a googly eye "boo" just for fun. But the best part of this card happens when it is opened:

I used the pop up circle die from Karen Burneston of Elizabeth Crafts and an awesome witch Halloween wish die from Cheery Lynn to create an interactive pop up center when the card is opened. The spiders on the front and inside are made with a die from Impression Obsession. I signed the card for my friend before taking the picture, so I covered up that part of the inside. 

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

Happy Halloween Z-Fold Card

As you know, I love fun fold cards and have made a few z-fold cards since discovering this fold earlier this year. I saw a couple versions on Pinterest with extra tabs in the center but never saw a tutorial for how to do it. It looks similar to box cards I have made, so I tried it and it was not difficult to figure out. The picture above shows the card closed for mailing. Here is a look at the card opened up to show the fences on the inside tabs: 

Isn't that fun? Here are the measurements in case you would like to make one: I started with a spooky cardstock weight designer paper I bought at JoAnns cut 5 1/2" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2" and 2 3/4". I cut the orange strip 1" x 11" and scored at the same measurements. I cut two black tabs 4 3/4" x 3/4" and scored on each side at 1 inch. I diecut the Happy Halloween Channel die from Memory Box out of black and attached it to the longer side of the orange strip. I popped up the little pumpkin for the O. I punched the jack-o-lantern face (punch from Fiskars) and attached the orange strip. The two black tabs are attached inside the center of the orange strip and I punched and attached the Halloween fence using a Martha Stewart punch. I die cut Cheery Lyn's Witches Skirt out of purple and attached it upside down behind the fences. I added some grey bats (die from IO) and a ghost die cut with an old Sizzix die. Here is another look at this fun fold card: 

White on White Thinking of You Card

I have been playing with some new toys and created this Thinking of You card with several of them. The embossing folder is called Inside Out by Tea Paper Crafts (sold in the states by Cheery Lynn Designs), and the Inside Out embossing plates allow you to choose which parts of an embossing folder you want to emboss. They are similar to the diffusers sold a while back, but much cheaper and with more oval options. I chose to emboss just the edges and largest oval of the embossing folder. Then I die cut and attached the Thinking of You die from Elizabeth Crafts. I added some pearls for a little dimension. 

I am entering this card in the Embossing challenge at Scrapy Land and the Anything Goes challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

Guest Artist Cards

This week I had the honor of demonstrating some of my favorite card techniques at a local art association meeting. One of the organizers of the demonstration thrilled me by sharing the two pictures above of a Polish chicken she created with pastels on sanded paper. The name of the artist is Tamara Martin of Mosinee and I am in awe of her talent! I created a couple cards with her pictures. The first one above started with a background I made with orange, terracotta and gamboge Brushos sprinkled on watercolor paper and spritzed with iridescent gold Glimmer Mist. When it was dry, I embossed the watercolor piece with an embossing folder from WeR Memory Keepers. All I needed to do then was attach the gorgeous picture. That is really all I did on the second card too- round the corners and attach the picture to a red Core'dinations cardbase. I die cut the "celebrate" from Cheery Lynn Designs out of the same cardstock and attached.

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at Crafting with Dragonflies  and 613 Avenue Create.

Playing with Brushos and Bleach and Cheery Lynn

I love this new die from Cheery Lynn - he just makes me happy! I cut him out twice and inlaid the white pieces back in the black elephant so the words really stand out. I added some white lacquer to his toes and eye so they really stand out too. The background was created with my favorite color of Brusho Coloured Crystals, Ostwalt Blue, which is a cool combo of purple and blue. I dripped some bleach on the Brusho piece and when it dried, it had taken a bit too much of the color off, so I added some turquoise Brushos back on in the white spots, and spritzed. Then I liked the background and used it for this fun Happy Elephant Birthday card.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Cheery Lynn Designs and the Anything Inky challenge at Love to Create.

Happy for You Guys Card

I needed a quick card to say "congrats" to a guy we know recently and pulled out a brand new Cheery Lynn Die I couldn't resist recently. I thought this "happy" elephant would be perfect for a birthday card or any happy card for a child or a guy. I teamed him with the circular "for you" die by Impression Obsession. I cut them in black, layered on a yellow patterned cardstock and added a line of glitter tape along the bottom. Very quick and easy, but lots of fun too.

I am entering this in the "Make it Manly" challenge at Cheery Lynn Designs and the use a die cut challenge at The Stamping Boutique.

Bister, Brusho, Color Burst Comparison

I love getting packages in the mail with new dies and stamps and this week I received this fun sentiment die from Cheery Lynn Designs and the shatter glass background stamp from Local King Rubber Stamps. I saw a card made with this stamp at this wonderful blog and knew immediately I must order the stamp. I have been wanting to do a BBCB comparison and decided to make backgrounds with the shatter glass stamp and each of the colored crystals. To start, I heat embossed the shatter background on three pieces of watercolor paper with white embossing powder. The first card above was made with my favorite colors of Brusho Colour Crytals which are turquoise and ostwald blue. I love the ostwald blue because it has purple and blue together. There are 24 colors of Brushos so the variety is awesome. I also like the ease and control of tapping the colors onto your paper or whatever you are working on though the hole you punch in the lid. Brushos are available in the U.S. at Dick Blick.

My second card features the same fun die and the shatter glass background heat embossed. I sprinkled black Bister powders and spritzed with water. I discovered Bisters first and am glad I did. There are eight colors of Bister powders and their black is the best of the three color crystal choices, so I decided to make this card black, white and red. There is a brown undertone to Bisters when spritzed and the result is unique every time you make a card with them. They are the least expensive of the three options and available for sale in the U.S. at I Brake for Stamps here. 

My last card was made with a double layer of the "live, laugh, love" die from Cheery Lynn, the white embossed background and a rainbow selection of Color Burst color crystals. There are 6 colors of Color Burst currently available, but we are hoping for more colors to be released soon. They are made by Ken Oliver in the United States and available at local stamp shops and various places on line. They are very bright and easy to use and like the other two, when spritzed with water burst with color (thus the name.) If you are local and coming to the Saynor stamp show this weekend, you might be able to get Color Burst at the Crackerbox Palace booth.

***Edited to add: Color Burst is now available on line at Crackerbox Palace.com and they are currently on sale! Check it out here: http://crackerboxrubberstamps.com/product-category/accessories

I like them all. I hope I gave enough information so you can check them out and decide for yourself which one (or ones) will be right for you. One thing I can tell you for sure- they are all fun and easy to work with to create great backgrounds and beautiful cards!

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at Cheery Lynn Designs and Simon Says Stamp.