Updating Another Older Product with Today's Cardmaking Tools

Can you guess what I used to get these sparkly colors popping out of the black background on this card? Remember scratch paper from years ago we could write messages on or draw a picture and magically the color appeared where you scratched? I love to find older products and use my current cardmaking tools like embossing folders and stencils to create gorgeous cards with them as I show in my newest video here.  I taped 4 squares of the Arteza Scratch paper in different colors together and then embossed them all in an older Cuttlebug roses embossing folder.  Then I simply scratched off where embossed to create this lovely card front. The "hello" die cut is from Gina K Designs.

I also show how to use stencils to create a pattern with the rainbow of colors appearing when a simple stick is used to scratch off the black coating. 

The Arteza scratch squares come in pink, blue, silver, gold and rainbow and I used the pink with a poinsettia embossing folder from Spellbinders to make this Christmas card. The sentiment die is from Karen Burniston. 

**Watch the video here for a chance to win a sample pack of the scratch off squares and your  favorite card from the video so you can give this a try!**

Video - Cards For Guys With Dies in my Die Cut Crazy Video Series

Making cards for guys can be a bit challenging but not if you have the right dies as I show in my newest video here which is part of my Die Cut Crazy Video Series. I share four cards I made with different dies I own and the card below that I demo was made with dies, stamps and cardstock from a My Favorite Things kit. The Good Time to Wine card kit is sold out, but you can still order all the separate pieces of the kit here. 

 It is a wine shaker card with a tie and is easy and fun to make as I show here. Here is a peek at the inside of the card with a Tonic Studios die  and another card I share in the video:

I love this card that I made with a new die and stamp set from Motion Crafts called Time Flies. You are going to want to watch the video to see how the gears and clock under the grid move when the tab is pulled - so cool! I created a background using a technique called Faux Leather which I share in this video at about the 15 minute mark. The set from Motion Crafts includes all the dies and stamps you see and I embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and sponged with Distress Inks. On the inside I used another Tonic Studios die and a stamp from the Time Flies set from Motion Crafts.

I love how these cards turned out and hope you will watch the video and will be inspired to try some masculine cards next time you are designing. 

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

More Embossing Folder Cards from My Latest YouTube Video

It is so easy to make a gorgeous textured distressed card with embossing folders and I show how to create this card from start to finish in my newest YouTube video here. The technique is how to make leather like textured backgrounds with kraft cardstock, Distress Inks and an embossing folder. On the card above, I used a Sizzix embossing folder, Vintage Photo and Spiced Marmalade Distressed Ink, Spellbinders Feather dies and a stamp from Laurel Burch for Stampendous.

I have always used brown Distress Inks with a touch of orange when doing this technique, but I tried Peacock Feathers, Abandoned Coral with Chipped Sapphire on the crinkles and love how this card turned out. The embossing folder is an older one from Cuttlebug. I finished the card with a pretty sentiment die by Penny Black. 

I have one more fast and easy card using embossing folders to share with you today. I love the look of embossing the whole card with an embossing folder so the insides are embossed too for added interest. I embossed this card with a butterfly swirl embossing folder from Darice which leaves room on the front for stamping and in the inside to write a message. I stamped "thinking of you" with some pretty stamps from Stampendous Big Word Thanks set, and added some stitched butterflies cut with a die from Lil' Inker. 

I am hoping the cards I blog this week and the new video posted here inspire you to pull out your embossing folders and have a play!

Thinking of You Foiled Card

At a recent play date with some friends, I learned that gorgeous foils like those from Deco Foil by Therm-o-web can be attached with traditional embossing pastes many of us have from Dreamweaver that we used with our brass stencils! I have several colors of Dreamweaver Embossing Paste that I haven't used in a very long time. We applied the embossing paste through a raindrop stencil from Dreamweavers and then let it dry. We placed the piece on an electric griddle set at 250 degrees to help that drying process go faster. When it was dry, we put a piece of Deco Foil Lapis Watercolor foil on top of the piece and ran it through a heated laminator. I like all the colors of Deco Foil, but especially love the new mixed colors of the watercolor choices that just were released! Here is a close up look of the texture and shine of those foiled raindrops:

I also added texture to the die cut umbrella (from My Favorite Things Die-namics) by embossing tiny flowers with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and attaching the umbrella with mounting tape to raise it. I die cut a small stitched label from My Creative Time and stamped "Thinking of You" from Endless Creations. Last week I needed three "thinking of you" cards and am finding it is the type of card I use the most.

CAS Double Embossed Guy Card

Today I am sharing another card I made with the double embossed technique I learned about here. Scroll down to see more examples of this fun technique with aluminum foil, embossing folders and powders. I created a CAS guy card with the background I made using a map embossing folder from Cuttlebug and blue, kettle copper and gold embossing powders. I attached the piece at an angle on the black card base, added the Dad and Son die cut from Die-Versions and "you & me" from Little B.

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

Lots of Layers at Scrapy Land Challenges

I am very happy to participate again this week as a Guest Designer at Scrapy Land Challenges which is one of my favorite challenge blogs. The theme of this challenge is Lots of Layers and use at least one of the die brands Scrapy Land sells. Here is a list of the over 40 different brands Scrapy Land carries.

I designed this floral layered shaker card for a dear friend’s birthday recently. I started with a white card base and attached a pretty flowered designer paper. Then I die cut and sponged a gorgeous Anna Griffin for Cuttlebug flowered layer. I also die cut the Memory Box Stitched Happy Birthday Rectangle and attached acetate behind it. I attached two layers of mounting tape around the edges and dumped in a bunch of colored beads, then sealed it again with acetate. Here is a close-up of the birthday shaker layers: 

Why don’t you pull out your favorite dies and create a card for this challenge? The prize is a $15 Scrapy Land gift certificate and you know you can find something great you want there!

I am entering this card in the birthday challenge at Dies R Us and the Anything Goes challenges at 613 Avenue Create and Craft Your Passion.  

2016 School Color Graduation Card

I designed this card for my sister to give to the many friends of her son who are graduating this year from Durand High School (school colors purple and gold.) The flap fold card base was die cut with a die from Stampin' up. I embossed the card base with an embossing folder from Cuttlebug. There is a gold circle on the front and back of the flap (to add a personal message.) The "Hat's Off to You" sentiment is from Crackerbox Palace and the 2016 is a Memory Box die.

I am entering this card in the Embossing challenge at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and the Anything Goes challenge at TTCRD. 

School Color Crazy Bird Grad Card

I love making graduation cards in the school colors of the grad, and purple and gold are the colors of the high school my nephew is graduating from this spring. When I saw this sketch I knew I wanted to try a card using it. The center flap lifts up to reveal another oval in the center to write your message on: 

I started the  card with a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of purple cardstock. I embossed the slightly smaller gold layer with a "congrats" embossing folder by Cuttlebug. I cut two white ovals with stitched dies from My Creative Time and stamped the "hats off" sentiment from Crackerbox Palace. I stamped the Crazy Bird (from Tim Holtz) on the larger white oval and again on a patterned dp and paper pieced him. I stamped and cut out the graduation hat and diploma from Crazy Bird Things in gold and attached.

A strip of purple cardstock is attached behind the gold layer and comes down the center of the front where I attached the front oval. I decided to put a strip of cardstock behind the larger oval and slipped in a money gift for the grad. I love it when a card comes together exactly as it was designed in my head:)

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at 613 Avenue Create and Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends.

Winter Fun 4 Kids at Send a Smile 4 Kids!

It’s Saturday and time for another fun challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids! This time our challenge is Winter Fun 4 Kids! Create and link any winter card appropriate for a child, and you could win one of our great prizes.

We have three very generous sponsors for this challenge: Dollar Graphics Depot is giving their winner a $15 gift certificate! Lacy Sunshine is giving their randomly picked winner 3 digis of their choice!  And One Happy Cut’s winner gets a $15 gift certificate! TEAM S.A.S will also be choosing their favorite cards for our top three and the winners will receive a blog badge and an opportunity to be a guest design team member on a future challenge.

For my first card above, I used a sweet digi by Lacy Sunshine called "Snowflakes Quality Control". I printed her on white cardstock, did a little coloring with Copics and paper pieced her dress. I cut a frame with a large snowflake die from Darice and embossed the blue card front with a Swiss Dots embossing folder from Cuttlebug.

I created a gatefold card for my second card featuring "Chili Pete Loves the Snow" from Dollar Graphics Depot. I embossed the white gatefold card with a snowflake embossing folder from Sizzix. I printed Chili Pete in color, cut him out and attached him to the left side of the gatefold. I stamped "Warm Winter Wishes" on a circle and attached it to complete the CAS kid's card.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Crafting from the Heart and Craft Your Passion, and the Let It Snow challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

Faux Leather Sympathy Card

I learned a new technique (to me) on how to make faux leather for cards and projects by watching this video by Sheena here.  She was making faux leather book covers out of kraft paper and it is really amazing IRL how much this paper looks and feels like leather. I suggest you check her video out if you want to learn how to do it, You need thick kraft paper (I used Stampin' Up), glycerin (found at drugstores) and distress inks. When the paper was still wet, I embossed it with an embossing folder from Cuttlebug. After it was dry, I sponged on Vintage Photo and a bit of Spiced Marmalade distress Ink. In yesterday's post, I shared a card I made with the negative of the feather die and today I am using the feather itself. I sponged the edges of the feather (die by QuicKutz, colors created with Brushos), and attached. I added a die cut "With Sympathy" from Cottage Cutz.

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at Catch the Bug and Lil Patch of Crafty Friends.

Shake It - You Know You Wanna!

I saw the "shake it" set of stamps from Studio Calico and knew I had to buy it! So cute for shaker cards! I cut a flower out of the front of this card with a Spellbinders die and used the larger flower die to create the pink flower. I embossed the flower with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I stamped "shake it" in the center of the white card base, stamped the "you know" sentiment and banner on pink paper and cut it out. I attached acetate on the back of the flower opening and used two layers of mounting tape to create the shaker window. Then I dumped a bunch of flower sequins and other plastic flowers inside the shaker window. I attached a couple other pink flowers to complete the card front. Here is another look at what shakes in this card and the inside:

I am entering this card in the Anything Goes challenges at 613 Avenue Create and Suzy Bee's.

Wax Paper Resist Birthday Card

I learned how to do wax paper resist on glossy paper in the newest issue of Through the Craft Room Door and am thrilled with how this card turned out. I will be sharing it in the monthly classes I teach in my home. The embossing folder I used for the technique is from Cuttlebug and is called Roses by Anna Griffin. I sponged on red Distress ink and attached a Memory Box butterfly. The birthday sentiment die is also from Memory Box and I put white behind the word openings before attaching to the card.

I am entering this card in the Things that Fly challenge at Simon Says Stamp and the 2 Word Sentiment challenge at Aud Sentiments.

Celebrate Card in Kraft and Cream

I was so inspired by this card I found on Pinterest  not only to make this card but to buy the curved borders die set from Spellbinders. Just had to have it! One of my favorite color combos is kraft and cream so that is another reason I love this card. I embossed the kraft card base with my favorite embossing folder- Swiss Dots from Cuttlebug. Then I cut the curvy border using three of the dies on a cream piece. I die cut the Memory Box butterflies out of kraft and cream and added a "celebrate" cut with a Penny Black die cut out of cream cardstock. Another class card ready to be shared.

I am entering this card in the kraft challenge at Fairy Tale Challenges and the Things with Wings challenge at Kitty Bee Designs.

Easter/Spring Cards 4 Kids at Send a Smile 4 Kids

It’s Saturday and time for another fun challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids! This time our challenge is Easter/Spring Cards 4 Kids! Create and link any Easter or Spring card for a child and you could win one of our great prizes. 

We have three very generous sponsors for this challenge: Crackerbox Palace is giving their winner 3 digis of their choice from the CBP stamps at their website!  The Cutting Café is giving their randomly picked winner 3 digi or cutting files!  And Kitchen Sink Stamp’s winner gets a $25 gift certificate! TEAM S.A.S will also be choosing their favorite cards for our top three and the winners will receive a blog badge and an opportunity to be a guest design team member on a future challenge.

My first card above features fun Easter stamps from Crackerbox Palace. The Easter egg with feet just makes me smile, and I hope that happens when one of our kids gets this card. I stamped the egg on a white oval piece cut out with a Nestabilities die. I paper pieced the egg with some colorful dp and colored the legs. I filled up the white space around the egg with bright dots of Copic color. Then I layered it onto a pink scalloped oval (also Nestabilities.) The yellow cardbase was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.The fun sentiment was stamped, cut out with another Spellbinders die and sponged pink while still in the die.

My second card is a sweet shaped bunny from The Cutting Cafe'. I simply cut out the bunny shaped card, the feet, ears, nose and front white piece. Then I added a face, heart and ribbon to complete the cute card.

I am entering my cards in the Anything Goes challenge at Scrapper's Delight and the shaped cards challenge at Fab 'n' Funky.

Sneak Peak of Wedding Stamp Camp Card

I think white on white is such an elegant look for a card. I designed this card for a stamp camp my friend Jane Luxem and I are hosting on May 16th. More information will be posted on the stamp camp later. This wedding card features my favorite die cut - the leafy flourish from Cherry Lynn Designs and their challenge this week is Anything Goes so I am entering this card. I started with a 6 x 4 1/2"  folded card base and cut off the right side of the front with a large oval die. I embossed the side of the front and inside with an embossing folder by Sizzix. I attached the leafy die cut (Cherry Lynn Designs) and the Congrats die cut (Penny Black). I embossed some punched butterflies in the Swiss dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug) and attached them with some pearls.

I am also entering this card in the Anything Goes challenge at Scribble and Scrap.

Batman Lego Heart Valentine for my Grandson

My grandson loves Legos and super heroes so when I saw this punch art card here, I knew I wanted to try to make the Lego Batman for his Valentine. I started with an embossed candy hearts background made with an embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I also cut out the UR GR8 heart for Batman. I used a variety of punches to make Batman. It took a long time to make, but for someone as special as my grandson, I don't mind.

I am entering this card in the Hearts challenges at Simon Says Stamp and Wags 'n Whiskers.

Valentines or Love Cards 4 Kids Challenge at SAS4Kids

Happy New Year from SAS4Kids!! It’s Saturday and time for another fun challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids! This time our challenge is Valentines or Love Cards 4 Kids.  Create and link any Valentine or Love card for a child and you could win one of our great prizes.

We have three very generous sponsors for this challenge: Doodle Pantry is giving their winner a $10 gift certificate!  DRS Designs is giving their randomly picked winner a $10 gift certificate!  And Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet’s winner gets a $6 gift certificate! TEAM S.A.S will also be choosing their favorite cards for our top three and the winners will receive a blog badge and an opportunity to be a guest design team member on a future challenge.

My first card above features a super cute Leonard Pig digi stamp from DRS Designs. I created a joy fold card and Leonard and his roses were paperpieced on the top fold. This is what the inside looks like (Valenswine's Day from DRS Designs too.)

My second Valentine is a shaker card featuring cute digis from Doodle Pantry called Love Worms. I printed the colored versions of the digis and created a circular shaker top with acetate, mounting tape and a circle cut with Nestabilities. I filled the shaker with sequins and tiny red hearts. I embossed both cards with my favorite candy heart embossing folder from Cuttlebug and added a sentiment from the same digi set by Doodle Pantry.

I am entering these cards in the Anything Goes challenges at Simon Says Stamp and Wonderful Wednesdays. Also entering in Design Team Showcase. 

Another Sparkly Ornament Card

I cut a bunch of ornaments and bows (with my new dies from Clearly Besotted) out of sparkly paper and made this easy card with some of them. I usually stick to traditional Christmas colors, but decided to use some sparkly purple paper and am loving these bright ornaments. I started with a white top folding card base that I embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. I "hung" the ornaments with thin gold washi tape. The gold bows were attached and then the ornaments were popped up with pop dots.

I am entering this card in the Happy Holidays challenge at Jo's Scrap Shack and the Last Minute Christmas at Crafty Catz.

If you are a new follower, welcome! If you are not yet a follower, click on the Blog Candy picture on the right to see what you could win just by becoming a follower. And if you are a long time follower and friend, thanks!

Celebration Cards 4 Kids at Send a Smile 4 Kids!

It’s Saturday and time for another fun challenge at Send a Smile 4 Kids! This time our challenge is Celebration Cards 4 Kids! Create and link any celebrations card for a child and you could win one of our great prizes. Halloween, Christmas, Birthday- any celebration opportunity will do.

We have three very generous sponsors for this challenge:  Stitchy Bear Digital Outlet is giving their winner 2 digis of their choice (a $6 value)! The Paper Shelter is giving their randomly picked winner a $20 gift certificate!  And Crackerbox Palace’s  winner gets 3 digis from any of their stamps at their website! TEAM S.A.S will also be choosing their favorite cards for our top three and the winners will receive a blog badge and an opportunity to be a guest design team member on a future challenge.

My first card above features some really cute stamps from Crackerbox Palace. I cut a film strip window with a die from Pretty Pink Posh using two sided dp. I flipped the cut out paper squares, taped them together haphazardly, and stamped the perfect sentiment on them before attaching it to a blue card base. I stamped three of CBP's cute fish on brightly colored dp, cut them out and attached them in the film strip window.

My second card features "Brave and Cute Knight" from The Paper Shelter. I printed him on white cardstock and cut him out. I embossed the red piece with a Cuttlebug numbers embossing folder and cut out the "u r 4" with Memory Box alphabet and numbers dies. I think this card could be perfect for a little boy turning 4 while in one of the nine children's hospitals SAS4Kids serves.

I am entering these cards in the For the Boys challenge at Chocolate, Coffee and Cards, and the Anything Goes challenge at Sister Act.

Frankie in Fall/Halloween Colors

Isn't Frankie cute? And so easy to make with Nestabilities dies and the "goo" punch from Martha Stewart. I started with an orange card that I embossed with a spider web embossing folder from Cuttlebug, then sponged with black ink. Frankie was cut with Labels one, circle and oval Nesties, and even the smile was drawn using a smaller Labels one die. The hair was created with the same labels die and the "goo" punch. Easy and fun and perfect  for Halloween.

I am entering this card in the Fall or Halloween Colors challenges at Open Minded Crafting and at Hiding in my Craft Room.