Tim Holtz - Artful Muse Embossing Folders

Most of us tend to struggle with male cards but when I saw this set of embossing folders I knew they had potential.

I used a cardstock with a white core to allow the embossed part to show through, plus I helped it a little with a sanding block.  The sentiment is a SU one called Sincere Salutations, punched out using a SU retired punch and I added three small orange buttons to finish it off.  The stripes top and bottom are ribbon and the paper is all from my stash.

Tag - Stampin Up - Because I Care

Another project using the SU Hostess stamp set Because I care.  This time I coloured in the hydrangea using a mixture of SU, Marvy Le Plume and Tombow markers.  I then cut the image out and placed it onto a Nestabilities Oval.  The actual tag is a die from Go Kreate called Rectangular Frame Frilly #3.  Not sure where the sentiment came from as I did this tag a couple of months back.  I must admit that creating a whole lot of tags as a present gave me chance to use some dies I had forgotten about and also to use up some of the ribbon I have.  I am sure I am not unique in having a whole large drawer dedicated to ribbon !  A girl can never have enough ribbon !!

CottageCutz / Peachy Keen Duck w/egg Notepad

I have a sneaky suspicion this dear duck is going to be my favourite CottageCutz die.  He comes with a variety of faces, all cute and so expressive.

Using white cardstock I ran the die through the Cuttlebug and then used Distress inks to sponge it to the colour I wanted.  On went the face, the beak was coloured with markers and the cheeks were also Distress ink.  The brown shape behind the duck is a Nestabilities Nested Eggs and behind that is is a Nestabilities Big Scalloped Ovals.  The background cardstock covering the notepad is SU.

Post-It Note Pad - Marij Rahder Suzy 5

Another Post-It pad, this time plain and simple with a cute Marij Rahder Suzy 5 image.  I coloured in the stamp with Copics and used Nestabilities Classic and Scallop Circles to frame it.

I have already given 3 of these pads as a thank you gift to a friend - there are 3 ladies in the house, so one for each of them.  I was tempted to put a magnet on the back but felt there might just be a bit too much weight for them to be put onto the fridge. 

Bib Tag

When I saw this idea over at Stamp & Scrap with Frenchie I thought it was really clever.  Frenchie's idea was to make a card using the SU Scalloped Circle die whereas I decided to make a tag using the Nestabilities Scalloped and Classic Circle dies.

I used CB Swiss Dots embossing folder on the white cardstock and the small scallop circle is from a SU punch with the white inner circle also from the Nestabilities Classic Circle die set.  The cute baby stamp is from a retired SU set called All Occasions.  For the neck opening of the bib I used a circle punch.  The ribbon, I think, is also from SU but I am not certain.

This is the sort of tag one could mass produce quite quickly and it is certainly fun to make.

Kaszazz Rollagraph - Skyline

This is a card I have had on my desk for a while and whilst I am sitting here at my computer I am struggling to remember the names of the items used.  Please bear with me on this one !

The window die is one which I use in the Big Shot and can only be either SU or Sizzzix.  The border punch used vertically on the front of the card is a Martha Stewart one - of that I am certain.  The cityscape (not sure if that is even a word) behind is a rollagraph from Kaszazz called Skyline and it is coloured with the usual mix of SU, Marvy Le Plume and Tombow markers with a bit of Distress ink for the sky.  The yellow cardstock was originally white which I coloured using Distress ink.  I just kept on swiping the ink pad over it until the colour was what I was after.

I seem to recall the sentiment being a Gina K design one. 

Post-It note pad - Marianne D Cupcake die

There are a couple of cupcake punches and dies around but none of them really took my fancy until I saw this Marianne D die.  First off, I love her dies as they are a pretty blue colour, not sharp edged and cut out beautifully.  This die is no exception and it is so easy to assemble.  I buy my Marianne D dies from Bunny Zoe in the UK.

The cupcake is on a Post-it note pad cover and I used Nestabilities Eyelet Squares behind it.  The sentiment is from a Flourishes set called Let Them Eat Cake and I punched it out using the SU Word Window punch.

The cupcake base was highlighted with Distress Ink, the paper used for the topping is a glittery one and the cherry is a normal red cardstock with the main part coated using a red Viva Decor Pearl Pen.

Tag - Inkadinkado Flower Sentiments "Thank You"

When I buy a new stamp set I like to try one of the images out but do not always have an immediate use for it.  Rummaging around in my box I found this one and thought it would make a quick and easy tag. 

The dies are all Nestabilities and the Pinking Circles are ones I seldom use but thought it would make for an interesting contrast this time round.  On the back of the blue circle I placed a white circle for the message to be written.

Dawn with Birthday Cake - Nellie Snellen stamps

This was one of those photos which did not turn out well so my apologies for that.

The image was coloured in with Copics and matted on Nestabilities Labels 2 dies.  The sentiment is unknown but looks like it could be a Flourishes one and it is placed onto a SU modern label punch and a tag from SU Sizzlets Lots of Tags.  The background paper is Creative Memories and the flowers are ones from my stash.

Tim Holtz & Marianne D dies

I recently bought the Tim Holtz die called Vintage Cabinet Card.  I cut out a full sized card and saw I had a bit of cardstock left over.  Not wanting to waste it I ran it through the top half of the die and came up with quite a cute card shape.

Using a Hero Arts background stamp and Distress Inks I made a patterned circle and popped on the Marianne D Cupcake die which is really great to work with.  A quick and simple card ideal to give with a batch of cupcakes or cookies.

Tags - High Hopes Little Reader

Another tag which would be ideal to give with a gift of a book.

For this tag I used Nestabilities Deckled edge rectangle and sponged with Distress Ink.  I stamped the image directly onto the cardstock and coloured him in using markers - the usual mix of Marvy le Plume, Tombow and SU.  The book was paper pieced (not very well now I look at it !).

The sentiment looks like a Hero Arts one but I cannot be sure as I did this tag a couple of months back.

Sizzix Bigz die - Box with Scallop Flap & Flowers

I am on a mission at the moment to make 'Thank you' gifts.  I love having post-it notes, notepads and odd boxes to pop something small in. 

When I saw this die available locally I made sure I got in quickly before the supplier ran out.  It does make a nice size box but I have yet to find something to fit in it.  Will have to take it off to the supermarket to see if I can find a chocolate to fit.

I used fairly thick cardstock for the die and found some odd scraps of patterned paper to decorate it with.  Someday I will get around to actually using all the 12 x 12 sheets I keep on buying !  The rosette is from the Mini Paper Rosette die which I sponged using Distress inks.

Tim Holtz - Artist Trading Card die

When my Tim Holtz ATC and Corners die was delivered I promptly tried it out making a whole batch of ATC's.  On this one I used a stamp from the Hero Arts Memories set and I think I used Archival ink - maroon.

Using a couple of different colour Distress inks I changed the ATC from a beige cardstock to a bit more of an interesting coloured one.  The border punch is from Martha Stewart and to say this was an easy card to put together is an understatement.  Sometimes I just like to keep it straight and simple.

Tag - Kaszazz Jumbo Rollagraph - Skyline

When I was last in Australia visiting my sister I sat in on a class she gave using this jumbo rollagraph.  It was one of those items I thought "yes, I'll definitely order one of those" and when I got home it went straight into the drawer after I had made just one card.

I used this rollagraph to make a card the other day and had spare a couple of trial runs I did.  I thought it would make an interesting tag, though not entirely sure what occasion it could be used for. I coloured the image in using variety of SU, Tombow and Marvy Le Plume II markers plus Distress ink for the sky and road.  The Nestabilies used is from the Deckled Edge Long Rectangle set and I cut a rectangle to fit behind it.

CottageCutz / Peachy Keen - Bunnies

I really do like the collaberation between CottageCutz and Peachy Keen stamps.  This little bunny was cut from bits of scrap paper which also included paint swatches from the local hardware store.  The only downside to the swatches is you are unable to use ink on the surface as it is a bit glossy.

The bunny was popped onto a Nestabilities Deckle Edge small Rectangle which I had embossed with a SU folder.  The next rectangle (pink) is from the Deckle Edge large Rectangle set and the background paper has been stamped with a retired SU background stamp.  The sentiment is a Clear Dollar one which I placed on a label made from a Cuttlebug die.

Tag - My Mind's Eye

I picked this doily stamp up locally.  The set is called My Mind's Eye - Stella and Rose - Gertie "Girly" Stamps.  As it was relatively cheap I wondered how it would stamp and was most surprised with the result.  I used Archival Cobalt Blue ink for the doily as well as the sentiment which is from a Clear Dollar set called A Friend in Need.

The Nestabilities used are Classic and Scalloped Circles.  The outside die is Nellies Choice Frame Dies Multi Flower.

Tag - Birthday Boy Kaisercraft

Kaisercraft are one of the few readily available stamps in my part of the world.  I usually am not attracted to them but I thought this little Clear Stamp CS 910 had potential.

I stamped the airplane in Archival Cobalt Blue, cut it out and once it was fixed onto the cardstock I added the vapour trail stamp.  The Nestabilities used were Long Rectangles, Classic and Scalloped.  The sentiment is from an unnamed Inkadinkado set.

Tag - Punch Art

A while back I did a few of cards with a Mr Acorn punch art I had cased from a craft site.  As I often do, I made a couple more which I kept one side.  So when it came to making this tag it was really easy just to select a couple of leaves, from the Marianne D die called Frames / Leaves, and put it altogether.  I did use Antique Linen Distress Ink on the edges of the tag, which is a Nestabilities Labels Twenty.  Just can't remember where I found that sentiment - sorry !  You will have to forgive me this week but I am posting only tags.  I have recently not spent as much time as I normally do at my craft table even though I am back in the moonboot with another injury to my foot - just for 4 weeks this time.

Instead, I have been devoting time to a special project - I was asked to become the godmother of a white Bengal tiger, Angelo who is only 3 years old and he is going blind.  How could I say no to a face like this :

He is such a big boy and even though he does not live close by, DH and I travelled 4 hours to meet him and his companion, Mich.

Their story is best told on the Jukani website.  To meet Angelo and Mich and all their companions at Jukani up close and personal was a very special experience and one which we will never forget.  Most of us with animals in our care know the feeling of how they worm their way into our hearts.  I just never counted on a 250Kg white Bengal tiger having the same effect on me !

 

Bildmalarna - Little Mimosa

Using Cryogen paper I stamped the image using Momento Tuxedo ink and coloured it in with Copics.  I am still experimenting with Copics and hair so it is not the best.

I used Nestabilities Labels 18 to frame Mimosa and Distress ink to accent the die.  The balance of the card is simple with a Martha Stewart border punch and a Cuttlebug border embossing folder.

Tag - Art Impressions Painting Rabbits

This is a front and back tag which turned out cuter than I thought it would.  I had done the bunnies ages ago and put them one side after cutting them out.  I seem to recall I used a combination of markers - Marvy Le Plume, Tombow and Stampin Up to colour them in.

The tag is a GoKreate Concentric Tag #1 which I left on the cardstock whilst shading in with various Distress Inks.  The sentiment is from Inkadinkado.  This is the back of the tag :

CottageCutz - Duck w/Egg card

This dear duck is so cute and he also comes with accessories.  I find using a square card for some of the larger CottageCutz dies works rather well.  The rest of the card and colours just seemed to happen from a few bits and pieces on my craft desk.

The dies used were Nestabilities large scallop squares and GoKreate Wavy Frame #1.

Stampin Up - Two Tags Bookmark

I recently saw a similar bookmark on one of the blogs - not sure where so I am unable to give credit where it is due.  Anyway, I decided to fiddle around with it as the person had used only one of the die, folding it in half.  I decided to rather cut the die using cardstock scored and folded over at the top to make it longer. 

I had also seen a technique where you 'ink' up your stamp with paint, stamp and wait till it is dry.  You then blend various colour Distress Inks over the card.  When completed you wipe over the image to get any ink off - it is a resist technique.  Pop a piece of magnet on the underside and the bookmark is complete.

Tag - CottageCutz - Bunny and Butterflies

Another one of those so cute CottageCutz dies.  DH suggested the bunny hold a heart and I think it works well.

The bunny is shaded using Antique Linen Distress ink, the heart is a Nestabilities one, not sure about the sentiment, though.  Using Nestabilities Classic & Scalloped Circles, I embossed the first one with the SU Square Lattice folder. 

Penny Black Sympathy Card

When I was looking for a stamp to go onto a stencil background I had created I thought this image from Penny Black Enjoy Life would be perfect.  As the card evolved and I was looking for a sentiment I saw the irony in using this stamp set.

Nearly a year ago I had bought a couple of stencils and had never quite known what to do with them.  All I used was Antique Linen Distress ink and a sponge - really easy !  Using Curved Rectangles I die cut the image and a Creative Memories background paper then I placed the die on the card and sponged around it on the outside, also using Antique Linen.  This gives a subtle border frame.

STAMPARVIE LAURENCE DESIGN "JUST TO SAY"

This dear little bunny image is so cute and super easy to colour in.  I used Distress inks for the colouring in and also used them for the area surrounding the bunny.

The two top layers of Nestabilities are Labels Seventeen with Labels Eight being used for the white layer.

Tag - CottageCutz Stylzed Owl

Yes, I know I should have used a darker background to show off this tag - apologies !

The tag is a Nellie's Choice one called Frame Dies Multi Rectangle on which I used Antique Linen Distress ink in the centre.  I had the owl already cut out so I just had to Distress ink the edges and assemble.

FUNNY FLOWERS by CottageCutz / Peachy Keen

When I received the Funny Flowers die I was suprised at the size - I thought it would be a bit smaller.  Saying that, I do like it, especially the leaves.

Having recently reorganised my A4 papers that I buy locally I found the yellow background, the green check and the pinkish red papers amongst them. 

The corner punch is an EK Success one, the Nestabilities behind the flower are from Labels Sixteen with the sentiment being on one of the Ribbon Banners dies.  The sentiment is "It's your birthday & you can cry if you want to" and it was done on computer and trimmed to fit the banner.

Magnolia DooHickey "Paris Night" die

This is one of those real quick and easy cards.  The Magnolia die, which I bought from Bunny Zoe's crafts in the UK, cuts out beautifully.  I drew a black line for the pavement and placed both die cuts on CM paper cut out using a Nestabilities Classic Rectangle.   The paper matted behind using a Scalloped Rectangle is also from CM.

I did cut a longer card than usual to accommodate the Rectangles and ended up having to make an envelope for it.  This I did using a Kreate-a-lope template from Green Sneakers.  The striped background paper is CM and the corners are from an EK Success punch.

Thank You Tag

I have had this whale cut out for ages and cannot recall which Slice cartridge it came from.  What I did do was to pop some white paper where the holes were otherwise the blue would have shown through.

The tag is a Go Kreate one and the background is my usual Distress Ink.  I think the sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Moulin Rouge - Tim Holtz stamp set

Although I am a Tim Holtz fan I am not really attracted to his range of stamps.  When I saw this Stampers Anonymous French Market Place set which included the Moulin Rouge image I could not resist it.  You see, I spent a very special evening at the Moulin Rouge in Paris for one of the celebrations for my 21st birthday (many moons ago !) plus I hold a fascination with all things French.

The background to the stamp is sponged with Distress Ink and I then stamped the image using Archival Ink.  This was then matted onto a piece of paper punched with an EK Success border punch.  The background paper is CM and the tag at the top of the card is a SU punch called Round Tab.