Sympathy Card using Porta Craft Embossing Folder

 

Hi everyone,

My SIL's Mum passed away aged 95 so I have been working on several Sympathy Cards to pass on to family members:

It's a very simple card but it's amazing how long it can take to come up with something that is understated and unfussy!

This is also my card for the following Challenges (click on the underlined link to take you to the Challenge Blog):

• Neglected Stuff Challenge - 10/25 - which is all about using your neglected supplies - mine is the embossing folder, stamp set and heart punch

I found a rectangular embossing folder in my stash that had a border around it so thought that I could turn it on its side so that I could have some white space on the bottom and top of my card.  I have had this Porta Craft Embossing Folder for ages and probably picked it up from a Craft Show here in Australia.

I used a Stamping Platform to stamp the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black.  This sentiment is from an old set by Wendy Irving and is one of my first ever clear stamp sets and dates back to at least 2010.

I punched a heart using a very old Carl Heart Duo Punch.  This punch pre-dates dies!  I added some Designer Dries Clear glue to the heart and added some Opal Glitter which has a very soft and gentle sparkle to it which I thought was appropriate for a Sympathy Card.

This panel has had the RHS corners punched using a We R Memory Keepers 1/2" Corner Chomper.  I added the 3/8" wide White Organza Ribbon in two separate elements - and the bow itself was made using a Bow Easy.  I added Fray Stop to the cut ends to stop them from fraying.

I glued the panel to my card base using Tombow Mono Multi Glue that has also had the RHS corners punched with the same Corner Chomper.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Wendy Irving Expressions Clear Set J6412.01 (ret)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Paper:  None

Accessories:  Big Shot, Porta Craft Embossing Folder #107638 (ret), Celebrations of Australia Crystal Opal Glitter Superfine .008, Knight Smooth White Cardstock, White Organza Ribbon 3/8" wide, Fray Stop, Bow Easy, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Designer Dries Clear Adhesive, Stamping Platform

Punches:  Carl CP-8 Heart Duo Punch (ret), WRMK 1/2" Corner Chomper

Stampin' Up Thoughts and Prayers Sympathy Card

 

Hi everyone,

Today I am sharing a Sympathy Card that I made for a lady whose husband recently passed away:

The floral branch is from a retired Stampin' Up set called 'Thoughts and Prayers' and the sentiment is from a retired Stampin' Up set called 'Love and Sympathy'.  I stamped them using Versafine Onyx Black ink using a Stamp Positioning Tool.

I added two score lines above and below the images using a Martha Stewart Mini Scoring Board then dry-embossed the panel using my Big Shot and very well loved (and used) Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder. 

I corner-punched the right-hand corners of this panel using a 3/8" We R Memory Keepers Corner Punch then layered the panel onto a white card base with an 1/8" border.  I corner punched the right-hand corner of the card base using a 1/2" We R Memory Keepers Corner Punch.  Note that the main panel has been popped up a little using scraps of white cardstock.

As finishing touches, I added a 3/8" or 10mm wide White Organza Ribbon Bow which I made with my Bow Easy & glued on using Helmars Fabric Glue - and added a very small Kaisercraft Black Pearl next to the sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:  

Stamps:  Stampin' Up Love and Sympathy (sentiment) + Thoughts and Prayers (floral branch) - both retired

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories:  Big Shot, Cuttlebug Textile Embossing Folder (ret), Kaisercraft Pearls BR211 Black, 3/8" or 10mm wide White Organza Ribbon, Bow Easy, WRMK Corner Punches, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Helmar Fabric Glue, Martha Stewart Mini Scoring Board, Stamp Positioning Tool, Cardstock:  White

Clean and Simple Wedding Card

Hi blogging friends

It feels good to be able to play in my Craft Room a bit more - and today I am sharing a Wedding Card:

This is also my entry for the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Take your pick - the last challenge of every month has several themes and you simply take your pick from them.  There’s a sketch, a colour theme, a product theme and a technique theme to choose from. I chose the Technique Theme which is:   Embossing either heat, dry or simply embossing a die or using an embossing folder.  I used heat embossing and dry embossing on my card.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes - they are showcasing Clearly Besotted Products this week but you don’t have to use them to join in, however, if you have some, they would love to see them used.  I didn't use those products.

Splitcoaststampers - Clean and Simple CAS310 Challenge - Love is in the Air - which is from February but there are no time limits to play SCS Challenges.

Anyway, on to my card........

I love to use embossing folders to make wedding cards and used one of my all-time favourite folders by Craft Concepts - Budding Vine.  So pretty, don't you think?!  Once I worked out whereabouts on the card I was going to put my cord, I made two pencil lines about 1/2" apart so that I knew exactly where to do the dry embossing, then used my Martha Stewart Score Board to score a line right underneath and above the dry embossing.  I really love how the score line just "finishes" the dry embossing edge.

I used a Corner Chomper on the 1/2" setting to round the bottom corners then tied on the silver cord which came from my local supermarket last Christmas.  I added Fray Stop to the cut ends to stop them from fraying and added a dot of Super Glue to the knot to stop the cord from coming undone.  I attached the dry embossed panel to a top-opening white cardstock base by using lots of doublesided tape and a bit of Tombow Mono Multi glue (less surface area from the dry embossing = need more adhesive!) then trimmed the bottom and side edges to 1/16" using my Perfect Layers Tools.  I  rounded the bottom corners using the same 1/2" setting on the Corner Chomper. 

The sentiment panel was diecut using a Spellbinders Nestabilities Floral Ovals die (I used the 2nd largest die).  The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp set - Sending and Wishing and was stamped using Versamark Watermark ink and heat-set using Ranger Silver Superfine embossing powder.  I attached the sentiment panel using dimensionals.

Lastly, I punched a heart from pink glitter cardstock using a Carl CP-1 Heart punch.  Initially, I had punched a red glitter cardstock heart but decided to go for a softer look by using the pink instead. 

Finished size is 5 inches x 5 inches or 127mm x 127mm.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Sending and Wishing SSS101475 clear set

Ink:  Versamark Watermark

Designer Paper:  None

Dies:  Spellbinder Floral Oval Nestabilities S4-356

Accessories:  Big Shot, Martha Stewart Score Board, Craft Concepts Budding Vine embossing folder, silver cord - Woolworths Christmas Collection, Fray Stop, We R Memory Keepers 1/2" Corner Chomper, Super glue, Tombow Mono Multi glue, doublesided tape, dimensionals, Ranger Superfine Silver embossing powder SFJ18292, heat-gun, cardstock - white, pale pink glitter

Punches:  Carl CP-1 Heart

His and Hers Paw-some Birthday Card!

Hi blogging friends

Today I am sharing two cards using the newly released Taylored Expressions Paw-some stamp and die set which I think is adorable.  My brother-in-law and his wife have birthdays 4 days apart so I thought I would challenge myself to make a "His and Hers" card using the same image.  

This is also my entry for the Crafting from the Heart Challenge and The Pink Elephant Challenge as well as the Splitcoaststampers CAS311 Challenge.  Details and links are towards the end of my blog post.

First up is my BIL's card: 

I stamped the image with onto Ranger watercolour cardstock using Ranger Archival Jet Black ink then coloured it using Faber-Castell + Lyra watercolour pencils and a paintbrush.  I added the black patches myself then diecut the image using my Big Shot and popped it up on dimensionals.  The sentiment is also from the same Taylored Expressions set.

I added some Glossy Accents to the dog's nose and once dry, added a dot of white acrylic paint for some highlight.  I added a very fine line of Stampin' Up Dazzling Details glitter glue onto each side of the dog's hat which doesn't look too sparkly for my BIL.  When I want to add an extremely fine line of glitter glue, I squirt some onto some scrap cardstock and use a pin to pick up tiny amounts and apply it to my image.

Here is a close-up:

The twine came free from Lawn Fawn with an order I received late last year (they wrapped my stamps in tissue paper and tied on the twine which I saved).  I added Fray Stop to the cut ends to stop them from fraying.

Lastly, I added 2 blue brads and corner-punched the kraft cardstock using a We R Memory Keepers 1/2 inch Corner Chomper which my wonderful DH gave me for Christmas. 

And now here is my SIL's card:

All the details are basically the same except that I added more Dazzling Details glitter glue to the image:  gotta have more sparkle and shine on a feminine card :-)  I also added tiny pink Molossi rhinestones to the dog's collar to make the collar look like one of those fancy diamante collars.

The twine came from my local Woolworths Supermarket and I added some iridescent sequins and stars which came from a $2 shop; they were glued on using Ranger Multi-Matt Medium.

Here is a close-up:

Here are the Challenge Details:

The Pink Elephant Challenge - TPE287 - Anything Goes 
Splitcoaststampers Clean and Simple Challenge - CAS311 - Rainbow  

Thanks so much for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Taylored Expressions Paw-some cling-mount set

Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black

Designer Paper:  None

Dies:  Taylored Expressions Paw-some

Accessories:  Big Shot, Faber-Castell + Lyra Watercolour pencils, #2 round paintbrush, Stampin' Up Dazzling Details glitter glue, dimensionals, JoSonja white acrylic paint, Ranger Multi-Matt Medium, twine (Woolworths and Lawn Fawn), Fray Stop, We R Memory Keepers 1/2" Corner Chomper, blue brads, Molossi tiny pink rhinestones, iridescent sequins and stars ($2 Shop), Glossy Accents, Ranger Watercolour cardstock, other cardstock - kraft and white

Memory Box Silver and Gold Deer

Hi blogging friends

The cards I am sharing today are quick and simple - and I made a silver and gold version.  I have almost finished my Christmas cards now - yay!  Whilst I am typing this, my cat Ruby is curled up beside me hugging the heat from the fan inside my laptop and it has turned cold and is pouring with rain outside - GREAT crafting weather!

I made a similar card last year and just changed things up a little plus the finished card size is smaller at 5" x 5" or 127mm x 127mm. The deer were diecut using silver glitter cardstock.  The sentiment is by Stampendous from their Christmas Wishes clear set (you can see the set HERE on the Stampendous website) and was stamped using Versamark Watermark ink and then heat-embossed using Ranger Fine Detail Silver embossing powder.  I trimmed the silver cardstock edges on the sides and bottom to 1/16" using my Perfect Layers Tools.

I added the 2 x silver sequins using Glossy Accents and corner punched the bottom. I tied on the silver cord and added Fray Stop to the cut ends to stop them from fraying.  I added some Glossy Accents underneath the bow centre and put something heavy on it while it dried.  This stops the bow from loosening and holds it very firmly in place for mailing.

And now here is the gold version - except that I reversed the gold glitter cardstock in the die to make the deer face the other direction:

The sentiment is by Flourishes from their Christmas Wreath set.  I just discovered that Flourishes are no longer around - not sure why or when :-(

I stamped the sentiment using Versamark Watermark ink and heat-set it using Ranger Fine Detail Gold embossing powder.  Again, I trimmed the gold glitter cardstock around the sentiment panel to 1/16" using my Perfect Layers Tools, added gold sequins and the gold cord.

Challenges:

I am entering my card in the following challenges -

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Last Christmas Card of the Year (although these cards won't be my last!)

Incy Wincy Designs - Christmas Anything Goes

Splitcoaststampers - Clean and Simple CAS303 Holiday Sparkle

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe - Silver Version:

Stamps:  Stampendous Christmas Wishes SSC1068 clear set

Ink:  Versamark Watermark

Designer Paper:  Silver glitter cardstock

Dies:  Memory Box Deer Trio #98166

Accessories:  Big Shot, silver 6mm sequins, Glossy Accents, Ranger Fine Detail Silver embossing powder, heat-gun, Paper Mill silver cord (Riot Art and Craft), white cardstock

Punches:  Stampin' Up corner


Card Recipe - Gold Version:

Stamps:  Flourishes Christmas Wreath Set #68 (retired)

Ink:  Versamark Watermark

Designer Paper:  Gold glitter cardstock

Dies:  Memory Box Deer Trio #98166

Accessories:  Big Shot, gold 6mm sequins, Glossy Accents, Ranger Fine Detail Gold embossing powder, heat-gun, Paper Mill gold cord (Riot Art and Craft), white cardstock

Punches:  Stampin' Up corner

Cottage Cutz Winter Wonderland Scene Christmas card

Hi blogging friends 

The card I am sharing today is another clean and simple card done in similar vein to my last two posts (see HERE and HERE).  Hope you aren't getting too bored?!?  I guess this is my way of kind-of speeding up the process when I need to make alot of cards in a short space of time but I get really bored if I make 2 or more of the same card so I love to change things up a little even if I might be using similar products and layouts.  I am trying to see how many of my die cut shapes fit inside the MFT Photo Card Frame dies and see it as a fun challenge to see what I can make.

The aqua glitter cardstock frame was diecut using a My Favorite Things - Merry Photo Card Frame die and I trimmed off the word 'Merry' because the word covered up my scene.  The dot embossing is a retired embossing folder by Cuttlebug - Kars Snowflakes.  You will most likely not be able to find this embossing folder anywhere online but if you check THIS post, I have several suggestions for alternative embossing folders that you can use.

The scene is a die by Cottage Cutz - Winterland Wonderland Scene.  Because I wanted to have a space to add a sentiment, I used one of the dies from the My Favorite Things Snow Drifts set and diecut some white cardstock and layered that over the bottom of the diecut scene.  

The snowflake on the bottom LHS is by My Favorite Things - Snowflakes Trio (I used the smallest snowflake in the set) and the snowflake on the RHS above the Church was punched using a Martha Stewart Snow Flurry edge punch ie: it is one of the leftover snowflake punchies from using the punch.  I glued the scene and snowflakes down using Tombow Mono Multi glue then attached the scene to my white cardstock base and trimmed the edges to 1/16" using my Perfect Layers Tools - apart from the top of the card which is where the card fold is. 

The 'Peace' is a die by Elizabeth Craft Designs and was diecut from the same aqua glitter cardstock and attached using Tombow Mono Multi glue.

Lastly, I added a Hero Arts rhinestone to each snowflake centre. 

Challenges:

I am entering my card in the following challenges -

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Bling it on 
Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - December - Anything Goes 
Splitcoaststampers - Clean and Simple CAS301 - Lovely as a Tree

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:  Aqua glitter cardstock

Dies:  My Favorite Things Die-namics Merry Photo Card Frame, Snow Drifts and Snowflake Trio, Cottage Cutz Winter Wonderland Scene CCE-050, Elizabeth Craft Designs Peace ECD-750

Punches:  Martha Stewart Snow Flurry edge

Accessories:  Big Shot, Perfect Layers Tools, Hero Arts rhinestones CH213 Sea Mixed Accents, Cuttlebug Kars Snowflakes embossing folder (retired), white cardstock, Tombow Mono Multi glue, doublesided tape

Memory Box Woodland Deer Christmas card

Hi blogging friends 

Well, it's full steam ahead in my Craft Room as I feverishly try and get as many Christmas cards done as I can!  It's not like I didn't know Christmas was coming - but sometimes even when I do have time to make cards, my mind is just not in cardmaking mode because I have been at hospital appointments with my loved one and I just can't think anymore.  I have learned not to craft when I am too tired emotionally because that's when nothing goes right and I get annoyed with myself.  Now that all of our medical appointments are finished for the year, I can finally concentrate wholly on Christmas preparations and on making Christmas cards.  Pieces from my diecutting are flying everywhere as my Big Shot is in overdrive - gosh, what a mess my room will be when I'm done!

The card I am sharing today is another clean and simple card done in similar vein to my last post (see HERE). 

The red glitter cardstock frame was diecut using my Big Shot and the My Favorite Things - Joy Photo Card Frame die.  The dot embossing is a retired embossing folder by Cuttlebug - Kars Snowflakes.  You are very unlikely to be able to find this embossing folder anywhere online but if you check my last post HERE, I have several suggestions for alternative embossing folders that you can use.

The deer is a die by Memory Box - Woodland Deer and the snowflake is by Impression Obsession.  I glued the deer and snowflake down using Tombow Mono Multi glue.  I attached the scene to my white cardstock base and trimmed the edges to 1/16" using my Perfect Layers Tools - apart from the LHS of the card which is where the card fold is. 

Lastly, I added a Kaisercraft red rhinestone to the snowflake centre. 

Challenges:

I am entering my card in the following challenges -

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - December - Anything Goes 
Incy Wincy Designs - Snowy Days 
Splitcoaststampers - Clean and Simple CAS300 Winter Wildlife

We put up our Christmas tree last weekend which our cat Ruby is enjoying LOL!  Ruby loves to chew the pine needles for some odd reason and is enjoying batting the baubles and killing the tinsel.  I gave Ruby her OWN piece of tinsel so she could destroy it to her heart's content but she prefers the tinsel on the tree.  Of course, we did put it up 'just for her' didn't we?!!

 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog today.

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer Paper:  Red glitter cardstock

Dies:  Impression Obsession Die100-F snowflake set, My Favorite Things Die-namics Joy Photo Card Frame, Memory Box Woodland Deer #98679

Accessories:  Big Shot, Perfect Layers Tools, Kaisercraft red rhinestone SB711, Cuttlebug Kars Snowflakes embossing folder (retired), white cardstock, Tombow Mono Multi glue, doublesided tape

Cottage Cutz Deer Snowflake Scene Christmas card

Hi blogging friends 

I can't believe how quickly Christmas is approaching - time seems to speed up at this time of year!

Today I am sharing a clean and simple Christmas card just using dies and an embossing folder.  This is also my entry for the following Challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes with the optional extra theme of make a decoration or gift for Christmas (which I obviously didn't do), and

Splitcoaststampers - Clean and Simple Challenge CAS301 of add a tree(s) to your card.

The Deer Snowflake scene is a gorgeous die by Cottage Cutz which I purchased at a Craft Show in August.  Isn't it a beautiful?

The dot embossing is a retired Cuttlebug folder - Kars snowflakes which is very difficult to find but there are two embossing folders that you can substitute:-

Taylored Expressions (new release) Snowfall TEEF09.  The dots are larger on this folder compared to the Kars Snowflake folder.  Taylored Expressions embossing folders plus their stamps/dies are now available in Australia from various retailers - just do a search online.

Image copyright Taylored Expressions

Or you can use the Sizzix Dots folder from the Merry Christmas Words and Dots set Item #658285.  These dots are closer in size to the Kars Snowflake folder.  I can't find this set on the Sizzix US website so it may be retired (?).  I have seen the set on various websites around the world so you might be able to pick it up somewhere.

Image copyright Sizzix

I used Tombow Mono Multi glue to attach the diecut Deer Snowflake scene to the embossed cardstock and cleaned up any little bits of glue that seeped out using a Xyron Adhesive remover.

The aqua glitter cardstock was diecut using a My Favorite Things Joy Photo Card Frame die.  I attached the scene to my white cardstock base and trimmed the edges to 1/16" using my Perfect Layers Tools - apart from the LHS of the card which is where the card fold is.

The smallest aqua glitter cardstock snowflake on the scene is from the Poppystamps Christmas Baubles die set (which includes 2 snowflakes - I used the smallest snowflake from the set) and the largest snowflake is from the My Favorite Things Snowflakes Trio set (I used the smallest snowflake in the set).  I added aqua rhinestones to the snowflake centres.

The card is very flat and will be going overseas to one of my cardmaking buddies.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  None

Designer paper:  Aqua glitter cardstock

Dies:  My Favorite Things Die-namics - Snowflakes Trio and Joy Photo Card Frame, Poppystamps Christmas Baubles, Cottage Cutz Deer Snowflake Scene CCE-169

Accessories:  Big Shot, Cuttlebug Kars Snowflake embossing folder (retired), Hero Arts rhinestones CH213 Sea Mixed Accents, Perfect Layers Tools, white cardstock, Tombow Mono Multi glue, doublesided tape

Clean and Simple Kate's Snowflake Christmas cards

Hi blogging friends

Today I am sharing some Clean and Simple Christmas cards using my favourite snowflake die:  Kate's Snowflake by Simon Says Stamp and a new embossing folder I picked up at a Craft Show in October.

These cards are also my entry for the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - November - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz Challenge #255 - Christmas is coming

The embossing folder is by Nellie Snellen - Christmas Round and was just the right size for the snowflake die to fit inside - yay!

On Jennifer Maguire's blog, I had seen Jennifer diecut things then heat-emboss them and thought I would give it a try - and it worked really, really well.

For the gold snowflake:  I smooched the diecut snowflake very thoroughly with Versamark Watermark ink and poured on Ranger fine detail Gold embossing powder and picked it up very carefully with my closed-point tweezers and heat-set it.  As soon as the powder melted I poured on a 2nd coat of embossing powder and heat-set it.  You really do need two coats of the embossing powder to get really smooth coverage - one just doesn't look as good:

For the silver snowflake:  I used the same ink and did two coats of Ranger fine detail Silver embossing powder:

For the teal snowflake:  I inked the diecut with Colorbox Sapphire Silk pigment ink and did two coats of Polysparkle clear embossing powder:

I adhered the snowflakes to my white cardstock using Tombow Mono Multi glue which gave me a little bit of time to line up the points perfectly.  I cleaned up any stray bits of glue using my Xyron adhesive eraser.

I have also seen on Jennifer Maguire's blog how Jennifer had made matching embossed edges to her embossed diecuts so I did this same technique for the bottom matching borders.  All you have to do is take a scrap of white cardstock and apply the same ink that you use for your diecuts to one edge and heat-set with two coats of embossing powder then trimmed it to size.  Simple and quick!  I attached mine to the card base using doublesided tape. 

I tied on the twine/ribbon and added Fray Stop to the cut ends to stop them from fraying.  I glued the tails down with Tombow Mono Multi glue to hold them in place because they kept blowing in the wind when I was trying to photograph them! 

Lastly, I added rhinestones to the snowflake centres.  The gold gem came on a sheet of different coloured rhinestones from Bellbird Paper Arts which cost about $2.50 (Bellbird Paper Arts are located in Blackburn, Victoria).  The silver and teal rhinestones are by Kaisercraft.  I couldn't figure out where to put a sentiment so left it off.

Please note it is REALLY hard to photograph silver and gold so the snowflakes look a bit brighter in real life.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Teal Snowflake -

Stamps:  None

Ink:  Colorbox Sapphire Silk pigment

Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Kate's Snowflake SSSD111309

Accessories:  Big Shot, Nellie Snellen Christmas Round-1 EFE003 embossing folder, Tombow Mono Multi glue, doublesided tape, Polysparkle embossing powder, heat-gun, Fray Stop, blue sparkle ribbon, Kaisercraft Ice Blue rhinestone (SB774) white cardstock

Gold Snowflake -

Stamps:  None

Ink:  Versamark Watermark

Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Kate's Snowflake SSSD111309

Accessories:  Big Shot, Nellie Snellen Christmas Round-1 EFE003 embossing folder, Tombow Mono Multi glue, doublesided tape, Fray Stop, gold cord, Gold gem (Bellbird Paper Arts), heat-gun, Ranger fine detail Gold embossing powder, white cardstock

Silver Snowflake -

Stamps:  None

Ink:  Versamark Watermark

Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Kate's Snowflake SSSD111309

Accessories:  Big Shot, Nellie Snellen Christmas Round-1 EFE003 embossing folder, Tombow Mono Multi glue, doublesided tape, Fray Stop, silver cord, Kaisercraft Silver rhinestone, heat-gun, Ranger fine detail Silver embossing powder, white cardstock

Just-Rite Christmas Treasures Fan Club Christmas Challenge

Hi blogging friends

Thank you for your kind 'Get Well' messages from my last post.  My cold is lingering on and on but hopefully it will start to improve soon.  My loved one is still sick too but they feel quite a bit better than a few days ago and their cough is certainly not as yucky so the antibiotics seem to be working.

Today, I am sharing a Christmas card which I made for the Splitcoaststampers Christmas Fan Club Challenge for July and the theme is "All about the Sentiment".  I have hardly made any Christmas cards this year.  I had originally planned to make a card each month for the Christmas Fan Club Challenge but just wasn't "feeling it" until now.  I have to be in-the-mood for Christmas cardmaking and if I try and force myself to make one when I don't want to, I usually end up with a messy Craft Room and very little to show for it.  

The dry embossing is a Nellie Snellen Christmas Square-1 EFE004 embossing folder.  The sentiment and border is from an old Just-Rite Christmas Treasures set (which uses their own 3-1/4" round stamper) and was stamped using Versamark Watermark ink and heat-embossed using Ranger Silver superfine embossing powder.  I really love how you can see such fine detail with this embossing powder.

After I attached the main panel to the card, I thought that the panel needed something more so decided to cut a silver glitter cardstock border using my Lifestyle Nesting Circles and the Magnetic platform in my Big Shot.  The magnetic platform makes it so easy to cut a border this way because you can lay the dies exactly where you want them and they don't move in the machine.  I glued down the silver circle using Tombow Mono Multi glue.

I used my Perfect Layers Tools to trim a 1/16" border around the silver cardstock base (LOVE these tools - they make crafting so much easier!).  By the way, I attached the silver glitter cardstock to the white cardstock using Ranger Wonder Tape.  Doublesided tape, in my experience, just doesn't work for attaching glitter cardstock - it isn't strong enough.

Lastly, I added silver rhinestones.  Finished size is 5-1/8" x 5-1/8".

Challenges:

Apart from the SCS Fan Club Challenge, I am entering my card in the following challenges -

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything goes - with the optional extra of doing something for Christmas in July

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - July - Anything Goes 

Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge #183 - Let's get Sentimental

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today.

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Just-Rite Christmas Treasures (sentiment and border)

Ink:  Versamark Watermark

Accessories:  Just-Rite 3-1/4" round stamper, Big Shot, Big Shot magnetic platform, Ranger Silver superfine embossing powder, heat-gun, Perfect Layers Tools, Lifestyle Nesting Circle dies, Nellie Snellen Christmas Square-1 EFE004 embossing folder, Ranger Wonder Tape, Tombow Mono Multi glue, Papermania adhesive stones Silver PMA351103, cardstock - silver glitter, white

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Stamping

Hi blogging friends

A short while ago, I came across a card that was stamped with an embossing folder and I really, really loved how it looked but had no clue how it was done because there was no information with the card.  Fortunately, Splitcoaststampers recently uploaded a tutorial including a video HERE so I have spent alot of time playing in my Craft Room trying to learn the technique. 

My initial attempts were quite frustrating because I wasn't sure how much water to spray on the folder.  I found that if I sprayed too much water, the pattern was lost - and then if I didn't spray enough water, I wouldn't get a lovely graduation of colour.   I also played with different mediums such as Tombow Pens and Distress Inks and tried different colour combinations plus I experimented with different embossing folders and found some worked better than others.  I also tried watercolour paper and smooth white cardstock and they both gave very different results but worked really well.  I also learned to let the cardstock dry before thinking that it looks terrible because it looks different after drying.

I was so fortunate that yesterday someone else was caring for my loved one all day so I spent a large part of the day with no interruptions where I could really get stuck in.  And it was great because the day before, we had been at the hospital for appointments for a good deal of the day so I appreciated having a day off after the appointments.   It is very, very rare that I get a whole day to myself at home where I not only have a physical break from being a Carer but also a complete emotional break.  I felt on-top-of-the world at the end of the day and so excited to learn a new technique.  And I didn't even need to make dinner that evening - that was made for me as well - ahhhh, bliss!!

So, without further ado, here is my card:

I used a Cuttlebug Victoria embossing folder and randomly applied Antique Linen, Tumbled Glass, Bundled Sage and Faded Jeans Distress Inks then sprayed the water onto the folder using a Ranger Mini Mister and lay my smooth white cardstock down on top.  I left the cardstock there for almost a minute and pressed down with my fingers so all areas of the cardstock received the ink then lifted it off.   Where there was a darker pool of colour that stood out a bit too much, I simply used a tiny piece of paper towel to blot it up a little.  I left the cardstock to dry by itself but I guess you could dry it with a heat-gun if you were in a hurry.  I was a little afraid that I would spread the ink into the white areas and spoil the effect so I just waited patiently for it to dry because this was my favourite one out of all the ones I had done and believe me, I did tons of them LOL!  Ohhh, I just love how the colours mixed - so pretty don't you think?!

I added the teal cardstock strip then stamped the sentiment using Colorbox Peacock pigment ink and heat-set it using Satin Pearl embossing powder.  I diecut a heart from teal cardstock from the Memory Box Hearts and Stars die set and popped it up on a 3mm dimensional.  Lastly, I corner-punched the RHS of the main panel then tied on the twine.  It really is a simple card even if it took a loooooong time to get to that point but I am so glad that I persevered!

Challenges:

I am entering my card in the following challenges -

Splitcoaststampers Technique Lovers Challenge - TLC482 - To Emboss or To Stamp which is specifically for Embossing Folder Stamping

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #323 - Blues and Hues 

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog today - I appreciate it very much.

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Sentiment from Stamp-It Australia self-cling rubber sentiment set siset014

Designer paper:  None

Ink:  Ranger Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Tumbled Glass, Faded Jeans and Bundled Sage; Colorbox Peacock pigment

Accessories:  Cuttlebug Victoria embossing folder, Darice Hemp cord (Riot Art and Craft), 3mm dimensional, Memory Box Hearts and Stars die set, Big Shot, Ranger Mini Mister, heat-gun, Satin Pearl embossing powder, cardstock - teal, white

Punches:  Stampin' Up corner punch

Shirt card for a Masculine Birthday or Father's Day

Hi blogging friends

Sorry I haven't been around for a few weeks:  I've had some medical appointments to attend to for my loved one so that has meant multiple trips into hospital - and then had a few issues to deal with following those appointments (but all is OK) - and I have had a very sore back and neck (just an old injury playing up from a fall from a horse many years ago probably because I have been feeling a little anxious!) so crafting time has been frustratingly limited to short bursts.   Anyway, enough about me and onto what I have been playing with in my Craft Room.......

Today I am sharing a Shirt Card:
 

Have you ever come across a card by another Blogger and thought:  "Wow, I really like that - I must try it" - and then a couple of years later, you FINALLY get around to making it?  I first saw this Shirt card on Nancy Riley's blog:  iStamp in June 2010 - see Nancy's post HERE - and printed it out and kept it in my "To do" folder.   I thought it was a fabulous idea for a masculine card as you could do alot of variations on the basic card and it would be great for a birthday or Father's Day and it would be appropriate for a great range of ages!  Yep, it's only taken me 4 years to try it out LOL!

Now, I didn't follow the instructions at the link that Nancy provided - I followed instructions from another blogger:  Susan Roberts from Rainy Day Creations - who made these fantastic variations HERE - and then pinched the shirt sleeve/cuff idea from one of my favourite Bloggers:  Kerry Cox from her blog - A load of old pickle - from Kerry's shirt cards HERE.

The card is very simple and so quick to make - and I would really encourage you to try it.  The collar is popped up on dimensionals as is the shirt sleeve/cuff and I rounded the edges of the cuff with a corner punch.  I wondered if I should put a sentiment somewhere (?) but nothing looked right so left it off.  Next time I make a Shirt Card, I won't glue the tie down flat - I will pop it up on dimensionals as I think it will look better.  The buttons were glued down with Crafter's Pick Incredibly Tacky glue. The designer paper that I used on the tie is old and by Kaisercraft - at least back from 2009.

Here is a side view so you can see the dimension and also see how I trimmed off the back of the card to match the front:

So don't wait 4 years like me to try a Shirt Card - make it today!  There are many variations on this type of card including origami ones - just Google it and you'll find a ton of inspiration out there.

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great weekend!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps and Ink:  none

Designer paper:   Kaisercraft Lone Ranger P128 Shotgun (retired)

Accessories:  green buttons (from stash), green sewing thread, Crafter's Pick Incredibly tacky glue, dimensionals, cardstock - pale green

Punches:  Stampin' Up corner