Stampin' Up The Open Sea Masculine Birthday Card

 

Hi blogging friends,

I have a confession to make:  I really enjoy making Masculine Cards.  Alot of cardmakers say that is the hardest type of card to make, but due to the amount of men in my family/extended family, I have had to learn how to make them.  When you buy a card for a guy, it is really expensive, yet the cards are often just so simple - and I think that is the key - keeping it simple and not overthinking it or you might feel defeated before you even start.  

Start with a limited colour palette and choose a simple image.  You can even base your card around a sentiment - either stamped or diecut.  14 years ago, I made this card based around the sentiment for a cousin of my mother-in-law who lived in Wales and was turning 90:

I had no clue what this man's hobbies were or if he had any hobbies at all.  I had only met him once briefly when he came to Australia some years before so didn't really know him.  I opted for something simple and he loved the card so much, that he rang up to thank me personally - I mean, ringing from Wales to Australia wouldn't exactly be cheap - so I was especially chuffed.  I still think the card design works well for a masculine card and it is all based around the sentiment -  but the rest of the card elements work in harmony with each other which I think is important.  The only thing I would change now is the font on the sentiment because it is a little dated.

Some more ideas:  add some texture by using an embossing folder - or add some distressing.  Use a basic layout that you can replicate for multiple cards.  If you want to add ribbon, do a simple knot rather than a bow - or add string or twine.  I love to use grosgrain ribbon for it's texture.  If you like the layout, you don't need to reinvent the wheel - just use the same layout and your cards will all look different if you use different colours, stamps, designer papers, embossing folders etc.

I have four masculine birthdays coming up in August and here is one of the cards that I made:

Challenges

This is also my card for the following Challenges:

• Allsorts - Challenge #854 - At the Seaside

• Splitcoaststampers - Free for All Friday F4A857 - What makes you happy?  Mine is spending time in my Craft Room away from the world

• Tic Tac Toe - Challenge TTTC297 - I chose the line across the bottom: Any Shape Die, Layers, Embossing

I pulled out my all-time favourite masculine stamp set by Stampin' Up called The Open Sea which was first released in 2011.  It stayed in the catalogue for quite a few years because it was so popular and was eventually retired in 2016.  I would never be able to part with this set as it is just perfect for masculine cards.  You can do so much with the images in this stamp set.  Do a search on Pinterest and there are hundreds and hundreds of cards and you will get lost down a rabbit-hole as I often do on Pinterest............

First of all, I stamped the Ledger (the text image behind the ship) onto Cream Cardstock (from my stash) using Crumb Cake Ink but stamped off twice before stamping so it gave a faint impression.  Next, I stamped the ship using Night of Navy Ink.  The splotchy circles are from another retired set called Gorgeous Grunge which was first released in 2013.  I also stamped them in Crumb Cake Ink but stamped off twice.

I diecut the main image using a My Favorite Things Die-namics Pierced Circle STAX die and my Big Shot, then ink-blended around the edges using Crumb Cake Ink.

I diecut a circle from Crumb Cake Cardstock using a Lifestyle Nesting Circle Die, then ink-blended around the edges with Crumb Cake Ink.  I diecut another circle using a Pierced Circle STAX die from Kaisercraft Ink Cardstock and glued this underneath.

The designer papers are by Kaisercraft - High Tide - which was released in 2016.  You can still buy the 12 x 12 inch High Tide Paper Pads from Kaisercraft but not the smaller pad which is what I used for my card.  Kaisercraft has had some fantastic sea-beach-nautical themed releases over the years.  

The dry embossing was done using Crumb Cake Cardstock and a Kaisercraft Anchors Embossing Folder.  I ink-blended over the embossing using Crumb Cake Ink to make the anchors stand out more and to also tie in with the rest of the card.

The sentiment is from the back of the same Kaisercraft Paper Pad.  I added some Inque Boutique Brads which I thought matched the card really well.  Inque Boutique are no longer in business:  I think they closed around 2010.

The card base is Kaisercraft Ink Cardstock and the next layer up, Crumb Cake Cardstock - again ink blended with the same ink.

Once I had finished my card front, I glued it to a Kaisercraft White Card Base.

So, what do you think?  I was really pleased with how it turned out - and I am working hard on a few more designs using ship or beachy images.  Often, I like to stick to one theme for a few masculine cards until I am tired of it.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampin' Up The Open Sea #123032 (retired) + Gorgeous Grunge #130517 (retired)

Ink:  Stampin' Up Night of Navy + Crumb Cake

Designer Paper:  Kaisercraft High Tide 6-1/2" x 6-1/2" Pad (retired)

Accessories:  Inque Boutique Brads (retired), Big Shot, Kaisercraft Anchors Embossing Folder (retired), Ink Blending Tool with Domed Pad, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Kaisercraft White Card Base, Cardstock - Stampin' Up Crumb Cake + Kaisercraft Ink

Dies:  My Favorite Things Die-namics Pierced Circle STAX (retired), Lifestyle Nesting Circles L-CC-001 (retired)

Uniquely Creative Indigo Bloom Wedding Card

 

Hi everyone,

Today I am sharing a Wedding Card that I made for my daughter's friends.  I don't have alot of things in my stash for wedding cards and really didn't want to go for a white card as I didn't think it suited this couple.  The lady is so bright and bubbly and full of joy - she just glows - so I wanted to make something more colourful but was a little stumped.  Whilst looking through my stash, I realised that my Uniquely Creative Retailer Exclusive Kit would be perfect as the kit has two different cards and here is what I made:

I am popping this card into the Splitcoaststampers June Central Theme CT0626 Fan Club Challenge of 'A More Perfect Union'.  You have to be a member to play along in these challenges - but I highly recommend joining as you get loads of inspiration each month, suggested tutorials to spark your creativity, lots of support and encouragement and it's so nice to be a part of a fun group.  The central theme is open to your own interpretation so you can use it as a tool to jump-start your card.  I chose a Wedding Card as my interpretation but you could choose two colours that you love to create with or paper quilting - let your head go!

I based my layout on the suggested design from the Uniquely Creative Sheet but added quite a few touches of my own or altered some elements just to put my own spin on it.

The scalloped pink square on the card base was diecut using my Big Shot and Lifestyle Nesting Scalloped Squares Dies as I didn't have the Uniquely Creative Die listed in the instructions.  I also changed some of the flowers and added the Small Pink Paper Roses from my stash - plus more of the Uniquely Creative Delicate Lace Flowers.

I used my Uniquely Creative Fussy Cutting Scissors to fussy-cut some of the elements.  I LOVE these scissors because they are gentle on my arthritic hands.

I used a different sentiment from the kit because the one in the kit had the sentiment:  "lost in time" and used a Best Wishes Sentiment from a Uniquely Creative Cut-a-part Mini Sheet I found in my stash.

I used my Impression Obsession - Heart of Hearts Die to diecut some small hearts from Glitter Cardstock to dot around the card and thought that the blue and pink hearts next to the sentiment suited a Wedding Card.  I used Stampin' Up Dazzling Diamonds Glitter Cardstock and coloured it with Picked Raspberry Distress Ink to match the rest of the card.  The blue heart is from a scrap of Dark Blue Glitter Cardstock.

I had lots of fun layering all the elements together and learning along the way as this isn't a style of card I am used to making but gosh, I really enjoyed it.  I have been making myself get out of my comfort-zone whilst I have been on the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Design Team and it has really helped me be more brave and more creative.

I added some Uniquely Creative Clear Sparkle Brush to many areas of the card so it looks lovely and sparkly in real life - alas, not captured by the camera.

As a final touch, I glued on 3 x Clear Domed Gems around the card using Art Glitter Glue.  These were purchased from EBay Australia a few years ago.

Finished size is 135mm x 135mm or 5-5/16" x 5-5/16".

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  None

Ink:  Ranger Distress Ink - Picked Raspberry

Designer Paper:  Uniquely Creative Indigo Bloom 12" x 12" + Cut-a-Part Sheet UCCS192

Accessories:  Big Shot, Stampin' Up Dazzling Diamonds Glitter Cardstock, Dark Blue Glitter Cardstock, UC Delicate Lace Flowers UCE1849, UC Delicate Layering Flowers UCE2112, UC Blue and Blush Flowers UCE2113, UC Pearl Posy Stickers - Pink UCE1968, UC Fussy Cutting Scissors, UC Foam Mounts, UC Clear Sparkle Brush, Sentiment - UC Cut-a-Part Sheet, Small Pink Paper Roses (stash), Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Art Glitter Glue, Helmar's 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, Domed Clear Gems (EBay)

Dies:  Uniquely Creative Stitched Nesting Hexagons UCD2199, Lifestyle Nesting Squares and Nesting Scalloped Squares (both retired), Impression Obsession Heart of Hearts DIE052-I (retired)

Penny Black Frolic Card - A Guest Designer Post for Critter Crazy

 

Hi everyone,

Over at the Critter Crazy Challenge Blog, I was offered a Guest Designer Role for the month of MAY after being Becca's (Owner) Eagle Eyes Pick w/Guest DT invite from the March Challenge - so I was very honoured to be asked.  The theme is always 'Anything Goes with a featured Critter - real or fantasy', so why not play along yourself and have some fun. 

The Challenges always start on the 1st of each month and HERE is a link to May's Challenge #110.

And this is what I made:

As you probably already know, I LOVE featuring critters on my card - they just make me happy - so I pulled out one of my most-favourite Penny Black Cat Stamps called Frolic which dates back to 2009.  You just can't help but smile at that happy cat, can you?!!    

I stamped the image onto Ranger Watercolour Cardstock using Versafine Onyx Black Ink and coloured it using Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and a Zig Blender Pen.  I went over some of the black lines using an Anko 0.05 Black Pigment Pen for any that needed darkening up after my colouring.

Here is a close-up:

The sentiment is by Mama Elephant - Mini Messages - which was first released in 2015 but is still available.  This is a fabulous set with a variety of small sentiments and a few small images for lots of different occasions including Christmas so definitely worth picking up.  I don't always want to add a separate sentiment panel to my main image and I thought the sentiment I chose meant I could use the card for a variety of occasions.  I used my Stamp Positioning Tool for perfect placement.

I diecut the main panel using my Big Shot and Lifestyle Nesting Rounded Squares Dies.

The designer papers are by Cocoa Vanilla - Happy Day - which were released in 2023.  I love the bright cheery colours in this paper.  The cardstock is by Kaisercraft - Wildberry and Blueberry.

I added a matching American Crafts 9.5mm or 3/8" inch wide Organza Ribbon.

I punched some tiny hearts from Wildberry Cardstock using my EK Success Arrows Border Punch - they are the leftover punchies that look like tiny hearts.  I glued them on using Art Glitter Glue.

Finishing touches were Uniquely Creative Clear Sparkle Brush to all the hearts and flowers so it looks very sparkly in real life

Once I had completed my card front, I glued it to a White Card Base using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.  Finished size is 140mm x 140mm or 5-1/2" x 5-1/2".

Thanks Becca for asking me to be a Guest Designer - I really appreciate it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black Frolic 3972K Wood Mount, Mama Elephant Mini Messsages

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Paper:  Cocoa Vanilla Happy Days A5 Stack - Item # CV-HD011

Accessories:  Big Shot, American Crafts Organza Ribbon 9.5mm-3/8" wide, Anko Black .05 Pigment Pen, Stamp Positioning Tool, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Art Glitter Glue, Fabric Glue, Uniquely Creative Clear Sparkle Brush, Cardstock - Ranger Watercolour + Kaisercraft Wildberry and Blueberry, White Card Base 140mm x 140mm

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Rounded Squares L-CC-002 (retired)

Punches:  EK Success Arrows Border

Penny Black Love Tail Valentine's Day Card

 

Hi everyone,

Today I am sharing a Valentine's Day Card that I made for my daughter:

This is also my card for the following Challenges:

• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - February - Anything Goes or Romance

• Splitcoaststampers - Free for All Friday F4A833 - Valentine

• Critter Crazy Challenge #107 - Anything Goes - with a Featured Critter (real or fantasy)

• We Love Stamping - February - Hearts or Anything Goes

The main image is by Penny Black - Love Tail - which is from 2006.  I still love this image as much as the day I bought it!  I stamped it using Versafine Onyx Black Ink onto Ranger Watercolour Cardstock, then coloured it using Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers using a Zig Blender Pen for all my blending instead of water.  I only recently found out that Zig makes this Blender Pen and this was my first try out with using it.  I absolutely LOVE it and it is so easy to use.

I went around the image with a Lyra Sky Blue Watercolour Pencil.  First, I scribbled the pencil onto some scrap watercolour cardstock and added some water, then picked the colour up with my #4 Round Paintbrush and smooshed it around so it is very light but takes away the stark white of the watercolour cardstock.  I went over the image with an Anko 0.05 Black Pigment Pen to darken up the black lines.  Here is a close-up:

I diecut the image using a QuicKutz Nesting Card Templates Die and my Big Shot, then diecut the next size up from Colormates Dark Racy Raspberry Cardstock.

All the designer papers are by Simple Stories - Love and Adore - which first came out in 2016 so are 10 years old.

The sentiment is by Lawn Fawn - Love Letters - and was stamped using Versafine Onyx Black Ink.  I diecut the panel using a Lifestyle Nesting Circles Die, then diecut the scalloped circle using a Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Small Circles Die.

The main image panel is popped up on scraps of white cardstock and the sentiment is popped up on the top and RHS with 1mm Self-Adhesive Doublesided Foam Pads.  The bottom LHS of the sentiment panel is glued flush to the main image panel.

I punched some tiny hearts from Dark Racy Raspberry Cardstock using my EK Success Arrows Border Punch.  The leftover punchies look like tiny hearts and are perfect for adding a little something extra to your card.  I glued three around the sentiment and two on the main image panel using Art Glitter Glue fitted with a fine nozzle.

I thought about adding a ribbon or some rhinestones but didn't really have the right colour to match so just left the card as-is; I guess I am just keeping it simple.

Once I had finished my card front, I glued it to a White Kaisercraft Card Base using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.

As a final touch, I added some Uniquely Creative Clear Sparkle Brush to the hearts and flowers as well as the tiny hearts.

Thanks for visiting my blog today!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black Love Tail 3608J Wood-Mount (2006), Lawn Fawn Love Letters LF1292

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Papers:  Simple Stories Love and Adore 6" x 6" #7614 (2016)

Accessories:  Big Shot, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers + Blender Pen #999, #4 Round Paintbrush, Lyra Sky Blue Watercolour Pencil, Uniquely Creative Clear Sparkle Brush, 1mm Self-Adhesive Doublesided Foam Pads, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Art Glitter Glue, Stamping Platform, Anko 0.05 Black Pigment Pen, Cardstock - Black + Scraps of White + Colormates Dark Racy Raspberry, Kaisercraft White Card Base

Dies:  All retired - QuicKutz Nesting Card Templates DC0431, Lifestyle Nesting Circles, Spellbinders Petite Scalloped Small Circles Nestabilities S4-117

Punches:  EK Success Arrows Border (retired)

Penny Black Where's Dinner Masculine Card

 

Hi blogging friends,

My Craft Room has been a whirlwind of activity lately making cards for the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Design Team AND for family birthdays - but I am loving being more creative and spending LOTS of time in my Craft Room now that my husband and I are officially retired.  Woo hoo!  We both have lots of hobbies so it is great to be able to just have more time to read, relax and create and not have the constraints of doing that around a work schedule.  My husband's friends were already retired so it means they can catch up more often.

So onto the Birthday Card that I made for my brother-in-law:

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

• Crafty Catz Challenge #706 - Anything Goes
• Penny Black Saturday Challenge - February - Anything Goes or Romance
• Critter Crazy Challenge #107 - Anything Goes with a Featured Critter Real or Fantasy

Of course, if you have been around my blog for a while, you will already know that I adore Penny Black Stamps, so I couldn't wait to ink up this super-cute (but puzzled) dog.  I have had this stamp forever and it is a wood-block one and was designed in the year 2000.  I find that the Margaret Sherry critter stamps just don't seem to date and I still love them as much as when I first bought them.

I stamped the image onto Ranger Watercolour Cardstock using Versafine Onyx Black Ink, and coloured him using a mix of Watercolour Pencils and Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and my #2 Round Paintbrush. The sentiment is from a Penny Black Set - Make a Wish.

The image panel was diecut using my Big Shot and Lifestyle Nesting Rounded Squares Dies.  Note that I popped up the panel a little on scraps of white cardstock.

All the designer papers are old - Basic Grey - Max and Whiskers - which are from 2009.  I love Basic Grey Designer Papers and really miss them as they were really different to other brands.

The Mustard Cardstock and Dark Brown Cardstock on the card base were trimmed to 1/16" and 1/8" respectively using my WRMK Perfect Layers Guides.

The dry embossed panel across the middle was done using a Crafts Too Bone and Paw Print Embossing Folder.  I have had this folder for a long time so is no doubt retired.

I added some Uniquely Creative Clear Sparkle Pen to the candle flame and the glow around it.

The top RHS embellishments are 3 x Dark Brown Candi Dots with diecut stars glued on top.  Just having the Dark Brown Candi Dots seemed to disappear into the busy background - so I came up with the idea of adding the stars which were diecut from papers from the Max and Whiskers pad.  The stars are by Memory Box - Hearts and Stars.  The Candi Dots were popped up on 2mm Self-Adhesive Foam Pads.

I left the rest of the card unfussy - although I thought about adding a dark brown ribbon across the centre, however, I was in a rush and glued the main image down so it was too late.  I guess it looks OK without it (?).  I just love ribbons and find it hard to NOT put them on my cards!

Once I had finished my card front, I glued it to White Card Base using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.

Finished size is:  5-7/8" x 5-7/8" or 138mm x 138mm.

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black Where's Dinner 1705J Wood-Mount, Sentiment - Penny Black Make a Wish 30-052 Clear Set

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black

Designer Paper:  Basic Grey Max and Whiskers 6" x 6" (2009) - retired

Accessories:  Big Shot, Crafts Too Bone and Paw Print Embossing Folder (retired), Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, Lyra + Derwent Watercolour Pencils, #2 Round Paintbrush, Uniquely Creative Clear Sparkle Brush, Dark Brown Candi Dots - Choc-a-Mocha, We R Memory Keepers Perfect Layers Guides, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Art Glitter Glue, 2mm Self-Adhesive Foam Pads, Cardstock - Mustard + Dark Brown + Scraps of White, Ranger Watercolor Cardstock

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Rounded Squares L-CC-002 (retired), Memory Box Hearts and Stars 98755 (2014) - retired

Stampin' Up Perennial Lavender Pocket Cards

 

Hi blogging friends 😀

Today I am sharing some Pocket Cards using Stampin' Up's Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper.  I followed a tutorial by Patti Dolan from You-Tube which you can see here:

I changed the measurements to suit Australian-sized cards.

I made a bunch of cards for my stash but gave one to my sister-in-law as a Get Well Card.  It is always good to have some cards on hand with a neutral sentiment that can be used for a variety of occasions which is why I just used the "Hello" sentiment on all my cards.

The first card uses Pretty Peacock Cardstock which I think looks gorgeous with the Perennial Lavender Designer Series Paper:

The sentiment is from the Stampin' Up Simply Said Mix and Match set which is still current in the catalogue.  This is a great little set to add to your stash as it has a variety of sentiments and styles of fonts.

I stamped it onto white cardstock using Versamagic Ocean Depth Ink as it was the only ink that I had that matched.  Ideally, I would have liked to use Stampin' Up Pretty Peacock Ink but I haven't added that ink to my stash yet.  I diecut the circle using my Big Shot and a Lifestyle Nesting Circle Die.  I then layered that onto Pretty Peacock Cardstock that I diecut using a Spotlight on Nature Circle Die, then popped it up on dimensionals.  These Spotlight on Nature Dies are a great set to get because it has a 12 different decorative circle dies.

The floral insert is removable and here is a photo of the card with the insert removed:

And here is a photo of the insert:

The diecut butterflies are from a recently retired Stampin' Up Set called Sketched Butterflies.  I used some Metallic Teal Thick Paper which I bought from KMart (Australia) but I can't see it on their website anymore.  It came in a pad that has lots of different colours and is really good quality.  I glued just the body of the butterflies down so I could bend the wings up.

When you open up the floral designer paper, you can see that I added some white cardstock so I could write my message:

Now, here is another colourway:

I used the same Perennial Lavender Designer Paper.  The sentiment was stamped using Versacolor Violet Pigment Ink and I used a different Stampin' Up Spotlight on Nature Circle Die to diecut the Purple Cardstock.  The butterflies were diecut from White Glitter Cardstock.

Here are 2 photos of the insert:

And here is another colourway:

I, again, used the Perennial Lavender Designer Paper.  The sentiment was stamped using Versacolor Violet Pigment Ink.  The butterflies were diecut using Mauve Glitter Cardstock.  They look a bit more pink in the photo for some reason.

It was really fun to sit down and make a bunch of these cards so I could get to understand how this different fun-fold works.  I do struggle with cards that are different to the norm so if I make a few of them, it makes it easier for me to understand them - especially if I want to make them again in the future.  I ended up making 6 cards so it will good to have them on hand for all the family birthdays that happen just after Christmas when I find it harder to be creative 'cos I am soooooo tired from all the festivities.

Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:  

Card No. 1 -

Stamps:  Stampin' Up Simply Said #163756

Ink:  Versamagic Ocean Depth

Designer Paper:  Stampin' Up Perennial Lavender 12" x 12" #162593

Accessories:  Kaisercraft Trimmer, Dimensionals, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Big Shot, Cardstock - SU Pretty Peacock + White, Metallic Teal Paper (KMart)

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Circles (retired), SU Spotlight on Nature #163580 + Sketched Butterflies #163491 (retired)

Card No. 2 - 

Stamps:   Stampin' Up Simply Said #163756

Ink:  Versacolor Violet Pigment

Designer Paper:  Stampin' Up Perennial Lavender 12" x 12" #162593

Accessories:  Kaisercraft Trimmer, Dimensionals, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Big Shot, Cardstock - White + Purple, White Glitter Cardstock

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Circles (retired), SU Spotlight on Nature #163580 + Sketched Butterflies #163491 (retired)

Card No. 3 -

Stamps:   Stampin' Up Simply Said #163756

Ink:  Versacolor Violet Pigment

Designer Paper:  Stampin' Up Perennial Lavender 12" x 12" #162593

Accessories:  Kaisercraft Trimmer, Dimensionals, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Big Shot, Cardstock - White + Purple, Mauve Glitter Cardstock

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Circles (retired), SU Spotlight on Nature #163580 + Sketched Butterflies #163491 (retired)

Stampin' Up Sketched Butterflies Thank You Card

 

Hi blogging friends,

Today I am sharing a Thank You Card for a nurse who works at my local GP clinic:

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

• Allsorts Challenge Blog - #830 - I Spy Something Beginning with B or Anything Goes if you find the former too complicated

• Can You Handle the Pressure (Dry/Heat Embossing) Challenge - Anything Goes with Optional Twist of Balloons

I pulled out a recent purchase from Stampin' Up:  Sketched Butterflies - but just used the accompanying Sketched Butterflies Dies on my card.  This bundle was on the Last Chance List but is no longer available.  My Stampin' Up Demonstrator - Rachel - did a class back in March using this bundle and I just loved them and couldn't add them to my cart quick enough when I got home after class 😀  Just as well that I did because they disappeared a week or so later!

To make my card:  I watered down some Ranger Distress Inks in the colours Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade and Evergreen Bough then added some white paint from a White Posca Pen to the colours to make pastel shades - then used a paintbrush to paint them onto 300gsm/140lb Watercolour Paper.  I made sure I had plenty of variation in the tones.  I then diecut the butterflies using the 2 different butterflies - one is the base and the top is the detailed die.

I wanted to add a bit more life to the butterflies so splattered on the same ink colours but in full strength as well as some White Posca Pen, then some watered down JoSonja Pale Gold Acrylic Gouache Paint.  To add some subtle sparkle, I coloured the top butterflies with a Uniquely Creative Clear Glitter Brush - alas not picked up by the camera.  I only glued down the centre of the top detailed butterfly so I could bend up the wings for dimension.  I added some tiny matching Self-Adhesive Rhinestones to the butterfly centres.  Even though the rhinestones are self-adhesive, I added a tiny dot of Designer Dries Clear Art Glitter Glue fitted with a fine tip to make sure they didn't fall off or move.  I have learned from past experience that they just don't stay put - the glue dot just isn't strong enough especially when alot of my rhinestones are quite old and seem to have lost a bit of their stickiness over that time.

 

The dry embossing is a Stampin' Up embossing folder called Eyelet.  It is a 3D folder so I sprayed the white cardstock with water using my Ranger Mister so it wouldn't crack when I put it through my Big Shot.  Isn't this embossing folder gorgeous?!  It is still current so go grab one!

I used a 3/8" WRMK Corner Chomper to punch the two bottom corners of the embossed panel then glue the panel to a Uniquely Creative White Card Base using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.  I punched the two bottom corners of the card base using a 1/2" Corner Chomper.

I had so much trouble with the sentiment.  I seemed to spend hours messing it up.  First, the scrap of white cardstock that I stamped it on was lousy quality and when I heat-embossed it, it turned out really flat.  So I tried better quality and it turned out fine - but because I was originally using a two part sentiment, I kept stamping the 2nd one crooked despite using a Stamping Platform.  When I finally got it right, I used an oval die to diecut it and messed up the diecutting several times.  In the end, I figured I should just use a different sentiment.  I don't know why I didn't just do that before I messed up countless times - but sometimes you just don't know till you are at the point of giving up - however, I find it hard to give up on something because I am always so determined, sometimes to a fault 😏

So, I used a sentiment which is from a free stamp set that came with a UK Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine ages ago and it worked out perfectly first time around.  I stamped it using Versamark Watermark Ink and heat-embossed it with Ranger Superfine Detail Gold Embossing Powder.  I used a Powder Tool before stamping to take care of any stray embossing powder.

I diecut the sentiment using a Lifestyle Nesting Rectangle Die then cut an angle on the RHS.  I layered the sentiment onto diecut Kaisercraft Gold Foil Paper and adjusted it to the right and down which added a tiny border.  I popped the sentiment up on Kaisercraft Double-sided Foam Pads but added a little bit of Tombow Mono Multi Glue to add a bit of extra adhesion to the dry embossing.

Lastly, I bent up the wings which you can see in this photo:

I decorated the card inside later on but it was too late to photograph it as the sun was setting and it was dreary.  It's always hard to photograph cards in Winter let alone later in the day - plus I wanted to write in the card and have it sitting on my handbag for giving to the nurse first thing tomorrow so I didn't forget to take it to my appointment with her.  They have forecast a ton of rain here tomorrow so I figured that I was unlikely to be able to photograph it in the morning and was also worried that I might forget it altogether!

The great thing about the card is that you could use it for many different occasions just by changing the sentiment.

Finished size is 105mm x 148mm which is a standard A6 card in Australia - or 4-1/8" x 5-13/16" if you go by imperial measurements.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Sincere Sentiments - SC Design by Simmone Clay (free with magazine)

Ink:  Ranger Distress Picked Raspberry + Squeezed Lemonade + Evergreen Bough, Versamark Watermark

Designer Paper:  Kaisercraft Foil Paper Pad FC220

Accessories:  Big Shot, Stampin' Up Eyelet Embossing Folder #163414, Ranger Mister, 300gsm/140lb Hot Pressed Watercolour Paper, Uniquely Creative Clear Glitter Brush UCE1811, Molossi Pink + Blue Rhinestones, Franceville Gold Assorted Rhinestones, White Posca Paint Pen, JoSonja Pale Gold Acrylic Gouache, Paint Brush, Powder Tool, Heat-Gun, Ranger Superfine Detail Gold Embossing Powder SFJ06961, Stamping Platform, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, Designer Dries Clear Art Clear Adhesive, Uniquely Creative White Cardstock + Card Base

Punches:  We R Memory Keepers 1/2" + 3/8" Corner Chompers

Dies:  Stamping' Up! Sketched Butterflies #163491 (retired), Lifestyle Nesting Rectangles L-CC-006 (retired)

Lavinia Stamps Druid's Inn Welcome to your New Home Card

 

Hi everyone 😀

Today I am sharing a mixed media Welcome to your New Home Card that I made for my niece and her partner who have moved into a new home and were having a Housewarming Get-together to celebrate.  

This is also my card for the following Challenge:

• Crafty Catz Challenge #694 - Anything Goes with Optional Twist of Make Us Smile.  My card did make the recipients smile so I hope this qualifies for that part of the Challenge.  Click on the underlined link to take you to the Challenge.

Anyway, into my card:  I looked in my stash for anything that I could use.   I don't think I have ever made a Housewarming Card and I was quite stumped 😐  The only house types of stamps that I had were really only suited to someone who was retiring to the country and they looked too old-fashioned for people in their 20s.  And then it hit me:  I had a Lavinia stamp called Druid's Inn which had a door on it so I decided I could make a whimsical scene instead.  I can honestly say that this is one of the HARDEST cards I have ever made because it was really taking me out of my comfort-zone and using products that I have never used before.  However, as my year is all about challenging myself with new techniques and styles of card, I was up for the challenge and was very determined to keep going despite nearly binning it at one stage. 

I have a pad of 8" x 8" Lavinia Dreamscape Papers and picked one of the sheets that was quite light as I knew I wanted to able to have a moon in the scene.

Firstly, I stamped The Druid's Inn using Versafine Clair Fallen Leaves which is a lovely brown ink.  I stamped the two hares using Versafine Clair Nocturne then left the paper to sit overnight so the images dried and didn't smear once I started adding my colouring mediums.

I have never coloured on these Dreamscape Papers before and it isn't watercolour paper so I had to be super-careful with how much water I added.  For the Druid's Inn:  I coloured it using multiple products:  Faber-Castell Watercolour Pencils in brown tones + black, an Albrecht-Durer Watercolour Pencil in the colour Indian Red, Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers in the colours Mid-Brown 065 + Dark Oatmeal 066 + Red Ochre 604.  I added white highlights using a White Gel Pen and Titanium White Pan Pastel.  This is my first time using Pan Pastels.

To make the moon, I diecut a circle from acetate in the size I wanted using my Big Shot and Lifestyle Nesting Circles Dies - then placed that where the moon was going to be and lightly sponged around the edge with my Ink Blending Tool using Weathered Wood Ranger Distress Ink.

I sponged underneath the hares to ground them using the Weathered Wood Ink then added some shadow behind them where they would be casting a shadow from the light of the moon.  I used a White Gel Pen to add highlights to the hares but smeared it with my finger to make it look more natural.

I used ALOT of stamps to add the foliage and mushrooms.  Some were stamped with Versafine Clair Twilight - others with Rainforest and Fallen Leaves.  Some are 1st generation - some are 2nd or 3rd generation.  I again used my White Gel Pen to add some highlights to the mushrooms smearing them to again make them look more natural.

I stamped some text on the LHS and RHS using Versafine Clair Twilight Ink in 1st and 2nd generation then went around the edges of the card with the same ink.  I darkened the edges a little more with Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink.

To brighten the moon, I added Mont Marte Lemon Yellow Pastel Pencil and Titanium White Pan Pastel.  This was also my first time using a Pastel Pencil.

I used a Sunshine Yellow Posca Paint Pen to add yellow to the window so it looked like the lights were on and casting light on the vines of the tree and on the stones below it.  I added dots here and there around the images using other Posca Pens in the colours Light Pink, Metallic Pink, Apricot and White.

I drew a red heart between the hares using a Red Fine-Point Sharpie then added Candy Cane Stickles to make it sparkle.

Of course, the card needed MORE glitter and it's amazing how much it brightens your card and makes it more special; it just seems to come alive somehow.  I added dots of glue using my Quickie Glue Pen around the moon then just added dots here and there around the scene - then sprinkled on some Bellbird PaperArts Diamond Glitter.  It's just a shame that you can't see it on my photo but it does look lovely. 

Once I had finished the scene, I ran it through my Big Shot with fresh plates and a couple of shims to flatten it which worked surprisingly well.

I added some coloured cardstock layers to the scene using Kaisercraft Ivory, Forest and Cinnamon and trimmed the ivory to 1/16" and the others to 1/8" using my WRMK Perfect Layers Guides.  I then glued it to a White Card Base using Tombow Mono Multi Glue.

Finished size is 5-7/8" x 5-7/8" or 149mm x 149mm.

Phew, that was a marathon!  Thanks for sticking with me if you got this far - and for visiting my blog today!

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Lavinia - Leaf Creeper LAV742, Slender Mushrooms Mini LAV151, Quirky Mushrooms LAV413, Forest Mushrooms Mini LAV564, Berry Leaves LAV577, Druid's Inn LAV572, Wild Hares Set Small LAV614, Uniquely Creative Longhand UC1832

Ink:  Versafine Clair - Fallen Leaves, Twilight, Rainforest and Nocturne + Ranger Distress Weathered Wood

Designer Paper:  Lavinia Dreamscape - Colourburst Collection 8" x 8"

Accessories:  Big Shot, Acetate, #4 Round Paintbrush, Pan Pastel - Titanium White, Mont Marte Lemon Yellow Pastel Pencil, Faber-Castell Watercolour Pencils - Brown Tones + Black, Albrecht-Durer Indian Red Watercolour Pencil, Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers - 065 Mid Brown + 066 Dark Oatmeal + 604 Red Ochre, Posca Paint Pens - White + Sunshine Yellow + Metallic Pink + Apricot, Red Fine-point Sharpie, Candy Cane Stickles, White Uniball Signo Gel Pen, Quickie Glue Pen, Bellbird PaperArts Diamond Glitter, Ink Blending Tool + Domed Pad, Square White Card Base, Kaisercraft Cardstock - Ivory + Forest + Cinnamon

Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Circles (retired)