Tagalicious Tuesday

This card shows the shabby chic technique.  You can't touch it here, but the embossing is very pronounced.  I felt the tag alone carried the card, so I just attached it to some pretty Fiskars paper I had from a long ago project.  The strip at the bottom is the new Kraft Glassine paper from Tim Holtz--I just pleated it along the lower edge.  The stamp is from Stampington, but you could use an old photo of an aged relative instead.

This was a fun little card I made from some Hero Arts oriental paper I had in a drawer.  I like the flower stamp, also Hero Arts, because it complements the paper.  The little girl is watercolored with Distress inks and her hair given more defintion with a marker.  The really fun part of the card is the mizuhiki clamshell knot embellishment--these are so easy and fun to make!

This card is a replica of a design I saw in a magazine called Paper Creations.  When I was designing cards for the Hero Arts Club featuring reverse stamps, I luckily happened across an article featuring this card and several other cards using Hero Arts reverse stamps.  I owned this flower stamp, so I set about re-creating this card.   Once I figured out the measurements, the execution was simple--the image is stamped on Basic Grey woodgrain red paper with white pigment ink and then heat embossed.  The paper it is stamped on lends color to the image, like the duck card I presented previously, but very striking because of the size of the open space in the stamped image.  And then the image is just layered with white, red, and black to make a very dramatic card.  One thing I had never thought of doing--only the bottom half of the white mat is embossed with the raindrop Cuttlebug folder, and then the red ribbon separates that area from the top unembossed area, which can then be stamped!  Very clever!  Thank you, Paper Creations, for a lovely card idea!

Lucky Duck

I bought this cute duck stamp (Hero Arts)  last year and am determined to use it in as many ways as possible!  Here I stamped it with Versamark ink (any pigment ink would work) and heat embossed it with Stampendous opaque white powder onto a piece of Basic Grey Life of the Party cardstock.  I then matted the image in brown, added a sentiment from Hero Arts and put the matted piece onto a panel of more of the Life of the Party cardstock. 

This was a fun little card I made using an older Hero arts "reverse" stamp.  I first stamped the heart with Creamy Brown Clearsnap chalk ink onto a white panel, as shown.  Next I stamped the same heart using Versamark (any pigment ink would work) onto two squares of Basic Grey Life of the Party 6" x 6" paper pad and onto one white square.  Emboss each of these separate squares with Ranger Metallic Red embossing powder, place them on the front panel, and you have a fun fun card!

Can't resist it! Or can I?

This little bird (Hero Arts stamp) was one of the more popular at our Hero Arts club meeting this week.   I embossed it in Clearsnap evergreen pigment ink and with clear powder, then watercolored it using Scattered Straw, Vintage Photo, and Bundled Sage Distress Inks.  A little ribbon and a white flower complete the picture.

Since we are looking at "reverse" stamps in Hero Arts Club this month, I thought I might share this card we made in Card Factory last spring.  The peacock is a Hero Arts cling "reverse" stamp.  I inked the stamp with shades of blue and green Clearsnap pigment inks using their ink blending handle and sponges, and then stamped on white card.  I love how the white of the paper makes the peacock really pop.  After I stamped the image, I used a scallop square die to cut the image and layer it onto a larger white scallop square and over a piece of Webster's Pages vellum.  The white crinkle ribbon is from Creative Impressions, and the surrounding white flowers are from Hero Arts and Bazzill.

I decided to upload this collage I made a year or so ago.  I guess the thought of spring brought it to mind.  The picture of me is from an Easter day a long time ago.  I collaged it with Jenni Bowlin elements--bingo cards, chipboard buttons, and specialty papers.  I used my quilting iron to add melted wax to tie elements together, and the wax color is from melted crayon. I like to imagine my memories melding together like maybe wax melts in a candle, moving liquid-like through my mind, but then solidifying--always there ready to be awakened by a spark. 

This tag card uses an image transfer of scrapbook paper onto Stickyback canvas.  Consequently, the transferred image is lighter than the original image.  I backed the transferred canvas wtih black card to make it stand out.  I did this process only to show the technique--I think using the actual paper would be much more effective on the card.  It does have an interesting texture, however.  I am going to put Diamond Glaze on my little circle punches--I like this Fibermark paper punched---very cool how the pieces just fit together like a puzzle.  I wish I had colored the gear embellishment with alcohol ink first--it wouldn't have appeared so washed out against the transfer.  I think this card could be used for a "I'm late..I'm late.." for a belated birthday card.

I have wanted to use my Clearsnap foil for a long time--I just never liked the adhesive transfer choices that were available.  So I made my own adhesive image--using sticker paper and a xyron (if you are coming to Tagalicious Tuesday tomorrow I'll show you how I did it!)  I tried running red line tape through my Cuttlebug with the Tim Holtz letter die--it did not cut cleanly.  I bet the Vagabond would have worked to make a better cut.  The only thing is--that tape is so sticky I kept getting stuck to it and couldn't get loose!  However, I was successful finally in the process I chose, and I really like how the letters pop with the gold foil.  Now I know how I can make whatever image I want for foiling and not depend on manufacturer's whimsy!  Oh, the paper you ask?  The cut-outs are from Graphic 45 new Cirque paper--tres chic, no?  The background of the tag is doctored up aged mahogany distress ink. 

Steph's Card

Okay, ignore the fuzziness of the photography!  I edited the picture to get a sharper image, but the colors came out all wrong--so I will stick with this one.  This is a little card I made for my niece Stephanie's baby shower this weekend.  She is expecting her first child, a boy, in May, and she is the first of her generation in our family to have a child.  We are very excited!  She likes vintage style, so I chose the same Jenni Bowlin paper I used on her shower invitations (did I show you that one?).  I used a Martha Stewart punch for the border and stamped the little onesies in various colors of chalk ink, using the kissing and smooching technique (I will never look at a bold image the same way again!) to make patterns like cloth on the onesie.  I got the clothesline inspiration from an older Hero Arts stamp (you can't see the stamping--it's covered up by the clothesline!)  Inside the card the greeting reads "Just for You".  Now I just need to go shopping for the onesies for a gift!

Tagalicious Tuesday

Here are the two tags I will be presenting tomorrow at Tagalicious Tuesday at Stamp Antonio.  I kept with a masculine theme, as requested, although I think these would be suitable for anyone.  Some of the products used include a key die from Tim Holtz, re-inkers for the Distress Inks, Judikins Rustique Antique Iron embossing powder, and gold Perfect Pearls.   I love the look of the "inky" butterfly (Tim Holtz Urban Chic).  I also had fun with inking the key tag--thank you Stephanie for directing me to the Tim Holtz video showing his new Distress Stains.  I did not have them to use, but he gave me an idea about using the re-inkers to get a rich look to inking the tag.  Hopefully the Distress Stains will be available soon.