Granny Squares

I wish I knew how to crochet -- I really want to be able to make granny squares. I've tried to learn a few times, and I've even successfully completed a couple of crochet kits. But I've never gotten very far; it doesn't seem to "stick," and I have to start at the beginning every time I try again. (I know it's because I don't keep practicing so I don't really have a good excuse.) So when I found the Granny Squares stamp and die set from Altenew, I had to get it. Here are the first two cards I've made using the set.

The granny square image is a layering stamp set so it's really easy to use different colors -- and the possible color combinations are endless. As I did with the Plants and Vases set, for my first card I used the product packaging as the inspiration for my first card. I stamped four granny squares together on a white panel as well as a fifth square on a separate piece of white card stock. I die cut the extra square and used foam tape to add it, at an angle, to the middle of the other stamped images. I added the sentiment below the granny squares, attached the panel to a card base, and finished with a few sequins.

For the second card, I stamped and die cut three granny squares. I struggled to arrange them in a layout I liked, so I tried a mini slim card (3-1/2" x 6") instead of an A2 size. I created a simple border by scoring a line 1/4" away from each edge. I adhered one square at an angle on each side of the card and then used foam tape to add the third square overlapping the first two. I kept the embellishment simple and just added a white bow to the middle of the center square.

Maybe this winter I'll try crocheting again. Until then, this is a fun substitute. :) Thanks for stopping by!

Plants and Vases

I can't believe it's been almost two weeks since my last blog post. It seems like I get on a roll for a little while but I can't quite stick with it. Oh, well. I'll just try to pick it back up again. Today I have a quick post to share a couple of cards made with the Plants and Vases stamp and die set from Altenew.

The stamps in the set include several different branches and sentiments, and the dies are two vases with embossed designs. For the first card I made with this set (the card on the right), I used the product packaging for inspiration. I stamped the branches in four different colors on a white panel. I added a strip of kraft card stock along the bottom to ground the vases, which I die cut from two different colors of card stock. I stamped "happy birthday" in the upper right corner, cut out the panel with a deckle-edge die, and added it to a dark brown card base. The finishing touch was a few sequins.

For the second card, I inked just one of the branches with a berry-colored ink. I stamped the image on a panel of white card stock and then stamped it a couple of more times -- once on either side of the first image -- without reinking the stamp. I added a kraft vase and matted the panel with kraft card stock. I used a berry card base to coordinate with the branches and added a piece of ribbon. Using foam tape, I adhered the panel a bit to the right of the center of the card base. I finished the card with a few enamel dots.

Thanks for stopping by!

June Christmas cards: Forest flora mixed media

Once the summer solstice hit, Mother Nature took her job seriously. It's been horribly humid, and last weekend we had excessive heat warnings. But that gave me the perfect excuse to stay inside and work on my Christmas cards for June. I used the Forest Floor 2 stamp set from Tim Holtz as the starting point for a group of mixed-media cards.

I used a lot of different products for these cards, so I'm including a supply list for my reference. I know I won't remember everything I used, and I hope it helps you, too!

Supplies

Stamps: Forest Floor 2 CMS497 (Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz), Feathers & Frost (Stampin' Up!), Vicki Boutin Art Layers (American Crafts)

Paper: Very Vanilla, Handsome Hunter card stock (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Handsome Hunter, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Baked Brown Sugar, Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Pattern Party Decorative Masks (Stampin' Up!), Fern Green Paper Glaze (Picket Fence Studios), Gilded Shimmer Splash (Brutus Monroe), confetti sequins (unknown), hemp twine (May Arts), foam tape (A Cherry on Top)

To make the front panels, I followed these steps:

1. Stamp two pieces of 8-1/2" x 11" card stock with the main images. I used a different ink color for each image and worked from largest to smallest. Remember to change the orientation of the images and allow some of them to go off the edge of the card stock.

2. Trim the card stock into panels. I cut mine to 4-1/8" x 5-3/8" so there is just a narrow border of the card base around the panel.

3. Check the balance of the main images on each panel and fill in any open space along the edges with more stamped images.

4. Stamp filler images in a light color. I used a stamp with handwritten text and a stamp with a cluster of plus signs.

5. Add splatter. I used gold because I wanted some sparkle.

6. Distress the edges of the panels. I ran the blade of an open scissors along the edges, curled the corners, and added a few little tears on each panel.

7. Use paste/glaze and a stencil to add texture in a few places on each panel. (The top left card in the first photo has a different color Paper Glaze. I tried a cream colored paste first but wasn't crazy about it, so I switched to the green.)

Phew! Once that was done and the paste was dry, I glued each panel to a Handsome Hunter card base. I stamped "Season's Greetings" on 3/4" wide strips of Very Vanilla card stock and distressed the long edges of each strip. I wrapped twine around each strip to the right of the sentiment and tore off the left edge. Using foam tape I attached a sentiment near the bottom of each card and trimmed it even with the right edge of the card.

I tried a few different embellishments and settled on some confetti sequins because they're neutral and subtle but still add a little more sparkle.

These cards were more involved than what I usually do for holiday cards, but I'm really pleased with how they turned out. Thanks for stopping by!

CAS First Communion card

I know I've mentioned before that I don't often make religious cards. I can't always avoid it, though, when there are religious celebrations in my extended family. Last month my cousin's son celebrated his First Communion, so I created this clean and simple (CAS) card to send him.

Using Misty Moonlight ink, I stamped a brushstroke-style image four times near the upper right corner of the card base. I started with the first (darkest) impression about halfway up the card and then stamped three more times (without re-inking the stamp) continuing up toward the top of the card. 

I created the chalice with the Vases Builder punch -- just turn the vase upside down -- and Marina Mist card stock. The communion wafer was made with Naturals Ivory card stock and a 1/2" circle punch. I glued the two pieces together and used foam tape to attach them over the stamped brushstrokes.

I stamped the two-part sentiment "celebrate your day" below the focal point and toward the right side of the card. I love the mixed fonts and sizes used together. I finished the card with two score lines near the bottom edge to provide a little balance and fill some of the white space.

Thanks for stopping by!

Gel print collage cards

Sometime this summer I want to have another all-day gel printing session. I've been saving various household items to make interesting patterns, and I've got new stencils to try. But before I do that I'm trying to use more of the prints I've already made. So for a start, last weekend I made two gel print collage cards.

For the flower card, I cut circles out of three different gel prints and then went around each circle and snipped out triangles to create the petals. I added smaller circles for the flower centers and leaves behind the flowers. (I also added clear Wink of Stella glitter on the flower centers, but it doesn't show up in this picture.) I used a heavyweight white card base, added a white die-cut frame for a little texture, and glued on the flowers. I wanted to fill a little white space, so I added a couple of flying bugs and drew little dashed lines for their "flight paths." I stamped a birthday sentiment in the lower right corner to finish the card.

For the golf card, I started with a few online searches to get some inspiration. Once I had an idea, I used various gel prints to cut out the background, putting green, hole, pole, flag, and golf ball. The golf ball is supposed to look like it's sailing right into the hole; I thought about drawing a line to show the path, but I decided I liked it better without. I used white pigment ink and white embossing powder to add the sentiment and drew a border around the edges. Inside the card I wrote "Hope your day is a hole-in-one."

Neither one of these cards has any sequins or other embellishments. What?! I considered it, but with the colors and textures of the gel prints, I don't really think they needed anything else. Shocking, I know.

Thanks for stopping by!