Spellbinders - Gold Holly with Stencil coloring

Happy Saturday!

Today I have the third and last Christmas card to share using Spellbinders - Glimmer Holly Background.  I bought the bundle from Spellbinders, which had the hot foil plate and coordinating stencils for coloring the background.  For this card, I used gold foil on PaperTrey Ink white cardstock. 

I colored the holly and leaves using the 4 layer stencil, 3 stencils are different leaves and 1 for the berries.  I used inks from PaperTrey Ink, Green Parakeet, New Leaf; for the holly leaves I used 2 inks Prairie Grass and Olive Twist.  To color the berries, Autumn Rose and Scarlet Jewel.   

 The Merry Christmas die I found on Amazon and I liked that it was all one piece, even the dot of the i is part of the Merry swoosh.  I matted the gold Merry Christmas sentiment on a piece of vellum to help it from getting lost in the background.  I used glue to attach the sentiment to the vellum, then applied glue behind the die cut to attach the vellum to the base card.  I nice trick so no glue or tape shows thru the vellum.  The vellum is from PaperTrey ink.  

The base card is PTI Pure Poppy cardstock.  I also added a die cut poinsettia to this card, cut from pure poppy and gold cardstock.  The die has 5 pieces which I glued together to create the layered flower.  

I made some cards vertical and some horizontal.

I will have another Christmas card tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb

Spellbinders - Gold Holly and Colored Pencil

 Happy Sunday!

Today I have another Christmas card to share using Spellbinders - Glimmer Holly Background.  This the second card I made with this glimmer plate.  This one I used gold foil on blue cardstock (PaperTrey Ink - Enchanted Evening). 

I colored some of the the holly and leaves with Prismacolor colored pencils.  This was a technique I saw in both online cardmaking courses I took this Fall.  The Stress Free Cardmaking Summit and Justine Hovey's online 12 Days of Christmas cardmaking tutorial.  Using the colored pencils on a dark cardstock is really striking and unexpected.  I was really drawn to trying it myself and this is the card I came up with.

 The background is matted on gold cardstock and the Merry Christmas is die cut from the center of the gold mat. The Merry Christmas die I found on Amazon and I liked that it was all one piece, even the dot of the i is part of the Merry swoosh.  I matted the Merry Christmas sentiment on a piece of vellum to help it from getting lost in the background.  This was something I learned from Justine Hovey's online 12 Days of Christmas cardmaking tutorial. 

I made some cards vertical and some horizontal.

Yesterday I posted a card created with this same glimmer plate in silver.

Saturday, I will have another card version using the stencil from the bundle.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb 

Spellbinders - Silver Holly Christmas Card

 

Happy Saturday!

Today I have another Christmas card to share.  This card uses a Hot Foil plate from Spellbinders, which I bought in a bundle - Glimmer Holly Background.  I made 3 different cards with this glimmer plate.  This first one is a simple silver foil on blue cardstock (PaperTrey Ink - Enchanted Evening).  It is matted on silver cardstock and the Merry Christmas is die cut from the center of the silver mat.

The Merry Christmas die I found on Amazon and I liked that it was all one piece, even the dot of the i is part of the Merry swoosh.  I matted the Merry Christmas sentiment on a piece of vellum to help it from getting lost in the background.  This was something I learned from Justine Hovey's online 12 Days of Christmas cardmaking tutorial. 

I made some cards vertical and some horizontal.

The next 2 posts will show some other techniques using this same glimmer plate.

The Christmas card making class I took online in September - Stress Free Cardmaking Summit, was 3 days of cardmaking and technique tutorials.  It really kickstarted my Christmas card making in October and led to making lots of different cards using lots of different techniques.  I got out my watercolors, colored pencils, stencil and inks and one card is colored with Copics, so there is more to come in the next 4 posts.  More glimmer foil and BetterPress use too.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb 

Spellbinders - Let Us Adore Him

Happy Sunday!

I am thrilled to have completed my 2024 Christmas cards.  I have many designs to share over the coming weeks.  Today's card uses Spellbinders BetterPress Letterpress system and a press plate called Let Us Adore Him.  

I took some Christmas cardmaking seminars online this Fall and it was a great place to find inspiration, learn new techniques and a refresh for old techniques too.  Inevitably, I saw new tools demonstrated in the videos and the Spellbinders BetterPress System was new to me.  It is a Letterpress system, like a printing press, you place a metal image plate on a magnetic base.  Then, ink the image plate and run it through the Spellbinders Platinum Machine to transfer the image to the cardstock with even and uniform pressure.   I have to say, for large images and backgrounds, it is amazing, especially when it can be a struggle to get the full image to stamp without a stamping tool.

For this card, I used Gold Brilliance Pigment ink to ink the Let Us Adore Him plate.  The impression transferred really well.  Spellbinders recommends their ink and papers to use the system, however I have been using my normal PaperTrey Ink cardstock and inks I have like Mementos and Brilliance. The BetterPress plates are also compatible with the Spellbinders Glimmer Foil System, so I could have created this card with a gold foil rather than ink.   It is nice to have options.  

I also used a new embossing folder for this card.  It is Spellbinders Holiday Floral Swag 3D embossing folder.  The impression is so amazing, really has a 3D effect.  I embossed a 4.25 x 5.5" piece of cardstock and cut 2 side panels from it. Added a few gold embellishments and gold mat and this card was complete.

Card #2 - different section on the embossed image

More Christmas cards next week.

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings to you,
Deb

Unity - Sweet as Honey Birthday 2

Happy Saturday! 

Today, I have a birthday card I made using a Unity Stamp Set "Sweet as Honey".  The patterned paper and cardstock is from PaperTrey ink, Amethyst Allure.

I stamped the flowers in the lower corner and colored it with Copic markers.

Colors - Flowers: V12, V15, V17; Leaves: YG93, YG95, YG97; 

Background: B0000, B000, B01, E40, E41 

Added some White Gel pen dots to the flowers.

The birthday sentiment is from a set called Blooming Branches from Technique Tuesday, which closed a couple years ago.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb 

Unity - Whiskey Birthday

Happy Saturday! 

Today I have a birthday card I made for my brother using a stamp set from Unity called If You Were Whiskey.  The patterned papers are Simple Stories Documented, white, ivory, kraft and black cardstock from PaperTrey Ink.

The Postage Stamp dies are from Unity. The whiskey glass is colored with Copic markers, E31, E35, E41, E50, T1.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb

Unity - Plane and Simple Birthday

 
Happy Saturday!

Today I have a fun set from Unity Stamps "Plane and Simple", which I bought during their big Labor Day sale. These planes are so fun and this card was made for our grand-nephew for his 6th birthday.  

I stamped the 3 planes on white cardstock, colored with Copic markers and fussy cut them out.  Then, I laid the colored images out on the cloud paper and stamped the loopy trail, so I would know where to stamp the plane.  Then I popped the colored planes with double stick foam tape and placed them over the stamped plane images.

Copic Colors: R35, R37, B41, B45, YR21, YR23, W2

The main panel is matted with PaperTrey Ink Black and Pure Poppy cardstock and added to the white base card.  The sentiment is from a Technique Tuesday (shop closed) set called Blooming Branches (retired).

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings, 
Deb

Unity - Emotions Unfolded Birthday

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have my version of a card I saw on Unity's Blog September 21 by Lisa Arana.  There is a video in the blog post showing how the card was made, which is so cool!  It used some techniques I had only heard about like distress ink "smooshing" and coloring with mica powders. If you are interested in seeing the techniques the blog link is above. 

I had just bought the stamp, Unity "Emotions Unfolded", the silicone mat she used was in my stash yet to opened and I ended up getting the distress ink pads and mica powders on Amazon.  The distress inks I used were Peeled Paint (green color), Broken China (blue color) and Gather Twigs (used on the edges).

The Peeled Paint and Broken China inks were smeared on the silicone pad and spritzed with water.  I used a piece of clear acetate to pick up the ink and transfer it to the image. The edges were aged with the Gather Twigs ink and a blending brush.  There was a good tip in the video regarding the mica powder. She added some blue and blue/green mica powders in a paint tray to create a custom color and spritzed it with water.  Then she added a drop of glue in the mixed mica paint as a binder, so the mica pigment would not rub off if touched.  It works...such a great tip.  The custom mica color was applied using a paint brush.  

The butterfly was stamped on a separate piece of cardstock, colored with distress ink and then painted with mica.  Then the wing was cut out and glued to the body and the edge of the wing is "popped" with a pop dot.  The sentiment is from Spellbinders "Garden Sentiments".

I used 3 scraps of patterned papers, My Minds Eye "Breeze", which had the right blues and greens.  The edges were torn and aged with Gather Twigs ink.  The edges of the base card were also inked.  I popped front panel with the image.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessing,

Deb

Unity - Winged Expressions Birthday

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have a birthday card I made with Uniquely Unity July stamp of the Month  - Winged Expressions.  I used a paper pad from My Mind's Eye "Graceful"; 4 different patterns from this paper pad.  

I stamped the image on a piece of yellow patterned paper and colored the butterfly with Copic markers.  Colors: R56, R81, R83, R85, BG72, BG75.

I tore the edges top and bottom and layered it on a couple more patterned papers with torn edges.  This layering technique is a great way use leftover paper scraps.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Unity - Sweet as Honey Birthday

Happy Saturday! 

Today, I have a birthday card I made using a Unity Stamp Set "Sweet as Honey".  I paired the flower image with a paper pad from My Mind's Eye "Graceful", which has some pretty purples, greens and blues.

I stamped the flowers in the lower corner and colored it with Copic markers.

Colors - Flowers: V12, V15, V17; Leaves: YG93, YG95, YG97; 

Background: B0000, B000, B01, E40, E41 

Added some White Gel pen dots to the flowers.

Close Up:

The birthday sentiment is from a set called Blooming Branches from Technique Tuesday, which closed a couple years ago.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb 

Unity - Be Joyful

Happy Saturday!

Today I have a card I made using Unity Stamp Set - Be Joyful.  This was a quick card I made as a Thank You card.  I chose patterned papers with flowers that were similar shape to the image, Echo Park - For the Record 2.

Copic: YG21, YG23, YG25; R24, R29, R32, R35, YR20, YR21, YR23.

    I stamped the image a couple times on the bottom of the white base card, then colored the image.  I added a couple strips of the patterned papers to the top half and added a white bakers twine bow. 

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb 

Unity - Older, Bolder, Classic Birthday

Happy Saturday!

Today I have another birthday card I made with Unity Stamp - Still Turning Heads.  This one I paired with Simple Stories 24/7 patterned papers.  All 4 papers, cork, gray grid, stripe and red chevron are from that paper pad.

The car is stamped on cream PTI cardstock, headlights colored with Y35 Copic marker.  The base cardstock is PTI True Black.  I used one of the other sentiments in the stamp set for this card.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

My Favorite Things - Happy Happy Birthday

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have a birthday card using My Favorite Things Happy Happy Birthday. 

I made this card around this pretty paper I found in my stash, a 6x6 pad My Minds Eye, Miss Caroline, Howdy Doody.  

The "HAPPY" was stamped with PTI Hawaiian Shores ink and "birthday" was stamped with PTI Berry Sorbet ink on PTI white cardstock.  The matting cardstock is coordinating PaperTrey Ink Berry Sorbet.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

My Favorite Things - Gathered With Love

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have a card I made using My Favorite Things - Gathered With Love stamp set, which I bought in June, but looks like it isn't available. I made this card for multiple occasions, a birthday and I needed a few sympathy cards also.

I chose a patterned paper Crate Paper Random for this card.  I thought the flowers were pretty close to the image.  

Copic:  Flowers R22, R24, R29, R02, R05, R08, YR61, YR65, YR68;

Leaves YG61, YG63, YG67; Jar BG11, BG34, W0, W2; 

Background: E50, E51, W0, W2

The base card is PaperTrey Ink Ivory, matting PTI Black.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb

Unity - Windowsill

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have a card I made for a couple different occasions, get well and birthday, using Unity Stamp set - Windowsill.  The first version is the get well card I made for Mark's sister who broke her ankle.  

A couple years ago, I put a large work table in my craftroom and used it for my home office.  Since I retired, I took out the computer monitors and turned it into a cardmaking workspace.  It has been working out so well.  I've been going in there for a couple hours almost everyday to make cards or go through all that I have collected over the years.  I actually stamped these Windowsill images last December for her birthday, but did not get around to coloring it.  I found the stamped images and actually colored it while I was talking on the phone.

The patterned papers are Pebble Walnut Grove.  

Copic: BG11, BG70, BG72, BG75, E31, E33, E35, E50, E51

R29, YG61, YG65, YG68, W2, W3

Overall this image is just perfect for her, the fan because she is always hot (I can relate), she loves plants, books and she has an orange cat named Pumpkin.   

I picked a couple patterned papers.  I saw a card layout on Unity show and tell page that had layered patterned papers with torn edges, so I took inspiration from that.  I tore the top and bottom edges of the image which really helped focus the image.  The layered it on the patterned papers.  The base card is PTI white cardstock.  I added "Sending You Love" sentiment which is from MFT Gathered With Love stamp set and a white bakers twine bow.

Close Up:

I made a second card as a birthday card for our niece who has a calico cat.  The Happy Birthday sentiment was a scrap I had on my table, Spellbinders Garden Favorite Sentiments is the set it is from.

The calico cat variation has Copic W7 and white chalk patches.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Unity - Coffee Queen Birthday

 Happy Saturday!

Today I have some birthday cards I made with Unity Stamp Set - Coffee Queen.  

I started going through all my 6x6" patterned paper pads in my craftroom and consolidated them in one place.  I use to do this all the time...pick a paper with the colors and patterns I wanted to use for the stamp, then color.  Rather than coloring the image and trying to find a paper I liked.  It certainly makes it easier.

The first card uses aqua, cream and yellow, the patterned paper pad is Crate Paper DIY Shop.  I thought not only the colors were perfect but the flowers were also a great match for this image.  Next, I chose my Copic markers to match the colors in the papers. 

Copic: Cup-BG11, BG34; Rim-Y02, Y08; Flower and Cream-W0, W2; 

Leaf-YG61, YG63, YG67; Coffee-E77

The Happy Birthday sentiment is from Spellbinders Garden Favorite Sentiments.  

I cut a box around the sentiment then cut the cup out.

I chose 2 papers from the paper pad, a floral and a ledger page.  I cut the floral paper diagonally, so I could make 2 cards.  The ledger page was cut into 2 pieces 3x5".  The finished papered background is 3.75x5" and mounted on black cardstock 3.875x5.125".   I added some white bakers twine and mounted the image.  Base card is 4.25 x 5.5" white PaperTrey Ink cardstock.

Close Up:

For the second card, I chose a different paper pad

Echo Park For the Record 2, which changed the cup color and rim color.

Copic: Cup-BG70, BG72, BG75; Rim-R24, R29; Flower and Cream-W0, W2; 

Leaf-YG61, YG63, YG67; Coffee-E77

This card I turned to be a tent card, 5.5" x 4.25".

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Unity - Still Turning Heads Birthday

Happy Saturday! 

Today I have the birthday card I made for Mark this year.  It uses a stamp set from Unity called Still Turning Heads.  Love the Mustang image reminds me of the one we had from 2006-2019.  I paired this image with Simple Stories papers - Urban Traveler.  The Gray the image is stamped on and the background arrows.

The image is colored with copic markers B32, B35, Y35.  Did some distressing on the image and added the sentiment to the front. 

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb

Unity - Funny Farm Birthday

 

Happy Saturday!

Today I have a birthday card to share.  I used a stamp set from Unity Stamps - Funny Farm.  I've had my eye on this set for awhile, so when in went on sale in May I picked it up with some of my birthday money.  The Postage Stamp die is also from Unity and one die in a set of nesting dies.   

I stamped the image on white cardstock then die cut the image.  Using Copic markers I colored the background using E50.  The chicken comb and wattles are colored with E07 and ends of feathers are T1.  The sheep was colored with E41 and E31 and cow spots touched up with W7.

The patterned paper is from Simple Stories Documented and cut using Unity Scallops and Rectangles nesting die...I cut off the scallops.  Added 4 pieces of white bakers twine to the base card, then added the colored image.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb

Unity Stamps - Too Much Cake

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have several cards using the April Unity Stamp of the Month.  I signed up for the subscription a couple months ago and so far I have been really enjoying it.  This stamp is called Too Much Cake.  I love this little fluffy chick.  The sentiments are fun too "birdie wishes' and 'eat all the cake'.  

I make 3 cards with different birthday hat colors and papers - blue, aqua and red.  All the chicks were colored the same with Copic Markers - Y13, Y15, Y18, Y35, Y38, YR68 and E81.  I accented the italics 'all' in the sentiment with color cardstock.  Also added some white bakers twine to finish.

The first card was blue - B41, B45 and B52.  

The papers are Simple Stories "Summer Fresh".

Cardstock:  PTI White and Spring Rain

Close Up:

Card 2 - Aqua BG10, BG15, BG53

The Papers are Simple Stories "Snap Life".

Cardstock: PTI White and Aqua Mist

Card 3 - Red R32, R35, R37

The Papers are Simple Stories "24/Seven".

Cardstock: PTI White and Pure Poppy

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb 

Taylored Expressions - Swirly Roses Wedding 2

 Happy Saturday,

Today, I have a couple wedding cards I made for friends at work.  They use a Taylored Expressions stencil Mini Slim Swirly Roses, rather than using inks I used white modeling paste to create a raised texture effect.  Then used white and black cardstock.  White on white above and white on black below.

The sentiment is from the stamp set Botanical Sentiments.  I added a sheer organza ribbon accent to finish the card.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb

Taylored Expressions - Swirly Rose Wedding

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have a wedding card I made for a friend at work using a stencil and die from Taylored Expressions. The stencil is Mini Slim Swirly Roses and I used blue-green and green inks for this card. This is a really a fun stencil that produces a pretty background in very little time. I added a bit of shimmer using Cosmic Glitter Kiss Frosty Sparkle.  

The Mr and Mrs die cut was also from Taylored Expressions. one of their Framed Script line, currently unavailable.  I backed the die cut with vellum paper.

PaperTrey Inks:  

Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, 

Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores

PaperTrey ink Cardstock:
White
True Black

Cosmic Glitter Kiss

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings to you,
Deb

Die Cut Graduation Card

Happy Saturday,

Today, I have a graduation card I made for a friend at work.  She needed a card for a friend receiving her white coat.  A challenging request, but I found this die which I could make into a white coat shaker card.   

A pretty simple card, die cut the black cardstock and mounted it on acetate.  Then outlined the coat with raised foam tape added some sequins to the middle and capped with white cardstock to created the shaker card.  

Made a second card with more layers and less sequins.

My co-worker need 4 wedding cards too, so those cards will be featured in the next couple posts.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb

PaperTrey Ink - Vase Collection Birthday

 Happy Saturday!

Today, I have a couple birthday cards to share using a stamp set from PaperTrey Ink called Vase Collection 15.  There are several 2 step flowers and leaves and a container plus some sentiments in the stamp set.  

I made a couple cards with this set stamping the flowers with Lovely Lady and Autumn Rose inks, leaves with Prairie Grass and Ripe Avocado. The container was stamped in Soft Stone or Aqua Mist and Smokey Shadow.  The patterned papers are from Simple Stories Vintage Bliss.  

This is the second card I created with paper scraps.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,
Deb

Taylored Expressions - Mother's Day Card

 Happy Mother's Day Weekend!

Today, I have the Mothers Day card I made this year, using a fun stencil and stamp set from Taylored Expressions. The stencil is Mini Slim Swirly Roses, a great stencil that produces a very pretty background. I used pink and green inks then added a bit of shimmer, using Cosmic Glitter Kiss - Frosty Sparkle.  

The sentiment is from the stamp set Botanical Sentiments.  It is a great stamp set for a variety of occasions. I found some fabric leaf ribbon in my craft room as an accent.

PaperTrey Inks:  

Lovely Lady, Autumn Rose, 

Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, 

PaperTrey ink Cardstock:

White
Hibiscus Burst

Cosmic Glitter Kiss

Thanks for stopping by...
Blessings to you,
Deb

Unity - Latte Anniversary Card

Happy Monday!

Today, we are celebrating our wedding anniversary and this is the card I made for Mark this year.  I used Unity Thanks-a-Latte stamp set which was the March stamp of the month.  I joined their Uniquely Unity stamp club in January so I get a newly released stamp set each month.  

The coffee cup is stamped with black ink on 3 different PaperTrey Ink cardstock colors, cut out and pieced together to create a pretty realistic looking coffee cup.  The lid was stamped on smokey shadow cardstock, the base cup is Classic Kraft and the band is Fine Linen.

The sentiment is stamped in PTI ink Pure Poppy.   The coffee ring stamp is stamped using Classic Kraft ink on Fine Linen cardstock and matted with smokey shadow cardstock.  The patterned paper is Simple Stories "Documented" that I had in my paper stash.  The sentiments on the paper are things like 'happily ever after'; 'this is the life'; 'cherish the moment' which I thought worked really well for this card along with the color palette. 

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb

My Favorite Things - Pawty Time Birthday #3

 

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have a birthday card I made last year but never posted.  It uses a My Favorite Things stamp set - My Favorite Things: Pawty Time.  All the images are so cute, this is the 3rd card using this set.

Close Up:

The image was colored with Copic markers.

Copic Colors:
R30, R32, R35, R37, R39
BG53, BG57, BG75
W0, W1, W3

I used PTI Hawaiian Shores patterned papers. trim is PTI Pure Poppy 

and the base card is PTI Hawaiian Shores.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb

Unity Stamps - Wooden Heart Valentine

 

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have the Valentine I made for Mark.  

The stamp set is from Unity Stamp Set called Wooden Heart.

It is colored with Copic markers E30, E31, E35 and E37 

with the center heart in R32, R35, R37, R39.  I added some

glaze liquid over the red heart.  

Close Up:

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings to you,

Deb

My Favorite Things - Pawty Time Birthday #2

Happy Saturday!

Today, I have a birthday card I made last year but never posted.  It uses a My Favorite Things stamp set - My Favorite Things: Pawty Time.  All the images are so cute. 

Close Up:

The image was colored with Copic markers.

Copic Colors:
R30, R32, R35, R37, R39
BG53, BG57, BG75
W0, W1, W3

I used PTI Hawaiian Shores patterned papers

 and base card is PTI Pure Poppy.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Deb