Spotlight Holly

I was really thrilled to find this stamp, and this is my first time using it. I'm very happy with the vintage look, yet it's still cheerful and festive for Christmas!

Card measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

I started by stamping the collage image (Tin Can Mail for Inkadinkado) twice on off-white cs, using Staz-On ink in Timber Brown. To figure out what section to use as my "spotlight" I sketched a pencil box around an interesting section on one of the stamped images, then trimmed this area to size with my paper trimmer to get straight, even sides.

I used a blender pen and Distress inks (Peeled Paint, Aged Mahogany, Frayed Burlap and Scattered Straw) to color in this panel, and then layered it to a red panel and set it aside.

For the base image, I grabbed the other image I had stamped and I roughed the edges up with the Tim Holtz distressing tool (a scissor would work fine also, just be careful - nothing worse than an ill-placed bloodspot on a great card LOL ;o), then I sponged some of the Distress Scattered Straw around the edges.

I adhered the spotlight piece to the base image, being careful to line it up well. Then I stamped Joy to All (Hero Arts) on a scrap of off-white cs, sponged the edges with the Timber Brown, and then to darken further, I ran the pad around the edges. I pop-dotted this on the card as shown.

For the cardfront, I used the same technique as in the CD case shadow box post (see sidebar).

Thanks for looking!

Embossed Tree

Good morning! Here's a fun little tree that reminds me of a Dr.Seuss kind of Christmas :o)

These stamps are from Wood-n-Paper, Ink, and there's a 20% off total order sale going on right now! When checking out just enter this code to receive the discount: IB1207 Don't worry - she knows you're coming and is all set up for you to shop LOL Just click on the link on my side bar and it'll take you right there!

Card measures 8 1/2" x 4" and fits in a business envelope for regular mailing fees.

I started by stamping Christmas Tree #L187 on white cs, using clear embossing ink.

*tip*

I went thru a lot of embossing inks before I found one I fell in love with. Believe me, it can make all the difference in how much you enjoy embossing something! I use the pink pad by Rubber Stampede for Delta. It just says Embossing Ink Pad on the clear cover, and I believe I picked it up at a Micheal's.

I sprinkled a white embossing powder over my image, shook off all extra, and heated it with my heat gun. I picked up a large stippling/stencil brush with a rounded edge and pounced Stampin' Up!'s Old Olive over it as shown, leaving white at the edges. I would have followed the tree silhouette closer if I had had a smaller brush around.

Next I drew an even border in pencil on the reverse, about 1/4" in, and used a Fiskars embossing plate to place dots around the edges.

*tip*

If you run a scrap of wax paper over your cs before embossing, your stylus will work more smoothly, and resist tearing the paper.

I applied some self-adhesive gems to the tree (these are actually a pinkish cranberry irl) and then punched the corners as shown with a 1/2" circle punch. I adhered this panel to a cranberry one that I had also punched corners on, and then layered this to a green piece.

I stamped the sentiment in Stampin' Up!'s Cranberry Crisp and Old Olive on white cs, trimmed the corners, and layered in the same way.

For the pinkish bkgd I used a Distress wash (see CD case entry for this month for technique) in Aged Mahogany.

I adhered all layers, tying the ribbons on as shown.

Thanks for looking!

Evergreen Noel

Sorry about the crooked scan - I made this card last year and I don't have the card anymore or I'd rescan it straighter and larger so you could see more detail.

This is a very simple Christmas card, but the gold edging and embossing, which shows up much better in real life, makes it elegant.

Card measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

I started by cutting a neutral piece of cs 4" x 5 1/4". I randomly stamped the pine cone (All Night Media) in brown ink, and then the pine needles (All Night Media) in Adirondack Pesto and Lettuce dye inks as shown.

I used the brown ink and a stipple brush to color in the pinecones. I wanted a soft look so I wasn't too worried about staying in the lines. I used some of the green around the edges near the needles.

I used embossing ink to stamp Noel (DeNami) in the center and embossed it with antique gold. I used a Krylon gold pen on the border, and adhered the panel to a matching green cardfront.

*tip*

When drawing a line, especially with any kind of marker, I use a metal cork-backed ruler. The cork keeps it from slipping, and also raises it enough that the marker doesn't bleed under the ruler's surface and onto your paper.

Thanks for looking!

Snow Penguin

Are any of you wanting a cool Stampin' Up! spiral notebook punch as badly as I am?! LOL As cool as the square holes are, it finally occurred to me that I could make a mighty neat approximation using a common circle hand punch combined with the rectangle hand punch! Who said necessity is the mother of invention?...I know, I know - I'm just testing you ;o)

This card is for all of you who really love blue for Christmas, or even just a winter card to say hey to someone you like. It's not quite this bright in real life.

Card measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

I started with a piece of glossy cardstock. I always use Kromekote, which I bought a ream of at the last stamp show I was lucky enough to attend.

*tip*
Anytime I buy anything in bulk, paper especially, I keep the original label and attach it to the front of the folder, container, etc. You always think you'll remember the brand, but then...you know!

The first step was to use a Versamark pad to ink up two snowflake stamps (large single - Sarasota Stamps, small cluster - Stampin' Up!) and stamp them randomly over the glossy cs.

Then I used a rubber brayer, and a Kaleidocolor pad in Blue Breeze. I loaded the brayer up thoroughly by leaving the pads in the open position and running the brayer over them at a slight angle. Then, with my 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" piece of glossy cs on scrap paper, I ran the inked brayer over the cs diagonally as shown on one side, then flipped the cs around and did the other side, keeping the lighter shade in the center.

For the main image panel I stamped the penguin (Art Impressions) with VersaFine black ink, and then used a blender pen and the Kaleidocolor pad inks to color his turquoise highlight. I colored his cap and beak in with Stampin' Up! markers and the blender.
To stamp the ice, I stamped the penguin on a Post-it, cut it out and layered it over the image on the panel. Then I used the Amuse Skinny Oval and one of the colors in the K pad to stamp the ice, and then highlighted it with irred. glitter glue. After I stamped the snowflakes in the same ink around the penguin I peeled the mask off.

For the snow circle I inked up the Penny Black circle tag stamp with Stampin' Up! markers direct to the rubber, punched it out, and edged it with one of the markers.

I punched the top of the main image panel as stated above, adhered it to a black panel, then to the background panel, then white, then a black cardfront. I adhered the circle as shown and then used a silver snowflake brad.

Simple but cute, I think :o)
Thanks for looking!

Stand Up Santa & Friend

Here's another stand up card by way of the Deerfoams box inspiration (see Saturday's post):

Card standing measures 7" across x 6" high to top of image panel x 2" deep.

You'll be so proud of yourself after you make this card you'll want to just put it on your own mantle instead of sending it off to a lucky recipient for Christmas ;o) But if you do send it out, it will fold flat.

I really really REALLY suggest (strongly! >;o) that you make yourself a practice template like the one below (click photo for larger view) first and hang on to it for a refresher when you want to make a new one. It's SO much easier if you don't have to remeasure everything.

*tip*
I keep a 3-ring binder for all the mechanical/3D cards I have made or would like to make. For each seperate type, I slip the pages of directions in a sheet protecter and the template and/or a sample card featuring it behind these so I can just flip thru it for instant inspiration.

You can start with a piece of patterned paper and adhere it to cs for strength or make your own base piece like I did here. I started with an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of off-white cs, planning to trim it down as needed.

I wiped a Distress ink pad in Peeled Paint on a nonstick pad, then spritzed it with water. I laid the cs down on this and lifted off to dry. It needed more interest so I use a Distress ink pad in Frayed Burlap and ran it randomly over the paper, starting at the tall end and coming downwards with it. Still not right so I took the Frayed Burlap pad, swiped it on the nonstick pad lightly, and then poured a puddle (about quarter size) of Irredescent Watercolor Medium, mixed with some water, onto the pad and used a rubber brayer to mix it all together and roll over the background paper. This added a faint sparkle that shows up close and browned the green more evenly.

*tip*
The reverse of the bkgd cs will show a bit so I like to give the back side a wash of the color I'm using.

I stamped 2 different PSX Poinsetta stamps over the bkgd using Frayed Burlap and then the Background Text-Thin stamp (A Stamp in the Hand) in Brilliance Galaxy Gold.
After the bkgd was completely dry and flat, I trimmed it to 7" x 11". I flipped it decorated side down and drew pencil lines the short way at 1" (A), 4" (B), 6" (C) and 9" (D), and then scored these, still on the reverse. Then I drew the same type of lines at 5" (E), 7" (F) and 8" (G) without scoring or cutting. I turned the piece sideways with line A at the far end and focusing on the area between line B and D I drew pencil lines at 1 1/2" (H), 3" (I), 4" (J) and 5 1/2" (K). I know this seems tedious and confusing at the same time but you're almost there!! ;o)

I measured 1" up from line D and scored this line (G) between lines H and K. Then starting at this scored line I cut the two pencil lines (H and K) up to Line B with an Exacto knife. Then I scored lines E and F between I and J, and then cut lines I and J (with the Exacto) between lines E and F.

And the cutting and measuring is done - yayyyyy! Breath a sigh of relief now ;o)

The rest is pretty simple - I just stamped my main image (Inkadinkado) on off-white cs using black ink, the second stamping. I colored it in using Distress inks and Q-tips, and trimmed the edges with deckle scissors. I layered this to a green panel, then dark brown and then red. It's important to make sure the red panel will fit between lines H and K with a little room to spare. At this point I sponged some Frayed Burlap onto all the cut edges of the base card for definition.

To put it all together, glue the 1" panel near line A underneath the wide panel at the opposite end. Now holding the base, push on the panels between the edge and line H and the edge and line K. Now center the red panel on the 2" x 1" pop out panel adhering it from line F to the scoreline at line C only.

I punched some flowers from the green and red scraps and layered them with a gold brad, and then adhered them to the card as shown with Glue-Dots. I wrapped the bottom of the panel with a red ribbon and tied a brown and black gingham ribbon around it.

*tip*
Always adhere a part of your ribbon to the cardfront, even if it seems stretched tight enought to stay in place. I like to do this right near the most awkward spot - here where the tied ribbons bunch up the red ribbon. I like the skinny ATG tape gun for this.

For the tag accent, I stamped the Merry Christmas collage word stamp (Hero Arts) on the off-white cs using the Distress Peeled Paint, then the large Merry Christmas again in black lining it up with a stamp positioner. I used the Multitags Scallop punch by McGill on this and on the brown cs, then layered them as shown.

Because my image panel ended up so much heavier than the base it had a tendency to be too top heavy and fall backwards. I fixed this by attaching a matching easel on the back of the image panel (see photo) that will fold back on itself when folding the card up.

Thanks for looking!

Congratulations!

Well congratulations Mom!! Your name was drawn in the weekly card drawing! And lucky for Linda too, because my policy is if family wins, someone else gets to win too ;o) So let me know when you get a minute what your first and second choices are and hopefully you'll both like different cards LOL

Self-standing Christmas Chrerub

I got the inspiration to make this card from a Dearfoams slipper box we bought recently (with slippers, of course LOL). If you like it, stay tuned for the other version, coming with Monday's post!!

Card standing measures 4 1/4" across, 2" deep, and 4" high

Here's the box the way it came, with one slipper on each level:

I'll be posting a card using this format on Monday. And the way it popped up as I was getting ready to toss it out:

Okay, I know this side view below looks ackward, but it stays standing this way with the right angle from the front view as seen above.

Here's a view below taken with the scanner to show you that it folds flat and can be easily mailed out.

Card folded up measures 4 1/4" x 5"

Here's the template (if you click on it you will get an enlarged version, easier to read.) I suggest making a trial one to use as an ongoing template.

Here's how I put it together:

I started with a sheet of 8 1/2" x 11" white cardstock, and cut it in half the long way, ending up with 2 pieces each 4 1/4" x 11". I set one aside and decorated the other. Using some of the blue alcohol inks, I put a few drops of each on a transparency, squirted a bit of blender into them and rolled them onto my cs using a cheap brayer from the paint dept. of Home Depot (yellow pad, white handle). I added some drops of the silver mixative and kept repeating till the cs was covered as shown.

When this was completely dry, I adhered the two pieces of cs together. I flipped the panel over, decorated side down, and with the long side facing me, and marked my lines with a pencil and ruler (see professionally drawn template Haha ;o) I marked them as follows: 1" (A), 4" (B), 6" (H & I), and 9" (C). Then I turned it sideways so the short end with line C was nearest me. I drew two lines between lines B and C, each 3/4" in from the edges (D & E). Then I measured 1" up from line C and drew a line (F), and 1" down from line B and drew a line (G).

Next, I cut lines D and E, from line B to line F, using an Exacto knife and glass mat. I then scored lines A, B, C, F, G, H and I (note that you do not want to score the whole length of the H/I line - only in from the edges to lines D & E).

In order to fold flat for mailing, the image panel has to fit inside the rectangle from line B to line F and from line D to line E so it will measure approximately 3 7/8" x 2 5/8". I stamped the cherub (Inkadinkado) on a white scrap cs in Stampin' Up!'s Buckaroo Blue, then stippled the same ink around it. Over this I stippled Encore's Ultimate Metallic Blue. I colored in the star with a Sakura Gelly Roll pen, and added a mirror-base domed sticker in the center. I layered this to metallic silver cs, and then to textured dark blue.

To finish decorating the base where it would show from the front, I embossed some blue snowflakes (Stampa Rosa) using Encore Ultimate Metallic Blue and clear fine detail embossing powder. Then I used clear embossing ink and Stampin' Up!'s Sterling Silver embossing powder to stamp the greeting by Anna Griffin for All Night Media near the bottom edge.

To put the card together I adhered the main image panel ONLY to the area between lines G and F and between lines D and E, and then folding the card into a box shape, I adhered the 1" panel at the end to the 2" panel on the other end.

Ta da! Fun to put together and impressive enough to display as a Christmas decoration.

Thanks for looking!

Geometric Goldfish

Everyone out shopping today, looking for great prices??! Not me - crowds are not my thing, and I have enough to get me thru today so I think I'll pass on that this year! ;o)


I've always loved this PSX fish stamp! Here are two quick and easy cards using the same stamp.

Card measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

I started with a 3 3/4" x 2 3/4" piece of white cs. Using black ink I stamped the fish randomly (okay, thoughtful random ;o) and colored them in with pencils. I added clear glitter glue to the fins and tails, and Crystal Glaze to the eyes and mouths. I punched some circles, applied them to the white panel and applied irredescent glitter glue.

I cut the panel into three 1 1/4" pieces, and mounted these to slightly larger blue panels as shown, and then mounted these on a blue parchment panel. I set this aside and stamped a black cardfront with white pigment using a dot stamp by DeNami, and then mounted the image panel to this.

For this second card, I stamped the goldfish randomly on peach cs and then punched circles from the piece, trying to get various parts of the fish on each.

I stamped a sheet of white cs with the fish and adhered circles where they matched up, and then trimmed the white piece down to size.

I punched some circles from blue cs, glued them to the card as shown, and added glitter glue. I layered this image panel over an A2 black cardfront.

Thanks for looking!

Happy Thanksgiving

I would share all the things I'm grateful for today but I'm embarassed by how much there is. I'm so grateful to God for the blessings in my life, most notably the people I love - you all know who you are :o)

Here's a card from the photo files - I sent it out a while back so it's not available for the drawing this week.

Card measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

I used a specialty fold from the June/July 07 TechniqueJunkies online newsletter called Flap Fold. In a nutshell, the diamond-shaped piece is adhered to the dark rust rectangular piece, which is actually twice that long - it's folded on the righthand side so that half of it is underneath the panel on the lefthand side (under the diamond). So you lift the rectangle piece up from the left side, then unfold the left side of the card up and then you're looking at the inside of the card onto which the other half of the rust panel is adhered as shown. The orange base card folds on the left side and the top panel only goes 2/3 of the way across.

To color the matching multi-colored leaf panels, I used a technique taught to me by my smarty-pants friend Juli ;o) You take a crumpled up piece of tissue paper, dab it into your inkpad and then pounce it on the rubber of your stamp. I used Stampin' Up!'s More Mustard, Really Rust and Old Olive on a Signature Background stamp by Rubber Stampede. The white leaves you see are the white cardstock showing thru, because these areas were recessed on the stamp and did not get any ink. I edged the panels with a sponge and SU's Chocolate Chip ink.

*tip*

Start with the lightest color and cover about half the surface in random spots, then the next darker color and so on.

For the diamond shaped panel, I stamped a square stamp (Rubber Stampede Arch. Block) with yellow ink, matching up the corners in the center. I used the brown ink to stamp the flourish (Just For Fun) in the corners, stamping off once on scrap paper and then behind the main image to get the two tones. I used this same stamp and ink along the edge of the base card. I think the sentiment is Stampin' Up! but I'm not positive. I'll try to find it and add it here... LOL Good luck me!

Before attaching the panels together, I wrapped a brown satin ribbon around the back of the diamond panel, and then across and around the back of the rust panel. The buckle is a mini metal scrapbook embellishment, and the paper flower has Copper Stickles glitter glue on the petal edges.

Thanks for looking!

Faux Travel Tag

This travel themed card features a faux tag. I've got a scan and a photo, to show you how the gold highlights glow irl.

Card measures 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

I started by stamping the tag (Inkadinkado) in black ink on a piece of tan cs. I stamped the tag again on a large piece of copy paper, trimmed out the center and laid this over the tan cs, tacking it down with a piece of masking tape.

*tip*
Any time you want to use tape to temporarily tack your cs, take a fresh piece of tape, press it down lightly on your pants to get it slightly fuzzy and you won't risk tearing your cs when removing it.

Then I stamped the Italian postage stamp at an angle, and the postmark and cancelation over this (these stamps by Hero Arts, International Tour de Luxe set). Leaving the mask in place I chalked the images and the inside edge of the tag. Making another mask by stamping the postmark and stamp on small post-its and trimming around them, and tacking over the same images, I inked up the lettering stamp with Brilliance Galaxy Gold and stamped it as shown over the body of the tag. I took the masks off, highlighted the stamp border with a Marvy DecoColor Opaque Paint Marker Extra Fine in gold, and drew a shadow around the tag with a Tombo #530 grey marker. I freehand tore the cs around the shape of the stamped tag.

I stamped the vintage postmarks (Just For Fun) with Versamark on a rust colored panel, and then edged the panel with the gold ink, direct from the pad. Then I layered two strips of black cs edged with the Brilliance gold ink over it as shown. I trimmed one end to a squared off point, folded it over and tacked it down with an antique copper brad. I tucked the torn-edge panel under this, and then stamped Journey (Rubber Stampede) in the bottom corner with black ink.

The rust panel is layered on a brown panel, and that's layered onto a flecked light brown panel.

Thanks for looking!

Zebra Shadowbox

All stamps are from I Brake For Stamps (see sidebar) and they are currently on sale, under the New Stamps category.

This is a shadow box style card, basically a sealed box without ends. It might look complicated but it's super-easy, and will lay flat enough to mail and then unfold again to stand up like you see here.

Card measures 3 3/4" x 4 1/4" x 1"

I started with an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of sturdy white cs. I cut it down the middle the long way, so that I had 2 pieces, each 4 1/4" x 11". Then I laid one of these pieces in front of me with the long end going left to right. Starting at the left end, I used a ruler to mark off pencil lines at 1", 4 3/4", 5 1/4", 9 1/2" and 10 1/2". Then I trimmed off the last 1/2". Then I scored along the lines I'd drawn, and erased the pencil marks.

If you'd like a background, do this now. You could use a piece of patterned paper and adhere it, or do a quick Watercolor Distress wash like I did (see the CD frame post or the TechniqueJunkie newsletter for Feb 07). I used Antique Linen over all, Brushed Corduroy at the base and a smidgen of Scattered Straw at the top.

*tip*

If you want your piece to be extra sturdy, do your background on a matching piece of cs, then tack this over the card base. I like to cover both inside edges as well as the back piece so that when the card is turned at an angle the scene continues as far as you see.

Next I stamped the zebra on heavy weight cs (Bristol works good) in black Staz-On ink, and highlighted it with a brownish bronze pencil for the stripes and a green one for the grass. I trimmed this out closely and set aside.

*tip*

When cutting images out I like to do as much as works well with my Fiskars Softtouch 1 3/4" blade scissors, and then finish with an Exacto blade and glass mat.

My next step was to cut a piece of specialty paper (thanks Juli! for giving me this fabulous sheet - do you know me or what?!) to the size of the large front view panel (3 3/4" x 4 1/4") and adhere. Then to cut the window, I flipped it front side down, marked a border 5/8" in on all sides, and cut with an Exacto knife. To keep all the loose edges intact, I ran a line of Elmers around all the cut edges inside and out, feathered it out with a paintbrush (don't forget to wash this right away or you will end up with pointy little bristles! LOL)

I stamped the phrase on a scrap of background paper, trimmed closely and pop-dotted on the frame as shown. I added some antiqued copper brads on the bottom and side.

To finish the card, I stamped the trees right on the background using Stampin' Up!'s Always Artichoke, and a stamp postioner to see where they looked best in relation to where I was intending to put the zebra. Then I used an extra-thick pop-dot (you could put two or more pop-dots together for the same height) to place the zebra where I thought he looked best.

Then I just ran doublestick tape along the inside of the first 1" panel, and stuck this down to the outside of the last 1" panel to close up the box.

*tip*

If you want an interesting shadow box on the outside as well as the inside, try the bkgd technique on both sides of the scored cs before doing any of the other steps.

Thanks for looking!

Great Mail Day!

Sorry for the delay - had to run out to look at office chairs, but we found a nice Sealy one on sale at Office Max so it was worth it. Plus these cards I received are so wonderful they were worth the wait, right?!

This gorgeous card is a birthday card from LaVerne, a fellow TJer, that got waylaid in the mail system. She used the Spanish Gold technique from the current TechniqueJunkie newsletter. And I must say her's turned out much, MUCH more beautifully then when I tried it. And the phrase is one I have too and have always really liked - it's so true!

It's a little hard to see the beads in the scan (this is one of those cards that as good as it looks here, it is 100% even more fabulous in real life because of the metallic gold, and the beads that glimmer, and the center bead is satin black with molded texturing on the surface).

*tip*

LaVerne used a piece of fun foam next to and the same height as the beads to protect them in the mail system and it worked great! Plus I have a spare piece of foam to play with ;o)

This way-cool card came from my Mom, who you can just barely make out in the background. I just love it, and the fact that the little cutie is me has no bearing on that statement! LOL Looks like I was a nature-lover even way back then (got that from my parents, definitely). The great photography is courtesy of my Dad. This card would make an equally wonderful element on a scrapbook page.

I love how the pink mulberry paper behind the frame continues the foreground hue of the photo. The blue green cs is textured, and matches the scripture phrase perfectly! The flowers are some paper ones we split last year, I think, and I know Mom thought she'd never use them all but she's doing pretty good so far! They're attached with antiqued brads. This card came in a beautiful handmade envelope using a real photo page with matching colors. I always know Mom-mail because the envelopes stand out so nicely from the white bill envelopes :o)

Now check out the frame on the card - I've got to get more particulars but she did tell me that Dad printed this one below out on the printer, so that should give you all kinds of cool ideas! You can see from the card what size the frames are.

Thanks for looking

(I have to go make a card for tomorrow's post now...!)

Enabler alert!

The other night I drove by our local dollar store and noticed they had written Scrapbook Supplies on the window. So I stopped in today to check it out and there was a WHOLE ROW of stuff!! So if you have one, better check in to make sure you're not missing something great ;o)

On another note, I had a great mail day and will post photos later tonight...(oh, the suspense! Actually I just need to go make dinner LOL)

3 Modern Grids

Happy Monday - hope your week is off to a good start :o)

These cards are simple and fun to put together. Almost any color or theme will work ,although not all at once! LOL (For full instructions and lots of samples see the TechniqueJunkies April 07 newsletter issue, Modern Grid.)

This format consists of three main components: a grid in any size, main images and accent coloring and/or doodling.

These cards are all standard A2 size. The first two are available for the drawing but the last one I sent out right after I made it in April, so it's not available.

For this flower card, I started with a Judi-kins flower cube and stamped them in a pleasing arrangement on my white cs panel using black ink. I colored them in with pencils, and highlighted the centers with a Sakura Gelly Roll sparkle pen. I drew in my grid using a Micron pen, stopping at each image edge, and then highlighted these lines with green pencil. I doodled with the Micron pen and shaded some squares with pencil.

*tip*

To get an evenly spaced grid, start by drawing a pencil line thru the center top to bottom and side to side. Use a C-thru ruler to get equal lines, or measure and divide (if you're feeling extra-smart >;o)

I stamped the phrase (Rubber Soul) on a white scrap with black ink, layered this onto green cs, and then onto black cs. I pop dotted this on the white panel and then layered this onto a black cs panel, and then onto a green cardfront.

For this shell card, I used a Kaleidocolor pad (Cappucchino Delight) for all the images. I doodled a bit and used a blender pen and the same ink to scribble in some squares.

I stamped the quote (PSX) in the same ink, drew a dotted line in the corners, mounted it on kraft and then pop-dotted it on the image panel. The main image was mounted on black cs and this was adhered to kraft colored cs.

This one is so fun I just had to show you! All images and words are by Paper Candy. All images are colored with pencils and it's hard to see but the chair legs, etc. are colored in with silver pen. There are three silver brads on the word tag.

Thanks for looking!

Congratulations!

Manna, your name was just drawn from the comments left this week! Email me when you get a sec at inkblocks@ juddworld.net and let me know which one of the available cards you'd like and I'll pop it in the mail tomorrow :o)

Tulip Bloom

Believe it or not, this background was meant to be a different color and for a different card! I'll explain later LOL This card is not eligible for the weekly drawing since I need to send it out as I designed it for Wood-n-Paper, Ink.

Card measures 5 3/4" x 4 1/2"

I got this background panel totally by accident. In trying to make a an autumn background for a different card, I scribbled four different Stampin' Up! markers (browns, rusts, mustards) on a sheet of plastic, and then spritzed liberally with water. I laid a piece of hard-press, smooth but not glossy, white cardstock on top of this and lifted it off to dry. And this is the color it was after it dried!

It lacked some interest so I sprayed it with white and black webbing spray.

*tip*

Do a few pages of background and spray all at one time or you'll end up wasting a ton of the product, which leads me to the next tips! Follow the directions on the can, including shake thoroughly, spray outside, in the correct temperature, and with plenty of scrap paper underneath to catch the excess. I sprayed mine in the bottom of a large box.

There is a technically correct version called Veined Marble in the August 07 TechniqueJunkies newsletter that would give similiar results, so you might want to check that out for better results LOL

I colored the main image (Wood-n-Paper, Ink) with pencils and then blended with Gamsol. I trimmed the edges straight, and then cut around the leaf. I layered this on a black panel leaving room on the right side for some extra scraps that I first cut into squares, and then cut thru the middle on the diagonal. I glued these down with Zig 2-Way glue.

I layered this on a textured green panel and set aside. For the word tag I stamped "bloom" (Wood-n-Paper, Ink, Old Time Alphabet) on a white scrap in black ink, and then brushed the edges with Distress Dried Marigold direct from the pad. I glued this to a black scrap, and then punched the edge with a rectangle handheld punch. I had to use it twice, lined up, to get this length. I cut a strip of the green cs, trimmed the ends at an angle, threaded it thru the slot, and tied it with an embroidery thread.

I adhered the background panel to a black panel, and then to a white piece edged with the Dried Marigold and a sponge. I adhered the other two panels as shown, and then attached the white panel to a black cardfront.

Thanks for looking!

Milkpaint Friends

All stamps on this card are by I Brake For Stamps (see sidebar), and are currently ON SALE!!!! woo-hoo! :o) Both sheets are listed under New Stamps, and I used the Christmas sheet #RB013 and the phrases sheet #RB06. OH! and if you like the Noel card with the pointsettas on Monday, those are also on the Christmas sheet.

Card measures 4 1/2" x 5 1/4"

I couldn't decide what background to put behind the kids on this one, so I thought I'd try the Milkpaint technique again (see yesterday's post for info). I used white on this one, because my chalk pad is getting too dry. It doesn't show up much, but I like the overall effect - feels like they're just passing the barn.

To start, I stamped the main image in the center of a tan piece of cs with black Staz-On ink. I colored it is with pencils, and used a Stickles Frosted Lace glitter glue on the snow ridges. I tried coloring the snow area with pencils but it wasn't quite white enough, so I erased this and used a round small stencil brush to dab ColorBox white pigment ink all over the area. After it dries it looks much softer than when first applied.

I stamped the phrase in black ink, using half on the top and half on the botton. Then I stamped the three snowflakes in Versafine black ink randomly around the panel. My original vision was to continue them out onto the background, but after actually trying that, all the black was way too heavy visually, and I needed to go to plan B. Which I didn't have! Then I thought about the Milkpaint technique and thought it went along with the feeling of the image.

It was still looking too flat, and I didn't want to add anymore words. I remembered seeing a fabulous ribbon treatment on one of Leigh 0'Brien's cards for The Cats Pajamas, and although mine isn't quite as cool, I think it adds just enough interest and color. I just used my Exacto knife to cut a rectangular slit in the main image panel after I had glued it to a black panel.

I used foam tape to mount the image panel to the background, and then mounted that to a greenish brown cardfront.

Thanks for looking!

Thanksgiving Cornucopia

Thanksgiving isn't too far away, so here's a card in a style that would be nice to send to someone you can't be with to let them know you think of them. Sorry I can't include this one in the weekly drawing as I designed it for Wood-n-Paper, Ink and it will be going there shortly. Just couldn't resist sharing it :o)

Card measures 4 1/2" x 5 3/4"

I started with a cornucopia stamp (Wood-n-Paper Ink), stamping it in Palette Burnt Umber on a cream cs piece. I colored it in with colored pencils, and stenciled the same ink around the edges.

I used a torn post-it to cover the main image, and then dipped an old wet toothbrush into a black pan watercolor and flicked it over the panel. It lacked a little definition so I just ran the Burnt Umber pad around the edge to darken it up.

To make the background panel, I used the TechniqueJunkies Milkpaint technique. This is a free sample technique with a link on the main page (see link on sidebar) and looks exactly like the online tutorials you will have access to every day of the year with a really reasonably priced subscription - less then a magazine subscription price and SO much more worthwhile! PLUS, you can belong to the online email group and get the most amazing artwork in your inbox every day to inspire you, and share your's with others who appreciate it.

Okay, so this technique is SO quick and easy but gives a definite feel to the card. It calls for white ink, but I wanted to stick with my color palette, so I used Fresco Medici Marble instead, and then a dark brown marker instead of black.

*tip*

Don't worry too much about the plank ends with nails yet - I had to place more on the card once I had the other elements glued down for balance.

On top of this background I layered an orange scrap I had run the Burnt Umber pad over lightly, and on the brown piece I used the Tim Holtz distressing tool to rough up the edges. I put antique copper brads in the corners of the main image panel, and then pop-dotted it over the colored layers.

*tip*

When you need to pop-dot a large panel, consider using the foam tape that comes on a roll, usually 3M, I got mine at an Office Max. If you use the dots and don't get enough on in the right places, your panel can eventually 'sink' in these spots and look uneven.

For the phrase (Wood-n-Paper, Ink) panel, I stamped it on cream cs in Burnt Umber and then stenciled the edges with the same ink. (This stamp is so cool - if you click on the picture to look at a close-up you'll notice that the letters are made up of wheat!) I pop-dotted this and tucked some of my bargain leaf embellishments around LOL from my Joann's pile a week ago, using Glue-Dots.

Thanks for looking!

French Couple Slider

This style card was a little time consuming to develop, but I found it very rewarding when I got done - very fun to play with mechanical cards! The couple is pop-dotted onto a tab underneath that slides when you pull the ribbon from left to right ( and vice versa).

(click on photo for detailed view)

Card measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4

*tip*

Gather the stamps you want to use as described below, and grab a sheet of white copy paper. Draw a rectangle the size of your card and stamp all the images within that to see about placement before you work on your actual cs.

The first step is to find a focal point for the card. I stamped this couple (Inkadinkado) in black ink, colored in with pencils, and then trimmed closely.

Next you want to find some scenery type item that would be normally be in the background. I wanted the couple to remain the focus, so I stamped the Eiffel Tower (Inkadinkado) and moon with clouds and extra clouds (Stampscapes) in Stampin' Up!'s Going Grey ink, then colored the moon in with white colored pencil.

I like something to be revealed behind the main image so the next thing you need to do is find that, and also some scenery to ground your main image, so that it's not left floating (unless you're doing a plane in the sky LOL). The dog (100 Proof Press) was stamped in black ink, colored in with pencils and cut out. The stepping stones (My Sentiments Exactly) were stamped in grey ink on the background piece and colored with pencils.

Now, this is the trickiest part: you need to lay out the elements on the scenery and manually move them so that it all works together and you find out where you want the two parallel cuts and slider to be located. (See a view of this on the other card format scrap below.) Also, pay attention to where the cut lines in your base cs need to end on either side, because the sliding tab will be placed in the center of your sliding image (on the reverse of it) and you don't want your element going over the edges of your cardfront. What I'm trying to say is, stop your line at least half the width of your focal element from the edge.

SO, using a pencil, mark a dot on either side of the scene where you want your main image to come to a stop (this dot should mark the center of your sliding image, as this will be resting on the tab seen above.) Next, using a glass mat, Exacto knife and metal ruler, cut two parallel lines up to the dots on either side. This line can be any size you'd like; you don't want it to stand out, but it has to be wide enough that it's sturdy. Mine are generally 1/4" - 1/3".

Now cut a scrap of cs that you can wrap around this bar you've created in the bkgd piece, and glue it to itself as shown above, so that the little piece slides on the bar. Now use a pop-dot to tack your image to the the sliding tab, centering it top to bottom, and left to right. Then flip the panel over and center the tab. Attach a long length of ribbon to the back of the tab, so that there is extra hanging out over each end of the background piece.

The last step is to attach this large panel of cs to your card front, by adhering all edges except where the ribbon runs thru. I run a piece of double-stick tape along each side of the cut bar, although not too close, to keep the ribbon from wandering on the inside.

If you've done everything right, the ribbon should pull smoothly from side to side, moving your focal point easily.

The card below was made last year and sent out (so it's not eligible for the drawing), but I wanted you to see that you can use any stamps, and do any layout, and you don't necessarily have to do a lot of trimming, or precise stamping.

Card measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

Thanks for looking!

Snow After All

Well isn't the joke just on me - Went out to run errands this afternoon and the wind was ripping and hmmm...what are those tiny white things flying around?! Barely enough to notice, but it was definitely snow. Not exactly the beautiful large fluffy flakes and mild weather I was picturing for the ideal first snow of the year. LOL But on the bright side, there's no need to shovel :o)

1st Snow Family

Just got home not too long ago from my monthly card club. There are five of us that get together, visit and make cards. Each person brings their sample card and enough supplies for everyone to make the card, and we do a merry-go-round with the chairs, each card and supplies set up at a "station", plus one additional project, usually 3D. Lots of good visiting, although I have a painfully hard time talking and stamping at the same time ( or walking and chewing gum, etc.!) LOL

Card measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

This card is quick and easy to put together, and you can use the same format for any season or holiday by simply changing colors and main image.

First I stamped the snow family (PSX) on white cs using black Staz-On ink, and drew a line under them with a Micron finepoint pen. I colored the scene in with colored pencils, and used Brilliance Mediterranean Blue to stamp the snowflake cluster (Stampin' Up!) (I was going to have a blue cardfront initially LOL). Over this I stamped the phrase in black ink.

*tip*

Give your white snowmen a little dimension by shading one side top to bottom with a gray or blue pencil, starting dark and blending lighter towards the middle area.

I punched a large oval (Emagination Crafts Inc.) in a piece of red cs, then edged the opening and edges with black ink and a sponge. I stamped the snowflake cluster repeatedly with Brilliance Platinum Planet. I adhered the white scenic panel to the back of the red panel, then wrapped a ribbon around it and tied as shown, and then applied a silver snowflake brad nearby. This was adhered to a beautiful shimmery silver cardfront.

And now we just need some snow (ha HA - no thank you! I don't ski so I have no use for it LOL although the first snowfall is too beautiful to miss.)

Thanks for looking!

2 Swirly Butterflies

I wanted to share these cards that I created for ISC - Innovative Stamp Creations (see sidebar for link) - because they are some of my favorites. They were both created from stamps on the Rustic Artsy Swirls sheet. (The actual cards have already been sent to the company so these two aren't a part of this week's drawing for choice of a card.)

Both cards feature as the main panel a stamp that is one solid piece of rubber with the swirly lines cut deeply into it, so when you are inking the stamp the lines don't get any and the color of your background cs shows where the swirl lines are. The swirls on the borders (in brown) are different stamps, all in the same set.

Card measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/2"

On this card I used a set of Versa-Magic DewDrop cat-eye chalk pads (they are pretty juicy inks.) I also used Staz-On Timber Brown for the dark brown areas.I stamped the butterfly in Timber Brown on a piece of white scrap cs. I trimmed the edges and used the chalks to color it in, applying them with Mini-Tip Applicators by Gary M. Burlin & Co. Then I stamped the You're and Special on some scraps of the cardfront cs color, using Timber Brown for the lettering and also to sponge the edges.

*tip*
If you apply a tag, label, etc. to a card and it looks too blah, consider edging it with a sponge and corresponding inks. It creates a visual frame and helps the eye "place" items on a busy background.

To get the main panel effect, I started with the lightest color in the set and randomly inked the stamp directly from the pad, leaving many bare spots. I stamped this on my cs firmly to transfer as much ink as possible as the colors are soft, and without cleaning, did the same with the other three, inking up different parts of the stamp. I used a stamp positioner to line it up exactly the same over the preceding image every time. On the fourth and darkest color I also edged the stamp to give it a more pronounced border.

Next I trimmed this panel, layered it on dark brown, then lighter greenish-brown, then the cardfront which is pinkish beige. I stamped the butterfly on the background so when I placed the colored trimmed one over, you'd see the antennae. I tacked down the word tags and cut-out butterfly (with a piece of red line tape along the body section only so the wings can be bent upwards for a 3D effect).

Then I stamped the swirls on a stamp postioner and placed the image over my card, to see where dark swirls would complement the existing design (if you don't have a stamp positioner, just stamp the swirls, etc. on a piece acetate and move this around your design to figure out where you want the next element to be stamped).

*tip*
When stamping over multiple layers of cs, you will end up with little gaps where the rubber can't reach. I repair these 'holidays' with a tool called Colour Shaper #2 Angle Chisel Firm, by Royal Sovereign Ltd UK. The tip looks like an angled skinny triangle made of flexible rubber. I use this to pick up ink from the pad and fill in holidays. It works because the rubber doesn't absorb any of the ink so it all gets transfered full strength wherever you apply it.

The second card was made basically the same way, except that I stamped on newsprint (which probably won't hold up long-term color-wise). I just used two different chalk inks on the background (from the Versa Magic set Harvest), and then cut it into panels.

I thought the word label needed a bit of background so I stamped the swirl once on scrap paper and then stamped the label, then the word over it in full strength ink.
The butterfly was stamped with one color and then pop-dotted, and the cardfront got some sponging around the edges with matching ink. And that's it!

Card measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

Thanks for looking!

Foiled Acetate Noel

It's a new week of cardmaking - so let's jump right in!

The non-traditional colors in this card are due mainly to the coloring of the foils used. All images are by I Brake For Stamps (see sidebar for link).

Card measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"

This is a pretty straightforward technique, but it's a little putzy with drying time, etc. Here's how I put it together:

I started with a piece of acetate, and stamped the Noel block on it using black Staz-On ink. It needs to dry thouroughly because you have to flip it over and do the foil work on the reverse.

I'm no expert at foiling, just happened to have a tub of it hanging around from who knows how long ago! The foil is saran wrap thin and is loose pieces, some very large, some just flecks. Keep all the scraps - they work equally well.

*tip*

This foil gets very static-y and is best kept in cardboard, like a cigar box, rather than metal or plastic.

I applied Diamond Glaze glue to the open area of the lettering (on the reverse) in a thin even layer. It's best to work as quickly as possible, or work in stages. You want to be able to apply the foil when the glue is totally wet. I dropped the foil over the glued areas, and then put a piece of acetate over the foil before pressing down slightly. It would have been a lot easier to just foil the whole panel but I had a vision LOL

*tip*

If you have a Rockler's or other woodworking store nearby, check to see if they have a little Needle Point glue applicating bottle. It will have a little red rubber stopper on one end and a point about an inch and a half long, and a refillable soft plastic bottle with a silvertone screw-off collar. My Nephew pointed it out to me and it is the perfect applicator for Diamond Glaze - it hasn't even clogged yet! Oh, and they're not expensive LOL

When the glue had totally dried, I used one of those soft half circle wood handled sponges to rub away any foil not glued down. I ended up having to use a toothpick to clean up the border lines by scraping gently. This could maybe also be avoided by using whatever one is technically supposed to use to glue loose foil down! ;o)

After I had cleaned up the lines and touched up any bare spots with the same technique (and I'm using that term loosely!), I spread a thin layer of glue over the back of the foil to make sure none would flake off with handling.

I trimmed the panel to the edges and glued it to a black-speckled pale green panel that I had edged in gold. (If you've had trouble with certain expensive gold pens clogging up, consider buying a Prismacolor Broad Point Metallic Gold marker, item PM-119 by Sanford. Not quite as shiny, but works well every time.) I glued the clear panel down by running yet another layer of Diamond Glaze around the back side of the lettering.

The orangish panel is embossed in gold using the Poinsetta stamp. This is wrapped with a black satin ribbon and an antique goldtone metal buckle, and then layered on black cs, and then a dark green cs.

*tip*

If you need a buckle but don't have the right size just cut one from shrink plastic, color and shrink with your heat gun. If you throw some embossing powder on it, heat it, and stamp in it while it's hot you'll get nice texture.

Thanks for looking!

We have a winner (okay, two!!)

Congratulations Leenda/Linda! The first name drawn via the random selector was my Dad, who left me a great comment on my leaf card, which I'll be sending out to him on Tuesday (no mail going out Monday...) but I drew another name so no one would accuse me of playing favorites ;o) and your name was picked! I think I know which one is your favorite, but email me, just in case you've changed your mind LOL and thanks for all the really nice comments!

Happy Sunday

Hope you're all having a good weekend. The weather here is beautiful for this time of year - sunny and calm - so as soon as I'm done typing it's out the door to get some fresh fall air! :o)

This is a beautiful card I received last week from Trudy, a friend on StampersCorner. The background is textured cs, the embellishment is 3D with a patterned fabric center, and the colored ink on the stamped flower is subtle metallic. The ribbon and border are actually dark brown, not black like it scanned - so beautiful! Sorry guys - this one is not included in the weekly card drawing LOL And speaking of drawings, I'll post a name around dinnertime, so feel free to leave a comment before then if you'd like to play :O)

Watercolor Tag

Happy Saturday :o) Thanks to all for the wonderful comments. Just one more day till I draw a name from the comments left this week to see who gets their choice of the cards posted thru-out the past week (see sidebar)!

Card measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/2"

For this card I started with a plain white tag as shown.

*tip*

If you need tags but don't have any, just cut a rectangle of cs, trim one corner however you'd like, then take that scrap and use it to draw a line on the other corner so you'll know exactly where to cut to get them both the same. Then using a circle punch, punch any color scrap, glue this down top and center, and then use a smaller punch to punch thru the circle scrap and tag to get the reinforced hole appearance.

To get the floral image I used a Stampin' Up! stamp from the Happy Harmony set. I grabbed a set of opaque cake watercolor paints and a wet paintbrush and painted directly on the stamp with the watercolors. Make sure there's enough water to keep the stamp wet till you stamp, or mist the watercolored stamp lightly with water if it gets too dry.

*tip*

Start with the lighter color first, and stamp on the same type of paper once to make sure the colors work together. The colors will look a bit different when dry.

When the image on the tag has dried, ink up the quote stamp from the same set with black ink (I like the deep saturation of the Versafine ink these days). Edge the tag with a pink chalk inkpad in a corresponding shade directly from the pad. Tie a ribbon thru the tag hole, and set aside.

Cut a strip of green cs to match the stems and use black ink to stamp the harlequin bkgd (Stampin' Up!)

*tip*

When I'm using a portion of a large stamp I like to stamp on a bigger piece of cs than I need and then trim it down, rather than trying to line something up perfectly with the edges.

The last step is to use the same method described in yesterday's post to make a watercolor distress background in Distress Olive Green. Tear the edges, tack down on black cs and layer as shown.

Thanks for looking!

New Blog Features!

I've added a playlist to the bottom of the screen so you can listen to some of my favorite music while you browse. Just click on a line for that song. I'll add more as time permits.

Also new is a slideshow which I will try to add to each week as I make more cards. You can pause a photo using the tabs in the bottom left corner.

Enjoy! :o)

CD Case Shadow Box Flirt

I know it's hard to believe that this museum-quality artwork started out as a humble little cd case, but it's true!!! LOL Okay, but it is a fun project. :o)

I started with a plastic cd case that measures 5 5/8" x 4 7/8" x 3/8". I looked for a main image that would fill up a good portion of the center, which after the frame is on measures 3 3/8" x 4 1/8".

I opened up the cd case and measured the inside where the background paper gets tacked down. I used a background technique called Watercolor Distress from the TechniqueJunkie Feb 07 newsletter for my background to simulate the shore. The main idea is to use Distress ink, rub pad on a flat surface and spritz with water. Then just lay the neutral cs down on this, press down, lift and dry. I stamped a sandy shore line (Theresa Allen) using Stampin' Up! Creamy Caramel.

I stamped the bathing beauty with parasol (Tin Can Mail by Inkadinkado) on cream cs using Staz-On Stone Grey ink (because it's waterproof), colored in with a blender pen and Distress inks.

*tip*
With ink pad case closed, press down so pad meets inside cover, open and use the pooled ink in the lid to color with, using a blender pen or slightly wet paintbrush.

I cut out the image closely and set it aside.

Next I took the cd case, laid it down on cs, and used a stylus to press down closely around the edges, scoring the cs (lines a). Then since my cd case is 3/8" deep, I used a ruler to draw a line that far from the first line on each side, then lined up my ruler and scored this too (lines b).

Then I cut a window out of the center of this piece, by marking a line 3/4" in from the first line (lines c).

*tip*
I like to use a cushioned grip Exacto knife on a glass mat to cut frames like this and a Fiskars Softouch 6" scissors to cut closely like to trim the figure out.

I used a pencil to extend the lines (a) to the edges of the sheet of cs and used a scissor to cut the line up to the corners. Then I used the same Watercolor Distress bkgd technique on the frame using Aged Mahogany. After it dryed, I stamped it with swirls for the Autumn Leaves Rhonna Farrer Flourishes V:I set, using the Stone Grey ink.

Next I bent the scored lines, laid it over the cd and eyeballed where the main image should go. I used 3D foam pop-dots to apply it, used a stamp positioner to stamp the phrase (See-D's Pick of the Crop Collection #50528 All My Heart) in Stone Grey. I added some microbeads at this point.

I turned the frame over and used double-stick tape (I used the Scotch ATG 700 dispenser by 3M in the 3/4" size) to cover the area under the frame and where the sides fold over the edges. Now, brace yourself, this is the trickiest part - you only get one chance to stick the frame down straight using this method! But it's much easier having already scored it. And it's done!

Thanks for looking!

Acetate & Tissue World Map

Here's another Acetate and Tissue card.

Finished card measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

You can see how by changing the colors a bit you can get a whole different feel. For directions on this technique check week one's post. I left the glitter step off for a more antique-y feel.

The layout is very simple. The cardfront is black, then a layer of antique gold shimmer cs, then textured green with black ink sponged on the edges. I wrapped some black Magic Mesh around both corners - MM is self adhesive but not so sticky that you can't move it around. Over this is a black cs layer, then the acetate panel which I backed with white because it was too muddy otherwise. The image is by Inkadinkado.

IRL the blue in the ribbon matches the main image panel colors fine, but not so much in the scan. I'm not sure where I got the ship charm, but it was silvertone so I rubbed some gold metallic Rub-Ons onto it so it blended better. Under the ship is just a scrap of the same green cs as the layer, cut into tag shape, and edged with Brilliance Galaxy Gold. The word is from a travel quote by PSX.

Thanks for looking!

Home for Christmas

Okay - back to Christmas cards! LOL This card is simple yet elegant. I definitely like it better in person colorwise, but you get the idea.

Finished card measures 5 3/4" x 4 3/4"

I started with cream cs and stamped the house (Anna Griffin for All Night Media) in the center with Distress Frayed Burlap ink. Then I used a stamp positioner to place the frame (also AG for ANM) evenly around it.

Using the large Dreamweaver stencil brush pictured in Monday's post, I pounced Frayed Burlap over the openwork frame and towards the center, lightening as I got to the house.

Then I used the stamp positioner to stamp the phrase (Northwoods Rubber Stamps) over the house in Adirondack Raisin.

To get the varied colors on the background piece, I inked the Stampin' Up! background stamp by applying the Frayed Burlap, Raisin, and Adirondack Pesto inks to the rubber directly from the pads. I edged this panel lightly with Frayed Burlap using a sponge.

And that's it! Layer the pieces and add the antiqued copper brads!

*tip*
Even if you KNOW you can get the brads lined up straight, take an extra minute and use a C-thru ruler to measure equal borders on each side, making a little + where the lines meet at the corners, then punch where the lines intersect

Thanks for looking!