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Just a quick note to let you know Krista at Wood-n-Paper, Ink is offering 20% off her stamps RIGHT NOW! Just enter code IR20 at time of check out to recieve the discount.

This giraffe on the card below is one of her fabulous images. Isn't he handsome?!

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!

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!

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!