August 2020 – Inky & Stampy

Posted on August 22, 2020October 18, 2020 by Chick — 2 Comments

See Through Card Class

I finally got back into the class/studio this month – this class has been delayed since April!

This technique class was all about creating see through cards, and different ways to achieve a stunning look with a Tonic Budding Vines background die. Also, the cards created covered quite different occasions – sympathy, thank you and a wedding card, although they could easily be made into birthday or friendship/encouragement cards if preferred.

Creating see through ‘windows’ on cards provides a fun focal point, and today we worked on four different ways to achieve a see through look.

Each class participant was given a kit of cardstock, some pre-cut. And the all important Whittaker’s chocolate!

The dies we used in class today were:

We also used Bazzill cardstock in Marshmallow which is a soft white, Easter Green and Kiwi Crush – both beautiful rich colours of green.

Dies and cardstock are available to purchase/order online at Scrapbook Central.

Thanks Tri-fold Card

Made with two hues of green, we made this card into a tri-fold card. The Tonic Vine die was cut on the front of the light green cardstock. The backs of both green cards were trimmed to meet in the middle to create two closing flaps. White cardstock was adhered inside and on the back to cover the joint in the middle.

The band on the front was created with gold and dark green cardstock, plus everyone coloured and put together the daisy element.

We used Copics to colour one of the daisy die cuts and stacked them up with the inner petals inlaid.

A continuation of the Thanks sentiment is heat embossed on the inner dark green flap, then there’s plenty of room to write a message to the recipient on the inside.

Sending You Strength – Sympathy/Encouragement Card

Using the Tonic die, we turned it sideways to cut directly into the card base – creating a see through effect again.

To make the focal point, we added a white die cut – made using both the dies in the set taped together which includes the nice scalloped finishing edge. A layer of acetate in between gives this card complete stability on the front and edges.

Again, the floral element in the middle was stacked, coloured with Copics.

A sentiment strip is gold heat embossed, and matching square and strip are placed on the inside to hide unsightly glue marks.

Celebrate – Wedding Card

For this pretty wedding card, we created a heart shaped window in the top centre of the card base and the Tonic specialty paper – cutting the two pieces together so the window matches perfectly.

We cut a heart from a scrap vine die cut to glue between the two layers, then a heart frame glued on top for a clean and tidy finish. The frame is created by cutting two Hero Arts Infinity Hearts together.

The Celebrate was built onto the platinum vellum shadow, with a white layer and a silver glitter layer on the top. It is then stretched across the heart window.

A silver heat embossed sentiment strip completes the card.

Thanks A Million – Completely See Through Card

This is a showstopper card and really quite a simple one to make.

We cut the Budding Vine die directly into the card base so it matched front and back.

The small heart on the front was inked up, and had Thanks cut from it. We inlaid a gold thanks and embossed the rest of the sentiment on the front below it.

Hearts are glued on the inside and back of the card – this provides both stability and a place for messages to be written.

A tiny red heart was added to the front for a fun embellishment.

Little gems/dots of gold stickles finished off this card.

Plus…

I made a bunch of extra cards using these same dies – you can check them out here.

Thank you for visiting, and an extra special Thank You to my class attendees today! Keep an eye out for my upcoming Gift Tag class in October…..

For more in-depth information about the best value supplies for your craft table, from cardstock to the handiest tools, check out my Best of the Basics series.

I’d appreciate it if you hit Follow below, and/or follow my Facebook page so you’ll be kept up to date with upcoming classes. I regularly share other cards, along with tips, hints and ideas.

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Posted on August 22, 2020 by Chick — 4 Comments

See Through Card Class II

The Tonic Studios Budding Vine die was our featured die in the See Through Card Class – click here to see what we did. However I also managed to create some further cards using the same die, but with different techniques – these are what I will be sharing here. I will also share here a couple of cards using the other two die sets in the range – they are such great value with both the intricate background AND an interesting frame which can be used together, mixed and matched, or as standalone dies.

Extra cards using the same dies used in class, plus showing further die sets available in the range.

These are the three Tonic Studios die sets featured in this post today. Each set has two dies – one being the intricate centre, the other a shaped frame. They can be used together, separately, or mixed and matched.

We also used the Pink Fresh Studio Floral Square Frames die set in class, and I have used this die set again in a couple of examples below.

The sentiment set featured on all the cards is My Favorite Things Essential Sentiments, Such a great set, and it covers a large array of occasions.

All dies and stamps used are available to order/purchase from Scrapbook Central.

All cards today are 5.5″ x 4.25″ apart from the square floral frames which is 4.25″ x 4.25″.

I also use a mixture of Bazzill Marshmallow and Neenah white cardstock – for more information about which cardstocks to use for your projects, you can check out my Best of the Basics Cardstock article.

Shaker Card

I used the Budding Vine die together with a Stitched Rectangle to create a full card sized shaker front. I backed the piece with acetate and added foam tape to all sides, ensuring there were no gaps for sequins or beads to escape. My foam tape was fairly shallow in depth, so I did two layers of it so my shaker elements have plenty of room to move freely. I also used my powder tool to reduce the stickiness on the edges of the foam tape and reduce static cling in general. I chose the sequins and beads to complement the colour of my cardstock and colouring and made a small pile in the centre of my card base. I adhered the foam tape/acetate/die cut card front on top – press down firmly to ensure there are no gaps!

To finish the card, I cut three of the Pink Fresh Studio flower frame Daisy (two in white, one in matching green cardstock) and layered them on top of each other with the green layer on the bottom. I also included the white petals on the bottom layer only, for depth. I coloured the flower centre with YR16, Y17 and Y15 markers, with a final layer of Nuvo crystal glaze. The sentiment is gold heat embossed on the light green cardstock and is from the MFT Essential Sentiments.

Partial Die Cut Card Front Card

This card was really simple to achieve. I had an inky panel in my box of background pieces to be used up (don’t we all have a box of those??). For the front, I placed just the intricate die on an angle towards the top half of the white cardstock. It is not a true partial die cut in terms of technique, but achieves a similar result.

I used a piece of white craft foam on the bottom half, and foam square dimensionals to lift the entire front off the inky panel which is then adhered directly to the card base. This gives the card gentle dimension and interest. A sentiment was gold heat embossed and little gems added to finish off.

Flower Frames Panel Card

I love these little flower frames so much – they make a nice finishing touch to a card on their own, or in this case, become the main feature.

I used different colours of Distress ink to create the bottom of each of the frames. Each of the flower frames were die cut three times – this may sound labour intensive, but it is definitely worth the effort. Stacked die cuts give great dimension and interest to a card, plus a nice finished look. I arranged them into a square format with equal distancing onto a card base, and white heat embossed a sentiment on a brushed gold strip of cardstock. I liberally used Nuvo glimmer gloss pens on the inside of my frames to finish.

With Love Quatrefoil Card

I love the look of quatrefoil, and this die set is no exception. I had a rainbow alcohol inked Yupo panel in my box of panels, and I die cut it with the quatrefoil die. I also cut two panels from white cardstock – one of the frame on its own, and also with the quatrefoil and frame together. I covered the plain panel with double sided adhesive, and glued the intricate panel on top to match – leaving the gaps already sticky with adhesive and no further glue required.

I then inlaid the rainbow pieces into the white frame. Yupo paper can be die cut fairly easily, but the pieces do tend to stay together within the die cut, so it was mostly a case of laying it over the white cardstock and simply poking the pieces out into their respective spots. So it didn’t take as long as you might have imagined!

The frame was attached to a card base, and then the card was finished off with a With Love sentiment from Tonic, and a black heat embossed sentiment strip from the My Favorite Things Essential Sentiments.

Floral Bloom Glazed Card

I have previously shared this card on my social media channels – please click here to visit my earlier blog post to see full details of how this card came together.

If you have any questions regarding the putting together of any of these cards, please feel free to message me – I’m only too happy to help!

For more in-depth information about the best value supplies for your craft table, from cardstock to the handiest tools, check out my Best of the Basics series.

Thank you for reading this far! Also, if you were an attendee of my See Through Card Class, a very special Thank You to you. Also, keep an eye on my main page for my upcoming Gift Tag Class in October……

I’d appreciate it if you hit Follow below, and/or follow my Facebook page so you’ll be kept up to date with upcoming classes. I regularly share other cards, along with tips, hints and ideas.

Follow me on my social media channels:

Posted on August 15, 2020 by Chick — 1 Comment

Confetti Filled Diamonds

Cards that weren’t my original intention, but, in my play session, I ended up with two very different cards using the Pinkfresh Simply Diamonds die and Pop Out Diamonds rubber stamp. It’s a little bit of a journey!

One of my most used items when I use my Misti or Stamp Platforms, is the Scrapbook Adhesive Repostionable Tape Runner – a non-permanent stick, perfect for keeping things in place temporarily. Refills are available too.

I started by stamping the Diamond frame only, and cutting it out. I was impressed at how easy it was to have the heat embossed frame lines cut perfectly centrally with the die. There is a frame on the outside of the stamp itself which is 1/4″ wide all around, also equaling one square in the Misti for ease of lining up.

I was also suddenly taken with the idea of stamping that gold frame on a richer coloured cardstock – Peacock by Lawn Fawn. Delicious!!

Original vague plan now abandoned, I focussed on the Peacock piece. I decided to stack up the diamond pieces remaining from frame cut outs, leaving the gold frame peeping out from between them.

I stamped the flower images using Antique Linen Distress Ink and watercolored them with Ken Oliver Color Bursts (Fuchsia, Yellow, Turquoise and Lime Green). They are such fun to paint – quick and easy to do!

I had a spare Happy Birthday die cut from the Pinkfresh Classic Words set in my box which I placed in the middle. It didn’t stand out very well so I added a second glittery layer. I wish now I had used the ‘Beautiful’ sentiment from the Classic Words set instead, but hey, live and learn.

I added teeny gems in the intersections to finish.

My attention turned back to the original frame – I decided to create a confetti shaker. I stacked the plain frames I had cut, and glued them to a background I had in my stash. This was a watercolour piece of cardstock inked up with Distress Oxides in Blueprint Sketch, Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers.

I chose confetti to match the colour blends.

I used my Marvy Uchida jewel picker to place escapees in their correct places.

I put the blue hexagons in the top row, plus in the top half of the two diamond openings in the second row. I then completed filling the second row with purple butterflies, along with the third row plus the top half of the diamond openings in the fourth row. I filled the remainder of the openings with turquoise stars. The result is a blended effect with the confetti. The heat embossed frame and acetate attached on top to seal them all in.

I was a little generous with my confetti (or short a layer or two of cardstock lol) so the confetti doesn’t shake around too much.

With a bold, glittery card all done, I felt it needed a bold glittery birthday sentiment – learned from previous mistake hahaha.

I chose The Stamp Market’s Happy Birthday from their Time to Celebrate bundle (sadly apparently discontinued, my apologies), cut twice from white cardstock and once from gold glitter, stacked.

I considered gems, but after doing an initial placement, decided against it.

Both card fronts were mounted onto #110 Neenah top folding card bases. There, two cards created with the Pinkfresh Diamonds – such fun!

This completes my pair of cards today. Thank you for stopping by! Below are links to the products I have used – some are affiliate links (not all) which simply means I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you when shopping. Thank you for your support – it means I can keep creating and sharing with you.

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?id=f5e8378456858c916708

For more in-depth information about the best value supplies for your craft table, from cardstock to the handiest tools, check out my Best of the Basics series.

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Posted on August 14, 2020August 24, 2020 by Chick — 2 Comments

Ornate Floral Shaker

It’s a crafty friend’s birthday – Happiest of Birthdays to Julie! She makes amazing cards (check out her Instagram) so I wanted to create a card that was extra special. Also, with all of my best stuff!

I made a pair of cards a few weeks ago with the Pinkfresh Ornate Floral die and wanted to step it up a little this time around.

I cut the Ornate Floral die three times from white, once from Gina K Grass Green and once from gold mirror cardstock.

I glued the dark green frame onto a light green card base – Sprout from the Concord & 9th sample pack of their newly released cardstock. I infilled the leaves with Grass Green and the flowers with white petals.

On my first attempt at this card, I had left the petals white, but the end result was too stark, so this time I coloured the petals with light Copic colours of the intended shaker pieces. You could use any marker or colouring medium here, just as long it has plenty of time to dry. As you can see, I didn’t do anything fancy, no shading.

Copics used: V12, B32, RV02, B00

I stacked the white dies together and glued the stack on top. The gold die cut is glued to the top of the acetate sheet, and kept aside.

Pro Tip for next step – ensure windows and doors are closed, and heat pump isn’t blowing!

I often prefer Confetti over sequins for my cards – I used Candy Pink Hexagons & Hot Pink Stars from the Cross My Heart set. Plus Green Meadow Hexagons, Aqua Flakes and Purple Organza Butterflies from the Peacock Feathers set.

I used Nuvo Confetti for my shaker elements, as I didn’t want my card to be too outrageously thick. To keep the confetti under some control, I covered the card where I didn’t want it to fall (with post-its and the acetate top), and carefully filled the petals and leaves with the appropriate colours. I found the Nuvo spoon great for this, as it has a narrow, funnel type end.

Any escapees were picked up with my jewel picker – surprisingly few escaped, even with my clumsiness!

The acetate window was placed on top, securing all those teeny pieces in their places. Relief!

I made sure all my stacked pieces were well secured, that confetti can slip through the tiniest gaps :/

I have kept the finishing touches super simple, as this card is a bit of a statement all by itself. I used the Pinkfresh Happy Birthday from the Classic Words set, cutting the shadow from platinum vellum and the words from Pitch Black and Grass Green cardstock, stacked a couple of times.

And final touch, glitter drops for the flower centres.

This completes my bright and sparkly card today. Thank you for stopping by! Below are links to the products I have used – some are affiliate links (not all) which simply means I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you when browsing/shopping. Thank you for your support – it means I can keep creating and sharing with you.

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?id=f5e8378456858c916708

If you have any questions regarding the putting together of this card, please feel free to message me – I’m only too happy to help!

For more in-depth information about the best value supplies for your craft table, from cardstock to the handiest tools, check out my Best of the Basics series.

Follow me on my social media channels: