Steampunk type masculine cards.

These three cards use steampunk jewelry ... nothing new for me, I did feminine cards a few years ago using jewelry.

The first card can be used for any "love" related occasions because it holds the key to one's heart. I started with a simple size A2 card and then ran some wood patterned tape edged with copper tape. The image was stamped in sepia ink and then colored with  metallic water color. The key was silver and I colored it with permanent dark brown ink and it was surrounded by gold color rhinestones.

The second card started with an embossed clock pattern on silver paper with a stamped clock panel added at the bottom. At the top I added a sticker tag with a sticker text. The watches are again from the steampunk jewelry counter ... I added a silver chain sticker to each and the some black rhinestones.

The third card is just a fun nautical themed car starting with a white A2 card covered with a wood patterned paper. Next I create a "pirates" map by stamping a nautical image of a ship and compass; which I over stamped with a distress pattern before I embossed it with a world map image. To finish my pirate map I die cut the stamped panel with a parchment die, edged the entire panel with black ink. To finish the card I added a anchor with chain also from the steampunk jewelry aisle- note that the chain is only fastened at either end to allow some movement. Finally I added half pearl rhinestones to simulate bubbles. 

There you have my version of "steampunk" masculine cards.

Father's Day

With Father's Day rapidly approaching masculine cards are always in demand, especially ones that show a father's relationship to his family/children. This year I decided to stick to a favorite subject of mine: scenery cards.

The first card is a landscape with deer made with nothing but die cut images: from the backgrounds trees, to the rolling hills, to the birch trees and even the deer family.

The second card is a landscape with a colorful pheasant taking flight made with nothing but stickers. The twist is that the scenery is seen through an opening in an embossed tree design with the pheasant overlapping the connection.

As always, these are simple easy cards to make because you don't want to be making cards when you can be spending time with dad!

Easter 2016

I wanted to make a really special card for some one very special - hope it worked!

I started be making a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" white card for the background. I then cut a piece of 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" piece of white paper; which I mounted on a piece of mirrored gold paper and trimmed. I added a piece of patterned paper to the center of the card. Before I attached the panel to the card I cut a 4" circle using a Spellbinder die. Next I cut a ring from  more mirrored paper (again using Spellbinder dies) and attached to the front of the panel. The card front is raised from the background to allow the 3D flowered rabbit and egg to be flush with the card front. Next I added the 3D lilac branches overlapping the one edge of the opening. Finally I added a gold text to the background. 

Happy Easter to every one!

Old and New flowered card!

Over the years I've collected a lot of products, especially since when I like something I tend to buy extra for the future knowing that most companies quickly discontinue or retire lines. What is really nice is when old products can be matched to new products. I recently found some great 3D glittered flower stickers that reminded me of an old line of papers and coordinating stickers from around 10 years ago. Since I had the old, I had to buy the new and here's what I came up with.

The background paper is a wonderful old embossed paper in pastel colors from K&Company (I believe it dates from before K&Company merged with E.K Success. The 12" x 12" paper actually highlighted various different spring flowers with some geometric patterns intertwined and luckily I had saved the portion with the daffodils. The 3D stickers are from a new collection from Michael's Recollections. To combine the two, I started with a size A2 white card to which I added a piece of orange paper and then a piece of the embossed daffodil paper. To this I added the 3D glittered daffodil sticker. As always I cut apart the larger sticker and re-assembled it better fit the card and the background. Before doing the final adhering, I placed a gold edged sticker tag from Martha Stewart to hold text (which will be selected and added in the future). 

Something different for Easter

I had gotten a die for birch tree before Christmas having some great ideas for Christmas cards and then ended up not using it. Instead I decided to use it to create a background for a couple of Easter cards.

For the first card I used a Basic Grey patterned paper for the birch trees which I mounted on a simple blue background. I colored in some of the details on the trees with a brown pencil to add depth. I added a K&Company dove sticker to which I added a small branch. Perfect representation of Easter. 

For the second card I used a different patterned paper and again colored in some of the details but this time using a grey pencil. For the background I used a beautiful sky design from Cosmo Cricket called Chicken Little. The look was very spiritual, so I added a glittered Peace sticker text from K&Company.

I will be using this die again ... but I'm thinking that can make it more adaptable by cutting out some of the center trees next time I do.