Double-Shaker Happy Birthday!

Congratulations to this week's Featured Stamper, Amy (askloebien).

I chose this card as my inspiration.

LIST: Colours (brown, pink purple, green, white), Technique (die cutting), Elements (butterflies, scalloped circles, ribbon, flowers, birthday theme, bronze pearls, stitching)

INCLUDE: gold, brown, pink, white, birthday, circle element, butterflies, 

MODIFY: changed green to aqua, layout, bronze pearls to gold/blue stars, stamped sentiment to die cut

EXCLUDE: ribbon, flowers, stitching

SPIN: Added shaker element,

If you look closely at my shaker, you can see that there are really two shaker areas. An inner circle and outer ring. I used the new WaffleFlower Slim Circle Shaker Covers, which come with 3 sizes in them. I laid the smallest one inside the largest one, and filled it with blue glitter stars. Then I added gold glitter stars to the outside ring. I put liquid glue on the rims of both shakers and covered them with a piece of white cardstock.

If you look very closely, when everything is 'settled', you can definitely see that outer rim of the inner shaker pouch, but once everything's shaken up and layered on, all they see is two different shaker areas!

To finish the card I added the Butterfly circle frame cut from gold, and inlaid with pink and blue butterflies. I added the extra gold butterflies to the front of the card.

My sentiment is from the new Oversized Happy set - I die cut the letters (it also comes with a shadow) and a smaller birthday word.

No-fail Alcohol Ink Technique

 

When you're making cards in a hurry, and using supplies like alcohol inks and (not cheap!) Yupo paper, you really want beautiful results every single time. This technique is so easy and always looks fabulous!

Here's my video showing how:

Holly Joy

 

Congratulations to this week's Featured Stamper Sue (StampinForMySanity). 

I chose this card as my inspiration:

LIST: Colours (Red, Green, White, Kraft), Techniques (stamping/watercolouring, die cuts), Elements (holy/winter foliage, JOY sentiment birds, gold twine, bow)

INCLUDE: Red, green, white, holly, JOY, 

MODIFY: Add aqua, technique to inlaid die cuts, clear embellishments instead of red

EXCLUDE: birds, twine, bow, kraft

SPIN: stained glass effect.

This is one of the inlaid die-cut cards I taught recently at the Eat, Sleep, Crafty Retreat. I cut the die from both white and chrome cardstock.

I coated a piece of printer paper with adhesive, laid the chrome frame on it and then coloured each of the white pieces (left the 'in between' pieces white), and pieced everything into the frame.

Because the die cut does not have a border, I then used a large rectangle die to cut the inlaid panel, and then from the chrome cardstock to create a rectangular frame.

I also cut the letters from the panel as well as from the chrome cardstock, and inlaid them. 

Easy Fun Folds for Cards

If you're looking for a change from a regular side-fold A2 card, that doesn't need extra time or supplies, I've got 4 easy ideas for you in today's video!

Large Stencil Joy

Congratulations to this week's Featured Stamper, Mary Beth (lutheran). 

I chose this card as my inspiration:

LIST: Colours (orange, brown, yellow, white), Technique (stamping, die cutting) Elements (circular flower, sun rays, big brads)

INCLUDE: Colours (brown, orange, yellow), Elements (floral pattern, vertical panel layout)

MODIFY: add blue, red and gold to colours. Add dry embossing to gold mat, die cut sentiment instead of stamped, alcohol ink techniques

EXCLUDE: Sun rays, brads

SPIN:

I created my 'patterned paper' with a large 9x12 stencil and alcohol ink (this is actually the second-generation print after my original). These are cozy, rustic colours for a Christmas card and the technique was a lot of fun (although quite messy!)

Mutliples in Minutes

With long holiday card mailing lists, making multiples quickly is a very handy skill to have!

Today, I'm sharing loads of tips for making multiples in minutes, just in time for holiday card-making season!

Here's a link to my video:

And as my early Christmas gift to you, here's a link to a FREE checklist with even more tips for planning and making multiples in minutes, so you can make multiples in minutes, too!

*this video is a summary of my Card Maker Success Summit video from last July. To get on the waitlist for information about the next Summit in February, click HERE. 

'Tis the Season

Congratulations to this week's Featured Stamper, Betty (kittystamps).

I chose this card as my inspiration:

LIST: Colours (white (LOTS of it!), red, aqua, yellow Techniques (solid stamping, die cutting), Elements (3 popped up circles, solid images, swirly sentiment, star, snowflake, hat

INCLUDE: colours, popped up circle, swirly sentiment, yellow star, red hat

MODIFY: changed 3 white circles into a snowman, coloured an outline image, 

EXCLUDE: solid images, snowflake (although he is made of snow.... lol!)

SPIN: square card, snowman, lots of sparkle!

This card takes me right back to my clean-and-simple-loving roots. Back in the day, many of my cards looked something like this. There's texture, colour and interest, but so much wonderful white space!

I figured 3 white circles make a snowman, so I went with that, gave him a red hat and some yellow stars, popped him up on the right side of the card on a circle that was edged with aqua.