Blue Birthday Card

I recently purchased some watercolor pencils and began using them to color in my stamped images. The image was stamped in black and I used Light and Dark Blue pencils to color it in. The border was created with a Corner/Border Punch combo. The textured background was created with a Cuttlebug embossing machine/folder. I miss my cardmaking! I can't wait to get back to doing this more frequently!

Starburst Technique

I learned this from Cardmaker Magazine. Place a sticky-note in the center of a white piece of cardstock. Dab a cotton ball into an ink pad. Place the cotton ball in the center of the sticky-note and pull away from the center over the card stock. Repeat in another color, then remove the sticky-note. Add embellishments or a stamped image as I did on this card. The butterfly is stamped on white card stock, then layered with a dark purple paper. The white area around the purple is the white space where the stick-note used to be.

Hand-painted background and a simple card

I hand-painted the background using acrylic paints on white card stock. Just dip a foam brush in the paint and lightly draw it across the card stock alternating colors. The flowers are stamped with versamark ink, then embossed with fine white embossing powder. The center is made from two circles. I sliced the edges off to create the straight edges.

A great way to use up scraps.

More Cuttlebug Creations

I used the Cuttlebug to create the floral background and to die-cut the larger of the two flowers on all three cards.

Love the Cuttlebug!

A couple of weeks ago my husband convinced me to buy a "Cuttlebug" embossing/die-cutting maching. It's amazing. I made this card using one of the embossing folders. I took a simple blue ink pad (dye ink) and gently swiped it across the raised pattern. I then used a second (purple) ink pad - this one had a foam base -and swiped it across the raised pattern directly over the blue ink. Because of the soft foam base of this ink pad it sank into the non-embossed areas. I distressed the edges of the white card stock for a more tattered look. Amazing tool!

Quick 'n Easy Easter Cards

I downloaded the free Victorian Easter images, printed them on card stock, added a little bling and/or ribbon and there you have it - instant cards!

So-called "Hello Kitty" Card

My hubby deemed this my "Hello Kitty" card. LOL!

I used cotton balls and ink pads to create the multi-colored background, then spritzed it with water and set it with a heat gun. I then added another layer of the same formula behind the black frame.

I'm always amazed by embossing powder...

I created the flourish background with a repeated stamped image using versamark ink on cream card stock. I used white embossing powder over the versamark, heated it to emboss, then rubbed a cotton ball dabbed in blue ink over the embossed images to create the greenish colored background. (Use an old towel or a paper towel to rub the ink off the embossed flourishes to remove excess ink.) I added the flowers, ribbon and a gem to complete the card.

New Supplies

 Used a new sponge applicator to apply the two colors on and around the kitten. To me it looks

like we're peering back at her through our own oval window.

 Use my new Tim Holtz Mask to mask off the printed paper, then applied the black ink with the sponge applicator leaving a little room for a message at the top right of the card. I used Glossy Accents to make the little "pearls", let them dry and then went over them with markers to add color.

Same square sponge applicator applied without swirling the sponge to soften the edges.

Just ink it and press down. The sponges are, obviously, rectangular!

This was a VERY quick Saturday morning "I have and idea in my head and I have to get it out" card.

It didn't turn out as well as I hoped, but now I can improve on it.

I love the new color box inks and the Tim Holtz mask.

More Mother's Day