A Clean and Simple Card with Leah

Hello everyone, I have created a fun CAS card for you today using the negative cuts from the card I created last week!

Clean and simple cards can be just as effective as fancy cards, and sometimes the simplicity of them says even more :)  I love the look of CAS cards, but sometimes it's hard to rain myself in!

I created this card using Pretty Petals and Betty's Bloom Sweet Cuts dies and the Framed Handwritten Words stamp set.

You can visit my blog at Ode to Paper to see more details :)

Come back soon to see more beautiful inspiration from our talented design team :)

A watercolor card with Leah :)

I created a fun watercolor card for you today using these products from Sweet Stamps:

Antique Leaf Scroll Border stamp
Three Rose Garland stamp
Framed Handwritten Words stamp
Medieval Metals embossing powder

I enjoy making watercolor cards so much, there's just something about this medium that makes you want to play lol.  And just a word about this embossing powder, it is seriously my go-to metal embossing powder.  It is so gorgeous, and pictures just don't do it justice!  If you would like to see more details about how I created this card, please visit my blog at Ode to Paper.

See you again next Thursday for more inspiration and fun :)

Wild Roses with Leah

I am totally in LOVE with this new stamp set!  It is so gorgeous, and it has so many possibilities!  This is the new "Wild Roses" stamp set, and I have paired it with the "Beautiful Day" stamp, to create this elegant card.

You can find more details about this card on my blog at Ode to Paper.

You can find the linked products in the online store at Sweet Stamps, as well as many other floral stamps and fun crafty stuff.  See you there!

Elegant Entwined Roses with Leah

Hello everyone, I have some elegant roses on a card for you today.  I have used the Entwined Roses and Beautiful Day stamps to create this card, and I kept it fairly simple...I wanted the image to speak for itself!

If you would like to see more details about how I created this card, please visit my blog at Ode to Paper.

You can find the linked products in the Sweet Stamps online shop, hope to see you there soon!

4020 Blossoms with Leah

I have so much fun coloring flower images, and this one did not disappoint.  This is the 4020 Blossoms rubber stamp, and it can be used to create almost any kind of card.  I have created a "Thinking of You" card with it this week for you to see.

If you would like to see my color combinations for this image, please visit my blog at Ode to Paper.

You can find this wonderful image in the Sweet Stamps online store, as well as many other fun floral images.

Check back again tomorrow for more great inspiration from the Design Team!

Scripty Butterflies with Leah

Alas, my reign of watercolor has ended for this month, lol, but that doesn't mean I won't do it again soon muwahahahaha.

For this project, although not watercolor, it is an equally fun technique, that you can find more about on my blog at Ode to Paper.  I used the Flutterby #2 Sweet Cuts die for this technique, as well as the Artsy Fartsy French Script ATC background stamp, Framed Handwritten Words clear stamp set, some Glastique and some Shades Dye Ink in Amaryllis.

There are so many dies, stamps and other fun stuff in the Sweet Stamps online shop, and you create so many different things with them!  The possibilities are endless, and i want to try them all!!!!!

See you next month (lol) for more Sweet Stamps creative fun :)

Watercolor Wild Rose Bunch with Leah

I have one more watercolor card for you today, using the Wild Rose Bunch stamp and the Framed Handwritten Words clear stamp set from Sweet Stamps.

If you would like to see more about how I created this project, please visit my blog at Ode to Paper.

I think this might be my favorite of the watercolor cards I created this month, and you know what they say about practice...lol...well, ok, it's not perfect, but it is definitely an improvement!

You can find these stamps and many more at the Sweet Stamps online store, and keep checking often because there are more new stamps coming soon!  I am so excited :)

See you soon!

Watercolor Butterfly with Leah

For my watercolor fun this week I chose to create with the Flowery Butterfly stamp, and the Framed Handwritten Words stamp set.

Sweet Stamps has so many fun images to create with, and this fun butterfly caught my eye.

If you would like to see more details abut how I made this card, please visit my blog at Ode to Paper.  On my blog you'll find posts from all the watercolor projects this month as well as some lessons learned ;)

I am finding more and more gorgeous images to color and paint over at the Sweet Stamp online shop, and I'll tell you a secret...there's more to come!!!!  And they're coming soon.  Stay tuned!

Wild Rose Pair Watercolor with Leah

Yes, another watercolor card for you this week for Sweet Stamps, and yes, I am having fun with this lol.

For this card I used the Wild Rose Pair stamp and the Framed Handwritten Words clear stamp set to create this sweet card.

If you would like to see more about how I created this card, please visit my blog at Ode to Paper.

Another versatile stamp, these wild roses are gorgeous and so easy to create with.  This stamp can be any kind of card you want, and pairing it with the Framed Handwritten Words sentiment stamp set just makes things that much easier!

I will be back next week with another watercolor card for you, stay tuned!

Watercolored Poppies with Leah

Hello everyone, and welcome to my month of watercolor inspiration for Sweet Stamp!

For this project I decided to make two (almost) identical cards using the Poppies 1007 red rubber stamp and the Beautiful Day stamp and some watercolors to create a classy and simple card.

If you would like to see more details about how I made this card, please visit my blog at Ode to Paper.

This Poppies stamp set is so beautiful, and since poppies come in all kinds of different colors, you can really have fun with it :)

You can make a simple card so elegant with an image like this.  It becomes the focal point of the card so easily, and with so little work involved in the actual card-making process.  When you put  alot of time into the image itself, you don't always want to make a busy card, let the image do the talking!

Come back soon for more beautiful inspiration from the talented design team here at Sweet Stamps, and don't forget to come back and join us for one of two monthly challenges!

A Fiery Happy Birthday with LT

Hello everyone, Leah here with a fiery Happy Birthday card for you ;)  I created this card using some fun Sweet Stamps products and a cool technique which you can read about on my blog here.

To create this card I used the following Sweet Stamps products:

Framed Handwritten Words Stamp set SS406
Abstract 6x6 Stencil AS 66-011
Shades Ink Spots in Dandelion, Rustic and Valentine

And some Memento Tuxedo Black Ink which you can find on the I Heart Paper Art website :)

You will tons of fun stuff to create with on the Sweet Stamps website!  You should definitely go and check that out!

I Love You (Banner Girl)

Good Morning people!

Britt Bass here bringing you a card I made using a sweet little stamp set called Banner Girl & Words!

Can you believe it is time to start making valentines?!  I began my card by stamping the girl from Banner Girl & Words Little Sweetiesstamp set on three different piece of paper - a white cardstock, a floral cardstock and a mint green.  I fussy cut and paper pieced her headband, dress, banner and shoes from the two patterned pieces and used my Spectrum Noir markers to color her hair, skin and socks.  I then set her aside.

I used a frame from the Piccolo Accents set "Small Gears and Accents" and covered it with that light cream- colored woodgrain paper and attached dotted tulle to the hollow in the middle.  I wanted it to look like a little screen door!  I cut a panel of scrapbook paper with a rose design to the size of my A2 card and used a corner chomper to give it a decorative corner.  I used distress ink on the card, frame and some parts of the little girl image and then assembled everything on my card with pop dots.

To finish I added some stickle dots and hearts, a heart outline sticker and two paper flowers from my stash.

Don't forget to visit Sweet Stamps for lots of really adorable new sets for January!

Kitty Sweets Card!

Hello, Britt Bass here to bring you a quick little post about a quick little card I made using Sweet Stamps' Kitty Sweets clear stamp set and Embossing Powder.

First, I stamped my image with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored him with my Spectrum Noir alcohol markers and fussy cut him out.  I wanted him to be wearing a little birthday hat, so I cut a triangle with a slightly rounded bottom out of a piece of patterned paper and outlined it with a black Memento marker to make it looked like it was stamped .  I then colored around the black line with white gel pen - that gave the hat the same little white border as the cat.  I attached the hat to my cat and added a button - cat complete! 

I took a DCWV cardbase and three DCWV papers from the "Dots and Stripes" line and layered strips across the middle of the card, alternating colors within my color scheme. (Tip time! If you run your fingers under the edges of each layer it will give you some nice dimension without using pop dots! Just don't put adhesive all the way to the edges!)

Finally, I attached my cat to the card base and began working on my sentiment.  I stamped the frame and the "Wishes for a great Birthday" sentiment and embossed them using Silver Fine Detail embossing powder and Black Fine Detail embossing powder - respectively.  Once the senimtent was attached - the card was done!

I know that you all enjoyed the sketch I added to one of my posts last month, so I wanted to give you one for this card as well!

Now, don't forget to stop by Sweet Stamps for all your supplies this month!  

Thanks for stopping by!

Today is NOT for the Birds :P

Hello everyone, Leah here with some fun and happy inspirations for you today using the rubber stamp image "For the Birds".  I made a happy card for a great day with some cheery pinks and oranges and yellows.

If you would to see more details about this card, please visit my blog here :)

This image can be used for many great things, and I chose to make this a sort of congratulations card lol.  You can find this rubber stamp image called "For the Birds" in the Sweet Stamps online shop.

Don't forget to come and join in our monthly challenges (there are two!) over on the Sweet Stamps challenge blog.  See you soon!

Have a BEAUTIFUL Day!

Leah here today with more fun inspiration for you, using some Piccolos and a fun technique :)

I used several different Piccolo Accents on this piece, and not only did I add them as embellishments, but I also used them stamp the background!  If you would like know more, please visit my blog here :)

To create this piece, I used the following Piccolo Accents:
A165 Flower Tops
A166 Flower Flourishes
LA123 Pop-Up Flowers

You can find these and many more Piccolo elements over at the Sweet Stamps online shop.  I am really looking forward to designing with some of those chipboard words!

Don't forget to come and join us for the two monthly challenges over on the Sweet Stamps Challenge Blog!  Come and have some fun with us :)

oh deer

It's summertime and a storm took out the WiFi at home, a reason for the late hour of my normal Thursday post. Teresa here and I have a very quick birthday card. After all it is summer and we are all busy busy. 

It is very masculine, but I have several female friends who would be amused by this too.

Easy shopping list

- on the hunt accent kit
- Brownstone Enamel Powder
- Enamel Adhesive 

- a blank card
- decorative paper
- glue stick
- glue

Emboss the Large stag head from the set using the brownstone enamel. I stopped halfway down the deer for this picture so you can see the way the finished powder compares to how it looks straight from the jar. This one becomes much lighter.

After the deer head is embossed, simply glue up your stack of papers and then add the deer. A Happy Birthday sentiment completes this one.

Finished completely in less than five minutes. Now that's an enDEERing quick card.

Life is beautiful.

just a note ....

Good Morning all. Teresa here with a quick and easy card design. 

My friend MaryAnn is so good about written mail --- me --- not so much. But I really appreciate a handwritten note. And I ALWAYS notice the details of the card artwork. 

This is a simple design, and it is very easy to accomplish. 

Lets Shop 

 - Package of Rectangle Bezels (there are four in the pack and my card used three) 

- Cherchio Key Charms 

- Glastique

- Starry Sky Enamel Powder

- Enamel Adhesive 

- Wheat Cream 3D Enamel Gel

Card Blank 

Assorted Papers to fit your theme 

Glue (I used tacky glue) 

Scissors

Emery Board

First - Coat the Cherchio key with the enamel gel and let it dry. I only did one side since I was planning to glue this down. 

While that dries, prep the remainder of the items.

I trimmed the rings off the bezels, leaving me with these great rectangles.

Coat two of the rectangles with Glastique.

NOTE - the glastique does not cause the paper to ripple and distort like some glues can.

Adhere the paper to your rectangle. Wait for that to dry.

For the third rectangle, emboss it with two layers of the STARRY SKY enamel powder. Again - just one side will be fine, since we will glue these down.

Once the papers have dried, trim them closely to the rectangle shape.

Then using the emery board, slightly distress the edges.

Now - decide a pleasing arrangement and glue your rectangles down -- I love the 3d "pop" that slight raised gives -- yet it is still flat enough to fit the envelope and won't add extra postage.

Now add embellishing as desired. I chose some coordinating strips of paper.

Finally - add the key to the embossed rectangle.

Ready to send a quick note to a friend.

Please - come back to see all of the inspiration in the blog. I took time to go back through the archives one evening and discovered that there is a ton of inspiration and advice in them.

Have a great weekend.

Happy Birthday Greetings

 Happy Wednesday everyone! leslierahye  sharing a birthday card with a mixed enamel background. I began with a piece of mixed media paper [it's heavier and works well with building layers of emboss enamel--it does not buckle like lighter card stocks  can do]. I rubbed Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid all over the piece of Mixed Media Paper and sprinkled on a layer of Enamel Powder STARRY SKY. While the Starry Sky was still molten, I add in a pinch or two of Enamel Powder AGED WHITE and a bit of Enamel Powder GIRLS NIGHT OUT. I set this aside to cool.

I moistened my Happy Birthday stamp with the Adhesive Fluid and stamped my Mixed Media Paper by laying the paper on top of the stamp and rubbing gently. I sprinkled the stamped image with Girls Night Out and heat set the powder. Once cool I brushed 3D Enamel Gel SATIN SILVER picking up bits of glitter in the enamel. The gel acts like a glue adhering the loose pieces down--giving it a confetti feel. I like the effect of the black glitter in the open areas of the sentiment. The silver is not too opaque and gives a translucent feel to the sentiment.

The card was finished off by tying some string around the sentiment and layering some silk ribbon below the sentiment. 

Globecraft & Piccolo Products used

Enamel Powder AGED WHITE
Enamel Powder STARRY SKY
Enamel Powder GIRLS NIGHT OUT
3D Enamel Gel SATIN SILVER
Enamel Powder Adhesive Fluid

I hope you enjoyed my project! Thank you for stopping by today!

You're My Favorite

Aimee here with a bright, fun card for you!

 

Yes, my yearning for springtime weather continues on.

I am really loving the new spring Enamel Gel colors and intend to play with them a LOT!

 

 

So.....wanna make a card?

YAY!

 

 

 

 

Supplies:

Folded card base, patterned paper (this is Amy Tan paper), trims, paper flowers, bling, scissors, toothpick, small tag or ticket shape (with a sentiment on it, or stamp one on), pop dots, Enamel Powder Adhesive

Enamel Gels: White, Rose Pearl, Daffodil, Avocado

Enamel Powders: Aged Pink & Shamrock Dreams

Piccolos: Daisy Floral Accents & Flower Curls

 

 

What to do:

1. Cover the front of the card with patterned paper. Choose a second patterned paper to fit into the frame from one of the Piccolo sets that we are using.

 

2. Take the frame and coat it with Enamel Adhesive Fluid. Then coat with the Aged Pink powder and heat it up to melt the powder and activate the adhesive. It is soooo pretty!

 

3. Adhere the patterned paper to the frame back and then adhere to the card.

 

4. Use the E600 and a toothpick to add trims below the frame.

 

5. Add sentiment near top of frame using pop dots.



 

 

 

 

 

5. Choose a few flowers from each of the Piccolo sets and start giving them some color. Use the Shamrock Dreams and Avocado for the stems and the other colors for the flowers. Once they are all dry and set, start layering into the frame.

 



 

6. Adhere some paper flowers in the frame, then add the Piccolo flowers over top of them. Add a couple of flowers to the left edge of the trim, too. Any flower centers that are visible need some BLING in them, too!! :)

 

I Love You Shaker Card ~

 Shaker cards are one of the things that used to amaze me when I first started to rubber stamp.  I thought they looked so amazingly cool and complicated!  I still love them and I enjoy making them.  I knew when I saw that some of Globecraft & Piccolo’s Accent sets included adorable little frames that many a shaker card would be born! And again, I created a card showing my love of using the nontraditional for holiday cards - you could make this for any holiday or just because! 

To make this card I used: 

• 4 ¼ x 5 ½ Matte Gold Cardstock
• Piece of acetate
• I Love You rubber stamp from Great Impressions, #C230
• Ranger Archival ink in Jet Black
• Piece of scrap white cardstock (to stamp sentiment on)
• Frame from Fine Flower Vines Flourish Accents, A105 
• 2 pcs. From Medium Flourishes Accents, A139 
• 2 pcs. From Steampunk Airship Accents, A100 
• Enamel & Embossing Powder Adhesive Fluid 
• Aged White Embossing Enamel 
• Vintage Gold Embossing Enamel 
• E600 Adhesive 
• Crafters Pick The Ultimate Glue 
• Foam Tape
• Filler for shaker, I used gold heart sequins and glitter
• Krylon Leafing Pen in 14k Gold 

 

The frame I used - check out all the others!!

First thing I did was stamp my sentiment on a piece of scrap white cardstock, then I cut it a bit smaller than an ATC – yes, the frames are ATC sized! – and made sure it fit the frame properly.  Set that aside.

Take your frame and cover with Embossing Powder Adhesive Fluid and emboss with Aged White Embossing Enamel, I embossed my frame twice and left it a bit bumpy, covering the frame with the embossing powder adhesive in between layers. If you prefer a smooth finish just keep repeating the embossing steps and heating until it becomes smooth – it shouldn’t take any more than 3 or 4 times to make the finish smooth.  I then edged the frame with my Krylon Leafing Pen in 14k gold, both the inside and the outside of the frame. 

Next, I glued the acetate window into the frame.  For me this is a tricky part because you really don’t want any fingerprints, or glue, to show on the acetate – luckily the piece I used had some tissue paper on one side and it was already cut to fit an ATC so it worked fine.  I used Crafters Pick to attach the acetate to the frame.  Set this aside so it can dry thoroughly, I typically wait until the next day, but that is because I do most of my crafting in the wee hours. 

Once your frame is dry it’s time to build the walls that are going to stop your filler from spilling all over the place.  I have some old foam tape that I use and I always use 2 layers so I can ensure the frame will be deep enough and I can sill in all the spots that may be an opening.  Since my tape is old, I use glue in between my 2 layers just to make sure it sticks to the frame and to each other.  

The start of my "walls"

Once my walls are built I put the frame under something medium weight, a book for example, and leave it there for a few hours to ensure I have a good bond.  Keep in mind how deep (high) your walls are when selecting filler – you can’t loose with sequins or glitter.  Because my color theme is gold and it’s a “love” card I chose some gold heart shaped sequins and some prisma glitter for my filler.  I put them in the center of my scrap where I stamped my sentiment.  This way you can see where you are attaching the frame. A few dabs of glue and attach your back to your frame. 

  

I glued my completed shaker onto my card that I made from the matte gold cardstock.  Then I took the accents I had chosen (both sets of Accents I used have a bunch of cute flourishes to choose from) and embossed those with the Vintage Gold embossing enamel, again embossing both twice.  After I was done, I used E600 glue to attach the Accents to the card because the cardstock was a bit slick.  I finished by edging the card with the Krylon Leafing Pen, again in the 14k gold, and I was done!

   

Another view of the card - it's difficult to photograph shiny things!!

I hope this inspires you to create your own shaker cards – they are so much fun! Enjoy! Christi   

 
PS: Don’t forget to take a look at our sister store, Sweet Stamps, for some breathtaking images!