Faux Tile for The Twist

It is a snowy Sunday, here in Cambridge!  We have our first real snowfall of the year last night and it truly looks like a winter wonderland.  Certainly puts one in the Christmas spirit!  Today, instead of a holiday card, I have an any-occasion card to show you for this week's challenge over at The Technique Twist...

Any Occasion card featuring the Faux Tile technique using the Flowering Flourishes stamp set.

Now, this card was anything but simple to make!  It involves a whole lot of sponging and embossing, but the result was worth it.  I didn't want to cover up my work with a sentiment, so I left it without one, making this card appropriate for just about any occasion.

 

Here is how I created this look:

• I started by stamping the flourish image twice on a 4"x4" piece of Whisper White card stock using Versamark ink.  Then I heat embossed in white.
• I cut the 4"x4" card stock into 1" squares.
• I sponged each little square with Marina Mist, Island Indigo and then Always Artichoke ink.
• I sponged the edges of each square lightly with Basic Gray ink.
• I covered each square with Versamark ink and then heat embossed using Glassy Glaze Enamel (retired from Stampin' Up!).  I repeated this step a second time for an even finish.
• I glued each square onto a 4-1/8" square piece of Basic Gray card stock.
• I added the ribbon and Antique Brad.
• I glued the whole thing on to a 5"x5" card base in Smoky Slate.

The photos of this card really don't do it justice.  The enamel really is glossy, giving lots of shine.  While this technique is a bit involved, it really is fun and creates amazing results.  Give it a go and link up over at The Technique Twist before the end of the year...we'd love to see what you come up with!

Bandana Birthday

My monthly techniques group meets this week and I decided to pull out an older technique to show them. 

Birthday card featuring the Bandana Technique with the Flowering Flourishes stamp set (126367) and sentiment from Perfectly Penned (122892).

The Bandana Technique has been around a while, but I haven't done it with this group yet, so I thought it was about time!  I designed this card with a decidedly country flavour.

This technique works best with flourish or paisley stamp images.  I opted to use the Flowering Flourishes set which, I have to say, works pretty well! Here is a quick rundown of the products I used:

• I stamped the largest image from Flowering Flourishes on Real Red card stock using black Staz On ink.  
• I added the white highlights to the stamped images using my White Stampin' Chalk Marker (132133)...sooo much easier to use than a white gel pen!  That one's a keeper!!
• I sponged the edges of the bandana layer with Real Red ink.
• The denim-looking background is just a piece of Midnight Muse Core'dinations card stock.  I lightly sanded the entire surface of the textured side...instant denim!
• I added a bit of burlap trim and little button brads from the Vintage Trinkets (118764)
• I also added little knots of twine to the sentiment label.

Sometimes its fun to pull out older technique and try them in a fresh new way.  Its also TONS of fun to try brand new techniques and have we got a great one over at The Technique Twist tomorrow!  Stay tuned...

Monday...ugh!

Why is it that weekends go by so quickly??  I'm not ready for it to be Monday yet...I still have more stamping to do!!  To kick the week off I have a pretty CAS sympathy card for you that I designed for The Friday Mashup using this month's inspiration sketch...

Sympathy card featuring the Flowering Flourishes, Flower Shop and Sweet Essentials stamp sets.

In case you've forgotten, here is my sketch for this month:

As you can see, I took a few  liberties with the sketch, but I think the basic layout is still there.  I wanted the design to be very clean, so I omitted a few layers.

I stamped the flower on vellum and heat embossed it in white.  Then I coloured the back side of the vellum with Wisteria Wonder and Blushing Bride markers before punching it out with the Pansy Punch.  Colouring on the back of the vellum gives a very soft, muted look.  Kinda pretty, no?  I skipped the ribbon and settled for just a single pearl by way of embellishment.  Not an easy feat for me, as you well know. 
If you haven't give this sketch a try yet, give it a shot.  There are tons of possibilities.  I'll be back later in the week with another take on it...in the meantime, here's hoping the week passes as quickly as the weekend did!!

Sympathy for a Friend

Last week a good friend of mine lost her Mum to Alzheimer's.  Although it was the inevitable conclusion to a horrible disease, it certainly wasn't easy for her to lose a parent.  I made this card for her:

Sympathy card featuring the Flowering Flourishes and Papillon Potpourri stamp sets with sentiment from Best of Greetings

Inside View with sentiment from Blessings From Heaven

I wanted this card to be soft and soothing, so I chose several of the new In-colours to feature.  I used Pistashio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe and Blushing Bride for the flourish.  The butterfly and the sentiment are both heat embossed in pewter.  I layered the front panel on a piece of Smoky Slate, which worked quite well with the embossing.  Rather than punch a label for the sentiment on the front of the card,  I opted to highlight the it by paperpiercing a label shape using my Essentials Paperpiercing Template.  On the inside I oped for the punched label so that I could layer it over top of the stamped image. 
Although this was designed as a sympathy card, a change of colour scheme and sentiment would make a lovely wedding or anniversary card.  Gotta love a versatile design!

Elegant Congrats

Today I want to show you another card I designed for my Spring Fling Card Buffet this weekend.  Have a look:

Elegant Wedding card featuring the Flowering Flourish and Layered Labels stamp sets.

This photo really doesn't do this card justice!  It is so sparkly and pretty in real life!  The background is heat embossed in silver, as is the sentiment panel.  I love the combination of Basic Black and Pool Party...they compliment each other so nicely!  I also added a little extra bling with strategically placed rhinestones and the gorgeous Designer Builder brad.
If you still haven't registered for this weekend's Spring Fling card buffet, it's not too late!  Call or email today to confirm your seat, but hurry...tomorrow will be too late!

Speaking of too late, don't miss your final chance to earn FREE product during the final days of Sale-a-bration.. This fantastic promotion ends tomorrow at midnight.  Hurry and place your order or, better yet, join my team of demonstrators and get 25% more product in your Starter Kit.  These great deals will soon disappear...don't miss out!