Faux Silk Butterfly

Man, I am SOOOO ready for Spring!  It seems I can't sit down to stamp a card these days that doesn't include flowers or butterflies...or both!  Bring on the sunshine and warmer weather!
Today I have another of the projects I'll be creating with my monthly techniques group next week.  It uses the Faux Silk technique...an oldie, but one many of my newer members haven't seen.

Spring-themed card featuring the Painted Petals and From the Garden stamp sets, Butterflies Thinlits and using the Faux Silk background technique.

I remember learning the Faux Silk technique at a techniques class when I was a new stamper...I loved it!  Who would have thought that crumpled tissue paper could look so good!  To create the background panel on this card I began with a piece of white tissue paper slightly larger than the size of panel I wanted to create.  I stamped all over the tissue with images from the Painted Petals stamp set, using Soft Sky ink for the flowers and Pistachio Pudding for the leaves.  Ensuring the ink had dried, I then crumpled up the tissue paper, taking card not to tear it.  I applied a thin layer of Multipurpose Liquid Glue all over a piece of Whisper White card stock cut to the size of the panel I wanted.  I uncrumpled the tissue paper, taking care not to completely smooth out the wrinkles, and then pressed the tissue lightly onto the gluey card stock.  I gently tapped the paper into the glue and then wrapped the excess around the back side of the card stock and adhered it in place.  I then adhered the panel to a slightly large piece of Soft Sky card stock. 

With the background panel complete, I embossed the Whisper White layer behind it using the Spring Flowers TIEF and adhered it to a Soft Sky card base.  I die cut a small butterfly from scrap Soft Sky card stock using the Butterflies Thinlits and layered it behind a larger butterfly die-cut from Dazzling Diamonds glimmer paper.  The sentiment, from the From the Garden set, is stamped in Pistachio Pudding ink and trimmed into a pennant using the Banner punch and then embellished with a bit of Pistachio Ruffled Ribbon (retired).  The finishing touches were the Simply Pressed Clay moulded flower and a scattering of pearls.

Inside view with sentiment from the Indescribable Gift stamp set.

On the inside I used a die-cut butterfly as a stencil and daubered some Soft Sky ink over it to get a subtle stenciled butterfly.  I then stamped the sentiment, from the Indescribable Gift set, using Pistachio Pudding ink.
I have to say, even though this technique is an old one, I love the way this card turned out!  Sometimes the tried-and-true can surprise us!

I {heart} U

Happy Sunday!  It's time for a new colour challenge over at Sunday Stamps.  This one is just perfect for Valentine's Day...check it out:

I planned my design using this week's sketch challenge over at  PPA:



And here is my take on it:

Valentine's card featuring the Perpetual Birthday Calendar and Gorgeous Grunge stamp sets.

I had some grungy fun with this one!  I stated with a piece of Whisper White card stock which I stamped several times with the heart confetti image from the Perpetual Birthday Calendar stamp set using Real Red ink.  Then I added some spatters using the Gorgeous Grunge set and gold metallic ink.  I embossed the whole thing using the Adorning Accents TIEF (retired).  I added a 1/2" strip of Real Red card stock that I punched with the Hearts Border Punch, as well as some gold baker's twine.  The letters are made using Simply Pressed Clay and the new Alphanumeric mold...so happy to see a new mold for this product line!  I coloured the heart using my Real Red Stampin' Write marker and added some hints of gold to the letters using a sponge dauber and gold metallic ink.  I adhered then to a little banner cut from a piece of Burlap trim.

I added some gold sequin trim and a gold baker's twine bow to the bottom of the banner and scattered a few random sequins around.

Inside view with sentiments from Something to Say.

On the inside I repeated the stamped images from the front as a border along the outer edge.  The sentiment is from the Something to Say set and is stamped in Real Red ink.  I added a little heart, also from the Something to Say set, stamped in gold metallic ink.

Why not give this challenge a try...we, at Sunday Stamps,  would love to see your work!

Something a little Different...and some exciting news!

Click the image to learn more!

If you haven't tried Paper Pumpkin, now is a great time to sign up--get 50% off your first two months. With a deal like this, you'll want to invite everyone you know to give it a try too!  Use the code HALFOFF2 to join Paper Pumpkin before September 10, 2014, and get 50% off the first two months! After that, keep the creativity coming for only $24.95 + tax per month (shipping included). 
This offer is for new subscribers only and is available for month-to-month subscriptions, not prepaid subscriptions.  The discount applies to one kit per month for the first two months of a new subscription. After the first two months, the price for each month's kit will go to the regular price: $24.95. Visit MyPaperPumpkin.com to join...and don't forget to choose me as your demonstrator!

Now on to some stamping...
For my team meeting last week I decided to switch it up a little and instead of doing a card as our make-and-take, we altered the little Kraft Grid Journals from the new Annual catalogue.  I thought it would be something my gals could use to take notes at meetings and jot thoughts and questions throughout the month in between meetings.  Here is the journal we made:

Pocket Journal featuring the Kinda Eclectic stamp set and Dictionary background stamp.

This one was fun to make because it involved a whole lot of layering of images.  I started by stamping the Dictionary background on the front of the journal using Sahara Sand ink.  Next I stamped the sunburst image from the Kinda Eclectic stamp set in Hello Honey.  I then stamped the leaves several times in Mellow Moss, some full strength, some stamped off once.  I also stamped the leaves on a label I die cut with the Apothecary Accents framelits from the new Typeset specialty paper.  I stamped the dots in metallic gold, both full strength and stamped off.

 The doily is heat embossed in gold and then trimmed to fit behind the label.  The little flower embellishment is made with Simply Pressed clay and is heat embossed in gold.  I added a little bit of stitched satin ribbon in Blackberry Bliss and some linen thread.  The butterflies are stamped in Blackberry Bliss, with the smaller one being stamped off, and then punched with the Elegant and Bitty Butterfly punches.  I added a couple of sequins for the body of the butterfly.  I love this look and it was fun to create it on something other than a card.  I will enjoy carrying this little journal in my purse...I hope my team members will too!
 

Faux Frame Challenge

Happy Saturday and happy March!  I hope you have some stamping planned this weekend!  We have a fun new challenge over at The Technique Twist for you to play along with.  We're all about the Faux Frames this week!  Now, do a quick online search and you'll find TONS of variations on this technique.  That is our challenge...find a new way to create a faux frame.  Here is my take on it:

Birthday card featuring the Faux Frame technique with the Summer Silhouettes, Secret Garden, Papillon Potpourri and Sweet Essentials stamp sets.

For my faux frame I used Simply Pressed Clay in my Woodgrain TIEF!  I went for a faded driftwood kinda look.  I love the effect and am so going to try it with other patterns.  Here is how I created my frame:

• Press Simply Pressed Clay onto the open Woodgrain TIEF, making sure it is fairly thick...too thin and it will tear when you run it through the Big Shot.
• Close the folder and run it through the Big Shot with no tabs on the multipurpose platform.
• Set the folder, with clay inside, aside to dry for at least 24 hours.
• Carefully remove the dried clay from the folder, taking care not to tear the clay.  (Don't worry if it does tear...mine did (several times) and I just put it back together when I glued the frame to my project.
• Using the Squares Collection Framelits, die cut a square frame from the embossed clay.  You can play with the width of the frame by trying different sizes of framelits until you're happy with the look of it.
• Sponge the entire frame with Smokey Slate ink, following the grain of the "wood".  Be sure to get into the grooves to eliminate any white clay showing through.  Be sure to also sponge the inside and outside edges so they are no longer white.
• Sponge the entire frame again with Basic Gray ink, but this time go against the grain to highlight the texture.
• Sponge lightly one more time, against the grain, with Basic Black ink to add more depth and texture.

Once I had my frame made the rest of the card was a piece of cake.  I stamped the floral images from the Summer Silhouettes set on a 3-1/4" square piece of card stock using Basic Gray, Island Indigo and Pool Party inks.  To glue the frame to the card stock I used Sticky Strip.  Tombow will also work with Simply Pressed Clay but I didn't want to wait for the liquid glue to dry ;)
The leaves on the frame are from the Secret Garden stamp set, are heat embossed in silver and are die cut with the coordinaring Framelits.  I glued them to the frame using Tombow.  The little butterfly is stamped in Basic Gray ink on vellum and punched with the Bitty Butterfly punch.  It is also adhered with Tombow.
The background is a piece of Pool Party card stock that I embossed using the Pretty Print TIEF...sure hope that one comes back in the new Annual Catty!  I left a smooth strip at the bottom so that I could stamp the sentiment from Sweet Essentials in Basic Gray.

Inside view with sentiment from Simply Sketched.

On the inside I stamped the same floral images I used on the front and added the sentiment from the Simply Sketched hostess set.

I hope you'll make time this weekend to try creating a faux frame.  There are SO many possibilities!  Check out the projects by my fellow design team members over at The Technique Twist and then give it a go.  We'd love to see what you create!

More Sketch Inspiration and a Sneak Peek!

Today I have another sample for this month's sketch inspiration...but first a spoiler alert!  This card uses lots of products from the upcoming 2013-14 Annual Catalogue.  Firstly, the sketch:

...and today's project:

Birthday Card featuring the soon-to-be-released Label Love stamp set (which has a coordinating punch...yahoo!), as well as the new Soho Subway DSP.

Close up view...see the little flower?  I made that with the new Simply Pressed Clay and molds!!  SO AWESOME!!

I warned you there was a ton of new product on this one!  I started with the Soho Subway DSP...so many fantastic patterns and a wonderful fresh, vintage colour pallette.  The pallette includes one of my favourite returing In-colours in the Colour Refresh:  Blushing Bride.  I used the Honey Comb TIEF for the background, which I sponged with Crumb Cake.  I added some Washi Tape from the This and That collection...rapidly becoming addicted to that stuff...for the horizontal element.  The label is from the new Label Love stamp set, which I stamped in Early Espresso and punched out with the new Artisan Label punch.  My favourite new product is the Simply Pressed clay, which I used to make the little pink flower.  The clay comes plain white but is so easy to colour with Stampin' Write markers, once the clay has been molded and dried.  This card was one of the Make-n-Takes at my Tri-City Stampers meeting this month...and they all got to leave with some clay flowers.  So much fun....I love new catty time!