Coffee Cards for Card Competition

Yeah, finally finished all the cards for the card competition on March 3rd & 4th!!!  I need to get them in the mail today so they arrive before the deadline.

The first coffee card I made to look like a to-go coffee cup.  For the background paper I dyed a coffee filter using 3 different color inks from ink refillers from Stampin' Up.  I took some scarp brown paper and ran it through my crimper and colored in the one and only coffee stamp I have for a label.  The card is bright and fun.

The second coffee card I went in a different direction and I must say it really doesn't say coffee to me.  I wanted to make a flower using coffee filters and that was my main thought for this card.  The background paper is a register from a hotel register from 1898.  I cut several strips of designer card stock and sewed all the elements together.  I stamped a library book check out card and mounted it to a piece of card stock I ran through my crimper.  I didn't have a stamp with a coffee saying on it so I found a saying on the Internet and typed it out using my word processor software and printed it out on regular copy paper.  I punched it out using an oval punch, scrunched up the paper and distressed it using distress inks.  I mounted it to a piece of plain card stock and attached it to the library card.  I purchased vanilla seam binding ribbon from Stamping up hoping I could dye it for whatever color I wanted and I can!  I tied one bow using the ribbon as is and using my green distress ink pad and sponge applicator I created the green ribbon for the second bow and tied them together.  I will be ordering more of this vanilla ribbon I love it!

I dyed more coffee filters using alcohol inks this time and using the smallest scallop circle Spellbinder dies created the flower.  This was so simple!  I cut 2 of the smallest larger die and 4 of the smallest dies, put a brad in the center and scrunched each layer to create the flower.  I popped up the flower on the card and the card was done.  I love making the flowers and see a lot more of them in my future :-)

I'll let you know if I place or win...cross your fingers that the judges love my cards.

More Vellum Cards for Competition

I can't believe how long it is taking me to create these cards for the card competition at the Stamp Convention on March 3rd & 4th!  I have spent the last two days working on the second card for the vellum category.

I came up with 2 cards and I don't know which one to enter!

I usually make two cards of every design I come up with and as of yet only one card exists for all these vellum cards! I'm enjoying working with this new medium but it's giving me a headache :0)

The first card went through several generation before this final product.   It started out with a window design by cutting a window in the center of the card using a scallop circle Spellbinder die.  I added a piece of vellum I had dry embossed with an embossing folder.  This piece is the background to this card so part of the original is present :-).  I created the flower by stamping the vellum using my French word background stamp.  I cut the vellum into 3/4" strips and running them through my Xyon sticker machine.  I cut a 1 1/4" circle using a circle punch and covering the circle with tape to adhere the vellum with.  I started on the outside of the circle gathering the vellum strip as I went around the circle.  I did the same technique on the inside of the circle and added a vintage brad in the center.  I cut out two frames using a couple of Spellbinder dies and stamped "Love You Much" on vellum for the center of the round frame.  I added 3 pearls in the upper left corner to balance out the card.

The second card I used alcohol inks on vellum scraps I had and that was a lot of fun!  After the inks dried I stamped flowers and leaves with versa mark and embossed the vellum using white embossing powder.  I cut out the flowers and leaves and attached them to vellum I embossed using small dots embossing folder.  The card needed something so I added pearls on three of the flowers and a sheer ribbon across the middle of the card.

After asking my hubby which one he liked and my friend TJ it looks like the bright spring floral card will be the 2nd card I will enter in the competition!

Vellum Card for Competition

I wasn't going to enter the card competition at the Stamp Convention at the Mesa Convention Center on March 3rd & 4th.  Every one told me I should so I spent several hours yesterday and today working on a vellum card. 

I really haven't worked with vellum that much so I did some searching online for some techniques.  YouTube had some interesting videos and gave me some good ideas.

I tried a technique called Frosted Spellbinders and the first card didn't turn out the way I wanted it to so I tried again and I like this card so much better than the first one; so does my hubby :0)

I used a Spellbinder die to cut out the backing of the vellum in olive green card stock.  I than cut out a piece of vellum using the same die and turned it over to work on the back side with my stylus tool.  After indenting the outside bubbles I used a white pencil to darken the color in each bubble.  I than followed the outline of the scallop part of the die using a smaller head on the stylus.  I took a small round Spellbinder die to trace around the outside of the die in the center of the vellum and than cut a piece of very vanilla for the center piece with "Thanks" on it.  Using my piercing tool I put holes throughout the piece.

I added vellum butterflies for some spice.  I used distress embossing powder in tea dye to give the vellum butterflies some color.  I first used white embossing powder but didn't like the white with all the vanilla in the paper on the card.

For the card itself I used Old Olive and added a piece of Purely Pomegranate behind the designer paper called Botanical Gazette all from Stampin' Up.  I added lace trim and very vanilla ribbon along with half pearls in vanilla coloring. 

I distressed the pomegranate paper and designer paper by roughing up the edges and using old olive ink.  After distressing the paper I sewed the two pieces together around the edges.

I think this one is a keeper and will enter it.  Now I need to make another style of vellum card for Saturday's contest; you can enter two in each category.  I will post it when it's finished.

Here are a couple of photos of my card.

February Card Class, 2012

Finally I have a chance to post the cards from last Saturday's card class.  It was a fun class and different than what I usually teach.  I mainly focus on techniques but this class I taught a couple of techniques and we made cards for various holidays. 

The technique I taught was the soot technique and I loved it!!!!  I've always wanted to try this technique and thought this would be a perfect technique for the Halloween card and it was!!

The other cards we made really didn't have any techniques to them at all just cards.  We did a Mother's Day & Father's Day card but you could use them for any occasion, a Word card for Valentine's Day and a Center Fold card.

Below are photos from the days class.

Group shot of all cards

Father's Day card

My favorite soot technique and no one burnt down my house :-)

Mother's Day Card

Center fold card for Thanksgiving

Another center fold card

Word card for Valentine's Day

Second Valentine Card

Enjoy your weekend and take care...

January 2012 Card Class

The first card technique class of 2012!!!  This month's class we will be using the BigShot a lot!  When I was contemplating purchasing a BigShot I wondered if I would use this machine a lot or if it would just collect dust in my craft/dance room.  Boy do I use this machine; I love it!!!  I use it for not only my card making I also use it for making flowers by cutting material and flattening bottle caps for jewelry and altered art.

Below are this months techniques and cards you will be making in class.

Group shot of all cards: Emboss embossing, Faux fabric, Bargello and Crimped diamond

Bargello technique is using paper to create a design background.

Crimped diamond is a cool background using a crimper to create a cool design.  I embellished the card so much you really can't see the directional design on the background.

Emboss embossing technique is using embossing powder over a dry embossed texture.  I used a glitter embossing powder to give the dry embossing a little sparkle.

Faux fabric technique is making the background look like fabric.  I punched squares of paper and applied them in a quilt like design to card stuck and used an embossing folder to give it a look of fabric.

This Friday I will be teaching a technique class at the Mesa Art's Center.  Techniques will include: Black Magic, Distressed Glue, Faux Title and Easel Card
Next month's class in my home studio will be cards celebrating Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving.  I'm calling it the minor holiday card class :-)

At the Mesa Arts Center I will be teaching the following techniques: Direct to Paper, Misting with Markers and Diamond Fold Card

Craft Classes for 2012

Happy New Year!!!!

I finally had time to sit down and figure out what I'm going to be teaching in my home studio for 2012! Below are topics and dates for these classes.

I think I got a little crazy with the alter style classes this year with teaching new techniques using distress inks, alcohol inks, fax soldering, colleaguing and more; I can't wait to show you all the new techniques and new tools we will be using.

Class Schedule

January 21st - Techniques to enhance your greeting cards and other projects. Techniques will include: Bargello, Crimped Diamond, Double Embossing, Faux Fabric, and Free Standing Card.

February 11th – Minor holiday cards, Valentine, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving.You can substitute birthday, thank you, etc. for any of the cards and learn some new techniques.

March 10th – Tags!We will be making tags and learning some techniques with distressing inks and put them all together to make a tag mini album.

April 14th – Bayered Embossing Technique – we will use this technique to create cards, tags and more.

May 12th - Colleaguing; we will create a one page book using lots of techniques with tags, collage, distress inks and embellishments.We will turn these one page books into a star book.

June 9th - Cigar Box - we will have fun making a cigar box into a purse or a handing box to hold what ever needs holding ;-)

July 14th - More flowers - we will create flowers from paper, material and more to embellish cards, hair, scrapbooks, albums and more.

August 11th - Faux Soldering - we will be creating pendants to wear, use in crafting for cards, tags, books and more.

September 8th - Alcohol Inks - learn fun techniques using alcohol inks on paper, glass, dominoes and more.

October 13th - Holiday cards - we will be making 5 holiday cards from "oh how cute" to the "classic" card and of course a shaker card :-)

November 10th - More Boxes - we will be making several boxes in all shapes and sizes with a few unusual shapes.

December 8th - 2013 Calendar

Enjoy your week and hope to see you in class...

More Flowers for Saturday's Class

I finally figured out what flowers I wanted to make for Saturday's class.  I love the Lollipop Flowers and went crazy making them.  I started making a Roll Flower but didn't like the way they turned out and another flower that I wasn't getting into so I created a Fluffy Flower and went crazy making them also in a couple of different styles.

Below are photos of the Lollipop Flowers and the Fluffy Flowers I made.  Ladies we are using fire to create the Lollipop Flowers so please do not burn my house down! :0)  I will have a bucket of water near by just in case :-)

Group shot of the Lollipop Flowers

Blue flower with black bead & feather accents

Blue flower with yellow bead and yellow & blue feather accents

Black flower with black feathers and one of my Grandmothers antique jeweled buttons

Black flower with white beads & feathers

Puffy flower group shot

Puffy flower made from Sari material

Puffy flower with double layer material in 3" squares

Puffy flower in 2" rounded square in lace

I saw a flower at Joann's that was puffy looking and I examined it to see how they made it.  I used my Sizzix die cut Fun Flowers to create the first flower using sari material.  I liked the look but knew not everyone has a die cut machine so I thought I would try making one with cutting squares.  I also added mesh and doubled up the squares and this time using my hot glue gun created the double layered flower.  The next flower I used lace and this time cutting 2" squares I rounded the end once I folded the square and really liked how this one turn out; it's more flower looking with the rounded edge.

See you on Saturday...