The Observation Car

Barb Barton collects carousel horses of all kinds.  When she saw these Whimsy stamps, she had to have them.  She colored with Copic markers and embellished with flowers, star brads, ribbon and designer papers.  the patriotic horse would be great for a July birthday, or invitation to a July 4th picnic.  The “gift horse” is adaptable for a birthday or any celebration.  Thanks,Barb, for making these for the blog this week.  You can make them too with supplies from www.stampexpressstore.com.

Happy 4th of July

Celebrate Your Day!

These NEW flower stamps from Whimsy are just the best!  Today I’m featuring the poppies.  They are such fun to color with the Copic markers.  For the flowers in the jar, I double matted the image with quality cardstock from Stamp Express.  The checked background is a scrap from my stash.  The dark green layer is faux stitched by making dashes with a white gel pen.  Since my friends say that I always glue on everything crooked, I purposely slanted all the layers.  A good trick if you can’t get anything straight.  The label is punched with 2 Stampin’ Up punches.

I found the free pattern for the watering can at Waltzing Mouse Stamps website.  We are sharing the pattern free on our website too.  I cut mine from Colorcore cardstock and embossed with a Cuttlebug folder.  Then I sanded to make the design more prominent.  I stamped the large poppies and colored with Copics.  Then I added a piece from the poppies in the jar stamp.  I glued them on with a phrase from SU.  Cut the end of the strip to look like a ribbon.  The only problem is that you have to find an envelope large enough to put it in.  I think 6″x9″ will work.

All the new Whimsy stamps are for sale at www.stampexpressstore.com.  More samples will be posted next week.

Summertime Poppies

Poppies Watering Can

We were working on some mini album kits from Quick Quotes.  I noticed that some of the techniques used were things we used to do in altered books.  So, I picked this technique out and used it on cards.  It’s so easy!  Use double-sided cardstock or heavy paper.  Cut a piece 8&1/2″x 5&1/2″.Fold it in half.  The Scor-pal is handy for scoring and folding.  Then turn the upper righthand corner down until the edge is almost even with the fold.  I glued it down.  Then add an accessory like ribbon and flowers, a button, or some kind of medallion.  On the brown card I stamped “thinking of you”.  For the butterfly/blue card I glued the bottom and right edge so it formed a pocket.  Then I added a tag with a clear sticker and ribbon.  This one could be used in a scrapbook with journaling on the tag.  My double-sided paper is from BoBunny.  Check out our website store to order it here.

Thinking of You diagonal pocket card

Bee Happy Diagonal Pocket Card with tag

It’s that time of year!  The days are cooler and the fire is smoldering in the fireplace.  Winter will soon be here.  The NEW Whimsy stamps for winter cards are  now  for sale at stampexpressstore.com. Here are some samples of things to come. Of course everything was colored with Copic markers.  Designer papers are Die Cuts With a View. Cardstock is Stamp Express.  The border punches are Martha Stewart, label punch is Stampin’ Up and the words are computer generated. These cards would make good seasonal birthday cards, or any occasion. Purchase supplies to make them at our on-line store, or buy the finished cards at Brushstrokes and Blessings in the WS Farmers Market. Baby it’s cold outside!

Snow Fun!

All Bundled Up

Happy fall y’all!  This is my favorite time of year.  I think it’s the colors of the season that are so appealing.  Here are two autumn cards made with the same papers, but different stamps.  Both stamps are from JustRite, and the colors are Copic markers.  Stamp Express quality cardstock and BoBunny designer papers were used along with May Arts ribbons. The diecut pieces were done with the Cuttlebug and Nesties from Spellbinders.  The little acorns are buttons.  I’m using these cards for fall birthdays, but they could be get well, thinking of you, or any occasion.  Try using some of your papers and vary the look with the images.  We have so much scrap paper.  We have to make good use of it.  Stamps and products are for sale at www.stampexpressstore.com.

Its Fall Yall

Autumn Blessings

Are there roses in your future?  The rose image seems to be good for any occasion.  Cards for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, thinking of you, get well, or sympathy all look good when accompanied by a rose.  Here are two I made for my daughter-in-law’s birthday and my sister’s wedding anniversary.  I used some of the roses in Whimsy’s new stamp set and colored with Copic markers.

Here are some tips for coloring and shading flower images.  Start with your lightest color first and lay it down as a base coat.  Then color the centers of the flowers and along the veins of the leaves with a darker shade.  Remember that a flower is darkest in the center and then gets lighter as you move out the petals.  As a final touch, go over everything again with the light color and blend, especially along the line where one color ends.  Don’t leave a noticeable line.

For finishing touches I added BoBunny designer paper, real lace, and dew drops.  You can order the stamp set and other materials at www.stampexpressstore.com

A Rose Birthday Card

A Rose Anniversary Card

The new Whimsy stamps are in and very adorable.  We will be releasing them a few at a time as I get projects made up for them.  Here are the first two.  They are summery and awesome!  Goldie is the little mermaid.  She is “fussy cut” and mounted on designer paper from Bo Bunny.  The top net- like part is Maruyama paper from Magenta.  Ribbon is Bo Bunny, colors are Copic markers and the sand dollar is a button.

Goldie the Mermaid

I’d like to share with you the easy steps for constructing  cards like these:

1.  Choose your stamp and stamp on white  Copic cardstock with Memento black or brown ink

2.  Pick out 2 designer papers for background.  If you buy 2 in the same series, they usually go together.  Or, use double sided and take a piece from each side that matches. Cut a piece 4and1/4″x2and1/2″ from each design.

3.  Select a basic cardstock for the actual  card.  Stamp Express quality cardstock is good for this.  Color Core does not fold well.  Use the color core as you would a designer paper for a background.  Cut your selected cardstock sheet in half to make 2 cards ( 5and1/2″x4and 1/4″).  Fold each in half.  The Score-pal is ideal for this.  You make a score mark and fold with a bone folder for a crisp look.

4.  Lay out all chosen items to make sure you like the way they look together.

5.  Color stamped image to match your paper colors.  Then you can cut it out, fussy cut it, cut with a Nesties die, or just make a rectangle or square.  At this point, find some colored cardstock that will match the decor and mat the cutout image.  Double mats add interest.

6.  Now to put it all together, glue the background papers to the card.  Where they meet in the middle, add a ribbon, strip of paper, or punched border.

7.  Add the matted stamped image on top with Dimensionals or foam tape.

8.  Now you can add accents like buttons, flowers, bows, charms, pearls, rhinestones, etc.

9.  Put your message inside, and remember to sign the back with your trademark.  If using a dark colored card, stamp the message on a lighter colored piece and glue inside.

Here is a second Whimsy image with ribbon, flower, and a punched border from Martha Stewart.  Other supplies are the same brands as the mermaid.  Most items are available at www.stampexpressstore.com.  Shoot me an e-mail if you have questions. Go here for the Stamp Express store

The Wee Florist

As i sit here eating a slice of Ken’s homemade bread with our own homemade strawberry jam, I’m thinking it doesn’t get any better than this!  The same can be said for crafting your own homemade cards and memory books.  Sometimes it’s difficult to get the creative juices flowing, but the end results are worth all the labor.  How much more does it say “I’m thinking of you” than expressing the sentiment on your own creation.  Better than an e-card or store bought item.  Sorry Smuckers and Hallmark—-homemade is better!

Here are some of the cards I needed for the month of June.  My brother-in-law has a birthday and he is really into computers.  So I made the mouse card for him.  Our son and daughter-in-law celebrate their anniversary on the 18th.  It’s a blue ribbon day (their favorite color).  My sister-in-law gets a picnic themed thank you note with the Stampavie picnic girl, and my dad receives a love note for Father’s Day.

I did all these cards with paper scraps that I’m trying to use up.  The stamps are from Just-Rite, Hero Arts, and Stampavie.  Diecuts are Spellbinders, and embossing plate is Cuttlebug.  Enjoy!

Jims Birthday Card

Happy Anniversary Card

Thanks Picnic Girl

Fathers Day Card

These Sarah Kay designs from Stampavie are just the best for coloring.  They give you a vintage look and can be used for any occasion.  I used the Copic markers on all and then varied the layering and embellishments.

Designer paper is Basic Grey, cardstock Stamp Express, embellishments from my stash.  The scallopped oval is Nestabilities and the lace doily from the dollar store.

Try stamping the same stamp several times and color each differently.  They give you a totally new look each time.  Challenge yourself to see how many varied cards you can make with the same stamp.  It’s FUN!

You can purchase these cards at the Brushstrokes and Blessings gift shop at the West Shore Farmers Market in Lemoyne, PA, or make them yourself with supplies from
www.stampexpressstore.com.

Katie

Madeline Says Thanks

Smile Pia

Here they are! These are the most fun to color and make into any occassion cards.  Bernadette admiring flowers is colored with Copic markers.  The image is double layered to bring out the colors in the picture.  Then the layers are added to the card with some designer paper and accented with a lace punch by Martha Stewart.  Top it off with flowers that were colored with Copic markers and a saying from Hero Arts.  You could send this as a thinking of you card, birthday, get well, or anything.

The bird on dogwood  could also be used for anything.  We used an Inkadinkadoo saying for a birthday.  Again we colored with Copic markers, double layered,  added designer paper from BoBunny and labels diecut from Spellbinders.  Cut the labels in half and glue each half to the ends of the layered image.  The words are on a punched out piece from Stampin’ Up.

Madeline saying “hello” uses all the same products plus the little round crystals for dew drops.  Purchase them in the floral section of your big box craft store and color them with the Copic markers.  Attach with glue dots.

If you want a closer look at these samples, stop by the gift shop Brushstrokes and Blessings at the West Shore Farmer’s Market in Lemoyne, PA.  And, get your creative juices flowing!

Stampavie stamps and other supplies are available at www.stampexpressstore.com.

Bernadette Admiring Flowers

Hello Madeline

Bird on a Dogwood Branch