still more cards made with new Cuttlebug folders

I found some time to play with a few more of these new Cuttlebug embossing folders.

This card was made using the Harlequin folder. This is one of the folders that is only sold as part of the complete bundle of new folders, at least for right now. The stamped images and sentiment are by Hero Arts. The scores were made using the Scor-It. The doodling was mine.

I used the Diamond Plate folder on some polished stone for this card. The image of the boy and the 'dream' sentiment are from Cornish Heritage Farms. Again, the scoring was made using my Scor-It.

For this last card I essentially used the double Cuttle technique that I've described here before. I first embossed with the Herringbone folder then with the Flourished Frame folder. I stamped the images by Basic Grey using Memento dye inks, cut them out, and then popped them off the front of the card. The embellishments are Kaisercraft colored pearls.

I think that brings my total to 10 of the 11 new folders used on cards in the last three or so days. Just like with the last release, it's fun to have new designs to play with. A few things to note though:

• I already mentioned that Moroccan Screen debosses if placed in the folder as you normally would. It's easy enough to flip over, but if you're planning to emboss decorated card stock or a card front, it's something to keep in mind.
• These folders still do not emboss an A2 size card front from edge to edge. They still leave a bit of an unembossed border around the edges. That has not changed.
• For a number of these new folders, ProvoCraft has gone back to doing something that was kind of bothersome in the past. They start the embossed design very close to the folded edge of the embossing folder. That means that when you place a card front or piece of card stock inside the folder, you're limited as to where you can place it. Sometimes I wonder if the folks who come up with the designs ever actually use the folders. Yes, the embossing is very crisp and clean and the designs are lovely, but if I put a piece of A2 size card stock in the folder and roll it through my machine, the design will start very near the top edge and leave a large unembossed border at the bottom. That's a shortsighted way of making these. To be most useful, the design should have been cheated toward the open edge of the folder, if anything. That would leave a lot more options as far as placing the design on a card front or piece of card stock. I was disappointed to see that.

All in all though, these Cuttlebug embossing folders are still a lot of fun. I've used them alone and a few in combination. One of these days I'll have to pull out some of the older folders and try more techniques since there are now even more possibilities as far as combinations. And maybe I'll come up with a good way to use the Journal Card folder that I haven't used yet. :-)

"tweet" - Patterned Paper Passion - DCM

It's been ages since I've participated in the daring cardmakers challenge. I decided it was time to get back into it. This week's challenge is patterned paper passion, and the details are as follows: I want to see 3 different patterned papers on your card. And to be extra daring, why not see if you can use 3 different lines of paper!

Okay! Here's my card:


The patterned papers that I used are by Me and My Big Ideas--the big background, Basic Grey Boxer--the green swirly layer, and Die Cuts with a View Green Stack--birds and branches. The stamped images are by Hero Arts and stamped using Memento dye inks. The decorative border of the green layer was made using the Fiskars Effervescence border punch, and I used the plain and scalloped circles Nestabilities dies by Spellbinders to make the top of the card. The partial Nesties technique let me cut out just part of the circle at the top fold so that it would stick out.

I wouldn't have tried this dare on my own, but it was fun to find out that three patterned papers, all by different companies, can really come together and look nice on one card.

new arch lattice border punch by MS

Earlier today, I saw the word out on various stamping forums that new Martha Stewart border punches had been spotted at Michael's stores. Needless to say when I headed out to take care of my many errands, I made a quick stop by a Michael's to see what I could find. It was right on my way. How convenient, eh? Hanging on the display I discovered four border punch designs that I'd not seen before. I also saw the wonderful sight of sales signs for Martha Stewart craft products this week. Excellent!

I have to say that the Arch Lattice design caught my eye. I really liked the looks of that one! Here's a card that I made, just so I could see if it worked well. I've heard some folks complain that their MS border punches won't punch all the way through. I've never had any problems with them.


I used black cardstock as my card base and Basic Grey as the first layer. The punch handled that Basic Grey layer without problems. I didn't have any problems with the heavier white cardstock layer either. The stamped image is by K & Company and was stamped using Memento dye inks. I embellished with the ribbon and Robin's Nest Dew Drops.

Fun new border punch! :-)

bookmarks

A number of weeks, perhaps even months, ago, I saw an idea on a blog that I thought was rather nifty. I'm not finding that blog post at the moment, but will amend this if and when I do. I know that I'd had it bookmarked. Anyway, it used the Ranger Inkssential memory glass frames as a decorative accent for a bookmark. Here's my version....

This are the "front" sides. I cut fun images from Basic Grey Infuse paper. I'd also sized down a crisscross type of card to act as an envelope.
These are the "charms" from the back. The images and sentiments are by Inkadinkado.

And just to give you an idea of how these would look in an actual book, here they are one more time. These are the 1" frames.

By the way, this series by Naomi Novik has to do with an alternate history in which dragons exist. It's very entertaining. :-)

Just a Quick One! - DCM

The premise of this challenge issued by Bondgirl is "to make a QUICK CARD! a card that takes you no more than hmm 30 minutes max to do." I didn't include her intro, but I could relate to the busy lifestyle situation,and I had a couple of cards to make that I needed to start, finish, and send before the weekend, because the weekend is gonna be busy. So, since my cards were going to a pal and to her DH, I decided to make similar cards and make them both fit the "quick card" requirement for this dare. So here are my Just a Quick One! cards for the daring cardmakers challenge for this week. I think they'll be okay with me making it a quick two instead. :-)

I'm having to work outside my normal space, so I gathered up some of the basics and got ready.


I used scraps from previous cards and a couple of 6X6 Basic Grey Romano papers. I started the clock.


Those are the finished products. It wasn't too tough making two instead of one since I went with the same layout for each. I tried to make one with a more masculine, or at least not necessarily feminine, feel to it. I'd used Cuttlebug embossing folders to accent the patterned paper, Perfectly Paisley and Bloom Dots. My die cuts were made using Nestabilities dies. The stamps were all Inkadinkado and stamped with Memento dye inks. I used Martha Stewart edge punches on the green strips of cardstock then added bling. I completed both in 25 minutes, and I'd even had to go in search of the bling when it looked like the cards needed just a little more... something. Great timing with the challenge, and now I have those two cards that I needed all ready to go. :-)

Painting with Alcohol Inks

I read something the other day about putting the blending solution for alcohol inks in a water brush. That was it though--just a suggestion for another way to use water brushes. Well, I thought it sounded interesting. I wondered how and why one might want to use the blending solution in a water brush. I use my alcohol inks for making polished stone backgrounds mostly. I might do an alcohol splash occasionally. Um, yes, I'm talking about a background technique. ;-) That's it though, and I didn't need a water brush for either of those. Naturally, I Googled to find out more.

Here's a tutorial that I found: Alcoholic Butterfly

I thought it was a neat look and wanted to give it a try. I have some solvent-based markers already, but I love the colors of the Ranger alcohol inks and the thought of being able to paint them on with a brush and maybe eliminating some of that streakiness or blotchiness that you can see with markers sometimes, particularly on transparency.

Here's how my card turned out:


I stamped the Inkadinkado images on the front of the transparency using Brilliance black ink and heat set it. I partially filled my water brush with blending solution, salvaged some plastic packaging to use as a palette, and placed a drop or two of each of the alcohol inks that I wanted to use on it. I painted away on the back of the transparency, then layered this on top of Basic Grey paper that I'd embossed using the Birds & Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder. The sentiment is also by Inkadinkado. The flowers are Primas. A Robin's Nest dew drop is in the center.


I included a close up view of the dew drop because I attached this with a drop of Diamond Stickles rather than glue or a glue dot. It adds just a little subtle sparkle. I'll have to try this later, but using Diamond Stickles might also be a way to disguise those occasional dew drops, or the faux dew drops, that have a bubble in them. Hm, or it might make it worse. Dunno yet.

But as for this technique, I liked it! I love the vibrant colors of the alcohol inks, and I have a nice range of colors of those inks to choose from. When I do this again, and I will, I'll use one of my better water brushes. That would have made things so much easier. I had a few issues with too much blending solution leaking out at times--cheap brush, no valve. I figured that I was just experimenting, eh? But it was great to be able to go back and rework areas even after the ink had already dried, and it does dry quickly. The blending solution also gives a quick and easy way to get rid of ink that perhaps sneaked into areas it shouldn't have.

It's neat to learn new things. :-)

two more diagonally Cuttled cards

It was bound to happen. Today it occurred to me to use that Lacy Days of Summer Fiskars border punch with diagonal Cuttling. LOL! Here are the two cards that I made.


As you can see, I also thought of using patterned paper. This is the heavier stuff that's more suitable for card-making. For this first card I used the Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder on Basic Grey Infuse paper. I made my score lines using my Scor-It. The sentiment is by Hero Arts. I embellished with faux dew drops and used the Lacy Days of Summer border punch as a finishing touch.


For this card I used double-sided paper by K & Company and embossed it diagonally with the Perfectly Paisley embossing folder. I cut off the lower corner at an angle and punched it using that same Fiskars Lacy Days of Summer border punch. I accented the embossing and edges of the cardfront with brown chalk ink. The stamped images are by Hero Arts.

More punch fun

I decided to make another card using the leftover Basic Grey Sultry cardstock pieces that I'd cut into the other day. I also wanted to use some new clear stamps and another Fiskars border punch that I hadn't tried out yet.


The stamps are by My Favorite Things. I colored the image with colored pencils. The border was made using the Give It a Swirl Fiskars border punch. I embellished with Brides flower confetti and accented the centers with Diamond Stickles.

Getting punchy

I finally found some time to do some crafting. I had some new toys to try out, so these cards are the result of that playing.

For this first card I used some of the new Basic Grey Sultry line. Then I used the Tonic border punch system to add the floral accents to the patterned cardstock border. A Fiskars corner punch embellished the red layer. The rose frame is a Cuttlebug die and emboss combo. It doesn't show up well in the photo, but I'd chalked the embossed parts of that frame with pink and green shimmery chalks. The stamped images are by Dee Gruenig.


For this next card I used a piece of polished stone that I'd made some time back. I stamped the row of trees three times without reinking. That image is by Cornish Heritage Farms. The sentiment is by Inque Boutique. This time for the border I used my Tonic Regal punch and border system on the yellow textured cardstock. I embellished with Robin's Nest Dew Drops.


Feels good to get back into crafting after a short hiatus. :-)

Asia - Wednesday Stamper

I've been getting back into card-making, and challenges are a great way to find inspiration. Wednesday Stamper is a wonderful site for finding a challenge. This week's theme is Asia. This is the card that I've made.


The patterned paper is Basic Grey Infuse. The image of the man is by InkaStamps and colored with colored pencils. The flourish stamps are by Inkadinkado. I embossed the border using the Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder. The embellishment is Mizuhiki cord tied in a good luck knot.

Alternative to coloring

I made an ATC today, inspired by the challenge theme on Think Monday Think ATC. The theme is men. It had been a while since I'd made ATCs. I also have very few stamps of men. I came across one, though, as I was cleaning up my space, and it got the wheels in my head turning. Here's what I came up with.


This is an image by InkaStamps. The thought of coloring this with all of the detail was a bit intimidating. Then I thought of a technique that I'd used recently. It's called alcohol splash. It's very easy. Get out your glossy paper and alcohol inks--I used Ranger; choose two or three colors that go well together--I used red pepper, butterscotch, and mushroom; and drip the colors onto the paper, taking care not to mix too much and muddy the colors. I sped up the drying process with my heat gun, then stamped the image using Brilliance black ink. I heat set the image and cut it out, then mounted it using pop dots over vellum, Basic Grey Infuse, and Bazzill raven black card stock. I thought it was a neat way to color the image without actually having to color it.

Fun with new Quickutz dies

I've been loving my Big Shot and the fact that it can use any non-commercial die, texture plate, or embossing folder out there! The latest additions to my craft space are some of the new dies for the Quickutz Revolution. All this means is that the dies are bigger, about 4 inches by 4 inches. They easily fit through the Big Shot. This first card was made using the limited release dragonfly die, which comes with a butterfly shape. I also used the Quickutz nesting flowers dies. This is a standard A2 size card. The larger scalloped die cut was made using the biggest die. The reddish cardstock is Basic Grey, the background is from the DCWV Luxury stack which I embossed with the Cuttlebug D'vine embossing folder, and the sentiment by Serendipity.


Quickutz also came out with some big embossing dies with sentiments. Again, these are sized for the Revolution, so they're 4 X 4. I had to tinker a little to use these in my Big Shot. I used textured cardstock inside the die, which was about the thickness of two of the wafer thin dies stacked. I couldn't put the sandwich through using Tab 1 of my multipurpose platform, and Tab 2 didn't give enough of an impression. I pulled out the impressions plate from the Big Impressions kit. This plate is slightly thicker than the clear cutting plate, so I used it as my top plate and ran the combo through. It worked! Here's how it turned out.


These were essentially all scraps that I had sitting on my table. I think it worked though!

More transparency art

The piece of transparency that I used for the main image in this card came about from my frustration with The Essential Glue Pad. I'd used the glue on glossy paper then pour ultrafine glitter over it. It looked wonderful! When I touched it lightly the next day though, it all came off! So, I tried it again on transparency, figuring that it's very non-porous. I used ultrafine glitter again, and it stayed! The image is a Michael's dollar stamp, by the way. So, I layered the transparency on black so that it was more visible, then layered that on Basic Grey patterned paper.

The frame for the image was made using my mega square scalloped punch. Oh, and the card itself is white, but it got lost in the background. I may not have to write off this glue pad completely.

Happiness is....

Happiness is having fun toys to play with. Last week I ordered the Bind It All from Bonnie's Best. She really is the best. I had that machine in my hands two days later! It punches the rectangular holes for the coil and it bends the open coil closed, too. The best part is that it's all effortless. I made a booklet with it this morning. I could have used a smaller size coil, but they're not here yet, so this one looks a little big for the project. I couldn't wait though!


The covers are chipboard covered with Basic Grey's Scarlet's Letter paper. The sentiment is by Cornish Heritage Farms. The embellishments are a green cardstock strip embossed with the Cuttlebug stylized flowers embossing folder and a transparency colored with chalk ink and cut out with a Quickutz tag die that I embossed with a Cuttlebug butterfly embossing folder. The wing accents are Glaze pen.

Oh, this machine opens up a world of possibilities, especially having two girls who often need things created at the last minute! LOL!