Running With Scissors…

Hello!  I have a quick and easy card to share today, made for a baby shower I’m attending this Saturday.  They’re having a little girl, but I’m sure she’ll see plenty of pink on Saturday so I used a yellow and white combo, which is one of my favorites for baby cards.

The stamps are retired Stampin’ Up! Bundle of Joy, colored with Prismacolor markers on Whisper White cardstock.  The card design may be familiar from this card.  I used this design again, not only because it’s so easy and I truly love it, but because I was asked if I might explain how I embossed just the center section of the card front.  While I did answer that question in an email, it reminded me that there are many stampers still very new to this craft who are oftentimes left puzzling over how certain things are accomplished.

One picture is worth a thousand words, but I’ve included a few words, too – somewhat less than a thousand:

• I started with a card base of Flourishes Classic White, which is very sturdy and embosses beautifully with a deep impression.
• I scored the card front 1/2″ from the top and bottom edges to create a guide of sorts for centering my embossing folder.  Scoring was done from the inside of the card so the “bump” would be on the outside.  For this card, I adhered designer paper, top and bottom, outside the score lines.
• The card is opened out flat, with a lengthwise orientation, and inserted into the embossing folder, as shown — “A” plate + “B” plate + card and embossing folder.  Add another “B” plate on top and crank it through.

You may notice that my embossing folder appears to be face down.  Don’t do that!  That was an “oops” which I didn’t notice until after I cranked it through and saw that my Swiss Dots were inverted.  It could be salvaged by turning the inverted dots to the inside, but I chose to start over.  Now you know why it takes me so long to make a card — sheesh!  I did not reshoot the picture, though.  I’ve got to cut corners somewhere!

It’s a very easy way to make a cute layout.  As for the main image, I stamped the giraffe first, then positioned my oval Spellbinders die over it and cut, using the Cuttlebug.  The best instructions I’ve found for cutting and embossing Spellbinders dies in the Cuttlebug are right there on the Spellbinders packaging.  I layered the image on two scalloped mats, added Offray ribbon and a button from my stash, both adhered with a spot of Aleene’s Tacky Glue.

The bow was made with the aid of my Bow Easy from Sharon Johnson.  I found Sharon’s instructions here very easy to follow, but she also gives a link to Jerri Kay’s video tutorial.  It’s like magic, and when I want a really perfect bow, I do reach for my Bow Easy.

Well, I’m off and running again… It’s the end of a busy day as I write this and I’d best get myself ready for work and another busy day tomorrow.  No rest for the weary.  Have a great day! 

Stamps:  SU! Bundle of Joy  Paper:  Flourishes Classic White (card base), Whisper White (main image), PTI Lemon Tart, Daisy d’s designer paper  Ink:  Ranger Distress Walnut Stain, Close to Cocoa, Prismacolor markers (similar to Copics) for coloring  Accessories:  Offray ribbon, button, linen thread, Spellbinders oval and scallop dies, Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder

Two years ago this month, Flourishes opened the doors of their lovely boutique and invited the world to a whole new opportunity of creative expression.  Now, we’d like to invite you to help us celebrate.  Today, the design team is expressing their creativity to honor Flourishes’ special day, and we’d like you to join us!  Here’s how:

Simply make a birthday creation of your own - link your card to the Flourishes Newsletter birthday post, or upload to SCS using the keyword FLLCBDAY. We’ll pick one lucky winner with the prize being a stamp set of your choice.  So… make time to play and you just might be a winner!  Also, be sure to click onto the Flourishes Newsletter Saturday – there is a BIG announcement that you won’t want to miss!

I’ve made a card with an inside pocket.  Well, two cards, actually, one for a guy and one for a girl.  The design can be adapted to any size, and the pocket can hold photos, seed packets, cosmetic samples, hot cocoa packs, stamped images you’re sharing with a stamper friend… the uses are many and varied.  The two cards I’ve made are sized as money holders.

Money holders have largely given way to gift card holders since a gift card is felt to be more personal and thoughtful than money.  I believe they still have their place, though.  You’d be more likely to give money to immediate family members, rather than friends, and generally only when you know it’s what they’d prefer.  Perhaps they’re saving for something special, or they’re a college student in a smal dorm room who needs spending money or help buying books.  Children enjoy receiving money as a gift.  Perhaps you’ve taken up a collection for a coworker in need.  Maybe you’ve purchased stamps from a blogger and need to send a check.  You never know.  Might as well do it with a little flair.

The finished size of these money holders is 3 3/4″ x 6 1/2″ — an odd size, I know, but I just happen to have envelopes to fit.  They’ll fit in a business size envelope, too, though there’d be some swimming room lengthwise.  They could also be tucked into a gift bag or box as a little supplement to the gift they accompany.  This is the inside:

This diagramed sample gives measurements and some instructions, which I’ve also written out below the photo:

• Cut cardstock 8 1/2″ x 8 1/2″
• Score 3 3/4″ from left edge.  Score 1 1/16″ from right edge.  That extra 1/16″ allows the front flap to overlap just the tiniest bit for easier opening.
• Score at 2″ across bottom edge.
• Cut flaps as shown in photo.

The next photo shows the lower right corner of the card:

• Fold the long vertical flap to the inside.
• Apply strong adhesive, such as this red liner tape to the right edge only of the lower flap.
• Adhere over vertical flap.

You end up with a nice little pocket into which you can securely tuck your treasure of choice.

The Seaside Life sand dollars are really what gave me the idea to do a money holder — you know… dollars/money.  They’re all white embossed on Classic White cardstock with just the centers colored with a Copic marker.  I stamped one sand dollar in Caramel without embossing and used it as a little tag with the “for you” from the Strawberries set.  Its papers, ribbon and brads are from my stash.  The Cuttlebug embossed background under the sand dollars is called “Mesh”.

The feminine card uses the All Wrapped Up stamp set.  The BasicGrey Sultry designer paper, Spellbinders dies, ribbon, and rhinestones are all from Flourishes.

Let’s take a look at what the rest of the team is sharing today:  Christine, Cindy, Faith, Julie, Latisha, Laura, Stacy, Dee, Silke, and Jan Marie

I’m sure you’ll see some great ideas and beautiful things from the team, and maybe even the design I’m sharing today will be useful to somebody at some point.  I hope so.  I’ll end with a wish for a wonderful day, and if it’s your birthday, may it be an absolutely splendid one!

Hello, friends!  I’m so happy it’s Friday, especially this week because I’m on vacation as of 5:00 pm.  It also means it’s Friday Focus time for the Flourishes team, and I had an awfully lot of fun with this one!  Latisha suggested we pull out our Spellbinders dies and share some creative ways in which to use them.  You can see her article on the Newsletter here, and check out the rest of the team’s creations here:  Christine, Cindy, Faith, Julie, Latisha, Laura, Stacy, and Sharon

I had a whole other card in the works for this focus, but as I was driving home from the store this notion occurred to me so, of course, everything else was put on hold while I worked out this design.  As it turns out, it’s one of the quickest and easiest cards I’ve made, and you know how slow I am.

To make the party dress I used the largest oval die from the complete ovals set and the smallest die from the Labels One set, neither of which I see in the Flourishes store at this time.  I guess I should check these things out before I do the challenges but, honestly, I’m challenge challenged enough without adding more concerns into the mix.  I know they were there… maybe they’re out of stock?  Sigh…

I decorated the skirt with the swirly flourish stamp from Ornamental Elements, then punched across the hemline with a Martha Stewart edge punch.  I traced along the scallop with the Inkssentials white opaque pen, and added itty bitty pearls to the peaks of the scallops.  The Quickie glue pen lays down a very fine line of glue and made it easy to put a narrow border of glitter on the bodice.  Just a bit of ribbon at the waistline and it was done!  Here’s a photo of the parts:

You can make two dresses at once, since you simply slice the oval and the curved square in half.  The lower curve of the bodice fits the upper curve of the oval exactly.  Tape them together in the back to hold in place.  You could add tiny ribbon straps, if desired.  Decorate any which way you choose!

Those wonderful filigree flower brads can be found among the Finishing Touches, in the Beautiful Brads collection.  The sentiment is from Summer on the Patio.

I hope you enjoyed today’s card, and find some interesting ideas from Latisha’s post and among the team.  Have a wonderful day!

Stamps:  Ornamental Elements, Summer on the Patio  Paper:  Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, white, unknown designer paper  Ink:  Lovely Lilac  Accessories:  Ribbon, flower brads, glitter, Inkssentials white opaque pen, Kaiser pearls, Spellbinders oval and Labels One dies, Martha Stewart border punch, Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Hello, again!  Today I’m sharing an easy as pie citrus cake, made with the soon to be released Life, Love & Lemons.  This set is so much fun, and you’re certainly not locked into lemons with the citrus slice.  However, you can create some beautiful designs with the lemon specific stamps in this set.  You’ll want to visit the rest of Flourishes designers to see what can be done with a variety of lemon-flavored images:    Christine, Cindy, Faith, Julie, Latisha, Laura, and Stacy.

I considered masking the citrus slice when I set out to make my cake, but I thought “no, let’s keep this simple”.  After all, it’s just a bit of whimsy; it doesn’t have to be that realistic.  As if a cake would actually look like this, anyway!

The slices are stamped in Yo Yo Yellow, Green Galore, and Only Orange, then sponged lightly with the same color inks (Gable Green for the lime slice).  The rinds were colored in with matching markers.  Each section was punched with a corner rounder, then frosting added with a Martha Stewart border punch.  I added a drop of Stickles Stardust glitter to the peak of each scallop.  The cake layers are taped together on the back, and it’s mounted on the card with foam tape (dimensional).  The birthday greeting is from the Sweet Violets set, and the rhinestones are from Flourishes, as well.

To make the plate, I used a scrap of white, punched the corners of one end, then lobbed off 1/4″ of the rounded end.

To make the scalloped frosting I punched all the way across the 8 1/2″ edge of white cardstock, then trimmed off that end, just above the teardrops.  So the scallops would situate evenly on each end, I positioned the scallops with the entire length intact, and trimmed the edges, then moved on to the next layer.  The photo below may help to illustrate.  I should also mention that I rounded the cake layers first, added frosting, then punched the frosting corners.  Those smaller punches don’t usually have enough strength to do two layers at once.

Orange:  3″ wide x 1 5/8″ tall

Lime:  2 1/2″ wide x 1 3/8″ tall

Lemon:  2″ wide x 1 1/8″ tall

Well, that was fun!  One last word (or two)… Visit here for the pre-release challenge and a chance to win all three new sets, and check in here to find the release party this Friday night, 9 pm central.  Go here, simply leave a comment, and you may win the Life, Love & Lemons set.  All new releases will be available in the store after the release party.

There’s one more set to preview tomorrow.  I’ll see you then!  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Life, Love & Lemons (soon to be released by Flourishes)  Paper:  Whisper White, Me & My Big Ideas designer paper  Ink:  Yo Yo Yellow, Green Galore, Gable Green, Only Orange, Palette Noir  Accessories:  Ribbon, rhinestones, Prima flowers, Martha Stewart border punch, corner rounder punch, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Perhaps you know from previous posts how much I love my Kitchen Sink Stamps.  I have a new set called Lilies, and today I’ve made a card with it.

You can go many different directions in size, style, and color with the stamps in this set, as with all KSS sets.  Today, I felt like making Stargazer lilies in a pretty and feminine pink, but with a somewhat earthy, vintage, tucked away in the attic for a long time sort of feel to the finished product.  I used some brown tones in the image background, and stained and distressed the edges.  I also used my Dark Brown Prismacolor marker to stain the ribbon a little bit.

While I was at it, I thought it might be fun to photograph the step by step process.  It’s a fascinating process for me, as the image develops, and perhaps you’ll enjoy it, too, and maybe find something useful here.

When I sit down with a KSS set for the first time, I’ll always do a few test runs with a mult-step image, just to get a feel of the results.  This will help me determine the effect of each layer, or step.  I’ll try to do all steps with an image, but depending upon my color palette, I may occasionally leave out a step.  Once I’ve decided upon my colors, I’m ready to begin the image for my card.  In this case, I’ll list the colors as I go along.  All inks are Stampin’ Up!, unless otherwise noted.

Step 1:  Pink Pirouette

• Cut a piece of Whisper White with plenty of room for building the image.  It can be cut down later.
• Using a freshly cleaned acrylic block, stamp two of the first-step image as shown.
• Create two masks of the image, to be used later.  I use Eclipse Masking Tape from Flourishes (love that stuff!).   It’s very thin and has a peel off back and repositionable adhesive.

Step 2:  Pretty in Pink 

Step 3:  Rose Red

Step 4:  Bravo Burgundy

Step 5:  Palette Noir (black)

• It doesn’t show well in the photo, but in real life, you can see the darker shading of the Noir ink.  This step, in black, also adds a few extra speckles to the petals.
• I must confess, I cheated on this step.  The Step 5 stamp has stamens and pistols, very delicate, and I couldn’t for the life of me stamp them over the previous image without creating a blurred effect.  So…forgive me Maria, but I cut those off the stamp.  I’m sorry!  I had to ‘fess up, though, because I didn’t want to be misleading.  I’d feel bad if any of you tried to stamp this image and wondered how in the world I managed to get those itty bitty parts to line up so perfectly.

Step 6:  Mask flowers and stamp leaves in Garden Green.

• When applying the masks, it’s best to let a little edge of the flower it’s covering to peek out in the area where you will overstamp it to avoid a white halo when the mask is removed.
• Stamp a first step stem and leaf (the one facing left), and two additional leaves (on the right).  Make sure the stem goes up into the flower mask, and be sure to take advantage of those masks by overlapping the leaves on the mask a little bit.
• See the one short stem that goes into the flower which is lower in the composition?  Ink just part of one of the stems and stamp it there.

Step 7:  Handsome Hunter, and create a leaf mask.

• The second step on the skinny stem is a little difficult to line up properly, so you can leave it out, if desired.  Mine didn’t line up exactly right, but it was close enough and I appreciated it in the finished product.  I inked just the stem, not the leaf, for that step.
• Stamp the next leaf step in Handsome Hunter.  There’s an additional step, which I would do in black, but I left that step out this time.
• That extra leaf that’s floating in space is a mask waiting to be used.

Step 8:  Stamp a third lily.

• Leave the flower masks in place and add the leaf mask to the uppermost leaf.
• Stamp all steps of the lily as shown.

Step 9:  Remove masks

I think this is my favorite part — when I remove the masks and reveal what I’ve created.  It’s like unwrapping a present.

A recap on the masking:

• The image is created from front to back.  I wanted the first two lilies in the foreground, so I stamped them first.
• Next came the leaves over the first two masked lilies, so the leaves appear to be behind the first two lilies.
• Now, to make the last lily appear to be behind everything, I masked everything in the foreground.  I already had masks on the first two lilies.  I only needed to add a mask to the one leaf.
• It looks complex in the finished image, but it’s really quite elementary.  Sure, it won’t be finished in two minutes, but it’s infinitely satisfying when you have some stamping time to spare.  The process gets easier and quicker as you become more practiced at it. 

Step 10:  Shade background with chalks

• This is my method of choice when stamping with KSS.  I like the way the images look so much like a painting when completed.  I can’t make a watercolor background because it would cause my water based SU! inks to run.  For more information about using the chalks, you may find my other tutorials helpful here and here.
• In this case, I shaded with Caramel and Cocoa chalks, using the Cocoa closer to the image for more shadowing.  In the smaller spaces I picked up a little chalk from a corner of the chalk pad with a blender pen and blended it on my background, being careful not to blend into the stamped image.  A blender pen will wear out your paper if you go over an area too many times, so that’s another thing to be careful about.
• I added a little pink around the edges.
• The last step is to spray with a matte sealer, as described in the tutorials I linked.  The spray not only seals the chalk, but it enhances the color of the entire image.  It doesn’t alter the color, just makes it better.

I hope this was good information for someone.  If you’ve never masked before, you can certainly start simple with a less detailed image — make one mask and stamp something slightly behind it — then work your way up to a more complex composition.  Way back in the beginning I’d get mixed up when I was making multiple masks like this, so don’t feel bad if you goof it up a few times.  The first time I ever masked anything I thought it was so cool!

I already listed the inks in the description, so I’ll summarize the other ingredients in the recipe, below.  Have a great day, everyone, and thank you so much for visiting!

ps:  Thank you, also, for your encouraging remarks yesterday about my use of older images.  I’m really glad you don’t mind seeing them, because so many of my favorite stamps are old.  I appreciate you all very much!

Stamps:  KSS Multi-Step Lilies, retired Stampin’ Up! Linen background  Paper:  Naturals Ivory, Whisper White, My Mind’s Eye Tres Jolie designer paper  Accessories:  Ribbon, brads, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Today, it was Latisha’s idea that the Flourishes Design Team should challenge themselves to make cards featuring bows and no designer paper.  Well, I’ve been making a lot of bows lately but it seems I don’t get by without the designer paper too often these days.  I thought this was a great idea!  Latisha has prepared something pretty fun on the Flourishes Newsletter for you today so be sure to stop over there and check it out.  She makes the most beautiful bows!

I combined three sets for this card — Butterfly Moments, Lilac, and Ornamental Elements.  It’s an easy card… the butterfly was stamped on Shimmery White and colored very simply with Stampin’ Up! markers.  I cut it out and positioned it on foam mounting tape so it’s fluttering through the lilacs, leaving a swirly trail in its wake.

Even the bow was easy, and if you feel somewhat bow challenged, perhaps this method of creating a bow is something you’d like to try.  I used retired Stampin’ Up! organdy ribbon and a brad from the BasicGrey Boxer collection. 

I formed a length of ribbon into a loop with the tails left hanging.  Then I pinched it in the middle and tucked it between the prongs of the brad.  The prongs went through a hole punched in the cardstock layers and were flattened snugly.  Now, I have a pretty bow — quick and easy!

Here’s a photo of the bow in progress, as it appears just before I tuck it into the brad:

If you like bows, you’ll love these cards by the rest of the design team:  Christine, Cindy, Faith, Julie, Latisha, Laura, Stacy

And don’t forget to take a trip over to the Newsletter for Latisha’s special on bows.  Thanks so much for your time!  Have a great weekend!

Stamps:  Butterfly Moments, Lilac, Ornamental Elements  Paper:  Brocade Blue textured, Shimmery White, Barely Banana  Ink:  Palette Noir, Lavender Lace, Brocade Blue, markers in Barely Banana, Summer Sun and Brocade Blue  Accessories:  Ribbon, BasicGrey Boxer glazed brad, Martha Stewart scalloped lace punch, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Hello!  I’m glad you could drop in for another One Stamp Wednesday, the day I dedicate to Post Office-friendly, no extra postage required cards.  Today I focused on bling without bulk and made a gem-studded boho flower — almost like jewelry for your card.  With the rhinestones set into the cardstock, rather than sitting on top, the card in the envelope presents a smooth surface for smooth sailing to its destination.  I have weighed this card on our postal scale at work.  With the inside writing panel lined with white cardstock, a crimped cardstock sheet to protect the front, and the envelope included, the whole works weighs in at 42¢.

I had a difficult time photographing this card and finally settled on this picture.  I apologize for the poor quality.  It’s much better looking in real life.

To make the flower, I started with SU!’s True Friend Boho-style blossom.

• Stamp it three times and cut out the parts as shown in the photo below.
• Punch two 1 3/8″ circles

• Glue the flower parts together, giving it a little dimension, but not too much bulk.
• Glue one circle on the back side of the flower.  Set the other aside.
• Use a Crop-A-Dile to punch holes in the flower.  The larger Crop-A-Dile punch did the center, and the smaller Crop-A-Dile punch did the ring around the flower center.  I stretched the center hole just a little bit by inserting a pencil in the hole and running it around the edges, sort of pushing the edges out.  I hope that makes sense.  The photo below shows the assembled flower with its punched holes.

• Color the flower.
• After coloring, press the flower face down into Versamark pad, then emboss with Glassy Glaze (ultra-thick embossing powder).  A pencil inserted through the flower’s center hole is a perfect tool for holding the flower during the embossing process.
• After the embossed flower cools, glue the other 1 3/8″ circle onto the back of the flower to give it a base behind the holes.  The photo below shows the back of the flower and the Kaiser self-adhesive rhinestones (from Flourishes).

The largest of the rhinestones fits the center hole and the smallest rhinestones fit the smaller holes.  I used a pencil eraser to push the rhinestones firmly in place.  The large rhinestone was a bit more of a squeeze, which is why it’s best to try to stretch the hole first.

I used Alene’s Tacky Glue to adhere the flower to the finished card, making sure it was pressed firmly flat.   I just love the flower!  It could easily be made into a pendant or a brooch.

The three small rhinestones on the card’s sentiment panel are inset, as well.  The designer paper provides lightweight layers and the ribbon is tied in such a way that it creates no excess bulk.  All the rest of the card’s ingredients are summed up below.

It’s time for me to run off now…I hope we can do this again soon.  Till next time…have a great day!

Stamps:  True Friend (SU!)  Paper:  Chocolate Chip, retired SU! Apple Cider designer paper, Neenah Classic Solar White  Ink:  Palette Noir, Versamark, Chocolate Chip and Really Rust markers  Accessories:  Ribbon, copper cord, rhinestones, Spellbinders dies

 This is a simple but cheery little card I made because I had all these Bud Basics flowers stamped out for practicing with my Prismacolor markers.  I stamped them when I first got the markers, gradually colored a few, and finally figured it was about time I turned some of them into cards.  I have others colored and waiting, as well.  In fact, I have several projects in various stages of completion . . . the pile on my desk just keeps getting bigger.  Every time I make one card I wind up with more spare parts for the pile.  I think this is common among all stampers, isn’t it?

The Prismacolor markers are a fairly new medium for me and I’m learning as I go along.  It seems the one consistency in my method is my inconsistency.  I do something different almost every time I sit down with them — different ink, different paper, different blending technique.  I’m not in any position to offer advice on the best way to use these markers, but I can share some of my experiences.

First, the paper:  My current favorite is Stampin’ Up!’s Whisper White.  It may not be the best choice but it works best for me at this early learning stage.  The coating which gives it such a nice surface for stamping on also minimizes the ink bleeding outside the lines of the image.  However, a more absorbent paper allows the marker inks to blend more smoothly.  It’s six of one and half a dozen of the other.  I’m still experimenting with whatever papers I have at my disposal.

Next, the ink for stamping the image:  I started out with Palette ink.  It seems to work okay as long as I’m not using the colorless blender.  It must be thoroughly “set” before you begin coloring.  This might have something to do with the Whisper White paper — maybe.  At any rate, I no longer use Palette ink with my markers.  I’ve been using whatever Ranger inks I have on hand and they all work beautifully.  I’ve used both the Adirondack inks and the Distress inks and they seem to be impervious to the blending pen.  They’re stamp & go inks — virtually no drying time is required.  I’ve also used Versafine Onyx Black with great success.  It’s a pigment ink and must be either embossed or heat set to dry, or allowed a good while to dry on it’s own.  Once dry, however, I’ve experienced no bleeding or smearing of the ink.

    Embossing the stamped image is a fun way to go.  I’ve tried it on a couple of different absorbent papers and it truly does prevent the ink from bleeding outside the embossed line.  You get the blending benefits of the absorbent paper and the added attraction of embossing, without the bleeding.  The pretty little girl in the thumbnail was embossed on watercolor paper (click for an enlarged view).  I’ll have more embossed samples to share later.

At this time, I wanted to share how I colored the flowers in today’s card.  It may not be the right way, and I may do it differently next time.  Maybe we can learn together.  Experts, please chime in with any tips you’d like to share.  Hopefully, one photo will suffice with the corresponding numbered explanations, below:

1. Color entire flower with Deco Pink.  The loopy accents at the petal bases were colored with Clay Rose.
2. Add Clay Rose along petal edges.
3. Using Deco Pink, start in the petal center and color into the Clay Rose edges.  Color all the way to the edges of the petal, but concentrate less marker ink along the edges.  The lighter colored Deco Pink will remove some of the Clay Rose.  While the marker ink is still wet on the paper, outline the petal with Clay Rose.  Wet ink on wet ink will result in a soft edge.  This will add extra definition to the petal edges.  You may have to add more ink and rework it until satisfied.  Adding more ink will darken the image, but it will only darken to a certain degree.  This is as dark as these colors get.
4. Use the colorless blender to remove some ink from the petal center.  Just color the area you wish to highlight.  If you remove too large an area of ink, you can add more Deco Pink around the highlighted area.  I’ll usually just touch the tip of my colored marker along the edges of the colorless blender ink, and it will blend in softly.  I call that blotting.  Sometimes I’ll use the colorless blender pen in a blotting fashion, too.  After you’ve tested this a few times you’ll get a feel for what the inks look like as they dry.  They do soften a bit upon drying.

I colored half the flower center in Warm Black, and colored into that with 20% Cool Gray. 

There’s not much coloring involved in the leaves and the smaller pink flowers. To color the pink flowers I outlined them with Deco Pink and went over that with the colorless blender.

I hope this information is helpful for those of you who were asking or wondering about some of these things.  I’m learning as I go, but I’ll make a point of sharing what I learn.  If you’re interested in other coloring tutorials I’ve done with different mediums, you can see them all here.  As for the card, itself, the ingredients are listed below.  Enjoy the rest of your week, and thank you so much for stopping by today!

Stamps:  Bud Basics, Warm Words  Paper:  Basic Black, Basic Gray, Whisper White, BasicGrey Phoebe designer paper  Ink:  Palette Noir, Prismacolor markers for coloring  Accessories:  SU! ribbon, eyelets, Cuttlebug Perfectly Paisley embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Happy Friday!  One of my favorite days of the week has arrived again at last and today I’m sharing one of my favorite projects with one of my favorite new sets from Flourishes.  Lots of favorites in there!  Tonight is the release party at the Flourishes forum on SCS, when three new sets will be fully revealed, more samples will be shared, and games and prizes will be sure to make it a fun evening.  Look for the party from 7 - 9 pm EST.

My project today features the Signs of Spring set.  Oh, my!  There are some pretty stamps in that set!  I used just one little daffodil stamp — three times.  The Flourishes team is focusing on watercoloring today, so I set aside those Prismacolor markers I’ve been practicing with in favor of this tried and true method of coloring.  I’ve always loved the watercolor look, and if you have water-based dye inks (like Stampin’ Up!, for instance) and a brush or two, you can achieve this look, as well.  Christine has prepared a watercolor tutorial on the Flourishes Newsletter that I’m sure you’ll enjoy.  She’s an absolute master at this technique and her step-by-step will open new doors for many who have been puzzling over its mysteries.

Just a reminder, too, while you’re at the Flourishes Newsletter visiting Christine’s tutorial, you can leave a comment on the Living in Color - Day 3 post for a chance to win this beautiful set.  Winners are randomly selected daily by 10 pm EST.

My handled gift box is very easy to make and I’d like to share some quick instructions with you.  I only have a couple of photos, but I think it will be clear enough.  I used Wild Asparagus double-sided designer paper.  It’s heavy weight and works nicely for boxes.

• Cut paper 6″ x 10 1/2″.
• Score as shown at 3″, 5″, 8″ and 10″.
• Turn and score across the bottom at 2″.
• Slit the bottom section at the score lines up to the horizontal score line, as shown.  Cut away and discard the last 1/2″ section of the bottom.  This photo shows the inside of the box with two of the bottom flaps raised so you can see where the slits are.

Decorate the box as desired before folding closed.  I added a scalloped border along the top edge, then punched with a 1 3/8″ circle punch to give a little more handle area.  Now, fold into a box shape, overlapping the 1/2″ flap, and secure closed with double sided tape.  I used Sticky Strip, or red liner tape.

The handles are made with Spellbinders oval dies.  Applying the dies to the paper like this is the same method you’d use to make a frame.  A piece of tape at the top edge of the dies will hold them both nicely in place through the cutting and embossing process.

Once you’ve made your cute little frame, you just cut it in half to make two handles.  I adhered my handles to the inside of the box with Sticky Strip, but you could also use brads, eyelets, tacky glue — whatever suits your fancy.

The gift inside my daffodil box is a pair of garden-themed moisturizing gloves, a sample pack of shea butter, and a little bottle of hand lotion — a gardener’s gift.  As I was making this, I thought it would be so cute to make this in the Fall and tuck a single daffodil bulb inside.

I just love this Signs of Spring stamp set with all its sweet images for Spring, Mother’s Day, Easter, or any day I’d like to send a pretty card.  You’ll love what the rest of the team has made with it, too, so be sure and visit the other Flourishes designers and see their watercolor samples.  Don’t forget Christine’s tutorial, as well!  Here are the links to the rest of the team:

• Christine
• Cindy
• Faith  
• Julie
• Latisha
• Laura
• Stacy

I’m glad you found time to drop in today.  I truly do appreciate every one of you.  Have a wonderful day!

I took Julie up on her Ultimate Valentine Challenge and made a few Valentines for Childrens’ Hospital in Detroit.  1000 Valentines are needed!  There are four of this design – post card style, no fold but they do have envelopes.  The front and back are pictured.

Valentines for children of all ages are needed, and I was thinking pre-teen girl when I made these.  Each Valentine has one heart and flower cut out and popped up.  The green flower centers and the little heart in the sentiment are colored with a pink Sakura glitter pen.

Again, please see Julie’s post here for details if you’d like to contribute.  Julie is offering a chance at a very nice blog candy for all who participate.  The candy is open until January 12th.  Cards are needed by February 7th.

When I checked into this further, I learned that Valentines for young men and teenage boys will be the most difficult order to fill.  I’ll bet you can imagine, can’t you?  How hard is it to design a card for a teenage boy?  Very!  We may tend to think boys that age aren’t really into Valentines, and maybe they aren’t, but they’re in the hospital…sick…and many with dire prognoses.  I’d like them to feel as important and loved as any other child in the hospital.  I’m glad to contribute these Valentines:

They’re a perfect example of how ill equipped I am for making teenage boy cards.  I know someone can do better than this!  I tried to use boy colors, but throw in the traditional red.  I also used stars, rather than hearts.  Well…they wound up looking more 4th of July than Valentine.  Honestly, I tried!  I made a dozen — six of each design.

They’re ATC size — 2 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ — with a matchbook closure, so no envelope is required.  I was able to cut four of them from one sheet of cardstock.

• Cut cardstock 7 3/8″ wide.
• Score the whole length of the sheet, as shown, at 3 1/8″ then slide forward to 6 5/8″ and score again.
• Cut into 2 1/2″ widths.  There will be a 1 1/2″ strip left over to discard, or make a skinny-mini Valentine.

I hope this one photo is sufficient illustration.  I don’t have a scoring blade on my cutter, so I run an old stylus along the cutting groove to score.

So, that’s what I was up to this weekend when I had a spare minute or two.  I hope to make a few of the matchbook style Valentines for the little ones, as well.  Stampers are amazing at rallying to a call like this and I believe the response has been wonderful.  Please read here if you’d like to help with the Valentines, or find out how your stamping can help in the future.  Thank you for stopping by!  See you again soon!