Gun Metal Technique...

Today, I decided to try something totally out of my normal realm. No cutesy or pretty feminine card for you today like I normally post.   A totally masculine card!

This makes a great men's card. I was totally enamored with something I saw on Splitcoast Stampers from "dlsplu" and her card there.  She was also inspired by someone else from Splitcoast Stampers "Carmensplace".  Go check them out.  They both inspired me with this unusal technique. So I got to work scouring the Internet and on Pinterest I found more directions on the procedure.  There I was able to find a nice video on YouTube that really helped me. 

Since I did not not have any black acrylic paint at home I did use shoe polish instead of acrylic paint as specified by someone else's directions. I decided to try the shoe polish and it worked very well.  The shoe polish can be messy so I was careful to use paper behind the card front and a plastic mat when putting the polish over the card front.  The shoe polish had an sponge applicator tip which I was able to spread it on with the applicator tip and not using my finger or a paint brush.  To remove the polish to the consistency I wanted I used a paper towel to wipe off any excess polish.  This certainly gave it the look I was hoping for.

I also used things I had in my stash to put underneath the foil to create the raised effect I wanted.  I also was lucky that I had a Starbucks coffee holder in my car and was able to use that for the corrugated look. I used everything on the front silver so you really need to look closely to see the objects on the card front.

This procedure was really fun but messy to work with. I enjoyed doing it although it was a bit messy. I do love the way it turned out.  I will give this birthday card to my nephew and see if he was pleasantly surprised when he opens the card? I"ll know by his expression and what remarks he has to offer. If he likes it and was pleasantly surprised with the technique I will probably do it again for another men's card.

I do think this looks like gun metal.  Let me know your thoughts on this one girls......

Thanks for stopping by today!

Homemade Envelope ...

Quite often we make cards that are to thick to send in the mail in an envelope.  So I went on line and at Splitcoast Stampers and found directions on making an envelope for a 4 3/8" x 5 3/4" card. Click here to see how it was done.  The directions were a bit confusing so....I worked it and worked until I created my own, for myself.  It wasn't easy but I now have a template (I made) to make other envelopes when needed.  Below is a picture of my own template.  My measurements may not make sense to you if you enlarge and try to use it.  The measurements I have on the template are from outer edge corners.... I think?  It's been a while since I did this so it's hard to remember?   I'm just glad I have that template I made and able to make another envelope with the template when I need it.

The paper is double sided so it looks so pretty on the inside as well.

I actually made this card some time ago but am finally getting around to posting for you.  Today I'm not going to go on and on about this pretty rose card.  I think you probably already know that the embossed rose is from Stampin-Up' - Manhattan Rose and the rest is history.  I just love the soft orange and pink combination I created by blending my chalk inks together. 

                         

I hope you enjoyed stopping by to see what was in store for you here on my blog today and hoped to add more inspiration to each of you to get stampin and creating your own envelope for your card.....

Have a wonderful week and let go,

get stamping and creating

together...

Happy Stamping…

Blessings to all!

Supplies Used:

Stamps: None

Paper: Whisper White, Light Pink

Ink: Pink and Yellow Cat's Eye Chalk Ink

Punches:  Stampin Up Scallop Trim Boarder and Corner Trim

Die Cuts:  Stampin' Up Impression Folder/Manhattan Flower & Marianne Creatables #LR0200

Accessories:  Prima Flowers and Leafs, Martha Stewart Pine Punch & Sizzix Sizzlits Die Leaves

Happy Birthday Card...

Time for another card with my same two die cut I've used before on the front and iside.  The inside is a little different than the outside.  Here's what I have come up with using pretty designer paper cut to place atop of the white die cut to give it a little more depth to the die cut.

Adding pretty flourishes from rhinestones here add a pretty dimension to it along with the roses and leaves and double butterfly.  The butterfly is made from Velum and then a pink backround to add a little more color to it.

I was able to computer generate a verse inside to add to each corner so that when opened it would have a nice Birthday verse.

I first printed a computer verse to each corner about the size I thought would fit and then cut the inside paper to the correct size after printing the verse from my computer and then adherd it for the backround and used the die cut from Marianne Design #LR0200 to both corners so when opening it would have a little more design to the inside rather than just a plain verse alone.

I did send this to my daughter for her birthday.  I hope she likes it?

I'm glad you stopped by today.  May your week be a blessed one.

Thank You Marilyn....

I sent this card off already to someone as a THANK YOU card.  The inside said;

Thanks...Your kindness is a blessing to me. 

This person Marilyn was so kind to give me a four night stay at her time share in a major city for my birthday.  This gift took me by complete surprise. Can't wait to have fun there!  Sincere thanks again Marilyn if your reading this?  Your gift of kindness was sooooooo appreciated!

 So, I whipped up this thank you card for her. I used my new die cuts from Marianne Designs CR1216 (top) and flowers die cut LR0229 I purchased recently at one of the stamp shows I attended.  I hope she likes it? 

Seems no matter how hard I try to get my pictures of my cards consistant in appearance and clarity it never works out that way.  Sorry the shading and clarity is sometimes not quite exact in each of my posts.  I'm sure I could benefit from  camera classes and picture shooting to see what I'm doing wrong?

I want to make this post sweet and short today.  So... that's it for now and hope to see you back to visit with me soon.  Blessings to your day....

Scalloped Flowers

This card today was a stab at trying to make my own flowers.  I see so many beautiful flowers that others make themselves and add to their cards. I don't have any flower templates or die cuts or even flower punches to help me.  So, I experimented a little today and  took two of my round scallop punch's two different sizes and came up with this. I'm still not completely satisfied here but am optimistic to find a beautiful rose die cut or punch eventually?  I love roses.  So...I'm on the look out for that?  Any suggestions of what to purchase please do let me know.

I added some tulle netting to the flowers and some pearls to help give it a little softer look.    I also used half green ink to one side of the background stamp and pink to the other side to break up the scroll print color on my stamp called"En Francais" (from Stampin Up).  If you look hard you will see the writing is half green and half pink.   I thought giving it two separate colors; it just might add a little more interest to the background?  I enjoyed experimenting a tad with this card.  Experimenting helps keep your creative side flowing.

That's it for today ladies.  I hope you will return to visit with me real soon?  I love having you and hope your week  is filled with God's richest blessings.