Just Give Me Stamps...

Make It Monday - Framing Sentiments & Images

 Hi friends!  I'm hosting this week's Make It Monday challenge!

This week,  I'm sharing some tips on how I like to add frames to my projects. 
 

On my first card I added a frame around the sentiment.  I love how it helps to draw your eye to it.  Plus, I just think it's pretty!  Ha!  :-)

 

I embellished the card with several stamped flowers and leaves from the Farmer's Market stamp set.  I absolutely love this set!   It 's a multi step set (meaning there are at least two different stamps for each image) so you get lots of depth and color variance but it's also one of the easiest sets to line up so your card can come together quickly!

NOTE:  I see that the Farmer's Market Florals set is currently out of stock, but if you click on the "notify me" button, you will receive an email as soon as it's back in stock!

 

My next card also features a frame around the sentiment,, but this time I didn't want the frame to take up the whole card.

I added some stamped (and die cut) flowers and bird from the Humming Along stamp set.  I die cut the Leaf & Sprig Frames die and chose the second to smallest frame (love that you get so many frames from one die).  I did some ink blending on it using Harvest Gold ink for a pop of color.

I was in desperate need of some "Spring" in my studio as it is still snowing and blowing sideways here.  These bright and cheery images definitely helped!  :-)

 

 

For my final card, I chose to frame the images instead of just a sentiment.  I started by die cutting the smaller butterfly from the Life Is beautiful stamp set three times out of brightly colored cardstock. 

Because I love color, I wanted to add a bit more to the butterflies.  I dipped each or the edges of the butterflies in gold glitter. 

For the sentiment, I just added a simple "miss you" sentiment from the Ways to Say: Wish You Were Here stamp set.

 

 

 

Here's a look at the video I created!  To play along, please make sure to visit the Papertrey Ink Blog for more inspiration!  As always there is a lovely Papertrey Ink prize up for grabs to one lucky participant!

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for joining me  here today!  I hope you all have a great Monday!

Laurie

 

 

 

 

Faux Stained Glass

Hi friends!  I'm hosting this week's Papertrey Ink Make It Monday challenge!

I'm sure you all know how much I love vellum.  It's hard not to, since I use it on every other project practically!  Ha!  Well, this week I'm sharing how to create a faux stained glass look with...you guessed it...vellum! 

I used the Cover Plate: Hearts die for the background.  I stamped the Farmer's Market Florals, die cut them, and then covered them with fine Prisma glitter.

For the sentiments, I stamped the cute little banner from the Huge Sentiments stamp set and die cut it out using the Huge Sentiments Banner die.

 

I die cut the Huge Hugs die using True Black for the top layer and Stamper's Select White for the bottom layer.  I embellished with some string and a wooden heart.

 

 

 

 

 

For more information on how you can play along (and be entered to win a prize) with this week's challenge make sure to visit the Papertrey Ink Blog!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs,
Laurie

 

Love of Layers

Hey friends!  I'm hosting this week's Make It Monday challenge!  

If you've followed my blog for a while, I'm sure you already know how much I love layers!  This week, the theme of the challenge is all about layering!  If you are a Clean & Simple type of person, have no fear!  There are all sorts of way to add layers to your projects:  cardstock layers (my favorite Ha!), ink layers, and even die cut layers! 

 

On my card, I used all three layering techniques, cardstock, ink, and die cut layers.

I combined foliage from the Spruce & Sprigs and Holiday Greens stamp sets.

 

For the focal image, I embossed the sentiment from Pen & Ink: Christmas and die cut it using the Tag Sale #12 die set.

 

for embellishment, I added some string to the tag and scattered on a few sequins.

 

 

 

                                                                                             

 

I hope you get a chance to play along!  You can find all of the details and link up over at Nichole's blog!

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hugs,
Laurie

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make It Monday: Watercolor Wash Backgrounds

Hey there!  There's a brand new Papertrey Ink Make It Monday tutorial up today and you will never guess who's turn it is to create the video!  Yeah, I actually made a video!  Eeep!  I'm sharing some tips on how I create watercolor wash backgrounds and I hope you'll play along!!

 

 

 

 

Here are the cards I shared in the video...

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is one of my favorite ways to add color to my cards!   If you want to play along, head on over to Nichole Heady's blog for all of the challenge details and to add a link to your creation! 

 

 

 

Gran's Garden Stamps	Gran's Garden Die Set	Pen & Ink stamp set	Ways to Say: Birthday	Fresh Bouquet Stamp Set	Keep It Simple Frames Die Set	White Cardstock	True Black cardstock
Green Parakeet Ink	Orange Zest Ink Pad	Harvest Gold Ink	Pure Poppy Ink	Raspberry Fizz ink pad	Hero Arts - Wagner - HT400 Precision Heat Tool	Kuretake - Gansai Tambi - Traditional Solid Watercolours - 36 Piece Set	Ranger Ink - Artist Brushes - 7 Pack

InLinkz.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Hugs,
Laurie

 

 

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Glitz Step By Step Saturday - Handmade Embellishements...

 

Happy Saturday!  It's my turn to share a project (complete with lots of photos) with step by step instructions!

Today, I'm going to share how to create a couple of my most favorite handmade embellishments!

I love to add dimension to my cards!  From layered and stitched focal images to glittery paper flowers, I'll share how I make them...all using some of the brand new Glitz goodies!

To start, I cut out several hearts using three different patterned papers (from the Color Me Happy Collection) as well as two vellum ones.  I used my electronic cutting machine, but you could cut these out by hand (there are lots of free templates available online) or your favorite nesting dies.

I added adhesive only to the center of each heart (because I plan on curling up the edges for added diemension) and then stitched down the center.

To finish it off, I added one of the new Color Me Happy Giant Rhinestones to the center.  It's so bright and happy, don't you think?  :-)

Here's a peek at it with the edges all curled up a bit.  I really like the added dimension this gives!

I added my layered heart on some other coordinating Color Me Happy goodies, and then added some ribbon, a Journaling Sticker, and a bit of Woodgrain Tape.

Up next, I'll show you how I like to make paper flowers (like the one on top of the cupcake)!

First, I cut out a rolled flower shape using some new Love You Madly paper.  Again, I used my electronic cutting machine, but there are templates available online that you can cut out by hand or use your favorite die).

Next, I like to ink up the edges (you only need to ink the scalloped edges).  I think it gives the flower a little bit more depth.

Next, I roll up the flower.  I like to use a thick handled paint brush, but a pencil will work as well.

After the flower is all rolled up, remove your paint brush (or pencil) and let go of the flower.  It will spring back a bit.  Depending on how tightly rolled I want my flower, I might leave it as is or unroll it a bit more to open it up a bit.  The next step is to glue the flower down.  I like to use my hot glue gun because, well...I like the instant gratification!  :-)

Next, I curl some of the petals down.  Another option would be to curl them before you roll up the flower (this gives a more dramatic effect).  If you do that, make sure to be very gently while you are rolling so as not to tear the paper.

In this photo, you can see the hot glue that I used to secure the flower.  You can hide this by adding glitter, micro beads, or pearls.

I wanted a sparkly flower, so I opted to add glitter to not only the center, but the petals as well.

After the flower was dry, I added it to the top of a cupcake that I created using more Love You Madly goodies!  I stamped the numbers 1 and 7 on the cupcake (using the new Love You Madly rubber stamps) as I plan on giving this to my daughter for her 17th birthday!  :-)

I'm so glad you joined me here today!  ~Laurie

Hello There Card
Glitz Design Color Me Happy Papers:  Hearts, Stripe, Woodgrain
Glitz Design Color Me Happy Journaling Stickers
Glitz Design Color Me Happy Whatnots
Glitz Design Color Me Happy Giant Rhinestones
Glitz Design Color Me Happy Title Stickers
Glitz Design Color Me Happy Woodgrain Tape

Gift Bag
Glitz Design Love You Madly Papers:  Stripe, Ampersand, Hello
Glitz Design Love You Madly Giant Rhinestones
Glitz Design Love You Madly Lace Tape
Glitz Design Love You Madly Tiny Roller Doodle - Lace