Tim Holtz Tag for April

Hello Everyone.
True to form, it is the last day, the last hour of April and I'm uploading my monthly tag for Tim Holtz!

The tag is pretty much the way Tim specified on his blog, except that I colored my wings with alcohol ink.  It was a good idea, that would have turned out better had I chosen different colors.  I tried Pool and Stream.  I'll try different combinations next time.

Sympathy Card for a Close Friend

A very close friend lost her oldest brother in February. I wanted to make a special card for her, so it seemed the perfect opportunity to break out the new Spellbinders Marvelous Squares dies.  It seemed to take a while to figure out just the right dimensions and the embossing folder I wanted to use with the dies, thus the delay in getting it sent to her until now.  This is the card I designed.

1. Base card is 5" x 7".
2. The front is embossed with Spellbinders M-Bossabilities folder "Splendid - Side B"
3. First layer (solid black) is made using the Spellbinders Nestability Marvelous Squares #6 die.
4. Second layer (white with cutout frame) is made using the #5 die from the same set.  This layer is popped up.
5. Third layer (black with cutout frame) is made using the #5 die from the same set.  This layer is popped up.
6. Fourth layer (white) is made using the #3 & #4 die from the same set nested and taped together.  
7. I then stamped the saying from Rubber Cottage (RC-564C) in the middle and glued the whole die cut to the third layer so the black would show through the openings in the white die cut.
8. Black half pearls were added to layer two.
9. A double bow was tied using May Arts White Satin Ribbon and Becca Feeken's Peg Bow Maker and added to the top of the card front.
10. The phrase on the inside of the card is from Quietfire Designs.
11. A cut out from die cutting layer three was added to the envelope to give it a finished look.  (no picture, sorry!)  However, this is one of the nice features of the Marvelous Squares--it gives you lots of extra pieces to finish off envelopes or add to additional cards.

Tim Holtz Tag for March

It is the end of March again and time to show you the Tim Holtz tag I've created.  Again, I have my two friends, Joanne and Terri, the other participants in Tres Looinies, for making sure I got a head start on the tag.  It's been finished since our meeting earlier in the month, but I'm just now getting it posted on the blog.  I renovated my craft room so I've been a little busy... More about that later.  Here is my tag.

I love the way the metal flowers turned out!

Get Well Card for A Friend

My friend Lee had her first breast cancer operation and it went well. While she waits to heal so she can start the radiation treatments, I thought I'd make a get well card, but wanted it to be on the humorous side. The perfect stamp happened along in a new set from Susana's Custom Art & Card Design (SCAD). 

You can find the complete Odldly Sweet Curiosities Sets 3 & 4 HERE

Here is the front of the card.

Here is the inside using the "Loves Me?" stamp from the SCAD collection.

Here is a closer look at the cutie I colored with copics.

And, the back of the card.

Here are the details for the card:

1. I used a blank card from Michael's Recollections Kraft Box of Corrugated Cards for my base card stock.  
2. On the front of the card, I created the background paper using the  Impression Obsession stamps and Colorbox inks.  Theses combinations were used: Create A Card CC032 Medallion / Yellow Ochre ; Create A Card CC044 Scratches / Chestnut Roan; C5574 Flower 4 / Lime Pastel & French Blue.
3. The SCAD stamp is colored with Copics B00, B93, B95, YG03, G82, Y17, E08. 
4. I added Kaisercraft self-adhesive rhinestones to the ridges along her back to give them some dimension and bling.  
5. I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 14 to mat the saying on the front of the card and the image on the inside of the card.
6. "Feel Better Soon" stamp on the front and the "Thinking of You" stamp on the inside are from the cling set from Inkadinkado 60-30063 Everyday Expressions.
7. "Being Sick" stamp on the front is Inkadinkado 97945.
8. The paper is from a 6x6 7gypsies pad - Mykonos

Tim Holtz February Tag Finished

I know most of my friends will be surprised, but my Tim Holtz tag is done and it isn't the last day and the last hour of the month!  I have the Tres Loonies to thank for this incredible feat.  The three of us-- Joanne, Terri and I -- decided to make the Tim Holtz tag each month when we get together.

We met last Sunday and they completed their tags.  I put the finishing touches on mine tonight!  The results are shown below.

You can see the instructions on the Tim Holtz HERE

Encouraging Card for A Friend

Sometimes I make cards and it is easy, the process flows smoothly and the outcome is pleasing or at least the result does not wind up in the scraps box.  Then, there are times, like the card I’m sharing today, when I knew in my head what I wanted to do, but the process of getting it from my brain to the end result was not pretty.  

I made this card for my very dear friend, Lee Shank, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  I wanted the card to be extra special and to provide encouragement for her during her ensuing treatments.

The gate-fold, lattice front is made with a Spellbinders die.

The ornate pin is removed to show the message beneath.

An enlarged version of the message is shown below.

And here is the image on the inside of the card.

The image is a stamp from Susana Loves Stamps Blank Canvas Collection. You can see the collection HERE.
The background colors are from Dyan Reaveley Dylusions Sprays combined with Tim Holtz distress ink pads.  I'm sorry I did not keep track of what I used.
Here is how I made the card.

Card is 6” x 8”

For Card Base:

1.       Cut a 12” x 6” piece from Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Exquisite Motif (4500427) and score at 6”.

For Lattice Cover:

2.     Cut 2 pieces of 2.75” x 6” from Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe – Bazaar of Wonders (4500435).

3.     Use Spellbinders Shapeabilities S5-152 Fancy Lattice die to cut each piece.

4.     On one piece leave a ¼” border on the right side before placing the die.

5.     On the other piece leave a ¼” border on the left side before placing the die.

6.     The borders will allow you to score for a hinge that will enable you to fold the lattice pieces over the front of the poem.

For Poem:

7.     Cut a 5” x 6” piece from Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe – Exquisite Motif (4500427).  Use the opposite side of the paper than that used on the card front for contrast.

8.     Using 8 x 8 paper pad, cut a 5/8” frame from Graphic 45 Olde Curiosity Shoppe – Apothecary (4500433) that measures 4 3/8” x 5 3/8.

9.     Cut a 3¼” x 4¼” piece of white cardstock, manila tag or manila folder.

10.  Using Versamark or other clear embossing ink pad, stamp with “What Cancer Cannot Do” stamp.  I’m sorry, I do not know the manufacturer of the stamp.

11.   Emboss the stamped image with a fine, gold embossing powder.

12.  Using Tim Holtz distress ink pads Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey and a touch of Peeled Paint, blend the colors on the stamped cardstock to complement the Graphic 45 paper.  Edge the cardstock with Vintage Photo when finished.

13.  Mat poem on top of frame.

14.  Mat poem/frame on top of cardstock from step 7.

15.  On the two lattice pieces, place a score line on the longer side at ¼” and fold on the score line.

16.  Attach the lattice pieces on top of the poem/frame with Score Tape or other strong adhesive.  The pieces should overlap by one row.  You can use a decorative hat pin as a closure as I have, or ribbon if you choose.

17.  Attach the entire poem/frame/lattice to the front of the card using Score Tape or other adhesive.

18.  Embellish the rest of the card as you wish.

Recycle Pretty Wrapping Paper To Make Your Cards

I recently received a wonderful birthday gift from my brother, Patrick, and his wife, Margaret.  Margaret is very crafty and has a great color sense.  She had wrapped the present so nicely.  The frog teapot, tea cups and sugar and creamer were all wrapped separately in brightly colored tissue paper.  The box containing everything was wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper and finished off with an expertly tied and embellished bow.  It was truly a gift just opening the present!  My dining room table was covered with bright colors from the tissue paper and then there was the lovely wrapping paper and ribbon.  Of course, you just can't throw out this wealth of goodness.  

However, this is what I think about everything and I am quickly running out of space to put all the "goodies" that come into my daily life!  Which leads me to my epiphany that I'd like to share with you.  Why not use the wrapping paper from the gift to make a thank you card  or a card set for the person sending the gift?  

I chose to wrap 2" squares of plain white card stock with the wrapping paper.  Then, I made the designs on the two cards I have to share with you below. 

Here are close ups of each card: