Friday, May 29, 2009

Purple Birthday

So I'm a little bit torn on this card... it feels a little TOO purple, but here it is anyway.
First, the cutting:
I cut 4x6 cards from white card stock.
Next I cut some purple paper into 3x5 rectangles.
Then I cut 2x3" rectangles from a paper that used lighter shades of purple and had a diamond pattern on it.
Then I cut some of my scraps of white card stock into rectangles that measured about 1"x2.5".
Lastly, I cut a purple ribbon that said 'happy birthday' on it into to strips about 4 inches long.


I stuck the ribbon onto the 3x5 card (with the edges of the ribbon folded over the back.)

Then I Stuck that piece onto the actual card.

I stamped "Happy Birthday" onto the small white rectangle with black ink and taped that onto the diamond patterned paper. Then I pierced holes right along the edges of the white "happy birthday" piece and placed silver brads into those holes.

I then taped that entire piece onto the card.

I thought it needed something more, so I got out a mini stamp that I have of dots, and stamped the little dot pattern on each corner with purple ink.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Baby Shower Cards

So I made two versions of this card...Baby Girl and Baby Boy.
I'll just tell you how I made the Baby Girl Card.
First I took an 8.5"x11" sheet of pink cardstock and used some texturing plates to create the pattern of the little feet and hands. I then took a purple colored stamp pad and lightly swiped the ink over the paper to give color to the raised portions of the paper. I cut the paper into 1"x4" strips.
I took some pink patterned paper, which I traced my pattern of a dress onto and cut out the dress shape. I used a black pen to draw "stitches" around the outline of the dress, and drew pockets onto the dress.
Then I took sheets of cardstock that I had cut into 4"x12" strips, and folded them to make a vertically opening 4x6 card.
I glued pieces of twine (that I bought in the jewelry making section) onto the top corners of the card. I glued one strip of the textured paper onto the top and bottom of each card.
Next, I clipped these adorable little clothespins I got at Joanns (made by Jolee's.) onto the string.
I clipped my little dress into the clips and then stuck some foam squares under the bottom corners of the dress, to keep it in place and to help it to stand out off of the card.

Of course for the boy card, I did the same thing but with blue paper, and overalls instead of a dress.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Thank You Card

Surprise! It's another card.
This one was one of my easier cards to make.
I made a 4x6 White card.
I cut a rectangle out of violet paper at 3.5"x5.5" and stuck it to the front of the card.
I cut a smaller rectangle out of white paper, it was 3.25 inches wide and about 4 inches tall.
Then I pulled out my handy Kraft Edgers scissors and cut the top and bottom edge of the white rectangle. I used a 1/4 inch hole punch to punch holes above (and below) every 3rd point in the scallop pattern.
I used a purple ink to "stress" the edges of the paper and used the same ink to stamp on the words "Thank You" and a pretty swirly thing. All that was left to do then was tape the stamped white paper down on top of the violet paper.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Flower Cake

I know that it seems like I'm only capable of making cards, but it's just not true. I can make cake too!
I made a single tier, three layer 9" round cake, and covered it in chocolate icing. Then I took a cookie cutter in the shape of a flower and stamped the flower outline into the chocolate icing. I took some butter cream icing that I colored with Wiltons awesome vibrant coloring.
I put a ruffle border around the bottom and then piped over the outline of the flowers. I used a paintbrush to drag some of the icing inwards, to give it an embroidered effect. and then piped a little dot into the center of the flowers.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Watercolor Card

I saw an idea for water coloring cards online, and wanted to try it. I liked the uneven coloring of the water colors- it made me think "vintage". You may not see it, but I do...this card reminds me of something I would have seen in my grandmothers (or great-grandmothers) kitchen, which is just what I was going for.

I started with a small card this time, 6x4, folded in half to make the front of the card a mere 3"x4".
I stamped this sunflower and thank you onto the front with black ink.
Then I got out my watercolors, I'm not a painter, so I don't have any good quality painting stuff around, I just have the cheap little water color palates you can get in the kids aisle at Target.
I started by just painting a solid yellow stripe across the top of the flowers, and I let it dry.
I also painted a thin line across the "seeds" in brown.
Then, I cleaned my brush, and dipped it in water. I used the water to "drag" the watercolor paint out. Doing this causes the inside where the paint was originally to stay dark and the places where I pulled the color to are lighter. I intentionally left some spots white.
After that dried I cut some thin strips of a patterned green paper and taped them across the top and bottom of the card.