Making cards-the easy way

Okay if you are like me, you probably never ever buy greetingcards but make them yourself! :)
And if you are like me you always make the greetingcards the very same day...right!

I know...it is quite sad but true!

BUT...it can be solved!

If you scrapbook or do some crafts you usually get some supplies over. At least I do.
This is my stash:

I keep mine in folders, at least the paper stash. One for solid colors and one for my pattern paper.
These are the folders that come out whenever my nieces or nephiews come over and demand to do some crafting. (like I am such a push over, wait...I am. Drats!)
Anywho, not that long ago I got a phonecall from my niece asking if she could come over and we ended up at the table doing some crafts.

This is where I got the idea. Why not use my stash of leftovers to create some greetingcards. (lightbulb came on here)

And here is what I did:

a few strips, flowers and a chipboard. A lovely birthday card

similar to above and just a chipboard.

a painted chipboard with crackle paint and a flower.
could be a birthday card, weddingcard, any occasion card

or if you have some beads lying around you could add a string.

Basically just take whatever you have on hand! Nice to know that you have a card lying around whenever you need it. :)

So go raid your stash and get on with it!

A gift + Card inspiration

The other week my best friend turned 30!! Big Hooray for her! :)
She strongly didn't want any gifts and what kind of friend would I be if I didn't listen to her wishes, a bad one right?!

Heh heh....well...I can't just show up empty handed now can I?!!

NO.....

So I scrambled together THIS:

 A gift containing.....30 different items I knew she would love!! :)
Kind of cool to see her face looking through what was inside the cellofane wrapper.

And a sweet card for her aswell! :)

Not going to do a Weekly sketch this week, due to travelling, but the above one is a great inspiration source! :)

Happy Spring!

Christmas card craft night

Last night I invited a few of my fellow co-workers for some arts and crafts.

A.k.a Christmas cards

A couple of hours of fun, booze for some, snacks, crafts and lots of laughter is what was needed.

Here are few pics from yesterday;

I got the thumbs up from this recipe and this recipe too.

With that said, I am going to cure my headache.

Cardmaking step by step

I have decided that I would share my "talents" (which aren't talents really...just pure luck) to the rest of you out there who either Scrapbook or do make Cards.

In other words...be prepared for a long post! :)

And please bare with me...wasn't easy shooting and creating at the same time. Plus to remember to shoot after I did one section of the creating....think I need an assistant!

Anyway here goes:

I have a love for Ranger Products, Distress pads and Perfect Pearl. So here is how I do a normal card step by step.

First I start of with a Tag or a plain white paper cut to size.

I then choose two shades from my stash of Distress Inkpads and begin with the lighter shade.

I move in circular motions using a foampad (a makeup sponge will work too), applying as much as I feel is okay.

Then I take the darker shade and apply that in a circular motion around the Tag to create a depth.

After I am done with the Distress Inkpads I blend water and Perfect Pearl powder in a little spray.

You only need a knifetip of powder in the bottles I have.

I then spray the Tag to get a shimmer look to it.

This is a golden shimmer.

I have a heatgun to warm up and dry the Tag after I have sprayed it with Perfect Pearl.

(using a regular hairdryer works too)

Not sure if you can see it here, but this is the Shimmer look I was talking about above.

After it is all dried up I stamp the Tag with whatever design i feel like.

I use the darker shade of Distress inkpads for this one.

Here is a sample of the finished Tag.

I made one in blue aswell to show you the versatilty of using these products.

I cut the eylelet part of the Tag off before I mount it on a card. You can leave it on, but I usually cut it off.

                                 

Here are the finished cards!

All done in under 30 minutes, with the shooting and all. :)

I sometimes add flowers or a ribbon to the card, but on these I just used some White Pearls to give it some pop and chalked the sides with a brown distress inkpad.

All you need is a bit of imagination and you can go far!

Enjoy!!

Recycling

I am not sure if you are like me, but when I use my creative side for either cards or Scrapbook layouts I alwasy....Always....have pieces of paper left over. Have this folder with small bits of paper on my desk, and my motto is that I will turn to those first whenever I do create something...you know...to keep the pile from getting bigger! :))


Down below are a few of my creations from my scrappile!