Embossing Paste.........my new love and some free files!!!!!

Hello everyone!  I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love and family!  My youngest son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons came for Thanksgiving and we had a wonderful time.  I told my DH after they left that it sounded like a morgue in here...lol  They left a week ago today but it seems like it's been a month!

Well, to "drown my sorrow" I've been heavy-duty crafting or maybe I should say "playing".  Right before they got here I had purchased some Dreamweave's Embossing Paste so this week I've been playing with it and I'm in love!!!  I went to Joann's and got me some Dritz "Clear Template Plastic" and proceeded to cut me some stencils to use with the embossing paste.  I cut them using my Sizzix eClips and I learned you really have to make sure that the plastic is well adhered to your mat............I used some blue painters tape to hold the template plastic down and it worked great.  I set my blade at 4, used the "stencil" setting and did a double-cut.

Here is a couple of photos showing some of what I did while "playing".

The two "white" stencils that I cut were actually cut from poster board that I purchased from Walmart and it worked great.  However, if it's a stencil that you might be using over and over, you will want to use the plastic template.  Since the poster board is actually kind of coated, I was able to clean off the embossing paste with a baby wipe....you just need to make sure that you clean it right away!

I used some mica mixed in with the paste in on the bottom half of the red and white chevron panel as well as some glitter.  For the "snow flakes" I used a little flower soft, but should have added it a little sooner.  For the "frame" on the tag I added some Martha Stewart "Smoky Quartz" glitter right away.  Here is a close-up of the items I made using the stencils.  

Ok, now for the free files.  I actually designed the "Chevron" and "Frame" stencils and if you would like them, there are links below to the download.  The formats I've included are SVG, Studio, MTC, eCAL (scut3), as well as aJpeg.  Enjoy!

Chevron Stencil

Frame Stencil

Well y'all............I've got to quit playing and start making some more Christmas cards, so I'm going to get off here and get busy!  Thanks for stopping by and hurry back!!!

A "Get Well" card for Sophia!!!

A few weeks ago, I learned about a little girl named Sophia, who was diagnosed with A.L.L. (acute lymphocytic leukemia).  She is the daughter of my niece's boss and she is only seven years old.  After going through cancer with my youngest son (now 40 years young...lol) when he was only three and a half years old and then going through it myself, this just broke my heart for her!  I asked my niece if she would get me an address so that I could make Sophia a special card and send it to her and to also let me know her favorite color and what she likes.  I found out that she likes snakes and lizards and pink is her favorite color....so I went from there and this is what I came up with.

Do y'all remember when I did this blog post back in September?  Well, I've held on to the gorgeous little bird sticker that I made from a free file from misskatecutables.com and when I heard she liked pink and she also likes "critters", I knew what I would place on the front of the card!  The border down the side is a free file from Birds Cards and if you would like the file, you can find it here.....just scroll down until you see "Ribbon Borders 1" and click on the title to download it.  I altered the one I chose to use by getting rid of the scallops on the left side so that it would fit to the left side of my card panel.  I made a paper ribbon to thread through the border and I ran some Scor-Tape down the middle of it and then used pink flock on it and added the bling.  I also want to point out that stripes around the card front are flocked.  Here is a close-up of the card front.

My next project was to find a cute lizard to place on the inside of the card, so I went looking at Google Images and found the perfect one as I wanted it to look like he was holding up a sign.  Of course, I just had to give him some "googly eyes"...lol    Isn't he a cutie patootie???  Oh, and I just want to point out that I did not mis-spell Sophia's name....she is often called "Fia".

When I made the envelope for the card, I used the same "striped" concept on the envelope front.

And last, but not least, for my "signature label" that I always place and sign on the back of my cards, I used the Silhouette America free file from last week as it looks better for a child's card than my regular label!

Sophia's aunt has started a Facebook Page for Sophia called "Sophia's Warriors" and if you would like to stop by and leave some love for Sophia, you can find it here.  Also, if you would like to make a card for Sophia, email me and I will provide an address that you can send the cards to.  Now here is a link to a video of Sophia back when she was three years old that will bring a smile to your face and probably tears to your eyes!

Thanks so much for stopping by....and if I don't get back here before next Thursday, I wish you and yours a very "Happy Thanksgiving"!!!

Finished Card Size:  5.5"x5.5" Square

Supply List

Papers:  Bazzill "Smooth White"

Ink:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"

Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo", Ranger "Heat It"

Accessories:  Stamp-n-Stuff "Detail Clear Transparent" & "Star Dust Transparent Embossing Powder,  Silhouette "Double-sided Adhesive Sheets", Offray "Bling", Recollections "Pearls", "2 Peas Mr. Giggles" & "LDT Printed" fonts, Martha Stewart "Classic Butterflies" punch, Zig "Wink of Stella Clear Brush Tip" Marker, Doodlebug "Velvet Flock"

Good News & my "Red Poinsettia Card"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so excited and so thankful to God and all of y'all for your prayers!  Thank you so much.  The results from my PET scan yesterday are good.......no signs of cancer and I don't have another PET scan scheduled until until March 18, 2014!!!!  Everyone there said that I was looking so good!  The only thing I did not like is that I have gained 5 lbs....but the tech that does the PET scan said that that is a good sign as it means I am on the mend from all of the radiation.  Awww, now I can breathe for a while!!!

OK, now back to my passion (besides my DH), crafting!!!  I have completed the "red poinsettia" A2 Frame Card and have photos to share.  

For this one, I did not use the clear embossing powder, I just gave the ink on the vellum a bit of time to dry and I actually think it's better NOT to emboss as I think it cuts better.  I used a couple of "Bic Mark-Its" to color this one.  For my darker color I chose "Rambunctious Red" and for my lighter color I chose "Sunset Orange" and I rather like how it turned out!  For the sentiment I used the "1 Bicarbonite DNA" font and I cut it out of a vinyl sample from signwarehouse.com that they sent me ages ago called "Champagne Gold Holographic"...love it!!!  Here is a close-up of the poinsettia.

Now, here are a couple of photos of the back of the card, showing the easel.  For this one I actually cut three of the easel and glued them together.  I did not score them with my cutter, instead after I glued them together I scored it with my Scor-Pal and I actually liked that method much better than cutting it out of cereal box and then having to paint or cover it with paper like I did with the first poinsettia card.

I will be making a "signature" label to go on the back of each card.....maybe using a "Christmas Bell" or "Christmas Tree" shape...have not decided yet!

Hey, once again, thanks for all of the prayers and support...they mean so much to me and thanks for stopping by.  Hurry back!!!

Finished Card Size:  A2 (4.25"x5.5")

Supply List

Papers:  Bazzill "Smooth White", Velllum, The Paper Company "White W/Gold Dots" Decorative Paper

Stamps:  "Pretty Poinsettia" digital stamp by Jane Beljo

Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo", Sizzix "eClips"

Accessories:  Offray Ribbon, Recollections "Pearls", "1 Bicarbonite DNA" font, "Champagne Gold Holographis" Vinyl,  Zig "Wink of Stella Clear Brush Tip" Marker

Free "A2 Frame Card with Easel", a prayer request and a surprise!

Hey y'all!!!  I need prayers from all of you, as on Monday I am going for a PET scan to make sure that my cancer is still gone and I always get nervous prior to having the scan.  I have to have one every three months.  I'm feeling great, so if that is any indication, I would say everything will be fine!!!

Now, on to the "free" file.........it is for the card that I made in the previous post.  It is for the card itself and the surprise!!!  The artist, Jane Beljo, has given me permission to share my cutting file with y'all.  Here are her words "Just give it to anyone who wants it!!  No worries! :)".  So, if you would like my cutting file of her digital stamp...just email me and I will email it to you!  You can purchase her digital stamp here if you would like..it's well worth the $2.50 price.  Thank you Jane Beljo for your generosity!!!  You can check out Jane's links here:

http://janeb-myblog.blogspot.com

janesdoodles.blogspot.com

www.janesdoodles.com

Now, onto the free card file.................you can download it here and it includes JPG, MTC, SVG and STUDIO formats.

Enjoy!!!

I LOVE this poinsettia image!!!!

OK y'all, I was "surfing" a few days ago and came across this card that made me want that digital poinsettia image.............so I went looking for it and found it here and purchased it!!!  I then proceeded to make me a print and cut file of it in black and white so that I could print it on vellum, lay clear embossing powder on it, heat set it and then color with my Tim Holtz Markers (for my lighter color I used "Spun Sugar" and for my darker, I used "Worn Lipstick") and my Clear "Wink of Stella Brush Tip Marker".  I liked the poinsettia so much that I decided to use it on a Christmas card for my sister-in-law.  This card does not open...I used an easel that I cut with my Sizzix eClips as my SIL likes to place cards on display in her built-in bookcase by her fireplace.  I sure hope she likes it!!!  Here are a couple of photos.

Here is a close-up.

For the "glitter stripes", I once again used the Silhouette "Double-sided Adhesive Sheets".  I'm thinking about making another card just like this one for my other sister-in-law, but make the poinsettia red and use gold accents instead of silver .  If I do that I will post some more photos.  Thanks for stopping by and hurry back!!!

Finished Card Size:  A2 (4.25"x5.5")

Supply List

Papers:  Bazzill "Smooth White", Velllum

Stamps:  "Pretty Poinsettia" digital stamp by Jane Beljo

Ink:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"

Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo", Sizzix "eClips", Ranger "Heat It"

Accessories:  Stamp-n-Stuff "Detail Clear Transparent" Embossing Powder,  Silhouette "Double-sided Adhesive Sheets", Offray Ribbon, Recollections "Pearls", "Alex Brush" font, Oracal "Ultraleaf Cast" 3.5 Mil Vinyl, Recollections "Extra Fine Silver Glitter" Zig "Wink of Stella Clear Brush Tip" Marker

A "Get Well" card for a very special lady!!!

Her name is Barbara and she is also known as "bdjeepers" at the Silhouette Plus group, where she has been a wonderful moderator.  She may be having surgery on both of her hands...right now they are trying injections, but I know she has suffered a lot of pain with this problem and I just want to wish her healing and a full recovery!  She is such a nice person and I miss her at the group as I know everyone else does!  For her card, I am using the Silhouette "double-sided adhesive sheets" and I must say that I love them!!!  If you've not ordered some yet, you really must!  I used some to make the gorgeous designer paper for her card, by cutting strips of the adhesive to make the "glittered stripes" and I also designed a border for the bottom panel and used some of the adhesive to glitter it as well.  Here are some photos.

And here is a close-up.  I used a "flourish frame" file that I've had in my cut files for quite a long time and I'm afraid that back then I did not always add the designer's name to the file name, so I'm not sure where I got this from or who designed it, but I really like it!  I also note here that the font that I used is the "Corinthia" font and you can download it for free at a lot of different sites....just "google" it.  I don't think I've ever used it before but after using it on this card and seeing how pretty it is, you can bet I will be using it again!

For the inside of the card, I used a patterned paper from the Recollections "Black and White" Paper Pad...

and I also used the same for the front panel of the envelope.

I just want to say that I've spent a small fortune on designer papers over the years, but now with the "double-sided adhesive sheets" I will be making my own.  Next I think I will try using my flock!

I want to say that Barbara received her card today and she loved it and I love that she loved it and that hopefully it made her feel better!!!

 Thanks for stopping by and I hope you like what I did with this card...please hurry back!

Finished Card Size:  5.5"x5.5" Square

Supply List

Papers:  Bazzill , Recollections "Black and White" Paper Pad, Southworth Ivory Parchment

Stamps:  Hero Arts "Get Well Greeting"

Inks:  Tsukineko "VersaMark WaterMark"

Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo", Ranger "Heat It" 

Accessories:  Silhouette "double-sided adhesive sheets", Recollections "Pearls" and "Epoxy Stickers", Stamp-n-Stuff "White Opaque" embossing powder, Zig "Wink of Stella Brush Tip Markers" (black & clear), Martha Stewart "Florentine Gold" & "White Gold" glitter, Offray Ribbon

I made a "Hello" card (& a free butterfly file) using more images from..............

all-free-download.com!!!  I have a good online friend that I've never sent a card to, so I decided to make her a "hello" card and since the weather will soon be turning cold I decided to bring a little "spring time" into her life.  For the card front I found a spring frame at the "all free download" site and then after searching I found an image that matched for the inside of the card.  Here are some photos...let me know what you think!!!

The next two photos include close-ups of my "2 Layer Vellum Butterfly", which is the file that I will be giving away at the end of this post.  I used two of my Zig "Wink of Stella Brush Tip Markers" on the vellum layer.  I used the "Clear" and the "Silver".

And this is the image that I found for the inside panel that matches the "spring frame" on the card front.  All I added was some liquid pearls and I used my clear "Wink of Stella Brush Tip Marker" on some of the flowers...hard to see in my photos, but it is there!

I made my own envelope and I cut a panel to adhere to the front using some patterned paper from my DCWV "Fresh Floral Stack"....it was a plaid design and had all of my colors on it!  I also cut a liner for the envelope using the same patterned paper.  I just used 24 LB Georgia-Pacific "Premium Ink Jet & Laser Paper" for the envelope base.

I used the print and cut technique with my Silhouette "Cameo" and the font that I used was one that I've been using so much lately as I love it...."2 Peas Mr. Giggles"!!!  This card so SO much fun to make!!! 

Now for the free butterfly file...you can go here to download it and I hope you enjoy it!  I included 

JPG, MTC, SVG and .Studio formats, so that should about cover everyone.

Thanks for stopping by, please hurry back and please leave a comment letting me know if you liked this card!

Finished Card Size:  A2 (5.5"x4.25)

Supply List

Papers:  Bazzill "Smooth White",  Colorbok "Pink" (butterfly frame), DCWV "Fresh Floral Stack"

Stamps:  Hero Arts "Hello Grettings" (A1120)

Inks:  Tsukineko "VersaMark WaterMark"

Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo", Ranger "Heat It"

Accessories:  Zig Wink of Stells Brush Tip Markers "Black", "Clear" & "Silver", Recollections Bling & Pearls, Ranger Liquid Pearls "Petal Pink", Stamp-n-Stuff "Blushing Pink Opaque"

OK y'all, I've got lots to talk about and to show...........

you!  First of all, a couple of weeks ago I was introduced to the Wink of Stella Brush Tip Markers and WOW...I love them!!!  My introduction was from this video and blog post by Jennifer McGuire, which also got me to yearning for some Tim Holtz Distress Markers and Watercolor Paper!  I went ahead and ordered a set (Clear, Silver and Black) of the Wink of Stella Brush Tip Markers from 7 Kids College Fund and had a blast with them when they arrived about ten days ago and I particularly LOVE the Clear one!!!  By the way, 7 Kids is a great site to purchase from, their customer service is great and my order arrived quite quickly!  Then this past Saturday I stopped by my local Joann's, armed with one of their 50% off coupons, plus a Michaels 40% coupon and guess what?  They had the Tim Holtz Distress Marker Sets (5 per set) on 40% off, so I picked up a couple of sets...love them.  They coordinate with the Distress Ink pads.  Don't have the watercolor paper yet, but it's on my list...LOL

Now for the other thing I've been into.....there is a site online called all-free-downloads.com and you can download some really cool vector images and after looking through them, my imagination started running wild with ideas for using them on cards.  A dear online friend of mine and her husband just purchased a new home and I wanted to send them a "congrats" card...so when I saw this image, my card started coming together!  The images at their site are .eps format, so I took it into Photoshop and copied it to a new image and saved it as a JPG.  Here are some photos of what I came up with.

Close-up of the little bird.

And an inside view!  I used the "KG Somebody the I used to Know" font.

Please excuse my photography skills but I think you can get the idea!  What is so cool is that you can make a really fantastic card just using the vector images you can download.  Everything on this card is done using my Canon Printer and the "print and cut" technique on my Silhouette "Cameo".   I went into my software and traced the little bird's body so that I could prop her up on pop dots and the only other thing I added, which you can't really see in my photos is that I used the Clear Wink of Stella Brush to add some glitter, plus I created the text on the card front using my Silhouette software and the "2 Peas Mr. Giggles" font and cut it with my Cameo and then added some more of the Wink of Stella Clear to give it so much glimmer!  Also I did emphasize the eye on the little bird with my Black Wink of Stella Brush Tip marker.  My friend loved it!

The other great thing about the vector images you can download is that you after you take them into Photoshop or Photoshop Elements and make them JPGS, you can import them as patterns into your cutter software.  When you look through all of the vector images you will be amazed at what you can choose from!  Go check it out!  I've made another card using one of their images, but I cannot post it until the end of the week............so hurry back and I will see ya then!

Finished Card Size: 5.5"x5.5" Square

Supply List

Papers:  Bazzill "Smooth White" and Bazzill
Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo"
Accessories:  ZIG "Clear Wink of Stella Brush" and "Black Wink of Stella Brush" (bird's eye)

A "free" flower file for y'all.................

as I've been playing today and I want to share it!  One of the YouTube channels that I subscribe to is Glenda Cairns and after watching one of her latest videos today, I decided I wanted to make a cutting file for one of the flowers she was showing.  If you would like to see her video, you can see it here and I've also put a link to it in the files.  Here is a photo of the quick sample I made.

In the zipped file, I've included Studio, SVG and MTC files...........you can download the files here.  I hope you enjoy...hurry back soon as I'm on a roll LOL!!!

Someone special is turning 25 (& another envelope file).......

in fact, tomorrow!  It is so hard to believe that my little niece Ashley (my youngest brother's only child) is going to be 25.........gosh, I'm getting old...LOL!!!  Here is a photo of the front of the card I designed just for her and then I will go into some of the details.

I used a border from one of the designs I've been working on, which I call my "Art Deco Shell Ensemble".  How do you like it?  I got the birthday title idea from something that I saw on Pinterest and I used the "2 Peas Mr. Giggles" font, which was introduced to me by Julie Flanagan at the Makes the Cut forum....love it!  I have to admit that when I was trying to glue the title to the white panel I goofed and had to remove it which caused some damage and since I had already adhered the delicate cut border and did not want to start over, I had to come up with a fix, so I came up with this idea!

I cut the panel with my Cameo and then used an Anna Griffin embossing folder on it and walla...you would never know that I did a huge boo boo...LOL  I also want to add that I actually cut the title twice and then glued it together to add some depth.  Here is a close-up of the title and the embossed panel.

Now, for the inside of the card!

For the "25th border", I used Kerri Bradford's "Mix+Match Series Lines & Letters" video to create it...you can view it yourself here.  I actually wound up doing the 25th border in two pieces...the black base and then the inner part of the "25th" in the pink bazzill.  The rest of the inside is actually just one panel that I created in the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software and then printed on white bazzill and just added some pink liquid pearls.  Here is a close-up view.

I just want to add that the font I used for the message was "KG Somebody that I used to know" and for the happy birthday I used "LDT Swirls".  I hope Ashley likes her card as I am actually very pleased with how it turned out!

And now for the free envelope file....I made this to fit a 5.5x5.5 inch card and it is roomy to allow for some embellishments, but if you add too many you may have to re-size it a little.  There are score lines, but if you prefer them, you can change them to "dashed lines".  The download includes a .studio as well as an SVG format.  You can download it here.  Hope this will be useful to you!

Thanks for stopping by and now I've got to get back to work!!!

Finished Card Size:  5.5"x5.5" Square

Supply List

Papers:  Bazzill

Inks:  Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark"

Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo", Ranger "Heat-It", Sizzix "Big Shot"

Accessories:  Recollections "Black Pearl Sticker",  Offray "Pink Adhesive Gems", "Petal Pink" Liquid Pearls,  Anna Griffin "Poppy" Embossing Folder

WOW.....this old girl has been busy!!!!!

Ok....I know it's been a while since I posted anything, but trust me I've been crafting.  For one thing I've got three family birthdays this month, plus I've been doing some designing and trying to re-learn Makes the Cut!!!  I love my Silhouette Studio Designer Edition software, but it is missing some features that I can get in Makes the Cut, like "wrap object around a shape"!!!  At any rate, here is some of what I've been up to!

My youngest grandson's birthday was on October 2nd, so I talked to my son and he told me that Brady was going to get the "Disney Infinity" video game for his birthday and that right now, that is what he is into, plus his favorite colors are green and blue, so I used this information to design his birthday card and here is a photo of it!

Then on October 5th Brady's Dad (my youngest son), Chad turned 40!!!  Well, needless to say, I had to come up with something very special for that one!

And here is a close-up so that you can read the "conversation bubble".

The "mirror stand", "vase" and "flower" are all Silhouette America cutting files and I think I made the conversation bubble from an image I found online.  The man's head, nose and hands were made by me.  Of course, I just had to add some of those googly eyes!  The "mirror" file was taller and skinnier so I altered it to fit my card.  I used Tim Holtz Distress inks with a stencil brush to make the "wood stain" on the mirror frame and a silver mirror sheet for the "mirror".  For the floor at the bottom of the card front I used a textured wallpaper sample.

Here is what I did for the inside top of the card.

  

 And here is what I did for the inside bottom of the card.

My son loved his 40th birthday card!!!  For the third birthday card, I'm going to start a new post.  Thanks for stopping by!!!

A "Belated Birthday" card.....and a "FREE" envelope file!!!

Hello everyone!!!  About ten days ago I made this card, but did not want to post it until my friend had received it.  Her birthday was back in July, but I'm afraid that my creative juices were not kicking in at that time due to my cancer and treatments and it was her big 50....so needless to say I was feeling VERY guilty and I got to thinking about the old saying, "better late than never" and that got my creative juices kicking in and this is what I came up with!  Here is a front view of the card.

And here is a view of the inside (in Photoshop I blocked out the personal message to her).

Now for some notes on the making of this card.  First of all, I want to mention that the card is 5"x7" and and in order to make a "portrait" 5x7 card I would need at least a 14" piece of cardstock which I don't have!  So, I used Becca Feeken's (Amazing Paper Grace) "Becca Bit" called "Piecing Card Bases" and I just love that concept as you can even use letter size papers if you need to.  You can find it here...just scroll down to the video tutorial.  Thank you so much for this Becca!  Now, do you see how tiny and delicate the "Belated Birthday Wishes" is?  Well, that was done using black vinyl that was cut with my Silhouette "Cameo"!!!  Needless to say, I will start using the vinyl more often for sentiments, etc. as it cuts like butter with the "Cameo"!!!  The lamp post is a really nice file from the Silhouette store that I just purchased and it is named "Vintage Hanging Shop Sign", Design ID #18385.  I only used the lamp post.  I made the actual hanging sign using one of the stamps from "Borders & Journaling Boxes" by Studio G and I made a "mat" to stamp it on using my Silhouette "Studio Designer Edition" software and the message on it was hand written by me using a while gel pen.  The "chains" holding it are made from some silver trim that I purchased from Walmart.  The banner is also a file from the Silhouette store called "banner 2"...I could not find a design number and I think maybe it was one of the free files that came with the "Cameo".  Don't you just love the patterned paper I used on it?  It came from a Recollections paper stack called "Garden Florals" and there are 240 sheets of patterned papers, 60 designs and four sheets of each.

Now....onto the "free" file.  I designed an envelope for 5x7 (A7) cards that can be cut on letter size papers....of course, if you have a piece of 12x12 paper and a cutter that will cut that size, you can use the 12x12 size papers.  Because I designed this to cut on letter size, the envelope file is five separate pieces as well as the liner.  I have a lot of paper that is letter size that I need to be using, plus for those individuals that can only cut letter size or even A4, they can make their own "large" envelopes too!  I used my file to make the envelope for this card and I want to let you know that I only cut the envelope front using the patterned paper....the other pieces (the flaps) were cut using 24# white printer paper.  If you would like the file (I included Studio as well as SVG formats), you can download it here.  Enjoy and I look forward to seeing you again soon!!!

Finished Card Size:  A7 (5"x7")

Supply List

Papers: Bazzill and Recollections "Garden Florals" Paper Pad

Stamps:  "Borders & Journaling Boxes" Studio G

Inks:   Tsukineko "VersaMark Watermark", Tim Holtz "Vintage Photo"

Tools:  Silhouette "Cameo", Ranger "Heat It"

Accessories:  Stamp-n-Stuff "Detail White Opaque" embossing powder, Recollections "Pearl Stickers", me and my big ideas "icon" (bling), Martha Stewart "Classic Butterfly" punch