Come Sail Away...with The Rubber Cafe!

This is my last July guest post at The Rubber Cafe.  I am once again working with the July Creative Cafe Kit,  A Whole Water Fun. This time I have used the add-on stamp set, Sail Away With Me.

I really love nautical-themed stamps and papers. I am not sure why...as I don't like being ON the water! I have horrid seasickness! But, I do love LOOKING at boats, lighthouses, and water! So sad for me to live 8 miles from the ocean... {grin}

I made this card, which is suitable for a wedding anniversary or other "love themed" occasion!

I started out by creating a card from the Bazzill Basics Garnet cardstock from the July Creative Cafe Kit. The card is a standard, 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inch card, with a top fold. 

I trimmed the fish scale paper from the 6x6 pad in the kit, to 5 3/8 x 4 1/8 inches.

I trimmed the sail boat paper to 4 1/2 x 4 1/8 inches. I traced the wave shape on the bottom of the paper and trimmed it out with scissors. Then I glued the sail boat paper to the top of the fish scale paper. I purchased those Kiwi Lane templates YEARS ago at one of the Expos, and have used them about 3 times. I had to DUST them off before I could use them on this project! I am SUCH a hoarder!

To make the washi tape (from the kit) a bit less "see through," I attached it to the off white ribbon from the kit. I then wrapped the "washi ribbon" around the printed paper, just above the wave shape. 

Now, my close friends know I don't like washi tape at all...but somehow, I have rolls and rolls and rolls of it. I really do need to learn to use it! I liked sticking it to the ribbon...I love ribbon. So now I have "washi ribbon"!

I attached the printed paper to the card front. Next, I stamped the anchor from the  Sail Away With Me stamp set onto white cardstock and colored it with Copics. I trimmed the image with a circle die template. I matted the circle with an inverted scallop circle die cut shape, cut from the garnet cardstock. I attached the image to the card with foam tape, lining it up with the "fat part" of the wave shape.

I stamped a sentiment from the  Sail Away With Me stamp set onto white cardstock, and trimmed it out with a banner die template. I attached the banner to the bottom of the card.

I then punched a tiny heart from the garnet cardstock. I also put the washi tape over the garnet cardstock and punched a second heart. I attached both hearts to the banner with foam tape.

I lined the inside of the card with white cardstock, ready for a message or a sentiment.

Thanks for joining me today for my "clean and layered" card! {Who says I am a one-trick-pony?!} 

Stamps: The Rubber Cafe Creative Cafe July Kit of the month add-on Sail Away With Me

Paper: The Rubber Cafe Creative Cafe July Kit of the month Echo Park Walking on Sunshine 6x6 pad

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Garnet from the kit; Copic Xpress It Blender Card White

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Markers: Copic

Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares

Embellishments: ribbon, washi tape from the kit

Tools: Spellbinders Standard Circles Large, Classic Inverted Scalloped Circles Large; My Favorite Things Die-namics Sentiment Strips 1; Carl heart punch; Kiwi Lane Designs Sentiments template 1B

One Week Left to Emboss Something!

Challenge #12 at Craft Hoarders Anonymous is still going on!  Remember, you have two weeks to play in the new challenge, which closes August 3rd at midnight PT. Go and see what our Guest Designers have made!

Challenge #12 Who's the Boss?

Show some embossing on your project. You can use dry embossing or heat embossing. You can use an embossing folder or a stencil. You can emboss with embossing paste or embossing powder. You can even create something with ultra-thick embossing enamel. You probably have some sort of embossing apparatus in your hoard! Pull these embossing tools out and put them to use!

The sponsors this month are Crafter's Companion and Spectrum Noir! Here is my project.

For full details, click HERE.

Set the Flamingos Free!

I have a guest post on The Rubber Cafe blog today. I am once again working with the July Creative Cafe Kit,  A Whole Water Fun. I created a cute gift card holder for you.

This little gift card holder is 3 x 4 1/4 inches and fits one standard-sized gift card. I made a belly band closure...showcasing the cute flamingo from the Fun in the Sun stamp set.

Here's how to create your own project!

1, Cut  Bazzill Basics Tahitian Princess dot cardstock to 4 1/4 x 7 inches. Score on the long side at 2 and 5 inches. (All paper and cardstock used for the project, except the white, is from the  July Creative Cafe Kit.)

2. Flip your paper so that the section with the 2-inch score line is at the top. This is the INSIDE of the gift card holder. Round all four corners. Use a 3/4 inch circle punch to punch a notch in the bottom left of the paper, as shown.

3. Trim the Popsicle paper from the 6x6 Echo Park Walking on Sunshine pad (from the kit) to 4 1/8 x 1 7/8 inches. Round the top two corners and attach the paper to the top flap of the gift card holder.

4. Trim another piece of Popsicle paper to 4 1/8 x 2 7/8 inches and attach to the center of the gift card holder.

5. Attach strong, self-adhesive tape to the left and right edges of the bottom flap. Fold the flap up to form a pocket.

6. Stamp the sentiment from the Fun in the Sun stamp set onto white cardstock and trim it out into a strip. Rub the edges with yellow ink. Attach the strip to the top, inside flap of the gift card holder.

7. Using alcohol markers, color a few of the Queen and Company Deco Dots blue. (The Deco Dots are in the kit.) Allow the ink to dry, then attach the Deco Dots to each end of the sentiment.

8. Using a pink alcohol marker, color the wood sunglasses from the Queen and Company Summer Woodies pack.(The wooden embellishments are in the kit.) Glue the sunglasses to the lower left edge of the pocket.

9. Close the top flap of the gift card holder. This becomes the front of the holder. Stamp another sentiment from the Fun in the Sun stamp set onto white cardstock. Rub the edges with yellow ink. Trim the cardstock into a strip and attach to the left side of the front flap, as shown.

10. To create the belly band closure, stamp the flamingo image from the Fun in the Sun stamp set onto white cardstock. Color as desired.

11. Trim the image with an oval die cut template.

12. Trim a scallop oval from Bazzill Basics Daisy cardstock. Attach the image to the scallop shape with foam tape.

13. Trim a strip of Bazzill Basics Tahitian Princess dot cardstock to 1 x 8 inches.

14. Score at 2 5/8 and 5 5/8 inches. Fold the band over to create a 1 x 3 inch belly band. Wrap the band around the gift card holder and attach the ends at the back. (Make sure your band can slide on and off the gift card holder. You may need to adjust your sizing to make a good fit.)

15. Trim two pieces of the Popsicle paper from the 6x6 Echo Park Walking on Sunshine pad to 7/8 x 2 7/8 inches. Attach the pieces to the Tahitian Princess band, gluing one piece to the front of the belly band and one to the back.

16. Attach the flamingo image to the front of the band with foam tape.

 17. Slip a gift card into the pocket! Slide the band in place! 

Stamps: The Rubber Cafe Creative Cafe July Kit of the month Fun in the Sun

Paper: The Rubber Cafe Creative Cafe July Kit of the month Echo Park Walking on Sunshine 6x6 pad

Cardstock: The Rubber Cafe Creative Cafe July Kit of the month Bazzill Basics Daisy, Basics Bazzill Tahitian Princess; Copic Xpress It Blender Card White

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Distress Squeezed Lemonade

Markers: Copic

Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares; Scor-tape; Scrap Happy Glue

Embellishments: Queen and Company wood shapes, deco dots from the kit

Tools: Spellbinders Standard Ovals Small, Classic Scalloped Ovals Large; My Favorite Things Die-namics Sentiment Strips 1 and 2; Stampin' Up circle punch; EK Success corner rounder

Christmas in July - SnSS Challenge

I am scrambling around to get this posted before the challenge ends! Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps has a challenge going on right now, but it ends in 1 day 12 hours and 4 minutes! I hope that you dash over there and enter the Friday Feature and Challenge! This one is...Christmas Ornaments!

Since I just joined the SnSS team, I don't have the featured stamp set, Mod Ornaments, which the rest of the team used for their projects. (That set is ON SALE right now!) I used two of the July release sets, Christmas Morn and Christmas Innies just so I could play along in the challenge.  

I decided to die cut my ornaments. I have several of the Spellbinders Heirloom Ornaments sets, and most of them have never been used. (Can you say, "hoarder"?) I had seen a beautiful card on a blog or Pinterest, from a designer who is (I think) from Poland, using creams and pale blues. (Those gals are currently my favorite designers. I am not sure what Poland has put in the water, but wow!) Anyway, I loved the color combo and how Karola used the elements of her cards - so I sorta scrap lifted from her a bit. Her work is too stunning for words!

I stamped a sentiment from the Christmas Morn set, and then cut it out with a banner die. I rubbed on a little brown ink.

I die cut two ornaments and rubbed them both with ink. I also die cut some snowflakes, which I stenciled with blue ink. Those fancy brads were in a bin on my desk. I have no clue where I got them...I think they may be from Stampin' Up. I have a friend who gives me little containers of bits and bobs from time to time and I think she gave these to me. 

I made one of my "signature bows" from two different ribbons and some twine, and a wooden button. So vintage shabby!

I stamped a sentiment from the Christmas Innies set on the inside of the card. I love the various SnSS "innies" sets! So useful for the inside of cards, but they can also be word art focal pieces for the front of cards!

I hope y'all will forgive me digging into my hoard and using Christmas paper from several years ago! This is all Carta Bella and Echo Park. I just love the colors! Plus, I don't think I purchased any new Christmas paper last season...I was too busy working with Graphic 45 The Twelve Days of Christmas! I usually buy all the new lines, but last year...nothing. 

Thanks for hanging out today. Hop on over to the SnSS blog and link up YOUR challenge!

Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Christmas Morn, Christmas Innies
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers ColorMates Textures Cascata White, ColorMates Smooth and Silky Beach
Designer paper: Echo Park Seasons Greetings; Carta Bella Winter Fun
Dies: Spellbinders Create-a-Flake Five, Ribbon Banners, 2010 Heirloom Ornaments, 2011 Heirloom Ornaments
Ribbon: unknown
Twine: May Arts
Brads: Stampin' Up
Button: unknown
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Rich Cocoa, Brilliance Moonlight White; Ranger Distress Weathered Wood; Clearsnap Colorbox Pigment Cocoa
Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares; Beacon Fabri-tac

Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog - Challenge #12

Hello, Blogger Buddies! It is time for another challenge at the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog! 

Challenge #12 posts today!  Remember, you have two weeks to play in the new challenge, which closes August 3rd at midnight PT.

Challenge #12 Who's the Boss?

Show some embossing on your project. You can use dry embossing or heat embossing. You can use an embossing folder or a stencil. You can emboss with embossing paste or embossing powder. You can even create something with ultra-thick embossing enamel. You probably have some sort of embossing apparatus in your hoard! Pull these embossing tools out and put them to use!

The sponsors this month are Crafter's Companion and Spectrum Noir! I used my cute little stamp and alcohol markers for the last challenge, so I am using the embossing folder that they sent to me this time! 

I received the Lattice embossing folder from Crafter's Companion. I love the pattern, and I also love that the folder is 6 x 6 inches, and it has a hole in the top for "continuous embossing"! My card is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches. Since I own the WRMK envelope punch board, I can make my cards odd-ball sizes if I want! {wink}

I wanted to try a new technique so I went searching for some tutorials and stumbled upon this one from Jennifer McGuire. I took her idea, and ran with it. I did what I guess is called "double embossing." I rubbed some distress ink over the entire folder, making sure to ink the raised "cross hatch" part of the pattern. I used 3-4 colors. I sprayed the ink with water and embossed textured white cardstock normally. The ink transferred to the debossed areas of the lattice lines.

Once the ink was dry-ish, I rubbed more ink over the raised "squares" of the pattern and spritzed the ink with water. I allowed the ink to dry. I wanted a better depth of color, so I went back over the paper, spraying with a few pale mists. It is hard to see in the photo, but the paper has a wonderful shimmer. I let the paper dry over night. I used WorldWin Papers ColorMates Textured Twill White. It took all of that wet stuff perfectly, without warping!

The flowers are made from my "mess ups"! I made a few different sheets of the embossed paper, using different ink colors, different ink techniques, etc. I came out with a bunch of "water colored" and embossed papers. I just cut them up with die templates and made rolled flowers!

The pale brown branches were cut from a sheet where I used distress PAINTS rather than ink. I dabbed various paints onto the folder, and then sprayed them with water and embossed the paper. It came out a sort of metallic water color! 

The black frame is a Spellbinders die, which I cut and embossed with my die machine. I used a square die to cut out the center, making a frame!

I used watermark ink and teal embossing powder to emboss the sentiment. The sentiment is from the Birthday Word Art set that I released with Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps!

I hope you get a chance to play with  your embossing toys! Dig into that hoard and see what you have to play with! Thanks for visiting!

Challenge Rules are HERE. Make sure you LINK your project up using the Link Tool on the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog. PLEASE DO NOT LINK YOUR PROJECT HERE TO MY SCRAPS OF LIFE BLOG!

Make sure you visit the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Design Team and check out what they have to share! 

Amber Milone
Christy Butters - on a break
Debbie Seyer
Donna Idlet
Ginny Nemchak

Glenda Brooks
Gloria Stengel - YOU ARE HERE
Jan Marie Ennenga
Karen Zueger

Kathy Clement

Pam Bray
Tammi Bennett

One talented participant will receive this prize, donated by Crafter's Companion and Spectrum Noir! Yes! You get two alcohol marker sets, one large embossing folder, one coordinating stamp set, and a packet of cardstock for stamping and coloring!

Crafter’s Companion US brings you the products to make crafting a little bit easier, including the Spectrum Noir coloring system, the Ultimate Pro, and more! Crafter’s Companion produces a full range of tools to create cards and other paper craft projects. Their mission is to make their innovative, award-winning tools accessible to crafters around the world at fantastic prices.

Website: http://www.crafterscompanion.com/

Blog: http://crafterscompanion.blogspot.com/

Spectrum Noir is the revolutionary coloring system brought to you by Crafter's Companion. The range combines affordability with versatility across a vast color spectrum, deigned specifically for the crafting market. Spectrum Noir wishes to make both alcohol marker and pencil coloring achievable for colorists at all levels of confidence and ability. 

Website: http://www.spectrumnoir.com/

Blog: http://www.spectrumnoir.com/blog/

Embossing Folder: Crafter's Companion Die'sire Embossalicious Lattice
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers ColorMates Textures Twill White, Treasures Black
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps/Gloria Stengel Designs Birthday Word Art; Stampin' Up (for you)
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon Yellow Plaid
Ink: Ranger Distress Tumbled Glass, Mustard Seed, Squeezed Lemonade, Peacock Feathers; Clearsnap Top Boss Watermark; Memento Tuxedo Black
Spray mists: Lindy's Stamp Gang Frostbitten Fuchsia, Don't Eat Golden Snow, Twinkling Tinsel, Cape Cod Coral, Salt Water Taffy
Paint: Ranger Distress Antique Brass, Tarnished Bronze, Brushed Pewter
Embossing powder: Hampton Art
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Die cut templates: Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Squares, Bitty Blossoms, Foliage, Rose Creations, Carnation Creations, Cherry Blossoms; Couture Creations Nesting Squares ; My Favorite Things Fishtail Flags
Punch: Stampin' Up
Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape; Aleene's Fast Grab Tacky Glue; Beacon Fabri-tac

"Orange" You Glad That I Made a Card?!

Get it?! {giggle} Orange is one of those colors...love it or hate it. I kind of love it AND hate it! I do think orange is a HOT color for summer! So here goes!

This is my LAST project for the WorldWin Papers blog. The team is being disbanded! I am so sad about that, but in these rough economic times, these things happen. You will still be able to purchase the cardstock at The Papermill Store. To see a tutorial for this card, click HERE.

I used  Original ColorMates Cardstock Deep Spring Green and Deep Orange Dream, and ColorMates Textured Twill Cardstock White.

I embossed the orange panel with a Lattice Embossing Folder from Crafter's Companion. They sponsored the Craft Hoarders Challenge Blog this month, so I am playing with my new toys! The folder is 6 x 6 inches! Perfect for your square cards! Naturally, I rubbed the raised embossing with orange ink!

I sneaked in a tiny bit of Graphic 45 Eerie Tale paper. Just a little of the orange and green. 

I stamped the poppies image (Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps) onto ColorMates Textured Twill White cardstock with black dye ink. I colored the image with Prisma colored pencils. This is my first time really working with the pencils. I love how they look on the textured paper! I added a bit of Copic markers, too. And then I blended the pencil with a Copic Blender Pen. I have one that I use JUST for the pencils. The blender pen really made it look a bit water color-y!  

That "fancy" bow is tied using the Bow Easy tool. I still don't have the hang of my Bow-it-All. I need to watch more videos!

To decorate the inside of the card, I used a small square punch to punch seven squares of decorative paper in orange and green. I attached the squares in a diamond pattern at the bottom of the white panel.

The sentiment is from the Precious Poppies stamp set.

Thanks for joining me today! I hope you will give the ColorMates Textured Twill cardstock a try! I love how it makes my image look as if it were stamped onto canvas...and water colored!

WorldWin Papers:
Original ColorMates Cardstock Deep Spring Green, Deep Orange Dream
ColorMates Textured Twill White

Embossing Folder: Crafter's Companion Lattice
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Distress Dried Marigold
Colored Pencils: Prismacolor
Markers: Copic
Dies: Spellbinders Standard Circles Large, Small; My Favorite Things Banner Flag Stax
Punch: Carl
Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Precious Poppies
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon Orange Striped Grosgrain
Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares; Glue Dots

We All Live in a Yellow Submarine...

Well, not really! {giggle} I had so much fun as the June Guest Designer at The Rubber Cafe, that I came back for one more month! When I saw the July Creative Cafe Kit, A Whole Water Fun, I knew I had to play along! I love the stamps and the papers, but...with a "punny" title like that, how could I NOT join in?!

I created this cute card with the submarine stamp from the Under the Sea stamp set. I had to add the sentiment from Fun in the Sun add-on set. Get it....you live in a tiny sub and you "wish they were here"?! {giggle} My 13 year old thought it was funny! {grin}

To make this card, visit The Rubber Cafe Blog for a "tiny tutorial"!

I used some Glossy Accents to make the porthole look like it was made of glass. I used a decorative die template that had a water drop shape around the edges. I glued a few of the "water drops" to the main image. 

The dimension is nice, not too thick. I just love the blue paper peeking out from behind the yellow.

I like the font for the sentiment. It's very casual and fun!

I added a white panel to the inside of the card, with a thin strip of the fish scale paper attached to the bottom. I couldn't resist stamping the Under the Sea sentiment at the bottom!

Stamps: The Rubber Cafe Creative Cafe July Kit of the month Under the Sea, Fun in the Sun

Paper: The Rubber Cafe Creative Cafe July Kit of the month Echo Park Walking on Sunshine 6x6 pad

Cardstock: Bazzill Daisy, Bazzill Bling Glitz from the kit; Copic Xpress It Blender Card White

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Distress Tumbles Glass

Markers: Copic

Paint: Ranger Distres Picket Fence

Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D Foam Squares; Ranger Glossy Accents

Embellishments: Ribbon from the kit

Tools: Spellbinders Standard Circles Small and Large, Tear Drop Circle; My Favorite Things Die-namics Sentiment Strips, Polka Dot Cover-Up

Crafty Secrets Design Team Feature

I am so excited to join the Crafty Secrets Design Team! Love their stuff. It is all vintage, all the time!

If you have never used any Crafty Secrets product, there are lots of freebies for you to try. Go HERE and scroll down the right sidebar until you see the FREE stuff, directly under the Blog Archive. I am loving all the digital items as I can print what I want, the size I want, when I want, on the paper I want! 

I have been a fan of Crafty Secrets for YEARS! I think I first found them in 2007 or so when I purchased their Halloween Fun stamp set, which is now available as a digital set!

I love this sweet vintage witch. She brings to mind memories of Trick-or-Treat from years gone by.

Here she is again, with her little kitten! In fact, Sandy featured this card back in 2010! Click HERE to see! 

I am currently the July Guest DT for Crafty Secrets {wink}. Here is the card I made for the July Linky Party challenge.

View details of the card HERE. (I used five different Crafty Secrets products and all the links are in the main post.)

I went through my files and found a few older cards with Crafty Secrets product on them. They were fun to pull out of the vault! 

I used the Vintage Girlfriends Image and Journal Notes for this one. The inside says: ...on the Internet. {giggle} I think I sent this to my friend Sandy for her 50th birthday a few years back.

Here is another card I made several years ago. But it's still "good." 

I used images from the Material Girl stamp set for this card. This set is currently available in digital format. 

I want to thank Sandy, owner of Crafty Secrets and Kathy, the DT leader, for giving me this opportunity to play in the "vintage sandbox"! I feel very blessed by their confidence and generosity!

Crafty Secrets is also our sponsor for Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge Blog in September. You will get to see what the Hoarders team does with the products!