Embossed Elegance: A Card Inspired by Jo Simons

Over the weekend, I watched a YouTube video by Jo Simons that used a technique I had not done in quite some time—using dies to emboss a card. It immediately inspired me to pull out my supplies and give it another try.

For this card, I used the Spellbinders 5 x 7 Elegant Labels 4 die and ran it through to create an embossed frame. Before removing the label die, I did some ink blending with a soft blue ink, both inside and outside the shape to add extra depth and softness. For the sentiment, I chose one from the Peony Glow stamp set by Pinkfresh Studio. I also used the coordinating washi tape and matching dies from the same collection to cut the floral elements. To finish the design, I arranged two of the floral die cuts around the embossed frame and added a few black dots to tie in with the stamped sentiment.

It was so enjoyable to revisit these older techniques.  

You make life beautiful -

 Took advantage of my non-working day yesterday to have a play.   I had done the housework first thing, and then travelled about 20 minutes to got to the Outlet Sports Shoe shops to get some new walking shoes and then had time in the craft room. 

Grace had been playing with some watercolour powders when Pop was looking after her on Thursday (the long summer school holidays here in NZ) and she made several sheets of mixed colours.  One of which was a vibrant mixture of purples, blues and greens.  Very rich looking and they inspired this card

.

Isn't it a stunning colour.  I used Altenew Pitcher Vases die and embossing folder set to cut out the pitcher.  In real life, the shimmer is incredible.  I chose to have just a single flower - Altenew Petite Mountain Aven die.   I cut it from some Lawn Fawn Pearlescent cardstock. I added some colour with alcohol markers for the centre.  Cut the leaves with some dark green card and added a couple of die cut twigs from Altenew - Charming Foliage - that did get a bit of pruning first.  I decided to keep the background simple and did a little partial embossing with Altenew's Dotty Circles 3D folder and added a thin strip of gold across the edge.  Trimmed a 1/4 inch off one side and added to my card with a strip of the some card I used for the pitcher.  And die cut some dots to add as embellishment.  The sentiment was one I had in my stash from Pinkfresh - Peony Glow stamp and die set.

I am entering this into the Time Out challenge - A favourite card making technique   in my case - two favourites - 3D embossing and die cutting and a bonus - using homemade dots for embellishments 

Summer has forgotten us here in NZ... The whole country has had some horrendous stormy, wet weather - lots of floods and slips - an unfortunately lose of life.  Two people died when a slip ploughed through their home and in a beach town a few hours south of here, 6 people have been caught in a large slip which came down on a camping ground, demolishing an ablutions block, tents, caravans.   This was on Friday and it is now a "recovery" operation.   Very very sad times.  

  

More Christmas cards using the mixed media background.

 Well over the last few days, I've made up three more cards using some of the mixed media masterboard I made. 

I had used Gina K Master Layout 2 to cut the panel.  I then used some texture paste through a star stencil and sprinkled with some Diamond Dust glitter.  Matted it with the dark green card and added the gold die cut sentiment (minus the shadow layer) and some gold dots. 

Next I used a square panel of the background 

Matted the square panel with the dark green (looks black in my photo) and used a strip to add my red die cut sentiment.  Added some little red star embellishments.   A very quick card. 

And the last for today 

This panel was a smaller one cut with one of the dies and matting layer dies from Gina K Master Layouts 2.  The background panel is a white embossed panel (Christmas words) matted onto a white layer and added to the top folding dark green card base.   Added the panel to the base layers and then used a Hero Arts stamp and die set called Holly Jolly to make the leaves.  Used Catherine Pooler inks - Eucalyptus and Green Tea.   Stamped the sentiment from the Hero Arts set in Altenew Forest Green Crisp Dye ink and used a circle from Pinkfresh Studio's Mini slimline Essentials die set.  Added the die cut circle over the Holly leaves and finished with some dark green dots. 

Still two pieces of the background to make into cards.  

Stress Free Cardmaking Summit - Oct 25

 Got a few hours this afternoon to watch some more sessions of the SFCS - I watched Justine Hovey's Live presentation - on replay as it was too early in the day for me - and played along with her.   And then watch Juliana Michaels session - using precise smooshing.   All just using 5 items!

Justine did some masking and ink blending to make a lovely clean looking one layer card - I followed her placement of the masking stripes as I liked the design. 

I chose to use a green/blue background - blending with Altenew inks - Mountain Mist, Volcano Lake and Lagoon.   I used Mint tape to mask off areas to stay white.   Then stamped two flowers from an older CASual Friday stamp set called Pretty Posies.  I then stamped and fussy cut from masking paper before blending.  Used Emerald ink with a 2009 Hero Arts background stamp (Antique Background) to add some extra texture.  Once I removed the masking, I added some little sentiments from Altenew's Sentiment Strips 2.  And finished with some iridescent drops from Pinkfresh Studio.

My second card is more of a mixed media card - inspired by Juliana's session.  Included using a couple of homemade ink smooshers.   I already had a flat one, but made the bubble wrap one.  

Very different from my first card today.   I used light blue and purple inks to make my smooshed background.   Use the light blue with the flat smoosher and the bubble wrap one with the purple ink.   I then used a stencil from Ranger to added the purple.  Splatters of black, white and blackberry acrylic paints (Dina Wakely paints).  My focal butterfly is from Memory Box and I used an Ultramarine ink to smoosh the bottom layer.  I used Catherine Pooler Grass Green and Eucalyptus inks to smoosh onto white card and then die cut two of the leaves from Pinkfresh Studio Curvy Leaves die set.  Added the leaves behind the butterfly and added a teeny tiny sentiment - stamped with black and a Mama Elephant stamp set.  Added some holographic dots to finish.

Had a great afternoon crafting.  Can't wait to finish watching the summit presentations. 

Happy Anniversary to us

 Today is our 47th wedding anniversary.   Hard to believe all those years have passed!

I made hubby this card.

I started by white heat embossing an older Hero Arts stamp- Tiny Star Background (circa 2013) The ink blending was done with Altenew's Burnt Red ink, heavier at the top and lighter at the bottom.  I used Pinkfresh Studio - Frame Builder- Botanical Circles to cut two white dies to make the circle on the card.   The sentiment is from Rubber Stamps by Montarga - and inside I stamped a sentiment from Altenew Carved Rose set - YOU WILL ALWAYS BE - my love.

We usually don't exchange presents... so it was a delightful surprise when he gave me a beautiful necklace.  It's gorgeous. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas Kickstart - Embossing Folder Fun

 

Time for the September challenge at Die Cut Divas.  And it's a favourite for me as I had A LOT of embossing folders... and to make it even easier for me, I had a piece of coloured and die cut card that was already embossed on my desk. 

I had made my panel as couple of weeks ago when Grace and I were playing with Colour Burst powders.   I used mostly greens and blues for mine.  First cut with Pinkfresh Studio's Mini Slimline dies and then embossed with Altenew Classic Pines 3D folder.  I then took Altenew Enchanted Gold ink and swiped it over the folder.  I used a die set that came from a freebie from a magazine (dated 2021) I cut the lower layer in a very dark green card and the NOEL from a creamy-white card, I cut the little embellishments dies in the creamy-white and used a variety of Copic markers to add colour.  I added some yellow and red Liquid Drops 3D Pearls to the little flowers and the berries.  

My Christmas stash is growing with all the cards I've been doing lately. 

Monochromatic card - Hi, you're a great friend

My little group of New Zealand crafters have a monthly challenge.  We all take turns to choose the theme or challenge.  Carol chose this month - Monochrome (one colour family) plus stamp plus stencil.  

My card made it's way to Suna 

I chose green as my monochromatic colour scheme.  I stared by using Altenew Feathered Leaves stencil using Mowed Lawn Distress Oxide ink.  I then stamped Altenew Monstera leaves - outline in Altenew Forest Fern Fresh Dye ink and then used the matching stencils with Parrot and Evergreen Crisp Dye inks.  I die cut all the leaves and added to the background.  Added some green enamel dots. The sentiment is from Pinkfresh Studio - Perfect sentiments stamped in Onyx Black Versafine and clear embossed before die cutting. 

More cards from the CMSS- August 2024

 I managed a few more presentation watched and two cads inspired by Jess Crafts and one by Desiree Kuemmerle. 

First up are the two cards I made following Jess Craft's template and cutting guide - using 6"x6" papers. Her templates use double sided papers, which make it a no scraps cut...but some of my papers are only one sided.   The templates show how to get two cards from one sheet.  I made one where I used the double sided paper to act as the matting layer which means I need two sheets.  And the other used one sided paper and some of the double sided left over pieces. 

First up the double sided paper card. 

I cut the papers following the template and added some Christmas ephemera.   A few red gems finished off this one.

And the second one.

For this one, I changed the orientation to portrait.  I love the grey stripes with the navy blue and then the pop of colour from the ephemera.  Added tiny red gems to the flower centres.   The sentiment was a freebie from a previous class I attended. 

And my card inspired by Desiree.... Her presentation was "Use any image Holiday ready"  - how to change any image to make it a Holdiay card. 

I took a Pinkfresh Studio stencil and die set to make this Christmas card.  It's called Daisy Wreath.   The way to make any image into a holiday card is all about choosing appropriate colours.   So for me it was about using reds and darker greens to add the colour to the image.   I used Altenew inks - Burnt Red and Mahogany Bark with a touch of Grey Denim inks for the flowers and Eucalyptus and Forest Fern inks for the leaves.   After die cutting I added the wreath to a grey panel and added a red and white foiled sentiment - from Yana's Christmas sentiments by Spellbinders.   Added some Pinkfresh clear gems in Scarlet. 

My Christmas stash is growing and there are so many more presentations to watch so I'll be sure to have enough cards to send in November!  

Happy Earth Day - 22 April

 Hi there... It's time for my Sweet Stampin' challenge card.   I'm away from home so have scheduled this one.  As you read this, I'll heading back to Perth from our trip to Shark Bay - 8 hours or so north of Perth.  We were camping with the family... I should say that they are camping and we are sharing an AirBnB with the other parents... 

Anyway our challenge this fortnight is Earth Day/something recycled.  I manage to get both parts...

The strip of pattern down the left hand side is from a Tissue Box...I added some strips of dark green card down each side of it.   I found the Earth Day Logo on their internet page (here) and printed it out.  I used some dies from a Pinkfresh Studio mini slimline die.  Added some die cut Curvy leaves from Pinkfresh Studio.  Finished with three different colours of Altenew Enamel dots. 

Do come and join us at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.