Flowerbug's Inkspot

Large Paper Doily die

Do you have it yet?  I know you're going to want it once you see this.............

All of these beautiful die-cuts are from the Paper Doily die.  Yes; just one die!  The top left is the full die-cut but if you start trimming a few of the outside curves off you can get all sizes and shapes of doilies and flowers!

***Remember that this die is in the Occasions mini catalog and only available until April 30th.  It 'may' be included in the new catalog but no one knows for sure......

We used it to make this gorgeous card at my Card Clubs:

Here's a few user tips on this die:

• To get many of the fine die-cut pieces to pop out easily roll the die-cut around a thick pen or marker as shown below.  Lots of the pieces pop out on their own this way.  You will most likely have to use a paper piercing tool or tweezers to help push a few of the remaining pieces out.
• Cut this die out using tab A with your Big Shot.  If you do not get a clean cut add a shim starting with a piece of patterned paper in your sandwich.  If that doesn't make it cut cleanly add a thicker piece of paper.  Keep moving up in paper thickness until it cuts cleanly.  All Big Shots are slightly different and some will need a shim and others will not.    

Bordering on Romance meets the Doily die

This is one of the cards we made at April's Card Clubs. 

Isn't that black Doily die-cut gorgeous!?  It totally makes this card!

Card Details:

• Watercoloring Technique: We inked the Bordering on Romance flower image in Black Staazon ink and stamped on our watercolor paper.  Next we colored the outside of each flower petal with markers (Rose Red & Not Quite Navy). Then a blender pen was used to 'pull' color from the marker lines to the center of the petal.  So very easy to get beautiful watercoloring with this method.  But it only works on the watercolor paper!
• This colored image was punched out using the 2 1/2" circle punch and adhered to the Black large Doily die-cut.
• We added either black brads or pearls for the flower centers.
• The right side of the doily die-cut was folded to the back of the Confetti white card stock.  The black card stock strip hides any imperfections here. 
• The Black scalloped border layer is from the Tasteful Trim die-cut.
• Rose Red and Baja Breeze seam binding ribbon was used as a strip across and for the bow.
• The Confetti White card stock background layer is stamped first and then textured above with the Finial Press embossing folder leaving the greeting flat. 

Would you like to make this card and more like it?  You can if you join my Cyber Card Club.  Just place a minimum order of $25 by the 10th of each month and I'll send you the cards kit to make each of my two Club Cards along with directions and photos to make them at home.  After 6 months you'll receive a stamp set as a gift from me. 

Designer Cuts & Vellum

Here's a great way to add multiple colors to your Designer Cuts cards.  These laser-cut cards are on page 9 of the Occasions mini catalog here.

Isn't this a prettylook?  You can get all those colors by coloring with markers on a piece of vellum card stock that has been adhered to the back of the laser-cut heart area.

Above is what the colored vellum looks like.  I used shades of pink and red plus Wild Wasabi markers here.  You can see the outer edge of the vellum slightly in the photo.  I will cover this colored vellum with another piece of coordinating card stock like Blushing Bride or Vanilla to finish the card nicely.

Here is another version with the other card style.  You get 4 of each card in this pack for a total of 8 laser cut cards with envelopes for just $9.95.

I colored this one in with Marina Mist, Baja Breeze and Regal Rose markers.  I hand trimmed the vellum edge to match the scalloped edge of the card.  The Pleated ribbon is adhered to the bottom of the card - not the scalloped edge itself. 

And here is the inside front of this card. 

The nice thing about coloring on the back of vellum is that marker lines do not show.  I love to do this with a stamped image too.  And our Vellum Card stock is my favorite.  It's so much thicker than paper vellum but the opacity is the same.  I actually do not use paper vellum much anymore.

Stamped greetings are from Word Play stamp set.

Remember that this set of cards and envelopes and the Pleated ribbons may not be available again after April 30th when the Occasions mini catalog is done, so get them now while you can.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

***NEWS:

• Reired stamp set list will be posted here this Sunday, April 15th.
• Retired accessories list will be posted on Wednesday, April 25th. 

Adorning Accents Die-Cut Tutorial

Here's another Apothecary Art card we made last month at my Big Shot Class. 

There is just one day left to get in on my Class to Go featuring the Apothecary Art stamp set.  Read about it here. 

We made this fun-fold card by adjusting the clear acrylic plate on top of the scored card before it is die-cut with the Adorning Labels dies. 

I scored my 5 1/2 X 8 1/2" card in half first at 4 1/4".  Then I scored one of those sides in half at 2 1/8". Place the center point of the die on this 2 1/8" mark. 

In this photo you can see I have placed the clear acrylic plate over the area I want to cut out.  The acrylic plate edge meets up with that 2 1/8" score mark and just this part of it is over the card stock and die.  The rest is hanging over nothing as it runs through your Big Shot. 

Here's a view of the inside.  I did stamp and die-cut two of the same images for the outside and the inside front of the card and colored them in with markers. 

The Certainly Celery label die-cut inside the card is just a bit larger than the front one so it layers wonderfully. 

Supplies:

• Stamps - Apothecary  Art, Bring on the Cake
• Ink - Black Stazon, Blushing Bride
• Card stock - Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Certainly Celery
• Accessories - Big Shot, Adorning Accents Labels dies, sponge, markers, Certainly Celery taffeta ribbon
  

 

Adorning Accents Edgelits & Folders Video

This Monday, February 20th is the next Control Freaks Blog tour featuring Big Shot ideas so be sure to come back to see what we have to show you!

Many of you already have the Adorning Accents edgelits and embossing folders so I thought you may want to watch a short video showing you a few tips and tricks while using these fun tools.

 

 

I am loving these dies and folders as they give me another option for embellishing my cards in a new and unique way.

Two cards from One Die-cut

How would you like to cut once and get two cards from your die-cut?  

That is exactly what I did for these two workshop cards using the new Framelit Labels Collection dies.

For the above card I stamped the Apothecary Art image using Eggplant ink on another piece of White card stock and placed it behind the White Tulip embossed frame.  I cut the Framelit from the center of this piece.  It's placed on dimensionals to highlight the framing.  The greeting is stamped onto the Eggplant card stock using White craft ink and cut into a banner.

This card was cased from a fellow Control Freak, Debra Currier.  I love her style!  

Can you see the White curved label under the flower?  This is the piece I die-cut for the first card.

The stamped Pink Pirouette flower is from the Mixed Bunch stamp set.  I punched out two blossom punches in Bravo Burgundy and placed them behind the stamped/punched flower.  It makes a nice layered border.

Supplies:

• Stamps - Mixed Bunch, Friendly Phrases 
• Ink - Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirouette
• Card stock - Bravo Burgundy, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
• Accessories - Metallic brads, 1" circle and Blossom punches, Labels collection framelits, Big Shot, dimensionals

Happy Birthday!

To my son Luke that is.  It's his 24th birthday today! 

Here is the card I made and sent to him.  He lives 5 hours away from us so we don't see him as much as we'd like to. 

I used the stamp set 'Need for Speed' for this card plus the new set in the Occasions mini catalog called 'Loved Ones'. 

The car image is heat embossed using Black embossing powder onto Real Red card stock and die-cut using our new Labels Framelits.  The greetings are embossed using Silver embossing powder on Black card stock and popped up on dimensionals. 

The silver textured background is heavy duty kitchen foil.  I added the texture with our Backgrounds #1 Texturz plate.  I love this textured look for masculine cards.  He works on cars so I think he'll love this card. 

Tip:  Add adhesive to your card stock instead of the textured foil or you'll get the imprint from your tape runner. 

 

Fall Wreath Door Panel card

Here is one of the cards we made this month for my Card Clubs:

These door panel & wreath cards are fun and easy to make.  Cut just a few pieces of card stock matching your door and sponge the edges.  No need to elevate them; the sponges give you the look of dimension already.  My panels are 2 X 1 1/2" and 1 1/2" X 2".   

This wreath image is from the Holiday Mini hostess set called 'Warmest of Wishes'. We first inked it in More Mustard ink and added Riding Hood Red and Chocolate Chip ink with sponge daubers.  Huff and stamp on Vanilla card stock.  This technique is another way you can get that ''Baby Wipe" look without using ink refills.

Punch out the center of the wreath first with a 1 1/4" circle punch.  Now punch out the wreath using the 2 2/3" scallop circle punch.  Sponge the edges with Soft Suede or Chocolate Chip ink.  We also sponged the entire wreath with just a tiny bit of Certainly Celery ink to darken it so the center greeting stands out more.

Here is how we stamped the inside of the card.  This saying and the leaves are from the set called 'Day of Gratitude'.  We inked the leaves in More Mustard first and added some Riding Hood Red ink to the leaf tips with a sponge dauber.  

Here is another version with a Soft Suede bow on the wreath instead of the Riding Hood Red bow. 

We stamped our greetings on a strip of Vanilla card stock and punched them out using a 1 3/4" circle punch. The wreath is elevated from the greeting with dimensionals.  

Leaves of a Tree

Did you see this single 'Al a Carte' stamp in the back of the Holiday Mini catalog?  The pretty Leaves of a Tree was another of those 'must have's' for me.  Here's what I did with it for my September Card Clubs:

I stamped it first on Vellum card stock using Black Stazon ink.  Then I turned it over and use my SU markers to add color onto the back.  This ensures no bleeding since ink stays wet a bit longer on vellum.  And when you color on the back side of vellum with your markers the colored lines are much softer.  I used More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive markers. 

Next I turned it over again and added a bit of More Mustard ink with a sponge dauber.  Again, my reasoning for this is to prevent the Mustard ink from blending all of the marker colors.  The piece of vellum is adhered to a piece of Confetti Cream card stock and adhered to the Old Olive layer with Black brads. The vellum is not adhered with any other adhesive; just the brads and ribbon on the bottom. 

See the adorable vintage tag tied around the Cherry Cobbler quilted ribbon?  I stamped the little leaf from Lovely as a Tree on the tag using Cherry Cobbler ink.  TIP:  stamp both sides of this little tag and then it won't matter if the tag swirls and turns loose on your card.  I cannot take credit for this idea - one of my smart customers told me this. 

The greeting on the bottom is from Sincere Salutations which is probably my favorite 'go to' verse stamp set. 

Punch Art Tricks; More Dropped Circles

I don't believe I've shared these last two cards from my Convention Punch Demonstration last July.

I've shown this Dropped Circles punch trick before, but these are two new versions of it.  Take a look!

I used the Houndstooth embossing folder on the strips here.  I used Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil Delight card stock. 

Do you remember how to do this?  Just cut your colored card stock strips the same width as your circle punch.  For example if you are using a 1 1/4" circle punch you would cut your strips 1 1/4" wide. Then you can insert the strip of card stock in the back side of the punch to cut off the square end into a smooth half-circle shape like this: 

I like to insert a piece of scrap card stock inside my punch (white used here) to make it easier to slide the strip of card stock in thru the back.  Remove the white card stock before punching though!

And here is another version with the Stripes embossing folder in pinks.  I believe I used Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, and Cherry Cobbler here.  I added some buttons with black brads inserted into the button holes. 

Designer Frames

Here are the cards we made at a workshops last weekend:

This one is Calypso Coral.  We sponged the embossed frame using a sponge dauber.  The patterned paper is from the Paisley Petals designer series paper and the greetings are from the Perfectly Penned stamp set.  Love this set! 

And this one is Always Artichoke.  We stamped the greeting and punched it out with the large Oval punch.

We used these new Designer Embossing folders. 

You get both of these little embossing frame folders for just $8.95 US.  I love the fact the oval one coordinates with our Large Oval punch. 

Are you wondering how to make that cute bow with the brad in the center?  I love to use brads or buttons as the center of my bows.  Here are some photos of the steps to make them.

This is a circle of ribbon (quilted Espresso).  I started with a 3" length of ribbon.  Adhere the ends together using a mini glue dot.

Next open up the prongs of your brad.  You want to get the prongs open deep at the base where they are attached to the head of the brad.

Now you'll close your circle of ribbon together where the mini glue dot is.  This forms a bow.  Now press the center down between the brad prongs.   This will hold it gathered pretty well depending on the type of ribbon.  But now you will close the prongs on the brad to pinch it together even more.   

Poke a hole in your card stock where you want your brad and insert the prongs through the hole.  Open the prongs up to secure well. 

Hope that helps!

Postage Stamp Punch Trick

I'm still sharing cards I shared at Convention at my Punches Booth.  There are just a few more I believe still coming.

These cards feature the Postage Stamp punch.  I wanted to create different sized postage punches so I came up with this trick:

Did you know you can make your Postage Stamp punch any size you want?  This card was made by stamping the image first and then punching around it to make the punched piece a smaller rectangle instead of a square.  Here's how:

First stamp your main image and then punch it out using the Postage Stamp punch.  Adhere it to a ' card stock stick'.  This stick can be any piece of scrap card stock you have laying around. 

Next you'll insert this stamped and punched piece back into your Postage Stamp punch and position it using the 'stick' so you get a smaller punched piece.  Pretty simple isn't it? 

I love using this 'stick' method because it makes it so much easier to position things inside the punch.  Here is one more card I made with this trick.

See the 'Get Well Soon' part on the bandaid?  That was stamped and punched out using the very same method above.  I love the many little details of this card. 

• the Netting background stamp was inked in White craft ink and stamped onto Chocolate Chip card stock
• The Marina Mist 4 1/4" square card has the 'direct to paper' technique done on it.
• The Vintage Trinkets brads are the perfect touch here. 
• It's a Wrap Occasions stamp set can be used for more than candy!  

 Thanks for stopping by.

Postage Stamp meets Scallop Square

I just love green with purple.  Here is a sample I made for my punches display at Convention using our new Wisteria Wonder and Lucky Limeade with Elegant Eggplant. 

I stamped the pinwheels (Sweets for the Sweet) first on White card stock and then punched them out with the Postage Stamp punch.  Then punch out three Scallop Square punches from Lucky Limeade card stock. Layer these together and add a flower punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack. 

I like to use a stylus to make my litle flowers curve.  If you're unsure what I mean by that, here's a tip:  just use a stylus and soft mat from my Mat Pack.  Rub the round end of the stylus in the center of each flower while it's on the soft mat and it curves, pops up and even forms petals!  Gives a bit of dimension too.  I added the new mini silver brads to the center. 

Supplies:

• Stamps - Sweets for the Sweet, Tiny Tags
• Card stock - Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant, Lucky Limeade
• Ink - Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant
• Accessories - Scallop trim punch, Postage Stamp, Scallop Square and Jewelry Tag punches, Itty Bitty shapes punches, Lucky Limeade ruffled ribbon, white bakers twine, mat pack, mini silver brads, Stripes embossing folder

Thanks for all of you who joined my ribbon shares.  I've filled up a few of each type and still have a few spots left so if you'd like a share of these three let me know. 

Summer Fun

This is a great set if you like to color.  It is fun!

I am not normally a great colorer - is that a word?  But when I saw this technique recently I had to try it - again.

I stamped the image on Watercolor paper using Black Stazon ink.  Then you color around the outline of each image with a water based marker.  Next use a blender pen and 'bring' the color from the outside towards the center.  You get a perfectly shaded image.  Very easy! 

These card stock colors are Tempting Turquoise, Regal Rose with Black and White. 

 

Party Hearty

This stamp set is 30% off during May so I had to make a sample to show. 

I have always loved the color blocking technique and when I saw a card made by jentimko I knew I had to case it. Here's my version:

Of course the colors are bright and happy for this event - Turquoise, Real Red and Daffodil Delight with Black and White.  Love it!!!!

Can you see the cool trick with the brad??  I covered one of the 5/8" jumbo brads with designer paper! 

How?  Punch out a 1 1/4" circle from patterned paper.  It must be thinner paper than card stock.  Mist it with a little water so the paper is pliable.  Then just press it over the brad bending the edges around to the back side.  Because ithe paper is damp it stays put and dries in this position.  No adhesive is needed.  Isn't that the best!!? 

Supplies:

• Stamps - Party Hearty
• Card stock - Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Black
• Ink - Daffodil Delight and Versmark for the background, Markers are used on the 'b'
• Accessories - markers, 5/8" jumbo brads, Play Date dsp, Black and Daffodil narrow grosgrain ribbon, Scallop border punch, Boho Blossoms punch, dimensionals