Quick and Easy Cards

What is this mess of fiber, tags, and cardstocks? They belong to a Club Scrap product that I resisted for a long time.

Since I began stamping in the early 1990's, I have picked my stamp image, then pulled out the cardstock's I felt would work with my plan for the image. It was rarely a quick project. After becoming a Club Stamp member in 2005, I found it great that the stamp images coordinated with the 8 1/2 x 11 cardstocks - it made some of the decision making go quicker. There was a "Greetings-to-Go" product that contained all you need to create 15 cards. I resisted them for years, mainly because I found it too easy. I mean, where was the stamping and creativity...

I have learned to embrace the "GTG" and add my own twist. The photo above is from Pure and Simple kit's Greetings-to-Go. These are the pieces you can use to create the cards. Stayed tuned for the finished cards!

Glimmer Mists

I wanted a quick and easy background for a couple of cards. I did not have much time to spend, so I pulled out a couple of Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists and sprayed away.

The background of the flowers was sprayed with pink and sunflower mist and blended using a paper towel. I stamped the Hibiscus square in Black India Ink. These cards took a bout 10 minutes! All cardstock and stamps are Club Scrap.

Tuesday's Tip

I periodically like to use brads to add accents to scrap layouts and cards. Sometimes, it is difficult to find the right color. No problem- you can color your own a couple of ways. Alcohol inks work well on plain silver. You can also color emboss over any finish of brads (I keep a collection of small brass colored for this purpose!)

Stamping with Paints

I have been scrapping some photos recently - for Club Scrap's PSL competition. I decided to ply with some of the (many) materials in my studio.

I love paints of all types - and I have quite a variety. For the above layout, I decided to stamp the hibiscus stamp in shimmery paints - Ph Martin's. It is difficult to see the shimmer and texture this adds to the layout.

I also decided to put some my smaller (and mostly unused) beads to use. I threaded them onto a thin gauge of wire. It is a bit tedious, but makes a fun accent.

In cardmaking or scrapbooking, pull out some of your rarely used materials for something different.

Dimension

One of my most commonly used techniques for both cards and scrapbook pages is dimension. I rarely make a flat surface piece, Why? I think it adds interest! I also love to cut out smaller images to pop-up for the same reason.

The above card was made using Club Scrap's Greetings to Go for the Sonoma kit. I matted the sentiment and popped it up. I also stamped the wine glasses (part of a larger stamp), cut them out and popped them up. This card took about 5-10 minutes. Quick and simple with a little added interest with the dimension. Give it try for yourself!

Alcohol Ink Play

There is a ongoing challenge using Tim Holtz's Compendium of Curiosity. I have been incorporating some of the techniques with recent card making sessions for Club Scrap's PSL. I used alcohol inks and a craft mat for part of these 2 cards.

I used 4 different alcohol inks for this technique - Alcohol Ink Monoprinting. All the cardstocks and stamps are by Club Scrap.

Tuesday's Tip

Last week was a bit hectic - my birthday was Wednesday. So, I had a lot of fun stuff going on. Plus, Club Scrap's Pro Scrapbooking League began last week as well. Now, life is settling down t normal level of activity...

As I have been playing with techniques from the Compendium of Curiosities, I have been using my craft sheet. One of the members on Club Scrap's Community Board made a wonderful discovery. Big Lots stores carry an Oven Mate - very similar to a Craft sheet. (and about $5) So, Tuesday's Tip is to find a Big Lots and buy one for yourself! It is great for covering your work surface and using as a palette for alcohol ink and paint techniques.

Thanks, Chrissie for sharing the information!

Some Scrapbook Pages...

Club Scrap's Pro Scrapbooking League competition has began anew. I have signed onto a scrapbooking team and card making team, once again. This week, the challenge is stamping. Not much of a challenge to me, as I started as a rubber stamper. In the above page, I used stamps for my title and embellishments. The center of the large "daisy" has flower soft added over the coloring.

Once again, I stamped my title block. It is easy to line up the letters if you have a lined acrylic mount (which I highly recommend if you use unmounteds)

Tuesday's Tip

I have been working through Tim Holtz' Compendium of Curiosities ( a blog challenge you can find here (studioL3.blogspot.com). I have done 3 of the techniques (a little out of order) and will be working with alcohol inks this week.

For those of you with alcohol inks, you know that you go through a lot of felt. I tend to change my felt frequently so as to not muddy the colors. This can get expensive - if you buy the pre-cut rectangles at you local craft store. Or, it can get time consuming, if you purchase a large sheet of felt and proceed to cut it your self (trust me extremely boring!)

Did you know that the felt used to clean guns is precut to the exact size for the alcohol ink tools? Plus, it comes in large bags that are much cheaper than those at the craft store.

Next time you run low on felt, check into a sporting goods store that sells gun cleaning supplies and save yourself some $$.

Steam Punk Gal

As I mentioned in a weekend post, steampunk is one of the hottest trends is collage these days. I posted a male version earlier - so I have a female version now. This card was made for my friend Rinda (gallorganico.blogspot.com) for our monthly card swap.

One of my resolutions has been to use more of my ephemera in my collages. I cut this young lady from a school photo and stamped various images from Artistic Outposts Paris stamp collection. The background and cardstocks are from Club Scrap. My metal additions were brads and clock parts used as hair decoration.

Tuesday's Tip

I am running a little late since I just returned from Denver yesterday - too many real life chores, i.e. grocery shopping and laundry!

Speaking of laundry, did you know that you can wash the cut and dry foam, used with Distress Inks, in your washing machine? Place all the pieces in a lingerie/delicates pouch and wash away. Once clean, you can use them again for different ink colors, without transfer.

July 4th

Have a wonderful July 4th Holiday - be safe!

Steam Punk

I made this birthday card for my nephew, incorporating elements of the steampunk movement. In brief, steampunk combines elements from the steam power/Victorian era with elements of fantasy and science.

I stamped my Victorian gentleman (from the Steampunk sheet of rubber from Artistic Outpost) and science images using Distress inks from Ranger. The "monocle" is a small watch part. Often, gears or metal elements are added as steampunk imagery.