Simple Lay-out in Black and White

Beginning stampers often ask for card ideas using only black ink. 

Here is an idea featuring a feather image.

The card features a simple lay-out:  a horizontal strip containing the sentiment,
and a focal point off-set to the left.

Ink Color: I know I said this was only black and white . . . perhaps I cheated a bit. I did fill in the open space on the feather image with a little bit of gray ink, but the card would look fine with out that addition.

Focal point shape:  on this card its an oval.  It would be the same basic lay-out no matter what shape you used. Try it with a circle or square or rectangle. You could even try a heart or a star. Or a tree diecut - any shape offset to the left.

For the shape of my focal point I used Stampin'UP!'s new Layering Ovals Framelits. I really like the fact that half the ovals have a smooth edge and half have this sweet little scallop edge that you see on the black oval on this card.  Wow, what a deal too. This die set is both economical and practical. You get 14 dies with this set . . . can you imagine the cost of buying that many punches?!? Plus the storage space of so many punches versus just one thin package of dies.

 

Feather Together Photopolymer Stamp Set [141597]-$17.00

Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [ 141706]-$35.00

Big Shot Die Cut & Texture Emboss Machine  [143263]-$110.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730]- $9.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045]-$8.00

Die sets versus punches: Do you have a die-cutting machine? In terms of both financial investment and storage space the die sets are absolutely the way to go. 

Especially right now during Stampin'UP!'s July Bonus Days.  Each $50 you spend in July earns you 10% back to spend in August for free (merchandise only, not shipping and tax) 

 

Thanks for Stopping by: Take a minute and browse previous posts. If you see anything you like I'm happy to help you get the product or just to consult and explain further how the project was made . . . its all about having fun with our hobby.

Trio of Feathers Together

Here's another masculine card today featuring the Feather Together Stamp set.

There are several things on this card that suggested its use as a Masculine card: . . . the natural imagery of the feathers and the burlap ribbon. And very little "bling".  Well if you look closely in this next photo you'll see I couldn't avoid just a little bling.  See the sparkle on the feather?  I LOVE my Wink of Stella Glitter Brush and use it all the time to add just a little sparkle lots of projects. 

Sponging Effects:  In this close up you'll also notice the sponging . . . both around the edges of each feather piece and lightly over the whole feather piece. This helps make it stand out from the background (which is the same color paper) and gives it a more natural look.  And speaking of paper and natural look, I used Vanilla Paper, not white on this card.

The Voice of Experience:  if you want to try sponging you'll need an art sponge - NOT a kitchen sponge.  You can try paper towels but a kitchen sponge is too rigid and hard.  I take the round ones Stampin'UP! sells (see the product list below) and cut them into 6 triangles. One package of sponges then gives me 18 sponges - which I keep and re-use.

People often ask me what kind of stamp sets a beginner should buy and my answer is a standard 3:  *a versatile sentiment set, *a good flower set, and because we live in Wisconsin, *a good snowflake set. But I also suggest that when something unusual comes along to snap it up while its available. We don't often get a feather set so I'm saying if you like it, get it while its here.  And if you like feather imagery then keep watching my blog this week. I recently spent a few hours playing with this fun set and have a whole bunch of samples to showoff.

Here's the Product List for this Feather Trio Card

Feather Together Photopolymer Stamp Set [141597]-$17.00	Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101650]-$9.00	Always Artichoke 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [105119]-$8.00	Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad [126972]-$6.50
	5/8" (1.6 Cm) Burlap Ribbon [141487]-$7.00	Stamping Sponges [141337]-$3.50	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]-$8.00

Don't miss Stampin'UP!'s Bonus Days

 

July Bonus Days - Qualifying purchases made in July earn you 10% back in August. For every $50 you spend in July you'll get a $5 coupon to use in August. Stampin'UP! offers us a nice way to let us spread out purchases.

Thanks for Stopping by: Take a minute and browse previous posts. If you see anything you like I'm happy to help you get the product or just to consult and explain further how the project was made . . . its all about having fun with our hobby.

Ink Jar with a Feather Pen

If you're like me you're always looking for good ideas for a masculine card. 

What do you think of this Feather Pen in an Ink Jar?

I thought this was a fun combination - and definitely a quick card. 

If you are looking for masculine card ideas the Feather Together stamp set has lots to offer. Here's a couple more cards I made with the feather stamps.

And if you like the ink jar concept this is the product info 
on the Feather Together Stamp Set and the Jar Framelits 

 

Feather Together Photopolymer Stamp Set [141597]- $17.00

Everyday Jars Framelits Dies [141490]- $33.00

Don't miss Stampin'UP!'s Bonus Days 

July Bonus Days - Qualifying purchases made in July earn you 10% back in August. For every $50 you spend in July you'll get a $5 coupon to use in August. Stampin'UP! offers us a nice way to let us spread out purchases.

Thanks for Stopping by: Take a minute and browse previous posts. If you see anything you like I'm happy to help you get the product or just to consult and explain further how the project was made . . . its all about having fun with our hobby. 

Coordination: Colors, Stamps & Paper and Bicycles

Whether its fashion or a sports activity or a creative effort - everyone wants to be well coordinated. And this card showcases several ways you can make sure your paper projects are well-coordinated.

Its always fun when you find a stamp set that coordinates with a Designer paper. The sweet little bicycle is from a stamp set called Sheltering Tree.  And it coordinates perfectly with this sheet of Designer Paper from a pack called Schoolhouse.  Check out the other cool designs included with that pack in the picture below. 

It gets my creative juices flowing looking at all those pretty designs.  Just imagine what you can create with these yummy images.  At first I visualized a few scrapbook pages with the number and letters papers, don't you think they'd look cute on a kids page?  Then the dots and stripes caught my eye and I started thinking about little 3D items. (Its the end of February and my mind is already on Easter projects.) But as I'm writing now I'm staring at that last sheet and its bringing up thoughts of ships and nautical related ideas.  How would you use them?

Color Coordinated too!  This picture shows another way this card is coordinated. The Garden Green ink matches the green bicycle in the paper.  And the Pacific Point blue Candy Dots are a perfect color match for the Pacific Point paper framing the images. The chart below shows the product used on this card.

Pacific Point 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [111350] -  $7.00

Schoolhouse Designer Series Paper [138187]  - $11.00

Garden Green Classic Stamp Pad [126973]  - $6.50

Sheltering Tree Photopolymer Stamps [137163]  - $25.00

Brights Candy Dots [130931]  - $6.00

Thanks for Stopping by: Take a minute and browse previous posts. If you see anything you like I'm happy to help you get the product or just to consult and explain further how the project was made . . . its all about having fun with our hobby. There are also ordering links under my signature.

 

Do you like Designing with Printed Papers? 

Are you local to the Madison/Dane county area?

Sign Up HERE for the March class: 

Designing with DSP (Designer Paper)

You'll leave with some well coordinated projects.

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Acorn Card with a Simple Z-Fold

Here's a card design that's sure to get a 2nd look just because its unique.
Its a simple Z-Fold card.

To make the Z-Fold

• start with a half-sheet of paper:  5-1/2" x 8-1/2"
• fold in half like you would for a normal card
• then fold the front back on itself

Super easy, right!?
Here's a view of the card open.

This is a great masculine card, with the nature images and neutral color scheme. And yet its not overtly masculine so this could really work for anyone.

Did you notice the middle acorn on my card? 
I punched the body of that acorn from Stampin'UP!'s Corrugated Kraft paper.

The corrugations are much smaller than if I'd torn apart a box, those little ridges are perfectly sized for a card project.

The corrugations are a subtle effect but it gives the project some nice texture for a fall card.

What images would you use on the Z-fold? 
 . . . Hearts?  . . . Stars?
. . . Flowers?  . . . Snowflakes?

Even though we got 4 inches of snow last weekend (we're in southern Wisconsin), its just the middle of November so I still consider this to be fall. That's why I used Acorns on my card.  And the Acorns are super easy to make using StampinUp's  Acorn Builder Punch.


Z-fold Cards are easy: My friend Carole Mundschau made this pretty purple z-fold card. Carole switched it up a bit - she stamped her sentiment on the front flap and made some beautiful crochet flowers for the right hand panel. Isn't Carole's card pretty?

Here's a list of products I used on my Acorn Z-Fold card:

Acorn Builder Punch [139681] $18.00	Tin Of Cards Photopolymer Stamp Set [138946] $17.00	Chocolate Chip 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102128] $7.00	Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [115318] $7.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $8.50	Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad [126979] $6.50	Kraft And White Corrugated Paper [138317] $7.00

Thanks for Stopping by: Take a minute and browse previous posts. If you see anything you like I'm happy to help you get the product or just to consult and explain further how the project was made . . . its all about having fun with our hobby.

* * * View Available Product* * *
Up to 80% Savings  Clearance Rack Items	the Weekly Deals new product each Tuesday	2015-2016 Annual Catalog	2015 Holiday Catalog Check the Holiday retiring List Here

* * * Buy it Here * * *
	I'll be happy to help you place your order
	If you're ordering on-line then use this Hostess Code   to be registered for my Customer Rewards Program 79S2B3ZT (good thru - Dec 3rd)
	Subscribe to "Paper Pumpkin" - a monthly craft kit Sign-up HERE (only $19.95/month) Your card is charged on the 10th of the month Your kit ships around the 15th. You can suspend the subscription in a busy month No minimum commitment, you can quit anytime.