Joan's Gardens Challenge - Creating a Snowy Background

 

The Challenge at Joan's Gardens this week includes a technique. We thought it would be fun to teach you how to create a fun background. Above is my card completed using this technique.  You will be able to see the snowy background better in photo below.  The stamps I used are the two new Heartfelt Creations  "Magnificent Spruce Trees" (HFC 3432) stamps from the Classic Christmas Collection.  I wanted to make the larger tree the focal point and use the stamp with the three trees to create depth in the background then create a snowy scene without using stamps -- this was done by using water!   I have never seen this technique before - it kind of happened by accident and I love the results. I'm going to call it "Snowy Background Technique".  After completing the background, I added some die cuts to complete the card -- they are the Marianne sleigh (LR0178) and reindeer (LR)179).  A gold cord was used to connect the two images.  The corners are from Spellbinders.  The flourish is one of the new Cheery Lynn dies "Holly Flourish" (B148).  The flowers were punched using the "Super Giant Lilacs/Daphne"  Punch  shown below:

Now for the Challenge

This week Joan and I would like to challenge you to create a card using the following technique.  We would like for you to create an "outdoors" scene using tree stamps, if you have them, but you may use any other stamps.  The challenge is to do the "snowy background technique".   You may embellish your card any way you would like.

Here are the steps taken to produce the snowy background for this challenge:

 

Step 1:   you need a piece of Glossy Card Stock, a light ink and a darker shade of ink.  Blend (or sponge) the lighter ink over the glossy card stock covering the entire piece.

Step 2:  It is hard to see in the photo, but the glossy card stock is completely covered with light green ink.  Next use VersaMark Ink and ink up the stamp you want to use in the background.  Stamp onto the sponged background.  I stamped the three trees  twice, reinking the stamp before stamping the second time.  It will be really hard to see your stamped image at this point.  Use your heat gun to dry the ink.

Step 3:  Use a darker shade of ink and sponge all over the front of the card.  The more sponging you do around the stamped images the better they will show up.  Be sure to add the darker ink all over the entire piece.

 Step 4:  Use the embossing buddy and rub it all over the the card.  Ink up the stamp that will be your focal point with VersaMark Ink and stamp it.  You will notice that part of my larger tree is stamped over one of the smaller trees in the background.  The background is a smooth image so the image you white emboss will stamp perfectly.  See how the trees in the background seem to add depth to the  card.

Step 5: Next you will need a spray bottle with a fine mist.  With your card on the table, hold the spray bottle up about 10 inches and lightly mist the entire front of your card.  Do NOT over spray.  It takes a little while for the water to do it's thing - it will remove some of the ink and create a "snowy" effect.  I did not use a heat gun to speed up this process.  Once you can see the water spots you can decide if you want to lightly spray certain areas again.  Warning - if you spray too much you will get a washed out area.  I like this technique using the trees because it looks like snow falling.   You now can add additional embellishments or just use this as your entry in the challenge. I think these trees are so beautiful you really don't even need other embellishments.   Be sure to go over to Joan's Gardens and link your card to the challenge.  We always look forward to seeing your beautiful cards.  You will be eligible to win a prize plus the winner will be in the drawing at the end of the year for a $100 gift certificate to Joan's Gardens.

Below is how I completed the inside of the this card.

 The sentiment is from Penny Black, the trees are from Heartfelt Creations, and the Christmas Sleigh Border (B140) from Cheery Lynn.

I hope you will join us in the challenge this week at Joan's Gardens.

A Card Request

 

Today I made a card for my neighbor who has been in the hospital.  They found a malignant tumor behind his eye and he is going through some aggressive treatment.  While in there he got a staff infection and is now very weak. I found out this morning that he is not doing very well.  His wife has been spending most of each day at the hospital with him.  These are such wonderful people.   I am sure receiving encouraging cards will help to bring some happiness to them.  I'm not sure how long he will be in the same hospital, so I am attaching their home address if you would like to send a card.  Thank you for your help.

Dick Montgomery

822 N. Oasis Avenue

Deer Park, WA  99006

I will tell you about my card.  I wanted it to look masculine but did add some fall flowers -- I think with the colors, the flowers are ok and it still looks masculine.  I used a piece of fall looking design paper and added an embossed piece, created with the Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder on the left side.  It was sponged with Distress Ink.  There is a small border between the embossed panel and stripped background that was a piece cut off when using a die border.  I don't remember which die it was. The sentiment is from the JustRite "Just A Note" set and the Frame is from the JustRite "Vintage Floral Labels".  The flowers were created using the small "Pear" punch.  The Flourish was die cut from the Marianne LR0150 die.  The Accent on the left side of the card is from the Spellbinders "Ironworks Motifs" and the corners are from the Spellbinders "Lace Doily Accents". 

As you know, all the products I use can be purchased from Joan's Gardens. 

REMINDER:  Today is the last day to buy one and get one free Glue Glider products.  Also don't forget about the 10% discount on your purchase from Joan's Gardens.  This discount continues through Monday.  Did you submit a card at Joan's Gardens for a chance to win a prize.  Be sure to check Joan's blog for all the details about the sale and chance to win a prize.

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Magenta Flower

 

Today's card is made with Cheery Lynn Dies.  The flower is made with the new "Stacker Flower #3" (SF-3).  I think it is such a pretty flower.  The stamen was created with the Punch Bunch "Sky Flake" punch.  The green flourishes were die cut using the Cheery Lynn "Tropical Flourish" (B127) die.  The two doilies under the flower were die cut using the Cheery Lynn "Scandinavian Hearts" (DL155) die.  There are two doilies in this set - the square doily and the little round one that is under the flower.  The design papers used are from the BoBunny "Garden Girl" collection.  A silk bow was added to complete the card.

All these products can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

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A Big BOO to You

 

 

Today I had fun playing with a new die cut Halloween die cut from Joan's Gardens.  Isn't that a great spider web!  This is one of the new Cheery Lynn doily dies "Spiderweb" (DL162).  Joan also has some other Halloween dies that are great.  I used an embossed mesh texture for the background then placed the die cut web on the left side.  I showed you some flowers I made with some of  the new Cheery Lynn  Window Stackers last week, and decided to use them on this card.  These flowers were created with the "Scalloped Window Stackers" (XMC-5).  Joan has a video on her blog showing how to do this.  I used the Marianne "Forest Branch" (LR0150) under these flowers.    The cute sentiment is from the JustRite "Trick or Treat Set".  The border was stamped on ivory card stock then cut around the frame with scissors.  The sentiment was stamped, black embossed, and cut out with a Spellbinder oval Nestie.  The edges were sponged before attaching it to the frame with dimensional tape.  Stickles was used on it to give it some shimmer.  I had a few Halloween embellishments by  that I rece"Making Memories"ived from Joan's Gardens last year.  I love the little spiders on the web.  The jack-o-lantern and bat are also part of those embellishments.

Here is a picture of the Window Stackers used to create these crepe paper flowers.  On the video, Mike cut pieces of crepe paper and stapled them together.  I found you can just use the width of the die and keep folding the crepe paper streamer over and over until you have 12 layers.  Press the ends down in a good fold and place the Stacker on top and run it through your die cutting machine.  You instantly have 12 layers of Stackers to create your flower. 

This beautiful Cheery Lynn Spider Web doily and other cute Hallween dies have been very popular and you can see them at Joan's Gardens.  She also has the JustRite Halloween stamps.

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Autumn Leather Suitcase Box

 

My Leather Suitcase Box

Side view of suitcase

 

You can see the design on the ends of the handle in this picture.

 

This picture shows drawer open

I had so much fun creating this box.  Does it look like a leather suitcase?  All the dies, embossing plate and stamps can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.  I have used the Cheery Lynn "Burble Texture Embossing Plate" (E164) before, but from the time I first saw it, I thought it would be fun to create a box that looked like a leather suitcase using it.  Well I finally completed this project.  This is a box, with a drawer, that measures 6x9".   I used the Burble texture embossing plate to create texture all over the areas that show on the outside of this box.  What is great about using this texture plate, rather than an embossing folder, is that you can lay the texture plate over parts already embossed and it works out great.  I had to overlay the plate on the embossing in order for it to fit through the die cutting machine.  After all the pieces were embossed, it was distressed with Tim Holtz Distress ink then I patted the VersaMark pad all over it and covered it with clear embossing powder and heat set it.  Doesn't it look like leather.  I was thrilled with the way it turned out.  The box was taped together with ScorTape.  A handle was cut and each end die cut with a Spellbinder tag die.  The handle fit into the opening of the tag die so I could cut just one end at a time.  It was attached to the front of the drawer with an antique brad. 

To design the side of the "suitcase" a sunflower was die cut using the Cheery Lynn (CL) Sunflower (DL121).  There are three layers of the flower.  The tips of the petals were sponged using a darker ink to give depth to it.  The center was shaped with the tools from the Flower Tool Kit and sponged with different colors of yellow and brown inks.  Flower Soft was added around the edges.  The stem for the sunflower is just a thin strip of green card stock.  The leaves, Heartfelt Creations "Distressed Leaves PreCut Set" (HCPC 3376) were clear embossed on green card stock and sponged with a darker green.  They were cut out with the matching Spellbinders Nested Leaves Nestabilities.  

The sentiment is from the JustRite "A Day in the Country" stamp set.  It was stamped on the Marianne tag (LR0 188).  The edges were sponged with different colors of Distress Ink.  The three buttons also come with that tag die and were cut out of brown card stock then twine put through the button holes.  A small piece of wire mesh embellishment was placed under the buttons.  The Indian Corn is also from the same JustRite set.  It was colored with Copic markers and cut out then attached with glue.

The leaves and acorns, below the sentimen,t were created with the Cheery Lynn Small Leaves #1 (D133), Small Leaves #2 (D134), and Large Leaves #2 (D136).  I love how when you die cut thesem they also have the embossed veins in them.  The acorns and leaves were sponged using small sponge daubers and the acorns were clear embossed.  Everything was arranged on the side of the box then a small bow added to complete the design.

I plan to fill this with chocolates for someone who will be having a birthday soon.

Hope you enjoyed my project day - I sure had a lot of fun creating it.  Remember, you can purchase All these products from Joan's Gardens.

It is a gorgeous Autumn day.  Wishing you a spectacular weekend.

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There's No One Like You

 This is a card I created with some of the new Cheery Lynn dies you can get at Joan's Gardens.  The orange flower was created with the Stacker Flower #6 (SF-6). There are four layers to this flower.  It was shaped with the tools from the Flower Tool Kit.  The stamen was created with the Sky Flake punches - one small black and one medium green.  The pretty oval doily is the Polynesian Sails Oval (DL 153).  For the center of the oval I used the Burble Double Sided Embossing Plate (E164).  After it was embossed, it was cut out with an oval Nestie that is the same size as the center of this oval, then sponged with Distress Ink.  The JustRite sentiment was stamped with black ink then cut out with one of the "Inverted Scalloped Window Stackers".  Three pearls were added under the sentiment.  Below you will see a photo of the gorgeous "Lace Rose and Flourishes" die.  I cut the two flourishes off from the rose and layered them under the flower.  The leaves for the flower were cut using the Stackers #1 (SF-1) which is a three leaves together but very easy to snip apart.  Isn't that a beautiful butterfly!  It is the Small Lace Faerie Queen w/Angel Wing (DL 161).  The lace butterfly was die cut using a light green card stock and the angel wing below it is a darker green.

Don't you love all these new Cheery Lynn Dies!  You can get yours from Joan's Gardens.

 Side View to show you the dimension of the flower.

 

This is the gorgeous Lace Rose & Flourishes Die.  It is gorgeous cut apart to use on cards and will be gorgeous used on a scrapbook page.

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Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #3 and Card Box Tutorial

 

Every Thursday it is time for a new weekly challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week we have something different for you.  Joan has completed the card for the challenge and I have the second half the challenge here, which is to create a box for your card.  You should start at Joan's blog to get all the information.

I have had a lot of people ask me how I mail out my cards since most of them are very dimensional.  I thought I would do a tutorial for you and we would incorporate it into this week's challenge.

I am sending out the above birthday card, which I posted here, and needed a box to put it in.  I think this box would be sturdy enough to use alone to mail off the card, but I put them into a padded envelope because I like to decorate the outside too.

Below are the instructions on how to create a box for your dimensional cards.

My card is 5.5" x 6".  You can use these directions to create a box any size to fit your card.   For the bottom you need a piece of card stock that is one inch wider and longer than your card.  For my card I cut it 6.5 x 7".  It is scored all the way around at 1/2".

This is the outside of the bottom of the box.  You need to cut a slit, up to the score line, on all four corners.  In the picture you will see the score tape on these corners.  Fold in the tabs to create your box bottom.

 

 For the lid you need to cut it 1/16" of an inch larger than the bottom, on  two opposite sides.  For my card  it is 6.5" PLUS 1/16" and on the other side it is 7 1/16". This extra 1/16" will allow the lid to fit over the bottom to close. You again score it at 1/2" all the way around.  On the front side of your lid, you will again cut up to the score line and attach ScorTape to the tabs to create a box shape, like for the bottom.  Do not do this to the other end.  We are going to attach the back of the lid to the bottom of the box.

 

On the backside of the lid, you want to cut off those two tabs as shown in this picture.  Place the ScorTape along the long edge.  I rounded off those two back corners for a neater appearance.  Place the lid over the bottom of the box.  Pull off the protective covering on the tape and press it to the side of the bottom of the box. You now have a hinged lid on your box.

 

The box will look like this when opened.  My card fits perfectly inside the box.

 

To decorate the top of the box, I die cut a doily from the Marianne LR0180 doily set.  There are three doilies in this set plus a corner.  I wanted the box top plain but wanted the doily to standout, so I placed the bottom half of the doily into the Sizzix "Flourish & Dots" (656980) embossing folder so there would be texture on the bottom half.  On the top portion of the doily I used a Heartfelt Creations  birthday stamp then added a bow.

I hope you will join us this week in the challenge at Joan's Gardens.  All the details for the card are on Joan's Blog then you can complete the box for it from this tutorial. There will be a random drawing for a winner from all entries in this challenge and someone will receive a prize.  The winner will also be in the drawing for the $100 gift certificate to Joan's Gardens which will be given away at the end of the year.  Wouldn't you love to win that prize!

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Little Box plus a mini tutorial

This is such a cute little box for a small gift.  I plan to fill it with some good chocolates to be included with a birthday gift.  

This is a die cut box.  It is one I received from Joan's Gardens called "Rectangle Box" by Sizzix.  When you die cut it, it cuts a bottom and a separate lid.  Below is a picture of the back of the box to show you how the two pieces are connected. 

 After scoring and taping the bottom, you attach the lid with brads.  I love this look.

 I used a piece of "My Mind's Eye" 12x12", double sided design paper.  It was cut in half to fit right on top of the die.  For the front closure I used an embellishment I received from Joan's Gardens, probably last year.  It says exactly what I wanted it to say.  This person is super happy to receive good chocolate so "Joy" is perfect.

For the top I created a rose with the new Spellbinders "Spiral Blossom One" die.  I thought I would show you a picture of the die cut flower and then explain how I shaped it to make it easier to roll into the spiraled rose.

When you die cut the "Spiral Blossom One" this is what it looks like.  It is perfectly flat and you need to roll it starting from the outside edge, which will become the center of the rose.

You know how I like to make my flowers as realistic as possible, so I use the tools from the Flower Tool Kit, you can get from Joan's Gardens, to condition this strip. I sure do get a lot of use from this Tool Kit! I used the large white tool to "cup" each of the petals, going all the way around the spiral.

By conditioning the card stock with this tool, you can see how it helped to "cup" the petals and it has already started the spiraling process without me trying roll it to get  the flat piece started in the spiral. This process made it very easy to roll it into the flower shape.

But before I actually started rolling the spiral, I turned the spiral over and used the largest stylus tool in the Flower Tool Kit to shape the petals back on the tips.  You just go around in small circles on the very edge of each petal.

 

The rose was placed on top of Marianne (LR0157) Decorative Elegance die cut and a few Martha Stewart punched branches tucked in around the rose.

Since I used double sided paper, I used the solid portion for the outside bottom of the box and the patterned side for the lid.  This is reversed on the inside which gives it a nice completed look.

You can order the Sizzix Box Die and the Spellbinder Spiral Blossom One die from Joan's Gardens.  This little box really was easy to put together and I think you will love working with it.  I hope you enjoy the mini tutorial on how I created the rose.

The weather has really cooled down here in Washington but I guess it is about time for Autumn to arrive.  Have a wonderful weekend.

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New Flower Stackers from Joan's Gardens

 Today I worked with some of the new Cheery Lynn Dies I received from Joan's Gardens.  I really love these new Stacker Flowers.  The flowers on this card were created with the "Stacker Flower #4" (SF-4) die.  There are two layers for each flower.  For the stamens I used two different punches:  Small Frilly Snowflake and Medium Sparkle.  The design paper is from the new Webster's Pages "Your Beautiful Life" paper pad. This pad has some purple papers in it which are hard to find - I am always on the lookout for pretty purple design paper. The beautiful oval doily is the Polynesian Sails Oval (DL153).  It was attached on the top of the card which is 6" x 5 1/2".  For added beauty, I add the Cheery Lynn "Victorian Romance Flourish" attaching the center of it to the bottom center of the oval doily.  It almost looks like "feet" to hold up the oval frame. Tucked in behind the flowers are leaves from the Cheery Lynn "Stacker Flower #1" (SF-1) and a few Martha Stewart punched branches.  The Sentiment is from the JustRite "Elegant Frames" stamp set.  The two flourishes up in the corners are from the Marianne (LR0117) die set.  This set also has a pretty rectangle doily.  Everything was arranged on the card then a silk purple bow was added. Black pearls were added to the center of the flowers, under the sentiment and up in the corners.

 This view of the card shows the dimension of the flowers.

 

This is something else I was working on today.  Joan has some new videos on her blog I'm sure you will want to see.  One of the videos shows how to create crape paper flowers.  I will be making a card with these flowers later.  They are so easy to create using these special Cheery Lynn Scalloped Window Stackers (XMC-5).  There are six different sizes in each set, which allows you to create different sizes and styles of flowers.  I have some techniques, not shown in the video, I will share with you when I post my card using these flowers.  There are also "Inverted Scalloped Window Stackers (XMC-6) and "Classic Window Stackers (XMC-4).  I am anxious to see what other pretty flowers I can create with all these dies.

As you know, you can purchase all the products I use from Joan's Gardens.  Don't forget to go over to Joan's blog and view the four new Cheery Lynn Videos for lots of ideas.

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LaBlanche Meadow Flower

 

I have another pretty LaBlanche stamp from Joan's Gardens to show you.  This one is called "Meadow Flower"  (LB1237).  The image was stamped on LaBlanche Specialty Paper and colored with Distress Inks and Nibs.  I love how easy it is to color these images; it takes just a little color (ink) to make them beautiful.   The entire piece was sponged using the Blending Tool and blue Distress Ink.  It was matted on black card stock.  The black corners are from one of the new Spellbinder die sets called "Lace Doily Accents".  Along the left side of the stamped piece I added the Cheery Lynn "Tropical Flourish" (B127).  The flowers were created by die cutting the flowers from the Cheery Lynn "Darling Daisies" die (A196). I wanted these flowers to resemble the flowers in the stamped image so used a pair of Deckle Edge Scissors to snip off the ends of each petal.  Two flowers were stacked together.  Tiny beads were added to the center of each one.  One of the Cheery Lynn "Mini Butterflies" (DL112) was added above the flowers.  To complete the card, a small black bow made with the Bow Easy was added under the die cut flowers.

As you know, you can purchase your LaBlanche stamps and Cheery Lynn Dies from Joan's Gardens.

So far we only have three entries in the Joan's Gardens Challenge.  I hope you are working on your entry.  Remember you will be eligible to win a prize PLUS if you are the winner will be entered into the drawing at the end of the year for a $100 gift certificate from Joan's Gardens.  I'm looking forward to seeing your pretty card.

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. 

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