Blue Jay on a Branch with Pine Cones

Blue Jay on a Branch with Pine Cones

This blue jay was so fun and easy to make!  Being able to use the cardinal dye to create a blue jay is such a bonus!  Pigment inks and embossing powder makes it easy to create the perfect shading and and adds depth. The pine cones are also very easy to make!  The die set from LeCrea 3-D dies, allows you to make a small pine cone (as shown) and a larger pine cone.  All of the dies for each layer of both sizes are included in the set.  Add snow to the pine sprigs and pine cones and you will be well on your way to a winter/Christmas version of this lovely card.

Blue Jay on a Branch with Pine Cones

Materials:

Cardinal Die (Dee’s Distinctively)                          IME091

Branch                                                                             IME095

Ponderosa Sprig                                                           IME096

Pine Cone Dies (LeCrea 3-D dies)                          45-9876

Tattered Lace Victorian Corners                           D072

Picture Embossing Folder Snow Birds                PiF015

Stampendous liquid embossing ink

Clear Embossing powder

Sky Blue, light blue, grey, black, brown pigment inks

Green, White, Navy, Ivory, Black, Light and dark brown card Stock

Double sided tape

Foam tabs 1.5 mm and 0.5 mm

Foam embossing mat

Glue pen

Die Cutting Machine

Heat gun

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of navy blue card stock 10” x 7” and fold in half.
2. Cut a piece of ivory card stock 4.5" x 6.5”.
3. Emboss the right half of the card using the embossing folder but only run through your die cutting machine about ¾ or the way.  Remove the embossing folder and place on the last part of the card and run through your machine again. This will give the appearance of two tall pine trees in the background. 
4. Attach the embossed layer to the card using double-sided tape.
5. Use the ponderosa sprig die to cut all of the pine sprigs at once from dark green card stock.
6. Die cut the branch from brown card stock.
7. Die cut all of the layers for the small pine at once from light brown card stock and then emboss using your foam mat.  Repeat x1 for the second pine cone.
8. Place the branch on the card as desired using a glue pen.
9. Use brown/black inks to color the pine cone. I added some clear embossing powder to add some shine to the design.  Place the 3 layers on top of the largest layer using foam tabs.
10. Lay out your ponderosa sprigs and pine cones in the desired positions then attach to the card using foam tabs.
11. Die cut the blue jay and facemask out of white card stock and feet out of black card stock.  All of the pieces for the blue jay are included in the cardinal die
12. Use some pigment ink on the body of the blue jay to create the appropriate coloring.  I used a photo from the web to give me some guidance about the coloring.  First I used a lighter blue then went over some of the areas in a darker blue.  I added stripes of black to the tail and the ends of the feathered wings.  Black ink was used for the beak and the edges of the white face mask.  I used grey along the bottom edge of the breast.  I used several layers of pigment ink to get it right.  With each layer I added some embossing powder to the pieces to set the ink and create a shine to the design. Use an alligator clip and small cotton piece to be more precise with your shading.
13. Glue or use double sided-tape to attach the black facemask (I put black behind the eye) to the blue jay as shown.
14. Attach the wings to the body using foam tabs.
15. Attach the feet to the body of the blue jay using a glue pen.
16. Attach the blue jay to the card using foam tabs.
17. Die cut 4 corner pieces from navy card stock using the Tattered Lace Victorian corners. 
18. Rub over the designs with the clear embossing ink and then add embossing powder and heat with the heat gun.  This will create shiny corners for your card if desired. 
19. Attach to the card using a glue pen.

Cardinal on a pine branch

This cardinal was so fun and easy to make!  Having all of the pieces together in the die set is great and makes it very simple.  Add snow to the pine sprigs or cut from glitter white paper and it will be a lovely Christmas card.  Although I often think of cardinals at Christmas time, there is a couple in my back garden that come to visit mainly in the summer.  My next project is to try to use the same die set and create a Blue Jay…stay tuned!

Cardinal on a Branch

Materials:

Cardinal Die (Dee’s Distinctively)                          IME091

Branch                                                                              IME095

Ponderosa Sprig                                                           IME096

Embossing Folder Delicate Hearts                        ECF1003

Stampendous liquid embossing ink

Embossing powder

Red, orange, brown pigment inks

Green, Red, Ivory, Black, Brown Card Stock

Double-sided tape

Glue pen

Foam tabs (0.5mm 1.5 mm)

Die Cutting Machine

Heat gun

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of green card stock 10” x 7” and fold in half.
2. Cut a piece of ivory card stock 4.5 x 6.5”.
3. Emboss the bottom third of the card using the Embossing folder.  Score a few lines above the embossing as shown to make it look like a fence.
4. Attach the ivory embossed layer to the green card using double-sided tape.
5. Use pigment ink or embossing ink on a piece of lightweight green cards stock to add variation to the color.  Add embossing powder and heat to create a sheen.  Then use the ponderosa sprig die to cut all of the pine sprigs at once.  It is easier to create the desired colored paper first then die cut the pine sprigs rather than do each one individually.
6. Die cut the branch from brown card stock.
7. Place the branch on the card as desired using foam tabs.
8. Add the ponderosa pine sprigs to the branch to create the pine branch using foam tabs.
9. Die cut the cardinal out of red card stock and the face mask and feet out of black card stock.  All of the pieces for the cardinal are included in the cardinal die
10. Use some pigment ink on the body of the cardinal to create depth and shading.   I used some red over the body and some orange on the beak and then added some brown/black over the wings.  Sprinkle with embossing powder and heat with your heat gun.  Repeat the above step until you have the desired shading.
11. Glue or use double sided-tape to attach the black face mask (I put grey behind the eye) to the cardinal as shown.
12. Attach the wings to the body using foam tabs.
13. Attach the feet to the body of the cardinal using a glue pen.
14. Attach the cardinal to the card using foam tabs.

Tattered Lace Old Fashioned Car

Tattered Lace Old Fashioned Car and Gears

I thought I would post another masculine card since Father's Day is coming in a few weeks.   This card is for any car enthusiast in your life.  The card includes the "Old Fashioned Car" with a background of gears.  Add the perfect sentiment using the words from the Tattered Lace Sentiment Die.

Tattered Lace Old Fashioned Car

Materials:

            Old Fashioned Car (Tattered Lace)                         TTLD 117

            Gears Embossing Folder (Crafts Too)                     CTFD3097

            Nested Oval Dies Nellie’s Choice                              MFD057

            Multiple sentiments (Tattered Lace)                        TTLD211

            Clear Embossing Ink  (Stampendous)

            Clear Embossing powder

            Ivory, Light Brown, and Dark Brown Card stock

            1.5 mm Foam Tape

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of dark brown card stock measuring 10” x 7” and fold in half.
2. Cut a piece of ivory card stock measuring 6 ¾” x 4 ¾” and emboss using the Gears Embossing folder.
3. Die cut the largest oval from the nested die set from dark brown card stock and the next smaller oval from light brown card stock.
4. Die cut one Old Fashioned Car from dark brown card stock.
5. Die cut a sentiment using the Tattered Lace sentiments die from dark brown card stock.
6. Rub the clear embossing ink over the Embossed ivory card and apply clear embossing powder.  Heat with your heat gun to melt the embossing powder.  This will create a glossy finish (difficult to see in the scanned image).
7. Rub the Old Fashioned car with the clear embossing ink and apply the embossing powder.  Heat with heat gun to melt the embossing powder.  Repeat if desired.  This will create a glossy finish to the car.
8. Repeat the above step for the sentiment as well if desired.
9. Attach the ivory embossed rectangle to the dark brown card
10. Attach the dark brown oval using the 1.5 mm foam tape followed by the light brown card stock and then the car.
11. Attach the sentiment as desired using a glue pen.

You Are My Anchor

I think anyone who makes cards always wants unique ideas for the men in their lives.  Ecstasy Crafts has new embossing folders and this beautiful lighthouse lent itself perfectly to a masculine card.  I used clear embossing ink and clear embossing powder over the anchor and the embossed parts of the white card to make both "shiny".  It is difficult to see in the scanned image but adds a beautiful contrast. to the card.

You are My Anchor

Inside of the card

Materials:

Lighthouse Embossing folder:                                      ECF1006

Marianne Design:  Anchor and starfish dies                 LR0232

Marianne Design Postcard frames:                               CR1223

Embossing powder

Stampendous Clear embossing ink in a bottle applicator or other clear embossing ink

Heat gun

Hemp cord dark blue

Navy, white and red card stock

Double sided tape

Foam tabs

Foam tape

Die cutting machine

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of navy card stock 10” x 7” and fold in half.
2. Cut a piece of white card stock 4 ¾” x 6 ¾”.
3. Emboss the white card stock using the lighthouse folder.
4. Rub the clear embossing ink over the embossed parts of the white card.
5. Sprinkle the embossing powder over the embossed parts, tap off and then heat with the heat gun to melt the embossing powder.
6. Die cut the anchor from the blue card stock and 2 starfish from the white card stock.
7. Rub the clear embossing ink over the anchor and the starfish.
8. Sprinkle the embossing powder over the items and then heat to melt the embossing powder.  You may wish to add another layer of clear embossing ink and embossing powder to add more gloss.
9. Die cut a rectangle using the largest postcard die from the Marianne Postcard frames.
10. Cut a piece of blue card stock approximately 1 5/8” x 2 ¼”, a piece of red card stock 1 3/8” x 2” and a piece of white card stock 1 1/8” x 1 ¾”.
11. Attach the red rectangle on top of the blue rectangle using double-sided tape.
12. Use 1.5 mm foam tabs small or cut the regular sized ones into small pieces.  Attach the anchor to the white rectangle using these small foam tabs.
13. Cut a piece of blue hemp cord or other twine to cover the front of the card and fold over the edges.  Tie a knot in the twine or several knots as desired. 
14. Place several foam tabs or a piece of foam tape on each end of the ends of the white card stock, leaving the opening in the center to allow the twine to pass through. 
15. Place the twine on top of the red rectangle and then attach the white rectangle on top.
16. Attach the anchor combination to the front of the card using double-sided tape.Stretch the blue hemp cord across the card and attach to the back of the white embossed card using double sided tape.
17. Attach the white embossed design to the blue card using double-sided tape.
18. Attach the white rectangle and starfish to the inside of the card as desired.

Relaxed and Fishing

Relaxed and Fishing

Every year I go back country camping with a friend and this picture is from a sunrise 2 years ago.  The views are truly spectacular and you can't help but relax.  We haven't yet tried fishing but there is always this year!  This design allows you to use a picture of a favourite fishing spot of any avid fisherman/fisherwoman and make a truly personal card!

Relaxed and Fishing

Materials:

Pine tree Nature scene Embossing Folder             CTFD4008

Fisherman die                                                        60020153

Floral grouping die                                                60030031

Nested Oval Dies                                                   MFD057

Grey and Black card stock

Nature Picture (Sunrise at Massassauga Provincial Park, Ontario Canada)

Foam Tape 1.5 or 2mm

Foam tabs 1.5 or 2 mm in black

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of black card stock measuring 5 ¾” x 8 ¼” and fold in half.
2. Cut a piece of grey card stock measuring 3 7/8 x 5 5/8”.
3. Die cut the largest oval from the nested oval dies in the center of the grey card stock.
4. Emboss the grey card stock using the Nature scene embossing folder. Adjust the card stock so the pattern of the trees will be to the best advantage.
5. Die cut the fisherman and the floral grouping out of black card stock.
6. Attach a picture to the black card (optimizing the scene shown in the oval) using double-sided tape.
7. Add the grey card stock on top of the photo using foam tape to add depth between the frame and the photo.
8. Attach the fisherman and floral grouping using a few small foam tabs to the edges of the oval.

Spring Daffodils

I saw another card through pinterest that used a punch to create 3-D daffodils and I immediately knew exactly which embossing punch I could use to create beautiful 3-D daffodils.  I used a garden theme as I cannot wait to be able to get out and work in my garden and see lovely colourful flowers.  I love the dies that created the cute garden tools that I attached to the inside of the card.

Spring Daffodils

Inside of Spring Daffodils

Materials:

Daffodils: Floral Embossing punches (medium/small)            FLP 027, FLP028

Leaves:  Dee’s Distinctively Floral Leaf 2                               IME 077

Garden Pot:  Marianne Collectables                                        COL1345

Garden Tools (with stamp:  Marianne Collectables               COL1346

Hearts:  Marianne Craftables                                                   CR1225

Embossing Folders (card) Hearts (polka dots)                        CFTD3101, 3014

Lime Green, yellow, ivory, moss green card stock

Pigment ink lime green and black

Embossing powder

Heat gun

Yellow ribbon

1.0 mm small, 1.5 regular mm foam tabs

Nellie’s Choice Pearlmaker (liquid dimensional orange paint)            PON003

Be Creative Tape 3mm

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of lime green card stock measuring 10 x 7 inches and fold in half.
2. Emboss the front of the card using the embossing folder.
3. Die cut a large heart from yellow card stock, a medium heart in ivory and a small heart in ivory (inside of card). 
4. Die cut and emboss the flower pot from ivory card stock
5. Die cut the garden tools and sign from yellow card stock.
6. Die cut 6 leaves from moss green card stock.
7. Emboss the medium heart with the polka dot folder.
8. Emboss the small heart using a swirl design on half the heart as shown.
9. Punch and emboss 6 medium and small size flowers.  Punch the design first and then place in the embosser and press down.  These punches come in pairs, the punch and the embosser.
10. Place a small 1 mm foam tab to the bottom of the small flower and attach to the middle of the medium embossed flower to create the daffodil.  Pinch the layers to create a beautiful 3-D effect.  Repeat x 6.
11. Add a little orange Pearlmaker paint into the center of the small flowers and set aside to dry.
12. Ink the flowerpot, and the smaller heart embossed area using the pigment green pigment ink.  Stamp the “Garden”sign with the Garden stamp that comes with the garden tools.  Apply some clear embossing powder to the items and heat. The embossing creates some sheen and sets the ink but could be considered optional.
13. Use a hobby knife to cut out a slit from the top of the flower pot.
14. Attach the embossed medium ivory heart to the larger yellow heart using some foam tape and then attach both using foam tape as well.
15. Cut a few moss green strips to serve as the stems of the flowers.
16. Curve the flowerpot and attach with foam tabs at the bottom and sides of the flowerpot so that the center is left open to accommodate the stems and leaves.
17. Arrange and attach the stems and the flowers to the card using different sizes of foam tabs.  To ensure the daffodils remain dimensional I stacked several foam tabs together and then attached to the flower and then the card.
18. Arrange the leaves to come out of the pot in front of the stems.
19. Add the Garden sign.

Inside of the Card:

1. Attach the ivory embossed heart onto the inside of the card.
2. String a small piece of yellow ribbon through the rake and shovel garden tools and attach to the heart using Be Creative double-sided tape.

Simply Tulips in a Vase

"Simply Tulips" in a Vase

I was inspired by a few cards that I saw on Pinterest, one showing some vases on a card and the other 3-D tulips.  Tulips are also my favourite flowers, so of course I had to make this "Simply Tulip" card!

Simply Tulips in a Vase

Simply Tulips Zoomed

Materials:

Embossing Floral Punch                                     FLP 045

Dee’s Distinctively Floral Leaf 2                        IME 077

Nested Rectangle Frame                                     MFD 048

Embossing folder for vase                                  HSF005

White, Purple, Pink, Yellow and green card stock

Double sided tape

Foam tape

Foam tabs white and black 

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of card stock 8 ¼” x 81/4” and fold in half lengthwise.
2. Cut a piece of card stock 2” x 3 “ .  Place this piece of card stock on a scoring board and score lines at ¾”, 1”, 1 ¾”, 2”.  Rotate the piece to the side and score a line at 2 ½” and along the top edge.
3. Cut out the corner pieces at the bottom to allow you to fold into the vase rectangle shape.
4. Use the embossing folder to emboss the front of the vase in a desired pattern.
5. Fold and tape the vase together.
6. Die cut a frame using the middle rectangle frame.
7. Die cut 4 leaves.  Curve the leaves and trim them to an appropriate size.
8. Punch out one yellow, one purple and one pink flower, emboss the flowers using the embosser.
9. To make the tulips:  pinch two of the 4 petals together.  Mold the tulips by pinching all 4 of the petals together.  Open up the tulip again and place double sided tape on the inside of 2 of the petals.  Fold up the petals again and use tweezers to hold the tape to the layers.
10. Cut a piece of green card stock into a thin strip.  Cut a small hole in the bottom of the tulip and slip the strip up into the tulip.  Attach the stem to the inside of the tulip with a black foam tab.  This will look like the black stamens inside real tulips and keep the strip inside.
11. Repeat step #9 for the remaining tulips.
12. Score the front of the rectangle card as desired.
13. Attach the frame to the card using foam tape.
14. Attach the vase to the card using foam tape.
15. Arrange and add the tulips and leaves as desired using foam tabs.

Florentine "Bow" Flower

Florentine "Bow" Flower

I saw some cards on Pinterest that used ovals to create a flower ....and so I came up with this idea using the Tattered Lace Florentine Bow die.

Florentine "Bow" Flower

Materials:

Tattered Lace Florentine Bow                           TTLD220

Nested Oval dies                                                MFD057

Leaf Swirl (Cheery Lynn)                                  B167

Embossing Folder Swirling leaves                    ECEF006

Joy Craft Large pearl Brad                                60300006

White, Purple/pink, green card stock

Foam tape

Instructions:

1. Die cut 11 of the smallest layer of the Florentine bow set from the pink/purple card stock.
2. Die cut 7 matching white ovals from the nested oval dies.
3. Die cut 7 of the one size larger ovals from the pink purple card stock.
4. Attach the white ovals to the purple pink ovals using foam tape.
5. Cut off the circular tabs from each end of the bow.
6. Attach to the white oval using a glue pen.  I only glued half of the Florentine bows to allow the ends to curl up.
7. Die cut a Leaf swirl from dark green card stock
8. Cut a piece of white card stock 5 ¾” x 8 ¼” and fold in half.
9. Emboss the card using the embossing folder.
10. Attach the leaf swirl to the card using a glue pen.
11. Arrange the 7 petals in a circular patter and attach to the card using foam tape.
12. Curve and fold the four remaining pieces of the Florentine bow and attach together using the large pearl brad. 
13. Attach the bow into the center of the flower using foam tape.

Florentine Bow Happy Birthday (Wedding Cake)

I always like to try to think of ways to use dies other than the reason they were created.  When i saw the three layers it struck me that it could be made into a cake and I cam up with the following design. Check out next weeks post as well...as i make a flower using the same die!

Florentine Bow Happy Birthday (Wedding Cake)

Materials: 

Tattered Lace Die Florentine Bow                                                  TTLD220

Tattered Lace Small Chantilly Lace Bow                                       TTLD172

Mini Flower Embossing Punch:                                                      FLP020

Chevron Embossing Folder                                                             CTFD3090

Yellow and ivory heavyweight card stock

Yellow lightweight card stock

Gold Ribbon

Liquid Pearl Yellow

BE Creative 5 mm double-sided tape                                                BC5

Foam tabs 1.5 mm

Instructions:

1. Die cut the 3 layers of the Florentine Bow from lightweight yellow card stock.
2. Die cut a small Chantilly Lace.
3. Cut a piece of ivory card stock 3 7/8 x 51/2 “ and then emboss with the chevron embossing folder.
4. Wrap a piece of gold ribbon around the embossed ivory card and attach to the yellow card using double sided tape.
5. Cut a strip of yellow card stock and trim so that it will form a background to the lacy layer to be attached on top.  Each part of a bow will be used as a layer of the cake.
6. Attach the lacy layer to the background layer using a glue pen.
7. Attach to the card using foam tabs.
8. Attach the small Chantilly bow into the upper left corner.
9. Punch and emboss 10 mini flowers.
10. Attach the flowers to the cake layers as shown using small pieces of the foam tabs.  Just cut in ½ or ¼ size pieces.
11. Add a tiny strip of card stock on top of the cake as a candle.
12. Add small drops of liquid pearl to form the centers of the flowers and use as a flame on the candle.