Birthdays, Cards, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Watercolor techniques

3 Easy Watercolor Cards

Hello friends. Here are some easy watercolor cards anyone can make! While I am an artist I am not super comfortable doing freehand watercolor paintings. But these 3 cards were very easy to make. If you cannot draw either use a stencil, die or printable to trace a simple drawing. I used this technique for one of my cards. More on this later…

For the first card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base and a piece to Watercolor Paper to 3-3/4 x 5″. I also cut a piece of Doodlebug Dot Stripe Rainbow Petite Prints 6×6 Paper to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″.

I did a quick sketch for the egg (I actually used an egg shaped framelit die to trace the outside). I used my Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor Paint Set (I love this set!) to color the egg. I kept the coloring simple – one color and white. You can be as elaborate with your painting as you like though. Once the egg and grass were colored and dry, I added some splatters with some Zig Kuretake Gansai Tambi STARRY COLORS. Then I added some sketchy lines around the egg with a 0.5 Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pen.

I used the Simon Says Stamp Foil Transfer Cards Fancy Happy Easter Splendor with Therm O Web Gina K Designs GLIMMERING GOLD Fancy Foil Deco Foil for the sentiment and fussycut it out. And then also used a sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp REVERSE EASTER WISHES Sentiment Strips.

On the inside of the card, I cut a strip of pattern a paper from Doodlebug Dot Stripe Rainbow Petite Prints 6×6 Paper to 1 x 4-1/4″. And added another sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp REVERSE EASTER WISHES Sentiment Strips.

Dimensions


For the second card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base and a piece of Watercolor Paper to 4 x 5-1/4″.

While I do not have a picture of the sketch to show you, I just drew very basic shapes for the balloons. They don’t have to be perfect. If you feel like you cannot draw them, get an image from the internet etc and trace it or use stencils or dies. Again very simple painting here. This time I used one color plus a White Gold watercolor from the Zig Kuretake Gansai Tambi STARRY COLORS.

I added the balloon strings using my 0.5 Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pen.

I stamped a sentiment from the Stampin’ Up! Endless Birthday Wishes Stampset (retired) and Catherine Pooler Designs Midnight Ink. I finished off the card by adding some highlights to the balloons with a Uni-ball Signo White Broad Point Gel Pen and some Tonic Ebony Black Nuvo Drops.

On the inside of the card, I stamped a sentiment from Stampin’ Up! Biggest Wish (retired) with Catherine Pooler Designs Midnight Ink.

Dimensions


For the third card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base, a piece to Watercolor Paper to 4 x 5-1/4″ and a piece of Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 X 8 Paper Stash Metallic Kraft Stock. to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″.

The sketch for this card was super simple. I drew 3 hearts and a stem. I used my Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor Paint Set again. And finished the background by adding some splatters with White and Gold Acrylic paint.

I die cut the sentiment word from Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 X 8 Paper Stash Metallic Kraft Stock using the Simon Says Stamp Fancy Lucky Wafer Dies. And added a sentiment strip from the Simon Says Stamp Reverse Lucky Sentiment Strips.

On the inside of the card, I added a strip of metallic paper cut to 1 x 4-1/4″ and stamped a sentiment from Happy Happy Happy Add-on with Catherine Pooler Designs Lime Rickey Ink.

Dimensions


Supplies

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?id=f5e8378456858c916708

Thanks for reading this post. I hope I’ve inspired you to give these easy watercolor cards a try for yourself. Leave comments or questions below or feel free to email.

Celebrations, Thank Yous

2 Cards Featuring Stitched Triangles by Stampin’ Up!

I love stackable geometric dies, especially with stitched details. They are so versatile because you can create a whole card using only the shapes, or add a shape behind a sentiment or focal point to emphasize it. For this card I decided to keep it simple and bright. I combined a rainbow of Stampin’ Up!’s cardstocks, Stitched Triangles Dies and a simple sentiment. It is a very simple card to make and can easily be mass produced. This die set is available in the new 2020-2021 Annual Catalog! There is also a coordinating stamp set.

I started by cutting down a piece of Stampin’ Up! Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Thick Cardstock to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base. Then I cut several triangles using the Stampin’ Up! Stitched Triangles Dies and Stampin’ Up!’s 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock in Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, Bermuda Bay, and Highland Heather.

I stacked sets of six triangles in rainbow order and adhered them together with Tombow Mono Multi Glue. And then adhered those to the card base, trimming the excess. I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set included in the Stampin’ Up!’s February 2020 Paper Pumpkin Kit – Lovely Day onto the card base with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. I left the inside of the card blank and that completes this card. Super easy, right??

Dimensions


For the second card, I decided to create watercolor triangles. I used the ink refills to watercolor. I started by cutting down a piece of Stampin’ Up! Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Thick Cardstock to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base. Then I cut down six panels of Stampin’ Up! Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″ and used ink refills for Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, Bermuda Bay, and Highland Heather and a water brush to add color to each panel.

Then I cut several triangles from each panel using the Stampin’ Up! Stitched Triangles Dies. I laid all my triangles out on the card base and puzzle pieced them together basically. Once I was happy with the placement, I adhered them down with Tombow Mono Multi Glue.

I stamped a sentiment onto a scrap piece of Stampin’ Up! Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Thick Cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and the alphabets in the Stampin’ Up! Make A Difference Photopolymer Stamp Set. On the inside I added a few extra triangles in the bottom right corner.

Dimensions


Supplies

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?id=f5e8378456858c916708

Thanks for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed and I’ve inspired you to try these fun and quick cards for yourself! Leave comments or questions below or feel free to email me. Also if you would like a Stampin’ Up! catalog, please email me as well. All current catalogs can be found on the right side of this post and the Stampin’ Up! page. All news and fun stuff happening at Stampin’ Up! are listed there!

Birthdays, Celebrations, Encouragement, Slimline

Shop Your Stash Day 2: Slimline Cards

In today’s tutorial, I am making slimline cards. I’ve seen these popping up all over instagram and youtube and I figured I would make one too ( I mean… I have to right?!? 🙂 LOL). Since I do not have any slimline dies yet (I stress YET), I will prove you can make them with any supplies you have in your stash and no dies necessary. Even the envelope tutorial I found on YouTube makes it super simple to make a slimeline envelope.

For this first card, I began by cutting a piece of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 7 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 3-1/2″. Then I diecut 3 balloons from Paper Accents Vellum Variety Pack 8 1/2 x 11 in. Assorted 25 pc. using the Lifestyle Crafts Quickutz Nesting Balloons (Dies). I adhered the bottom halves to the card, overlapping them. I used Tonic Medium Nuvo Glue Pen to adhere them and cut off the excess.

Balloon Birthday Front

I stamped a sentiment from Catherine Pooler Designs WooHoo Stamp Set onto a scrap of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and fussycut it out. I adhered it using Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue. I embellished it by adding some string and bows to the balloons using my Micron 05 Pen, shimmer with the Spectrum Noir Sparkle Clear Fine Glitter Brush Pen and also added some Tonic Gloss Simply White Nuvo Crystal Drops and Tonic Gloss Midnight Blue Nuvo Crystal Drops to the balloons.

On the inside of the card, I adhered the leftover pieces of the balloons on the front of the card to the top portion and stamped ‘Happy Birthday! using the free gift stamp I received from Lawn Fawn for my birthday month and Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. Yes! you can get freebies for your birthday! 🙂 I couldn’t find this anywhere so I don’t think this particular tiny sentiment stamp can be purchased but there are a ton of other Lawn Fawn Happy Birthday stamps you can use.

Balloon Birthday Inside

I also made an envelope using Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″. I found a great tutorial on Youtube from Jenny Card Designs. She also provides a facebook link with the template. I added some more of the vellum balloons to the edge of the envelope. Go check her out on Youtube!

Balloon Birthday Card and Slimline Envelope
Jenny Card Designs Slimline Card & Envelope

Dimensions


For the second card, I decided to make some summer fruity cards. I started by cutting a piece of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 7 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 3-1/2″ to create the card base. Next, I cut two pieces of green gingham pattern paper from Brutus Monroe Fresh Melon 6 x 6 Paper Pad to 3-1/2 x 6 and adhered it to the card using Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue. I made sure to have the section where the two pieces meet to not be centered so it can be covered by the watermelon slice.

Watermelon Slice Card Front

Next, I moved on to creating my watermelon slice (wedge?). For this I cut a large triangle from Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ that was a bit taller than my card front then using the a 5-1/2″ circle die from Simon Says Stamp NESTED CIRCLES Wafer Dies cut the edge of the wider part. To create the rind and white pith (I think that’s what it is called), I used the 5″ and 5-1/2″ circle dies to cut out a half circle from a piece of the green gingham pattern paper from Brutus Monroe Fresh Melon 6 x 6 Paper Pad and the 4-1/2″ and 5-1/2″ circle dies to to cut out a half circle from a piece of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″.

I added Tim Holtz Twisted Citron Distress Ink to the pith and sprayed it with water with my Tim Holtz DISTRESS SPRAYER. Then added Tim Holtz Candied Apple Distressed Ink and Festive Berries Distressed Ink to the watermelon wedge. I leftit very light towards the wider side and then sprayed water on it as well. Once the inks were dried, I adhered all three pieces to create my watermelon wedge and adhered it to the card base, trimming off any excess at the bottom. I drew on some seeds with my Sakura Pigma Micron 08 Pen and added some highlights to them with Uni-Ball Signo White Broad Point Gel Pen.

Watermelon Slice Card Closeup

For my sentiment, I used Lawn Fawn’s Baked With Love Stampset, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and my Stampin’ Up! Stamparatus to stamp it on a curve. The easiest way to do this, I have found is to curve the text around the circle die I used for the watermelon.

To finish off this card, I added Love From Lizi Red Glitter Pinstripe peel-offs and Nuvo Drops in Autum Red. I left the inside of the card blank for this one. And again I made an envelope using Stampin Up! Real Red 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock. Tutorial on Youtube from Jenny Card Designs.

Dimensions


And since lemon cards are all the rage right now. I decided to break out my lemon stampset and builder punch from Stampin’ Up!. I began this card by I started by cutting a piece of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 7 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 3-1/2″ to create the card base. Next, I cut a piece of pattern paper from Brutus Monroe Fresh Squeeze 6 x 6 Paper Pad to 1-1/2 x 8-1/2″and adhered it to the bottom of the card front.

One of A Kind Card Front

Next, using the Stampin’ Up! Lemon Zest Clear-Mount Stamp Set (which was retired recently), I stamped several lemon slices and whole lemons onto Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ with Catherine Pooler Designs Limoncello Ink, one slice with Catherine Pooler Designs Party Dress and Catherine Pooler Designs Bellini Inks, and several leaved with Catherine Pooler Designs Lime Rickey Ink. I used the Stampin’ Up! Lemon Builder Punch (retred) and a 1-3/4″ Circle Punch to cut out the leaves and lemons.

I arranged them on the card front and adhered them, popping some up with 3M Foam Tape. I added some highlights to them with Uni-Ball Signo White Broad Point Gel Pen.

For the sentiment I used the Honey Bee Stamps BEE-YOU-TIFUL Sentiments stampset. I used Tsukineko Versamark EMBOSS INK PAD and WOW OPAQUE BRIGHT WHITE Super Fine Embossing Powder to heat emboss it onto a piece of Simon Says Stamp 100# Black Card Stock and then cut it down to 1/2 x 2-3/8″. I adhered it to the top portion fo teh card and then stamped the word “K-I-N-D” with Simon Says Stamp Grid Play Alphas stampset (no longer available) and Catherine Pooler Designs Midnight Ink onto some Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ and adhered those on top the lemons. I added some Ranger Glossy Accents Glue Dimensional Adhesive to those letters to finish off the card.

And again I made an envelope using some dark pink cardstock from my stash (not sure where it is from becasue it is soooo old). Tutorial on Youtube from Jenny Card Designs.

One of A Kind Slimline Envelope

Dimensions

Supplies

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?id=f5e8378456858c916708

Thanks for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed and I’ve inspired you to Shop Your Stash and see what fun ideas you come up with and maybe rediscover supplies you forgot you had! Leave comments or questions below or feel free to email me.

Birthdays, Celebrations

Rainbow Birthday Card featuring Simon Says Stamp Trio Window Die

Hi friends. This fun and colorful card was made using the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Trio Window Wafer Die and Simon Says Stamp Exclusive 6×8 Inch Window Frames clear stamp set included in the Simon Says Stamp February 2020 Card Kit. All the items from the kit are sold seperately so no need to fret if you don’t have the kit.

I started by cutting a piece of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base. Then I cut another piece of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 4 x 5-1/4” to create top panel.

I diecut the trio window using the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive Trio Window Wafer Die from the top panel, offsetting it from the center slightly.

I stamped the balloon border from the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive 6×8 Inch Window Frames clear stamp set around the windows and also some extra balloons with the additional balloon and string stamp included in the stampset using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. To stamp balloons that look like they are behind the balloons around the windows, I stamped the balloon border on to Masking Paper, fussycut it out, and placed it over the balloon border image before stamping additional balloons. I stamped some of the confetti pieces around the card to fill up the white space. I wanted this card to look like a party on paper!

I also stamped some balloons in the inside of the windows so it looks like balloons continue on the inside. To do this, I just lined up the stamp on the card panel using my Tim Holtz Tonic Craft Travel Stamp Platform, removed the top panel, and stamped in the card base. I also stamped additional balloons onto scraps of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″, which I will pop up later with foam squares.

Before I started coloring all the images, I stamped some of the tiny sentiments in between the windows using the same Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (COPIC-friendly ink). I used COPICS in R17 and R27, R81 and R85, YR12 and YR16, Y06 and Y18, G07 and G14, BG000 and BG01, B95 and B37, and V06 and V09. Not gonna lie, this took a long time to color but I usually just watch a movie or Youtube videos while doing it so it makes it more fun. Once colored I all the images, I adhered the panel to the card base with 3M Foam Tape and used Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhered some of the additional balloons.

Closeup

Lastly, I stamped the “happy birthday” sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp Exclusive 6×8 Inch Window Frames clear stamp set onto a scrap of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ and fussycut it out, separating the two words. I also used white alphabet stickers from my stash for the “50”. Since they were white I colored them with a black marker and addded them to the card in the middle window. If you have black Alphabet stickers that you like and fit inside the window, you can use those. I finished off the card by adding some highlights with my White Uni-Ball UM 153 Signo Broad Point Gel Pen and some splatters with Craft Smart Acrylic Paint in Black. And of course, no card is complete without some Nuvo Drops. I used Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops in Ebony Black. It’s now a fun and colorful rainbow card. Doesn’t it just scream “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!?!”

Dimensions

Supplies

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?1559654439292

Thanks for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed and I’ve inspired you to give this card a try for yourself. Leave comments or questions below or feel free to email.

Birthdays, Celebrations, Spring

Getting the Most From Your Dies, Featuring Simon Says Stamp Dies

Hi friends. Today I’m bringing you two cards featuring the Simon Says Stamp Dazzling Circle and Blooming Circle Dies. One card uses the dies in the way they were intended but the second card uses it in a different way — using the positive diecuts to create a background. This is an easy way to create a background.

Traditional Use of Die

For the first card I started by cutting a piece of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″. Then I cut a piece of green gingham paper (from the Birthday paper pack included in the Crafty Parcel) to 4 x 5-1/4” and diecut the wreath in the top center of the panel using the Simon Says Stamp Dazzling Circle Die (no longer available as it was part of the Stamptember release). I added some 3M Foam Tape to the back of the panel and adhered a square piece of Stampin’ Up! Granny Apple Green 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock on the card base behind the wreath. The easiest way to do this is to add the foam tape to the wreath panel and then attaching the green square piece behind that and then adhering it to the card base.

I diecut a bunch of flowers from 6 different colored scraps of cardstock using the Simon Says Stamp Blooming Circle Wafer Dies and adhered them to the wreath using Tombow Mono Multi-liquid Glue.

For the sentiment, I diecut ‘Celebrate’ from the Sentiment Stacker Dies #1 with some Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ for the sentiment and pink glitter foam from Queen & Company’s Glitter Fun Foam – Rainbow for the shadow. I finished it off the by adding some Love from Lizi Peel-offs in Clear Iridescent Pink Glitter and some Nuvo Crystal Drops in Gloss White.

On the inside of the card, I cut a strip of Green Gingham paper (from the Birthday paper pack included in the Crafty Parcel) to 1 x 4-1/4″. I stamped a greeting from the Catherine Pooler Stamp of Approval Young at Heart Collection stampset (I don’t think this is available in her shop anymore) in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and Catherine Pooler Party Dress Ink. I finished it off by adding some additional flowers.

Dimensions

  • Card Base = 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″
  • Top Panel = 4 x 5-1/4” Green Gingham paper (from the Birthday paper pack included in the Crafty Parcel)
  • Inside Strip = 1 x 4-1/4″ Green Gingham paper (from the Birthday paper pack included in the Crafty Parcel)

Creating a Background Using Just Dies

For the second card I started by cutting a piece of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ and a piece of Neenah 80lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 4 x 5-1/4”. I diecut the several leaves from Stampin’ Up! Old Olive Cardstock using the Simon Says Stamp Dazzling Circle Die (no longer available as it was part of the Stamptember release). I think I diecut about 3 wreaths with the die. I diecut flowers from 6 different colored scraps of cardstock using the Simon Says Stamp Blooming Circle Wafer Dies.

Card Front

I adhered the leaves and flowers to the front panel using Tombow Mono Multi-liquid Glue, creating a pattern. I coated it with Matte Gel Medium to seal it because the images are so small they might come unglued without it. Next I stamped a sentiment from the Newton’s Nook Designs Newton Loves Cake with Catherine Pooler Designs Royal Treatment Ink Pad onto a piece of Neenah 110lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ and diecut it using a Studio Katia Stitched Square Nested Die set. I used the smaller square in the set. I adhered it to a piece of Stampin’ Up! Old Olive Cardstock and fussycut around it, creating a mat layer. I popped it up on my card with some 3M Foam Tape. I added a small bow made from 1/4” Lavender Double-Faced Satin Ribbon from my stash and a little flower to the sentiment area. I finished it off by adding some Nuvo Drops in Ivory Seashell to the centers of the larger flowers.

On the inside of the card, I just added some flowers. And that completes this card.

Card Inside

Dimensions

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?1559654439292

Thanks for reading this post. I hope you enjoyed and I’ve inspired you to give your old stand-alone dies a second look and try some new techniques with them. Leave comments or questions below or feel free to email.