Welcome Baby Double Slider Card

I wanted to make a fancy gift card holder to send to new parents of a much anticipated baby boy.  I decided to use the Lawn Fawn double slider die set because I had two funny Taylored Expression images I wanted to use. I started by die cutting the pieces from stork print Pebbles (I think) card stock.

 The panels for the images were cut from watercolor paper and  stamped with waterproof black ink.   Distress Oxide Ink was smudged around the images and sprayed with water.  After the panels were dry, I colored them in with watercolor pencils.  (If you use markers they will bleed through to the back of the panel.)

 To finish off the card, I added the banner stamped with the 'Welcome Baby' (Paper Smooches), a die cut (Lawn Fawn) pocket  in the back for the gift card, and the pull tabs (Lawn Fawn die).

The die cut 'hugs' was cut from DCWV pearl sheen paper. The LF pocket die set comes with the words and a cute heart die.

 This is the second double slider card I've made and I enjoy playing with the paper mechanics. I like the surprise element and I think it will amuse the first time parents.  I think a double slider panel like this would make a cool  hanging calendar/ gift tag with some hidden greetings inside.  What do you think? I know you are busy crafting, wrapping and cooking but drop me a line if you have time to spare.   Your comments always make me smile. Season's Greetings!

Kitten and Puppy Christmas Gift Tags

As promised, I've begun making Xmas gift tags.  This year I was going for a different look, something fancy that would mean that I could attach it to a simple ribbon and forgo a bow.  Since I had purchased some great new Xmas dies and stamps from HM Ben Franklin Crafts, I decided to use them in combination.

The 6x6 Kaiser Craft Xmas paper pads provided the perfect papers for die cutting the snowflake base for the kitten and the holly base for the puppy tag.  To add a little sparkle I glued on some Martha Stewart clear crystal glitter to the snowflakes and gold sparkle glitter to the holly berry sprigs. (Look at the tags close up.)  The Kaiser Craft paper pads also had some foil papers which were used to die cut the Lawn Fawn 'celebrate'.

The animals were colored in with Copic pens and the stockings were paper pieced by die cutting them out of a second piece of printed card stock.  Final touches were added by Fun Flocking the stocking cuffs and tying on some red and green twine. You can (as I did) make a bunch of these to dress up your wrapped gifts.  Hope this post has given you a new take on the traditional Xmas gift tags. Leave me a comment if you aren't too busy with holiday preparations. Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving Double Slider Card

The fall season is probably my favorite one because the weather gets cooler and the traditional colors are such a pleasing palette.  This double slider card (Lawn Fawn die set) is my first attempt so I am really proud that it actually works!  I kept the decorations and sentiments simple so I could concentrate on the mechanics of the card.

After watching the Lawn Fawn video a few times, it wasn't difficult to assemble the double slider card.  I am so pleased by this card form that I will definitely be making more perhaps as gift card holders or calendars.  Please stop by again to see what I create with this unique die set. Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in blogland!

Japanese Scenery Hanging Calendars

 As you can see I am still making hanging calendars except this set was made using some Japanese scenery stamps I purchases ages ago from HM Ben Franklin Crafts.  (I just received my order of 2019 Vippies calendars and haven't changed out the 2018 ones I used for these photos.)

Basically, these calendars were made using the same process and supplies described in my last post.

 Although time consuming, I enjoy heat embossing the stamped  image and applying the free flowing  Oxide Distress Inks which pair well with Copic pens that I use to add in extra filler color.

 Not all of the stamp image has to be used as seen with this cropped design which allows more of the Oxide Distress ink watercolors and gold flecked ink to show.  The  images on these calendars have been heat embossed with copper ink and Nuvo brilliant gold powder so they really have a nice sparkle.  Unfortunately, these photos don't show this aspect but you can see in the previous post what a nice effect results from this technique.

 This last one does not match the others because the whip cream kitty in the cup (Hero Arts stamp and die set) was an add on to cover up a 'boo-boo'. LOL!  I like that what I almost threw away turned out quite attractive and perfect for a coffee-loving cat person.  I hope I haven't bored you with yet another set of hanging calendars. I promise the next post will be something different....maybe it's time to start some Christmas crafting!

Fairy Hanging Calendars

 After making the wine bottle tags featured on my last post, I felt that the hanging tag die could be used to make hanging calendars.  The images from the Penny Black 'missing you' set seemed perfect for this project.  I wanted the hanging calendars to be one layer (except for the calendar part) and I wanted the backgrounds to be a flowing blend of colors.

 I started by stamping the images on die cut watercolor paper using Brilliance copper ink and sprinkling on Nuvo Gold Enchantment embossing powder before setting with a heat gun.

 Next I used a sponge dauber to apply and blend some Distress Oxide Inks (Ranger) around the main image. After spraying water and blotting, I applied more color and some Ken Oliver pigment powder and sprayed again until I was satisfied with the look.  Then, I colored in the images with Copic pens.Using my finger and a stiff paint brush, I flicked gold ink (Liquitex) over the whole surface.

Finally, I die cut a printed card stock to adhere to the back of the hanging calendar.  It was easy to find a matching card stock in my sky high pile of scraps LOL! Oh yes, I rubbed some Inka-Gold paste to the edges of the calendar to give it a more finished look. If the recipient of the calendar needs to fit it over a doorknob, a slit can be made through the lower side of the ring.  These calendars are so easy to make that I plan to make a few more to accommodate the many 2019 Vippies I just ordered.

Autumn Wine Bottle Tags

The holiday season means lots of delicious feasting. As a guest it is customary to bring a side dish or even better a bottle of wine.  To dress up the naked bottle (especially if it is under $100 LOL!) I think these wine bottle tags are the perfect way to show that you put some thought into your gift.  With the Avery Elle die it is a simple task to turn an autumn print card stock into a festive decoration.

For this bottle tag, I used the cute Lawn Fawn stamp and die sets (Forest Feast).  I really like the tree stump table (trimmed to fit the tag) which was easily made by stamping black ink onto brown card stock. The animals and food were colored with Copic pens before die cutting. The 'cheers' label was cut with the Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio and the word was cut with the die from the Avery Elle set.

For both tags the ribbon was strung through the tag which made the words stand out.  I tied the ribbon on one side to give the tags an asymmetric jaunty look. The gnome image (Viva Las Vegas Stamps) is one of my favorite images....maybe I should get a lawn gnome decoration...LOL!  I cut some burlap (large sheet purchased from HM Ben Franklin Crafts) to fit under the gnome after I colored the image with Copic pens and fussy cut it.  Both bottle tags are similar but equally attractive to dress up a wine bottle.  If the dinner host is not a fan of wine, you can use these tags on a gift of Balsamic vinegar or a specialty bottle of olive oil.  I have another idea for using these tags so please visit this blog site again and leave a comment if you have some time to spare.  I love hearing from you!

Recycled Autumn Container #2

 Just a short post today.  I have a bunch of these empty cookie containers....hmmm where'd the cookies go? They are sturdy and just the right size for recycling into homemade cookie, soap or bath fizzy bomb hostess gifts. It was so simple to use double stick tape to attach printed stripe autumn paper to the outside of the cylinder and add a strip of burlap, ribbon, leaves and a dried baby's breath sprig. You can find a large supply of these autumn items at HM Ben Franklin Crafts. As with the box on my previous post, this decorated container can be useful after the contents are used up.  With a calendar on the back, this tall box can hold scissors, pens, pencils, etc. and look attractive on an office desk.  Enjoy the season of giving!

Autumn Hostess Gift Calendar Box

 I love recycling because I can't bear to throw out perfectly good containers.  This project started with an empty box of Diamond Head cookies.  It was simple work to cover the box with faux marbled paper from a Paper House 12x12 pad.  A decorated box makes a great hostess gift (definitely needed for holiday parties) when filled with homemade baked goods or beauty products.

 To enhance the look of an old Venetian paper mache box, I rubbed Viva Inka- Gold paste (HM BFC may not have this brand any more but it should carry some other rub-on metallic paste.) along the edges of the box, on the artificial autumn leaves, and over the wooden word on the top of the box.

 I had the wooden 'gather' in my stash of autumn stuff and it seemed just right for the top of the box. One of my stamp sets had an Emily Bonte quote which I thought was perfect attached to the box back.

I haven't ordered my mini calendars from Vippies yet, so I used the last pages of a 2018 calendar.  I thought that a calendar was a good addition to the box which when empty can make an elegant desk holder for memo pads, paper clips, etc.  I hope that you will recycle what you can and craft something that will give pleasure to someone. Autumn blessings to you for recycling!