Fun 4th of July Card!

Hi friends! Celebrate the fourth of July with this classic Americana inspired card!

Watch the video to see how!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry  – use coupon code: LINDSAY and receive 15% off your retail order of $10 or more of peg stamps, peg stamp sets, and unmounted stamps! Coupon expires a week from this video publication. Continue to receive great deals by becoming a PegStamp VIP here.  As a PegStamp VIP
you’ll get a weekly deal via email plus links to fabulous tutorials by me, Lindsay the Frugal Crafter and other designers.

Supplies:

• Flourish peg stamp set
• Happy Unmounted Stamp Set
• Let it Snow Unmounted Stamp Set
• *You also might like the Wrought Iron Planters Unmounted stamp set
• Dye ink pads (memento)
• American flag ribbon
• Spray ink
• Markers
• Fence stencil (optional)
• Rhinestones
• Cardstock in Red, kraft, white, blue and silver
• Adhesive: Hot glue and silicone mat and double stick tape

Directions:

1. Make a 5”x7” card base from kraft and layering panels in red, blue and silver. *Tip: Cut the centers out of the matting layers to use on inside of card.
2. Stamp the base of the snowglobe from the let it snow stamp set upside down to make a window box. Stamp again on a post-it note to make a mask. Apply the mask over the window box and stamp flowers and leaves.
3. Place a grid or fence stencil over the bottom of the card under the window box and cover the top of the card and spay ink over the stencil to create the fence.  Let dry.
4. Make buntings by cutting a 9” piece of ribbon and accordion fold it and gather it at the top and glue. (see video for demo)
5. Layer up stamped panels and mats on card base and adhere flag bunting and rhinestones to embellish.

I hope you make something inspired by this card. Happy crafting!

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Brush Style Painting Techniques with Genuine Crafts Watercolor Brush Pens & Giveaway!

Hi friends! Today I have a fun technique that will give you a bit more use from your watercolor brush pens. I’ll even be giving some brush pens away! For a chance to win a set of watercolor brush pens just leave a comment on this post and I will draw 5 lucky winners for a set of 20 Genuine Crafts watercolor brush pens. Winners will be notified via email one week after the publication of this blog post.

 

Watch the video to see some fun ways to use watercolor pens!

This tutorial is sponsored by Genuine Crafts! Save 20% with a coupon code you can get on their website.

Supplies:

• Genuine Crafts Watercolor brush markers
• Watercolor paper (trim to 5″ circle and 4.5″x6″ for a postcard size panel)
• Waterbrsuh (or #6 round brush and a cup of water)
• Non-porous mat, plate or piece of plastic to use as a palette(you can use the packaging your markers come in for this)
  Your choice of rubber stamps (I use stamps from Local King Rubber Stamps)

Below are some of the practice sketches I did with the pens.

I had so much fun playing with the technique to create other motifs. You can find a lot of inspiration online and the library by searching for Chinese brush style paintings.

Use the many tips and tricks form the video to create hundreds of more projects of your choosing! And remember to have fun and til next time happy crafting!

Father’s Day DNA Card!

Hi friends! Today I have a “punny” card that you can make for your dad this father’s day!

Here is the inside:

This card is easy to make and you probably have these simple supplies on hand.

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry  – use coupon code: LINDSAY and receive 15% off your retail order of $10 or more of peg stamps, peg stamp sets, and unmounted stamps! Coupon expires a week from this video publication. Continue to receive great deals by becoming a PegStamp VIP here.  As a PegStamp VIP
you’ll get a weekly deal via email plus links to fabulous tutorials by me, Lindsay the Frugal Crafter and other designers.

Supplies:

• Perfect Layering Circles Peg Stamp Set
• Mom & Dad Unmounted Stamp set
• Because of You Peg stamp set
• Dye ink pads (memento)
• Cream and Kraft Cardstock
• Small alphabet stamp set or computer and printer.

Note: This card fits a #10 business envelope.

Directions:

1. Make a 4 ¼” x 8 ½” card from cream cardstock. Cut a kraft panel to 4 ⅛” x 8 ⅜” and another cream panel to 4”x 8 ¼”.
2. Draw a straight line down the middle of the cream panel and two wavy lines to make a DNA strand. Stamp circles along the lines to create the “gene”. Draw lines from the center line to the outside dots to complete the element.
3. Using mini alphabet stamps or a computer and printer spell “Dad, thanks for the good genes” and cut them out, ink the edges and adhere to card. Stamp unmounted sentiment at the bottom.
4. Stamp happy fathers day inside the card and decorate with stamped circles.

I hope you make this card for your dad this Father’s day or help a child make one for their dad. Happy crafting!

PS Father’s Day is June 16th this year:)

Crafting on the go!

Hi friends! Last year after I got back from the Heirloom stamp show I completely unpacked my travel art bag. So many things had been accumulated over the years and some stuff I never used. I always stick duplicates in that bag or things I wanted to use up but it was time for a thorough clean out and that’s what I did.

That bag set empty on my shelf until yesterday when I went to pack up stuff to bring this year. I told my friends that I would bring coloring tools to share with everyone so that’s why my marker selection is a bit excessive but I hope this helps you decide what you might want to bring on a craft retreat. Also, I totally forgot to open the flat skinny pocket on the front where I keep my portable paper trimmer and I added a roll of double-sided tape after I stopped filming. If you noticed I forgot an important item be sure to let me know in the comments. Thanks!

Stuff in my Bag (Affiliate links used)

• Similar bag to what I have
• Chameleon pencils
• Color Dusters
• White Gouache
• Gink K ink cubes
• Watercolor wheel
• Waterbrushes
• Watercolor crayons
• Pitt pen fineliners
• License to Quill waterproof brush pen
• White gel pen
• Craft knife
• Stamped images (memento on Neenah paper for alcohol markers, Archival on Bristol for water media)
• Bag of watercolor paper cut to bookmark and postcards
• Bristol Pad (for watercolor markers)
• Neenah cardstock (for alcohol markers)
• Heavyweight card for card bases
• Ohuhu Alcohol markers (100 set)
• Watercolor Brush markers 
• Fineliners 
• Pencil sharpener
• Double sided tape
• Paper Trimmer (oops! I think I forgot to show that, it is is the thin front pocket!)
• Arteza real brush pens
• I also decided to add some chalks that have little pon-pom applicators because I can do backgrounds with my versamark pad which will be handy as I am not going to bring any patterned paper.

OK, what did I forget? Let me know in the comments below! If you are going to the Heirloom Stamp Show this weekend please say “Hi” if you see me! The BEST thing about crafting conventions is the wonderful people you meet! I am so looking forward to this trip. Now I have to pack my non-crafty stuff LOL! I have my priorities. 🙂 Happy crafting!

Many Marvelous Mermaids!

Howdy friends! Today’s project combines a lot of crafty goodness! I had so much fun making these cards and I hope they inspire you to create!

I worked an assembly line on these cards. I did a gel printing session, a coloring session, and an assembly session.

It can be daunting to think of making multiple cards in one sitting. It can also be overwhelming to gel print backgrounds for only one card. By breaking up the tasks I get to extend my enjoyment of my craft without getting stressed out and have a batch of cards to show for my effort!

You can see the complete process in the video!

Supplies (affiliate links used)

• Mermaid and fish scale themed stamps and stencils *This link is to Simon Says StampSimon Says Stamp, they have an excellent selection and they have 15% off your entire order with coupon code CRFT898 this weekend!
• Jane Davenport Gel Plate and Fish Scale Plate kitJane Davenport Gel Plate and Fish Scale Plate kit with stickers
• Also 3″x5″ gel plate
• Alcohol Markers (Ohuhu)
• Quickie Glue Pen *great for foil, glitter or embossing powder
• Clear ultra fine glitter
• Ink pads and sponges for stamped backgrounds.
• Cardstock, novelty yarn, acrylic paint, rhinestones and adhesive

Here is a look at all of the images colored. I thought about just trimming them to ATC size at one point but I decided that I’d be more likely to use the greeting cards.

I hope you have a lovely weekend! I’m off to watch my son play in his last tennis matches of the season and miraculously it’s warm and sunny! Yahoo! Til next time happy crafting!

Colorful Fun ATCoins! And New Ways to use Distress Oxide Inks!

Hi friends! Today I am going to show you how I made these artist trading coins to bring with me to trade at the Heirloom Stamp Show in W. Springfield MA later this month.

I had so much fun making these and even if you have no desire to make ATCoins you can use these techniques on cards or mixed media projects. They are messy and fun and the perfect way to play with your supplies! Watch the video to see how!

This tutorial is sponsored by Top Flight Stamps! SAVE 10% off your next order with coupon code: thefrugalcrafter10 *USA orders of $50+ ship free!

Supplies:

• Penelope Dee Organic Stamp
• Stamperia Stencil
• Stamperia Stamp (sentiment on back)
• Artist trading coins
• 5″x7″ gel printing plate
• Embossing powder
• Watercolor brush pens
• Distress Oxide inkpads and reinkers
• White Gesso (worlds best gesso, Jerry’s Artarama)
• Chunky clear glitter
• Black archival ink pad
• Beacon 3 in 1 glue

You can make the coin bases yourself if you don’t want to purchase wooden ones. They just need to be 2 1/2″ in diameter.  I recommend using a couple layers of cereal box chipboard for this. You can cut it with a die and glue them together so the raw sides are out and gesso it to prep it for paint or stamping. I might make some in this manner since I used up my MDF ones. These are fun and addictive and if you don’t want to trade them they would make a beautiful embellishment for a card or scrapbook page. I hope you try some of these techniques and til next time happy crafting!

No Waste Rainbow with Circle Dies!

Hi friends, today I am going to show you how to make the cutest Rainbow using your nested circle dies and show you a card from the leftovers!

 

You will get 3 cards out of this technique which I think is super fun and a great way to make sure you have a stash of birthday cards on hand! Watch the video for this easy technique!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry – use coupon code: LINDSAY and receive 15% off your retail order of $10 or more of peg stamps, peg stamp sets, and unmounted stamps! Coupon expires a week from this video publication. Continue to receive great deals by becoming a PegStamp VIP here. As a PegStamp VIP
you’ll get a weekly deal via email plus links to fabulous tutorials by me, Lindsay the Frugal Crafter and other designers.

Supplies:

• Happy Unmounted Clear Stamp Set
• Handmade With Love Unmounted Clear Stamp Set
• Mom and Dad Unmounted Clear Stamp Set
• Skyward Peg Stamp Set
• Party Time Peg Stamp Set
• Dye Based inks in Bright colors (Memento)
• Nested Circle Dies (any brand)
• Cardstock scraps in rainbow colors
• White cardstock for stamping
• Blending brush
• Blue ink for using with the blending brush, I use Broken China distress Oxide but you can use whatever blue ink you have.
• Cloud cut-out (Make 2, one to use as a stencil and one for your card) You can hand cut or die cut.

Directions:

1. Cut a sheet of heavy white cardstock in half so you have two A2 cards.
2. Arrange your cardstock scraps in rainbow order and gather your circle dies. Take the two largest ones and cut a ring from red. Then use the smaller two for red plus the next size down to cut an orange ring, and continue in this manner making smaller rings as you go.
3. Adhere all of the concentric rings inside each other (inlay) on white and use the largest and smallest circle die to cut out the combined shape and then cut that in half and you will have two rainbows. Save the inside circles for a leftover card.
   Use a blending brush, blue ink, and a cloud stencil to ink the back of the card base. *You can make 2 rainbow cards as you have 2 rainbows!
4. Adhere rainbow and cloud cut out to card.
5. Stamp Happy Birthday over the sky area. I used several shades of memento dew drop ink pads to create the rainbow sentiment. *test out this technique on a scrap of white cardstock and save the test for the leftover card!
6. Stamp birds in the sky with black. Stamp You’re Amazing on a white scrap and notch the ends, mat on black and adhere over clouds.
7. Embellish with epoxy circles if desired. *Stamp clouds and balloons on inside of the card if desired.
8. For Card #2 Arrange the leftover circles on a white card base and glue a “happy birthday” stamped strip on top and embellish with epoxy dots. On the inside of the card adhere a note with reuse instructions and stamping.

I hope you try this die-cut technique. It’s so fun to find new ways to use old supplies! Happy crafting!