Watercolor Crayon Cards (you can use other stuff too!) & Moldy Oldies!

Hi friends! Today I want to challenge you to dig out a supply you have not used in a while and use it. Try to think back to when you bought or were given the item and think about how excited you were at that moment and channel ‘past you’s’ excitement into ‘present you’s’ project! As an added bonus ‘future you’ will be happy you used up some of your stash!

When I was almost done making these cards I went rooting around in my embellishment drawer looking for the “perfect” accent for the card (bonus points if it had a sentiment on it!) and came across these tags from Making Memories. This product came out in 2009 and I think that is when I got it. It was a gift from my mom. I think I was afraid that this product would be discontinued so I hoarded the tags for the “perfect” project and then simply forgot I had it, until I saw the tags on clearance at Big lots and bought a ton, came home, put them away and again and forgot that I had them. It is time to stop the insanity people! I have decided that saving a special paper, embellishment or supply for “someday” is a bad idea because someday never comes. Today is the only day we have so go on, use the beautiful things you have collected. You deserve to:) Whoa, that was deep. Now on to the tutorial!

Video!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry  Use coupon code: FRUGALJULY17 – 10% off everything in the store. Coupon expires July 31, 2017. Become a Peg Stamp VIP & get an instant coupon for 20% off RST stamps here plus the deepest weekly discounts available! Offer expires July 31, 2017

Supplies:

• Peg stamp sets: Watercolor Garden, October Mums, Between the Paving Stones
• Unmounted Stamp Set Lots of Pots
• Distress oxide inks
• Crop-a-dial hole punch/eyelet setter
• Embossing folder
• Stamp mounts
• Watercolor crayons
• Cardstock and/or bristol board
• Eyelets
• Ribbon: Grosgrain and Organza
• Embellishment: Making Memories Tag Curler and charm

A word about color mediums…

This project is the perfect example of how you can substitute products. In fact I dare say many products out there are near duplicates of each other or at least are close enough that you don’t need both. For instance, instead of watercolor crayons you could use: watercolor sticks, woodless watercolor pencils, water-soluble oil pastels, gelatos, scribble sticks or gel crayons. You could also use watercolor or gouache paint applied with a  flat synthetic brush. You could use any water based markers or your trusty ink pads. We are not making a souffle here folks, it’s more like a gumbo and the more you infuse your own personality and supply stash in to it the more spicy the result will be!

I am thinking about starting a new series making use of the “I have to have it!” supplies I’ve bought over the years but have not used that much. What are your “had to have it, but barely used it” supplies. Let me know in the comments below and til next time happy crafting!

Card Trick! How to make a Magic Card with NO SPECIAL DIES!

Hi friends! Today I have a fun interactive card to share!

And you probably have the supplies you need already! Watch the video to see how!

Tutorial sponsored by Top Flight Stamps. Use coupon code thefrugalcrafter10 to save 10% on your order!

Supplies:

• Shine Bright Stamp Set
• Memento black ink
• Black cardstock with a white back (or color of your choosing) *I used a double-sided black/white carstock for my card. It was Coordination Cardstock and purchase in store at Joann Fabrics by the sheet.
• white cardstock
• Ink jet transparency
• Alcohol markers
• Screw top brads
• 1/8″ score tape
• Shimmer cardstock
• Metal gear charms 
• Washi tape
• Rectangle dies (optional-you can use a craft knife and ruler)
• Mini paper trimmer
• Hot glue (or wet glue)
• Ribbon
• Stapler

Follow the directions in the video to make this card. It is a simple concept but it can be a bit fussy. It really is a fun card to make though:) If you don’t have the inkjet transparency you can use a regular overhead transparency or any clear plastic packaging you have saved (like that window on the macaroni box!) and stamp your design with staz-on ink OR if you have a steady hand you can place the transparency over the image you stamped on white and trace it with a fine tip Sharpie. Make it work with what you have and save up for the awesome stuff you really want:) I hope you give this technique a try and til next time happy crafting!

*Affiliate links used.

Stamp Giveaway & Metallic Look 3 Ways! Use Your Stash!

Edit: Contest closed, the winner has been notified in the comments below and by email. Thanks for playing!

Hi friends! Today I have 3 ways for you to get a metallic look on your cards without ink! So many times we think that ink is the only game in town when it comes to stamping but that is not the case at all! When I first starting stamping I was overwhelmed at the cost of all the inkpads I would need to make the cards I wanted so I used the acrylic paint I already had instead and it worked great. In today’s tutorial I will show you how to use acrylic paint, mica powder and water-soluble crayons/pastels to get fabulous metallic looks! Make sure you leave a comment for a chance to win the stamps I showcased from ArtNeko. This giveaway is open worldwide and winner will be notified via email in a week.

Are you ready to get messy? Watch the video and get started!

Sponsored by Art Neko *Save 10% off your next order of any size or get free shipping on orders over $50 (whichever discount is greater you get!) just by mentioning thefrugalcrafter!

Supplies:

• Peacock stamps (ArtNeko)
• Black and white cardstock (Recollections #110)
• Metallic gel sticks or Gelatos
• Mungyo Pearl water-soluble oil pastels
• Metallic acrylic paint
• Soft rubber brayer *Tip: Clean it after each use and it will last decades!
• Pearl Ex powder
• Versamark ink pad
• *OR this perfect pearls kit has the inkpad and 4 powder colors as well as the brushes. This is the best deal if you don’t have any powder and ink and want to try the technique.
• Metallic thread
• Notch punch (the Marvy punch I used in the video is unavailable but this Fiskars Heritage one has a corner notch plus 2 other designs)
• Adhesive ATG gun
• Chinese game piece
• Stamp mounts and soft brush

About the embellishment I used: A couple of years ago I purchased an inexpensive children’s game from a store in Chinatown. I think it is a travel Mahjong game. During a recent declutter I came across it in my “Random game piece drawer” and I noticed how the tiles wanted to come apart, so I took them apart and put the flat tile tops in my cardmaking stash and I used one on this card. The bottoms of the tiles I ended up spray painting white so I can use them when I need a watercolor pan. I often like to put magnets on the bottoms of pans and use them in reclaimed tins as custom palettes. I think these might actually fit my metal palettes as well because they are about the same width as a half pan.

Tips for picking the right metallic medium:

1. Use acrylics if you want a durable surface that won’t need to be sealed and can take handling such as a postcard or even crafts and furniture. The sky’s the limit with acrylic!
2. Use Gelatos/Gel Sticks/Watercolor Crayons when you want a painterly look! If you are using them with water or rubbing them into your cardstock they won’t require sealing but if you are using them thickly you will want to seal them because they will smudge.
3. If you want a crisp and perfect design use clear ink and Pearl EX/Perfect Pearls (or Mica based eyeshadow.) Keep in mind that Pearl Ex (what I used) may smudge if not sealed with fixative or hairspray.

Will you try any of these techniques? Let me know which one in the comments below! Your comment will enter you in the prize draw to win these stamps too! Please note some comments require moderation so if you don’t see your comment live immediately please be patient, I will approve it shortly:) Good luck in the giveaway and til next time happy crafting!

Stamping Fun with Clay, Inks, Stitching & Paint! Stamp School!

Hi friends! I love to grab different supplies to use in my cardmaking. You can incorporate almost any other craft or hobby into your next card making session. Do you like to use polymer clay? Do you like to sew? Paint? By looking at the supplies you already have for other crafts you can stretch your supplies and come up with some truly unique and beautiful cards!

In today’s video I’ll show you how to combine stamps and clay, make a cute fence without a die and hand stitch on cards. We will also use paint and ink! I hope you give one of these techniques a try in your next card!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry  Use coupon code: FRUGALJULY17 – 10% off everything in the store. Coupon expires July 31, 2017. Become a Peg Stamp VIP & get an instant coupon for 20% off RST stamps here plus the deepest weekly discounts available! Offer expires July 31, 2017.

Supplies:

• Clay: I used Sculpey 3 but you can use any kind
  *You will need an oven to bake polymer clay or you can use air dry clay (let dry overnight) if you like
• Pigment inks (clay)
• Distress Oxide Inks (background and clay)
• Dye inks (leaves and sentiment)
• Peg stamp set Brambly Rose
• PegStamp set Plentiful Harvest
• *I mentioned the fern stamp from this set
• Unmounted stamp set Country Lane
• White, kraft and green cardstock
• Acrylic paint (optional) and 1/2″ flat brush for dry brushing
• Ink Blending brushes
• Sponges
• Double stick tape
• liquid glue 
• scissors, grass die cut (optional, you can also use a strip of torn or fringed paper), paper trimmer
• Needle and thread
• scallop punch (optional)

Directions for flowers:
Before you begin get your clay roses made. If you are using air dry clay make the roses the day before.
1. Condition clay and roll into pea size balls. Flatten.
2. Ink up rose stamps with pigment ink and stamp on the clay disks.
3. Bake according to package directions.
4. You can also paint the roses later if you like!

Card Directions:
1. Make a 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″card base from kraft. From white card trim a 4″x 5 1/4″ panel and make six 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ strips and two 1/8″ x 4 1/4″ strips. Die cut or tear 2 grass strips from green and punch or hand cut a scalloped oval from any color scrap.

2. Ink the white panel with blue using the scallop oval as a cloud mask then ink the bottom with green. Protect the top part of the panel with a post-it note! Spritz with water if using distress oxide ink for a fun effect!

3. Trim the fence strips so they have points at the top and ink with a blending brush and brown and grey ink. Ink edges with a sponge.

4. Assemble the fence directly on the card. Stamp rose vines over the fence. Glue grass at the bottom.

5. Poke stitching holes with a needle tool or tack on a foam pad. Back-stitch i the holes with green thread.

6. Glue roses on card. You can stamp a sentiment and add a bird like I did if you like!

I had a lot of fun making this card and I love how it turned out! Would you use any of these techniques on a card? Let me know in the comments below and it you liked this project please consider sharing it on your favorite social network using the handy buttons below! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Got 10 Minutes? Make a card!

Hi friends! Today I am going to share an inexpensive to make limited supplies card. I love to have a few quick and easy cards to make when time runs short but I still want to get crafty!

Watch the video and see how easy it is!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry  Use coupon code: LINDSAY17 – 20% off peg stamps and peg stamp sets on orders of $10 or more. Coupon expires July 3, 2017

Supplies:

• Peg Stamp set Delicate Rose 
• Unmounted Stamp Set Hello from Holland
• Stamp mount
• Kraft cardstock
• Basketweave embossing folder
• Blending brushes
• Dye inks (colors)
• Black waterproof ink 
• Clear marker waterbased blending pen
• White cardstock or watercolor paper
• Ribbon
• Post-it notes

Directions:
1. Stamp bicycle and hello with waterproof black ink on watercolor paper or cardstock.
2. Use a post it note to mask the basket and handle bars then stamp roses.
3. Color image with a clear marker and inks. *Press ink pads to a stamp mount to make a palette.
4. Emboss a 4″x5 1/4″ kraft panel and ink with a blending brush. Ink background of car as well with the blending brushes.
5. Wrap embossed panel with ribbon and tie a bow at the edge. Adhere to an A2 kraft card and then adhere your stamped panel on top.

A lovely card in minutes with limited supplies! If you had time to watch this video you have time to make this card. Happy crafting!

Pretty Birdhouse with a Bunting Card! Stamp school!

Hi friends! Today we are going to use the masking technique to make this pretty card that would be nice to send this time of year!

Watch the video to see how it’s done!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry!  Use coupon code: LINDSAY17 – 20% off peg stamps and peg stamp sets on orders of $10 or more. Coupon expires July 3, 2017
OR
Use Coupon DISTRESS25 to take 25% off Distress oxide ink pads through 6/26/17

Supplies:

• Peg stamp set Stars & Stripes Forever
• Peg stamp set Farmyard animals 
• Unmounted stamp set Country Lane
• Unmounted stamp set Live, Love Be Thankful
• Kraft and white cardstock
• Hexagon embossing folder
• Distress Oxide inks
• Ranger Archival ink
• Decorative scrapbook paper (My Sunshine Stack form DCWV)
• Adhesive (double-sided tape such as ATG)
• Bakers twine
• Post it notes for masking
• Blending sponges
• Blending pen or clear marker 
• Waterbrush or regular paintbrush and a cup of water
• Paper trimmer
• Scissors

Follow the directions in the video to make this 5 1/2″ square card using several inking, stamping and masking techniques! Have fun with the masking technique and til next time happy crafting!

 

Fancy Card Edges: Stamp School!

Hi friends! A fun and simple way to dress up a card is to shape the edges. You can use scissors, punches, or even die cuts to do this. After shaping the edges you can embossing them as well to enhance the effect!

Learn this technique and make this quick and easy card today!

Video!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry! Use coupon code: LINDSAY17 – 20% off peg stamps and peg stamp sets on orders of $10 or more. Coupon expires July 3, 2017

Supplies:

• Peg Stamp Set Sugar Peas
• Peg Stamp Set Between The Paving Stones
• Unmounted set Live, Love Be Thankful
• Unmounted Set Uplifting Sentiments 
• Memento Dye inks
• White Cardstock
• Circle Punch 1 1/4″ and 1 1/2″
• Lace
• Hot glue and double-sided tape
• Scalloped border die cut (or use scallop scissors)
• Border embossing folder

Remember if you don’t have dies you can hand cut your edge like I showed in this tutorial.  I hope you enjoyed this video and til next time happy crafting!