A Wreath Around a Word & Recycling Your Cards!

Hi friends! In this lesson you will learn how to wrap a wreath element around the beginning of a sentiment for decoration and impact!

I’ll also show you how you can encourage your card recipient to reuse your handmade card with a unique removable inner panel:

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:

• Happy Birthday Clear Unmounted Set
• Handmade with Love Clear Unmounted Set
• Let it Snow Clear Unmounted Set (optional)
• Poppy Wreath Peg Stamp Set
• Secret Garden Peg Stamp Set
• White & Red  cardstock
• Green Eyelets
• Dye inks (memento)
• Double sided tape
• Washi Tape
• Pattern paper scrap (for inside removable sentiment)

 

Directions:

1. Cut a sheet of heavy white cardstock to 5.5” x 8.5” and fold in half to make an A2 card. Trip the leftover card to 3.74”x5” (for stamping) and trim a red card scrap to 5.25”x4” for a matting layer.
2. Stamp Happy Birthday in an ombre pattern by inking up the middle of the stamp with light pink, the edges in dark pin and the ends in red. Stamp i the middle right of the paper so there will be room for the wreath to the left.
3. Use the snowglobe stamp to stamp a light green circle around the beginning of the sentiment making sure the opening of the circle is over the words. You can trace something round if you don’t have that stamp.
4. Use peg stamps to stamp leaves and flowers on the wreath. Try not to stamp over your words.
5. Adhere stamped panel to a mat and then attach to card with double-sided tape and eyelets.
6. Stamp the recycling message and icon on a scrap of paper and adhere to the inside of the card with washi tape. *Or you can stamp on a post it note. Stamp “Handmade with love” on the back of the card.

 

Optional techniques!

You can use the snowglobe stamp to create a wreath with a large focal point too. Try stamping a bow, bird or fruit in the gap and building on from that! You can also add a wreath to the end of a sentiment.

So get out the stamp you have, mix and match them and play! Then encourage your loved ones to pass the card on once they have enjoyed it! That’s what I call “Happy crafting!”

Advertisements

Easy Spinner Cards (Inside and Out!)

Hi friends! I colored these stamped images about a month ago thinking that they would make adorable spinner cards.

You can use any symmetrical design like the spaceship (That was a bargain stamp and die set I got on sale for $5 from AC Moore) or stamps that have mirror images (Like the Pawsome set from Waffle Flower) or you can use a mirror stamp or gel plate to reverse another stamp image. If that’s not your cup of tea you can always back your stamped image on a circle or another shape. You just need to make sure that the spinning element looks good on both sides and you have 2 layers so you can hide the string. These fun cards are a cinch to make and so fun to receive, watch the video and see how!

Supplies: (Affiliate links used)

• Pawsome stamp set from Waffle Flower
• Alien Rocket Card Sentiments Clear Acrylic Stamp & Die Set by Love Nicole
• Markers to color stamped images (I used Ohuhu markers)
• Colored cardstock
• Bakers twine
• Adhesive: Double sideed tape, hot glue, foam squares, wet glue
• Embossing powder
• Star sequins
• Oval dies

I hope this tutorial made you realize how easy interactive cards can be and I hope it inspires you to give the technique a try soon! Happy crafting!

Review of NEW Waffle Flower Water Media Mat & Giveaways!

Hi friends!  I am excited because I have been testing a very special product since December. Some of you have spied it in the background of my videos and asked me about it but I really couldn’t say much publicly about it until now!

It’s the Waffle Flower Water Media Mat which is a non glare, matte white silicone crafting mat meant for use with watercolor, gouache, acrylics and glue.  The folks at Waffle Flower asked me if I would like to be part of their video hop to introduce the mat and I said “Sure! As long as I can post my full review.” and they agreed! So make sure you leave a comment on my YouTube video if you want a chance at winning a $25 gift certificate to Waffle Flower or a Water Media Mat. After you are done You can check out all of the inspirational designers on the Waffle Flower Video hop! Like this video and leave a comment by 4/15 at each stop along your way for your chances to win the mat! I will also draw a random winner from comments left on my video (on YouTube) for a $25 gift certificate to WaffleFlower.com! Winners will be announced on Waffle Flower Blog on Wed 17th! Open Internationally!

(WATER MEDIA MAT REVIEW)
Finally I get to share a review on a product I have been using almost daily for 4 months. The Waffle Flower Water Media Mat (*Affiliate links used throughout this post) *For the full review watch the video:)

Pros:

• Non stick
• Heat resistant
• Non slip/wont skid across table
• Waterproof
• Handy marking for taking social media photos and videos
• Non glare
• Protects workspace from spills and messes

Cons:

• The white silicone stains
• Can’t be used as a cutting surface
• Price ($36)

Supplies:

• Water Media Mat
• Swatching stamps & Dies
• 2″ double stick Tape
• WatercolorPaper
• We Heard Stamps & Dies
• 3-D Mini Bow Die
• Arteza Watercoors *10% off with code FRUGAL10 on Arteza website or on amazon (no additional discount on Amazon)
• Small paintbrushes
• Cardstock
• Glue

I have been using the Water Media Mat for months and I have to say I really like it for reducing eye strain and clean up. If you don’t mind the staining and it’s in your budget I highly recommend it. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Mother’s Day Card with Embellished Raveled Rose Trim & Foil!

Hi friends! Today we will make this sweet, yet simple card!

I apologize to viewers in other parts of the work who already celebrated Mother’s Day, in America it’s in May. You can always change up the sentiment for a birthday or other occasion card:)

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:

• Mom & Dad Clear Unmounted Clear Stamp Set
• Because of you Clear Unmounted Clear Stamp Set
• Poppies for Remembrance Peg Stamp Set
• Secret Garden Peg Stamp Set
• Red and White cardstock
• Rose patterned cardstock (Park Lane)
• Raveled rose ribbon
• Red rhinestones
• Foil in rose pink and mint
• Scor Tape in ⅛” and ¼” widths
• Quickie glue pen
• Dye inks (Memento)
• Hot Glue

Directions:

1. Make a 5”x7” card from heavyweight rose patterned cardstock. Cut a 2” strip of white card, and a 2.5” strip of red.
2. Stamp happy birthday on the white strip and embellish with stamped poppies.
3. Adhere the white to the red strip and trim to fit across your card.
4. Use double-sided tape to apply pink foil to your stamped panel. Trace the sentiment with a glue pen, let dry and press on green foil.
5. Stamp Sentiment inside card and embellish with rose and leave stamps.
6. Adhere rose ribbon to front of card and glue rhinestones in the rose ribbon centers.

I hope you try this fun card and till next time happy crafting!

 

A Handy Use for Scrap Cardstock Strips!

Hi friends! You know you have them, those strips of cardstock that collect next to your paper trimmer. Once a nuisance, these leftover strips of cardstock can be turned into your dies best friend in the craft room!

You can find the 2″ double-sided tape on Amazon. I have another fun tutorial using that tape here. Happy crafting!

Layered Watercolor Resist Technique & A Chance to Win!

Edit: The winner of the $15 gift certificate to Top Flight Stamps is Vicki Kroll!

Hi friends! I have a super fun technique to share with you using stamps, a wax crayon and watercolors! Also at the end of the post I’ll tell you about a great giveaway!

You can create some beautiful batik like images to use on your next card!

The technique is simple and fun, Watch the tutorial to see how!

This tutorial is sponsored by Top Flight Stamps!  *USA orders of $50+ ship free!
Discount code in celebration of Top Flight Stamps 2nd Anniversary celebration: SAVE20 for 20% off all orders over $20 through the end of the month Sunday 31 March.

Supplies:

• Darkroom Door Floral Collage Stamps
• White Crayon
• Watercolor paper (use the smooth back side)
• Archival ink (black)
• Stamp mount
• Watercolor paints (Paul Rubens 24 set)
• Watercolor brush #6 round

Blog Hop & Giveaway!

It’s Topflight Stamps 2nd birthday!  To celebrate, we’ve teamed up with up some of our favorite crafters to bring you a blog hop showcasing some of the fabulous products available from Topflight Stamps.   Please hop along with us all and show all of the crafters some love!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a birthday celebration without prizes!  Topflight Stamps is giving one lucky winner a $50 Gift Certificate, and each stop on the hop has an additional $15 Gift Certificate up for grabs.  To be in with a chance to win, make sure to visit every stop on the hop and leave a comment by April 8th.

Winners will be announced on the Topflight Stamps blog on April 9th.  Good Luck!

1 Topflight Stamps Blog (DONNA) 

2 Sandy Allnock 

3 Jenny Colacicco 

4 Justine Hovey 

5 Toni M Maddox 

6 Kelly Martin 

7 Annette Allen

8 Kymona Tracey 

9 Ashlea Cornell 

10 Josefine Fouarge 

11 Lisa Hoel 

12 Laurel Beard 

13 Ericka Strange 

14 Ingrid Blackburn 

15 Dana Joy 

16 Amy Tsuruta  

17 – Lindsay Weirich (You are here!)

Make sure you visit all of the talented designers on the blog hop for inspiration and leave a comment on each post for many chances to win a gift certificate to Top Flight Stamps! Til next time happy crafting!

Don’t be Confused by Color! Try These Tips Instead!

Hi friends! Today I am going to share ways to make coloring with alcohol markers so much easier no matter what brand or mix of brands you have!

I will be demonstrating my technique with my 120 color Ohuhu alcohol marker set. They are probably the most affordable brand of alcohol markers on the market so you do not need expensive pens for this to work. I reviewed the Ohuhu Markers in the past and was very impressed with them, especially when they swatched over to the new style, you can see a comparison here if you want more information. In today’s video, I am going to share a grouping technique that will work with any brand of alcohol marker tho.  The first 13 minutes of this video shows my swatch guide method. The remainder of the video is a coloring demo.

Supplies & Resources (affiliate links used)

• You can find the swatch stamps I used here for the large sheet and here for the color bundles.
• The set of alcohol markers can be found here (120 color Ohuhu)
• Stamps used on colored samples: Animals from Pawsome set, Daffodils from Darkroom Door, Space set from AC Moore (Love Nicole)
• Paper: I use Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth 80# in color Solar White. Simon Says Stamp sells a 25 sheet pack for $6, if you love it then you can order it by the ream of 250 sheets on Amazon for around $40 (it is actually $36 right now!)

Here’s what to do (as explained in the video)
1. Swatch out all of your markers noting the brand and color number on your swatch.

2. Sort your markers in groups by their color and undertones. For instance, you would have pinks, pinkish reds, neutral reads, coral/orange reds, warm (orange) yellows, cool (green-leaning) yellows, yellow-greens, teals, blues, purples, cool grays, warm grays, neutrals etc.

*Sort them as specifically as you like. If you are new to coloring with alcohol markers keep groups smaller (less than 6 colors) but no more than 12. *If you have more than 12 break them into two groups that are more specific. Secure each group with a rubber band.

3. Swatch the colors on a strip of cardstock. *Always swatch on the paper you normally use for markers.

4. Punch a circle in the center of each swatch. *You can peek through the circle to help choose colors for projects or when shopping for new markers.

***Bring this swatch with you when you shop to avoid buying duplicate color and to make sure you are purchasing colors that will work with what you have. Update your swatch when you get new markers.

Coloring tips:

• Choose a light, medium and dark version of a color for blending. I like to work dark to light but if your paper doesn’t blend well prime an area with the lightest color first and then work dark to light.
• If you have limited colors or you are not happy with your marker colors you can enhance with darker or lighter colored pencils.
• A white pen is handy for bright highlights and shine.

One more thing!

The Ohuhu markers I mention above are a great value at about 50 cents a marker but I know many of you are looking for brush tip markers because they are softer and make blending large areas easier and I just saw that Consumer Crafts has their Studio 71 alcohol markers that feature a brush tip on one end and chisel on the other on sale this week! I have a review of that brand with swatched and blending recipes here if interested.

Prices on the Studio 71 brush tip alcohol marker sets are good through April 1st while supplies last. You really can’t beat it for $1 per marker or less! I have the 48 pack and it is really comprehensive.