Stamp a Topiary!

Hi friends! Today we are going to make a whimsical topiary card using small stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry!

Watch the video to see how! Oh! BTW  Rubber stamp Tapestry has 30% off retiring stamp sets and supplies, check out the sale here and you can also use the coupon code LINDSAY for an extra 15% off! Sale ends 8/6/18

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: *note, all stamps are linked to peg stamp sets but individual stamps are available if you just want one design:)

• Stamp sets: Robins nest peg stamp set, Fresh lemonade peg stamp set, Brambly Rose peg stamp set, Grass stamp, Fern stamp, Just add flowers unmounted stamp set
• Dye ink: Memento
• Ink blending brush
• Heavy cream cardstock
• Shimmer Gel Crayons
• Colored pencils (I used polychromos)
• Waterbased brush markers
• ATG adhesive
• White china marker (aka grease pencil)
• You will also need a post it note or scrap of thin paper to cut a circle, heart, butterfly or other simple shape from.

Topiary tips!

1. Use any bold shape for your topiary. You can use a punch, die cut or trace a cookie cutter to make your stamping template.
2. Try any small leaves and flowers you have. You can also use little bird brads or stickers to embellish the trees!
3. If you don’t have blending brushes use a sponge and sponge it on instead.
4. Save your templates for future topiary cards!
5. Most importantly, have fun!

Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

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There’s no place like gnome…

Howdy friends! Today I have a cute set of cards using a couple new stamp set from Rubber Stamp Tapestry to share!

Watch how easy it is to make them in today’s video!

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:

• Fairy Garden Peg Stamp Set
• Whispers from the Garden Unmounted stamp set
• Memento dye inks
• Gnome washi tape 9 roll set
• Heart die sets Plain and Scalloped
• Mushroom brads 
• Adhesive: Foam tape, Double sided tape, Hot Glue or Thick glue
• Heavy cardstock
• Ribbon
• Fork (to make tiny bow)

Directions:
1. Fold cardstock in half and die cut large scalloped heart to make card. Make sure to let the top of the heart hang over the fold so you get a connected card. Die cut another smaller scalloped heart from white cardstock and plain harts from patterned paper.

2. Stamp garden sentiments and peg stamps on white scalloped heart. Add brad if desired.

3. Apply washi tape to plain heart mat. and layer up elements and adhere to card base.

4. Use a fork to make a tiny bow and glue to card. Decorate inside of card with washi tape and leftover hearts.

Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Drab to FAB! Cool cards with old & recycled supplies!

Hi friends! Today we are going to raid the recycling bin and use up some older stash while making 3 cards!

I like to use patterned paper from themed paper stacks. They are a great value but I often end up with a couple stray papers I don’t like very much, namely the black and white papers. Today I’ll show you 3 ways to add color so they can go from drab to fab! Watch the video to see how!

Sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry. Get FREE USA (All 50 States, Puerto Rico & Guam) shipping on orders of $20+ throughout the month of March with coupon code: FRUGALFREESHIPPING  New to peg stamping? Become a Peg Stamp VIP here and you’ll get an instant coupon for 20% off Rubber Stamp Tapestry stamps plus the
deepest weekly discounts available! Coupon only applies to new customers.
You may only use one coupon code per transaction.

Supplies:

• Tree and bird stamps from the following sets I designed for Rubber Stamp Tapestry: Trees, Woodland Harvest and Woods in Winter
• Waterbased markers (ohuhu)
• Pigment powder (rose red, yellow, turquoise BRUSHO)
• Dye ink pads (TH Distress in peacock feathers, picked raspberry, mustard seed)
• Heat tool
• Versamark ink
• Clear embossing powder
• Colored wire
• Beads
• Eyelets *This set has a punch and setter so you don’t need a crop a dial but you will need a hammer and it is loud:)
• Hole punch/eyelet setter (Crop a dial)
• Hot glue gun and glue
• Heavyweight cardstock
• Black & White scrapbook paper, old music sheets or book pages
• thin cardboard like cracker boxes
• Bone folder
• Glue stick
• Spray bottle
• Waterbrush
• Clear stamp blocks

Directions:
1. Cut cardboard to 3 1/4″ x 4.1/2″ and cover with scrapbook paper using a glue stick to adhere.

2. Stamp trees and birds on the cardboard panels in clear ink and heat emboss with clear detail embossing powder.

3. Ink up the panels with ink pads, markers or Brusho as shown in the video and let air dry.

4. Punch holes along the edge of the panel, insert eyelets if desired and wrap with wire. You can string beads on the wire too if you like.

5. Use heavyweight white cardstock to make A2 card bases and adhere the decorated panels in the center of the folded card base with hot glue.

Do you have any older stash you want to use up? Try incorporating it in your next design. It feels so good to put older supplies to good use, you may even find some forgotten treasures in your stash! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Heat Embossing on Wood!

Hi friends! Today’s technique is a fun and useful one that can be used to make embellishments, gift tags or even Christmas ornaments!

We are going to emboss on wood!Are you ready to get inky? Than watch today’s video!

Tutorial sponsored by Top Flight Stamps Use coupon code thefrugalcrafter10 to save 10% on your order! They also have free USA Shipping over $50!

Supplies:

• Stamps
• Paint
• Wood shapes
• Cardstock (heavy)
• Black Eyelets
• Wire
• Beads
• Watercolor crayons (I used Lyra and Caran D’Ache)
• Small flat paintbrush
• 1/2″ flat paintbrush
• Craft Mat (or waxed paper)
• Dies  Honeycomb and poppies, butterflies and grids
• Scrapbook paper *Make envelopes first and then cut shapes from scraps.
• Black embossing powder
• Black embossing ink
• Heat tool

Tips!

1. If you have leftover paint, brush it over cardstock to make matching decorative paper!
2. Make an envelope first from 12″x12″ scrapbook paper and use the scraps to die cut embellishments.
3. Make a batch: It only takes a little more time to make multiple cards while your supplies are all out. As a bonus you’ll have less to file away when you are done. Use up those scraps now because they may never get used if you file them away. (At least that is the case in my experience.)
4. Be careful when heat embossing your small wood tiles so you don’t burn your hands off.
5. If mailing these thick cards place them (envelope and all) in a bubble mailer to prevent snags in post office machinery.

I hope you give this project a try, and til next time happy crafting!

Do More with Your Ink Pads! Stamp School!

Hi friends! If you are new to stamping you probably don’t have every coloring tool out there. You might also limit your supplies due to storage space and budgetary concerns. Maybe you have everything you could ever want but you want a small kit of supplies that you can take on the go with you so you want your supplies to do double duty. Whatever the reason I am going to show you 3 different ways to use your ink pads to color your stamped images.

I will show you 3 methods of coloring in this video!

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:

• Stamps: Bird and nest from the Flowers and Whimsy set
• Dies: Spellbinders
• Bristol (what we stamped on) Canson XL
• Stencil brushes (small sizes)
• Color duster (Judikins)
• Sponge tip daubers (Darice)
• Waterbrush: Pentel
• Card bases: Micheals (or make them from cardstock)
• Patterened paper: DCWV
• Dye ink in several colors
• Burlap ribbon
• Bakers twine
• Doily
• Black Pigment ink (VErsafine onyx black)
• Black detail embossing powder
• Homemade anti-static tool (cornstarch in a fabric pouch)
• Adhesive (glue-zip-dry, Tape ATG)

Examples

This first example was colored by using small stiff bristles stencil brushes. You can get a similar look by using cotton swabs to apply the ink.

This example was done with a sponge applicator. You can get a similar look with sponge tipped eye-shadow applicators. The daubers I used in the video are called Embossing Brushes  (even though they are not a brush) and are made by Darice and came in a pack of 16 for around $5

The final example is watercolor and this is a great option if you don’t have many ink pads because you can mix colors easily on a palette before bringing the brush to paper.

Directions:
1. Wipe bristol board with corn starch pouch. Stamp with black and heat emboss with black powder.

2. Die cut stamped panels. Cut mats for the panels if desired.

3. Assemble cards, all but the stamped panels, and set aside.

4. Color each panel as shown in the video experimenting with the different ink applications.

5. Glue stamped panels to cards.

I think limiting your supplies expands your creativity! If you have any clever ideas for getting more from your ink pads or other supplies let us know in the comments! Happy crafting!

How To Scan Your Artwork & Print Cards at Home!

Hi friends! When I painted this cute deer watercolor I mentioned how I planned to scan the painting and turn it into Christmas cards.

Many of you were interested in scanning your paintings to turn them into cards as well and in today’s video I will show you how!

Keep in mind that if you don’t have a scanner you can take a good straight on shot of your painting with a camera (even camera phones do a great job these days!) and follow the steps after the scan portion of the tutorial.

Tools and Equipment needed:

• Scanner or camera: I am using an Epson Perfection v19 scanner
• Image editing software: I am using Paint Shop Pro 12 software but Photoshop, or the free open source software Gimp or (maybe) Picasa can be used. There is also a free app online called ipiccy that will work for laying out your images and basic editing if you need it, it is very easy to use but is not similar to what I show on-screen.
• Color printer: HP Photosmart D7360 printer (Discontinued but still works great!)
• Matte photo paper
• A2 greeting card bulk packs from Micheal’s Craft Stores ($5 a 60 pack last year)
• ATG adhesive (double-sided tape)

Your process will differ a bit if you are using different equipment but the basic steps are the same:

1. Scan painting at a quality of 300dpi using the color photo setting or take a high-resolution photo of your painting.
2. Adjust levels using the curves tool or an intuitive “photo fix” button.
3. Open a new 8.5″ x 11″ document and copy and past your image in it.
4. Resize the image so it will fit on 1/4 of the paper. Add text if you wish.
5. Merge the text to the image but selecting the text layer and choosing merge down then copy and paste that combined image in each quarter of the paper.
6. Merge all layers and print using the best quality setting and nice quality matte photo paper.
7. Trim images and adhere to card-bases.

I hope you give this a try, it might take a few minutes to get used to using your photo editing software, there are many options out there and I recommend you use what you have or try the free gimp or ipiccy options before investing in expensive software. If all else fails you can use Windows picture editor to print 4 images on one sheet so don’t despair if your image software is difficult. That is what I mentioned ipiccy, you can upload your image and drag and drop it into cells and print but you do lose some control over what you can do in editing software. The way I learn any new software is to play with it, you are not going to break it:) Good luck & happy crafting!

A Quick Folded Christmas Tree Card! {video!}

Wow, how did it get to be December 3rd already?!? My husband subtly hinted that we need to be getting out Christmas cards out soon. Well, this quick and easy design can be made in a flash with inexpensive supplies from Papermart and it is flat enough not to require extra postage! Watch the video to see how it is done!

I used the Tinsel Wire and Corrugated paper in Lime green. I love how when you buy from Papermart you get a large quantity for little cash, it is perfect for mass producing items such as Christmas cards or making stuff for craft fairs and it is even better for supplying classroom art projects.  To save on shipping costs I suggest you plan ahead for other items you might want and if the quantity of an item is too great ask friends if they want to split it with you. That reminds me, I’m running low on the clear bags I display my handmade cards in at craft fairs! I don’t want to run out of those! I hope this project had inspired you to send handmade Christmas cards this year. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!