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!

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Thoughts on Keeping Cards…

 

Hi friends! I like making cards. I see it as a positive hobby where the fruits of your labor can be enjoyed twice: You get enjoyment making it and then you get joy sending it and another person get’s joy receiving it. I guess that’s 3 times! Many of us have expectations for our cards beyond those 3 joys and that’s what I am talking about today. BTW if you ever get a card from me you have my blessing to discard it whenever you like;)

Don’t let your {or others) expectations dim your light or tarnish your hobby. Make and send cards because that’s why you bought the supplies to begin with and til next time happy crafting!

Inspired by Christmas Decorations!

Hi friends! I spent the morning teaching a workshop making DIY kissing balls, it was so fun! I wish I took a photo because you would not believe how lovely all of the Christmas kissing balls looked hanging in the greenhouse as my beginner students put the finishing touches on them. Now I am enjoying a hot cup of tea before climbing into the attic to fetch our Christmas decorations. We decorated the porch last weekend when the weather was nice and it has been so cheerful to come home to. I enjoyed the decorations on my porch so much that I thought it would be fun to create cards inspired by them!

We still have a few finishing touches to add like icicle lights at the roof and greenery in the ice skates but all in all I really like it! We have a small ranch style home so I think it is enough to look nice, classic and cozy.

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Inspiration is all around you! If you feel a spark of creativity in your surroundings make a mental note and use it to fuel your next craft idea! Watch the video to see how I made my decor inspired cards!

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:

• (Peg stamp sets) Embellished Holiday Wreath, Shady Pine, Christmastime, Happy Holidays, Winter Night Sky, Holly Border *Feel free to use any evergreen foliage you like on these cards
• Flower pot stamp
• Lamp Post stamp
• Dye ink (Memento)
• Ink Blending brush
• White cardstock and patterned paper
• Die cut felt
• Ribbon
• Metal plates other embellishments
• Double sided tape

Tips!

• Have a look at other stamps you own and ask if that can be combined with peg stamps for new looks.
• Draw a line or circle if needed to help you placing your images. You can erase it later with a soft white eraser after your stamping ink is dry.
• Peg stamps are great for adding little touches to tags and envelopes so leave a few holiday themed stamps and ink pads out when you are addressing Christmas cards or wrapping gifts so you can make tags and envelopes extra special!

I hope you have something fun and crafty planned this weekend. I’d love to know what your favorite holiday decoration is, let me know in the comments below! My favorite decoration from my childhood was a scene of ice skaters on a pond from the 1970s. There were white plastic snowbanks surrounding a mylar mirror-like pond and the ice skaters were brightly colored clear plastic. I used to skate those around the plastic pond all season long. I wonder if my parents still have that old decoration in their basement LOL! I am sure it is worse for wear with all of the skating I made those figurines do! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Let’s Make Paisley with your Tiny Stamps!

Hi friends!  Today I’ll show you how to get a little more use from your little stamps!

This paisley design is fun and versatile as it can be used for adults and kids and many occasions! Watch the video to see how to turn your itty bitty stamps int a fun and bold paisley design!

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:

• You will want a variety of flowers, stems with leaves and small design elements. I used the following peg stamp sets: Giddyup!, Retro Sundress, Cherry Blossom,
  Floral Frame, Hoo-Ray
• Embossing ink pad
• Embossing marker
• Black pigment ink
• Paisley Washi Tape
• Circle and scalloped circle punch
• Foam Tape
• Double stick tape
• White gel pen or paint pen
• White, black, kraft, red and aqua cardstock
• White embossing powder
• Heat tool

I hope you enjoyed this fun way to use your small stamps! I have a fun surprise for you next week that I can’t wait to share! Any guesses? Til next time happy crafting!

Glitter and Stencils? Yes Please!

Hi friends! This card design packs a punch and it will get you using some stencils you may have in your stash! Remember back in the day when the only way we could emboss paper was with a brass stencil, stylus and a light box? Well, I am betting some of you still have those stencils sitting around.

This technique is fun and pretty easy but I will warn you that we are using glitter so don’t blame me if you are a little more sparkly that usual afterward LOL! Watch the video to see how it’s done!

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:

• Peg Stamps: Coral & Triton Shell Border,  Sand Dollar and Starfish, Shell Border, Starfish and Shells, Crab These little nautical stamps are great for making jewelry, I have a tutorial on that here!
• Glitter (make sure to use high contrast colors for best results)
• Shell stencil: Dreamweaver
• Coconut oil or a bar of soap to coat the back of the stencil with
• Nautical wood shapes
• Adhesive sheets
• Crop-A-Dile Eyelet and Snap Punch
• ATG Tape Gun 
• Distress Oxide Inks (colors: Abandoned coral, salty ocean, frayed burlap, walnut stain, crushed olive, seedless preserves)

Glitter directions:

1. Coat back of metal stencil with bar soap or coconut oil. Apply adhesive sheet to cardstock and remove backing and stick stencil to adhesive.
2. Sprinkle on color one, place backing sheet over glitter with stencil still in place and press it down. Dump excess back in glitter jar.
3. Remove stencil and add the contrasting color. Pour off excess and press with backing paper again.
4. Burnish firmly with backing paper to lock the glitter in place, trim the panel and add it to your card.

I hope you give this technique a try on your next card! Happy crafting!

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!

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!