Happy Bee-Day! Repeat a Pattern for cohesive Design!

Hi friends! How do you go about your card making process? Is it a scramble of sifting through everything you have hoping to find the perfect paper, embellishment or die cut only to make a chaotic card and have a complete mess of a craft table when you are done? If so I am going to share a tip that will streamline your process and help you create stylish cards (and you probably have everything you need already!)

I got the brand new Bee-Utiful Day stamp set from Rubber Stamp Tapestry this week. RST is a wonderful company who sponsors a weekly tutorial on my blog and YouTube channel and as a bonus they don’t mind one bit that I encourage you to use what you have:) Love those guys! When you get a new stamp set it should make all of your other supplies more useful (not redundant as so often happens) so keeping that in mind I thought of a design element I could repeat in the card. Hexagons! I could replicate the look of honeycomb by gathering the various hexagon stencils, embossing folders, punches, dies or pattern paper I already had and give them new live with the new stamp set! See where I’m going here? I could repeat the hexagon shape with different tools and add variety with different colors and materials but still have cohesion because of the consistent design element of the hexagon shape. Repetition and variety equal good (and easy!) design!

Need more ideas? Watch today’s video!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry! Use coupon code: FRUGALAUGUST17 – 10% off everything in the store. Coupon expires August 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 August
31, 2017

Supplies from Rubber Stamp Tapestry:

• Bee-Utiful Day Unmounted Stamp Set
• Chamomile Bee Peg Stamp Set
• Field of clover Peg Stamp Set
• Ink Blending Brush
• Sponge blenders (make up wedges)
• Distress Oxide Ink Pads
• Archival Black ink (to stamp the bees and sentiment so the ink won’t bleed)
• DIY Spray mist tutorial
• Spray bottles: small or mini (Good price!)
• Honeycomb embossing folder
• Glue
• Foam Tape

Other Supplies:

• Heavyweight cardstock (white or cream)
• Hexagon stencil
• Pattern paper (purple and yellow)
• Tombow Markers (water based markers)
• Brads
• Vellum (Black & teal)
• Nature Dies (honeycomb)  (butterflies)
• Honeycomb embossing folder (if sold out above)
• Liquid watercolor in pearl (big 8oz bottle for ALL the spray ink you will need to make LOL!)
• Paper towels or rag

I also employed the “make the envelopes first and die cut the scraps trick” that I have been using a lot mainly because I have lots of pattern paper I love to use and I am no longer buying the cheap blank card and envelope sets. I am really loving the look though because a patterned envelope is so much fun and special to receive. What tips do you have to improve your card design or mix old and new supplies? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to share this tutorial with friends who might like it. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

PS here is a link to my DIY Shimmer Spray and Ink Dauber tutorial from a few years ago if you want it:) Have fun with your DIY supplies!

 

 

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Stamp School: Stamping on Embossing Folders & Giveaway!

Hi friends, this lesson will make your stamps and embossing folders way more useful! I am a bit of an embossing folder collector, I shudder to think at the amount of folders I have on my desk but these are tools we invest in and can use over and over. I mean, heck, why pay $1 for a pre embossed sheet of cardstock when we can buy an embossing folder for $4 and emboss until our hearts are content.  Oh! Before I forget be sure to leave a comment if you want a chance to win the rubber stamps I used from Art Neko, I will pick a winner in a week and this giveaway is open worldwide:)

Sometimes though, we want more than just a textured paper and many of these designs are pretty enough on their own to be the focal point if a card and that is what we will do today. We will make a card by stamping on top of an embossed image! Watch the video to see how!

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:
Embossing Folder (Birch trees from Darice)
Dye ink in navy and green
Colored pencils
Leaf or branch dye cuts
White and green cardstock (green can be glittery!)
Christmas tree stamp
Season’s Greetings stamp

Directions:
1. Emboss paper then tape to secure it in the open embossing folder.
2. Stamp on paper while still in folder.
3. Ink paper to color the background, use a sponge blender if you don’t have a spongy inkpad.
4. Accent with colored pencils.
5. Remove paper from folder and use this beautiful image on a card!

I really love this technique and I hope you give it a try! You can use this with any embossing folder, just make sure you stamp on the debossed side (the side with the most flat area) and it will work. Remember that generic patterns will give you more of a designer paper look while folder with a defined motif (like the birch trees) will give you more of a finished scene. It literally adds more dimension to your stamp art! Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win the stamps I used and til next time happy crafting!

A Welcome Baby Card with Bold Colors!

Hi Friends! Today I have a simple idea for a card using cardstock and ribbon:

I love the contrast of the rich colors and the white but you can use ribbons in any shade you like! I am using grosgrain and satin ribbon from Offray in this project!

Supplies:

• White cardstock
• Swiss dots embossing folder
• Star die (or you can cut the star window using a craft knife and template)
• Rubber stamp (baby theme)
• Adhesive: Foam tape, double stick tape and glue.
• Offray Ribbon: 3/8″ Natural Grosgrain, 7/8″ Navy Grosgrain, 5/8″ Torrid Orange Grosgrain,
  1 1/2″ Navajo Turquoise Single Faced Satin

Directions:

1. Cut a sheet of 8.5″x11″ cardstock in half. Fold one of these halves to make your card base. Cut the other half down to 4″x5.25″. Die cut a star in the tip section of the smaller cardstock, then place it in an embossing folder to add texture.

2. Center the star window panel on the card base you previously folded and lightly trace the star. I traced it dark so you can see it in the photo but you want to keep it light otherwise the lines might show through the ribbon.

3. Apply double stick tape to the card base over the star.

4. Apply ribbon to the tape. Be sure to cover the entire star you traced. Trim the excess ribbon.

5. Apply foam tape to the back of the embossed panel.

6. Adhere the panel to the card base. Cut a slit on the fold of the card near the bottom. Thread the orange ribbon through, wrap around the front and tie. Add a stamped sentiment. Embellish with buttons if desired.

You can change the theme of this card simply by changing the window shape and color of ribbons used. If you do not have a die you can trace a stencil or print a free clip art shape off the internet to use as a template. This is a versatile idea to make a card for an occasion!

Thanks to Offray for sponsoring this post. Use the coupon code FRUGAL15 to get 15% off your order at Offray.com. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

*Details: Use FRUGAL15 during checkout on Offray.com to receive 15% off one order. Offer expires 11:59 PM eastern time on February 28, 2015. Discount excludes applicable tax and shipping costs. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Discount cannot be applied to previous purchases. Subject to change or cancellation without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

Christmas Sweets (quick card!)

Hi Friends! Today I want to share a quick card with you:

Watch how easy it is to make!

You can find mason jar stamps in any craft store it seems these days but if you don’t think you will use them often you can print a free one off the internet and get your fix that way! I think Mason jars and other images you can stamp other things in are always a good investment! I hope you enjoyed this quick Christmas card! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Don’t be a chicken, enter to win this stamp!

Hello friends! I do love a good pun! And a good giveaway! Today I am giving away this beautiful stamp from Art Neko. It is the state bird and flower of Rhode Island (OK it should be a Rhode Island Red but I thought it would show up better as a lighter bird, my apologies Rhode Island) and the stamp is on sale for $4.50. I have the complete set of 50 state Birds and Flowers and they are all wonderful, especially if you like to color. It includes 54 ATC sized images that are super detailed and crisp on deeply etched red rubber. It is such a lovely set for anyone who likes nature. In all honesty it is my favorite stamp set.

I colored my chicken with my new Spectrum Noir colored pencils. I got to try the Spectrum Noir blending solution too. It is Gamsol (it says so right on the label and it is made by Gamblin for Grafter’s Companion.) I have never used Gamsol thinking it would be just like odorless mineral spirits and it does work just like OMS but there is no smell at all! I could not believe it! That said, keep it away from kids and pets because it looks and smells like water. Usually I prefer to blend with baby oil but you cannot add more pencil over it but with the Spectrum Noir Blending Solution you can continue to layer colors after blending. I used a very smooth cardstock so if you want deeper colors you can use a rougher paper. Watch the tutorial for the coloring demo. If you like to listen to me jibber-jabber while I color for 19 minutes than this video is for you…don’t say I didn’t warn you LOL! Oh, I will show you how to make the card and the distress ink gelato background too so there’s that. Really, sorry about the long coloring video…and the mess at 13 minutes…that said, if you still want to watch the video here you go!

If you want to win the stamp I used and a $10 gift certificate to Art Neko leave a comment below and I will pick a winner next week! Good luck and happy crafting!

That’s One Bodacious Flower!

Hi Friends! I feel like i have not made a card in a while and I know many of my blog readers are cardmakers so today I am going to show you how to make this one:

Supplies:

• Colored Pencils (I used Prismacolor)
• Watercolors
• Black and White cardstock
• Pattern Paper (I used American Crafts)
• Envelope Punch Board
• Pins
• Ribbon
• Dies (Spellbinders)
• Adhesive (foam squares, hot glue)
• Embossing Folder
• Black Waterproof ink pad (I used Ranger Archival)
• Large Flower Rubber Stamp (I use the large poppy from Stampendous!)

The above links will take you to Oriental Trading Company who generously donate craft materials to make these tutorials possible. If you shop there make sure you thank them for their support of The Frugal Crafter and tell them Lindsay sent you! Watch the video to see how this card is made and the image is colored!

The bow maker that I used in today’s video can be purchased from my shop. My husband just made a new batch of Bow Making Jigs and they are ready to ship! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

 

Ink, Emboss, Sprinkle, Heat, Smear, Spray and Create!

Howdy friends! from the blog post title you can probably guess that we are going to get inky today! But first I want to announce the winner of stamps and a gift certificate to Art Neko (formally About art Accents) congrats to Kimberly E.!!! Check your email for details;) Don’t worry if you did not win, the Garden Friends set it is still on sale and I have another idea for using it in today’s video:

Feel free to adapt this technique to suit your project. You can even just do the inked emboss and call it a day, that is pretty on it’s own. Here is a recap of what we did:

First we did an inked emboss by inking an embossing folder with pigment ink and a brayer and embossing white cardstock. Then we added a little bit of copper, gold, rust and verdigris embossing powder to the embossed panel and heated it with a heat gun. We scribbled metallic green, gold and brown gel sticks to the panel and topped it off with a spritz of homemade shimmer spray ink.

Here is my tutorial on homemade spray ink.

Here is my tutorial on the firm foam blenders for gelatos.

Thanks again to Art Neko for sponsoring this contest, remember to use my coupon code Lindsay10% to save 10% on your non sale rubber! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!