Stamping, Embossing, Paper Piecing, Shading, Highlighting & More! {Cardmaking Tutorial}

Howdy friends! This project is really fun because you get to play and experiment and when you are done you end up with a bunch of cards!

I love using embossing powder, it not only can make a stamped image shiny and raised but it can also create lots of fun textured backgrounds. I’m using a couple of the new Steth Aptar/Emerald Creek embossing powders. Below are swatches of each color so you can see what they look like heated up (Thanks to Sheth Aptar for providing us with the swatches!)

As you can see they give some textured, antiqued and grungy results perfect for backgrounds and surface treatments. If you want that die cut cereal box to look like decades old metal these will do it! I will share some tips for working with these powders and also show you how to add shading and highlighting to simple stamped shapes to make them pop and hopefully have you using up some scraps while we are at it. I don’t know about you but my scrap bin is getting out of control!

This tutorial is sponsored by Top Flight Stamps!  SAVE 10% off your next order with coupon code: thefrugalcrafter10 *USA orders of $50+ ship free!

Supplies:

• Katzelcraft coffee and tea themed stamps: Coffee & Tea to Go, 5 O’clock Tea Cups,
  (others shown-projects with these coming soon!) Tea Time Ladies, Fun Quotes-Darkside *These are unmounted stamps and come as a sheet of rubber you trim apart. I used a thin coat of Aleene’s Tack it over and over to make my stamps sticky.
• Embossing powder: Seth Apter/Emerald Creek Baked Enamels Embossing powder in Patina Oxide and Chunky Rust 
• Cardstock in the following colors: Kraft (for card bases), Dark brown or black (for embossed backgrounds), pastel pink, mint, lilac and yellow for stamping
• Embossing folder (I recommend a tile or damask pattern)
• Distress crayons (or chalks/pastels) a shade darker than your paper and white
• White gel pen or paint pen
• Bakers twine
• Stapler
• Adhesive (double stick tape and hot glue)

Project pointers!

1. Mixing embossing powders in a background is fun but take care not to contaminate your powders. I like to use the main color first and return the excess color to that jar and then sprinkle on the secondary color. You can use the back-end of  paintbrush or a craft stick to take out a tiny amount so there won’t be any contaminated excess to put back in the second jar. Embossing powder goes a long way, it is better to discard excess that has been mixed than to contaminate the whole pot OR you can keep mixed powders in a separate container for future use.
2. Any media is fine for shading and highlighting but if you use distress crayons  keep in mind they dry fast and smudge them as soon as you apply color or it won’t smudge.
3. Bumpy paper needs strong adhesive. Anytime you are dealing with warped of bumpy paper you need stronger adhesive because you have fewer contact points (in the case of pressure embossed paper) so you can either use more adhesive (as I did with my ATC tape) to make sure there is contact in more areas or use a thicker adhesive (like I did with hot glue for my stamped pieces) to marry the substrates. Hot glue is aces for warped watercolor backgrounds too! Really tho, what is hot glue not good for?

I hope you give some of these techniques a try in your next project and til next time happy crafting!

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Build This Card Keeper to Organize Your Handmade Cards!

Hi friends! Today I am going to show you how to make a box out of cardboard and decorated with paper that includes dividers so you can sort and organize your handmade cards.

You can divide the cards by occasion like I did or divide it by month and write the names and dates of birthdays and anniversaries on each divider so you are always prepared for upcoming birthdays and events!

Watch the video to see how I made this. I will post measurements for the box I made to hold A2 cards below but you can resize it to whatever dimensions you want.

Video!

This video is sponsored by Annie’s CardMaker Kit of the Month Club! Save 50% on your first kit and get a free tool set!

 

 

Supplies:

• Matboard or cardboard *You can glue two sheets of cereal box cardboard printed sides together for your base.
• Strong double-sided take such as red line or scor-tape
• Adhesive tape runner
• Magnet and metal disk *Look for “rare earth” magnets
• Clear tape
• Patterned paper
• Cardstock
• Bone folder
• Piercing tool
• Corner Rounder (WeR Memory Keepers Corner Chomper)
• Thin washi tape (optional)
• Ink & Stamps (optional)
• Pen or pencil that you can mark your cardstock with

Measurements:

• Front/Back: 5″x6″ (make 2 from matboard) Matting layer: 4 1/4″x5 1/4″
• Top/Bottom: 4″x6″ (make 2 from matboard) Matting Layer: 3 1/4″x5 1/4″
• Sides (make 2 from matboard) 4″x5″, Matting layer: 3 1/4″ 4 1/4″
• Lip/Closure (make 1 from matboard) 1 1/2″x6″, Matting layer 1 1/4″x5 1/2″, Cardstock liner for underside over magnet will be the same as matboard piece.

This is a great project to keep you organized so you never miss another card sending event. It also makes a great gift especially when filled with handmade cards! Another great gift is a subscription to the Annie’s CardMaker Kit of the Month Club. If you know of someone who wants to get started in card making. These convenient monthly kits have all the supplies (except scissors and adhesive) to make 8-10 handmade greeting card and an instruction sheet so you can make the most from the kit and learn as you craft! I want to thank Annie’s for sponsoring this project and thank you for tuning in! 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!

Stamp School #7: Faux Layers, No-Template Envelopes and lots of Tips!

Hi friends! Can you believe I am still coming up with projects using white cardstock and ink? I really think it is important to exhaust what you can do with your supplies when you start a new hobby (cuz they are pricey!) and I also think it is fun to go back to basics because us experienced stampers can remember the thrill of the first time we gave a handmade card. Today I am going to show you how to make this one layer card and envelope.

I like designs like this because you get two cards from a piece of cardstock and since they are flat they do not require extra postage (It’s kind of embarrassing when you send a stack of thank you cards postage due, don’t ask me how I know…) I am using my Memento inks (any dye inks will work) and beautiful stamps from our sponsor ArtNeko. If you order from ArtNeko make sure you mention me (the frugal crafter) to get either 10% off any size order or free shipping over $50, they will give you the bigger discount, they are great that way:) Be sure to check out the sale pages, there are lots of good discounts! Now, please watch the video to learn how to make the card!

Video!

OK stampers, did you learn a thing or two? Will you try this? I hope so!

Supplies:
White cardstock
Ink Pads (memento or any dye based ink)
Peacock stamp
Dragonfly stamps
Thank you stamp
Color Dusters (ink brush or use sponges)
glitter pen (Gelly roll stardust)

Envelope supplies:
Paper, a ruler and adhesive *Special thanks to my viewer Christine (from France now in Panama) for sharing this tip with me!

All instructions are in the video:)

A tip on color dusters, you can wash them with soap and water but they must dry before using with ink again if you want the soft look. I recommend getting one for each color family (one for greens, one for yellows, one for reds etc) so you do not need to wash them, in fact they work better as the ink builds up on them. You can use any long bristle stiff hog brush for this so if you have some kids paintbrushes lying around try them before buying these. They run about $1-$2 a piece. I think Joann Fabrics has them online too. I have even used stencil brushes for ink, video on that here, and it works very well. The point is try what you have before you buy!

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below! Thanks so much for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Stamp Show Ticket Winners and a Card Tutorial!

Howdy friends! First, let me announce the 8 lucky folks who won tickets to the Heirloom Productions stamp show in W. Springfield Mass for next weekend: Lynne, Debby Graham, Ginny Maxam, Maureen Robertson, Chris Baxevanis, Richard, Amalia Montano and Marie Mordeszewski!!! Yay! I hope to meet you all at the show! No worries if you did not win, you can still purchase discounted tickets online until the 3rd for $6 or at the door for $8. I can’t wait to go! Winners, I have sent your names and emails to Heirloom Productions and they will email your personalized tickets within a day or two.  Since we are all about the stamping today I thought I’d show you how to make one of my famous “Headin’ out the door on the way to a birthday party” cards:

This card was made for a friend of my daughters right before we left for the party. Watch how quick and easy it is as I make the card in real time in under 20 minutes coloring included!

The stamps are from Penny Black and the paper is from Fancy Pants. I just realized I got the cardstock and patterned paper both on sale for cheap at the Heirloom show last year, cool huh? If you want to buy one of the bow making jigs my husband makes you can here.

I hope you enjoyed this quick card project and try a quick and simple card yourself sometime, remember this is supposed to be fun! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

How to make a set of cute cards and package them!

Hello Friends! It is not a shocker, we always need more birthday cards right? Well, did you ever think of making a set of birthday cards with matching envelopes to give as a gift? They are wonderful presents for non crafty friends. Here is a set of cards I made using adorable Penny Black stamps and supplies from Papermart:

I also came up with a couple cute ways to package them. Using clear bags is a great idea if you sell cards at craft fairs because it keeps the cards visible and clean.  The paper portfolio is a great idea for gifting because the cards and be easily accessed and stored right there, plus it can be used to organize other cards after the original set is used up…just a warning, if you give cards this cute you will be asked to make more! Watch the tutorial to see how easy it is to make this set:

This project is an example of assembly line card making. By doing the similar tasks together you will save time and end up finishing all the cards at once (that’s right, you won’t get 2 cards done and get bored with the project.) It is also great if you have a limited amount of time to craft, if you have 10 minutes you can cut all of your papers and stamp your images. Next time you can color etc.

Directions:

1. Cut two 8.5″x11″ sheets of cardstock in half (5.5″x8.5″) and fold each of these papers in half to make 4 cards.

2.  Choose two or three designs of patterned paper (scraps are great for this!) and cut into strips, labels, circles or rectangles.

3. Stamp images on white cardstock and color with colored pencils or markers. Stamp a border on 4 white envelopes.

4. Assemble all cards. Tie on bakers twine and embellish as desired.

5. Package the cards in a clear bag with left over patterned paper as a topper or make a paper portfolio to store them in using this tutorial.

6. Tie a bow on the finished gift with organza ribbon.

How easy is that? It is a useful, thoughtful, handmade gift and aren’t those the best kind? I also wanted to mention that the polypropylene bags I used are FDA food safe so they can also be used to make treat bags for parties or other food packaging. It’s good to have lots of uses for them because you get 1000 in a box! That said, I’m on my 2nd box LOL! Thanks so much for spending part of your day with me and til next time happy crafting!

And the Stamp Winner is…..

…Jennie! Congrats, you have won some stamps from About Art Accents! Check your email for instructions on how to get them:) Don’t worry if you didn’t win, you can use my coupon code Lindsay10% to save 10% on your non-sale rubber. Here is another card I made using some fishy stamps from About Art Accents:

I think this is my new favorite set of stamps! The background of the card was made by pressing plastic wrap onto a scrap of Yupo paper that was painted and flicked with watercolor. I let the paper dry with the plastic wrap on it and got a cool texture. You can do this technique with cardstock, glossy cardstock and photo paper as well, it is a neat look! At first I was going to stamp the octopus on the background paper but the inked stamp removed the watercolor from the Yupo and not in a good way, so I stamped it on a scrap of cardstock and colored him with metallic colored pencils. I was not happy with the white background so I inked up the jellyfish with clear embossing ink and stamped the swirly bits all over the image then dabbed chalk over it, I repeated that with a couple other stamps from the set to add subtle texture. I still wanted more texture so I ran the panel through an embossing folder. The best part of stamping with clear ink then chalking it is that you don’t have to wash your stamps after! The glycerin I use to re ink my stamp pad conditions the rubber! To embellish I added strips of painted drywall mesh and some clay sand dollars I made ages ago. Here is a look at the gorgeous stamps in the Marine 1 stamp set:

I hope you have some creative time planned this weekend, if so, tell me, what are you going to make? Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!