The Wilderness Awaits gift card holder

Happy Monday!

Just a quick post to show you a couple of new stamp sets I used to make a cute gift card holder for my New Catalog Open house this past weekend.  I used an oval die cut for the central image -- from the oval framelits.  Stamped the Mallard from Wilderness Awaits set in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and then colored it in with blender pens and inks -- Garden Green, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry, and Soft Suede.  I used a 6x6" pc of Kraft card stock, and used the envelope punch board to score and punch it into a gift card holder -- just follow the measurements on the envelope punch board, for a 6x6" square.

I offered a more feminine gift card version using the Me = Grateful set -- a new sentiment set that has such fun fonts and unique messages.  I used a 1 1/2" strip of retired DSP for the belly band, securing it in the front with the new tear easy tape -- such a nice adhesive replacement for the red line tape we used to have.

I was going for a kind of organic look, so I reached for my Soft Suede ink and the Gorgeous Grunge set.  Perfect for adding some interesting splatters to the background.  So there you have it!  Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Rumor has it, that NEW items will be added to the Clearance rack tomorrow, so be sure to check back then and snag the good deals while you can! :)

By the Tide meets Faux Tile technique

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

Here is a swap I made for a techniques swap I participated in this past SU Convention.  My chosen technique, was the "faux tile" technique.  I wanted to create the look of light shining through ocean waters -- highlighting the sea shell on the ocean floor.

I used the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set to stamp the splatters on the folded Island Indigo card base.  The other card stock colors used here are Calypso Coral, Soft Suede, and Whisper White.  I scored my panel on my diagonal score plate first, then I stamped the shell in Crisp Cantaloupe ink, the coral in Soft Suede ink, and the sea horses and splatters in Island Indigo.  After I finished my stamping, I sponged the panel in Island Indigo ink and Soft Suede along the bottom.  The final step, is to completely coat the panel in Versamark ink and then emboss it with clear embossing powder.  The result is a shiny tile look.  I used the Delicate Designs embossing folder to add texture to the Coral strip on the front, and the Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch for the Soft Suede accent.  My fellow swappers at Convention really liked my card, which made me feel really special.  One gal said to me that she has been swapping for years, and this is the very best swap she had ever received.  I think that possibly may be the best compliment I have ever received!  It so made all the work I put into it worth it.

For more details of how to do the Faux Tile technique, visit this blog post: http://stampedwithflair.blogspot.com/2014/03/faux-tile-technique-meets-lovely-as-tree.html

If you haven't checked out this weeks weekly deals, hop on my website and check them out!  The Darling Doily Die is on sale!  I LOVE this die, and it is so easy to pop out compared to the old one we used to have.  Several other Big Shot options on there, too.  The little decorative window gift boxes are also on sale -- 6 of them for $3.71!  These are perfect boxes to put treats in at Christmas time.  Just sayin'...

Have a great day, Everyone!

"Faux Tile" technique meets Lovely as a Tree!

For my stampers' club this coming Sunday, I wanted to show the "faux tile" technique.  Believe it or not, I have never done this technique before.  It is fun and actually pretty easy!

I started with a Very Vanilla 3 1/2 x 4" rectangle.  I then scored it diagonally every 1 1/2" to create 1 1/2" blocks, using the diagonal score plate that fits over the SU score board.  Next, I stamped the new Hardwood background stamp in Sahara Sand ink onto the "valley side" of the grid.  Then, stamped the trees in Espresso ink on top.  Finally, I used the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set and added a little "splatters" in Old Olive ink.  Sponged the edges in Early Espresso ink and added a sponged a little ink over the panel to make the grid stand out even more.  Finally, I applied Versamark to the entire panel and embossed it with clear embossing powder.  It is such a cool look, and not that hard to do.  Those cool little wood greeting pieces are from the Occasions catalog -- Essentials Wooden Elements.  There are a lot of little wood pieces in this pack, that are perfect for stamping on, sponging, etc.  LOVE these little things! and a lot of embellishing for $4.95!  Of course, some neutral candy dots, striped grosgrain ribbon, and linen thread finish off this manly card quite nicely.

Hope you'll feel inspired to try your hand at a masculine card or two!  They are always my hardest cards to create, but definitely a necessity! :)

Happy Wed to each of you!