Two ribbon tricks!

Today's cards both use ribbon.  I have a trick to share with you for each.

Number one is a card that mimics a store front window.  I'd like this store since it sells cupcakes!  For awhile, I saw awnings on cards.  Haven't seen any lately, but I wanted to give it a try.  I think it's cute! I used the Word Window Punch to create the stripes.  Simply punch and adhere to a strip of cardstock.  Fold the ends in opposite directions and adhere to your project.

This card qualifies as a punch art card.  The only stamping on the card is the sentiment, from the set in the last Occasion Mini Bring on the Cake.  That set is no longer available, but I'm a hopin' that it makes it into the new 2011-12 Main Idea Book and Catalog coming out in July.  It's a great set.  I hope you purchased it!  If not, cross your fingers along with me for the July release of the new catalog!  I did offer Glimmer paper to the ladies at the workshop, but my sample has just basic Real Read hearts and cherry.  I used the Cupcake Punch to make the cupcakes (uhhh, yeah duh Kristine).  The paper wrappers of the cupcakes are crimped using the Paper Crimper.  Just crimp a strip of paper before you punch it with the Cupcake punch.  Super easy.  I think this is the kind of card that has a wow effect, but really is simple to put together.  The bow is a "Stay Put Bow" taught to me by a wonderful demonstrator, Mary Fish. 

Here is a picture tutorial for the stay put bow.  It really is simple and keeps your bow from loosening and sliding off the project.  First, place a hole in your cardstock where you want the bow to be.  I have punched a 1/8" hole.

Take your ribbon and pull both ends from the back to the front side of the project.

Take the loop hanging from the back and bring it around the sides of the project to the front.

Pull the two ends tight and place one end on each side of the ribbon you looped around.  No need for someone else's finger.  You can now easily tie the two ends!

I did a simple knot and then trimmed the ends!  Waalaaa!!

The next card is striking in its simplicity. 

The card is a CASE from my upline Linda Gutierrez   She made a bunch of samples using the Four Frames Stamp set and the DSP Paisley Petals.  These two items are not available right now, but will be in the new catalog. (They were a promotion in April)

 I want to show you how to make the bow on this card without having a HUGE lump due to a knot.  The larger ribbon can be hard to use for this reason.  I never want a huge knot, and bows can be ginormous with 1 1/4" ribbon!  So, here's what I did.  First, wrap the ribbon around the card to get the length you want.

Next, figure out how long a ribbon "tail" you want and snip a hole into the center of the ribbon.  I gave myself  about 2" from the end before I snipped.  This is a small snip.  Don't get all crazy and make a big hole! :-)

Now, pull the other end of the ribbon through the small hole.

I used an Antique Brad on this card, so I opened the brad's legs and wrapped them around the ribbon.  (Is it just me, or did that last sentence sound...ummm...naughty?) Trim the ends of the ribbon, and another Waaa laaaa!!!

  It's not bulky at all! You could even mail this!

Well, thanks folks for stopping in.  I hope you find a opportunity to do a ribbon trick or two! 

Kristine

On the softer side

Happy Tuesday morning to you!  Today I am in a funk.  Ever have those days?  Just cannot get the rear in gear! Fortunately, I am ready to post some more cards for you!

The first uses the watercolor roses technique shown to me by my friend, Lynnette.  She's a talented lady! (Shame, shame shame she does not have a blog we can all oogle. Sigh)  Using an aqua painter and some reinker, you float the color on top of glossy or shimmer paper and let it dry.  I used So Saffron and Peach Parfait reinkers because, as Donkey says in Shrek, "Everybody like Parfait!." I used that wonderful flourish from the set Baroque Motifs (may it never retire) and the rose image from Fifth Avenue Floral.  The leaves of the rose are punched from the wing of the Two step bird punch! 

 "Ahhh!" you say, "What a versatile punch!"

  "Yes," I answer wisely, nodding my head, "It is not just for the birds!"  hahahahaha 

 Okay, add ramie to that funky thing I got goin'.  With a Polka Dot dry emboss on the Peach Parfait panel (again, because "Everybody like Parfait!")  and a vanilla Top Note, the card has a Victorian feel.  Yes?

 

"But, Kristine...how did you make those bird wings look like such realistic leaves?" 

I blush, smile and say, "It's easy!  Punch out the wing from Pear Pizzazz card stock.  Then crumple it 'til it's tiny, tiny.  Then uncrumple it and press it against a Pear Pizzazz classic ink pad.  The ink fills in the crumples and makes it look great!" 

You smile at me and we are both happy to know how to make leaves from bird wings.  I only wish I could press myself up against a classic ink pad and make my "crumples" look great. {sigh}  Basic pearls in the swirls of the flourish, some Victoria Crochet ribbon and a pretty font in the sentiment from Fabulous Phrases finish off the card.  Okay, you now get to look!

Next up is a direct CAS card from Mary Fish.  She is becoming my idol.  Love her stuff!  This card uses the Rub-ons from the Occasions Mini called Love Impressions.  An aside: Have you ever stopped to think that there is someone,( maybe multiple someones!) whose job it is to name the stuff in the catalog!  Hmmm, guess that would take a talent for alliteration or maybe just a need to control the world and name things?  Anyway, moving on....The card is framed with the pretty Tulip Embossing folder.  Simple black, red and white with a touch of pink keep it simple.  Not an ounce of ink is used on this card!  I suppose this isn't a stamped card, technically.  It's a rubbed card!  No inky fingers.

And the final card.  Thank you for reading this far.  My... you're a saint. 

This card uses Lap of Luxury DSP and the Square Lattice Embossing folder.  To get the look of a quilt, first layer all pieces and then run the whole thing through the Big Shot with the embossing folder.  It squishes (a very technical stamping term) all the layers together and it looks very "quilty."  The sentiment is from the Occasions set You're a Gem.  And really...YOU'RE a gem if you read my whole post today.  Gracias!

Product of play

Amazingly, recently I had some time to sit and play with my schtuff.  This is the card that was produced out of that play.  I used the designer paper Lap of Luxury which has a Pretty in pink sheet with the words, Life is Beautiful in this glorious script.  I wanted to use the paper, but I didn't want the card to be pink.  Oh what to do?  So, I stamped the Medallion background stamp in Versamark onto the DSP.  Then I embossed using clear embossing powder.  THEN...oh then, I brayered Basic Gray ink over the DSP.  Waalaa!  Not so much pink!  The DSP when heated turned more of a blush color.  I likie!  I wiped the gray ink off of the medallion (the embossing powder lets you wipe off the ink and lets the words show through.  It's magic!)

I added some Basic Pearls around the center of the Medallion and larger ones down the side.  And of course one in the very center of the Medallion.  Some Gray Satin Ribbon adhered in a wave of glory and a Styled Silver Hodgepodge piece adds some class.  The sentiment is from a set out of the Occasions Mini Catalog called You're a Gem.  I used this same set on my last project too.  I thought the script of the E in "enjoy" was so similar to the script of the DSP.  Do ya think SU did that on purpose? Hmmm.

Next are the cards that my club made for January.  They are wonderful, no?  YES!  I cannot take any of the credit for their design.  Mary Fish is the creator of all three cards.  So pretty, clean and simple.  Valentines is not my favorite holiday.  I'll eat the chocolate that is in abundant supply around Valentines, but the rest of the holiday leaves me feeling...ehhhhh.  Even with all that said, I really liked these cards.  So I had my club make them!  The card with the trio of flowers could easily be made into a birthday card.  Just switch out the sentiment.  My favorite thing about all of the cards is the scrunched ribbon on the bottom card.  Love it, baby!  The bottom card is actually a "clear" card, meaning that the main card is made from mid weight Window sheets.  Very cool.  All of the stamps are from the Filled with Love set available until January 24th as a Promotion from SU.  I made 36 cards from the paper that comes in the bundle, and I still have three FULL sheets left!!  That's a heck of a good deal. If you would like to purchase the Filled with Love Bundle, which comes with free Bitty Buttons, shoot me an email.  I can help you order what you need.

It's time to sign off.  I have other projects to share, but they will have to post next time. 

Take care, be kind to yourself, and smile.

Kristine

My hand at a vintage look

The New Year has started, and I can feel it in my bones that it's going to be a good year.  So far each day in 2011 has brought me a little, nice surprise.  What fun!

For this week's card, I was going for a vintage look.  You know, vintage is all the rage.  But I am a pretty simple girl who goes more for the clean lines.  BUT, I thought I'd give it a try.  I don't think I made my goal of a vintage look (other than the distressing of the card stock), but I do like the way it turned out.  The stamp set is one of my favorites, Friends 24-7.  I like the Fleur-de-lis in the set.  As you can see, I used that as my background.  The little tag hanging off the ribbon is stamped with a sentiment from a new set in the Occasions Mini catalog called You're a Gem.  I like phrase sets.  I tell ya, this Occasions mini is packed full of things I want.  I am really having to hold myself back from breaking the bank buying everything on my wish list!  Anyone know where the line is drawn between something being a hobby and when it becomes an addiction? :-)

Have a lookie:

It's hard to see in the picture (geesh, when will my photography improve?) but there are "smudges" of ink on the background as well as on the vanilla floral piece.  I used the Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon which has a light feel to it.  It reminds me of the kind of ribbon I used to find in my grandma's sewing basket.  The card stock I used is Soft Suede and Pear Pizzaz.  There are also mini Basic Pearls in the flower centers.  Me likee. You know what would have made this card more vintage?  More schtuff.  Ahh well, not vintage, but I like it.  :-)

Thanks for popping in.

Kristine