All Abuzz

I've been playing with the Vintage Bee 

Calm collage sheet from My Artistic Adventures all week. I made a simple card by layering a tea colored doily over kraft card stock, then added two images from the Collage sheet along with some black paper. I added Liquid Pearl drops around the edge of the tag shape and called it done! Not every card has to have half a dozen techniques or layers. 

I was buzzing along having so much fun in my scrap room that I also made a tag...

See the cute bumblebee button? I've been saving this bee ribbon I found at Michael's and it was perfect for these collage sheet projects!

...and then I decorated an envelope to go with the card I made a few days ago. I didn't have enough of the yellow striped paper to line the inside of the envelope, so I wasn't quite sure how I was going to make it coordinate with the card. Then it came to me - what if I ran the envelope flap through the Cuttlebug and embossed it with the honeycomb design? 

I used my oval scallop punch on what little bit of yellow striped paper I had remaining, used a small round punch on a bee image, and voila! Now the envelope flap has the same honeycomb texture as the card.

I usually don't decorate the envelope other than 
to stamp a coordinating image onto the front upper or lower corner. This adds a bit of panache and also helps me to remember what the card's theme/design is when I have them stored and waiting to be mailed out for the right occasion. 

I had so much fun decorating the flap for this
 Bee Happy card that I think I'm going to 
emboss others!

sharing this post with:

Monday Funday
Freedom Fridays
What To Do Weekends

The Twelve Tags Of 2013- January

If you need any inspiration for stamping and card making look no further than Tim Holtz's blog. I took a peek at his 12 Tags of January today and ended up making a tag because I just couldn't stop myself, even though I had planned to make something completely different when I walked into my scrap room! Click on the link above for Tims' complete photo tutorial. I also took a few pictures, as I worked, to share with you. I started with a blank tag (2.6 x 5.25), Ranger Distress Ink, and my Cuttlebug Clockworks folder (5 x 7).

Next, I sprinkled water drops on my inked tag

 

 

 and dried it with my Ranger Heat It Tool

 

 Then I cut a clock die cut into two pieces; I painted one segment with gold metallic paint and embossed the other piece with Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade Distress Powder. I glued them to the tag and trimmed off the overhang. I adhered a piece of Film Strip Ribbon to the left side with Glossy Accents.

I cut a smaller tag from off-white card stock and stamped a sentiment on it, then inked the edges of it. 

 

Here is the completed tag. I used a grunge board number '3' which I misted with Perfect Pearls Biscotti Mist, then finished with a light coat of Platinum Liquid Pearls. The three represents my family. I stamped the bias tape ribbon with a calendar and the word 'January'. There are metal sprockets attached with brads and a game spinner inside the bottle cap. I am going to share this with Tim's blog. It is really fun to see the variety of January tags people have made after seeing Tim's version!

I did not have the grunge board gears Tim used on his tag, so I substituted the die cut clock.

I had so much fun I can't wait to see what inspiration Tim has in store for February~

sharing this post with;

Tim Holtz blog, 12 Tags of 2013 
Time Travel Thursday The Brambleberry Cottage 
Clever Chicks Blog Hop 
Share Your Cup 

 

Tried Liquid Pearls?

I had not used Liquid Pearls until I made my submission for the Bella Creations April Technique Challenge. Our sponsor, Flying Unicorn, is offering a wonderful RAK for this challenge. I used the gorgeous G45 papers and lavendar Liquid Pearls from the Flying Unicorn Store to make a Springtime card~

I started with a Prima Build A Swirl stamp and Inkssentials Watermark Ink to stamp the umbrella. Next, I followed the stamped image and placed pearl drops along the design. I layered and punched Graphic45 Baby To Bride and Flights Of Fancy, and finished it off with flowers and brads. The final touch was a K and Co bee~ The trick to using the Liquid Pearls is to draw an imaginary circle as you stop squeezing and pull away from the surface, otherwise you may get a Hershey Kiss shape instead of a plump pearl.

Here is a tutorial to get you started.(I placed my pearls directly on the umbrella, but you can use a sheet of acetate too). http://www.swirlydoos.com/page.php?35

 You could win these goodies from Flying Unicorn!!