Foiled Christmas

I hate to throw away anything that may be of use sometime in the future (yes, I have a little bit of a hoarding problem). Sometime ago I purchased aluminum foil baking pans at the dollar store that I used to make medium sized lasagne. As we always ate the dish the same day I didn't use the silver cardboard lids that came with the pans. I kept them as I figured I'd find a crafting purposes for them at one point or another.

Well, the other day I was in the mood to make a few more Christmas cards and came across my little stash of silver cardboard. I decided to see if embossing would work. And low and behold it does work and looks great!

Here are the two cards I designed.

 

Supplies used:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Ink: Real Red, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Smokey Slate - all SU

Stamps: Mosaic Madness - SU, Tiny Tags - SU

Punches: Jewelry Tag - SU, Mosaic - SU

Embosing Folder: Modern Mosaic - SU

Misc.: 5/8" red organza ribbon, various rhinestones

 

 

Supplies used:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Ink: Real Red, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Smokey Slate - all SU

Stamps: Contempo Christmas - SU

Punches: Ornament - SU, large, wide oval - SU, scallop trim - SU

Embosing Folder: Lacy Brocade -  SU

Misc.: 5/8" black organza ribbon, various rhinestones, foam mounting squares

 

Here is a close up of the foil lids and how well they embossed.

I was able to get 2 cardfronts form one lid.

Season of Joy Christmas Cards

As I didn't post yesterday I will share both remaining cards created with Season of Joy today.
I have to admit these two cards are my favourite of the five.

First up is this shiney silver creation.
I absolutly love the look of embossed aluminium foil tape. Not to mention that it is very inexpensive.
I covered about haf a sheet of white cardstock with the foil and then cut my two mats. Once they were trimmed to the correct size I ran them through my cuttlebug to emboss. The greeting was heat embossed in silver. Although it doesn't show too well in the photo the greeting is attached with foam mounting squares for a little added dimensions.

 

Supplies used:

Stamp: Season of Joy - SU

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing folder: Snowflakes - Sizzix

Misc.: 7/8" silver organza ribbon, silver mesh, silver embossing powder (All Night Media), Versamark, foam mounting squares, aluminium foil tape.

 

For my last card using this stamp set I decided on a snow theme.
I created a background using the swirl stamp. For the greeting I used ink markers to only stamp the "Joy". The snowflakes were also inked with markers. This time I did not emboss the aluminum foil. I decided for the small mat it wasn't warrented.  The greeting as well as the three snowflake ornaments are attached using foam squares.

 

Supplies used:

Stamp: Season of Joy - SU

Cardstock: Bazzill

Ink: Night of Navy - SU, Marina Mist - SU, Soft Sky - SU

Ink markers: Night of Navy - SU, Marina Mist - SU, Soft Sky - SU, Pool Party - SU

Punches: Key tag - SU, Decorative Label - SU

Misc.: 7/8" silver organza ribbon, silver mesh, foam mounting squares, aluminum foil tape, 3 x 1/16" rhinestone (Recollections)

Merry Christmas

Here is my third Season of Joy card.

I created the background paper using the swirl, small flower and the star stamp.
The little silver banenr is again aluminium foil tape. The tree image was hand cut.
The tree and the gretting are foam mounted for added dimesnion.

Supplies used:
Stamps: Season of Joy - SU
Cardstock: Bazzill (celery, pumpkin and not sure what the red is called)
Inl: Crushed Curry - SU, Real Red - SU, Old Olive - SU,
Ink markers: Chocolate Chip - SU, Crushed Curry - SU, Old Olive - SU
Dies: Banners Framelits Dies - SU
Punches: Key Tag - SU, Decorative Label - SU
Embosing Folder: Holiday Fraeme - SU, Devine Swirls - Cuttlebug, Forest Branches - Cuttlebug
Misc.: 2 x 1/4" red rhinestones, foam mounting squares and aluminium foil tape.

More Christmas in July

Just a quick post this evening; my second creation using Season of Joy:

This time I used the large sentiments stamp in full and made it the main focus of the card. I embossed it in silver and then stamped it a second time using my SU markers. I hand cut the little coloured accent pieces and mounted them on top of the embossed greeting using foam mounting squares.
I again embossed some aluminium foil tape for a little touch of sparkle.

 

Supplies used:

Stamps: Season of Joy - SU

Cardstock: Bazzill (celery and pumpkin)

Ink: Real Red - SU, Cherry Cobber - SU, Old Olive - SU

Ink Markers: Cherry Cobbler - SU, Old Olive - SU, Crushed Curry - SU, Chocolate Chip - SU, Night of Navy - SU, Marina Mist - SU, Soft Sky - SU

Embossing Folder: Christmas Elegance Background - Sizzix

Misc.: Silver embossing powder - All Night Media, Versamark, 7/8" silver organza ribbon, foam mounting squares, 2 x 1/4" clear rhinestones, 1 x 1/4" red rhinestone and aluminium foil tape.

Christmas in July

Eventhough it's summer, everywhere I look I see Christmas cards. To make things worse, all over the internet sneek peaks of SU's Holiday catalgue are popping up and I found myself liking a lot of it.
Considering I haven't been able to afford the items on my wishlist from the annual catalogue I sure don't have the funds for much in the Holiday special at the moment (my Birthday is coming up in 6 weeks though so I've been leaving plenty of hints with my family).

This promnpted me to look through my current inventory of Christmas stamps, which are by far the largest category of stamps (other than sentinements) that I own. While looking through my sets I quickly came to realized that many (if not most) had not been used more than a few times (if at all). And hoenstly, I doubt I'm the only one with this issue.

I therefore challenged myself to come up with at least 5 different designs for the most unused and never used sets.

I started with Stampin' Up's Season of Joy.

The first card I designed is very simple.
Deck the Halls:

 

 

I used only the triple flower and "Deck the Halls" portion of the large sentiment stamp.

My silver embossed accent was created by sticking self adhesive aluminium tape onto white cardstock which was then embossed and cut to shape. Flower images where hand cut and layered using foam squares. Greeting and flower banner are also foam mounted. The banners were hand cut.

 

Supplies used:

Stamps: Season of Joy - SU



Cardstock: Bazzill (I believe it's hunter green - my cardtsock supply is old and most colours are retired)
Ink: Olive Green - SU, Real Red - SU, Basic Black - SU
Embossing folder: Regal Flourishes - Sizzix - Tim Holtz
Misc.: scrap of wine red Magic Mesh, 1 x 1/4" rhinestone, foam mounting squares and aluminium foil tape.

Gift card set

When a friend or family member has commented on how much they enjoy my cards I have often made a gift card set for them for their next birthday or special occasion.

Generally I make sets of five cards with matching envelopes. Usually the insides are completed with sentiments that match the greeting on the front, but sometimes I have left them blank so the recipient can choose the occasion for which they wish to use the card.

Today I am sharing a set I made recently. As the recipient's favourite colour is a spring green, that was the colour theme I decided on.

Here is a look at the complete set of cards with the matching envelopes:

 

I like to use clear gift boxes for the packaging. I made the birthday tag using some of the left over scraps from the card set so that it matches the card you can see through the clear box.

 

Note that the "patterned paper" is actually another up-cycled Kleenex box. The silver paper is aluminium foil tape over basic white cardstock which I then embossed with different designs.

 

Supplies for the gift tag:

Cardstock: Bazzill (the green is very old, it is a smooth cardstock that has been discontinued. I think it was called celery)

Embossing folder: Vine Street - SU, Devine Swirls - Cuttlebug

Punch: Label Love - SU

Die: Accut Cut tag die (SU's new tag topper punch would also work really well)

Misc.: white paper flower (Dollar store find), 1/4" rhinestone, foam squares to mount the greeting, 5/8" white organza ribbon

 

And here are close-ups of each card with supply list:

 

Supplies for "Hello" card:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing Folder: Square Lattice - SU,

Stamp: Tiny Tags - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU

Punch: Jewelry Tag - SU

Misc.: 5/8" white organza ribbon, silver ribbon clip, foam squares to mount the patterned paper

 

 

Supplies for "Celebrate" card:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing Folder: Square Lattice - SU, Honeycomb - SU

Stamp: Wonderful Words - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU

Misc.: 4 - 1/4" rhinestones, 2 white flowers, foam squares to mount the greeting

 

Supplies for "Make a Wish" card:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing Folder: Vine Street - SU, Regal Flourishes - Sizzix - Tim Holtz

Stamp: Perfect Pennants - SU, French Filigree background - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU

Die: Banners Framelits Dies - SU

Misc.: 3 - 1/4" rhinestones, foam squares to mount the greeting banner 

 

Supplies for "Hello Sweet Friend" card:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing Folder: Honeycomb - SU,, Everyday Greetings -  Cuttlebug

Stamp: Six-Sided Sampler - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU

Punches: Small hexagon - SU, large Hexagon - Emagination

Misc.: 4 - 1/4" rhinestones, foam squares to mount some of the hexagons

 

Supplies for "Thank You" card:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing Folder: Basket Weave - Darice, Devine Swirls - Cuttlebug

Punches: Scallop Square - SU, 1 3/8" square - SU, 7/8" scallop circle - SU, Petite Curly Lable - SU, Lace Ribbon border - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU

Stamp: Pretty Petites - SU

Misc.: 3 - 1/4" rhinestones, foam squares to mount greeting

More Cool tones

fOR Two of these last three cards I'm sharing made from the "cool tones" tissue boxes I used a stamp set I purchase quite sometime ago, put away and manged to never even open the package.
It's a shame as the stamp images are very nice.

First is this lovely humingbird (if you look close you''ll see it's actually several butterflies that make up this shape):

 

Supplies used:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Ink: Colorbox Black and teal (from rainbow pallet), Stazon Black

Stamps: Mindscapes - Inkadinkado, Gorgeous Grunge - SU, greeting from Vintage Frames - SU

Punch: medium oval - Emagination

Misc.: silver bookmark clip (this was from a New Year's cracker), 1/4" rhinestone, 5/8" white organza ribbon and a rhinestone flourish - Recollections

 

 

The second card I embossed both the image and the edges in silver:

 

 

Supplies used:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Ink: Colorbox Black, Versmark

Embossing powder: Silver

Stamps: Mindscapes - Inkadinkado, Gorgeous Grunge - SU, Greeting is from Pennant Parade - SU

Punch: Curly Label - SU (I inserted a strip of cardstock into the punch diagonally to make the tag)

Misc.: 1/4" rhinestone, 5/8" navy organza ribbon

 

My last card is more simple but has a bit of bling. I also paper pierced the punched shapes around the edges.:

 

Supplies used:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Ink: Colorbox Black and teal (from rainbow pallet), Night of Navy - SU

Stamps: Label Something - SU

Punch:es: Ticket Duo - SU, Scallop Oval - SU

Misc.: 1/4" , 1/8" and 1/16" rhinestone, 5/8" teal organza ribbon.

 

Next up will be a punch art card I made for my sister's birthday. I just need to find the time to write the instrucitons.

Cool Tones Cards

The weather here has been extremely cold recently. If you are anything like me that means venturing outside is something to prevent when at all possible.
I ended up in my craft room riffling through many of my supplies to try and
1) tidy them up a bit
2) purge (donate) anything that I know I will not be using.
This led to finding a large list of items that have rarely been used, or in some cases (too many that I'd like to admit to) that have never been used (sometimes still in their package).
So I decided to challenged myself to try and use several of these supplies in my next projects.

As I have mentioned before, I do not throw out any pretty patterned tissue boxes. Instead I use them in my paper crafting (cards (I like making gift sets of 5-8 cards), bookmarks, gift boxes etc.).
While organizing my many, many boxes (I cut them down and place them in clear bags, then sort them by colour) a couple of the designs popped out at me and begged to be used.
Surprisingly the first one, or technically two, is a set in cool blue hues. Normally I find warm tones much more appealing but the cool weather must have influences my choice of colours this time around.

I made more than twenty cards using most of the material from two tissue boxes. The first ten were along the lines of the designs I have previously shared of other tissue box cards. The last few are a little different as these are the ones using some long ignored materials.
They turned out rather nice so I thought I'd share them.

First up is my favourite of the lot. I went a little crazy and stamped and embossed over parts of the flower image. I also embossed the edges of the printed card:

Full supply list:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Ink: Colorbox (black), Versamark
Embossing powder: white and silver
Stamps: Small Script - SU, Flourishes - Autumn Leaves (on white card), Nature's Flora - Flourishes - Fiskars, Wonderfully Worn - SU
Punch: Word Window - SU
Misc: 1/4" rhinestone, 5/8" navy organza ribbon

The second card uses the same flower image but in a much simpler way. I used my silver Smooches for the first time to accent the petals. I also used some glitter glue. The embossed metal was a "test piece" that I had left over from a previous project:

Full supply list:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Ink: Night of Navy - SU, Black - Colorbox
Stamp: Tiny Tags - SU
Embossing folder: Regal Flourishes - Sizzix - Tim Holtz
Punch: Jewlery Tag - SU
Misc: aluminum foil tape, 1/4" rhinestone, 5/8" teal organza ribbon, foam squares to "pop" the printed layer, Silver Smooches, Silver Sparkles - PSX

And the last one for today is very geometric in design. The white circles are actually left over punch outs I had in a little container.

 

Supplies used:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Ink: Night of Navy - SU, Black - Colorbox and the teal is Colorbox from a rainbow pallet

Punches: 1" cirlce - PB, 1 3/8" circle - SU, 2" circle - PB, 7/8" scallop circle - SU

Stamp: A Round Array - SU

Misc: 4 x 1/4" rhinestones, 5/8" navy organza ribbon, foam squares.

 

Metal Tulip Card

I have one more metal art card to share. This time I went with a more feminine approach.
My inspiration was an old tin ceiling tile.

The metal doesn't seem to photograph as well as I'd hoped and some of the detail isn't showing up too well, but I think you can get the idea. The black paint is actually much more prominent than you can see in the photo.

 

here is a another try- this one is a flat scan.

 

Supplies used:

aluminim foil tape

Walnut Hollow Metal tool kit - distressing and textureing tools
Black acrylic paint

Die: Tulip by SU

Stamp: Perfect Punches by SU
Punches: scallop oval by SU

Cardstock: Bazzil

Burgudy organza ribbon, 7/8" wide

Pink satin ribbon, 1/2" wide

 

Thansk for looking. Come back soon for a new punch art project.

All Geared Up

Here's one more masculine metal art card to share. I love how the SU gear punch shapes work so well with this theme. In fact, having two boys I'm quickly becoming a huge fan of this technique.
I have some embossing folders that are just itching to be used for this (diamond plate, watches, gears...too many to list).

Hears my gears card:

Supplies used:
SU gear punch
Magi Mesh  (or drywall mesh)
Walnut Hollow Metal tool kit - distressing and textureing tools
Adirondak Tim Holtz alcohol ink
Black acrylic paint
Greeting was done on my PC
2 x 1/8" silver brads and foam dots

Metal Happy Birthday

Here's a quick share of another metal foil tape card.
I made this one for my daughter (she's giving it to a freind for his birthday).

This was actually my first attempt at this metal technique. Quick tip, if using embossed cardstock under the foil for your detials (or greeting) be careful when outlining the embossed image details as you can easily flatten the raised edges. Also, work from the inside of the design towards the outer edges so you don't trap air bubbles in the center.

 

Supplies used:

Aluminum foil tape (from hardware store)

Magic Mesh (or drywall mesh)

Embossing folder: Provo Craft - Cuttlebug Happy Birthday

Walnut Hollow Metal kit - distressing and texturing tools

Black acrylic paint, gold cream paint - Viva Inka-Gold

Metallic Snowflake Card

The other day I came across a great tutorial on creating cards and card candy (accents) using aluminium tape. I've used aluminium tape before but not exactly like this. I was very intrigued.

The tutorial can be found here

 

I'm not quite as talented as the creator of that tutoril but I thought I'd give  it my best try. I can say for sure it was an awful lot of fun.

 

So far I have made 3 cards using this technique. The first 2 are very masculine (was kind of a given). Which I will share later this week. After makign those I wonderd if this would work for winter themed cards. So I gave it a try.

 

This is what I ended up with:

 

 

 

I quite like it, although I do understand not everyone would want this metallic look for Christmas.

In fact I revised the card a bit during my work process as my original design just didn't feel right.

 

First let's go through some basic supplies that will really aid in working with the metallic foil tape.

- A good pair of scissors

- a small stylus

- metal texture tools for added detail (I couldn't resist and bought the Walnut Hollow kit, image below)

- cardboard shapes of choice

- magic mesh or drywall mesh

- acrylic paint, alcohol inks or metallic paints

 

This is the kit I used, the tools can be purchased seperately as well:

 

 

For this card I punched 2 large snowflakes (Nankong and SU) from a cereal box back, and the medium snowflake (EK) twice from cardstock scraps and then layered them for the right thickness.

I then adhered to my cardstock backing, which has been embossed with the perfect polka dots embossing folder by SU.



 

As you can see in the above I had an embossed greeting on my card front as well, but later decided "peace' just didn't fit with the overall look.

I used a combination of cerulean blue acrylic paint and Adirondack Tom Holtz black alcohol ink.

 

The card front was attached to a white card base. I dressed it up with ribbon (charcoal grey and turquoise blue each 1" wide) and a little silver mesh. The greeting is by SU (Greetings of the Season) and the ink used is Sapphire Blue Pigment ink by Colorbox.