Faux Letterpress Backgrounds

Good afternoon! I love the look and feel of letterpress stationary. I recently used that as inspiration for the card below, creating a faux letterpress background.

For the background I used an embossing folder from Lifestyle crafts and Marvy ink pads in neon colors. I gently rubbed the ink pads (starting with the lightest color first) directly onto the raised design inside the embossing folder. 

A piece of white cardstock was used as the base and placed in the embossing folder before it was run through a die cutting machine. The embossed design and ink transfers to the cardstock with little effort!

I finished up the card with a strip of holographic paper that really plays up the neon colors and a stitched design from Amy Tangerine's Capture Kit.

Have you tried this technique yet? It's one of my favorite ways to add texture and color!

 CARD SUPPLIES
Cardstock, Holographic Paper: Paper Cut
Inks: Marvy Matchables
Embossing Folder: Lifestyle Crafts (Sketchbook)
Tools: Amy Tangerine Capture Embroidery Kit

Retro Sketch #66 :: Metallic Butterfly

When creating cards, I love to head to Retro Sketches to check out their newest challenge. They never disappoint! Here's the current card sketch up on their blog:

And here's my take on it: 

I love this butterfly stamp from All Night Media that I picked up from my local scrapbook store. It was heat embossed on glossy paper. Next, I added teal Mica Gloss to the image with a waterbrush. The water thins out the ink to give a subtle color. I adhered the butterfly only at the center with Glossy Accents. My favorite part of this card is the sentiment. It's a Class A'Peel Sticker from Stampendous. It makes it quick and easy to create a faux embossed image!

Thanks for checking out the blog today. You have until Midnight tonight to join in the fun of this week's Retro Sketch. 

SUPPLIES

Cardstock: Paper Cut, American Crafts

Patterned Paper: BasicGrey (Humbug)

Inks: JudiKins (Teal Mica Gloss), VersaMark Watermark

Embossing Powder: Ranger (Black)

Stamp: All Night Media

Sentiment: Stampendous (International Thanks Black)

Tools: Tim Holtz (Distressing Tool), Waterbrush, Marvy (Circle Punch)

Use It Tuesday -- 50th Challenge!

Good morning! I'm so excited you've joined me today. Use It Tuesday is turning 2, and we're partying hard during our 50th challenge! 

Challenge 50: Create a project using an un-inked stamp. Bonus points if you use GOLD! 

I'll admit, I have several un-inked stamps. So this challenge was going to be an easy one... until I had to decide which one to use! I decided to break out this set from Tim Holtz. The background stamps in this set feature reverse imagery. That's right - The words are backwards. I always liked the idea of stamping the background directly onto the embossing folder, but never found a folder I wanted or could use with such a technique. What a great excuse to go shopping! 

After a walk around Creation Galore's store, I came across this beautiful swirl embossing folder by Sizzix. I stamped the script background three times directly onto the embossing folder, inserted the cream cardstock into the folder, and ran it through my machine. When it came out, the script does not show up on the embossed edge, creating multiple layers easily. 

I applied Antique Linen Distress Ink to the embossed design with the ink pad directly. To add some depth, I added Forest Moss to just the edges of the cream cardstock with the applicator tool. 

For the gold element of the challenge, I embossed this flower stamp from Penny Black onto vellum. I also added some gold cord around the sentiment, and tied a bow. 

Thanks for stopping by today... Make sure you head over to the Use It Tuesday blog to see more inspiration and play along!

Life Is Growth

Hello blogland! I took a break from crafting the last week to enjoy the holidays with family. Now it's back to work! Today I'm sharing one of my new creations, a card I created as a Make N Take for Creations Galore. 

For this card, I used the same same two different ways. On the card front, I embossed the image with white embossing powder on a deep orange cardstock. For the inside, I stamped just the top portion of the image with blue ink. The image was stamped twice to create a border along the bottom edge of the white insert. I finished off the card with faux stitching and this great sentiment. 

Thanks for checking out today's project!

CARD SUPPLIES
Cardstock: Paper Cut
Stamps: Market Street Stamps (Growth)
Inks: Adirondack (Stream), VersaMark Watermark, Sakura Gelly Roll Pen (White)
Embossing Powder: Ranger (White)

Joy To The World

Hey there! This is my second post for the day... If you're looking for the snowflake Christmas card, keep scrolling! In this post, I'm playing along with the Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World. 

I had seen this photo last week when the trigger was first posted and wasn't sure how I could pull together a card with a monochromatic, neutral color combo. 

But here's what I came up with!

I started out by pulling together some cream and white cardstock. Then I discovered this patterned paper by Reminisce and a lightbulb turned on! The medallion stamp from JustRite was stamped with gold ink and embossed with clear powder. The sentiment was then stamped with brown ink to add a little contrast. JustRite and Spellbinders have teamed up to create dies that coordinate with their beautiful stamps. Here I layered the medallion dies, attaching the white piece with foam risers. 

I love the elegance of this card. Thank you for the push to create, Moxie Fab World! There's still a few days to join in the challenge yourself.. Head over to the MFW blog to link up!

CARD SUPPLIES
Cardstock: Paper Cut (Cream, White)
Patterned Paper: Reminisce (Tiptoe Through the Tulips)
Stamps: JustRite (Joy to the World Medallion Labels)
Dies: Spellbinders (Nested Oval Medallion Labels)
Inks: Encore! (Gold), Memento (Rich Cocoa), Versamark Watermark
Embossing Powder: Ranger (Clear)
Ribbon: Offray (Lady Chiffon White)
Bling: Queen & Co (Sunflower Yellow)

A card to warm your heart... and fill your stomach?!

The temperatures have dropped, everyone I know seems to have a cold, and all I want to do is stay inside where it's warm. With that said, this card could not be more perfect for the times!

The pot was first embossed onto a cream colored vellum. I didn't want to take away from the gorgeous patterned papers by adding a solid cardstock. I embossed the pot image a second time on cream paper and pieced it onto the original image. MyStik's permanent vellum adhesive was used to adhere the vellum to the front of card. I love how you can fearlessly use vellum with this adhesive... Can't see a single strip of it!

Thanks for stopping by today... I hope it's a SOUPER one!

CARD SUPPLIES

Cardstock: Paper Cut (Black Linen, Whip Cream)

Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny (Serenade Dot, Promenade, & Poppies)

Vellum: Paper Cut (Cream)

Stamps: Market Street Stamps (Comfort Food)

Inks: Versamark Watermark

Embossing Powder: Ranger (Super Fine Detail Black)

Adhesive: MyStick (Permanent, Vellum)

Sketch It Saturday :: Christmas Banners

Happy Small Business Saturday! That's right, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you'll find Small Business Saturday. I work at Creations Galore, an independent paper arts store in my city. I encourage all of you to support any small business in your area today! You can read more about supporting local businesses and today's holiday here.

Now let's move on to some crafty goodness. Unscripted Sketches put out one fantastic sketch this week. I absolutely love banners. The trend is still going strong. Head over to Unscripted Sketches to see the entire design team and the ways they incorporated "banners" into their paper crafting projects. Here's the sketch:

And here is my take:

JustRite has a beautiful banners stamp set that I was excited to use on this card. I stamped the smallest banners in the set on patterned papers and cardstock, cut around the design, and adhered them to the card face. I adhered the gold cord with Glossy Accents before attaching the flags. The beautiful sentiment is from JustRite as well and is stamped with black embossing powder. 

I hope you've enjoyed my take on the sketch. Don't forget to link up your own project at Unscripted Sketches... We love seeing all your creativity! 

CARD SUPPLIES
Cardstock: Paper Cut (Black Linen, Cream), American Crafts (Caramel)
Patterned Paper: American Crafts (Wreath Factory, Sleigh Shop, Lighting Department, Kringle Garden)
Stamps: JustRite (O Christmas Tree, Large Fancy Holiday Sentiments)
Inks: Memento (Tuxedo Black), Versamark Watermark
Embossing Powder: Ranger (Super Fine Detail Black)

Harvest Blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Today I will be spending the day stuffing my face full of my momma's good home cooking, and thanking God for many things. My family, that food, a roof to sleep under... And a job that allows me to have fun and enjoy my paper crafting hobbies. 

After today, Christmas music will be played and holiday shopping will be on everyone's mind, so I must sneak in one last fall-themed card! It's only fair. 

I clear embossed the Harlequin Background from A Muse Studio onto the green cardstock. I love the subtle pattern this provides. I die cut the circle and kraft shape before assembling the card. I stamped the wheat with wheat ink (ha! so perfect) and paper pieced the pumpkin with pumpkin cardstock (seriously!). 

Have the most wonderful holiday and enjoy your weekend!

CARD SUPPLIES
All A Muse Studio
Cardstock: Sugar, Rialto, Kraft, Pumpkin, Buttercup
Stamps: Harvest Blessings*
Ink: A Muse Studio (Wheat), Memento (Rich Cocoa), Versamark Watermark, Clear Embossing Powder

*The Harvest Blessings stamp set is available only as a hostess gift. To host a workshop, please contact me at nicolelaha{at}gmail{dot}com.

Sketch It Saturday... Wait, Isn't It Sunday?!

Hello bloggers! Friday night I arrived on the doorstep of my cabin, a place of relaxation and no internet or phone service, only to remember I had not written Saturday's post! I'm back home now and ready to share with you the great sketch Unscripted Sketches put together this week! Here's the sketch:

And here's my card:

I changed the card from a square to an A-2 rectangle. Part of this Sketch It Saturday challenge was to use dry embossing in addition to the sketch. I ran the cream cardstock through an embossing folder, and ran my brown ink pad on the raised edges. 

After seeing Moxie Fab World's Stitching & Sewing Challenge, I was in the mood to add some creative stitching to the card. I used the Sew Easy to create a zig zag pattern along the side of my sentiment and added some cream floss. The pie image is paper pieced and looks soooo delicious. I think I'm officially in Thanksgiving-Turkey-Dinner-Pumpkin-Pie-Mode. I can't wait for my momma's cooking!

I hope you've enjoyed my take on the sketch. Head over to Unscripted Sketches to see the rest of our AMAZING Design Team. While you're there, link up your own project. We'd love to see what you create!

 CARD SUPPLIES
Cardstock: American Crafts, Paper Cut
Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers
Stamps: Market Street Stamps
Ink: Adirondack (Espresso)
Embossing Folder: Sizzix/BasicGrey
Floss: Bazzill
Extras: We R Memory Keepers (Sew Easy Zig Zag)