Sunshine Flowers

 

Simon says "stamp it" this week (no digi images) and it would be nice to use Simon's exclusive products. So that's just what I did.

The stamp set is called Sunshine Flowers and it was part of their monthly kit this month which I decided to splurge on.

I stamped the flower jar on preprinted paper by Lavinia (Scene Scapes Summer Meadow) then cut it out. This way, my flowers and the jar were already tinted.

The background is from who know's where (I've had it for ages); I did some trimming and layering (a portion covered by tissue paper) to create a suitable background for the jar. A bit of a shadow was added to the jar's base.

I didn't feel confident aligning the text (comes with the set) so I stamped it on tissue paper first then cut and pasted it on.

I used the Liquid Pearls that came with the kit to embellish the borders.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Glimmersmitz

A head start on Christmas cards? Maybe. But a call to create with "glimmer and sparkle" at the Simon Monday challenge was really the push for making this one. What's Christmas without some shiny bits--am I right?

I used Pink ombré paper (Martha Stewart) covered with Tissue Wrap (Holtz) trimmed to fit around Poinsetta Pieces die-cuts (Holtz) that were cut from a bronze metallic envelope.

Copper Liquid Pearls, some Stickles, and white Scribbles provided the glitz. I heat embossed the white text and outlined one side of the letters with an extra-fine black marker to create a 3D effect.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Little Things

 

This greeting card was made for Simon's "spritz and splatter" challenge. I have never enjoyed splattering a project with ink or paint when it's in its final stages because I get nervous that it won't go well. So I took the easy way out this week and used paper that was already splattered for me.

It's made by Lavinia Stamps, the collection is called Scene Scapes and I really like it. The one I used for this card is called Garden Dance.

The birds were cut from a page of Stamperia's Oriental Garden scrapbook paper, the text is a Clipping Sticker from Tim Holtz as are the remaining papers.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Glitter Gone Wild

Gitter gone wild is the name of this post for obvious reasons--I used it to embellish this birthday card for my niece. (If you click on the photo to view it in the light box feature you'll see the glitter in more detail.)

I began by stamping (Simon's Delicate Flowers and a Martha Stewart butterfly) on watercolor paper with clear embossing ink and UTEE. Remember this stuff? UTEE stands for ultra thick embossing powder and I guess it fell out of favor because I seldom see anyone using it anymore.

After applying watercolors for tint, I ironed off the embossing. When you do, the weight of the iron spreads the embossing out and you end up with slightly thicker lines that also act as a resist. If you'd like to know more about this technique here's a link to a popular post for the particulars.

I thought I needed more contrast so I outlined the images with a fine-tip black marker. Still not happy, I dug out my glitter (Stickles) and the extra color and sparkle seemed to do the trick.

I used a stencil (Simon's Tiny Dots) with white texture paste, a Simon die-cut for the sentiment and machine-stitched it to the card base using white thread.

Simon Says use heat embossing this week so I'm linking up to the Monday challenge.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Just Because

This greeting card features the Mondo Succulent Pot stamp by Ellen Hutson. Back in January, I posted a similar card using this stamp with watercolors (link) and say again how much fun it is to color.

Large stamps make quick work of card making but this time I used a less conventional technique so it took longer. Here's what I did.

The background? It's a print off a Gelli Plate using Simon's Tiny Dots stencil. I "zhuzhed" it up a bit with Distress inks, water and some sanding.

My stamp impression wasn't that great (some lines were too light) so I went over all of them using India ink and a pen nib. It was a good save. ☺

I filled it in with diluted white paint to knock-back the background then used watercolor pencils, inks and regular colored pencils.

I mounted it on dark mulberry cardstock and trimmed it with Liquid Pearls. The text was embossed.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Cielito

Until last year, I always struggled to find dark-toned printed scrapbook paper (it seems to me that, generally, most papers tend to be on the lighter side). Then Tim Holtz released an 8" x 8" Paper Stash called Abandoned and it's become an all-time favorite.

The background for this card was made with a page from the collection.

The flowers were stamped (Simon Delicate Flowers) on Tim Holtz printed collage paper (Typography) then fussy-cut and tinted with colored pencils. The border was made with Nuvo Vintage Drops.

When I make a greeting card, I like to add the sentiment later depending on the occasion for giving. The dark magenta color gives this one a somber vibe so maybe a sympathy card? It also would make a good Valentine.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

A Little Story

Browsing the British Library's Flicker account (where they have digitized a tremendous amount of their collection), I came across this image which inspired me to make a card.

 

After printing the image on plain white copy paper I knew cutting it out would be a challenge given the thin streaming lines. So I covered the image with a wide strip of clear packaging tape, sanded over the top of it to remove the sheen and then cut it out. The tape helps to reinforce the paper while cutting and makes it more durable for pasting, etc.

It was placed over a scrap of deli wrap that was painted using a gelli plate and stamped with archival ink.

I framed the image on thin, dark, warm gray paper and pasted it over some Tim Holtz scrap. It was mounted on heavy white card stock to form a card. The text is a Remnant Rub.

My apologies as the photos lack sharp focus (they look better in the lightbox feature). It's been a struggle to get good images indoors, we've been over 110° for several weeks now so that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it ☺.

I'm linking up to Simon this week, the challenge was to use something clear and my packaging tape technique should qualify.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Plain Jane

Describing how I made this card will be a challenge but you might like to try it yourself so here goes.

I used two designs from a coordinated set of 6" square printed paper, one was a solid green brocade, the other two were matching pages with stripes and handwriting.

One non-solid became the background. One non-solid was stamped with the flowers (avoiding the green section). The solid sheet (all green) was also stamped with the same image.

All the stamping was fussy-cut, I removed the leaves from the non-solid piece and pasted it one top of the all green sheet lining up the images.

I darkened the blossoms with a tiny bit of Distress ink and left the leaves as is. I framed it with solid papers and Nuvo Crystal drops. 

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Beautiful Day

Sharing an unconventional greeting card today--its support is a small vintage portrait folder with layers of papers--prompted by Simon's Monday challenge.

The flowers were fussy-cut from a paper pack called "Let Your Soul Bloom" (Moda Scrap 2019) grounded by strips of scrap paper, some delaminated cardboard and the backside of a really old envelope.

A bit of machine stitching and Nuvo Crystal Drops along with a Remnant Rub were used as embellishment.

As you can imagine, pasting all of this would have been a chore but I used a spray adhesive which makes it easier.

I'm sending this one to my good friend, Thelma, and it will need a padded envelope to survive the journey.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Sent On This Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope everyone gets a giant box of chocolates, a big bouquet of flowers plus a big fat hug from someone you love.

I'm sharing a card made for the occasion (and my dear friend, Thelma) that started with a prompt from Simon's Monday challenge to use a "resist technique."

A heart stencil was clear embossed over a scrap of Paper Stash and covered with off-white paint that was wiped off the raised embossing before it dried. Then I ironed-off the embossing (here's a link to the technique) which gives it a mottled appearance I rather like.

I cut the heart out and pasted it on more Paper Stash, added a stamped strip of polka dots, a Paper Doll figure, book text, and fussy-cut butterflies.

I admit an obsession with 3D paint dots and used them to embellish the borders. I may need to seek treatment for this disorder ☺.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

True Love

A week away from Valentine's Day and a milestone wedding anniversary for yours truly, doesn't mean big preparations are underway at my house (just having each other is more than enough) but it does signal the sharing of a card made for the occasion.

This one embraces a mixed media feel starting with a book page tinted with Distress ink and white-washed a bit. The heart was cut from a business envelope and I originally planned to use the other side. But after tinting, I liked the back better and made the printing part of the design (even though it's slightly askew).

I stamped the words "Special Delivery" (Tim Holtz Correspondence) and "True Love" is an older Remnant Rub.

The flowers and postage stamp were fussy-cut from Authentique scrapbook paper after using a bit of water and my fingers to rub off the backside to make the paper thinner (easier to cut and pastes down nice and flat). I always encase delicate pieces like this with clear medium to protect them for handling.

I darkened the border with more Distress and drew lines with a fine-tip marker. I was lucky to have a piece of paper that matched my heart to frame it with. It's "dollar-store" variety children's construction paper, it's super thin (which for me is an asset) and I use this stuff all the time--it's perfect for collage.

Finally, it was mounted on black card stock and I'll insert a lighter page on the inside for personalizing.

I'm linking to Simon's Monday challenge this week, the theme is Love and/or Hearts.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Hello

 

Not sure what to make of this greeting card--I like it but I know it's not for everyone (it's not very conventional).

I used a newly purchased stamp by Ellen Hutson called Mondo Succulent Pot. I've had my eye on it ever since it was released (2019) and after using it the first time, I know it will be quite versatile. I'm glad I got it and expect to use it a lot.

It was watercolored but I didn't like the blue background (too plain) so I stamped over it with polka dots (Tim Holtz). I framed it with a layer of paper then that little voice inside my head said use some Stickles and now it has yellow-green and black dots of bling.

If you're new to watercolor, a large stamp like this is ideal. I'm not a fan of "no-line" techniques and with a hand-drawn stamp like this one, the lines are what make it so charming.

One criticism about the stamped text: The set comes with the word "Hello" but honestly, the way it was made/written it looks more like "Hells" (here's a link to the vendor if you are curious). So I scratched out the center of the letter "o" because I thought it would help. Maybe I'll find a better remedy when I use it again. Maybe it's just me?

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Beautiful to Me

 

Simon says, "make a shaker card." What?! Never done that before but sure, why not? I had to find some how-to videos to get an idea of where to begin and, in the end, I have a new appreciation for this engineering feat.

Mine was made using a piece of craft foam as the dam behind a thin piece of acetate. I used a black Sharpie to disguise the foam edges, filled it with vintage glitter (circa 1920-30), covered it with a die-cut page from an old book (Simon Says Stamp Devonshire) and made some paper punch lace (Martha Stewart).

I re-cut the butterfly out of black paper and placed it over the acetate and heat embossed text (Simon Says Stamp Delicate Flowers) using black ink and clear powder.

The background page is from Prima Epiphany and it was mounted on black card stock. I always line the insides of my black cards with a piece of light paper so you can write on it with a regular pen. A little Distress Ink and some white paint splatters completed the look.

I had no idea how much glitter to use and may have used too much and the hardest part? Figuring out how to line up and paste the shaker on the front of the card while working with it upside down so the glitter wouldn't fall out. If I make any more, I should probably watch a few more videos ☺.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

 

Merry and Bright

 

 

• Unless we make Christmas an occasion to share our blessings, all the snow in Alaska won't make it white. -Bing Crosby
• Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold! -Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon
  
• There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child. -Erma Bombeck
  
• Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more! -Dr. Seuss
• Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone. -Charles M. Schultz
• When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things--not the great occasions--give off the greatest glow of happiness. -Bob Hope
• Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. -Larry Wilde

Wherever you are, whatever you are facing, whatever your challenges or opportunities may be…may your days of Christmas be merry and bright.

Happy Holidays

 

A greeting card to share today representing a milestone for me as it's my first creation since relocating my crafting space. Abandoning my old studio after almost 15 years was traumatic and because I had to downsize, I cleaned up and donated a lot of extra material. My new space is doable but I'm struggling to remember where I put stuff--I guess the easiest fix for that is to just starting making again!

For this card, I distressed the edges of printed papers and used some hand-stitching and Stickles on the border. The stamp is from Ellen Hutson (Mondo Holly by Julie Ebersole) which was altered quite a bit.

First I heat embossed it, then tinted it with Distress inks, ironed off the embossing, redrew the lines with a fine line marker, fussy-cut it and added Distress Rock Candy Stickles to the berries.

I plan to continue blogging about my creations (even though many bloggers have left the pack) because it serves as a kind of diary and good reference tool. Now that my numerous family projects/obligations are winding down, I have more time to create and will be able to post more regularly again. I also post snapshots of my blog entries on Instagram @123beulahbee for those who like to click-and-run ☺.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Girlfriend

I would say my greeting cards look a lot like the tags I make, or a journal page, for that matter. Here I have assembled one using a hand-cut botanical print, a Found Relative and some Collage Paper (Tim Holtz) onto a book page stamped with a French postage mark. I machine-stitched a border and embellished it with 3D paint (Liquid Pearls).

Everything was tinted with Distress inks and I used a watered-down layer of off-white paint over the girls dresses to change their appearance.

I think a key element in this composition is the addition of dark shading behind the girls which gives it some dimension. And it was mounted onto a kraft paper card base which reinforces the vintage vibe.

As always, I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care.

Love Everything

Hello friends, today I'm sharing a greeting card crafted for Valentine's Day. It was made using an image altered in Photoshop before printing, trimming and pasting to my card.

If you're curious what I mean, here's the before/after using a filter called "poster edges."

I cut a paper heart and tinted it with Distress Oxides (Candied Apple and Worn Lipstick), the background was stamped with script and gesso applied to knock it back, washi tape was used to visually anchor the image and a border was cut from striped paper.

I'll mention a very useful (non-digital) technique for altering the color and texture of any image which is scratching the surface with the point of a knife to create lighter areas which can be tinted with color. Here's a close-up to illustrate:

The sentiment stamp seemed perfect for this image and it's one of Simon's from a set called Delicate Flowers. I'm linking this post to their Monday challenge blog because this week's theme is "All Loved Up."

I hope this post finds you well and happy and I appreciate your visit.

Until next time, take care. 

12 Tags for Christmas 2019 - Peace Love Joy

Wishing all of you peace, love and joy this Christmas!

Tag 10 for Christmas 2019 is book paper covered with tissue, pasted with die-cut pieces and tinted/embellished with ink, paint and glitter.

Click to Enlarge

The black and red tinting was created using ink pens and a waterbrush. I draw the ink lines and before they dry, I use the brush to spread/blur the color.

The die-cut pieces (Tim Holtz Poinsettia) came from Thelma's Christmas card.

The best feature here is the area inside the poinsettia where I applied Rock Candy Distress Stickles. Remember this stuff? It's a product that's been discontinued and one I wish they'd bring back!

Caring Hearts

A first for me--mass production of Christmas cards (25 to be exact)--what an experience!!

In the process, I learned what an A2 card size is (an 8-1/2" x 11" page cut in-half) and how to make my own envelopes. Woo-hoo!

I kept things simple by using animal images from a winter holiday paper pack and embellished them with dimensional paint and glitter glue.

All for a good cause as I'm forwarding them to the Caring Hearts Card Drive where they will be distributed to nursing home residents around the country.

The deadline was this Friday so I finished just in time!

Purple Martin

Autumn is Simon's Monday challenge this week and was the inspiration for this greeting card. I dug out an older (but favorite) paper stash by Tim Holtz called Wallflower and the bird (a Purple Martin), leaves and feathers were cut from it.

The background paper is this year's Halloween release from Tim called Abandoned. Run, don't walk to purchase (before it's all gone) if you like dark-colored, jewel-toned distress-looking paper.

I couldn't resist adding the book text. It accidentally showed up on my desk while working and it just seemed like karma to add it. I expect to use the card as a kind of "get well" greeting to provide words of encouragement.

The border was made with Copper Scribbles and Olive Branch Nuvo Crystal Drops.

To prevent warping, I pasted the various cut-out bits using tiny drops of a quick dry adhesive only where needed (on the floppy bits, etc.).

I also tinted the leaves ever so lightly with colored pencils and a bit of ink to alter their original neutral appearance.