Sunflower Birthday Card

My niece loves sunflowers, so when the Sunflower stencil from Gina K Designs was introduced, I knew it would make a perfect birthday card for her.   

To make the card, I used:

• Gina K Designs - Spectacular Sunflower Stencil
• Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 1
• Gina K Designs - Sweet Corn, Prickly Pear, Honey Mustard, Kraft, Warm Cocoa, Dark Chocolate Inks
• Altenew - Birthday Greetings

To make the card, I used the stencil, ink and blending brushes to create the Sunflower.  Since the Sunflower is a layered stencil, I started with the lighter inks, and moved to the darker inks.  The sentiment was then added using the darkest ink.  The flower was then cut with ML 1, and a coordinating mat was also cut.  These were then added to a white card base to complete the card.

Taylored Expressions Create-In-Quads Snowflake

So I just had to give the Taylored Expressions Create-In-Quads stencils a try.  I got the snowflake one since Christmas was coming up and I needed something new for my cards.  I was surprised at how different each color combination ended up looking.  As a plus, I got 4 cards per color combination! I ended up using a variety of inks and sentiments,

I used the following for the cards:

• Taylored Expressions - Create-In-Quads Snowflake Layering Stencil
• Inks from Gina K, Altenew, Distress Oxides
• Gina K Designs - Seasonal Greetings, Simple Snowflakes stamp sets
• Lawn Fawn - Winter Scripty Sayings stamp set
• Creative Expressions - Let It Snow die
• Spellbinders - Oval dies
• Versamark
• Wow - Metallic Brass Embossing Powder

To make the cards, the snowflakes were stenciled using a variety of inks.  The panels were then cut apart for 4 cards.  The sentiments stamped or die cut in coordinating inks and papers.  The panels were matted and added to the card base to complete the cards.

 

Fishy Birthday Card

Here is the card I made for my husband this year.  Masculine cards are hard for me to make, and I just had to add a few sequins, I don't think he will mind!

For the card I used:

• Altenew - Birthday Greetings stamp set
• Stampin' Up - By the Tide stamp set
• Hero Arts - Script Bold Prints background stamp
• Gina K Designs Ink - Sea Glass, Turquoise Sea, Tranquil Teal
• Pretty Posh Pink - sequins
• Masking Paper

To make the card, I tore a piece of masking paper and added it to the top and bottom of a piece of white card stock.  Using a blender brush, I added the Sea Glass Ink.  I then stamped the script using Turquoise Sea.  The remaining images are from the By the Tide set and they were stamped in Tranquil Teal.  The masking paper was then removed, and the sentiment added.  I masked the panel using Turquoise Sea paper.  After adding the panel to the card base, it needed something else ... so the sequins were added to mimic air bubbles.

Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Happy Birthday

Happy 8th Birthday.

 Here is a card I made for an 8 year old in our family.  

For the card I used:

• Gina K - Large and Small Oval dies
• Gina K - Sandy Beach, Kraft, Sea Glass, Blue Lagoon Ink
• Hero Arts - Number Candles stamps and dies, Coloring Layering Cupcake stamps and dies
• Altenew - Frosty Pink, Cotton Candy Ink
• Wink of Stella - Clear
• Glossy Accents

To make the card, I stamped the cupcake and all its layers with the multiple inks.  Wink of Stella was added to the frosting for a bit of sparkle.  I then cut the cupcake out using the matching die.  The number candle and flame were stamped on colored card stock and cut out with the matching dies.  Glossy Accents was added to the flame and the top part of the candle. I then cut the ovals from white and black card stock.  These were attached, and the cupcake, candle, and flame added to the oval.  The background paper is from Craft Consortium.  This was cut to 3.75 x 5 and matted with black, and added to the card base. The oval piece was then added to complete the card.

Using a Snowflake stencil for a Spring Anniversary card! (Gina K)

Who says snowflakes are only for winter!  Using rainbow colors and a bit of Glitz Glitter Gel can transform a snowflake image.  

For this card, I used the following:

• Gina K Designs - Snowflake Mandala Stencil
• Gina K Designs Ink - Cherry Red, Tangerine Twist, Wild Dandelion, Luck Clover, Blue Raspberry, Wild Lilac, Black Onyx
• Gina K Designs- Glitz Glitter Gel - Iridescent
• Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 2
• Altenew - Vintage Roses (for the sentiment)
• Honey Bee - Sentiment Banners

To make the card, the stencil was attached to a white piece of card stock.  Ink was added in rainbow order. This was finished with a layer of Glitz Glitter Gel to give a glittery look to the snowflake (which also made it hard to photograph!).  Once dry the panel was cut using Master Layouts 2 along with the associated black mat.  These two pieces were attached, and then added to the card base.  The sentiment was stamped and then cut with the banner die.  This was added to the card with foam tape to complete the card.

Thinking of You

 Sympathy cards are hard, and I only make them when needed.  Here is the card I recently made;

I used the following for the card:

• Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 1
• Gina K Designs - Natural Silhouettes
• Gina K Designs - Black Onyx, Powder Blue, Blue Denim
• Ranger Dye Ink - Blue Ribbon
• Altenew - Beautiful Inside

To make the card, I masked a rectangle in the center of a white piece of card stock.  Using blender brushes the ink was added light to dark.  Over this I added the flower silhouette stamped in black onyx.  The panel was cut using master layouts 1, and the black mat cut with the associated die.  The sentiment was stamped and matted.  This was added to the card using foam squares.  The panel was added to the mat and the entire piece added to the card base to complete the card.

Colorful Birthday Cards

 Here are a couple of quick but colorful birthday cards:

For these cards I used:

• Gina K Designs - Master Layouts 1
• Gina K Designs - Tiny Textures
• Gina K Designs - Black Onyx, Sea Glass, Turquoise Sea, Tranquil Teal
• Memento - Lulu Lavender
• Altenew - Lavender Fields, Wild Lilac
• Picket Fence Studios - Happy Happy Happy Birthday

To make the cards, I cut white card stock using Master Layouts 1 and using the associated die a mat cut for each card.  The squares were stamped using the Tiny Textures stamp and ink in an Ombre fashion.  The sentiment was stamped over the squares.  This panel was then added to the mat and the entire piece added to the card base to complete the card.

Glittery Birthday Balloons

This card was fun to put together!  Its based on a technique seen on one of Jennifer McGuire's videos - Sparkled Glass Technique.  Luckily, I have so much glitter that I was able to create the glitter background as well.

For the card I used:

• Heat resistant acetate
• Sugar Pea Designs - Birthday Balloons
• Altenew - Birthday Greetings
• Sookwang Double Sided tape
• Glitter Ritz - Silver
• Copic Markers - Red, Green, Blue
• Gina K Ink - Blue Denim, Lucky Clover, Red Velvet
• Versamark
• Stampendous - Detail White Embossing Powder
• Rectangle dies

To make the card, I cut a piece of acetate to 4.25x5.5.  The balloons were stamped on the acetate with Versamark, embossing powder added and heat set.  On the back side of the embossed acetate, the balloons were colored with Copic markers. The acetate was added to a white frame cut with rectangle dies.  I created the silver glitter background by adding Sookwang tape to a piece of white card stock. The liner sheet was removed, glitter added to the tape and burnished in.  The glitter piece was trimmed to the same size as the frame.  Using foam tape, the acetate piece was attached to the glitter piece, and then the entire piece added to the card base.  The sentiment was stamped using similar colors of ink to the Copic markers, trimmed to size and added to the acetate to complete the card.

Butterfly Birthday Card

 I decided to use some simple masking and ink blending to create a card.  Here is the end result:

I used the following to make the card:

• Gina K Ink - Blue Raspberry. Grass Green, Wild Dandelion, Black Onyx
• WPlus9 - Flora & Fauna Stamp Set
• Gina K - Master Layouts 1
• Altenew - Birthday Greetings

To make the card, I masked a strip on a piece of white card stock.  The ink was then added using blending brushes.  The masks removed, and the butterflies added.  The sentiment was stamped just below the ink blended area.  This panel was cut using one of the Master Layout dies (the mat was cut using the associated die).  The panel as added to the mat and the entire piece added to a green card base to complete the card.

Happy Dads Day!

I've had this idea for a while - to create a wood grained background, and then use a stencil over it.  I gave it a shot for the card I made for my Dad.  Here is the card:

I used the following for the card:

• Gina K Ink - Warm Cocoa, Fark Chocolate, Charcoal Brown, Tranquil Teal, White Pigment
• Altenew - Leaf Burst Stencil
• Hero Arts - Fathers Day stamp set
• Gina K - Mater Layouts 2 and 3

To make the card, I first created the wood grained background.  This is based on a technique that Gina K has shown in several videos.  Kraft card stock was cut using one of the Master Layout 2 dies (the mat was cut using the associated die).  This was then scored every 1/2 inch.  The ink pads were dragged down the scored panel to create the wood grain.  Blue was added lightly to give an aged appearance.  The stencil was placed in the upper corner and using a sponge dauber the white ink added.  Once dry, the panel was added to the mat, and then to a Kraft card base. Using Master Layouts 3, a circle and associated mat were cut.  The sentiment was stamped, the two pieces attached together, and added to card.

Mandala Burst Happy Birthday Card

I've wanted to use the Mandala Burst stencil for a while.  So I created a background using it, then decided to use it for this card:

 I used the following for the card:

• Gina K Ink - Blue Raspberry, Wild Dandelion, Grass Green
• Gina K - Mandala Burst Stencil
• Gina K - Master Layouts 1
• Creative Expressions - Happy Birthday die
• Altenew - Birthday Greetings Stamp set

To make the card, I used the stencil, and starting in the center of the stencil, added Wild Dandelion ink with a blender brush.  I followed that with Grass Green and finally Blue Raspberry.  The stenciled panel was then die cut using one of the Master Layouts 1 dies.  A black mat was also cut with the associated die.  The stenciled panel was attached to the mat, and then the entire piece added to a yellow card base.  I die cut the Happy Birthday Sentiment and added that to the stenciled panel.  Since this card was for a missed birthday, I added the belated stamp to complete the card.

Rainbow Birthday Card

I've been using my Gansi Tambi watercolors a bit more these days.  I created a rainbow with some of the colors in my set, comparing how the colors look using different amounts of water.  Of course I had to make cards with my results!  And here they are:

I used the following for the cards:

• Gansi Tambi Watercolors (I used  a red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple from the set)
• Gina K - Master Layouts 1 and 2 die sets
• Simon Says Stamp - Happy die
• Altenew - Birthday Greetings stamp set
• Gina K - Black Onyx Ink

To make the cards, I watercolored the stripes using the rainbow colors from the watercolors.  I first used just a minimum amount of water, and then repeated it using a very watered down watercolor.  These were both then cut using one of the Master Layouts 2 dies.  The mat was cut from dark blue paper using one of the Mater Layouts 1 dies.  The watercolor panel was attached to the mat. The 'happy' was cut using the same blue and the 'happy' background from white.  These were added to the watercolor panel.  'birthday' was stamped below the word happy.  The entire panel was then added to the card base complete the card.

Acrylic Block Backgrounds (Gina K)

After watching a Stamp and Chat video from Gina K on using Acrylic Block backgrounds, I decided to make a few cards using that technique. I was able to get two impressions from one inked background. Here are the cards I made:

For both cards I used:

• Tombow Markers (I chose a bright Pink, Blue and Green)
• An acrylic block
• Watercolor paper
• Gina K Master Layouts 2

For the first card (first impression):

• Gina K Natural Silhouettes
• Altenew Birthday Greetings

For the second card (second impression): 

• Gina K Better Together
• Close To My Heart Joyful Birthday Occasions

To make the cards, I colored on the back of an acrylic block with the Tombow markers, and then spritzed it with a bit of water.  I quickly stamped this on a piece of watercolor paper.  When I picked up the block, I noticed there was still ink on it, so I spritzed it again, and stamped it on another piece of watercolor paper.  Once both pieces were dry, I cut them with Master Layouts 2, as well as a mat from black paper.  These pieces were then used as the backgrounds for the cards.  I stamped the images on the backgrounds as well as the sentiments.  The background was added to the black mat, and the entire piece added to the card base to complete the cards.

Birthday Ballons

I decided that I would try to make my own stencil using acetate and dies that I already have.  I used the smaller balloons from the Simon Says Stamp Balloons Dies and cut them out from the acetate to make  the stencil!  I used that stencil to make this card:

To make this card I used:

• Gina K - Master Layouts 1 and 2
• Various Gina K inks
• Simon Says Stamp - Balloons Dies (used to create a stencil)
• Simon Says Stamp - Happy die
• Altenew - Birthday Greetings Stamp set
• Blender Brushes
• Memory Box Twinkling Jewel Glitter Paper Pad
• Acetate

To make the card, I first cut out the smaller balloon shapes from the acetate to make a stencil.  The stencil was used to create the background for the card.  I used blender brushes to apply the ink through the stencil.  I used a variety of colors for the balloons.  The panel was cut using the stitched rectangle from Master Layouts 2.  I used glitter paper as a mat for the card, cut out using one of the Master Layout 1 dies to give me a wider border.  I cut 'happy' from the same glitter paper.  The shadow portion was cut from white card stock.  These were then attached to the balloon panel and 'birthday' was stamped beneath it. The panel was added to the glitter paper mat and the entire piece to the card base to complete the card.

Scripty Butterfly Birthday Card

I saw a similar card on Pinterest, and decided to try it using the supplies I had on hand.  Here is the card that I ended up making:

I used the following for the card:

• Gina K - Ink - Blue Raspberry, Black Onyx, Grass Green
• Versamark
• Stampendous - Detailed Gold Embossing Powder
• Altenew - Birthday Greeting stamp set
• Gina K - Beautiful Butterflies stamp and die set
• Recollections- Scripty background stamp
• Gina K - Small Rectangle Die
• Gina K - Master Layouts 1
• Darice - Embossing Folder 

To make the card, I stamped the Scripty background stamp on white card stock with Versamark.  Gold embossing powder was added and heat set.  Using blender brushes, I added green and blue ink to the image.  This was then cut with one of the small rectangle dies.  The butterfly was stamped on white card stock with black onyx ink.  Using blender brushes, green and blue ink was added to the image.  The butterfly was then die cut.  White card stock was die cut using the largest die from Master Layouts 1.  The sentiment was added to the lower corner, and the entire piece embossed with the Darice embossing folder.  This was then added to the card base using foam tape to provide some dimension.  The scripty rectangle was added near the top.  The butterfly was added last, only using adhesive along the body portion to complete the card.

A masked Birthday Card

Inspiration for this birthday card came from a post in the Gina K Designs & StampTV Friends Facebook group (From Marcia Hill). I was also able to use the Master Layouts dies, and these are wonderful!  

I used the following for this card:

• Gina K - Masking Magic
• Gina K - By the Sea 2 stamp set
• Gina K - Black Onyx, Powder Blue, Raspberry, Plum Punch, Edible Eggplant inks
• Gina K - Master Layouts 1
• Hero Arts - Infinity Circle Dies
• Altenew - Birthday Greetings

To make the card, I cut a circle from the Masking Magic to make a window. I then added mask (without the circle) to the white layer.  I then added the inks, blending them (blue into purple) with blender brushes.  I removed the mask, and stamped the images.  The white panel was added to the black panel, and the entire image added to a card base to complete the card.  

Altenew Tulip Easter Card

I've had this stamp set for a while, and finally used it to make this Easter Card:

I used the following for the card:

• Altenew - Tulip Stamp Set and matching Dies
• Altenew Ink - Frayed Leaf, Forest Glade, Evergreen, Warm Sunrise, Caramel Toffee
• Gina K Ink - Red Hot, Peach Bellini, Coral Reef, Sea Glass, Blue Lagoon, Turquoise Sea
• The sentiment is from a very old stamp set

To make the card, I stamps the flowers and stems in a variety of colors.  These were then cut using the matching dies.  The flowers were added to a piece of white card stock which was trimmed to 3.75 x 5.  This panel was then matted with a piece of colored card stock trimmed to 4 x 5.25.  The sentiment was stamped on white card stock, and added to the panel.  The entire panned was added to the card base to complete the card.

More Foiled Birthday Cards

I while back, I made some foiled birthday cards similar to these. I quickly needed more cards, so I made more using the same basic design.

I used the following for the cards:

• Altenew - Leaf Burst Stencil
• Deco Foil - Transfer Gel

Top Card:

• Deco Foil - Rainbow Shattered Glass Foil
• Clearly Besotted - Tiny Type Stamp Set
• Versamark
• Stampendous - Detail White Embossing Powder

Bottom Card

• Deco Foil - Emerald Watercolor Foil
• Ranger - Lily Pad Dye Ink
• Honey Bee - Sentiment Banner Dies
• Altenew - Beautiful Inside Stamp Set

To make the cards, I placed the stencil on the paper and added the Deco Foil Transfer gel using a pallet knife.  Once dry, the foil was added using my Minc machine .  Both panels were trimmed to size and added to the card bases.  The sentiments were ten added to complete the cards.

Altenew Peony Bouquet

I had a plan - make a birthday card using only stamps and inks from one company - Altenew.  It was going well, until I realized that I didn't have a Happy Birthday sentiment from them.  Oh well,  I used one of my favorites from My Favorite Things.

Here is the card:

I used the following for the card:
Altenew - Peony Bouquet
Altenew Inks - Evergreen, Forest Glade, Butter Cream, Warm Sunshine, Carmel Toffee, Paper Bag
MFT - Handwritten Happiness

Hooray - Its's Your Day Birthday Card

I seem to use products from a variety of companies.  Here is a birthday card I made using products from Altenew, Tim Holtz, My Favorite Things, and Lawn Fawn.

I used the following:

• Altenew - Weave Builder Stencil
• Distress Oxide Ink - Faded Jeans, Weathered Wood
• My Favorite Things - Hooray Die, Delicious Birthday Stamp set
• Lawn Fawndamentals - Deep Sea Ink

To make the card, I created the background using the stencil and the distress oxide ink.  This was then trimmed to slightly smaller than the card front and attached. I cut out the hooray several times, stacked them and added to the card.  I used one of the stamps, masking part of it, and stamped it on a strip of paper, which was then added to the card.