Get Well Prickly Pear

Let me begin this post today with a PSA: Wash your hands folks! It seems to me that everyone is sick right now. Most people I talk to are mid cold or just got over a cold or feeling like they might be getting a cold. I don't know what's in the air but it's nasty. It probably doesn't help that in Virginia the temperatures around here have been swinging from the low 40s to the seventies. So it seemed like as good a time as any to make some get well cards.

I was playing around at my craft desk when inspiration for this card struck. I saw this Prickly Pear stamp from Spellbinders and was immediately inspired. The stamp has a cool 3D effect that adds depth and shading to the image. I absolutely love the way it looks.

I wanted this image to really stand out on the card as the focal point, so I opted for a simple, one layer card. First I grabbed an A2 card base made of white Recollections 110 lb heavyweight cardstock. Since I was stamping directly on the card base I used a stamp positioning tool to ensure I got a good impression. I carefully stamped the cactus portion of the stamp using Limeade Dye Ink Pad from Ranger. I stamped it two or three times to get a really good impression. Next I stamped the pot of the cactus using Stampin' Up Tip Top Taupe. I carefully made sure to get the taupe ink on only the pot, wiping away any ink that got onto the cactus portion of the stamp.

While I liked the way it looked overall, there were a couple of white spots I wasn't so crazy about. To fix this, I used a water brush and the ink colors to fill in the respective white spots on the card. I wouldn't normally watercolor directly on cardstock, but this cardstock is thick and I used a very light amount of water so it worked out okay. 

With the image done it was time for the sentiment. I grabbed the Get Well stamp from Picket Fence and once again use my stamp positioner to get it just right on the card. I stamped it with VersaFine Onyx Black Ink then embossed over top with black embossing powder from my stash. 

And just like that the card was complete! I am so happy with how it turned out. Do you find yourself needing to stock your stash with get well cards? Go forth, craft, and wash your hands so no one needs to send you a get well card.

First Card of 2020

A little late, I know, but here is my first card of 2020.It is not what I expected for my first card of the year, but I am so pleased with how it turned out. When I saw that Kristina Werner was challenging herself and others to mail 1 card a week on Mondays, I wanted in. I am guilty of making cards but rarely mailing them.  So this challenge is a great motivation to actually put my cards in the mail.

The first Monday back to work after the holidays, I really just wanted to hang out with Netflix when I got home. I am at towards the end of a nasty chest cold and the idea of chilling on a comfy couch was very alluring. But I dragged myself from the couch to make this card. 

I  needed to mail a birthday card this week for one of my brothers in law. Thinking of a card design for him was a bit difficult. I struggle with making masculine or conventionally gender neutral cards, but I was up for the challenge.  He loves football, beer, and hiking. Initially I was thinking of doing a nature card. The problem was I don't have many scenic nature stamps.  So instead I looked through all my stamps and pulled any sets that leaned masculine. The Junk Food Artist Trading Stamp set from Fun Stampers Journey stood out to me. He loves good food, as do I, and what better way to celebrate special occasions than with delicious foods? The stamp set has some wonderful sketched images of a hamburger, hot dog, and pizza that I just love. 

Using Verasfine Onyx Black ink  on a 4 1/4  x 5 1/2 piece of cardstock, I stamped the images in multiple rows to create a to create a background. I briefly thought about coloring the images on the panel, but it was late and I was tired. I thought the sketchy images looked neat and simple so opted for a black and white card instead. I trimmed the panel down to 4 1/8 x 5 3/8. Then I used foam tape to adhere the panel to a black A2 card base made with black Recollections Heavyweight cardstock.

With the background complete, it was time for the sentiment. I pulled out the Stampin' Up Party With Cake stamp set. I found this gem at a local craft thrift store and quickly fell in love with the fun and sassy sentiments.  I chose the sentiments "Happy Birthday" and "Calories don't count today" for the front of the card. I used VersaMark ink and Recollections Detail Embossing powder in the color Snow to emboss the sentiments on a piece of black cardstock from my scrap pile.  I cut the sentiments down to size and popped them up on the card with more foam tape.

Now it was time for the inside of the card.  I took a panel of white cardstock cut to 4 x 5 1/4 and stamped the sentiment "sending many wishes your way" with VersaMark Onyx Black ink.  To tie the inside of the card with the outside, I stamped the 3 food images at the bottom of the inside panel using Hero Arts Shadow Ink in the color soft granite.  I used the same ink to stamp the images in the corner of a white A2 envelope.  And voila! A gender neutral black and white birthday card.  It was definitely not what I had in mind when I sat down to create, but I love how it looks. Do you have any tips, tricks, or advice for masculine cards? I’d love to hear it in the comments!