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Explosion Cards

Explosion Card Instructions and template.

An explosion card is made by using a special set of folds to fold a piece of paper which you then glue into your card. When the card is opened the folds all open up and "explode" at you!

Valentine´s Day Card Suggestion

Here are instructions for a Valentine´s Day card that I recently made that I thought looked pretty good!

I used that georgeous deep red color that you can get as my base card. First, I used a small heart stamp and some Versamark Watermark ink to stamp all over the front of the base card. Then I added a white rectangle of card that had been sponged down the edges with matching red ink. Finally, I stamped a large heart stamp (from Imaginations) onto red card and embossed it in gold. I then cut closely around the large heart so that I could stick it onto the layered base card. At that point I found some white and red curling ribbon and curled a few strands and pulled them apart into very small, curly, strands and stuck them onto the middle of card. I then used thick mounting tape to stick the heart over the strands so that the strands curl out around the heart.

Now all you have to do is add the right words inside and post it off!

What to put into a shaker card

Here are some great ideas for things that you can use in shaker cards:

beads
hundreds & thousands
lavendar & pot pourri
glitter
sunflower seeds
sand
confetti
small sweets eg: tiny marshmallows/jellybeans
shrink plastic charms

Creating mosaic cards

Have you got a pile of cards that didn´t quite work? I have, and now I make sure that I keep them all! A quick easy way of using these disasters is to cut them up into strips. You can then stick them onto a background piece of paper/card and create an abstract work of art which can then be mounted onto a card. I like to make sure that I use 2-3 colors that go well together eg: blue, yellow, white or black, burgundy, and orange. Another quick way of creating this card is to stick your strips onto a piece of "Crack & Peel" ie: sticker paper.

Make your own Christmas Ornaments

This works well with stars and bauble images! Just stamp three images of the same stamp onto card and colour them in any way you like. Cut them out, fold each one in half vertically, and then stick them together back to back using glue or double-sided tape. Before sticking them together you can tape a piece of ribbon or twine etc into the middle so that your ornament can be hung on a tree.

3D Cards - making one

First choose your image and stamp it as desired. You can then stamp a second image and colour it so that it is exactly the same as the first. Carefully cut out the parts of the image that you want to stick out from the image. If you find that there are white edges of card showing then you can run a black pen along the edges. Then adhere the cut-outs onto your base image with double-sided foam tape. I find foam tape the easiest to use, but you can also use silicon to join the layers.

Spotlight Technique!

Here´s a fun technique that will yield a great card! Choose a line design image, and stamp it twice in black on white cardstock. Set aside one, and with the other, choose a focal point you want to concentrate on. Trim away all but that focal point, and paint or color it as your creative spirit dictates. Mount your colored image directly over the coordinating area on the first, and still complete, black and white image.
Mount the entire image on coordinating cardstock and then onto a card front.
For an excellent illustration of this technique, visit the Stamper´s Mall at http://www.stampersmall.com/classes/spotlight_stamping.htm

Accordian Card

Take a piece of 8.5x11" cardstock and cut a strip (about 5" wide) down the length of the card. Fold this strip in half and then fold each half in half again. This will give you a booklike folded card. You can then decorate the cover and insides as desired.

Pop Up Cards

Pop up Cards

Visit my links section, by clicking above, where you will find a link to Templates by Donovan, as well as a link to Pop Up cards (which is the Fiskars site example). You´ll find several templates for creating popup cards there. Basically a pop-up card is created by cutting a "stand" into a card inner and then sticking an image to it so that it "stands" up when the card is opened.

Stationery sets - made with rollagraphs (side roll)

Take a piece of plain good quality stationery paper and lay a thick ruler (a stamp positioner works well for this) along the left vertical edge. Simply roll your rollagraph stamp down this side to create a simple and elegant piece of stationery. You can make a stack of these and give them away as presents, or you can make a stack and use them as stationery in your computer printer (this works well for those yearly christmas letters to friends and relatives).

3D Cards - what is a 3D card?

A 3D card is a card where some element/elements of the image are adhered to the card front with thick foam tape (like foamcore)so that they stand out in "relief" from the rest of the image.

Pearl Ex and UTEE.

You can use Pearl Ex when you are using UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Powder). Just sprinkle the Pearl Ex powder into the last layer of UTEE (or any layer you like - experiment!).

Scented Cards - scenting your own cards

Scent your finished cards for an extra-romantic touch. Wet a cotton ball with the scent of your choice and squeeze out as much as possible. Then, place it in the bottom of a large ziplock bag. Place your cards into the bag, making sure they will not come into contact with the cotton ball. Seal the bag for about a week before removing the cards. They will be wonderfully scented.

Embellishing Christmas Cards

Christmas cards are a great place to use all of those sparkly embellishments! Think about using glitter glue; glitter; foils; metallic leaf on those cards to brighten them up.

Basic Information on Stamping on Walls.

Stamping on walls is really very easy! You just need to choose a normal house paint (indoor and waterbased preferably) and then choose your stamps. A bold line stamp tends to work best for this.

The best way of inking up the stamps, is to lay some folded layers of thick paper towel into the bottom of an old icecream container or baking dish. Pour a small amount of paint (a very small amount) into the dish and let it be soaked up by the paper towels. You can then "pat" your stamp onto this "inkpad" to ink them up.

It is important to only have a light layer of paint on your stamp, so that you don´t get blobs and runs of paint on your wall. Have fun!

Thanksgiving(Autumn) Cards - embellishment suggestion

So you´re making a Thanksgiving or Autumn/Fall themed card? How about embellishing it with some straw? A scarecrow is going to look great with straw peeking out from under his hat. Pumpkins will look great sitting on a "bed" of straw.

Using Permanent Ink on Soap

You can decorate your soap! Stamp the image of your choice onto a piece of thin paper (tissue paper works well). Use a permanent ink to stamp the image. Colour it in if desired with permanent pens. Cut the image out of the paper and place onto the bar of soap. You can then use a light coating of clear craft sealer to seal the image to the soap.

Art Dolls

Art dolls are an exciting new medium, thanks to Somerset Studios and the Stamper´s Sampler! And, there are several ways to approach the idea. You can purchase a plain stuffed doll,