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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Quick and Easy Wintertime Cards…


Hello Dear Stamper Friends:

Today, I am sharing with you some very simple cards.
Make several of them and have handy for whenever you need to send a quick wintertime note, thank you message for gift received, for parties that you were invited to or for anything else that you are grateful for!


Suggestion:
First, Use what you have at home;
sometimes we get stuck with one particular stamp or product … be flexible, use similar stamps, colors, papers…remember blogs are for getting inspiration not for “copying” exactly what we see…otherwise it will be so boring… use whatever you like, have in hand, retired or not, current, old, new…doesn’t matter… the key is that it has to please you

Second, going back to the title of this particular post: keep it simple.  
 It is always (for most of us) quite a challenge to make cards with only one layer or two layers….we card makers tend to put a lot of layers…so for once in a while let’s try to make it easy, quick and pretty! Sometimes: less is better! Right?
In this other post http://stampingwithbibiana.blogspot.com/2012/12/4-quick-and-easy-steps-to-make.html I mentioned how to do Quick and easy cards…that particular card required more steps but it carries the same idea…

Tip: Great places to get inspiration from are store bought cards, they usually are only one layer…browse “Hallmark”, “Papyrus”, “Paper Source”… all these wonderful specialty card stores.

You can achieve this almost “one layer” look with the following techniques: stamps and inks, embossing folders and/or punches/dies.

HOW TO: using only stamps and inks.
Use several color inks (to give interest) Or Use embossing powders too
Use different stamps (for corners, backgrounds, focal points etc…)
- In my sample, I only stamped with one color ink: “Colorbox, Platinum”, and use two stamps, add some dots with gold leaf pen and voila!
 Very simple but quite elegant!


TIP: use dark color cardstock; the gold, silver inks or embossing powders will pop more!
Supplies: see below 
stamps: Penny Black “Winter Scroll”, Stampin’Up! “Palabras Maravillosas” (retired)

 
HOW TO: using only embossing folders and inks.
Use several color inks (to give interest) Or Use embossing powders too in selective areas
Use different embossing folders (in corners, partial/selective using diffusers, or focal points etc…)
- In my sample, the embossed design is my focal point. I sponge the raised areas with 2 color inks and add chunks of glass glitter in certain places and that’s it!
 Very easy but quite pretty!

TIP: do not use any sentiment on the front! You can add later a sentiment for the occasion on the inside of the card
Supplies: see below
embossing folder: Cuttlebug “Holly”; Stampin’Up! Inks, gold glass glitter and daubers

 
HOW TO: using only punches and die cuts.
Use several punches in several color papers
Use different steel dies or die cutting machines (for sentiments, openings/windows, focal points etc…)
- In my sample, I use 2 snowflake punches and the “thanks” die in only one color and here it is!
 So fast but quite attractive!

TIP: use shiny good quality paper (you can not see it much in the photo). Play with contrasting colors that will make pop your die cuts!
Supplies: see below
punches: Martha Stewart “snowflakes”; dies: Memory Box “script thanks”

HOW TO: using only die cuts; stamps and inks.
Use several color inks (to give interest) Or Use embossing powders too
Use different stamps (for corners, backgrounds, focal points etc…)
Use die cuts as your main focal point
- In my sample, I stamped the snowflakes in pale blue, and the sentiment in baby pink place the die cut in the center and “listo”!
A Quick and Easy Wintertime Card!

TIP: don’t be afraid to cover some parts of the stamped image with the die cut, and use non-traditional colors for winter!
Supplies: see below 
Die: Tim Holtz “reindeer flight”; stamps: Impress “snowfall”, Stampin’Up! “Perfectly Penned"

Ok, I hope you have some inspiration and start making some quick and easy cards! 
I would love to see your cards and if you do! Do not hesitate to leave a me a link here...
I love as well reading your comments and...I am very open to new ideas or suggestions...
if you would like to see something feature here let me know and I will try my best...
LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS! I read them and I will reply ...
next time I will be starting with valentine cards and ideas...see you soon,

2 comments:

  1. Darn it, I made a comment here the other day but it didn't post - maybe because I didn't do the security feature? I didn't see it. Anyway, I love how you shared the versatility of these supplies - it is nice to use what we have! I am particularly crazy about the holly with the touch of glitter - you know I love glitter! They are all special, and I can't wait to see what you have planned next. Hugs!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello! I am visiting your blog for the first time after my blogging friend, Maureen, posted the pretty card she made for you. So far, I love what I see - your cards are beautiful! I can't seem to figure out how to "follow" your blog; but would like to do so. Help?!

    I like your philosophy of using what we have; so much of blogland is consumed with promoting certain companies or products. I definitely have lots of stuff that is getting neglected because of that mindset. Thank you for giving me permission to rectify that!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for visiting my blog!...AND Thank you for taking the time to comment on my post today...It keeps me motivated!
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, I will be more than happy to answer them.
THANKS again, Bibiana