Masculine Birthday Card - Digital Image

March is a big month for birthdays in my family. I needed a few cards suitable for middle aged men and when I couldn't find what I wanted in my stamp sets I started searching for some digital images. I found these really cute 'Gus' images on the site 'Bugaboo Stamps'. They are just perfect for the kinds of cards I wanted to make. This is the first time that I have used digi images. I really liked the fact that I could instantly upload the images that I wanted.

I simply printed the images on my Neenah cardstock and coloured with my Copic markers. I paper pieced the robe by printing the image on printed paper, cutting out the robe and gluing it over the original image.

Supplies - Card size is 7" x 5"

Paper - Neenah Solar White (for image), White Daisy, Buttercup and Dutch Blue cardstock (CTMH), Sweet Home printed paper (CTMH)
Stamp Set - Happy Birthday (CTMH), Gus Digi Image (Bugaboo Stamps)
Ink - Black (CTMH), Copics
Accessories - Dutch Blue brads (CTMH)
Other - computer

Comments Not Working

I am not sure if anyone else is having difficulty commenting on my posts. I just tried to respond to a question that someone posted and was unable to post a response. If anyone else has this problem or knows how to fix it please let me know. If you can't post a comment here please email me, thank you.

Mojo Monday #179 - Card with Vintage Flat Ribbon Rose

Good morning everyone, hope you all had a wonderful long weekend. Here is the card I made for this week's Mojo Monday sketch.  The rose that I used on this card is called a vintage flat rose. I made it using 1" satin ribbon. I love the way it looks and the fact that it is a fairly flat flower so is suitable for layout pages. If you would like to learn how to make this flower I highly recommend a book call Ribbonwork The Complete Guide by Helen Gibb.

Supplies - Card size is 5" x 7"

Paper - Basic Grey Cappella print, light green cardstock (Bazzill), Chocolate and Colonial White cardstock (CTMH)

Stamps - For Every Occassion (D1187) (CTMH)

Ink - Chocolate (CTMH)

Accessories - 1" lt. brown satin ribbon, lace (local fabric store), 3/8" New England Ivy grosgrain ribbon, Chocolate waxy flax, Opaques Gems - Mocha (CTMH), metal flower, pearl sprays (unknown)

Other - Spellbinders - circle and scalloped circle, fine needle, thread

Super Easy Paper Flowers

I visited a website called Wild Orchid Crafts about a week ago and saw this great little video on how to make these little carnations with flat paper flowers. When I went back to link to it, the video was replaced with another one by a different designer. Unfortunately, I did not take note of the name the first time since I assumed that it was an in-house designer and that I would be able to get back to the video. If anyone knows who did this video please let me know so that I can give credit. With no link I decided to make my own little tutorial (see post below). Hope you enjoy!

WARNING: These flowers are highly addictive. I find that I want to glue all of my flowers together to make them.



Super Easy Paper Flowers

Waxy Flax Spirals

Bliss Card - Ribbon Flowers / Waxy Flax Spirals

I created this card for Close To My Heart's 'Make It From The Heart' contest. Unfortunately it did not win, but that also means that I can share it with you now.

I have used a number of different ribbon flowers on this card, a folded ribbon rose using 3/8" Colonial White grosgrain ribbon for the center and 5/8" (folded) Colonial White Satin edge organdy for the ruffle, some simple flat rosettes using 1/4" Cocoa satin ribbon and upright spiral rosettes using 1/4" Buttercup picot edge ribbon and waxy flax spirals. For complete instructions on how to make these ribbon flowers I highly recommend the book Ribbonwork The Complete Guide by Helen Gibbs.

I am posting a video on how to make the waxy flax spirals after this post.

For the ribbon at the top of the card I stitched together, with a zigzag stitch and sewing machine, two pieces of the 5/8" Colonial White satin edged organdy ribbon and then ruffled it using a gathering stitch. The pattern for the card is 'Fancy Five' from the How-to-book 'Originals' from Close To My Heart.

Supplies - all products are CTMH - card size is 5" x 7"

Paper - Bliss B&T, Chocolate and Vanilla Cream cardstock

Stamp Set - The Present D1436

Inks - Chocolate

Accessories - 3/8" Colonial White grosgrain ribbon, 5/8" Colonial White satin edge organdy, 1/4" Cocoa satin ribbon, 1/4" Buttercup picot edge ribbon,Crystal Blue Waxy Flax, Opaques Gems - Mocha, Twilight brads, liquid glass

Other - piercing tool kit, needle, thread, sewing machine, large toothpick, 3D foam

Mojo Monday #177 - Magnolia Birthday Card with Ribbon Violets

OK, so I am back in business. Picked up a new camera yesterday, couldn't wait until Wednesday. I used this weeks Mojo Monday sketch for this card and hand made ribbon flowers. You can find instruction for making these flowers in the book by Helen Gibb - Ribbonwork The Complete Guide.

I would also like to say that I am still working on perfecting my colouring with Copics. I tried a different cardstock this time. I usually use Neena Solar White, but I was having some problems with feathering and bleeding. So, for this card I used XPress It Blending cardstock. I didn't mind it, have to use it more to see if I like the blending. What paper do you find works best with Copics?

Supplies - Card size is 6" x 6"

Paper - Express It Blending CS, Wings B&T , Magic Moments B&T (retired), Pansy Purple and White Daisy cardstock (CTMH),
Stamp Sets - Tilda with Balloon (Magnolia), Happy Birthday C1257 (CTMH)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Black (CTMH), Copics
       Skin - E50, 51, 53, 93
       Hair - E41, 42, 43, 44
       Clothing - V000, 12, 15, 09, C1, C3
       Shoes - E42, 43, 44, 47
       Balloon - G21, 82, 94
       Grass - G82, 94, E43
       Shadow - W00, 3
Accessories - lace, 5/8" satin ribbon (fabric store), 3/8" Sweet leaf grosgrain ribbon (CTMH), Opaques Gems - Pearl (CTMH), 3D foam, needle, thread

Technical Difficulties

Today is a sad day - my camera died. It has been acting up for a while and finally gave up on me this morning when I was working on the instructions for the folded ribbon rose and leaves.

Since I live in a small town I won't be able to replace it until Wednesday when I can head into the city. So, I am afraid there will be a delay in the rest of my tutorials. Check back by the end of the week, I should have everything up and running by then.

New 'Wings' Paper from CTMH and Handmade Ribbon Flowers

Good morning all, I am anxiously awaiting a parcel filled with Copics and some new stamp sets that I was supposed to get yesterday but which was delayed by the storm. Can't wait to get my hands on my new things and play.

The new Idea Book from Close To My Heart went live on Tuesday and is valid until the end of July. Click on the icon to the right and check out some of the great new papers. This card uses some of the paper from the 'Wings' paper pack.

This card also features hand made ribbon flowers - one of my new favourite things. If you are interested in making flowers like these I highly recommend a book called Ribbonwork The Complete Guide by Helen Gibb.

(In the second photo the bitty pearls are missing since I took that picture before I added them, I wasn't able to take a new photo since my camera just wouldn't focus). The ribbon rose and pink posies were all handmade with CTMH ribbons.

Suppplies - All products are CTMH except where noted - Card size is 5" x 7"

Stamp Set - The Present D1346

Paper - Wings B&T, Black and White Daisy cardstock

Ink - Vineyard Berry

Accessories - 3/8" Blush Satin ribbon (retired), 1" Sweet Leaf grosgrain ribbon, 3/8" Sweet Leaf grosgrain ribbon, 3/8" white organdy ribbon, Pretty Pins (retired), Opaques Gems - Pearl

Other - Spellbinders Labels 10, 3D foam, fine needle, thread, Bow-Easy