Fast Flutters

Sometimes you just don't have a lot of extra time to make a card for that someone special in your life. But don't worry, I can help! I have a quick and simple card for you today, that takes just a few ingredients and about 30 minutes of your time. 

I stamped the butterflies in Clear Pigment Ink, and then heat embossed the images using Black Licorice Embossing Powder. I used PanPastels to color the butterflies, and then cut them out with the coordinating die. I curved their wings with the Crease Tool to make them pop up, and attached them to the paper with Mini Glue Dots, only at the body. Then I placed a double layer of Small Journey Foam Squares under each wing. I used an embossing folder to add some interest to the background layer. A bit of Sparkle Silk to add shimmer to the wings, a heat embossed sentiment, and a splatter of Black Licorice Silk for those finishing touches.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Small Things
• Dies: Small Things, Love Letter Embossing Folder
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice, Rich Coral
• Coloring Tools: PanPastels, Sparkle Silk, Black Licorice Embossing Powder, Black Licorice Silk
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front. 

Technique: Embossing in Any Color

Whether you're a seasoned crafter or you're just starting out, sometimes you don't have the exact color you need for your design. Today, we'll look at a simple way to expand your arsenal of embossing colors.

As seen in my Square Affair post, I've masked off a section of the card with low-tack tape, and then used stamped images, embossed images, and PanPastels to create a unique and interesting background.

Did you know you can heat emboss an image in virtually any color? Simply press your stamp into Clear Pigment Ink, and then into the colored ink of your choice, then stamp on the paper and apply clear embossing powder and heat set. Viola! Custom embossing!

For this card, I used the "rock-n-roll" technique on both the sentiment and the butterfly, to get a two-tone image. To achieve this, stamp in your clear ink first, then in your lightest color, then roll the very edges of your stamp into a darker color, leaving the center only coated in the light ink.

Next, stamp the image over the top of the PanPastel strip, and sprinkle on clear embossing powder, then heat seat with the Journey Heat Tool. Follow the same steps for the sentiment. I also heat embossed some butterflies in white to add interest. 

Note: Test this technique on scratch paper first, as some brands and some colors of ink can change color when mixed with clear ink.

Finally, don't forget to pretty up the inside and envelope. Whoever receives your wonderful creation will really appreciate your attention to detail.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Small Things, Postage Stamp ATS, Bold Wings (sentiment)
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink, Sweet Berry, Pretty Pansy
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Pretty Pansy
• Coloring Tools: Whip Cream Embossing Powder, Clear Embossing Powder
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Scotch Painter's Tape for Delicate Surfaces

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front. 

Some of that sass!

I used the three spunky gals from the Stay Sassy stamp set, to make a few cards and a treat bag topper.. I just love their modern fashion sense and the phrases that really show their personalities. Color them any way you like to match you or your recipient!

The second card uses Turbo Teal and Sour Lemon Splashes to make a super quick background. Just one spray of each and you've got a bright, cheerful splattering of highly pigmented paint. Don't forget to use a little Journey Glaze to make those sunglasses shine. 

The last girl, who I'm pretty sure likes candy, is the treat topper for the little candy bags I made for my customers at Stamp Camp. I placed her on our super versatile Bread Tag die and then just slid it around the top of the bag. So easy!

Stay Sassy is only available until June 30, 2018, so contact me if you're interested in purchasing these three fun ladies for your next stamping project.

Supplies List

• Stamps: Stay Sassy, Deco Dots ATS
• Dies: Journey Rectangles, Journey Squares, Bread Tag, 
• Inks: Black Licorice True Fusion Ink, Clear Pigment Ink, Cosmic Grape
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice, Sunday Adventure Prints
• Coloring Tools: Journey Color Burst Pencils, Sparkle Silk, Whip Cream Embossing Powder, Black Licorice Embossing Powder, Turbo Teal Color Splash, Sour Lemon Color Splash
• Embellishments: Candy Dots, Journey Girl Striped Ribbon
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots, Journey Glaze
• Tools: Details Pro Shears
  
  To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front. 

Mirror, Mirror

I love quick, simple cards for those days when you need to send handmade kindness but you have just a few minutes available to create something spectacular. It can be done! I promise. Here, I've backed a sheet of Whip Cream cardstock with a White Liner (sticky paper) sheet, and then die cut it with the Layered Leaves die. This makes the back of the die cut piece all sticky on the back, so you can attach it right to the Mirror Gold paper without using any additional adhesive.

Next, I layered a strip of vellum, and then a butterfly from the Small Things stamp set, heat embossed in Black Licorice and then colored quickly with PanPastels. (Tip: Our Journey Craft Glue dries clear underneath vellum!) Finally, I layered black cardstock onto a White Liner sheet, and die cut 3 of the "congrats" sentiment from the Designer Frames die set. I peeled off the sticker backing paper and layered the 3 sentiments on top of each other. Then I coated the sentiment with Journey Glaze to make it thick and shiny.

In less than 30 minutes (minus drying time) this card is finished!

Supplies List

• Stamps: Small Things
• Dies: Small Things, Designer Frames, Layered Leaves
• Inks: Clear Pigment Ink
• Cardstock: Whip Cream, Black Licorice, Mirror Gold, Journey Vellum
• Coloring Tools: PanPastels, Black Licorice Embossing Powder
• Adhesives: Journey Craft Glue, Journey Foam Squares, Mini Glue Dots, Journey Glaze, White Liner Sheets

To purchase these supplies and so much more, visit my FSJ store front.