Thursday, July 3, 2025

Stamped Cards

Hello Friends,

Just a quick post today to share a set of cards using multiple stamps as well as the matching wafer dies from Simon Says Stamp.
I used a lot of stamps and dies for these two cards but I figured I had them, so why not? The first card features the Ornate Trims that I stamped and die cut using the new wafer dies. I colored the trims with Distress Ink before adding them to the card. The background was stamped with Oxide Ink and the butterfly was an extra from the small tray project (I colored more butterflies than I needed).
Card 2 was fun to make with the right side cut short so the Ornate Trim could really be seen as it hovers above the pink embossed paper. 
I love this loop 'd loop trim - it's so fun!
Blush Spellbinders Cardstock was embossed with the Dotted Diamond Embossing Folder from Simon Says Stamp, then cut to fit the card. It's only about 2" wide so you can still write something on the inside of the card.
I used the three stamp sets seen below
Perspective - sentiment on card 2
Flutter - card 1
Papillion - stamped background on card 1
Wildflower - card 2
Ornate Trims - both cards
And here are the matching dies that I used: Perspective, Flutter, Ornate Trims and Wildflowers.


I'll see you soon with more makes and ideas!
Now carry on,
paula

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Palette Blue Tag

Hello friends,

Today is the first of the month and that means a new Palette Collection tag. July is blue! 

I could not pass up the chance to use the 'Vintage' Palette print for this tag. I was recently in Paris at Museum Orsay and once again had the opportunity to see the Van Gogh painting, "Starry Night over the Rhone" that he painted in 1888. The 'Vintage' print fabric took me right back to standing in front of the painting! 

I hope you can see how art can influence us and how your thoughts can translate into ideas using that inspiration. 
To make the stars, I adhered half of a 6 x 6" Sizzix Adhesive sheet to the back of a piece of Kraft-stock Metallic (champagne) and used my Falling Stars die to cut a lot of small stars.
They pop out easily and you get a variety of sizes that are perfect for this tag.
I also added a ripped strip of the Palette Script fabric under the wheels of the car. It is rumpled and a bit bunched up in a few places. I wanted to represent that life's road is never easy, with lots of bumps in the road. Many times, even with our best efforts, things don't turn out as planned. On the other hand, there are so many good things that make this life wonderful! Seeing what is ahead and putting one step into the darkness so the light can appear before us. 
I love that she looks ready to take the first step in her journey!
I'll have a second Palette Blue make on the 15th (it's a no-sew project) so stay tuned for that.

Now carry on,
paula

Monday, June 30, 2025

Perspective Butterfly Panel

Hello friends,

I would call the project I am sharing today, experimental! At one point in the process something out of the ordinary happened and I just decided to just keep going. Nearing the end, a few ideas popped into my head that made everything come together (that made me happy) and made me feel like I had made the right decision to move forward. I hope you enjoy the process of my Perspective Butterfly Panel!
I thought I'd start by showing the ingredients to the background since they are not pictured in the step-out photos. Distress Paint and Distress Embossing Powder are the key ingredients to the transformation of the Embossed Watercolor Cardstock. I used the 3D embossing folder Entangled, that was released earlier this year, to make the impression. These A5 folders are large and fit perfectly on a small rectangle Etcetera Panel. With that being said, lets get started!
Paint the Watercolor Cardstock with Distress Paint. I painted in bands of color, but you can paint however you wish.
Once the paint was dry, I randomly pressed Distress Embossing Ink over the raised pattern (as best I could).  I sprinkled Embossing Glaze over the pattern with my fingers, then used an embossing tool to melt the glaze (it melts fast so watch it carefully).
Now a bit of crazy. I painted over the entire surface with Black Soot Distress Paint. You can see how some of the embossed portions resisted the black paint.
Then I laid a paper towel over the surface and pressed down to remove some of the paint.
And this is the result (that is wasn't expecting).
The paper towel pattern transferred to the surface. I have had that happen before, but the pattern usually disappears with ink...but with paint, it stayed. Hummm. Do I spray it with water? Wipe it all away and start over? What to do when things go awry...that's always the question!
Well, I decided to go with the flow and finish cleaning up the black paint from the edges then setting it aside. What you can't really distinguish in the photo is how much the Embossing Glaze added to the overall look. I'm glad I added that step so I could get more variance to the individual colors of paint.
Once dry, I sanded the edges of the panel and added a layer of Collage Medium to give it a finished look before moving on. 
I'm using Perspective Butterfly CMS213 stamp and the matching wafer die from Simon. The Perspective die set is so good because not only does it cut out the big butterfly, it also cuts the four sentiments. Truth be told, I could possibly cut out a butterfly, but I would never, ever attempt the sentiments. The dies really make this stamp set even more valuable to me.
I colored the butterfly with a Detailer Water Brush and Distress Inks. Then put it in a Splat Box and sprayed the butterfly with Resist Spray which gives it a beautifully shiny surface (photos do not show how good it looks in person).
Another thing that is hard to see in last photo is the die cut center of the butterfly. If you stamp the butterfly a second time, you can use the "body" die to cut out a second body and add it over the first. I used a THIN 3D foam square so it is raised for dimension.
Okay, the butterfly is done so lets work on the backing. Stay with me...this is a layering process!
I used two round transparencies from the Transparent Layers pack. The top transparency has been spun around so the flowers are at the top. You will also need about 10 standard 3D foam squares for the next steps.
Add five squares to the transparency (notice they are in a butterfly configuration?).
Now add the transparency with the daisies to the one with the flowers (now you have flowers all the way around the circle). Don't worry, the foam squares in between the transparencies will be covered up by the butterfly.
Add more 3D foam squares to the back of the butterfly, then adhere to the transparency sandwich.
So here is what it should look like from the side...
butterfly
3D foam squares
transparency
3D foam squares
transparency

Now cut a circle (I used a circle die I have had forever) from metallic cardstock. This time I used THIN foam squares to add the gold metallic circle. 
The metallic gives off a great glow under the transparent layers.
I used my clear Tonic Media ruler to find the center of the Etcetera Panel and placed my sentiment 1" from the bottom of the panel. This clear ruler comes in very handy!
I covered the sentiment with a post it note, then splattered white paint over the surface. That added a pop of bright color that I really like. Even though I was late to think to do this, it was worth it. Post it notes come in very handy in the craft room! 
Now add the layered circle to the center. Again, the white splatter of paint helped to tie everything together! 
I am happy I kept going on this piece because I love how it turned out in the end.  But look, it took all the way to the splatter part to make it work for me. And the transparency idea didn't come till I finished the butterfly and then let it sit for about 3 days. I don't know what made me think of it, but I love that layered transparent look! I hope you do too!
Now carry on!
paula

Friday, June 27, 2025

Flutter Tray

Hello friends,

I'm so excited to share another project featuring the new Simon Says Stamp Flutter Wafer Dies! These dies perfectly coordinate with the Flutter Stamp set from Stampers Anonymous, a stamp set I've loved and used for years. This new die set is an absolute game-changer, with ten individual dies that make stamping and cutting a breeze!
To start, I used Collage Medium to add the Backdrop paper from the neutral pack to the tray. Then I added the dark green Design Tape to the edge.
I also covered the back of the tray with paper from the same pack. Any would do, but I liked the papers with the colored squares, so I added a piece from the blues and one from the reds (you can see the seam across the center).
I gathered three Etcetera Tiles to use in the background. I also covered these with Backdrop paper.
Next, I cut two strips of chipboard 7/8" wide.
And laid them in the tray (no glue!)
These will serve as guides to make sure the three Etcetera Tiles are straight. I added four, 3D Foam Squares to the back of each tile so they would be raised from the tray.
Once you have the tiles in the tray, you can remove the chipboard strips.
I used the Flutter stamp (CMS294) to stamp the images, then cut them out with the Flutter Wafer Die from Simon Says Stamp. I LOVE this set simply because it just makes it EASY to use any or all of the butterflies!

Here is how I did it:
  1. Use Distress Ink to color directly on a Flutter stamp.
  2. Lightly mist with water.
  3. Stamp butterfly onto Watercolor Cardstock and dry with heat tool.
  4. Use a Detail Water Brush to color in each Butterfly with Distress Ink.
  5. Add a 3D Foam Square to the back of each butterfly.
The dies even cut out the antennas!
Add Remnant Rubs to three of the smallest labels from the Classic Labels Sticker Sheet. I used black labels but there are also red, pink and blue in the package to choose from.
Do the quick dip! 
Make a puddle of Gathered Twigs and water. Pick up the sticker with your index finger and dip it into the ink. Dry with a heat tool (I do that while the label is still stuck to my finger). Such a quick and easy technique that I use also every day!
Now add the butterflies and the tiny labels to the tray.
I also added the large Word Plaque with Screw Heads to the tray with 3D Foam Squares. White acrylic paint helps the words to stand out.

I hope this post shows that you can make something really special even using a just a small butterfly!

Now carry on,
Paula

please note: the Flutter butterfly wafer die used in todays project is at the bottom of the list