A Couple of Cards to Make...

Another post with handmade cards....

I tend to create designs that use paper scraps.

I keep my paper scraps in a couple of clear plastic shoe boxes.

Anything that does not get used in a card making session goes into the boxes when I clean up.

This means the next time I make cards, new items get paired together.

The first card today starts with a printed card blank.

I usually pick those up on sale or clearance.

They save a step of adhering a printed background.

I added an embossed red scrap.

I punched several flowers from tissue paper and crumpled them up.

Then I smoothed them out, layered them and glued them in place with a great big rhinestone for the center.

I stamped my greeting on a scrap of white cardstock.

I love the look of a little banner so I trimmed out a v of paper from the left side.

Pop dots are my best friend when card making.

I added the banner to the card with a couple to add dimension.

To finish it off, I glued another punched flower and small rhinestone to the greeting.

You can do any occasion or theme with the basic design.

Often if I am making cards, I will do a variety with the same format.

It saves time once I get going.

The next card uses little paper scraps to make a sweet banner.

Add a blue background a little smaller than your card.

Freehand cut a cloud shape from white card stock.

Cut it in half (It will do 2 cards).

Glue the half cloud to the top of the card and stamp the greeting of your choice.

Clip little triangles from paper scraps.

Glue them in an arc.

Cut a piece of cotton twine and tie a bow on each end.

The last card today uses a few die cuts.

I die cut a tree and embossed it first.

Then I punched a few circles and embossed them.

I tore a piece of green paper that was the same width as the card for grass.

Then I just glued them all together.

I hope you saw something you can use.

Sometimes the simplest thing can inspire me:texture, patterns, shapes, color combinations....

Thanks for stopping by....

Sweet Halloween Tags

Remember not too long ago, I shared a simple tutorial on stained tags.

You can find it here.

You can do the same thing to create colored tags  by just substituting RIT Dye for the coffee and cinnamon.

An even simpler way to dye small batches of things, is to mix your dye and water in a large Ziploc bag.

Just add you tags/lace, fabric and paper right to the dye in the bag.

Squish it around a bit.

You may want to leave it in the zipped up bag to intensify the color.

Then remove the tags and let them dry like before.

I dyed some tags orange for fall.

I ran them through the Sizzix Big Shot with some embossing folders.

Then I went crazy giving them a sweet Halloween makeover.

You can see the workbench was covered with goodies...buttons, rossettes, stickers, dyed cheesecloth, lace, paper bits, vintage haloween images and halloween stickers...

I usually start by sewing paper scraps or images to the tags first.

I added some lace sewn to some as well.

Then I start gluing goodies to get the look I want...

A lot of the images are printed on muslin from the Graphics Fairy.

These will be perfect tied to pumpkins.

I just love tags...

Not sure why...

I just always have.

Maybe because they are more usable than a card.

I love a homemade card, but a tag I keep out long after I 
got it/made it....

I stamped some spider webs on vellum as well...

And punched out some spiders from black card stock.

I always think of a tag as a mini canvas for artwork.

Hope you feel inspired to try it out as well...

Thanks for stopping by....