Flower Border Card

I saw a card the other day that inspired me. As usual I forgot about it until today, when I was in need of some inspiration. I worked out a way in which I could interpret it with the things at my disposal. This is the result.

I used my tried and trusted method to draw the flowers, but this time I used a stronger green. Art and Graphic 57 to be exact. I also kept the dark edge to the outside when I drew the flowers to give me a strong flower. I didn't go for deilcacy at all this time. I drew the bar coding edge freehand. Don't bother with a ruler as you will make it look dreadful. Go for the free and easy approach. The Flower border will cover any mistakes.

I drew the flowers one under the other on a strip of white card, edged it in pink and then stuck it to the base card.

I used one of the Small Pink Oval Tags and wrote Happy on it with the thin end of the calligraphy pen. I wrote birthday on the card itself.

I then tied a bow and added it to the tag.

It doesn't look much like the original, which was red and brown and a Valentine card but you get the picture.

Garland of Pink Flowers

This card is another one made with the Pink Calligraphy Pens from Kuretake, that I favour so much. Well, who can blame me as they are so versatile. This time, as you can see, I used them to make a garland. To do this I put dots where I wanted the flowers and I then drew the flowers in using the tried and tested method that I've shown you in earlier posts. I then drew in the stems and leaves with the Art and Graphic pen. I used 505 this time as I wanted a soft green result. The leaves were achieved by a series of touches with the soft end of the pen.

To get the stripe at the top I masked of a piece of card and then drew the lines on free hand with both the wide end and the narrow end of the pen. I wanted it to look like soft bar coding.

I then tied a bow with the bowshaper and left the bow on the ribbon. I stuck it to the card with double sided sticky tape and then trimmed the ribbon to fit the card.

I then stamped on the message. I've used this one a lot lately as it can be used for lots of occasions.

Dancing Daisies

I just made this card and when I looked at it I thought that, for all the world, the daisies looked as if they were dancing across the card. A name was born.



I cut a strip of white card which I backed with pink card and trimmed to fit the base card.

I used the pink calligraphy pens to draw the flowers freehand and then I put the leaves in afterwards. I then stuck it to the base card.

I tied a knot in the ribbon and cut it to fit the card and then stuck it down with double sided tape.

I printed the message above the dancing dasies.

Tiny Stamps to Make Lovely Cards

My latest stamps from I Brake for Stamps have really inspired me and, if time allows, I intend to make lots of cards from them. Here are another two cards from the Cartes Postal sheets. This sheet comes with large and small stamps that can be used together or just by themselves. I’ve made cards with two of the smaller stamps to show you what I mean. They may be tiny but they are so beautifully crafted that they can stand alone. See if you agree.

To make this card you will need:
1 White base card. Mine was an A5 card scored and folded in half.
The small Cartes Postal lilac stamp from the Cartes Postal sheet
A small piece of silver card
A small piece of white card to stamp the image
A small piece of lilac card to mount the stamped image
A sentiment stamp of your choice
Art and graphic pens in lilac, green, and pale brown
A H2O waterbrush
3D foam pads

This is what you do:
Colour the stamp directly with the chosen colours of Art and Graphic pens. I used brown on the edges and lilac and green for the flower and leaves.
I lightly went over the image with the water pen to soften it and give it a more watercoloured effect.
I then mounted it onto lilac card and silver card as shown which I trimmed to size.
I stuck it directly onto the card as shown and stamped the sentiment in place under the image. I rather like this wishing you sentiment as it allows you to put whatever you like inside the card.

Here's the second card that I made. Same principle as the one above but using ribbon to add emphasis.





Here's this fantastic new sheet in all its glory:

Don't you just love it!

The stamp that I used was the small one at the bottom of the sheet. Let you imagination run wild.

Anniversary Card

Now that the wedding season is with us we shouldn’t forget that the anniversaries that are also prolific. So to celebrate that special anniversary with humour I’ve made a lovely card that your friends and relatives will love to get.



For this card you will need:

1. 1 DL card in pale blue.
2. The loving couple stamp from our new Flaunt it sheet of unmounted rubber stamps.
3. 1 sheet of white card for stamping the image and the background paper.
4. Youth is a State of Mind Stamp from the Funny Ladies sheet of stamps.
5. Art and graphic pens from Kuretake in Pink, Skin Tone, Grey and Blue
6. Stazon in Stone Grey

What to do:
1. Use Stazon in Stone Grey to stamp the image on to a piece of white card and trim to size. Colour the image with the pink and blue pens and use a little water to thin the paint to give a paler colour where needed. Edge the card in blue.
2. Decorate a piece of card with the pink calligraphy from the Heart set that you have edged with the blue pen from the Art and graphic pens from Kuretake. Trim to leave a fairly wide border as seen in the example. Edge the card in blue as you did with the earlier card.
3. Stick to the base card and use 3d foam pads to stick the loving couple sheet to the card.
4. Now, use Stone Grey Stazon to stamp the Youth message and again edge in blue. Yes, lots of blue edging here I know but it helps to harmonise the Images.
5. Use 3d foam pads to stick to the card. Your card is finished.

Poppies for a bright card

I've been experimenting with the Art and Graphic pens from Kuretake and this is something that I've come up with. I was quite chuffed that it turned out so good that I've included it here.

To Make this card your will need:

1 A5 card blank

1 length of 9mm chiffon/organza ribbon in willow

Art and Graphic pens in Olive green, Red, and Black

H2O Detailer waterbrush

Sentiment stamp

Gift tag

Pencil

Foam pads

To start with I made a very feint sketch of where I wanted the poppies to be placed straight on the card.

I then used the red pen and the brush to paint them. I put the stems in with the green pen. I stamped the sentiment over the top of the flowers.

I then painted a poppy on the tag and used the willow ribbon to attach it to the card. I put foam pads under the tag to keep it in place and, as an added bonus, this also helped to keep the ribbon on the card.