Highdesert Stamper – Artistic Inkspirations

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I teach some classes on how to use up cards you may get in the mail from charities and other companies who always insist on sending what I call MASS made cards. They’re plain.. some have some designs, some not so much. But you can take a basic card of any kind and embellish it.  I saw where one gal had taken our SU brown  packing paper and made little gift bags with it.. I decided to try to make some paper flowers with the brown paper to see how their textured worked  with all the layers.

I tried stamping first and cutting next, and cutting first and stamping next. Either way works, but if you’re going to make a lot of flowers… the STAMPING the design FIRST works much more efficiently.  I use the BIGSHOT FUN FLOWERS die and some of the other flower dies to cut out the different layers. Then I layered them up and put one of the glimmer brads in the middle. The flower with the turquoise brad is one of the IN-COLOR BRADS.

Then I selected one of my generic cards and started playing with colors of the lace border punch, and ribbons.

This card had a black and cream design, so I used the black stamped flower for it.

I added the lacy border from Crumb Cake paper and the sentiment from WORD PLAY with a crumb cake (sponged) scallop oval punch mat. The ribbon is some of our 3/8″ taffeta ribbon, tied in a simple knot and dovetail cut.

Here’s my “RED” version: I did cut a few layers from regular cardstock to add some more color.

Here’s a blue version: This one needed the Bermuda Bay retired polka dot ribbon for the extra color.

So next time you get some generic cards, or want to use up some of those designer paper scraps (just cover the front of a plain card), or receive some “freebie cards” in the mail.. DECORATE them! If you don’t have any of the “brown packing paper” that comes in our SU BOXES…. HOLD a workshop and you’ll get it as a bonus in your order!!

I have some other versions of “recycling cards” which I will post later on.. I’ve taken a plain card and stamped and embellished. My friends asked how I made it.. so I will share with you at a later time.

Get the FUN FLOWERS DIE HERE, as well as the Word Play stamp set, and any RIBBONS you’d like to use on your cards.

Visit my ETSY store for handmade gifts, CALENDARS, BOOKS, and cards.

I have REDUCED the price of some Halloween ITEMS on my WEBSTORE!! Check them now… brass stencil plates!

Thanks for stopping by… I hope I have inspired you in some way to create something beautiful for yourself and friends.

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I’m working on a project for a swap I am in….. can you tell what kind of leaves these are?

more…..

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This week for Creative-Sketches challenge, there is a SKETCH and a TECHNIQUE. We have to use Laces and Flowers in our sketch. Here is the sketch I had to work from

FIRST: I have to apologize for the clarity of the picture…all the batteries in my camera were dead and I had to take pics with my phone.. so they’re not as clear as I’d like..and I couldn’t’ get as close up of a shot as I would have liked.

I had a hard time getting things to fit….ever have that problem?? So I figured… well.. the flowers could be that last “layer” in the middle.. even though there are flowers in the Paisley Print paper I used for the background and side panel. I also had a piece of white lace trim made from the Pinking hearts border punch. I layered and layered and layered flower petals and had to use some leaves from the Gently Falling new stamp set. I hope you enjoy my version of the sketch!

Here is a close of of the layers of flower petals and leaves…and there’s more lace around the center design. I added a button from the Neutrals set for the center on top of a yellow flower punched out with the Triple Flower punch. The leaves are from the Gently falling stamp set.  Sentiment from Happiest of Birthdays hostess greeting set. This is probably a few more layers than you would normally make for a standard birthday card.. but for someone special… it fills the bill!!

I hope you enjoyed my card.. be sure to check out the other beautiful creations and be sure to leave a comment! You can create your own version using the sketch and post it on the main blog at www.creative-sketches.com