Stamped Candles

Transform simple white pillar candles with rubber stamps and tissue paper.

Holly Candle:

• Stamp Holly Tree on a band of white tissue paper with black ink and heat emboss with clear powder.  Color the image and trim along the top portion of the band.
• Wrap the stamped band around the candle with a band of wax paper on top.
• Gently apply heat with a heat tool.  The tissue paper will absorb the heated wax and become translucent.
• Remove the wax paper.

Gold Tree Candle:

• Stamp Tree with Delicata Golden Glitz ink on white tissue paper and heat emboss with gold powder.
• Trim closely around the image.
• Lay the trimmed image on the candle and place a piece of wax paper on top.
• Gently apply heat until the tissue paper absorbs the heated wax and becomes translucent.  Peel off the wax paper.

All this week the Penny Black blog will be featuring "Anything-But-A-Card" projects.  If you have a moment pop in.  You'll be inspired by all the unique ideas.

I will be back on Friday to share a stamped piece of jewelry!

Smiles,
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Holly Tree 40-087, Winter Wonders 30-087

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Delicata Golden Glitz, Clear Embossing Powder, Gold Embossing Powder, Memento Markers (Cottage Ivy #701, Bamboo Leaves #707, Rhubarb Stalk #301, Rich Cocoa #800)

White Tissue Paper

Wax Paper

A Polar Bear Hello & CardMaker Thank You

I enjoy my Christmas/holiday stamps so much that I look for ways to use them throughout the year. 

A little bit of altering to Bear Hug and this cheery hello was created to tuck away for a snowy winter day.

Here is the original stamp image:

For my design, I simply omitted inking Mimi before stamping.

I drew a separate signpost which I then stamped with “hello friend” in black ink.  Layering different elements with dimensional foam added depth and gave me the chance to do one of my favorite things – fussy cut!

The glittery orange background is Summer Sun cardstock lightly distressed with Pumpkin Spice VersaMagic.  After adding the highlights, Champagne Dazzle VersaMark Ink was pounced directly from the ink pad onto the cardstock.  Sparkle embossing powder was sprinkled on top and heat set.  This is an easy and inexpensive way to make your own specialty cardstocks to match any project! 

Circle Nestabilities were used for the card base.  The bottom of the card was trimmed to emphasize the linear horizontal snow line and give the upper portion the added sense of a full, warm sun.  The circular die-cut on the back of the card was scored 1 inch from the top before the decorative orange die-cut was adhered.  This eliminated having a small folded crease at the top of the card.

A special thank you to CardMaker Magazine for featuring me "here" on their blog today as a part of their "Meet the Designer" series.

Thank you for all the smiles you share with me!  

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Bear Hug 4188K, Hello Friend 30-069

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Summer Sun 17-003

Copic Markers

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Pumpkin Spice VersaMagic, Champagne Dazzle VersaMark, Clear Embossing Powder, Sparkle Embossing Powder, Sponge Daubers

Spellbinders: Standard Circle Nestabilities

Dimensional Foam: 3M Scotch and 3-D Dots by EK Success

Christmas Tree Joy

A quick card using Penny Black’s cute holiday tree from “Around Christmas”.

In a previous post “here” I eliminated the tree from the design, while today’s card features the tree as the main focal point.

How to make this card:

Step 1: Create a 3 x 4 ¼-inch top-folded card.

Step 2: Score two horizontal lines on the bottom of a 2 5/8 x 4 7/8-inch piece of white cardstock and mat with a 2 ¾ x 4-inch piece of brown cardstock.  Attach the matted layers to the front of the card with dimensional foam.

Step 3:  Stamp Around Christmas in black pigment ink and heat emboss with clear powder.  Color the tree and trim.

Step 4:  Create a banner from white cardstock and stamp the sentiment in black ink.  Attach behind the star.

Step 5:  Using dimensional foam, attach the tree to the front of the prepared card and accent with gems and glitter.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Around Christmas 40-079, Christmas Express 30-080

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Sticks & Stones 02-003

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Copic Markers

Mark Richards: Sticker Elements

Ranger: X-Mas Red Stickles, Star Dust Stickles

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder

Helpful or Mischievous?

Whether you are just beginning to stamp or may want to revisit some favorite basics, today’s card demonstrates how you can create a fun (and fast) greeting. 



Is this feline helping hang the ornament or mischievously playful?



Here are 4 basic steps that make a great “recipe” for creating a fast card as well as a few optional features that were sprinkled in for today’s version. 

Step 1: Create a 3 x 5 top-folded card from spring meadow cardstock.

Optional Feature:  Add a 1 ¼ x 3-inch piece of rose garden cardstock and a 1/8 x 3-inch piece of white cardstock to the top of the card as shown.

Step 2:  Stamp the sentiment and cat in black ink on a 2 ¾ x 4 ¾-inch piece of white cardstock and color.

Optional Feature:  Stamp the cat on watercolor paper and heat emboss the black pigment ink with clear powder.  Water color the image and trim.  Do not worry about trimming around the whiskers.  Using the previous stamped image for alignment, adhere the trimmed image directly on top.

Optional Feature II: Create a dot border with a fine-tipped black pen.

Step 3: Adhere the stamped artwork on the white cardstock to the front of the prepared card with double-sided adhesive.

Optional Feature:  Adhere the artwork using dimensional foam.

Step 4:  Tie a piece of ribbon in a small bow, add a piece of string and attach to the front of the card.

Simple, fast and fun!

Have a great day,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Let It Snow 30-086, Christmas Friends 30-084

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Rose Garden 14-003, Spring Meadow 06-002

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Canson: Watercolor Paper

Offray: Red Swiss Dot Grosgrain Ribbon

Tombow: Dual Brush Pens – 026, 055, 133, 173, 195, 703, 761, 899, 947, 977, 985, N45, N75

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine Ink, Clear Embossing Powder

A Simple Note

A quick little card combining Penny Black’s Caroling Penguins and Spellbinder’s Flower Pot die cuts.



Card Size:  1 5/8 x 2 5/8



A metronome was the inspiration to invert the flower pot die-cut to create a stage.  The background was stamped with Music Background in Sugarcane VersaMagic and the same ink was used to add a bit of distressing.  The smaller lip of the pot was trimmed from a second die-cut for the elevated sentiment base.  A third die-cut was scored ½ inch from the top and attached to the back of the artwork to form a tent card.

In addition to the elevated stage, added dimension was created by layering another beak and the hands holding the sheet music.

Enjoy the fun and exciting announcements "here" on the Penny Black blog today.

Thank you for visiting, 
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Caroling Penguins 2528K, Music Background 2025M, Tiny Wishes 30-026

Copic Markers

Spellbinders: Flower Pots Nestabilities (S5-060)

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Sugarcane VersaMagic, Clear Embossing Powder

Elegant Joy (With Ironing)

The resist technique used on today’s card involves ironing!

The ornate pattern was stamped on watercolor paper with VersaMark Watermark Ink and heat embossed with clear powder.  Pear Tart and Rhubarb Stalk Fireworks Craft Inks were randomly sprayed over the design.  The piece was then placed between two clean sheets of Mead newsprint paper.  A hot iron was used to apply heat and melt the embossed powder into the newsprint paper.  The newsprint was adjusted to a clean section and the process was repeated.  When all the embossing had been melted/lifted from the piece, the white cardstock that is revealed is in the form of the stamped design.

The Fireworks Craft Ink Spray has sparkly and shimmery appearance.  The metallic border is a punched border from heavy-weight cardstock that was pounced with Delicata Golden Glitz Ink.

The soft background is Poinsettia Script stamped in Wheat VersaMagic Ink on white cardstock.  The greeting was stamped on a circle die cut and layered onto a ribbon tag die cut.  To keep the project balanced, dimensional foam was used to elevate these pieces, but kept at a lower level than the elevated pieces at the top.     

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend.

Elizabeth 

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: A Merry Little Christmas 4209K, Poinsettia Script 40-085, Christmas Treasures 30-085

Fiskars:  Upper Crest Border Punch 

Lasting Impressions: White Matte Finish Brads

Spellbinders: Ribbon Tag Trio Three S4-323, Standard Circles Large Nestabilities S4-114

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Wheat VersaMagic, Delicata Golden Glitz Ink, Pear Tart Fireworks, Rhubarb Stalk Fireworks, Clear Embossing Powder

Focus on Elegance

All this week Penny Black will be showcasing elegant designs and I am excited to share my interpretation as I host their blog today.   

  

To begin, a small piece of ivory cardstock was edged with Delicata Golden Glitz ink, wrapped with ribbon, embellished with brads and attached to the card base with dimensional foam.

Next, the holly and berries were stamped on white cardstock with VersaMark Watermark ink and heat embossed in gold.  The image was trimmed with a slight white border which was then colored with green Copics.  The leaves and berries were glittered and the piece was set aside to dry.

To finish, the trimmed embellishment was nestled between a filigree foil paper die-cut distressed with Shabby Shutters and a white cardstock die-cut stamped with the sentiment. 

TIP:  When working with light-weight decorative papers, I like to reinforce them with another die-cut from white cardstock.  This adds thickness and it is easier to elevate with dimensional foam.

Have a wonderful and elegant day,
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: A Merry Little Christmas 4209K, Winter Wonders 30-087

Penny Black Paper: Filigree Foil White 60-006

Copic Markers: G07, G28

Ranger: Golden Rod Stickles, X-Mas Red Stickles, Shabby Shutters Distress Ink

Spellbinders: Curved Rectangles Mega Nestabilities S5-006, Labels Eighteen S4-310

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, VersaMark Watermark Ink, Gold Embossing Powder

A Layered Christmas Tree

This is a fun way to use solid stamp images.....

Here are some additional pictures that you can use as reference when reading the detailed instructions provided at the end of this post......

Stamping the tree with VersaMark Watermark Ink on coordinating hues of green cardstock and embossing with clear powder creates great segments that can be trimmed and layered.

Here you can see the segments layered on the base image.

An altered button.

Background stamping adds a decorative touch to
the card base and die-cut label.

Instructions:

• Create a 2 ½ x 4 ½-inch card from rose garden cardstock.  Apply crimson red ink to the front of the card.  Stamp …A Merry Little Christmas across the front in crimson red.
• Distress the edges of the die cut with Sugarcane VersaMagic.  Stamp snowflakes on the outer edge first with Sugarcane VersaMagic then again with Sahara Sand VersaMagic.
• Stamp the base of the tree and the sentiment in black and heat emboss with clear powder. Attach the stamped die cut to the front of the prepared card with dimensional foam.
• Stamp the tree on rose garden, light spring meadow, medium spring meadow and dark spring meadow with VersaMark Watermark ink and heat emboss with clear powder. Trim the full red tree and the segments of the green trees. (Tip: Use different sized hole punches to create the ornamental circles on two of the green segments.)
• Adhere various shades of the trimmed green tree segments to the red base.  Add a gem to the top of the tree.
• Attach the tree to the front of the card with decorative foam.  Accent with red glitter.
• Alter a red button by applying VersaMark Watermark ink to the top and heat embossing with Aged Mahogany Distress Powder.  Distress a portion of white ribbon with Sugarcane VersaMagic ink and thread through the button holes. Scuff the edges of the button with a white gel pen.  Attach to the card. 

The great part of this project is that you will have extra tree segments from which you can make more cards!

Your visits to my studio are greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much!  

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: …A Merry Little Christmas 4209K, Let It Snow 30-086, Christmas With Mimi 30-079

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Rose Garden 14-003, Spring Meadow 06-001, 06-002, 06-003

Tsukineko: Crimson Red VersaFine, Onyx Black VersaFine, VersaMark Watermark Ink, Sugarcane VersaMagic, Sahara Sand VersaMagic, Sponge Dauber

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Kaiser Craft: Yellow Gem

Ranger: X-Mas Red Stickles, Aged Mahogany Distress Embossing Powder

Sakura: White Gel Pen

Sizzix:  Tim Holtz Alterations Mover & Shapers / Bigz Die

Offray: 1/8” Wide White Satin Ribbon

Red Button

Flip It

Today’s stamped image was flipped to change the movement of Little Elf Finn from a swinging Christmas design to a floating birthday greeting.

This is the original image I started with..... 

Little Elf Finn (40-088)

The ornament was flipped to create a balloon and the hat was redesigned with a hand drawn feather.

The sky background is a Labels Seventeen die-cut from white cardstock that was left in the Nestability and masked with clouds.  Bahama Blue Memento ink was then applied on top.  Once the masks were removed, light gray shading was added to the clouds.  

The base of the card is a slightly larger Labels Seventeen die-cut from Clear Skies cardstock that was trimmed on the top and sides.  Twinkling was stamped with VersaMark Watermark ink and heat embossed with white powder.  To soft the starkness of the white embossing, it was distressed with Night Sky VersaMagic ink.

Have fun "flipping" your stamps,

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Little Elf Finn 40-088, Twinkling 40-083, Happy Birthday 2928C

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Clear Skies 10-003

Copic Markers

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, VersaMark Watermark Ink, Bahama Blue Memento, Night Sky VersaMagic, Clear Embossing Powder, White Embossing Powder

Other: Dimensional Foam (3M Scotch & EK Success)

Holiday Gift Card Holder

Taking your favorite holiday greeting card and transforming it into a gift card holder is as easy as adding a tiny pocket created with a folded die-cut!



Front View



Inside View

The main panel of the card was stamped with Adorned Tree in Spanish Moss ink and heat embossed with clear powder.  A circular mask was positioned to the right and Vintage Photo Distress ink was applied to the surface.  After removing the mask, the sentiment was stamped. 

The stamped artwork was then layered on a white piece of cardstock to add thickness and provide a thin reveal on the left edge.  Hand-pierced holes in alternating increments were created along the edge to provide a stitching grid for the zigzag hand sewing.  Once the green and red glitter glues dried, the panel was attached to the front of the card with dimensional foam.

To eliminate trimming by hand, the rounded curves on the card were achieved by placing one end of the cardstock under the cutting tooth of the die and leaving the opposite end positioned over the top.  The paper/die was then run through the die-cutting machine only slightly past the curved end to be trimmed then reversed out.  If the image is processed too far into the machine, a crease will be embossed on the opposite end.

The inside pocket is a Reverse Wonky Rectangle die-cut from red cardstock that was folded lengthwise.  The pattern was stamped in Crimson Red.  The same ink and a dauber were used for additional distressing.

Working in a small space did not allow the pocket to be large enough to seal and secure the sides with glue.  This was remedied by wrapping the stamped ribbon band around the sides and gluing it to the inside back.

Faux stitching with a black pen and stamped “to” and “from” sentiments were the final touches before tucking a little surprise into the pocket.

Be sure to visit the Penny Black Blog all this week for more gift card holder ideas created by the design team.

Thank you for visiting,
Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Adorned Tree 4201K, A Merry Little Christmas 4209K, A Merry Christmas 2764F, Air Mail 30-072, Joy of Winter 20-013

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Rose Garden 14-003

American Crafts: Red Sheer Ribbon

Copic Markers: G07, G09, G28
Judi Kins: Eclipse Tape

Ranger: Vintage Photo Distress Ink, Lime Green Stickles, X-Mas Red Stickles

Sakura: Black Micron Pen

Spellbinders: Reverse Wonky Rectangles, Standard Circles

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Crimson Red VersaFine, Spanish Moss VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder, Sponge Dauber

Other: Heavy-Weight Thread, Dimensional Foam

Personalized Thanksgiving Greetings

These little tent cards were created as place settings for the holiday table.  Since some of our relatives will be traveling during this time of gratitude, a few will be mailed as greeting cards.

Instructions:

• Create a 2 x 3 top-folded card from white cardstock.  (Optional: Personalize with a computer generated font.) Distress the edges with Antique Linen and Vintage Photo.
• Stamp branches with Vintage Photo on a 1 ¾ x 2 ¼-inch piece of tan cardstock.
• Stamp the sentiment on a 3/8 x 3-inch piece of white cardstock with black ink and heat emboss with clear powder.  Distress the edges then wrap around the lower portion of the stamped tan cardstock.  Secure the ends on the back and slip a small piece of dimensional foam under the band.  (Tip: I find that inserting the dimensional foam after the sentiment has been secured allows me to obtain a tight crisp fold around the edges when wrapping the band.)
• Using dimensional foam, attach the tan cardstock piece created in the previous step to the front of the prepared card.
• Stamp the bird on watercolor paper with black ink and heat emboss with clear powder.  Water color the image and then trim.  Attach to the card with dimensional foam.

May each and every one of your days be blessed with gratitude and happiness.

Elizabeth

Supplies:

Penny Black Stamps: Berry Red, Snow White 4202L, Happy Thanksgiving 40-072, In A Pear Tree 30-035

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Sticks & Stones 02-002

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

Ranger: Antique Linen Distress Ink, Vintage Photo Distress Ink

Tombow Markers: 055, 856, 899, 985

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Clear Embossing Powder

Two from One

While working with Little Elf Present in my previous post, I created two more cards using elements within the image.

One of the many reasons I enjoy stamping is that there is so much you can do with just one stamp!



Penny Black's Little Elf Present (40-090) was used for the elements in today's cards.



The little present is perfect for a birthday greeting.  The decorative white die-cut was left in the die and Pixie Dust ink was shaded onto the piece and then the star bursts were stamped.

I stacked two presents with dimensional foam to create the focal embellishment.   The swirls on the gift were accented with a sparkle gel pen. 

For the second card, I used the elf's fanciful legs.

A portion of a die-cut was fashioned to resemble a skirt.  The pattern was stamped with Spanish Moss ink and accented with black dots.  There was a bit of cosmetic surgery to lengthen the legs which I did freehand.

I made this custom coordinating box envelope with an acetate window for the card.

To personalized the piece, I will add the recipient's name to the "skirt" lid with die-cut letters and stamp a sentiment under the magnetic flap.

I hope you enjoy finding hidden treasures in your stamp images!

Happy Friday,
Elizabeth

Supplies: 

Penny Black Stamps: Little Elf Present 40-090, Sentiments 30-025, Warm Wishes 40-074, Hugs 30-020

Penny Black Mix & Match Cardstock: Coral Reef 15-003, Blue Lagoon 09-002, Spring Meadow 06-001

3M Scotch: Dimensional Foam Tape

American Crafts: Ribbon

Avery: Jewelry Tag

Copic Markers

Spellbinders: Labels Seventeen, Labels Eighteen

Tsukineko: Onyx Black VersaFine, Spanish Moss VersaFine, Pixie Dust VersaMagic, Clear Embossing Powder