A Moment in Time

Cardboard Creativity

Well, today I thought I'd share both a card with you and a little trick that I've been using for years to spice up my cards and gift packaging.

Here is the card, I apologize for the lighting, I like to photograph in natural light but today is just plain ugly outside and the light coming through the window is barely even light!!

I used the tree image from the newest stamp set from RBD Season's Best and inked it and then sponged the edges with a bit darker color.

I then took my glue pen and traced the swirls on the image and covered them in glitter. This tree was just begging for something inside those little swirls so I added three half pearls. I added a glittered star on top, a ribbon and then layered the sentiment. Voila!

I'm enjoying the shabby chic look quite a lot right now (I think because I am doing a lot of homemade wood Christmas gifts this year) and I think it's showing in my cards! 

If you notice the mat behind the focal image you may think it looks familiar.  What this is is what I think a simple solution for homemade "boutiquey" packaging and you can find it in almost EVERY house. What is it?  Well it's cardboard. Yup. Plain, old corrugated box. You'll need a piece the size of a cardfront, or if you're wrapping a gift, a piece that will cover the gift when wrapping.(I also think it looks smart when you wrap a gift in a solid color of paper and then only use a band of this cardboard around it.)

Now we need to separate the layers, all we want is the middle layer!

What I've found is that the easiest way to do this is to wet the cardboard thoroughly and then let it dry. This seems to make it come off in more of a single piece. If it is especially stubborn you may want to do this a few times.

Okay, I'll tell you how I discovered this little trick....   I just left some cardboard boxes out on my deck and it snowed on them a few times. haha I found that the boxes from outside were WAY easier to work with! Happy accident! YAY!

So, take your cardboard piece (a full panel if you are wrapping a gift) and peel off the top layer. If you want some thickness to your project you can stop there. If you want to wrap a gift or die cut this (like I have done above on my card), I recommend doing both sides. I think it adds a very warm and rustic touch, a bit homey and definitely crafty! I'll try to take a picture of some gifts I've wrapped (yes I know it's too early to have done this, but I have!!!) using this technique and post them for you in the next few days! :)

I think bars of soap would look great wrapped in a piece of this tied with raffia and a little welcome message in my guest bath. Hmmm...

Well, happy cardboarding folks, as always I'd love to see what you do with this technique!!!

Happy Cardboarding!!!!

I'll be back soon with some more homemade ornament and decor ideas!

September Release!

Hello hello!  Here I am to unveil the newest set from RBD Happy Halloween. I wanted to design something which could be used both by the scrapbooker and the gift or treat giver. Since I haven't been able to play with this set myself (see previous post about the chaos while I move!) both Tina and Deb have done a beautiful job in using this new set.

Here are a few projects created by our talented guest designer, Deb. Please visit her blog and tell her what a fabulous job she's done! Don't you just LOVE how she incorporated our scrolls into her designs? Fabulous job Deb!

For all of you interested in purchasing this set, the shopping cart access will be restored on September 15th! Don't forget to order all of your bags and tins and alterables for those special goblins this year! Remember, if you spend over $50 CDN you receive FREE shipping within Canada and the US!

Okay! Back to unpacking! I can't wait to ink this set up and post some ideas for this one!!!

Strictly Sentiments

Hello everyone! I almost died today when I realized that we are already in AUGUST! Can you believe it! Where is this summer going!? Pretty soon we'll be packing our little ones back to school

I am here today to introduce the newest set out from RBD called Strictly Sentiments.  I made this set with the hopes of adding more versatility to any other set that you already own.

The simple script sentiments are perfect to add the finishing touch to any card. By adding this set to your collection, you are adding amazing versatility to any of your other graphic stamps! This set has 29 stamps included!!

Don't miss the previous post and leave a comment to win a monogram stamp!

Hope you're enjoying your summer!!

Thank you

Here's number two in my group of three using the patterned paper created with the new set from RBD  Blossom and Wilt.

I cut the paper on a curve for a little interest and paper pierced the corner for some detail.

I added some glitter just like the last one, and finished off with a sentiment (this one is actually from a set to be released in August!)

Hope you had a fabulous week!

Cheers!

~Devon  

pretty pattern

Hello everyone!  I thought I'd show you my first of three cards I've made using the newest stamp set from RBD Blossom and Wilt. I used the largest flower image and stamped it randomly on my paper, I masked the flowers and then stamped the vine image in between the flowers to create a pattern.

When I make a pattern like this I usually do a full 8.5x11 sheet so that I can get quite a few cards done, that all co-ordinate, using the same sheet. Here is the first card that I created using my daisy patterned paper.  Very simple, just a strip of pattern accented by a scallop edge. I like the clean and simple look, and I find that when you have a bold pattern like this you don't need to do very much with the rest of the card to make it look fabulous. 

Check back back in a few days to see the other versions using the same patterned accent!

July release

Happy Canada Day everyone!  Can you believe it's July already!! Where is this year going!? I find summer months pass far quicker than the winter ones.

Have you popped over to the CPS blog and seen what the design team has created with some of the RBD sets? Amazing work. I am always in awe at what those talented ladies come up with! 

Now on to the release! Here's a card I've done which incorporates both of the new stamp sets from RBD for July.  I've used the set Blossom and Wilt to created the floral pattern on the left hand side and the new Borderlines  set for the subtle pattern on the right. I think they compliment each other beautifully.

The daisies were made by stamping versamark onto white cardstock using the solid daisy image and then heat embossing. I then took my brayer and rolled an even pink layer over the entire piece. I then took the smaller daisy and heat embossed it as well. After doing that I used my brayer and covered another layer in a pale yellow to turn the paper into a peachy tone. Notice how the embossed flowers keep the color of the layer they were stamped on. I love using this trick and do it quite a bit.

I forgot to photograph the inside of the card, but it has the partner sentiment inside which reads "...and also there when you wilt".

I will be posting 3 more cards in the next little bit all made out of one piece of custom patterned paper I created using this set. Be sure to check back so you don't miss it!! 

Don't forget to stop by CPS and enter to be in the draw!!

CPS Sponsorship and a card

Hello everyone! I am here, alive and well. I am here today to let you know that RBD is the sponsor for this week's card sketch over at Card Positioning Systems (CPS)! 

Here is the sketch, be sure to play along over at the CPS blog!

Here is my version of this sketch.

I used the Curly Tree set and embossed it with sparkly white EP (sorry I didn't keep the jar it came in but I believe it was called "winter wonderland")

I then used a few dye inks and made a color wash over the entire front. I like the distressed look and I roughed up the edges with my scissors. I then stitched and then removed the thread as well for a more destroyed effect.  hope you like it!! Check back later this week for more fun and exciting things to come!

Friendship Grows Here

Hello friends! Surprised to see me again so soon? I know I've been a little irratic when it comes to posting, I apologize!  I just love the new Curly Tree set and I'm on a roll!

Here's a card I did using the set, to get this layered look what I did was stamp the tree image onto my base card. I then stamped it onto my patterned paper (in this case it is SU!). I then took various punches and punched out the shapes on the patterned paper. I layered them onto the card base and matched them up with the tree. I used pop ups and raised a few of them randomly to give it some dimension! If you notice the edge of the card there, what that is is old sheet music which I tea stained and then added as a bit of a fringe to the edge of my card. Hope you like it!

Cheers everyone, hope you're having a great week!

~D

Call me!

Hi again! I'm back to introduce to you the newest set from RBD called Call Me!  I love the retro feeling of this set!

I stamped the telephone onto a piece of white cardstock and then heat embossed it with clear EP to give it the shiny look to it. I then trimmed it out and trimmed off the receiver portion of it allowing me to stamp the other receiver on the focal point of my cardstock. I then popped up the phone using pop dots to give it some oomph.

If you notice the background pattern on the base of the card what that is is one of our scrolls trimmed and rearranged to my liking! I think it has that raised velvet look to it.

I then added some rinestones and a ribbon for a little bling.

I can't wait to try this set with the Darling Damask as the background I think they'll compliment each other beautifully!

Happy crafting everyone! See you later this week!

~D

This is the second post for the day, don't miss the other one!

Introducing... Curly Tree

Well, as I was saying in my last post this new set goes with my favorite theme of stamps.. did you guess what it was?  Trees. For some strange reason I am totally and absolutely drawn to trees.  I love our set Roots and Wings and it is definitely one that I reach for anytime that I'm in a slump! But NOW, Curly Tree may have taken top spot in the tree area. I just love the filigree feel to the branches which are softened by the curls. There are 18 stamps in this set which you can use separately or mix and match as needed to express just what you need to say.

Here is a little card I put together using the Curly Tree set. I went with a shabby look this time, so shabby I almost lost the little strip at the top right there!

I first took the tree image and inked it up with my lighter brown color, then sponged the stamp with darker ink around the edges. I stamped it off on a scrap piece of paper before stamping it onto my focal piece to get the lighter effect. I inked the edges and then roughed them up with my scissor edge. I took my sewing machine and did a tight straight stitch around the edge... I pulled out some of the thread to make it look just a bit shabbier. I then added the hearts stamped in red randomly on the tree branches to make them look like the fruit of the tree. I added some red stickles onto them to give it a little bling.

I stamped the larger heart, stickled it too and then cut out the heart with scissors. I threaded it like a button and then added a button on top.

I used the "love" sentiment and inked it in red and then sponged a bit of brown onto the stamp before I stamped it on the card to make it a bit distressed.

The diamond piercing was done by first using my Scor-pal, and then piercing in the lines.

Stop by later today and see a post using the other stamp set released today, Call Me! I know you'll like it just as much as this one!!! 

ALSO, don't miss it>>> all alterables are on sale 10% off for the month of June!

See you soon!

~D