#54: Talking Cards

Now that they're being discontinued and just about impossible to find, I've discovered "Bubble Stickers" from Martha Stewart. I purchased several packages on sale at Michael's.... well, because they were on sale. No other reason.

Now I find that they're really tickling my fancy and I've had a lot of fun with them. Since they're hard to find, I did the next best thing and bought a h*u*g*e punch at Hobby Lobby that's a rectangular "Cartoon Bubble," as they call it. This is going to be fun!

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Bunny Stamp:Studio G ($1.00 at Michael's)
Thank You: Pre-inked JustRite Double Stamp (What a timesaver!)
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#48: Faith & Emily Dickinson

I really enjoy some of Emily Dickinson's poetry, so when I found these beautiful stickers on close-out at Serendipity Stamps, I knew I had to have them. They work so well for a variety of occasions, such as get well, encouragement, or congratulations, especially when I need a card quickly.

The passage reads:
"We never know how high we are
Till we are called to rise
And then, if we are true to plan
Our statures touch the skies."

#43: Angelina Fibers

I seem to be making way too many sympathy cards these days. It also seems, however, that of all the cards I make, sympathy cards are the most appreciated.

The heart was created using Angelina Fibers-- something I'd never heard of until I saw a demonstration by Class Act of Canada at a convention this spring. The quick instructions are:

1. Preheat a dry iron to medium.


2. Ink a rubber stamp with dye-based ink (must be rubber, not acrylic).


3. Place the stamp, inked side up, on a firm surface.


4. Place shreds of Angelina Fibers on top of inked stamp. You can use a single color (I used "Sugar Plum" for the heart above) or mix several colors.


5. Place a piece of parchment paper over the fibers.


6. Press with the pre-heated iron until you are able to faintly see the stamp design through the parchment.


7. Allow paper and fused fibers to cool slightly and remove from stamp.


8. May leave the loose fibers around the image for a halo-type of effect, or you may trim the outline of the stamped/fused image.

I bought a number of packets of fibers at the convention. Since then, I've purchased a sampler pack of 19 colors from a vendor on eBay, and have noticed that AC Moore has the fibers available online. I haven't found any bricks-and-mortar stores, however, that carry the product.

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Lace Heart Stamp: Rubber Stampede
"God gave us memories..." Sticker: Seredipity Stamps
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Textile

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#42: Transparencies

We've been "talking" about transparencies on GW a lot recently and I've been asked about a type I described as a little "cloudy." The type I mean is for highly detailed copies and therefore it has a special coating to help the copier toner adhere better to the transparency. I'm not sure if "cloudy" is the correct term to use. The coating results in a very slight rough feel and perhaps just a touch of dullness, as opposed to a super shiny/slick surface. I kind of like this type, as my inked up stamp is less likely to slide because there's a faint texture from the coating. But that's definitely a personal preference.

Some types of transparencies also have a white strip running the length of them. It's called a "sensing strip" and is there so that certain types of copiers can recognize a clear sheet coming through and can sort of grab onto it. The strip removes cleanly, without residue. Sometimes I pull the strip off and other times I leave it on, incorporating it into my card design.

This is a card I made for the DH. It isn't a great image because I scanned it, but trying to get a photo of a transparency is waaaaay beyond my limited photography skills. The deer is a sticker Mike had admired and looks much better than anything I could color; the zig-zag design is a gold metallic sticker over the sensing strip.

FRONT:

INSIDE/OPEN:

I am absolutely not any kind of an expert on using transparencies in card making-- I know more about using transparencies from the days of overhead projectors and pre-PowerPoint. Now that's showing my age, isn't it??!

#9 I'm officially addicted

In just a few short days, I've become officially addicted to these wonderful little Square Pocket Cards! (See post from 6/23/07)

I needed a quick Get Well/Thinking of You card for an older gentleman who could use a bit of cheering. Once again, I used a sticker on the front, but had to alter it a little to fit the occasion. It's one of those delightful Mary Engelbreit dimensional stickers, but the rectangular background portion had a repeating sentiment of "Happy Birthday." I just trimmed the background off.

The patterned paper is actually wallpaper. I found the roll at the Dollar Store and I have enough to probably use forever. The sentiment is from one of the newer Studio G Clear Stamp Sets (also $1.00!) from Michael's.

I'm not sure whether it's my scanner or me, but I just can't seem to get my cards straight. Sorry about that.

#5 Too darned cute!

I came across the tutorial for this fun little card on a blog called "Amusing Musings & Things"

(http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com/)

-- it's found at her Thursday, March 29, 2007 post. She calls it a Small Pocket Card, but I just call it too darned cute!

Not a bit of stamping on my version yet (the front is a sticker), but I can see this as a quick thank-you or a thinking-of-you card, with the sentiment stamped on the little card inside the pocket.

I found Dawn's blog and tutorial via Colleen Shaan's blog, Distinctive Touches

(http://web.mac.com/cschaan1/iWeb/Site/Distinctive%20Touches/Distinctive%20Touches.html)

one of the few sites--other than Gingerwood!-- that I visit daily.

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Printed Paper: Lucy Riggs for Frances Meyer, Inc.

Veggie Stickers: Barbara Wilson for Frances Meyer, Inc.

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