StarLitStudio

doodlebug little garden spring card

Little Garden Doodle Pops are a multi-dimensional sticker grouping featuring a radish, carrot, string pea, cabbage and tiny white flowers and leaves.  Absolutely darling.

Finished card measures 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches.  Frame die is Penny Black Ribbon Stacker dies (51-409) - uses Doodlebug Jellybean Plaid cardstock from the Hoppy Easter collection.  The blue Moroccan pattern is the obverse of the plaid.  Bazzill textured cardstock for 'dirt' and stakes.  Stakes are 1/4 inch wide.

The dirt mounds were created using a Memory Box cloud die - I used three.  Cloud base was trimmed on two and at the top of the third for variety.  One is mounted with foam tape.

Sizzix Gift Tag Thinlit die (#662423) used for the white labels along with a brown enamel brad.

 

Earthworm is from Doodlebug Shape Sprinkles - Hens and Chicks.  Linen thread bow ties it all together - pun intended!

Interior sentiment is Sunn font, partial quote of a Lewis Grizzard book title.  Happy Spring! 

 

Memory Box Neighborhood Heart Frame and Distress Oxide inks

Memory Box's 2019 Valentine release, Neighborhood Heart Frame craft die set and blending two Distress Oxide ink colors created a simple, square Valentine card.  Finished card size measures 4-3/4 inches square.

The Neighborhood Heart Frame die set - when I originally saw this set I visualized using the central heart and fence die to create simple sympathy cards.  Sympathy is the card category I sell the most cards from at my local artisan market.

With the love holiday approaching, I opted to use all dies from the set save the bike, and cut them all out of white cardstock.  

Using Picked Raspberry and Wilted Violet Distress Oxide inks I blended the two colors onto a 4x4 inch square of white cardstock, then adhered the frame using clear-drying adhesive.

Formed linen thread into a slip knot, then looped around the fence post and tightened.  Poked two holes into inked base.  

Fished the linen thread through the poked holes and adhered to back of inked base, creating two, taut balloon strings.  Holes will be concealed using die cut balloons.

Used foam tape sections to pop the balloons, heart and sentiment.  Sentiment is from Best Life Typewriter Sentiments using black cardstock, prep bag and white embossing powder. 

Card base is Memory Box Wisteria.  Best wishes for the coming weekend!

doodlebug sweet things shaker with poppystamps new shaker heart 2157

Doodlebug Design's older Sweet Things collection patterned papers in an easy card layout for today's post.  Finished card size measures 5-1/2 x 4-1/4 inches.

The central heart image is new Poppystamps 2157 Shaker Heart craft die set.  The outer, largest heart die cut was inked with Festive Berries Oxide ink, then mounted flush with the card front. 

To create the shaker, I die cut the two heart craft dies without cutting them apart / die cut them as is when removed from the packaging, and using clear cardstock.  Shaker filler: heart sequins from my stash.

The 'sweet' sticker is from Doodlebug Sweet Things This & That 12x12 Sticker sheet. This card is a thank you for someone sweet!  Doodlebug's newest collections, French Kiss and Lots O' Luck are arriving next week!  Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2019!  

 

 

pocket card for cash gift

This was a custom order - card elements are geared toward the recipient at the direction of the customer. 

A pocket was needed to house a cash gift.  Good Luck sentiment is Stampers Anonymous Simple Saying CMS155.

Mostly Tim Holtz idea-ology products:  Dapper cardstock and brad, metal quote token.  Wood jet plane is from Studio Calico veneer stash.  Finished card measures 3 x 6-1/4 inches; custom envelope with 'string and button' style closure.  Clever knot used to attach airplane charm is called a uni knot - great video here.

Rune Bezel from Ranger features collage paper and a tiny metal key finding set in Ice Resin.  Best wishes for the coming weekend!

 

happy fall, y'all!

Well the temps here in the northeastern USA went from 70 to 45 in a heartbeat - kinda like the weather saw a State Trooper or something.

Not my line - read it somewhere.

Please visit Pam Sparks' Instagram feed (@pam_sparks) for a giveaway featuring this Grand Maple Frame craft die!  More information on her blog here; her blog post features another amazing card and impressive card base fold technique using this die set.

How I created the card:  Today's post uses a new die set from Memory Box - Grand Maple Frame 94079.  Here's some tips to make this type of card, which incorporates the shard inlay (my term) technique:

Use Scor Tape to line one side of a white cardstock (Bazzill Card Shoppe Marshmallow), then die cut a circle (3-1/4 inch diameter) that fits the round, inner Maple Leaf Frame die.

Next, using side B of Doodlebug Flea Market Prairie Plaid patterned paper cut the round Maple Leaf craft die (not using the pretty square frame craft die for this card) and discard all shards, then mount this die cut neatly onto the exposed Scor Tape of the white circle die cut. 

Cut the Maple Leaf circle from white cardstock and remove and save the large, outer, non-leaf shards - position on the Scor Tape circle, then cut the white leaf from the circle.  Discard circle and all other shards.  

Lastly, die cut side B of Fall Bunch patterned paper and keep the die cut with shards intact as much as possible.  Remove and discard the large, non-leaf shards and align the leaf neatly over the Scor Tape lined circle.  Once in place carefully press the shards into the adhesive.  Cut the leaf from the circle; discard circle.  

Tuck the two, saved leaf die cuts into the card front.  Also I added a Cute Clip Flower with a Doodlebug Matte Sprinkle embellishment in the flower center./>

 

Carta Bella Flora No 2 cards

Soft, feminine and floral!  Carta Bella's Flora No 2 collection cards are featured in today's post!

Using the entire package of Carta Bella Flora No 2 Ephemera - Frames and Tags:

I divided the ephemera pieces into groupings that made sense to me.  Each pile represents one card, and I ended up creating nine cards.  I then tore into the 6x6 paper pad and separated all sheets from the pad.

The sheets in the 6x6 Carta Bella Flora No 2 paper pad can be divided into two distinct color groupings - one is a super deep red and dark tones; the other is paler and lighter - more rosey.  My ephemera groupings also seemed to fall into one of these two color groups.    These sheets are double-sided and this gave me a wide amount of design options.

Using 5x5 inch ivory cardstock card bases, I cut and collaged the 6x6 papers into simple layouts, adding machine stitching, Little B gold foil rose washi tape on some, bird cage charms on others, a enameled tag on one, tiny corrugated kraft cardstock on another, and metal butterfly charms with linen thread antennae on the remainder.

All ephemera pieces were incorporated into these nine cards.  Lots of layering; I included photos when ephemera was used for the card interior.  I usually include a strip of patterned paper in the card interior that either matches or coordinates with the card front.  Many sheets of the 6x6 are left over - I'll add some paper flowers, ribbons and create gift bag panels with these, and trim some to 5x5 inches and run through a corrugator for envelope liners.  Best wishes for the coming weekend!

Pebbles Midnight Haunting collection - eight Halloween cards

The cards in today's post are for the Saturday market - Halloween is serious business here in the Northeast USA and customers have been asking for two weeks where are the Halloween cards...

Featuring Midnight Haunting Collection from American Crafts/Pebbles:

The top left of the second photo is actually a congratulations/baby/expecting card.  I know they are supposed to be ghosts; however, to me they look like a swarm headed toward an egg.  Once I saw it I just couldn't not see it. 

All eight cards are 4.25 x 5.5 inches and feature sturdy kraft cardstock card bases; same general layout used for all.  

 

Hope your week is off to a great start!  

beach wedding card

Seashells used for this card were collected during a recent visit to Long Beach Island, New Jersey, and adhered using Prima Heavy Body Gel.  Custom card for a delightful client - the future Mr. and Mrs. are having a beach wedding and this card was created with that in mind.

Finished card size is 4.75 x 6 inches - custom envelope using K&Company Tim Coffey Travel cardstock; ribbon is May Arts.

Background is Ranger Heavystock primed with white gesso, allowed to dry; liberally applied Prima White Crackle and allow to dry.  Distress Oxide Broken China was burnished over the dried crackle paint, nuked with water then allowed to dry.  Spritzed with Lindy's Gang Landlubber Green and heat set.

Cut honeycomb Sizzix die 659430 from Ranger Heavystock - dabbed Distress Chipped Sapphire ink, followed by Broken China then Frayed Burlap Distress Oxide inks. Heat set.  Adhered section of torn cork sheet, added inked honeycomb unit, and machine stitched around the edge.  Die cut coral from Heavystock, inked with Tattered Rose Distress ink, applied Coral Calypso Nuvo Mousse with fingertip then lightly tapped edge of coral diecut with Vintage Photo Distress ink. Memory Box Windswept Stems were cut from white cardstock and inked with Twisted Citron and Peeled Paint Oxide inks.

Tim Holtz idea-ology Memo Pin holds a computer generated 'wedding wishes' sentiment printed onto heavy white cardstock.  Cut thick hemp cord and teased ends; adhered to card front along with cheesecloth, seashells and Memo Pin with sentiment. Inspired by Emma Williams! Happy Friday! 

 

bridal shower card with layered wreath

Finished card size is 4.75 inches square and uses a wonderful Fabriano card base.  

This was a custom order, and as I've done in the past, I asked the client to provide me with the invitation to use as a springboard - a gateway into the event, a window into the bride's style.  It's a great way to determine what is appropriate for the individual.  I do this with custom wedding cards as well.  The invitation is a great way to gain an understanding pertaining to the couple's uniqueness and gear the custom card towards that.

Customers have told me they enjoy knowing they commissioned someone that takes the effort to provide them with something that is so obviously a custom piece, fitted with the recipient in mind, and I thoroughly enjoy creating these pieces!

Memory Box Catalina Wreath was cut four times, using a warm, feminine, neutral cardstock palette. 

Scrapiniec floral die cut base - this is a wonderful company in Poland; they do ship to the United States.  This piece was adhered, centered, to the Fabriano card base.

The layered wreath die cuts were loosely stacked, adhered randomly with clear-drying glue then loosely wrapped with a fine cording and tied in a bow, then set aside.

Jacques and Gilles font was used on vellum with a laser printer.  I use this vellum paper designed specifically for a laser printer and cut the sentiment into a strip.  The ends of the vellum banner were hidden and adhered under the wreath.

The wreath unit with sentiment was then adhered over the Scrapiniec floral die cut.  Tiny Prima Marketing mulberry flowers were adhered randomly to the wreath along with a few adhesive-backed pearls.

This card will be shipped to the bride-to-be using the United States Postal Service.  I included this box with the card and 5.5 inch envelope for the client to safely mail to the recipient.  The postage cost here in the USA for this 6x6x1.25 box using USPS First Class Mail, five ounce package rate at the time of this writing is $2.85.  I'm including it now because in five years' time this cost will be amusing.  

Hope your week is off to a great start! 

Flower Garden stamps by Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous - card with video

Lovely cardstock papers from Tim Holtz Etcetera 8x8 paper pad was used for this shabby chic, vintage style card.  Finished size is 4.25 x 5.5 inches on a kraft cardstock base.

Stampers Anonymous Flower Garden stamps and dies were used; Bazzill Easter Grass Card Shoppe cardstock was used to die cut the stem.  Holtz linen ribbon, Picket Fence Distress Crayon, idea-ology quote bands.  

A time-elapsed, brief video of the making of this card is here:

Happy Weekend!!