Saturday Showcase - Tim Holtz Nature's Wonder Leaves

It is Cec here and today I am presenting the Saturday Showcase.

I saw the most recent leaf stamps from Tim Holtz called Nature's Wonder and immediately knew I needed the set because it offered so much versatility.  My mind was racing as I thought about what I would make to show you because I had so many ideas.  Then I settled it down and thought I would make something that can be difficult for many of us but are always needed - sympathy cards.  These leaves are perfect for this type of card.

I have gone from super simple up to a little more elaborate.  Here is how to create these cards:

1.  Use a blending foam and Fern Green Archival Ink, randomly ink a piece of card stock to create a background panel.  Distress and ink the edges.
2.  Using Orange Blossom, Red Geranium, Thistle, Fern Green and Dandelion Archival Inks randomly stamp a variety of leaves over the background panel.
3.  Adhere the panel to a kraft card blank.
4.  Print the sentiment on vellum or mylar and add to card.

1.  Pat Fern Green and Tree Branch Archival Ink onto a kraft mat, spritz with rubbing alcohol and drag a piece of card stock through the puddles to create a background panel.

2.  Use Tree Branch Archival Ink to stamp 2 copies of each of two leaf stamps onto small squares of card stock.

3.  Highlight areas on the leaves using an embossing pen and then heat emboss with gold embossing powder being careful not to overheat to get smooth embossing.
4.  Mat the leaf prints onto squares of gold card stock.

5.  Adhere the background panel to a kraft card blank.
6.  Print the sentiment on vellum or mylar and add to card.
7.  Adhere the leaf prints to the card.

1.  Cut a background panel of patterned paper from the Fairie Dust paper pad (Graphic 45), distress the edges and ink with Tree Branch Archival Ink.  Add to cream card blank.
2.  Cut two complimentary strips of patterned paper from the Fairie Dust paper pad, distress the edges, ink and add to the background.
3.  Cut a couple of branches from the Fall Foliage die, ink with Tree Branch Archival Ink and add to the vertical paper strip.

4.  Using Thistle, Red Geranium, Dandelion and Orange Blossom Archival Ink stamp a variety of leaves.
5.  Fussy cut the leaves, shape, ink with Tree Branch Archival Ink and add the card using dimensional foam to pop some up.
6.  Add some real acorns to the leaf pile.
7.  Create a loopy bow and tuck under the leaf pile and top with a computer generated sentiment.
8.  Curl some paper covered floral wire and add a couple of strips to complete the card.

1.  Cut a background panel of patterned paper from Vintage Emporium paper pad (Prima), distress edges and add to a cream card blank.
2.  Add another strip of patterned paper that has been distressed across the background.
3.  Adhere a strip of lace across the horizontal strip.
4.  Stamp a leaf onto painted paper using Versamark and heat emboss with Copper embossing powder before adding to the card.

5.  Create a loopy bow from burlap string and add with a computer generated sentiment that has been topped with a tiny button.

I hope I have provided some ideas for making Sympathy cards but these leaves would be fabulous on thank you cards, cards for men or any and all occasion cards.  So many techniques can be used with these stamps and they would work so well in mixed media. This is going to be a go-to stamp set.

The following products used to create these cards came from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.  In a few cases products I used are no longer available but I have linked some substitutes I would recommend.

Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Rubber Stamps - Nature′s Wonder	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink Pad - Thistle	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink Pad - Red Geranium AID38993	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink Pad - Orange Blossom AID38986	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink Pad - Fern Green AID38962	Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink Pad - Potting Soil AID38979
2015 CHA Release - Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival Ink Pad - Buttercup AID45632	Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic Kraft Stock	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 14PK - Fall Foliage by Tim Holtz 660955	Ranger Embossing Powder - Copper EPJ37378	Ranger Embossing Powder - Gold - Super Fine Detail EPJ37408	Venise Lace Trim - 5/8 inch
Burlap String - 12 Colors	VersaMark Watermark Ink Stamp Pad	Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool - With 4 Blending Foams IBT40965	Scor-Pal Scor-Tape 1/8" x 27 Yards	Scor-Pal Scor-Tape 1/4" x 27 Yards	Ranger Dina Wakley Media Ultra Thick Gel Medium 4oz
Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Paper Distresser 370E	Tonic 5" titanium snips

Saturday Showcase - Christmas cards and tags with Stamperia

Stamperia Christmas Collections are in stock at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

Good morning and happy Saturday!! Maggi here to share a couple of cards suitable for mailing and a tag that will make your gift extra special. Stamperia has several gorgeous Christmas collections that look so vintage, you're going to love them! Some of  Stamperia's collections are done in traditional colors, while others are more Victorian. You can find all of these collections at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.   

I have 3 tutorials for you using two two of their Christmas collections, Pink Christmas and Christmas Vintage. This is a long post with lots of photos so grab your favorite beverage and snack and read on!

A Card with Stamperia's Pink Christmas

Pink Christmas is a beautiful vintage collection done in Victorian colors of teal, pinks and rose. The collection is made up of gorgeous images that are perfect for fussy cutting. Note: Ink all the papers if you wish. I used Distress Ink in Worn Lipstick and Iced Spruce.

Pink Christmas Card Tutorial -

Step 1: Locate and trim out the roses, deer and candle images shown below from the 12 x 12 Stamperia Pink Christmas paper pack. Trim the candle cut-apart o 3 3/4" x 5 5/8". Note that I used a scalloped circle die to diecut the pink roses paper but it would look just as great to fussy cut it out in a circle shape. Cut a 3 7/8" diameter circle from the pink print paper. Cut a 2" x 1" flap from cream cardstock and fold in half. Glue one side of the flap to the back of the circle as shown below.

Step 2: Adhere the cream flap to the backside of the candle image as shown in the 1st photo so that the circle folds over the candle image as shown in the 2nd photo below. Glue the roses image to the outside of the circle. (Not shown)

Step 3: Open the flap out and adhere the deer image on the inside as shown below.

Step 4: Cut a border strip from silver paper with the Mini Scalloped Impresslits Embossing Folder. Lightly ink with Stonewashed alcohol ink. 

Step 5: Cut a green card base 9 1/2" x 6 3/8" and score at 4 3/4". Cut a teal floral layer 4 1/4" x 6". Adhere the border strip from Step 4 over the right edge of the blue floral layer as shown so that it's edge is just beneath the candle cut-apart layer. Then adhere the candle and circle assembly over the blue floral layer.

Step 6: Cut a 4 1/8" x 5 7/8" piece of design paper as shown below and adhere to the inside of the card.

That's it! This is such a pretty card that is flat and therefore suitable for mailing. If you don't plan to mail the card, you can add some flowers to the front of the card making it even more stunning!

Gift tag with Stamperia Pink Christmas

Pink Christmas Gift Tag Tutorial -

Step 1:  We'll use a large ivory Graphic 45 tag as the base for this tag. Die-cut a pink floral tag using Graphic 45's large tag die from the Stamperia Pink Christmas 12 x 12 collection. Notice the blank space between the top and bottom of the pink die-cut. Well, I am really miserly with my papers so for this tag I used a scrap of paper that was shorter than the length of the tag. Since the center of the tag is going to be covered with other paper, that is ok! So, I just die-cut a short tag, cut 2" off the bottom and rounded the corners. Then I adhered the small piece to the bottom and the larger piece to the top. Cut a 3 3/4" piece of Venetian lace and adhere over the pink paper at the bottom. (Ink the edges of the papers for this tag as desired with Distress Ink in Tattered Rose and Iced Spruce.)

Step 2: Next cut a piece of teal paper as shown 3 3/4" x 3 1/2". If you have a border punch, punch the bottom as shown and adhere to the tag so that it just laps over the top of the lace.

Step 3: Next cut out the square "for you" cut-apart shown and the circular Merry Christmas cut-apart. I used scalloped dies to cut both the square and circle but it is not necessary to use a die. Trimming with scissors will look great too!

Now cut two 4" circles. (Again, I used a die to cut mine but just a plain 4" circle will look great too.) Notice that one of my circles is just part of a circle. Well, I only had a little piece of cardstock that I thought matched nicely with the papers so I just made it work! The missing part of the circle isn't needed anyway! I applied embossing ink around the edges of the two circles, sprinkled with Emerald Creek Soft Fallen Snow embossing powder and heated.

  

Step 4: Adhere a circle at the top left. Then position the square cut-apart over the circle and use foam dimensional tape to adhere over the circle. Use foam dimensional tape to pop up the 2nd circle and position as shown in the photo. Add the Merry Christmas circular cut-apart, using foam dimensional tape to pop it up. 

Step 5: Select 3 Tim Holtz Christmas Typed Tokens and dab with a white paint dabber, being sure to get white paint embedded in the lettering. Then wipe the paint from the surface so that just the words are white. Adhere at the bottom of the tag as shown below. Use tiny pearls to cover the holes.

Step 6: Add some small flowers around the circular cut-apart and a white seam binding bow at the top.

That's all there is to it. The recipient of a gift adorned with this tag will feel extra special!

Easel Gift Card Holder with Stamperia's Vintage Christmas

This last card is made with the Vintage Christmas collection which is done in more traditional Christmas colors and images. I love the holly sprigs, bells, and Christmas trees sprinkled throughout the collection.

The card is an easel card with a twist. Not only does it have an easel but it opens up like a traditional card and has a place to tuck in cash or a gift card.

Vintage Christmas Easel Card Tutorial -

Step 1: Cut a 8" x 12" piece of red cardstock. Score horizontally at 6" and vertically at 4".

Step 2: Cut out the upper left rectangle along the score lines as shown in the photo below. Keep the cut out rectangle as we'll use it in Step 4.

Step 3: Fold as shown below.

Step 4: The red rectangle pictured below is the piece we cut out in Step 2. Cut a 3 7/8" x 5 7/8" rectangle from green snowy paper, (top right). Locate the cut-apart shown and trim out. Cut a rectangle (I used a scalloped die) from the red with trees paper 2 3/4" x 4" and trim out the birds tag shown below.

Step 5: Score the red cardstock flap at 3" and fold up as shown in the photo and set aside. Layer and adhere the green snowy paper over the red cardstock. Next adhere the cut-apart with the bells over the green snowy paper. Use dimensional foam tape to adhere the next layer, the red with trees. Adhere the final layer, the birds tag. Now, adhere this assembly to the face of the folded piece by adhering the top 3" of the layered piece to the 3" face of the folded up piece. (See the 3rd photo in Step 6.)

Step 6: Cut a piece 3 3/4" x 5 3/4" and adhere underneath the flap. (This is the bottom right corner of the card if the cardstock is laid out flat.) Cut out the tag shown below and adhere about 1 1/4" from the bottom of the card and centered.

This is how the easel mechanism should look.

Step 7: Cut a piece 3 3/4" x 5 5/8" from the blue snowy paper and round the corners if you wish. Cut out the Christmas tree (round the corners if you wish) and the circular Greetings cut-aparts shown.

Step 8: Open the card such that the easel mechanism is on the left and the card opens in the traditional manner. Adhere the tree cut-apart to the right side and adhere the snowy paper to the left side. Put adhesive on the back of the circle cut-apart around the edges but leaving enough room at the top so that cash or a gift card can slide inside.

Detail the berries on the holly sprigs with Stickles to add a sparkly element to the card. That's it, all finished! The front of the card forms a pretty easel allowing the recipient to display this unique card for all to see. Inside the card there's lots of room for a personal message and a gift card too.

Thanks so much for joining me for this long post!! I hope these tutorials give you some ideas for all your Christmas craft cards, tags and projects!

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Stamperia Pink Christmas	Stamperia Christmas Vintage	(MAY PRE-ORDER) Sizzix 3-D Impresslits Embossing Folder - Mini Scallop	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Stonewashed	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Worn Lipstick
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Iced Spruce	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Tattered Rose	Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - Fired Brick	Graphic 45 Large Tag Album Ivory	Graphic 45 Staples Large Tag and Flowers Dies
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Ink Reinker	Soft Fallen Snow embossing powder	Venise Lace Trim - 2 inches	(September Pre-Order) Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tokens, Christmas	KAISERCRAFT Pearls - Self Adhesive - Blush
Seam Binding	Seasonal Stickles Assortment - Holiday	Ranger ADHESIVE - WHITE FOAM ROLL 1/2" X 1/16"x 2.1 YDS.	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Brushed Corduroy	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Mini Scissors