Watercolor 'Thanks'

This card features a hand-stamped and embossed 'thanks' that is further excentuated with bright watercolors. The pictured text is actually my talented sister's handwriting that was made into a rubber stamp. Because of the embossing, the sentiment is slighly dimensional and has a beautiful shine. The card front is constructed with heavyweight watercolor paper that is precisely mounted to a sturdy white cardstock base. Cards are available for purchase through Calligraphy By Deanna Etsy shop.

Each card is constructed completely by hand from the cutting and scoring of the base to the design and creation of the sentiment.

Specifications:
Material: Sturdy white cardstock, watercolor paint
Cards are sold individually and come with a 24 lb. white envelope handcrafted by me. I use remoistenable envelope glue that works exactly like the glue on envelopes that you can buy in stores.
Each card has been left blank inside and out, but can be customized to fit your needs.
Size: Standard A2 card and envelope: Card measures 4 1/4" 5 1/2", envolope measures 4 3/8" x 5 3/4"

Because each card is made entirely by hand, there will be small variations even in cards of the same design. Cards are packaged and sealed in a cellophane bag.

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Links can be found on the right-hand side of the screen.

Die Cut 'Thank you' in Circles

As promised, here are the cards that I created using the letters that were cut out from yesterday's project. I had originally place the letters directly onto the cardstock, but it seem so flat and uninteresting. So I decided to place each letter in a circle and now I have a simple, yet finished looked. You may have noticed that the "s" is missing and that is because it would have been too wide to fit on a standard A2 card. The "you" is handwritten in black ink. As for the missing "s"'s I will save them for some monogram stationery for my mother. Waste not!

Materials: White, light gray, colored cardstock, Hero Arts Uppercase Alphabet die, permanent black pen.

Size: Standard A2 4.25" x 5.5"

Thanks for stopping by!

Jessica

Disclosures:

I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Links can be found on the right-hand side of the screen.

'Thanks' Die-cut with Stitching

Similar to some cards that I have made in the past, these cards were created using a steel alphabet die. To get the letters straight, I taped the letter dies together and cut out the sentiment in one shot. I saved the lettes that were cut out of this paper and will show cards created with them in tomorrows post. After I ran the paper through the die cut machine, I adhered to to a card base and used zigzag stitching to add some texture.

Materials: White cardstock, patterned paper, Hero Arts Uppercase Alphabet die, sewing machine

Size: Standard A2 4.25" x 5.5"

Thanks for stopping by!

Jessica

Disclosures:

I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Links can be found on the right-hand side of the screen.

Simple DIY Painted Monogram

This is a fast, easy, and inexpensive way to create your own unique stationery. The great part is that you can use whatever color cardstock or paint that you want. You could even add some shimmer or glitter to the paint for a little extra something!

To start out, I cut my cardstock to 4.25" x 11" then scored it and folded it. After that, I simply marked lightly with pencil the spot where I wanted my letters to go. Then I took some white acrylic paint that I watered down (about 50/50 water-paint ratio). I used a big bulky paint brush because I like the imperfect look. Then I outlined the edges with the same paint mixture. Easy peasy! And, you can betcha that no one else will have another just like it!

Materials: Black cardstock, white acrylic paint

Size: Standard A2 4.25" x 5.5"

Thanks for stopping by!

Jessica

Disclosures:

I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Watercolor Embossed Flowers

Watercoloring is so hot right now. Spoken in creepy Will Ferrel voice. Oh, and did I mention that it's also really fun? The best part is that there is not "wrong" way to do things. First I embossed two different sized flowers from the stamp set (I had to mask the smaller flower to get the image that you see.) Then, I took several colors of distress ink, rubbed the pad right on an acrylic block, took some metallic rub and smeared that on the block, added some water and went to work. 

What I learned during this project is that you really do need to use watercolor paper. It's hard to tell in the photos, but the paper is majorly warped. When I adhered the front panel to my card base, I actually made it wrinkle around the edges because it tried too hard (unsuccessfully) to make it flat. I ended up having to stitch around the edges to get it to not look TERRIBLE. The stitching helped, but it still isn't nice and crisp. So next time, I'll try watercolor paper and see if that helps.

Close-up of the shimmer in the metallic rub.

Materials: White cardstock, Hero Arts Blossom Art stamp set, Versmark ink, black embossing powder, distress ink in fired brick, spiced marmalade, and mustard seed, Viva gold metallic rub. Sewing machine.

Size: Standard A2 4.25" x 5.5"

Thanks for stopping by!

Jessica

Disclosures:

I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Glitter Frame with Heart

Here is a card that I created for this months simplicity challenge; found here. The frame is created with gold glitter and double sided adhesive. The white border and heart were painted on with watered down white acrylic paint.

Materials: Kraft cardstock, gold glitter, 0.25" wide double-sided adhesive, white acrylic paint, black marker, Fiskars corner edger.

Size: Standard A2 4.25" x 5.5"

Thanks for stopping by!

Jessica

Disclosures:

I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Simple Embossed Celebrate

Sometimes you need some simple muted colors and patterns so that you can put some readable text over the top. Vellum is great for this purpose. If you love a patterned paper, but it's too busy to read over the top of it, try putting on a vellum overlay. I used an embossed sentiment on the vellum and then stitched to a couple of strips to brightly colored paper. If you adhere vellum with glue or double sided tape, you'll have to hide it because vellum is transperent and you will be able to see where you placed the adhesive. To get around this, I stitched to vellum overlay into place.

Materials: White cardstock, vellum, thread, TPC Studio - Cupcake cling stamp set, Versamark ink, white embossing powder

Size: Standard A2 4.25" x 5.5"

Thanks for stopping by!

Jessica

Disclosures:

I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Die Cut Monogram

Here are some simple cards using both of the alphabet dies that I own and some specialty cardstock.

Materials: MFT by the letters, Hero Arts Uppercase, white cardstock, foam dimensional, specialty cardstock
Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Embossed Thank You

Here is another way that you can get the most of your die cuts. Cut out several of the same design and then glue them all together. For my project, I used 5 layers of 110 lb. Georgia Pacific cardstock. Looking back, I may have gotten better results if I had only used like 3 layers. After the 5 layers, the impression wasn't very crisp. So, I used an empty ball point pen to better outline the letters, turns that I was unable to make things really crisp and clean (I've never tried "hand-embossing" before so I'm not sure if it was just me, or it's just not feasible to make it look nice and neat) Either way, even though the effect is not what I was going for, I like it. It reminds me of greenware or a rough clay model.

Materials: MFT by the letters, white cardstock
Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

Rippled Ribbon Card

Here is a simple, but trendy card using ribbon that has been machine stitched to a card base. Can be left blank or customized to fit that perfect occasion. Either way, this is a card that will make a statement!

Materials: White cardstock, ribbon, thread

Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Leaf You're in My Thoughts Card

Sometimes, there are very few words. In those instances, less can be more. A simple image to go with a simple message can be very fitting.

Materials: White cardstock, vellum, black gell pen, Hero Arts Clear Stamp - Blossom Art (CL495), Versamark ink, white embossing powder
Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

I Heart You Card

A simple card today with a simple message. The green embellishments are actually beads that I melted down  and adhered to the card.

Materials: White cardstock, black gel pen, melted beads
Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Baby Card

Happy Friday! I created this card earlier in the week when I realized that I don't have enough baby cards. It seems like everytime I turn around, someone else I know has found out that they are expecting. I guess that's what the late 20s will do to you!

Materials: White cardstock, Alphas, melted beads
Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Embroidered Ombre Monogram Tutorial

The card today features embroidery. I love the effect of stitching on a card - especially when the thread is ombre and teal. As much as I love this look, it is very time consuming. It doesn't bother me so much, I tend to like tedious work, but I feel like I should warn the rest of you. For your letters, there are lots of options. Anything that can be used as a template, will work (examples: stamps, printed from the computer, stickers, letter embellishments, or draw your own)

1. Letters: Once you have chosen the letter that you want, put it on some scratch paper or printer paper. (I drew my own letters on notebook paper below.

2. Next, position your letter over the cardstock that you would like to stitch onto. (Make sure you have something behind the papers to protect your work surface from holes. (I use kitchen towels). Once the letter is positioned, poke holes in the ouline of both the template layer and cardstock.

3. Remove the template and you can see where you need to stitch.

4. Take some thread and get to work (this is the time-consuming part). I like to use ombre thread, because it adds so much interest to a somewhat "flat" project. I like to use 3 strands of embroidery thread (it comes in bunches of 6 strands) for the perfect weight of the lines. And that's it!

Here is my finished project.

Materials: White cardstock, embroidery thread
Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Debossed Thank you

Alphabet steel dies can be expensive. That's why I'm always trying to get the most of out them. Here is another way that you can use steel dies - emboss with them. To get this effect, you have to work with your machine a little bit to find the perfect thickness. I have a cuttlebug, but you could use any of the die-cutting/embossing machines. I first put down an A plate, then a B plate, then some layers of old Tshirt scraps, then my paper that I wanted embossed, then the steel dies, then another B plate. I used cotton letterpress paper as it tends to emboss beautifully; see for yourself!

Specifications:
Materials: Sturdy white cardstock MFT steel die - Die-namics by the Letters
Size: Standard A2 size (4.25" x 5.5")

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Simple Thank You

Less certainly is more with current card trends. This is about as simple as you can get! (I, of course, could have omitted the patterned paper and it would have been okay, but I NEED color. So that really wasn't an option for me.)

Materials: White cardstock, Patterned paper, Black gel pen
Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

I Love You Grid

Create an interesting focal point by weaving together scraps of white and patterned paper. Add some vellum hearts (or whatever symbols your heart desires) to give the card a theme.

Materials: Kraft cardstock, white and colored paper, red vellum hearts, white gel pen
Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Simple String Thinking of You

Certain occasion don't need a lot of "fluff". I found myself needing a card for someone at work who is going through a rough time, but all of my cards seemed inappropriate for the occasion. They were all too feminine, or the focal point wasn't just right, or the sentiment didn't fit. Either way, this card is generic enough to work for lots of occasions, but unique enough to let your loved one know that you truly do care.

Materials: White cardstock, Sting, black gel pen
Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!

Stitched Banner

I have a ton of colored cardstock that I've acquired over the years, but more and more I'm just using white and customizing it to make it work with my project. In this card, I just colored white cardstock (for the most part) so that I could achieve an entire color spectrum. Whether you have lots of colored cardstock or just white, this effect is simple to reproduce and has  certain visual appeal.

Materials: White cardstock, Bic Markers, stitching with white quilting thread
Size: Standard A2 card 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Disclosures:
I use the craft products that I like to use. I am not paid by anyone or any entity for marketing of the various products that I may mention on this blog.

If you like what you see, I invite you to follow my blog or visit me on my pinterest or Etsy sites! Just see the right-hand side of the screen!