Stars and Stripes-An Americana Card using Star Stream

Happy Thursday Junkies!
Jerri here to share a patriotic card with you!  I really wanted to do something for the upcoming holiday so here it is.

I'll apologize right up front because I wanted to do a step-by-step tutorial on this but I've had a crazy week and I just couldn't get it pulled off in time.  So without pictures I"ll do my best to give you the step-by-step instructions.  It looks long but that is because I'm a little windy and not because the process is complicated ha ha. (no really I'm a talker hee hee).  This is a super easy card that can easily be modified to fit whatever supplies you have on hand.

1. Cut a piece of Kraft cardstock to the dimensions of your card. I cut a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock in half to make a card that has dimensions of 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 when folded.
2. I placed a star stencil by Heidi Swapp over the right edge of the card, then I sprayed over the stencil and card front using Glimmer Mist in the color Denim.  You could use any spray you have in red or blue, and you could use any stencil that would work with the theme.  There are several cool stencils available at the TJ Website.
3. I found this cute red, white and blue ribbon at Wal-Mart.  I really wanted to hang a charm from the ribbon but since resources are pretty slim in my neck of the woods, I was unable to find what I wanted.  I dug through my paper stash and found some patriotic paper. I cut out the USA and then I used my Martha Stewart Ribbon Threader Punch to punch two holes so I could thread the ribbon through. If you don't have a punch like this, you can cut slits with a craft knife where you want to thread the ribbon.  I've done that many times and it works really well.  
4. Once the ribbon was threaded through the tag, I wrapped it around my card.  The section where the ribbon comes together should meet in the front so it can be hidden by the flag. 
5. Cut a piece of white cardstock to the size you want your flag to be. This will be the base for your flag.
6. Tear a strip of blue cardstock in a length that will run along the left side of the flag.  Only tear one side of the blue paper. You will need a straight edge to run along the outside of your flag.  Also, make sure your strip is wide enough to accommodate the star stamp you are using.  \
7. Using a Technique Junkies stamp called Star Stream, I stamped along the blue strip with Versamark Ink and then heat embossed it using an off white embossing powder. I wanted the flag to have an Americana feel so I didn't want the starts to be stark white. (I used Seafoam White)
8. Tear strips of red and white paper to fit horizontally on the cardstock. Make sure the edges that will show along the top and right side of the flag are left with a straight edge..
9. Once all of the red and white cardstock pieces are torn to size, make sure they fit on the piece of cardstock that you cut in in step 4, as your flag base.
10. Glue your red and white stripes along the right edge of the flag base and layer them if desired.  I layered by starting at the bottom and working my way up the flag (like shingles).
11. I used some Tim Holtz ink in Tea Dye along the edges of the red and white strips to give it an aged or an Americana look.
12. Glue the blue paper with the stars along the left edge of the flag.  
13. Now that the flag is assembled, cut a foam sheet just smaller than the size of your flag and glue it to the flag base before adhering it to the card. This will raise the flag slightly above the card to give it dimension.  You could use pop dots here but I really like using the thin foam sheets for larger areas like this.   You can refer to a post on my blog on June 1st regarding these sheets and how I use them- Technique Junkies Blog Hop- Happy June. I learned about using the foam sheets from the talented Jennifer McGuire Blog.

I hope you enjoyed today's card post. If you have any questions or comments please let me know. I would love to hear from you.

Have an AMAZING day.

Jerri

Nesting Bird Card by A Bushel and a Hug

Happy Thursday Junkies!

Jerri here- Is everyone getting geared up for the Blog Hop?!  I know I am SUPER excited.  We have been busy bee's getting some fabulous creations made with the new May Release stamps.  You won't wanna miss a thing so make sure you check in here TOMORROW.

Today I am sharing a card made with the beautiful stamp called Nesting Bird.  As you may have figured out by now, I like to color.  I started off by stamping this image on some Kraft paper. I used a Memento ink pad in Cocoa.  I used my Copics to lay down a base color but I then used my colored pencils to really lay some color on the image. I wanted it to "pop" against the dark brown paper.

I created small rosettes using some of the leftover patterned paper (see the video below for a tutorial on how to make them). I colored the edges of my rosettes with a Copic marker and then used my Wink of Stella on them for some added shimmer.  I also used the Wink of Stella on the eggs and the flower of the stamped image as well.   I used a gold Copic Spica pen on the nest and tree branch. 

I tried to zoom in so you could see the sparkle that the Spica pen provides.  It doesn't really show up as much as it does in person but I think you can see the little glimmers enough to get an idea.  I love that it looks like a small gold thread was woven through the nest.  I like that the Copic Spica pens have such a fine tip for making tiny hair thin lines.  I put them throughout the nest and along the branch.  

I stitched around the card for added detail and then on the base of the easel card I used another great stamp called Hope is the Thing.  A beautiful quote from Emily Dickerson.

If you would like to learn how to make a rosette like the one's shown on this card check out this video.

I hope you enjoyed today's post and I hope you get a chance to check out our blog hop tomorrow!

Have a Beautiful Day!

Jerri

Graduation Gift Card Holder

Happy Thursday Junkies!

Jerri here, to show you a Graduation Gift Card.  Can you believe it's that time of year already?!  May is right around the corner.

I find it hard to believe that another school year has flown by. I find it even HARDER to believe that my niece is old enough to graduate.  Sheesh... she's making me feel old.

I got the idea to use this stamp as a pocket, because I like the way the flowers were left open and free form at the top.  I generally give gift cards for graduations, so I thought this stamp would make a perfect pocket for just that purpose.  Also, by putting the gift card and the sentiment on the front, you can use the entire inside of the card to write a special message if you so desire.

Here's how I made my card---feel free to do your's however you like. Just have fun with it!

• Stamp Darling Blooms onto white cardstock using black Versafine ink and clear embossing powder. If you don't have that, you could use Versamark clear and black embossing powder.
• Heat your image with a heat tool to activate the embossing process.
• Once the embossed image has cooled, color it in with as many colors as you like.  I used my Prismacolor pencils but you could also use Copics, Distress Markers or whatever you prefer.
• Cut out the stamped, colored image.
• Using a sewing machine, stitch around the 3 straight edges of the image.
• Attach your cut out to the card front, leaving the top open for the tag. I used redline tape to make sure it was secure.
• Either purchase or create a tag with dimensions that will fit inside your pocket.  This size may vary slightly depending on how close to the edge you use your redline tape.  I cut my tag using the Silhouette Cameo.  I embellished the tag with a ribbon and by sewing around the edge to match the pocket. 
• Attach your gift card to the tag using a repositionable adhesive.
• Stamp the sentiment on white cardstock.  I used "congratulations" out of the set Holidays 1 Flourish Sentiments.

If coloring isn't your thing, I have a plan up my sleeve for next week, to give you another great way to use this beautiful Darling Blooms stamp. 

I hope this inspires you to get a jump on those graduation cards. 

Have a great day!