Japanese Thank You Card

Here's a card I created for the Michael Strong's Yahoo group November challenge - an oblong Thank You card.

Supplies used:
Red leather textured CS for the card's basis

Japanese patterned paper
Cream CS

Pergamano Parchment (Vellum) paper
Michael's Strong's Cloisonné Dragonfly stamp (large)

Embossing ink

Hematite EP

Martha Stewart Edge Punch - Hydrangeas
Brown ink
Gold rub-on

Clear round blings and dark red square blings

I wanted to give this card a classical look, so I used a calm color combo, and made the dragonfly fly by lifting its wings in the air.
The only thing which keeps it from flying away is the weight of the blings on its wings… very light, very transparent.

Take a look at the Dragonfly's close-up.
Can you actually see the Dragonfly in flight?

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Camouflage Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Here's my 5th card for this week, in military camouflage colors.
I made this card for my son who's a soldier. He's about to finish one of his very difficult military trainings.
I'm sure you understand why I can't give you any details (I wish I could say more, but it's all top secret), so trust me that all the elements and colors in the card perfectly match the spirit of what he's doing.
I wish him good luck in his future military service.
I miss him badly when he's away but I'm very proud of him!
As peace is rare in our country, all I can wish for is that he comes back home safe from those dangerous actions he won't tell me about.

Materials used:
Black canvas textured CS for the card's basis
White CSCuttlebug embossing folder - Distressed StripesRanger's Distress ink - Tea Dye, Crushed Olive, Forest MossA recycled piece of a cereals package Mat gold canvas textured CS
Michael Strong's Fleur De Lis Die Cutters
Camouflage colors cotton ribbonClear blings
3D double sided foam tape

I embossed the white CS through the Cuttlebug and distressed it using Ranger's Distress ink - Tea Dye, Crushed Olive and Forest Moss, trying to give it a camouflage effect.
I printed the text "I'll Be Watching You ..." on a recycled piece of a cereals package and colored it using Ranger's Distress ink - Tea Dye.
I adhered a camouflage colors cotton ribbon.
I used Michael Strong's Fleur De Lis Die Cutters to cut the shape out of mat gold canvas textured CS.
I glued all the elements 3D for extra dimension.
I added several clear blings to resemble the lights in the darkness.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Bookmarks With Japanese Fans

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Today I decided to share 3 kinds of bookmarks, all with the same motif - the Japanese Fan.
I always read several books at the same time, so I find bookmarks very useful.
It's Technique Thursday, therefore I used Michael Strong's technique for painting the background paper and 2 other techniques for making the bookmarks.

I painted the background myself, using the technique shown at Michael Strong's tutorial

I sure know how to paint, yet making my own background paper is fun and always gives surprising results.
For the 1st bookmark I used this tutorial but changed it to my needs.
For the 2nd bookmark I used Shira's tutorial
For the 3rd bookmark there's no need for a tutorial, I'll explain about the materials I used.

These bookmarks are easy and fun to make, and you can add them as gifts to books.
Materials used:
Red leather textured CS for stamping
Transparency sheet
Black canvas textured CS for the painting technique
Acrylic paint – I used white, red, light blue and silver

Brushes, 2 sizes
StazOn ink - Jet Black
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Fan Stamp (small)

Large paper clip
Red and turquoise satin ribbons
Clear and red blings
Double sided tape
3D double sided foam tape
Crop-A-Dile
EK Success corner Adorner

First I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Fan stamp on red leather textured CS several times and once on a transparency sheet using StazOn ink - Jet Black, and cut them all using TH scissors.
Then I created the painted background paper on black canvas textured CS.
For the 1st bookmark I adhered 2 stamped fans to a large paper clip (on both its sides) using 3D double sided foam tape, and added clear blings and a red satin ribbon.

For the 2nd bookmark I used the background paper, cut 2 triangles of it and glued them carefully.
I added a stamped fan on a transparency sheet and a red bling.

For the 3rd bookmark I used a scrap of the background paper, its corners rounded.
I added 2 stamped fans and large clear blings.

I punched a hole using the Crop-A-Dile and added red and turquoise satin ribbons.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Extra Sparkling Christmas Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Here's my 3rd card for this week - another Christmas card, using Iris Folding again. What a fun technique, you should try it.
I re-used gift wrapping hologram papers for an extra sparkling effect.
You can find a very clear tutorial in Hetty's blog
You can find the pattern in Michael Strong's blog.
If you want your pattern to match the size of Michael Strong's large Christmas Tree Die Cutter, print it after resizing it to exactly 11.31x 14.86 cms (who said size doesn't matter? lol)

Ingredients:
Red leather textured CS for the card's basis
Black canvas textured CS for the Christmas Tree Iris Folding

Recycled gift wrapping hologram papers - shiny green and shiny silver with stripes and circles, and silver with white dots
White photo paper
Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter
Snowflake punch (1 inch)
3D foam tape
Red blings

I used Michael Strong's Christmas Tree Die Cutter to cut a Christmas Tree shaped hole in my CS. It cuts like butter, it's a pleasure to work with these cutters (I'll save the cut-out tree for a later project).
I created the Christmas Tree Iris Folding on the back of my CS and turned it over, its textured side up.
I used recycled gift wrapping hologram papers - shiny green and shiny silver with stripes and circles, and silver with white dots which reminded me of snowflakes.

The papers were so sparkly that it was difficult to take a good photo of the card. Can you see how sparkling it is?
I glued the finished CS using 3D foam tape onto the card's basis for extra dimension.
I added several snowflakes, punched out of photo paper which is very white and resembles snow .
I added several red blings to add some glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly

Simple Love Notes Card

I'm Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group for this week, so for 5 days I'll be showing you several works using Michael Strong's stamps. I hope you'll find them inspiring.
Here's my 2nd card for this week, in strong, contrasting colors.
It is a 50 years anniversary card for an overseas friend.

Ingredients:
Cream leather textured CS for the card's basis
Red leather textured CS
Black canvas textured CS
Patterned paper - Background Papers Book 1 by Crafty Individuals
EK Success Edger Punch - Morocco Lace
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Heart stamp (large)
Embossing Ink
Gold EP
Ranger's Distress Ink - Black Soot
Black lace
Red half pearls
3D double sided foam tape

I punched the black canvas textured CS using EK Success Edger Punch - Morocco Lace.
I distressed the patterned paper using Ranger's Distress Ink - Black Soot.
I layered the papers and added a piece of black lace for a romantic look.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Heart stamp (large) on red leather textured CS, heat embossed it with gold EP, then cut it with nail scissors and glued it 3D for extra dimension
I added several red half pearls for extra glam.

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)
Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed. Have a creative day! Dorly