Home Sweet Home Card

Here is my 5th card for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group
I decided to use the new adorable Little Houses Set - are these stamps stunning or what?
I can already think of so many ways to use them... they are a must have!
I created this card to celebrate a newly renovated house.
The colors I chose are vivid, and there's quite a lot of coloring which is fun, as there are so many creative options.
I chose the background paper with the musical notes because the people in this house love music.
I wish their home will always be filled with music and laughter!

Supplies used:
Cream textured CS for the card's basisTurquoise CS
Crafty Individuals patterned paper - Background Papers (Book 1)
Cream CS
White recycled CS (from a tea pack)
Spellbinders Shapeabilities Dies - Fancy Tags
Martha Stewart's Gothic Arches edge punch
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
Michael Strong's Little Houses Set - Cottage
Michael Strong's Mini Cloisonné Wings Stamp Set - Hummingbird (small)
Embossing ink
Michael Strong's Midnight black EP
ProMarkers
Tiny clear bling
Double sided foam tape

First I stamped Michael Strong's Cottage stamp from the Little Houses Set on cream CS, using VersaFine ink - Onyx Black.
I colored the stamped image using several colors of ProMarkers.
Then I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné small Hummingbird on a piece of recycled CS using Embossing ink.
I heat embossed it using Michael Strong's Midnight black EP.
I cut the small Hummingbird using scissors.
I cut and layered the background papers and added the punched fence.
The printed sentiment and stamped images were all glued 3D for extra dimension.
Finally, I added a tiny clear bling for the Hummingbird's eye.
Now take a look at the close-up to see the detailed coloring.
Can you notice the cute kitten at the window? I colored him blond with blue eyes (lol)
I just love how versatile this stamp is - it can be colored in so many ways, and it can be combined with other stamps such as the Hummingbird in flight.
Endless possibilities!

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

Gecko Tag for Good Luck and Paisley Tag

Here are my 4th creations for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group

Today it's Technique Thursday, and rather than sharing a specific technique I preferred to share several useful tips.
Therefore I created two tags on which it's easier to demonstrate my tips.

I decided to use the Cloisonné Gecko Stamp and the Cloisonné Paisley large stamp.

The colors I chose are earth tones, trying to match the stamped images and the embellishments to the backgrounds.

Supplies used:
Cream CS for the tags
Beige and cream CS
Vintage book's pages
Cuttlebug embossing folder - Distressed Stripes

Spellbinders Shapeabilities Dies - Fancy Tags
Crop-A-Dile
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Gecko Stamp
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Paisley Set (large)
Ranger's Distress ink - Rusty Hinge, Pine Needle
Embossing ink
Ranger's Green EP
Versacolor metallic Ink - 3 colors - bronze, gold and silver
Promarkers - Vanilla, Mint Green
Green pen
Big spotted brads
Flower eyelets
Ribbons and fibers from my stash

Double sided foam tape
Double sided tape

First I stamped the Gecko and cut it around.
Then I stamped the Paisley, heat embossed it, colored it with ProMarkers and cut it around.
I embossed the tags using the Cuttlebug and colored them with Ranger's Distress inks.
The Ribbons and the stamped images were all glued 3D for extra dimension.
Then I added the eyelets and the brads.

Now here are my tips for a better looking creation, no matter if it's a tag, a card or any other project.
The back side of the work looks messy - holes for the eyelets, ribbon strands hanging loose, brads' legs showing.
All these make each project look unfinished and non-professional.
To avoid this, simply cover the back side of your work, and none of the above will be seen.
I used a vintage book's page to cover each tag's back side.
Then I added a satin ribbon and some colorful fibers at the top of the tags.
You must admit they look better now.

You can also cover the back side of brads and eyelets or the ribbon's attaching place with small punched out or die cut papers, and use them as decorative elements.
Do you have any tips you'd like to share?

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Mini Wings in Flight Butterfly Card

Here is my 3rd card for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group

Today I created this card thinking how sunny it was (yes, in February!)
It felt like a day to spend outdoors, but I couldn't get inky in the garden (lol).
So I enjoyed the lovely day and it inspired me to think of flight and nature.
I decided to use the Silhouette Panels stamp set, which coordinates with the Cloisonné Stamps: Butterfly, Hummingbird and Dragonfly.

The colors I chose are pastels and the mini Butterfly seem to be in flight, who knows where to…

Light blue CS for the card's basis

Crafty Individuals patterned paper - Springtime (Book 3)
Turquoise and yellow CS
Off-white recycled CS (from a tea pack)
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
Michael Strong's Silhouette Panels Stamp Set - Butterflies
Michael Strong's Mini Cloisonné Wings Stamp Set - Butterfly (small)

Embossing ink
Michael Strong's Midnight black EP

Light purple half pearls with sticky back

Double sided foam tape

First I stamped Michael Strong's Silhouette Panels Stamp Set - the butterflies - on yellow CS using VersaFine ink - Onyx Black.
I cut 4 squares of turquoise CS for matting.
I cut the heart using scissors (the paper was taken from a journal).
Then I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné small Butterfly on a recycled CS using Embossing ink.
I heat embossed it using Michael Strong's Midnight black EP.
I cut and layered the 4 squares on top of the background patterned paper.
I added the heart and the Butterfly, all glued 3D for extra dimension.

Finally, I added light purple 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

Japanese Hummingbird Card

Here is my 2nd card for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.

I created this card for a dear friend who likes Japanese motifs.

This card was created using strong, contrasting colors, yet it reminds me of a serene nature's scene.

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

Black and red leather textured CS
Off-white recycled CS (from a tea pack)
Dovercraft patterned paper - Eastern Promise
Narcissus stamp by Kodomo
VersaFine ink - Onyx Black
Michael Strong's Mini Cloisonné Wings Stamp Set - Hummingbird (small)

Embossing ink
Michael Strong's Midnight black EP

ProMarkers - Mint Green, Tulip Yellow, Peach
Black Satin ribbon - recycled from a chocolate box
Clear tyny bling and several medium blings

Double sided foam tape

First, I stamped the Narcissus using VersaFine ink - Onyx Black.
Then I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné small Hummingbird using Embossing ink.
I heat embossed it using Michael Strong's Midnight black EP.
I colored the Narcissus and the Hummingbird using ProMarkers - Mint Green, Tulip Yellow, Peach.
I cut and layered the papers, added the ribbon and glued the stamped Images 3D for extra dimension.

Then I added a tiny clear bling for the bird's eye and several medium blings 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

Flower, Rosette and Ribbons Card

Here is my 1st card for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group

I created this card for a dear family member who has recently (finally!) retired from work.
I hope he'll have many opportunities and a lot of free time to have fun, and to travel often - especially to Israel.

This card is especially suitable for a man, because of its strong and masculine color combo.

It is also my interpretation of this month's sketch (#42) at the group.

Supplies used:
White CS for the card's basis
Red and cream leather textured CS
Basic Grey patterned paper - Origins (2 pages)
Patterned paper for the Rosette (from a friend)
Spellbinder Nestabilities Classic Circles
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower Stamp (small)
StazOn ink - Black
Tim Holtz Rosette Flower Die
Polka Dot satin ribbons in 3 colors
Sentiment - "Happy Retirement" gold rub-on
Light green blings in various sizes
Double sided foam tape

I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Flower using black StazOn ink.
I cut and layered the papers according to the sketch.
Well, I had to alter it a little bit.
So I moved the circles, the rosette and stamped flower to one side of the bottom circle to create an asymmetric look.
Then I added this whole stack a bit outside of the patterned paper square.
I added the ribbons the sentiment.Most elements were glued 3D for extra dimension.Then I added several blings for extra glam (men like it too, I hope…)

(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Angels Christmas Card

Here is my 5th card for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.
It's a Christmas card with a romantic background.

Supplies used:
Cream CS for the card's basis
Turquoise CS
Background patterned paper - Christmas book by Crafty Individuals
Shiny gold paper
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Christmas Tree Set of 3 (small and medium)
Embossing ink
Black EP
TH scissors
Martha Stewart's Gothic Arches edge punch
1" Snowflake punch
White and red half pearls with sticky back
Double sided foam tape

I punched the turquoise CS and layered the papers.
I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Christmas Tree small and medium stamps on turquoise CS, heat embossed it with black EP and cut it carefully using TH scissors.
Both trees were glued 3D for extra dimension.
I added shiny gold snowflakes and several the colorful checkered ribbon, and also several white and red half pearls for extra glam.
BTW the musical notes sheet was only used as a background paper for taking photos.

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

Mini Cards And Mini Envelopes

Here are my 4th creations for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.
I decided to share 2 Mini Cards and Mini Envelopes.
It's Technique Thursday, therefore I used the attached tutorial.

I have no idea where I got it from, so if you recognize its source please tell me so I can link back to it.

Supplies used:
Japanese patterned paper - Making Memories
Red and grey leather textured CS for stamping
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Fan Stamp (small)
Michael Strong's Cloisonné Christmas Tree Set of 3 (small)
StazOn ink - Jet Black
Embossing ink
Black EP
Scor-Pal
EK Success corner Adorner
TH scissors
A colorful checkered ribbon
Clear and red blings
Double sided tape

I created the mini envelope according to the how-to shown here.
I glued the envelope using double sided tape.
I used Making Memories double sided CS, so both the inside and the outside of the envelope look nice.
I cut two 3x3 mini cards out of the same CS, to match the envelope.
I rounded the envelope's and the cards' corners using EK Success corner Adorner.

I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Fan small stamp on red leather textured CS using StazOn ink - Jet Black, and cut the stamped pieces using TH scissors.

Then I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Christmas Tree small stamp on red and grey leather textured CS, heat embossed it with black EP and cut it carefully using TH scissors.

Then I added the colorful checkered ribbon, and also several clear and red blings for extra glam.
BTW the musical notes sheet was only used as a background paper for taking photos.
(You can enlarge each photo by clicking on it)

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

Japanese Dragonfly Happy Birthday Card

Here's the 3rd card I made for this week as Card Captain of the enjoyMichaelStrongstamps Yahoo Group.
It's a Happy Birthday card for a dear friend.

Supplies used:
Red leather textured CS for the card's basis
Shiny gold paper
Japanese patterned paper - Making Memories
Pergamano Parchment (Vellum) paper
Michael's Strong's Cloisonné Dragonfly stamp (large)
Embossing ink
Gold EP
Happy Birthday stamp by Hero Arts
VersaFine Onyx Black ink
Clear and red blings
Double sided foam tape
Diamond Glaze

I cut and layered the papers.
I stamped "Happy Birthday" using VersaFine Onyx Black ink.
The sentiment was glued 3D for extra dimension.
Then I stamped Michael Strong's Cloisonné Dragonfly stamp on Parchment (Vellum) paper, heat embossed it with gold EP and cut it carefully.
I attached the Dragonfly's body using Diamond Glaze, allowing its wings to hang in the air as if it's flying.
I added red and clear blings all over 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