Friday, February 28, 2014

Heidi's Focus on Scalloped Oval and Scalloped Circle Dies and Stamps

Have you ever wondered what to do with the Scalloped Circle and Scalloped Oval Clear Sets?  One day I sat down and made a bunch of these cute little tags.  Using a variety of sets along with mini stamps and the matching Scalloped Circle Die and Scalloped Oval Die I made these:
When I wanted to add color behind the decorative shapes, I used the new Scalloped Oval nesting dies and Scalloped Circle Nesting dies to create a colorful piece.  Now I have all these cute starters...What can I do with these?
Now I can add these mini embellishments to a card that I want to make.  Here I used the mini Snowman with the Scalloped Circle die.  Next I added some extra flowers, foliage and the Frosty advertisement to complete the card.  So grab a set of these fun stamps, create a bunch of minis and your on your way to making some cute cards with a "little" help!  Tomorrow I will show how you can take these pre-made pieces and make cards...Fast!

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Farewell to Guest Designer Iris


Welcome to my last GDT posting for Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps. Thank you so much for having me and it was a pleasure guest designing with these adorable stamps!

For my last card today I used the second butterfly available on the Dragonflies 2 clear stamp set. My project with the other butterfly from this set can be seen HERE.
Quick 'How To' : Card measures 4.5" x 5.5", cut from plain white 110lbs cardstock. I then cut another plain white layer 4.25" x 5.25". Adhere washi tape. Add flower and secure with pearl brad. Adhere layer with foam tape to card. Stamp butterfly with black ink onto white cardstock. Now stamp the butterfly again right on top of the just stamped balck image using embossing ink. This is easy as it is a clear stamp! Heat emboss with clear fine detail embossing powder. Cut out butterfly. Adhere to card using  foam tape. Stamp the little antennas right onto the card and embellish with 2 small pearls. Stamp sentiment (also from the Dragonflies 2 clear stamp set) onto white cardstock and cut it out; adhere to card with foam tape.

The following two photos show the embossed effect. It adds nice textures and shine to the butterfly and make it pop:




A view from a different angle:


Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,



Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Angela's Gesso Tutorial!

Hi!  Today I am going to share one of my favorite techniques using gesso.

This is what you will need to create the background:
Gesso
Distress Stain
Credit or Gift card
Heavy Paper (I use mixed media paper)

Place a bit of gesso on craft mat, using credit or gift card, pick up some gesso on end of card.

This next step is the tricky part but it's also the fun part!  Holding the plastic card as flat to the paper as you can, lightly drag it down the length of the card stock.  You don't want to have a solid covering of gesso so keeping the plastic card flat will aid with that. (I usually practice a bit before I use my expensive paper)

Allow to dry completely before next step.  

Last step:  have fun staining!!!  I press my dauber onto the craft mat to get the stain flowing then I liberally add stain to the card stock.  The gesso resists the stain giving you a fun unique background every time you use this technique!  For a bit of a finish I used distress ink on the edges of the card stock.

For my finished card I used the sweet birds: Black Capped Chickadees Red Rubber Stamp and Happy Spring 2 Red Rubber Stamp for the sentiment.  I also used Scallop Circle Nesting Die to frame the image.

Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win the bird stamp featured on this card. One lucky winner will be chosen and announced this Friday.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Guest Designer Iris: Enjoy The Moment

 

Hello Everyone, it's Thursday and time for another Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps Guest Designer creation. Once again I used the beautiful and versatile Dragonflies 2 clear stamp set.

I stamped one dragonfly onto designer paper and embossed it with Frantage shabby white embossing powder and also added white Gesso around the edges. The second drangonfly was stamped onto cream colored cardstock using Pistachio Memento ink. I've added Gesso again to achieve a little vintage look. Both dragonflies were cut out using the matching Dragonfly Die. 
Other dies used are from Memory Box, flowers are from WOC and the rolled rose is handmade using a Memory Box die. Sentiment is also from the Dragonflies 2 clear stamp set. Designer papers are from Pion Design and the lovely lace is from Live and Love Crafts. Furthermore I used a pearl string and Stickles glitter glue for some bling.

Closer look on the dragonflies and the sentiment.

Thanks for visiting me here today and have a wonderful rest of the week!
Hugs,



Monday, February 17, 2014

NEW BLOG HOP WINNER and Spring Inspiration!

Welcome To Prickley Pear Design Team Monday! Our second prize winner never collected their prize, so we drew a new winner from all of the comments left on our blog hop posts.

Winner from Brenda's Blog:
Bunch of lovely cards.
Thanks for sharing.
Carla from Utah
 
Congratulations Carla!  Please comment on this post and email us with your mailing address and we will send your fabulous prize along!
 
Don't forget to comment on our posts....you never know when we will select a random comment for a small surprise! 


Designer:  Brenda Weatherill using CLR032A Crosses 2 Clear Set, D032 Cross Die



Designer Jenn Borjeson using DD0194 Effie, Sm


Designer Jenn Borjeson using DD0201 Happiness is Knowing, FF0062 Love Hanger


Designer: Tracie Clary using HH0154 Bicycle For Two






Thursday, February 13, 2014

Guest Designer: Iris with a bit of SPRING!



Happy Thursday! Today I want to show you another creation I made as a Prickley Pear Rubber Stamps GD. I made a CAS style card using the 'Chicks With Hat' image.
The image was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto XPress it card. I colored using Graph' It markers and Copics. The sentiment I've added on the side is also from Prickley Pear and you can get it here. For a little embellishment I doodled around the image, added some Ice Stickles to the flowers and added a grossgrain ribbon.


here's a close-up on the image:


and a view from a different angle:



Have a wonderful day and thanks for visiting!



Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Brenda's Easter Basket Tutorial


 
Today Brenda is sharing with us a wonderful little Easter Basket Tutorial!  Enjoy!

Start by cutting the A4 sheet of card down to a 21cm square  and score in both directions at 7cm intervals so your piece is divided into nine equal squares, then score the four corner squares diagonally as below. Crease all scored lines and you will see the shape of the basket coming together. The four diagonal corners scores need to be carefully folded inwards.


Next cut 13 - 6.5x6.5cm squares – five of one pattern and 8 of a contrasting one. Cut four of the five in half diagonally and stick to the inside of the folded corners and the fifth the inside base. Stick the eight matching ones to the four inside and four outside square sides.


Cut four shapes with your chosen die, then stamp and colour each and stick onto the four outer squares.......make sure you get them the right way up and not upside down as I did on my first attempt !!


 
Finally pop an eyelet into each of the four corners, draw the basket up into shape and thread ribbon through the eyelets. And walla, you have a pretty little basket to fill with Easter goodies.