Card Ideas for the Not-So-Crafty

The beauty of nature

2011-10-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a fairly straight forward 7x5 card I did with some of the new stamps I got at a rubber stamp convention this summer. The edge underneath the mountains is also a new Spellbinders Edgibilities die. The mountains have been colored with 4 shades of nuetral gray Copic markers with a little bit of warm gray mixed in a few places. Rather than try and make a scene with the mountains, I opted to cut them out and mount them on dark blue cardstock since the words speak about the beauty of nature and giant mountain peaks are awe inspiring examples of nature that dwarf anything man has built.

As always, click on the images for full directions including the stamps used and paper sizes.

Swing Card

2011-09-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post that I put up a new card a few minutes ago. This a swing card = as you pull it open the image in the middle swings around and changes.

Click the card if you want to read the directions I posted on how to make it.

3 new cards

2011-09-05T06:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a bunch of new cards I have done since my last post here.

First, I been playing with waterfall cards. These are cards where you pull the bottom tab and the images on the paper flip up and then tuck under revealing a short paper animation.

Here's a get well card example. This should appear in animated form. If not, you may need to view the original post on the blogger web site.

I have several other sets to make cards like this. Here's one of the Halloween themed one I've posted:

There are several more still to post and a flip card but it takes a bit of work to pull the images into an aligned animated gif so I've skipped ahead and posted this get well teddy bear card I made yesterday:

If you want to know more about how to make a particular card, just click on it to get the full directions from my web site.

Catching up

2011-08-04T18:17:00.000-07:00

I've been spending a little more time on web site maintenance and home repairs recently than on making and posting cards but here are the last batch of cards, most of them in the last week or two. Also, just a heads up that the last updated index on my website got shaken up a bit and older cards are now more recently updated because I fixed some html mistakes and a few spelling mistakes that my new editing tool found.

This is a HoneyPOP card. When you open it there is a honeycomb shape inside. There is nice picture of the inside of the card in the full directions.

5x7 card I made playing with a stamp set I had never used and some scraps.

Relatively easy Flower Soft card. You just need a branch stamp, some Spellbinders dies and a background stamp to make it a little more interesting.

Deja vu in pink.

This is a glitter card. I stamped the flourish and traced with glue and covered it with black glitter. The butterfly was covered with a brushable glitter glu and then glittered with a fine glitter.

If you are interested in reading more about any of the cards above, click on the image for full directions.

Birthday Definition cards

2011-06-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

Here's two more cards. They are the same design but by changing the color choices and adding some glitter I turned the male version into a female version. If you are struggling to make male cards, a lot of times you can do the same thing with a feminine card design.

Click on either image if you want to see the detailed directions.

New design - if you didn't notice it yet

2011-06-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

If you haven't noticed on my website yet, here is a new card design I posted but have been remise about getting out there on the blogs.

	This the masculine version. The background stamp is a line pattern and none of the main colors are feminine.
	This the feminine version. Purple is just not a guy color for the most part and swirling heart pattern adds to that feeling.
	This the neutral version. The main colors are neutral or even lean toward being earthy guy colors but the swirling hearts are more feminine.

As always, click on any of the images to see the larger versions or the full directions.

New HoneyPOP Cupcake Card

2011-04-29T11:20:00.000-07:00

I found a leftover HoneyPOP cupcake from my previous card and you can't let a cupcake go to waste so I whipped up this new card design using it.

Outside Front

Inside of Opened Card

As always, click on the images for full directions if you want to know more about to make them from my website.

HoneyPOP Happy Birthday Cupcake

2011-04-23T17:51:00.000-07:00

Here's a really cool card I made using one of the Inky Antics HoneyPOP birthday sets. I figured out how to mount the honeycomb on the outside using magnets on one side so it can be enjoyed and displayed with the cupcake open but can still go into a regular envelope.

Also I have a special request to make. Inky Antics is having a special contest on Facebook this month, giving away $25 worth of Inky credits to the HoneyPOP card that gets the most likes, so if you have a Facebook account and like the HoneyPOP cards I have made, please hop over there (https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Inky-Antics/147604798605457) and like my cards so I can win some more stamps.

As always, click on the image if you are interesting in reading the full directions.

HoneyPOP Hoppy Easter Card

2011-04-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

Here's the outside front of my second Easter card. This one uses the same stamp set plus another one and the honeycomb paper.

Opening the card, opens the honeycomb paper to reveal this surprise inside. The inside here is mostly following the standard pattern established by the set.

As always, click on an image for the full directions and supplies.

Carrots For You Easter Card

2011-04-17T18:39:00.000-07:00

Here's the first of two new Easter cards I created using Inky Antics' new HoneyPOP stamp sets. This one doesn't use the HoneyPOP paper but the next one does. I'm still working on the post and web page for the other card that does use the new HoneyPOP paper. Stay tuned, I hope to post it tomorrow night but Easter in nearing so I thought I would get what is done out tonight.

As always, click on the card for full directions.

Easter Card

2011-04-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

Here's another Easter card using the same cross stamp as my last Easter card post as well as a background stamp from the same set. The cross image is colored with Copic markers, including the gold. This time the card is a 5x7 because the cross image is so large you have to make the card a little bigger to be able to add the additional elements.

Like all my posts, just click on the card image if you want the know more about the stamps, colors or want to see the full directions and bigger images.

Delicate Bike

2011-03-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

Here's an any occassion card I made using a delicate bike pedistal stamp. It's a little different than what I would have normally done but I was trying to be different and not have white showing on the front of this card. The bike is heat embossed and the gold paper is actually paint dabber. Complete directions are available by clicking on the image if you want to learn more about how is was made.

This week's cards

2011-03-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post with the cards that went up on the website this week. First up are two cards based on a watering can image. The first one is a 5 x 7 card and the second one is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 if you are wondering why the watering cans are different sizes. I scale all my card images to the same size so they fit into the template I am using for the directions on the website.

I've been working on making and getting some Easter cards up on the site before Easter this year. Here's the first one of 2011. You could probably use this one for other religious events as well like christenings or baptisms.

If any of them interest you, just click on the image to get the directions.

Another Funny Card

2011-03-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Here's another funny card from the same stamp set.

Inside it reads, "The odds of getting any money out of it are about a million to one."

Perfect for someone who likes to play the lottery or to whom you don't normally send a gift.

The really interesting thing on the card is the paper on left hand side. I made that by stamping out all the numbers in different colors to create a paper that was inspired by the balls they use for the actual drawing. I used more stamp pad ink colors on this card doing that than I have ever used on a single card. Can you guess how many? They are all listed on the directions of course - just click on the image. Has anyone ever used more?

Funny Cruise Card

2011-03-19T17:45:00.000-07:00

Here is a funny card I made using on a retired Stampin' Up! stamp set.

This version was done with Copic markers. There is another version on the main direction page as well where I used colored pencils and Gamsol (oderless mineral spirits). Just click on the image for the the directions.

The inside of the cards reads, "Will you pick up my mail while I'm gone?" Perfect for that cruise lover in the family.

Happy St Patrick's Day

2011-03-14T11:54:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick's Day is a difficult event for cardmaking because most people aren't going to be giving out too many cards except maybe to a few special people. This means I am not usually going to get a lot of use out of whatever I buy for the event. Ok, a good portion of what's in my craft room has never seen any use but will one day (don't laugh you know its true of yours as well), so maybe that's not the best criteria but you know, whatever you get, you are going to make a few cards for that year and then probably never it use again because you already made them one with that stamp or cut out.

This year I found a super cheap and easy solution to that problem. A. C. Moore had a big pack of Nicole St Patrick's Day stickers for $1.00 that inspired me to make this year's design. I started with the stickers in mind and found paper that matched the sticker colors and then worked out a paper layout that made the card be more sophisticated than just putting down some stickers.

The top and bottom yellow sections had a bunch of small shamrocks stamped in them in a light green to step it up further but for some reason the scanner totally missed them. Unfortunately, I didn't realize this until today after I had the images cropped and straightened and ready for posting so rather than delaying them and having a Happy Belated St Patrick's Day post, here are my cards for this year:

As always, click on the card image for the full directions from my website.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Leftover Butterflies

2011-03-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a card Mom put together from butterfly leftovers I gave her.

I had stamped out a sheet or two or three of these butterfly images last year when I was planning to make one of these cards:

The image turned out to be to big for what I had in mind though and I never got back it. Good to see them put to good use.

Click on any of the cards for directions on that card.

Stamping On Dark Paper

2011-03-12T13:48:00.000-08:00

Here's another card like the thank you in the last past where the image was stamped on dark paper (black in this case) and then colored and two stamped. The techniques is fairly quick and creates really unique images.

As always, click on the card if you want additional instructions on the stamps and techniques.

Cards from the past week or so

2011-03-09T18:23:00.000-08:00

Just a quick catch up post with the cards that have gone up over the last week or so. As always just click on the image if you want full directions on any of them.

A card that fits in a business sized envelope...

Get well cards Mom made from some of my initial scrapped imaged.

Stamping and coloring an image on dark paper....

Larger Get Well Card

2011-02-28T07:21:00.000-08:00

Here's the last variant Mom made of her get well card. This one was designed as a 5x7 card so there is more room on it so a larger group of people could sign it if someone wanted to pass the card around in an office or group setting. It doesn't show up on the web background well but the card base is white so the entire inside surface and the back surface of the card are usable for writing. She changed the sentiment stamp to something larger with a little more weight and rearranged the elements a little to take up more space on the front of the card but the rest of it is similar to the way the elements on the previous cards where made. Here's the card. As usual, click on it to see the full directions for it on http://www.sharedcards.com.

Two More Get Well Cards

2011-02-26T10:20:00.000-08:00

About a month ago, I posted this get well card that my Mother had made.

She made two more variants using the same basic design but using a more monochromatic color theme instead of the a Red Hat Society color theme that I just put up on the website. Here they are:

One thing that she did that didn't translate too well into web images is to place Crystal Effects on all the heart images. This gives them a clear dimensional shiny appearance in person. You can see the light reflection in the bottom of the some of the hearts from the dimensional layer it added if you look closely at the enlarged image on the website.

The full directions with stamp sets and techniques used are up on the website, as I normally do. Just click any of the images to go to that page on the website.

No Stamping Required!

2011-02-20T14:53:00.000-08:00

Here are two relatively easy and quick cards that just require you find the right piece of patterned paper and do some color matching. These started life as a sheet of 12x12 scrapbooking paper that I picked up on sale. This one had a repeating pattern of nothing but candle images on it and I cut out the images and turned them into cards like the ones below. The nice thing about this "technique" is that the images are already color matched by the paper designer and you just need to find matching cardstock.

As always, click on the images for full directions. There are some additional assembly tips on there that I didn't repeat here.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-13T09:43:00.000-08:00

Here's an animated gif from last year that I'm reposting for those who might not have seen it before. If your into digi-images and digital scrapbooking this is another idea of something you can do with those images to create an animated greeting that you can email to someone. It's really not that hard and the software you need is freely available for all the popular OS's.

If you would like to add this to your own blog, web page, or wall to celebrate Valentine's Day, please use the following html code:

<a href="http://www.sharedcards.com/"><img border="0" src="http://www.sharedcards.com/free_greeting_card_designs/2010/Love_Is_Like_ECard/thumb.gif"/></a>

Two New Cards

2011-02-12T08:34:00.000-08:00

Here are the cards I posted this week. The first one is a loon image that I stamped and then colored with Copic marker. The water was done with their airbrush system. The second one is made just using crafting tools and machines. I essentially made my own glitter paper for the flower after I cut it out. Check out the directions by clicking on the image for either one if you want to know how to make them.

Two Step Stamping Butterfly

2011-02-05T19:51:00.000-08:00

These two cards use a technique called two step stamping to get the different colors. This is where the stamp set includes one or more stamps that are designed to fit inside or over the areas of another stamp.

In this case the butterflies are stamped in black and then you stamp each of the wings individually. It gives your image color but all you need are rubber stamps and ink pads. This was a clear stamp set it was easy and quick to line up the images.

Everything is stamped on the one sheet of white so it was a little more complicated getting the butterflies and words to all fit and be centered and where they made sense after everything was in place though but if you click on the one of the images the directions walk you though how I finally managed to get everything in its proper place repeatably after wasting a few white mats. Actually they didn't get wasted, they ended being the back side of the white on the cards but don't tell anyone.

Get Well Card

2011-01-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest card posted today. Mom made this one! As always, click on it if you want to know more about how to make it.

Retro 3D Glitter Flower Card

2011-01-24T17:43:00.000-08:00

Here's my latest card. Directions are on my website if you want know how to make it. Just click on the card image.

Seagull Breaths Card

2011-01-21T18:46:00.000-08:00

If you want more directions on how to make this card, click on it to go to my website

Purple Daisy Bouquet

2011-01-17T18:16:00.000-08:00

Here's the my latest card. It's done using stamps from Purple Daisy Designs that fit into the EK Success Paper Shapers daisy punch. That should have made it easy to make ... but ... I put 11 flowers on it, each colored and shaded with Copic Marker and then mounted at three different interconnecting layers so it took a while to complete one. The results are worth it though if you decide to try something like this.

Here's the card image. As always if you want more directions, supplies, sizes or a bigger image, just click on the card image below to go to my website. The instructions for this one also explain the mounting of the flowers a little more.

Thank You or Valentines Day card

2011-01-12T18:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick and easy card you can make if you have these Dazzles stickers, a gold Adirondack paint dabber and a heart border punch.

You can use it as a general thank you for someone special or turn it into a Valentine's Day card by thanking someone for loving you. As always for complete directions, click on the card or visit my website.

Have you frog-otten a birthday?

2011-01-09T16:42:00.000-08:00

Here's a card I've been wanting to do for a while that's perfect when you forget someone's birthday.

As always, click on the images for full directions including the marker colors and paper sizes and if you've made similar frog cards, share them in a comment.

Valentine's Day Card to start off 2011

2011-01-06T21:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a Valentine's Day card idea to start off the New Year!

As always click on the card if you want directions to make it.

Seven Lost Cards

2010-12-27T11:54:00.000-08:00

Here are seven Birthday cards with a free floating tag that I started putting up under the challenges section of my website a long time ago but never finished and put online until today. The background for them is under the challenges section which you can get to by clicking here or you click on the card for the instruction sheet and jump over from there.

I've been reorganizing the site a bit and have put up a new subject based that should make it easier to find stuff with the web site at 143 card images and growing. Stop by and check it out and let me know what you think.

Three New "Gift" Cards

2010-12-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

Here are three new cards I made to give away as gifts this year to relatives who don't make cards but do send them out on a regular basis. The little birdies are going to my grandmother, since a little birdie used to always tell her stuff when I was little. The cupcake on the birthday card is colored with Copic marker. I showed them to someone and they didn't like it because they thought it was a printed image that had just been cut out and mounted so I guess that was a compliment? Either way I now feel the need to point that its a hand color cupcake image.

These were actually made with cling mount studio g clear sets that Michaels had on an endcap for something like one or two dollars a set earlier this year and the Recollections paper Michaels sells.

As usual, just click on the image if you want to see the instructions sheet on my website.

Happy Holidays

10 Days Until Christmas - Last Minute Card

2010-12-15T08:34:00.000-08:00

Just 10 more days until Christmas! Are your Christmas cards made yet? Are they mailed? If not here's an idea for some quick cards - use stickers for your main image. I found a stack of stickers I had brought a few years back on sale for just this purpose and combined one of the images on the sheets with one of the latest Tim Holtz dies, some stickles and some inked white paper. It took a while to come up with the design but once I had that making them went fairly quickly for a homemade card. The real key to this approach is to find an affordably priced sticker sheet with a lot of images that appeal to you so you can get many cards per sticker sheet.

If you want read more, here's the original blog post I did on it. If you want directions and sizes, click on the image for the instruction sheet or click here.

Holiday Present Card Update

2010-11-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick update on the latest card I created. It's a Christmas card based on same present stamp I used a while back for an any event card. By just changing the colors used, it is now a Christmas present. I used Sharpie markers this time so this is something anyone can easily do. The full blog post is here if you want to read more, or you can click on the card to go the web directions.

Two more Christmas cards

2010-11-22T20:29:00.000-08:00

Here are 2 more Christmas cards if you are looking for some quick and simple ideas. Just click on the card if you want to see more information about how to make it.

Thanksgiving and Christmas Cards

2010-11-19T18:14:00.000-08:00

Here's the latest set of cards I've posting this past week or so:

	Millie's back for a Thanksgiving appearance! She's colored with colored pencils and Gamsol blending this time.
	Here's a landscape version of the card.
	Here's a different color arrangement
	Here's a glittery Christmas card made from multiple types of glitter with Copic markers for the coloring.
	Here's another Christmas card. This one is just stamping, punching and tinsel glitter on the side.

I did full posts for them over on my main blog if you want to read more about what I was thinking, or just click on the image if you want the web directions for how to make it.

Cards that have been in hiding

2010-11-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

Hello all! It's been ages since I've posted, hence why I have so many cards to post. it has been a busy year, and I have learned some new techniques. I am still very into making very homey cards that clearly look like they have been handmade, so these cards are not the best of the best, but they are my best and I am very proud of them!

A simple mother's day card.

A card for a friend who is very much in love with elephants. I am sorry to say that I do not remember where I got this idea from, but the idea was not mine. I have now applied the "patchwork" technique to other cards I have made, and if this came from you I am sorry I am not giving credit where it is needed. I do love this new technique though!

My sister LOVES peace signs and everything about them. I used a piece of tracing paper as the liner in the card.

This is an anniversary card I made for my parents. I can't find the exact website I used for this, but this is the most basic design for the woven hearts and you can find a pattern almost anywhere!

I love this card I made for my brother on his birthday. It took me a VERY long time to make though. I just looked at a simple picture I found on a website and brought it to life!

I made this card for a friend who was feeling a little down. Just a simple, bright and cheery card that hopefully brightened her day!

That's all I've got for now (I know it's a lot). Hope you enjoy them!

Holiday Cards, Please!

2010-11-14T07:01:00.000-08:00

I've officially fallen off the card-making bandwagon and won't be able to start until after we move for the second time this year in December. That being said, I love seeing the cards you all post!

This is a plea for Christmas cards and other holiday cards!! Anyone have good ideas? You can even scan ones from previous years that you received and thought were great.

Happy holiday season!

~Julie

p.s. If you want to be a contributor, leave your email in a comment.

Christmas Goodies from a MIA Crafter :)

2010-11-07T14:13:00.000-08:00

I hope you enjoy these!!!

KarenB

Christmas Sentiment Tree Card

2010-11-07T10:20:00.001-08:00

Here's a great Christmas card to make.

It's great because:

It required a limited amount of supplies, especially if you already have stuff to do embossing.
All the supplies came from local craft stores at 40-50% off.
Each card does not take hours to complete. There are a lot of great cards out there but most are too labor intensive to be practical if you have a lot of relatives and friends you need to send cards too.
Most importantly, it looks nice.

Since this is the first Christmas card post of the season, I'm going to try to do a giveaway. Post a comment on my main blog using the link below on the original posting by Nov 14, 12:00AM EST. For every 25 people that comment, I'll giveaway a pack of 4 of these cards to a random winner until I run out so spread the word!

Enter here: http://sharedcards.blogspot.com

Hauntingly Cute Fun!!!

2010-10-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share a few Halloween cards I've made. I'm not typically a big Halloween card maker but this year has been a bit different!! I'm ready to start Christmas cards so I'll be updating again soon!!!

I hope you enjoy these and as always, if you want details on the images or anything else you can visit my blog!!!

Free Standing Halloween Card

2010-10-25T06:32:00.000-07:00

This is a free standing card that you mail folded up and flat in a normal sized envelope. You can use it as a card or just as a general decoration that you put out somewhere. The recipient simply pushes the base down the card to open it. There is a side view on the website if you click on the image.

Aside from the time spent coloring, this is actually a fairly quick and easy card to make with the right tools. The key to this card working out right is for all the folds to be properly positioned. If you have a scoring board, this is easy to accomplish. The score locations are in the directions (click the image). I used the Martha Stewart scoring board, so they are relative to the way that one is marked.

Trick or Treat Leftovers

2010-10-13T22:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a card I pulled together from the leftover pieces of the last card I posted.

There are some tricks to getting it to go together easier, so I'd recommend clicking on the image and checking out the directions if you like this one.

Trick or Treat Pumpkin Card

2010-10-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice card that's not too hard to make. The colored paper is all from the same Bazzill basics stack, so the colors are the same muted tone and coordinate well together. Since they are muted they coordinate perfectly with the background mat which uses muted colors as well. The background was from a 12x12 sheet which had some printed distressing on the corners that I kept in the bottom right for visual interest where you are going to look when you open the card.

The pumpkin is colored and shaded on white paper using Copic markers. The shading adds another dimension. I highly recommend people develop some way of coloring their images but if you don't have any way of coloring a pumpkin image you can always just stamp it on orange cardstock.

If you have been following along you on my main blog should recognize this pumpkin image as one of the dollar stamps I've been using a lot. You can also think of this card as the final step up on the series of simple orange cards I posted using this image because this does represent what you can do when you move beyond a simple pack of cheap colored cardstock to a higher quality coordinated pack of cardstock and a modern stack that uses the same types of colors.

As always, click on the card for the larger image and direction sheet if you want more.

Witches Brew

2010-10-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

Here's another Halloween card. This one is a fairly large image of two witches brewing up some magic that started out as an unmounted rubber stamp I brought last month. It's colored using Copic markers and then because the image was so large, simply framed with a black border to make the card front. I initially thought I was going to make it be a lot more complicated but there wasn't much else I could do and stay at the 4.5 x 5.5 card size and I really like that card size because its easy to get premade envelopes locally for them and the card tends to stay under 1 oz, or one stamp. As always click the image for full details.

Simple Halloween Cards

2010-10-01T17:53:00.000-07:00

If you haven't caught them already on my main web site or off the sharedcards blog, here's a bunch of really simple Halloween card anyone can make. For some of them, you can even get your children or students involved. The best part is a lot of the stamps were just assorted holiday dollar stamps.


This next one looks complicated at first, but if you check out the instructions, it's really just stamping and cutting and meticulous placement.

As always just click on the card if you want sizes or more information.

A couple of fairly simple cards

2010-09-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

It's been a while because I've been off at Copic Certification class and then at a rubber stamp convention buying up new stamps and then hanging Bygel rods on the wall to organize punches. The start of the new TV season has been taking away from my card making time too but I've finally got a few new cards done to post.

Before I start in on the new Halloween and Thanksgiving cards, I thought I would catch everyone here who isn't following my main blog up on a couple of simple cards I dug out of the pile from years past.

	This is a fairly simple card that shows what a creative corner punch and outside frame can do to dress up a simple stamp.
	Random interesting placement of squares of paper and some colorful zigzag paper that reminded me of a southwestern style.
	This card was leftover pattern paper dressed on the sides with ribbon and a color coordinated sentiment that you can punch out if you have the right punches.

Just click the image to see to the full instruction sheet if you want know what punch or stamp set I used.

Back to School Excitement and some Fab News!!!

2010-09-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

I have finally become a Copic Certified Designer!!! I've been trying and trying to find a class to get this done but there were never any close to me but finally, on August 29, 2010 they had a class here in Albuquerque and I was accepted within a few hours of submitting my application so I was super excited!!!

So, here is one of the cards I made after taking the class and learning so much more about Copics. I used a new technique taught in the class that I never, ever thought of to create the denim effect on his jeans - how cute is that??? If you want more details on how it was done stop by my blog - Memories Unleashed!!!

I hope you enjoy!!

Two new cards

2010-09-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a get well card I posted earlier this week:

Click on the image to get directions from the website if you like it.

Here's a deceptively simple male card I posted today. It's just rubber stamping and paper so it looks pretty easy to modify to just about any occasion but it's the little design choices that make it different. The center paper isn't just blue, it's patterned paper that I stamped on. The photo tabs only hide half of what's underneath and the center paper is smaller, which means all the colors come together in the photo tab and it ties the different elements together physically and visually. The background paper is also textured which helps it be a little more than just a simple paper card.

Again, click on the card for the website page if you want directions or the full screen image.

Cookies, squares and the doctor

2010-08-29T07:21:00.000-07:00

Here's a card I did trying to use Copic markers to get a semi realistic hair look. Its also pretty interesting in the fact that all the stamps, including the one use to make the background were from the same vendor. That seems to rarely happen anymore.

I have been trying to use up some of the more traditionally female colors before I open more so here is another Copic colored image card. Coloring your stamped images adds another dimension and allows to take images like this and customize them to the colors you want to use.

Finally, here's a simple creative paper card. I made it using male colors but the basic idea works for just about any occasion and any coordinating color combination. It's even something you could think about doing with your scraps if you have big enough pieces.

As always, click on the card to go to my website if any of the cards interest you and you want the supply list or more detailed images.

Millie the mouse and two new floral cards

2010-08-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post with the latest cards I've added on sharedcards.com. The first two are Millie the Mouse. This is a clever clear stamp set that comes with various items you can put in Millie's hand and on Millie's head so you might see more of Millie later.

The next two are A7 sized cards in a male-ish and female version. Flowers might be pushing it depending on the guy but it is at least blue. The oval is unusually tall so I had to fussy cut it out and the mat layers out by using a tracing wheel. There are actually two ribbons on the pink versions to get the width I needed so its construction is actually a little more interesting than it appears at first glance.

The coloring is of course Copic markers. I keep saying I need to make a card that doesn't use them but being able to color your stamped image opens up a whole new world of rubber stamps you can use and lets you tie in a bunch of different colors easily so they are proving hard to put down.

As always click on the card for bigger images and directions and if you want to read a lot more about how they got created, each of these has their own post on http://sharedcards.blogspot.com/.

6 new cards, new Facebook page and new contest pages

2010-07-18T23:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick summary of what I've made/posted this month so far on sharedcards.com:

	This is one my older and simpler cards.
	Another one of my earlier cards based on the same paper that shows it doesn't take a room of supplies to make an interesting card.
	I gave my Mom some of the butterflies I had stamped for the earlier butterfly cards and this what she created from my leftover butterflies.
	I've been blogging about different coloring techniques over on my main blog at sharedcards.blogspot.com and this was the one of two cards I did based on a Make and Take from a convention to get some experience using colored pencils and Gamsol blending.
	An alternate color scheme take on the previous card. It's not obvious from the scanned image but the card is really two cards in one. The puppy is the top of a card and the bottom flap is tucked inside that card so you pull up on the puppy to open the little top card.
	Same stamp, new original gatefold card, but colored with Copic marker.

In the near future, I'll be putting the watercolor version up and a take 2 on the Gamsol version where I figure out how to get darker, more fully colored images. I started it this weekend but I was disappointed with my attempts to turn those images into new cards.

Sharedcards.com finally has a Facebook page. My posts on this blog tend to be more digests of what I've gotten done since my last post and I'll continue doing that so if you just want to see the cards every couple of weeks, along with everyone else's card posts, this will be the place to come. I am going to start taking the time to update Facebook, and as result Twitter, as the cards are uploaded, so if you want real-time updates on what's been added that will be the place to go. The links are on the sharedcards.com at the bottom of every page, just click on one of the card images above. If you really want more of the back story reading behind the cards, I am going to start putting up more elaborate posts that I'm not sure everyone here might be interested in reading, like the blog posts on coloring techniques mentioned above, at http://sharedcards.blogspot.com. Since the blog posts will usually be related to the current card, that will tend to be fairly up to date, but blog posts take a little more effort than a quick scrible on the wall.

The sharedcards blog is also where I'm trying to get contests going so if you want to win completed versions of some of my cards and maybe some other stuff, you may want to check out the new contest page I put up this month on the sharedcards blog. All you have to do to win right now is publically follow the blog and then read it once a week to see if you won, once there are enough people following.

New Rubber!

2010-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have been to two rubber stamping/paper crafting shows so far this summer and have picked up a ton of new stamps and a lot of unmounted rubber images that I had to stick on cling foam and cut out but got for about a third of what I would have had to pay if they were on wood. Ok maybe its gonna end being more like half by time I get more binders and add in the cling sheets for the binders but I could have never afforded this many images if they had been premounted on wood and its going to save me a lot space and they are real rubber. I love the acrylics for the same reason but rubber just seems to work well with any ink and the clear stamps are hit or miss sometimes.

I mainly got stuff that fit three main categories:

Really cool words
Images that can be colored
Images suitable for Flowersoft, usually in combination with coloring.

I'm not expecting to get a lot of cards done this month but using the new stuff is going to be the theme so it will be lots of coloring - Copic mostly but maybe I'll throw in new colored pencil and watercolor pencil techniques I learned at the shows.

I also have 24 older cards I scanned to finish putting online as well. Those might actually get some time this month. We'll have to see what I really feel like doing after putting in long days at work.

Here's a quick index view of the uploads since my last post if you haven't found them on the website already. Click on them to get the directions and larger views:

	This butterfly escaped the last posting and was found in hiding.
	He was not alone either.
	Mostly Stampin' Up!, except the paper
	New rubber and Copics!
	Even the Cricut machine wanted to play with the new rubber!
	More new rubber, sayings and Copics
	New and old rubber, Copics and distressing for an any occasion male card.

A quick survey to help me decide how to post some of my older cards

2010-06-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

I have 24 "older" cards from before I started posting everything that I have scanned and started image processing (straightening the scan, color correction, resizing) them. My idea was was to post them on my web site like all the other cards I've posted here with a full supply list and directions and sizes but reality is setting in that between work, buying new craft stuff, making new cards, etc it may be quite a while before I get them documented well enough to post them that way. It's much easier to do when all the supplies are still on the table.

Instead of waiting until they are completely documented, I have been thinking about just posting them in a new sort of as-is section were you can see them but the supply and directions will just say "TBD" until I get to them or someone specifically asks, which may be never.

So my question is this:

How many people find benefit in having all the directions? Are you mainly just looking at the pictures on the blog or the website? Does anyone benefit from the size measurements? How about the supply list? Is that helpful? More or less so than the directions?

Please post your thoughts as comments on this post and help me decide how much effort I should put into getting these older cards online.

More butterflies, A Bandaid and a Blingaid and a Father's Day Card

2010-06-09T22:39:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post that there are 7 more cards on my website. The first three use the same butterfly stamp I talked about last time and the same mat stack. They are basically the same pattern, just different papers and sayings.

The next two bandaid cards I actually did a long time ago but am just publishing for the time. They are using done using the Cricut Expression and the Wild Cards cartridge.

Finally, there is my take one and take two of some of the Father's Day card cutouts on the cartridge. As always, click on any of the cards to go to the website and get better pictures and full directions.

Butterflies and Dragonflies

2010-06-02T21:48:00.000-07:00

My new favorite stamp is the same one you needed to find for the Mother's day contest - this one. These are half the cards I have made so far with the set and my favorite little patterned stack and my favorite cardstock stack for the summer. It's not a complete list of what you need but these cards rely heavily on those three items if you are inspired to try to make something similar.

Hopefully it won't take so long to get the rest of the designs online and you'll be seeing them in a few days.

Click on any of the card to get full directions.

These two are new as well but use different stamp sets. Click on any of the cards to get full directions. Here are the ink and markers you need for butterfly one if you want to get into coloring with markers without spending a lot of money.

Hopefully more butterflies in a few days...

Fun with patterned paper!

2010-05-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

I am on a quest to make at least one card from each of the printed papers in the DCVW Spring Flower Shower mat stack I got. A few of them go together really well so I decided to layer them in a new unique way. Here are the latest creations. Click on them to go the full web page if you want to see more.

Also if you can guess what I did for my Mother's Day contest before Monday the 24th, I am giving away a copy of the card in Birthday form. Visit my blog to play.

Mother's Day and Presents

2010-05-01T06:48:00.000-07:00

	Mother's day is coming up so here's last year's Mother's Day card. It's a fairly simple idea. I used die cuts mostly but you could adopt the idea to whatever letters you have available from punch outs to stamps. You could use this for a birthday card too. Click on the card if you want directions.
	I've done a fair bit of coloring with Copic markers recently. In this case, I used the BIC Mark-It Markers which have some interesting colors (even if the caps don't match the actual color) and are much more affordable. Since they are alcohol based you can use water based glitter glue over them without the ink running like I did. Don't get me wrong, if you can afford the Copic markers, Copic Ciao or Sketch markers are the better choice but I wanted to show you can do creative coloring on a budget with the right stamp and markers.
	Here is another variant, showing how you can totally change the look by just changing one of the colors. I tended to stay with more nuetral colors so it works for both genders. Click on either card if you want to know the exact colors or any other specifics.

Male Cards

2010-04-26T19:48:00.001-07:00

The first card was for my boyfriend for his birthday. The second card I made as a thank you to my dad for fixing my car.

Stampin' Up! Seaside Sketches and Copic Marker Cards

2010-04-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

Often times my inspiration for making cards is to just pick a stamp set or product I brought but haven't used yet and start making something with it. That's the case with these cards. I brought this stamp set a while ago but other than watercolor pencils, I didn't have a good way to color it. Now I do so I stamped out a bunch of the images and have been coloring them and assembling them into cards over the last two weeks. Here are the results.

For any of my posts, if you want more information just click on the image and you will go to the direction page on my website for that card.

Massive March Update

2010-04-11T21:24:00.000-07:00

I've been too busy creating cards and neglicting the blogs so here's a massive update of what I got done in March before I start putting April's creations online and fall 2 months behind, that is if I can stop making new stuff long enough. Click any of the images to go my website and get full directions for any of these cards.

	This is a Stampin' Up stamp set colored with Copic markers. Click on any of the card images for more details.
	Same card as before, but turned in a Birthday Card and on a slightly darker red because I was out of the lighter color.
	"Leftover" paper from my previous Easter card turned into a quick and simple Easter card.
	After a year of seeing it advertised in magazines, one of the local scrapbooking stores finally got Flower Soft. It's very simply to use, just apply glue where you want it and sprinkle it on!
	More playing with Copic markers and the first belated birthday card I have ever made.
	A different design created to play with my new Flower Soft!
	Almost the same as before but with the Spring Flower Soft and a Birthday sentiment.

Grandma J's Bday Card!

2010-03-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

My Grandma Jelinski just sent my 6-year-old son Robby the cutest monster birthday card!

I LOVE IT!

p.s. Her card wasn't crooked...that was my scanner's fault.

Look What I Found Under the Snow!

2010-03-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have been able to upload anything to the web but here are 4 cards I created over the last 6 weeks in between dealing with record February snow, taxes and everything life threw out last month. If you want supplies/directions for any of them, just click on the image to go to my website.

Get Well Soon

2010-02-23T16:23:00.001-08:00

A classmate was in a car accident so we wanted to give her a card from all of us. Here is what I came up with. Unfortunately I cannot take the credit for it. I got the idea from http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=335721.

All different ideas...

2010-02-21T13:21:00.000-08:00

Here are some cards made for many different occasions...

Here are some quick and easy cards...

2010-02-21T03:37:00.000-08:00

I did in February so far.

Deanne Burton

Washington Apple DSP Birthday Card & Kid Creativity

2010-01-23T17:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a birthday card I made today when my daughter said, "Mom lets stamp." (there is glitter on that present in the white spots, but for some reason it didnt scan) So I couldnt say no. She is 3 and 3/4 year old. She made the following:

Helping Haiti

2010-01-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, this isn't a card post, and I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing about Haiti by now. But this is a little personal.

My husband's cousin is trying to adopt two kids from Haiti, and they were nearly done when the quake hit. They are currently trying to raise money for their orphange in Haiti, and for everyone there (in addition to trying to find their children and get them out safely).

Here is their blog:

Countdown To Homecoming

If you want an easy way to help out, one of their friends is raising "coins for comments". If you comment on her blog, 5 cents will be donated to the cause. Here is the link!

Coins For Comments

On a card note, they have been selling these beautiful handmade cards. they are made using banana leaves, and are made by women in Haiti. This is just one example.

Here is a link to see more of them.

Haiti Handmade Cards

If you want to buy some of these cards, they will hopefully be getting the site back up soon, when the chaos has settled, and people in Haiti are able to rebuild and start living life again. Here is the store address (so check often to see when it comes back up):

Hope For Little Angels of Haiti Shop

Okay, I'll step off my soapbox now. Thanks.

Two Birthday Cards

2009-12-15T17:11:00.001-08:00

Here are two cards I made today for family birthdays this month. The ribbon is crunched because It was put on my scanner funny.

For my Sis-in-law &

for my nephew.

My Christmas Cards 2009

2009-12-06T15:07:00.000-08:00

Hey guys I was hoping to have these done last week but here you go!

Dasher embossed in gold:City of David:

Season of Friendship/Peaceful Wishes:
(the snowflakes are glittered)
Berry Christmas:

Delightful Decorations:
Patterned Pines:

Here is this years family photo and poem:

This is us at the Santa Train in Snoqualmie

Hark, oh friends and listen, for

On Kirkland's cold and shaded moor

our robust band of Wilsons four

Has moved into a humble dwelling

For Ben his thesis did defend

His languished schooling put to end

And with the help of faithful friends

In Bellevue works, malaria quelling

And all the while fair Bri was found

Getting bigger, growing round

Another sister coming down

Always crafting, sewing, baking

While Ginny has the magic touch

Counting, writing words and such

Violet talks and talks so much

Ne'er too far from trouble making

So at the end of another year

We gather with our family near

To recall again with joy and cheer

The baby born on Christmas morning

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Some cards for ya...

2009-11-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

To see more of my cards, go HERE.

Thanks,

Deanne

Some Halloween cards...

2009-10-29T18:32:00.000-07:00

DEANNE

Breast Cancer Month and Halloween Bday

2009-10-27T17:52:00.000-07:00

Here are two cards I made today. The first is my card I made for two lovely ladies who have survived breast cancer. Inspired by a card I saw in the SU catalog. The second is my Grandpa's birthday card. Yes he was born on Halloween.

Its hard to tell but the moon, pumpkin and bat are glittery. And the tree has crystal effects on it. sorry its not a better photo.

2 Cards

2009-10-18T08:04:00.001-07:00

We just sent this card to my mother-in-law for her birthday, so I wanted to capture it so I can recreate it someday. This card was designed by Julie Alberda, Stampin' Up lady. She's awesome!! She used Stampin' Up papers and stamps and a little diamond brad with a rhinestone. I like the use of three coordinating papers and the mauve and green go well together. Thanks, Julie A!
This is a cute card idea from my Grandma J. She made this card for my son's birthday. I like how simple, yet classy it looks. Thanks, Grandma!

Fingerprint People

2009-10-07T18:43:00.001-07:00

I started this 'hobby' when I was 17 and I'm now about to hit the big 30 so I wondered if the hobby could be turned into 'something' else! I make the simplest of greeting cards. The designs are simple and there's no message so they can adapt to pretty much anything. I hope you like them :)

Two baby, One Grad

2009-09-02T14:57:00.001-07:00

So I needed some baby boy cards believe it or not. And so I did these two simple ones. Got the idea from the SU catalog.

Sorry this one is harder to see.

Lastly this is my husbands Grad announcement. Its nothing fancy, but it was about time to get it done. Also inspired by the SU catalog.

Anna's Cards!

2009-08-25T05:03:00.001-07:00

My friend Anna made all of these last night. She emailed me pictures so I could post them. Thanks for sharing, Anna & NICE WORK! :)

Digi Image

2009-08-17T15:25:00.001-07:00

This first card is a digi image - only my second time ever using them but I do think I'm falling in love!!!

This second card started out going one direction but ended up like this:

As always, all cards are on my blog w/details of papers and/or Copics used if you are interested!

Thanks for looking!

Karen
www.craftscrapper.blogspot.com

Birthday card

2009-08-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a card I made for my buddy Julie A. It was a lot of fun to make with the sections of different paper. :)

More Cards

2009-08-13T05:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some more I've made recently:

Hope you can find something inspiring from one of these!!

Thanks for lookin'!!!

First Haircut

2009-08-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Donovan got his first hair cut!

Some more quick card ideas...

2009-08-11T05:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks for taking a look!!

Deanne

A Couple More

2009-07-22T11:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks for looking!!!

2009-07-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

A few more cards. The second one is a paper bag card. You can see more pics and details on my blog along with the other cards and which Copics I have used to color them with.

Thanks for lookin' and happy scrappin'!

ABC Birthday

2009-07-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

My daughter and her birthday buddy (only 1 week apart) wanted to have an ABC birthday party and I just couldn't hold back. Here is the invitations we made. Luckily, I had my stamping buddy, Bri, come over to hep me get the colors just right and then make 8 of them! We had so much fun. Thanks for your help. (we used rollers for the cupcakes and the letter background, and then the B is for birthday SU stamp set, added the cupcake from another set)I did a lot of stamping for her birthday party decorations and games.

Like ABC Bingo

and ABC cupcake flags using lots of scallop and circle punches. (the other mom made the cupcakes--they tasted as good as they look!)

I had so much fun making the ABC bouquet. I wasn't sure if it would work, but Bri loaned me a few supplies. So with punches, 2 ABC stamp sets, chipboard letters, embossing, ribbons, skewers & letters from foam ABC puzzles all came together to make the bouquet.

We had tons of letters all over the walls, windows and doors and the kids had a great time hunting for letters everywhere. The girls just turned 4 years old and are SO excited to have learned all their letters! So with stamping stuff (and a few things from the dollar store), we had an awesome alphabet birthday.

Thank You

2009-07-10T16:20:00.000-07:00

I ran out of Thank You cards and have as a result been less grateful than usual. Or at least appeared that way... ;) So I whipped up a few as fast as I could with a fun Spring card making kit from DCWV. I think I'll use the rest to make a few little girl bday cards... Try not to flinch too much--I did these fast.

Summer Fun

2009-07-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

And a corny one:

Some Recent Stuff

2009-07-05T19:14:00.000-07:00

Just some stuff I've done in the last month or so and thought I'd share!! Hope you all had a safe and fun holiday weekend!!!

Red,White and Blue!!!

2009-07-04T17:32:00.001-07:00

Christmas in July!!!

~DEANNE~

Here are some cards I've made recently...

2009-06-28T04:51:00.000-07:00

IT'S A BOYHI GORGEOUSHELLO HANDSOMEHB 2YOU2 FRIENDS 2 GETHER 4 EVER

Deanne

Father's Day Cards ...

2009-06-18T18:33:00.000-07:00

Since Father's Day is Sunday I thought I'd share a few of thecards I made ..enjoy! :)

Happy Fathers Day

2009-06-16T11:38:00.001-07:00

I made this card for my dad for fathers day. I kinda put it together fast, I probably could have done more with it. Anyway inside I put "Happy fathers day from your wild animals." Five animals for our family of five. Enjoy!

Maid For You

2009-05-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

"Maid" this card today for a blog challenge and thought I'd share. Used my new MFT stamps and embossed on foil. Did some layering for the wallpaper and carpet effects along with some stickles - I just love me some stickles!!! Papers are from Making Memories. Thanks for looking!!!

Happy Scrappin!

getting hooked

2009-04-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

I'm getting totally addicted to stampin and card making. I don't have much ideas or creativity when it comes to layout, so I usually end up copying or adapting something from the SU catalog or other idea book. But Julie and Bri have encouraged me to post. So here we go.
I've been trying to use my new stamp sets I got from the Sale-A-bration. Here is a few using the Congrats set. I was able to make a retirement card for my daughter's preschool teacher, a graduation card for my brother in law and while I was at it and had the supplies and ideas I made a wedding card as well.

These are from the Yummy set.
These 2 are copies from the SU idea book/catalog. They were a little more involved, but turned out OK I thought. I can't remember which stamps I used for the Thank You card on the left, but I used Happy Everything and Eastern Blooms on the card on the right.

Another layout I totally copied, but I really love these little owls(from the Owl Together Now set) and I finally started using my Stamp-a-ma-jig and I LOVE it. Why I haven't been using it sooner to get my stamped images to turn out all lined up properly.

SU regionals Seattle '09

2009-04-20T10:21:00.000-07:00

So I went with my Stampin Up demonstrator Julie Alberda to the SU regionals here in Seattle. It was a lot of fun. We spent a whole day swapping card fronts, making new projects, learing techniques, and winning prizes. Below are pictures of the three cards I made to swap. This was a little tricky because you could only use current SU products and you had to have at least one embellishment like brads, eyelets, or ribbon. It was fun to have to follow rules and see what people came up with.

Ice cream cone card from the set "Party Hearty"

Beach card from the set "Lifes a Breeze"

Dino card from the set "Prehistoric Pals"

Below are all the cards I got in return. (Julie I added a ribbon and brad to that Christmas card, check it out)

And this next slide show is of the projects we made and the free stuff we got. :)

These final pictures are ideas posted at the convention. Inculding using the big shot to cut out fabric for quilting, and layering buttons and brads.

I had a lot of fun. Thanks so much Julie!

A couple of cards for ya...

2009-04-14T14:39:00.000-07:00

HAVE FUN 4 U
~based on a sketch by Dawn Baty

Hi all!!!

2009-04-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

Wow, I have not been here in a while and I apologize! I see some gorgeous work and new members!! Welcome to you all!!! Hi Deanne!!! It is great to see you here as well! I am on the DT at De's sketch site - she is so sweet and a fabulous designer! I've gotten quite a bit done lately but have been so busy with school (I returned to college last fall) that I haven't gotten here to share! I will be working on leaving you all love on your work but know I have seen it and it is all so great!!!

Here are my cards from my DT spot at De's sketch site:

And here are some cards that I've done for misc blog challenges and such:

I saw someone mention they were looking for challenge blogs. Well Deanne has a blog FULL of sketches and then if you go to my blog and scroll to the bottom right there is a listing of blog challenges - most are for cards but there are some LO challenges as well!

Thanks for looking and I'll try not to be a stranger!!

Cute cards to try!!!

2009-04-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

I have a tutorial HERE for you to make the flowers!!!

DEANNE BURTON