Peridot Cards

As there are still several cut-aparts and plenty of paper left, I decided to make a few more Halloween cards.  I also used a few more Operation Write Home card sketches.

For the first card I used OWH sketch #20.  As most of the paper in the collection is a very busy print, I went through my paper stash to find a few sheets of solid color cardstock.  I think the orange cardstock, which has a pearl finish, tones down the busyness of the background paper and picks up on the orange in the sentiment cut-apart.  To finish the card, I added a few orange rhinestones in various sizes for a bit more color and sparkle.  I choose a very simple layout which I think offsets the busyness of the paper.

Supplies:

• American Crafts Pearl Specialty paper
• Recollections orange rhinestones

The second card is based on OWH sketch #61.  The small “Happy Halloween” cut-apart was just the right size for the sketch.  Since only the edges of the background paper would show, I was able to use more of the pattern paper without it being overwhelming.  For the matted layer in the center, I used some scraps of the bat paper left over from another card.  I added a strip of gold washi tape between the bat paper and the sentiment for some separation and a bit of shine.  The card was still a little “flat”, so I die cut a few small bats using the Cricut Wildcard cartridge.  I covered the bats with Glossy Accents and adhered them to the card with glue dots.

Supplies:

• Cricut Wildcard cartridge
• Recollections 3/8 inch gold washi tape
• Ranger Glossy Accents
• glue dots

For the third card I used OWH sketch #123.  Other than the size of the sentiment, the pieces are very close to the measurements provided with the card sketch.  The sentiment is part of a strip of sentiments included in the paper collection.  I simply cut the 12×12 sheet into strips and selected the individual sentiments I wanted to use.  The orange paper is some more of the pearl finish cardstock.  The final “touch” was to heat emboss a silver spider on the black banner.  I used an anti-static embossing bag to help ensure the powder only stuck to the stamped image.

Supplies:

• American Crafts Pearl Specialty paper
• Fiskars Creepy Crawlies spider stamp
• Tsukineko Versamark Watermark ink
• silver embossing powder

Tools and supplies used for all of the cards includes:

• Recollections “Dead & Breakfast” printed paper
• Recollections black cardstock
• Recollections white cardstock
• Scotch Advanced Tape Glider (ATG)
• Tonic Studios Tim Holtz 12.25 inch guillotine trimmer
• Cricut Expression Diecutting machine
• white 110lb paper (for card base)

While I liked the individual papers in the collection, I found creating cards a bit challenging.  This was a 12×12 paper pad, so some of the prints were larger scale.  Also, the collection included many busy prints but no tone-on-tone papers.  It was difficult to combine multiple papers on a single card.  I do think the paper would be great to use for scrapbooking where pictures and larger scale embellishments would offset the busyness of the paper.

There is still plenty of paper left to make more cards.  However, as I don’t send very many Halloween cards, I have enough for this year and am moving on to autumn and Thanksgiving themed cards.

For my first “new” cards, I decided to do some Halloween cards based on a few Operation Write Home card sketches.  The OWH sketches include measurements, which I modified to accommodate the size of the cut-aparts in the Recollections Dead & Breakfast paper collection.  The cards are all A2 size – 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 inches.

For the first card I used OWH sketch #218.  I thought the haunted house cut-apart was perfect for this sketch.  It also gave me a chance to use the “Haunted House” stamp which has been in my collection for quite some time.  This is one of the numerous stamps that I had a great idea for at the store, but couldn’t quite make it work once I got home.  The key strip of paper is part of a 12×12 sheet made up of different stripes of pattern paper.  I was able to use these stripes in several cards.  To finish the card I added 3 gold brads to coordinate with the gold foil accents on the door, windows and moon on the cut-apart.

Supplies:

• Studio G “Haunted House” stamp
• gold brads

For the second card I used OWH sketch #165.  The strip of smiling pumpkins is another stripe from the 12×12 sheet.  I used a border punch to create a matted layer for the pumpkins which added some separation from the orange background paper.  I created a small tag (7/8 x 1 3/4 inches) for the sentiment and used a Crop-a-dile to set the black eyelet.  I wrapped the bakers twine around the card several times, added the tag and then tied the twine.  To ensure the sentiment is always visible, I added some tape to the back of the tag to hold it in place.

Supplies:

• Fiskars “Trick or Treat” stamp
• Recollections bakers twine
• Fiskars Border punch – Bracket
• We are Memory Keepers Crop-a-dile hole punch and eyelet setter

For the third card, I choose OWH sketch #158.  I wanted to use the “creepy” cut-apart but couldn’t find a background paper I liked.  I settled on the white and black spiderweb paper but thought it seemed too stark.  I used a sponge dauber intending to just ink up the edges of the paper, but once I started I liked the look and decided to ink the entire piece.  I think it gives the card a more “Halloween” feel.   I stamped and fussy cut a couple spiders which I popped up on the card using foam tape.  I kept the layout simple as the paper is very busy.

Supplies:

• Archiver’s Stamp Duo for larger spider stamp
• Studio G for the small spider stamp
• Scotch double sided foam tape

Tools and supplies used for all cards include:

• Recollections “Dead & Breakfast” printed paper
• Recollections black cardstock
• Recollections white cardstock
• Tsukineko VersaFine Onyx Black ink
• Scotch Advanced Tape Glider (ATG)
• Tonic Studios Tim Holtz 12.25 inch guillotine trimmer
• white 110lb paper

There is still a lot of paper left from this 12×12 paper pad, so I’ll probably make a few more cards.