Quartz Technique Heart for Valentine's Day
February 13, 2021

Here's Wishing You a Sparkly New Year!
Dryer Sheet Technique:
This card really sparkles in person!
I created this shaker card for our four year old granddaughter, Madysen.
She loves kitties, and I hope this one will make her smile.
(Click HERE to see more of my Shaker Card creations)
Shaker Cards are easy to create.
Here's how I did this one:
Shop the August-December Mini Catalog closeout sale December 8- January 4.
Savings of up to 50% off on select items.
Shop today as items will be available only while supplies last.
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I recently had bleach out to create my bleached snowflake card found HERE.
While it was out, I decided to try painting with it using a Water Painter
I combined it with the sweet bird image found in the stamp set Free as a Bird.
I really like how it turned out!
Here's how:
Stamp Set: Free as a Bird
Ink: Versamark, Early Espresso
Paper: Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Accessories: small paint brush or Water Painter, bleach, Embossing Buddy, heat tool, white embossing powder, Stamparatus
Snow Front Bay Window Card Open
Create fun 3-D cards using the Bay Window Technique.
This technique is super easy and will provide that WOW factor in your creations.
The possibilities are endless for all season and occasion crafting.
For this winter wonderland card, I used the stamp set Snow Front.
Snow Front-Create tranquil scenes with the Snow Front Stamp Set, whether it's cozy cabins with dainty deer or playful cardinals in a winter forest.
This is a Two-Step Stampin’ set; it allows you to layer two or more images to create one final image with extra texture and dimension in the colors you want.
Want to learn more?
My September Fresh Card Making tutorial will feature the Bay Window Card Technique using the stamp set Snow Front.
Also featured, will be a Bay Window Halloween card featuring the stamp set Festive Post.
You can view the Hallowen Bay Window Card HERE.
This tutorial will hit e mail inboxes at 9:00 AM (MST) on September 22, 2020.
Please add your name to my mailing list anytime from September 16 to October 19, 2020 to receive this tutorial complete with photos and step-by-step instructions.
To sign up, please use the Sign Up Box located in the upper right hand corner of this page.
Once the sign up process has been completed, you'll receive my Adhesives 101 tutorial via email in pdf format as my gift to you.
I hope to hear from you!
Festive Post Bay Window Halloween Card
Festive Post Bay Window Halloween Card Closed
Festive Post Bay Window Halloween Card Opened
Festive Post Bay Window Halloween Card in Envelope
Create fun 3-D cards using the Bay Window Technique.
This technique is super easy and will provide that WOW factor in your creations.
The possibilities are endless for all season and occasion crafting.
Bay Window Cards can be folded to fit in an A2 Envelope for easy mailing!
For this Halloween Bay Window Card, I used the two-step stamp Festive Post.
Festive Post-You'll be charmed by the small images and greetings in this stamp set.
You can used them for Halloween, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and more!
Want to learn more?
My September Fresh Card Making tutorial will feature the Bay Window Card Technique using the stamp set Festive Post paired with Plaid Tidings 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper.
This tutorial will hit e mail inboxes at 9:00 AM (MST) on September 22, 2020.
Please add your name to my mailing list anytime from September 16 to October 19, 2020 to receive this tutorial complete with photos and step-by-step instructions.
To sign up, please use the Sign Up Box located in the upper right hand corner of this page.
Once the sign up process has been completed, you'll receive my Adhesives 101 tutorial via email in pdf format as my gift to you.
I hope to hear from you!
Here in the mountains of southern Colorado, on Labor Day, we had temps in the 90's.
The following day, our temps dived to a high of 30 degrees, and we received 14" of snow!
Today, the high is supposed to be back up in the 80's.
Crazy weather!
To celebrate our early season snow, I created this card using the Bleach Technique paired with the stamp set Snowflake Wishes on Blueberry Crisp card stock.
The Bleach Technique is fun because each item will turn out differently depending on which color of card stock you use and how the bleach reacts to it.
Here is a sampling of different colors of card stock.
Top L to R: Rich Razzleberry, Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler
Bottom L to R: Gorgeous Grape, Misty Moonlight, Seaside Spray, Early Espresso
See how each one is different?
The technique is easy to do:
TIP: To protect your stamp (especially the photopolymer), ink the stamp in Versamark first. Always wash the bleach off immediately after use.
I hope you'll give this fun technique a try. Let me know how your creations turn out!
Supplies Used:
Bleach Snowflake Wishes
Stamp Set: Snowflake Wishes
Ink: Night of Navy, Versamark
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Blueberry Crisp
Accessories: Bleach, powder pal, paper towel, Bermuda Bay ribbon, hexagon punch, Dimensionals
This Faux Postage card is one of the featured projects found in my July newsletter.
It features the new Posted for You and Rectangle Postage Stamp Punch found in the 2020-2021 Stampin' Up! Catalog.
The Faux Postage Technique is one of my favorites.
Creating the stencil on a computer, then cutting out the center can be time-consuming.
The Rectangle Postage Stamp Punch makes it easy to create the stencil.
For step-by-step instructions, please sign up to receive my July newsletter by August 4, 2020.
The Sign Up box is located in the upper right-hand box of this page.
Once the easy sign up process has been completed, you'll receive my Adhesives 101 tutorial as my gift to you.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Stamping on ceramic tiles is one of my all-time favorite techniques!
These make great gifts and are good for an "anything but a card" theme.
This would be a great idea for Mother's Day.
Or how about for an upcoming bridal or baby shower?
Colors could easily be chosen to match the theme of the party!
The technique is easy to do!
You will first need to purchase the tiles. These can be found at any home improvement store for very little cost.
There are many varieties in many sizes, but I find that unglazed tiles work the best.
Great tiles to use for this technique are tumbled marble which can be found at your local hardware store. These tiles are often pitted which provides interest.
I purchased a shrink wrapped bundle of 9 tumbled marble tiles at our local Ho** De*** for about 10.00.
After removing the shrink wrap, I wiped all sides of the tiles with a damp paper towel to remove any dust.
Once the tiles dried completely, I was ready to start.
I simply stamped the "dancing girl" image and greeting from the stamp set Beautiful You using Stazon ink.
Stazon works well because it is permanent and will not smear.
If you don't have Stazon, you could use an archival ink. This should work ok because you will be sealing the tiles at the end anyway.
I then colored in the dress and hat using regular dye based Stampin' Up! Write Markers and set them aside to dry completely.
Stampin' Blends would work also.
This was the fun part. Mixing and matching colors to create a colorful outfit.
I found that my favorites were the images colored in bright pinks and blues
Experimenting is half the fun!
Once the marker ink was dry, I sprayed them with a clear acrylic matte sealant to seal in the inks.
When using the sealant, be sure to follow the directions for use, especially spraying in a well-ventilated area.
The sealant will dry fairly quickly. And now your tiles should be water resistant!
To protect any furniture that these tiles may be placed on from scratching, I added some fun foam "feet" to the bottom of each. I simply cut the fun foam down to size (the tiles are approx 4"x4", so the fun foam was cut to 3 1/2" x 3 1/2") and then attached it to the bottom of the tile using a spray adhesive.
Easy, easy and a perfect gift.
Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Beautiful You (retiring)
Ink: Black Stazon, various markers
Accessories: tumbled marble tiles, matte sealant, fun foam, spray adhesive
A blast from the past!
Some of the products used to create this card in 2017 are retired, but current product can easily be substitued.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
To create this card, I used the Shaving Cream Background Technique, one of my all-time favorite stamping techniques!
It is one of those simple, yet WOW stamping techniques!
Click Here for complete instructions
Here are the shaving cream pieces before I punched out 3 hearts to form the shamrock
I love the soft swirls of the Shaving Cream Technique!
I hope you'll give the Shaving Cream Background Technique a try. The color possibilities are endless!
Supplies Used:
Shaving Cream Shamrock:
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizzazz and Crumb Cake reinkers, Soft Suede
Paper: Garden Green, Whisper White, Soft Suede, Love Blossom's Designer Series Paper Stack
Accessories: shaving cream, Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Full Heart and Bird Builder punches, Dimensionals, large rhinestone, Sharpie pen
Recently, I shared a card inspired by the optical phenomenon, Light Pillars.
This happens when light is refracted by ice crystals.
I used this photo taken of light pillars as the inspiration to make my own.
The card above was my first go at it.
While I really like how it turned out, I think it is more of a Northern Lights Background than a Light Pillars Background.
So, I kept at it, coming up and sharing a Light Pillar card HERE.
For the Northern Lights card, I sponged Poppy Parade, Highland Heather, Crushed Curry, Pacific Point, Granny Apple Green, and Pretty Peacock inks onto my Shimmery White card front. I sponged up from the bottom where the landscape is so my colors would be more even as I got to the top.
The sky was sponged on using Night of Navy, Basic Black, and Whisper White Craft inks.
Supplies Used:
Ink: Poppy Parade, Highland Heather, Crushed Curry, Pacific Point, Granny Apple Green, and Pretty Peacock, Night of Navy, Basic Black, Whisper White Craft
Paper: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Shimmery White, Basic Black
Accessories: sponges, Big Shot, Snow Globe Scenes Die, Mini Dimensionals
Recently, I learned about Light Pillars, an optical phenomenon that occurs when light is refracted by ice crystals.
I used this photo of light pillars taken in Canada to create my own.
I used post-it-notes to mask the light pillars and sponge daubers to add Poppy Parade, Pretty Peacock, Crushed Curry, and metallic copper inks.
The sky was sponged using Balmy Blue, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Basic Black, metallic copper, and Whisper White Craft (like a Northern Lights background.)
The card front is Shimmery White matted to Gold Foil. The trees are from Snow Globe Scenes Dies
Supplies Used:
Paper: Whisper White, Gold Foil, Shimmery White, Basic Black
Ink: Poppy Parade, Pretty Peacock, Crushed Curry, metallic copper, Balmy Blue, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Whisper White Craft
Accessories: post-it-notes, sponge daubers, sponge, Big Shot, Snow Globe Scenes Dies
One of my favorite stamp sets in the Holiday Catalog is Snow Front.
With the mountains, pine trees, snow, and even the cute little country cabin, it is the perfect set for my surroundings here in the mountains of southern Colorado.
I played around with the set to create some different watercolor landscapes.
For both cards, I started by creating a mask for the moon cut out of a post-it-note using my 1 3/4" circle punch.
I laid the stencil on my watercolor paper card front and sponged on metallic silver ink.
For the first card, I placed the punched circle over the sponged moon, and added Pacific Point and Highland Heather inks to create the sky.
Next, I stamped the trees and landscape using Highland Heather ink and the water using Seaside Spray and Balmy Blue inks.
To create the reflection, I stamped the trees on my Silicone Craft Mat in Highland Heather ink. Then, I turned the mat so the image would be upside down. I placed it on the bottom section of the card front and gently rubbed the backside of the mat with my fingers, transferring the ink to the paper.
For the second card, after sponging the moon, I stamped the mountains using Soft Suede ink. I tapped Shaded Spruce, Pretty Peacock, and Highland Heather inks on the tree stamp to get the three-tone coloring. A simple watercolor wash using an aqua painter was done to create the water.
Snow Front is the featured product in my December Newsletter.
For more Snow Front Ideas, please be sure to add your name to my mailing list.
The sign up box is located in the upper right-hand side of this page.
Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Snow Front, Itty Bitty Greetings
Ink:
Card #1: Highland Heather, Pacific Point, Seaside Spray, Balmy Blue, silver metallic
Card #2: Highland Heather, Shaded Spruce, Pretty Peacock, Soft Suede, silver metallic
Paper:
Card 1: Balmy Blue, Rich Razzleberry, watercolor
Card 2: Seaside Spray, Highland Heather, watercolor
Accessories: post-it-note, 1 3/4" circle punch, sponge, Silicone Craft mat, aqua painter, Stamparatus
Recycle and reuse!
I always try to use the paper towels in my crafting that I've used to blot the color from Pigment Sprinkles, watercolor, or after cleaning stamps.
That was the case with this card.
I incorporated the paper towel I used to blot the Pigment Sprinkles from this Winter Woods card HERE.
I separated the plys, using 1 and saving the other for another creation.
I glued it to a piece of Whisper White card stock, then cut it down to the size I needed.
The trees were cut out of Early Espresso card stock using my Big Shot and In the Woods Die.
I added the Early Espresso landscape, also cut out using the In the Woods Die.
The greeting is from Itty Bitty Greetings stamped in Early Espresso ink using the Stamparatus.
Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Itty Bitty Greetings
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper: Mango Melody, Soft Suede, Early Espresso
Accessories: Pigment Sprinkles, paper towel, Big Shot, In the Woods Die, Tombow Multi-purpose Glue, Mini Dimensionals, Stamparatus
Winter Woods is one of my favorite stamp sets.
This grove of trees is perfect for my setting in the mountains of southern Colorado.
For these cards I used the Emboss Resist Technique.
Stamp the image in Early Espresso and heat emboss using clear embossing powder.
Then, add color to the background. The ink will resist where the image has been embossed.
For the first card, I sponged on Pacific Point, Crushed Curry, and Calypso Coral inks on Shimmery White card stock.
For the second card, I added Mango Melody Pigment Sprinkles.
I added Copper Foil landscape cut using the Big Shot and In the Woods Die.
The greeting comes Itty Bitty Greetings and was heat embossed with copper embossing powder.
Paper Card 1: Very Vanilla, Pacific Point, Shimmery White, Copper Foil
Paper Card 2: So Saffron, Early Espresso, Shimmery White, Copper Foil
Accessories: Big Shot, In the Woods Die, sponge, Embossing Buddy, heat tool, copper embossing powder, Mini Dimensionals
I found this idea shared by Tina Wardell using a fluid masking product to mask the aspen trees found in Winter Woods, allowing you to add color behind the trunks without getting color on the trunks.
I thought it was such a cool idea that I immediately started searching for where I could purchase the product.
I found an Incredible White Masking kit at our local arts and crafts store in the watercolor painting supply aisle.
The kit comes with the instructions, fluid, brush and eraser.
I actually used a small paint brush I had in my stash, and I did not erase the masking fluid when everything was dry.
I found that the eraser also took some of the paper off with it. By not erasing it, your project is left with a cool texture on the trunks.
I CASED Tina's design on the first card using Mango Melody with a touch of Daffodil Delight Pigment Sprinkles.
For the second card, I used Bermuda Bay, Gorgeous Grape, and Granny Apple Green Pigment Sprinkles.
Here's how:
Card 1 Supplies:
Stamp Sets: Winter Woods, Itty Bitty Greetings
Ink: Stazon, Memento Black, Early Espresso, Old Olive
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, watercolor
Accessories: Incredible White Mask , post-it-note, Mango Melody and Daffodil Delight Pigment Sprinkles, spritzer bottle with water, paint brush, Stamparatus
Card 2 Supplies
Stamp Sets: Winter Woods, Itty Bitty Greetings
Ink: Stazon, Memento Black, Early Espresso, Old Olive
Paper: Very Vanilla, Night of Navy, watercolor
Accessories: Incredible White Mask , post-it-note, Bermuda Bay, Gorgeous Grape, Granny Apple Green Pigment Sprinkles, spritzer bottle with water, paint brush, Stamparatus
Rolling Cards!
Super easy and the possibilities are endless!
Want to learn more?
My July Fresh Card Making Tutorial will feature the Rolling Card Technique.
The tutorial will feature two designs.
One made using the Animal Outing stamp set. We are expecting our second grand baby the end of August, so I created this card to welcome him into the world!
The second card was made using the stamp set Painted Glass and Stampin' Blends.
This tutorial will hit e mail inboxes at 9:00 am (MST) on July 23, 2019.
Please add your name to my mailing list by 8:00 am (MST) on July 23 to receive this tutorial complete with step-by-step color photographs in a pdf format.
To sign up, please use the Sign Up Box located in the upper right hand corner of this page.
Once the sign up process has been completed, you'll receive my Adhesives 101 tutorial via email in pdf format as my gift to you.
I hope to hear from you!
Anne
Faux Denim Pocketful of Happiness
The new Pocketful of Happiness stamp set with coordinating Pocket Dies just makes me smile.
For this card, I combined them with Faux Denim, one of my favorite background techniques.
Here's how:
Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Pocketful of Happiness
Ink: Memento Black, Smoky Slate, Real Red, craft white
Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black
Accessories: Big Shot, Pocket Die, Pearlized Doily, red rhinestones out of my stash, Tombow Multi-purpose Glue, Stamparatus
Embossed Moonlit Waterfront Card
It's easy to create this striking card using the masking and heat embossing techniques, paired with Waterfront stamp set.
Click HERE for step by step instructions in a pdf format
This is a great masculine-themed card. Perfect for any occasion!
Metallic Gears Floating Frame Card
I seem to be on a masculine-theme card kick.
Masculine cards always seem to be a little tricky in the designing.
This idea came to me after creating my Steam Punk Gears card HERE
The embossing technique is pretty much the same, although this card ended up being a Floating Frame card.
You know, the Floating Frame technique, which is all the rage?
Usually, you end up with two cards with the technique, but I actually didn't like how the first of the two turned out. I learned from that card that you need a lot of pieces (whether it be gears, flowers, butterflies etc) to fill in the frame or it looks empty. That was the case with the first card which I just tossed.
But, I did really like this second piece.
If you'd like instructions on how to create a Gears Floating Frame Card, please add your name to my mailing list.
I will send you a tutorial in a pdf format as a thank you.
The sign up box is located on the upper right-hand side of this page.
Here's how I created the metallic gears.
That's it!
You'll have some interesting pieces with a burnished metal look for your masculine-theme projects.
I added the gears frame to a piece of Silver Foil paper which I had stamped and embossed the greeting using black embossing powder. I added enamel dots to the centers of the gears as well as next to the greeting.
(coordinates with Geared Up Garage stamp set)
Supplies Used:
Stamp Set: Detailed with Love
Ink: Versamark, Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Basic Black, Champagne and Silver Foil Paper
Accessories: Big Shot, Garage Gears Dies, Embossing Buddy, heat tool, clear, black, and copper embossing powders, Adhesive Strips for the Floating Frame, enamel dots