Paper Wishes Blog

Hi everyone! Today I’m bringing you some birthday card inspiration!

This whimsical card is sure to bring a smile to the birthday boy or girl’s face, no matter his or her age! The Dare 2B Artzy Alpaca Cake Stamp Set also comes with other adorable “everyday” greetings. I colored my Alpaca using Spectrum Noir™ Pens and for the background I used BoBunny Double Dot Damask Cardstock and 10 Tags & Trims Cutting Die Set. 

The Art Impressions line of Circlet Mini Tryfolds are little circular stamps (with dies) that make the most adorable cards with layered images! I want them ALL! This Birthday Circlet Set might be my favorite. 

I was surprised by how easy they are to use! The clear instructions walk you through the steps of stamping and then die cutting each folded layer. 

I chose to use Spectrum Aqua™ Markers because I could control the amount of liquid that went onto the cardstock. Alcohol Pens would bleed too much, showing through to the opposite side. After coloring the images I placed Script Greetings Dazzles™ Stickers.

The Spectrum Aqua™ Markers have both bold and fine point tips which make them great for coloring in tiny spaces. I also used a little water and a Watercolor Brush #1 to paint over the colored areas.

Once again I used BoBunny Double Dot Damask Cardstock and cute Cupcake/Stripes Washi Tape.

Here is a quick little video from Art Impressions to show you just how these cute stamp sets work:

For even MORE Circlet Mini Tryfolds card ideas, check out the March 15 Paper Wishes Webisode!

That’s all for today. Don’t forget those birthdays coming up and happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

Hello everyone! Yesterday was a typical rainy spring day here in Oregon, but I took advantage of the “inside day” to do some Make Ahead Cards. That’s what I call cards that I don’t create individually for a particular person and they are usually Quick & Easy.

Each of these cards took less than 20 minutes to make and they all use Sizzix Springtime Paper Pad.

The 4″x6″ pad has 36 (multiple of each design) decorated tear-out pages and can be glued directly to a card front or matted first and then decorated. The watercolor look is beautiful and so versatile!

For this card I matted the 4″x6″ paper with black cardstock, added Black Jewel Border Dazzles™, Birthday Greetings Stamp Set greeting and a simple Crepe Ribbon bow.

This card features papers from Trail Blazer Paper Pack, Script Greetings Cutting Dies, Teal Mirror Round Jewel Dazzles™ and a Jute Twine bow.

This next card has lots of sparkle!

I used Brilliant Brights Marvelous Mirri Pad for the gold and pink background. And then Double-Stick Greetings Dazzles™ Stickers sprinkled with Peony Pink Silk Microfine Glitter.

I like to store my Make Ahead Cards in a Card & Craft Organizer, by category so they are easy to find when I want to send a Thank You card or (gasp) I have forgotten to make a Birthday Card for a friend! We’ve all been there, right?

Want a great gift idea? Make a supply of cards to fill the box and give to a non-card making friend. They will love having special cards on hand to send to family and friends.

Don’t forget to check out out Week Of Webisodes, happening now! The entire week features NEW Hunkydory crafts!

That’s all for today. Remember to leave some time in your busy schedule to make something pretty. Happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

Hello everyone! Today I want to show you how quick and easy it can be to use these creative cutting dies from Elizabeth Craft. 

I used the Flying High Die Set by Becky Seddon and while coloring the die cut image from one card, I created a stenciled image to make a second card!

I’ll walk you through the steps:

After die cutting a circe and plane/clouds image from white cardstock I layered the 2 pieces. Then I used a Stylus and Pad to apply Faded Jeans, Broken China, and Vintage Photo Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pads to color the white cardstock image.

 Lightly spritz with water.

When the inked die cut image is removed a useable stenciled image remains.

I inked a second image with Peeled Paint Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad and cut out the plane. Then I foam taped it to the card covered in Trail Blazer papers, Natures Touch Ribbons and Script Greetings Cutting Dies.

Another adorable and versatile cutting die is the Romantic Bouquet Cutting Die.

I covered the front with Sky Blue Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Kiss. I secured a folded piece of Lavender Glimmer Paper inside the card with lavender grosgrain ribbon and added a “Smile” die cut greeting. 

I also used the Romantic Bouquet Cutting Die to make these sweet little note cards. It took just minutes to die cut one side of a colored blank card and line it with white cardstock. These would make a great gift, don’t you think?

That’s all for today. I hope you have a creative week. Happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

Hello everyone! Have you seen the Die’sire Fancy Edge’ables™ cutting dies by Crafter’s Companion?

These little 5 1/4″ long border cutting dies are so versatile and make creating amazing projects easy. This easel card uses the Die’sire Fancy Edge’ables Butterfly Dreams cutting die. I simply cut two borders from white cardstock and one from black. The butterflies give the card dimension when you pull the wings forward.

These dies have an embossing feature and I found using the Texture Accessory Silicone Rubber  Embossing Mat was necessary to bring the embossing forward. (For more on this check out the product page for Die’sire Fancy Edge’ables Butterfly Dreams and click on the image for instructions).

I used the Die’sire Fancy Edge’ables Jardin cutting die to make this frame.

It was very easy to do. I die cute four Die’sire Fancy Edge’ables Jardin borders from navy blue Lapis Lazuli Glimmer Paper and then glued the border pieces to Silver Linen Specialty Paper and cut around them, leaving a 1/16″ border.

After that I used Sticky Tape to mount the borders around a rectangle of Silver Linen Specialty Paper and cut off the top and bottom corners, leaving the bottom straight edge. 

I made a stand by scoring the edge of a 2 1/2″x 4 1/2″ rectangle and then making a diagonal cut as shown.

And then I used Sticky Tape to secure the stand to the back of the frame.

I embellished the front with a photo mat made from Indigo Lace Paper, Silver Ribbon, Royal Blue Flowers and White Jewel Dazzles™ Stickers.

That’s all for today. If spring hasn’t reached you yet, just think of the rain and snow as an excuse to stay indoors and make something pretty. Happy crafting.

Hello everyone! You may have noticed that unicorns are back and they are as fun and magical as ever!

To decorate this Canvas Tote Bag, I used a 6×6 Unicorn Stencil and Indian Pink, Ocean Teal, Purple Mist and Gold Treasure Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polish.

It was helpful to use Stencil Tape to secure the Unicorn Stencil to the canvas and then mask off the edges using sticky notes.

Divide the unicorn into 3 parts and apply Ocean Teal, Purple Mist, and Indian Pink Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polish then blend where the colors meet.

Repeat and use the same 3 colors for the message.

Use the star cluster area of the stencil and Gold Treasure Metallic Gilding Polish to create a frame around the message.

If your Tote Bag is a gift, don’t forget the tag! The 10 Tags & Trims Cutting Die Set comes with a small butterfly die that added just the right embellishment to this colorful tag. Notice how amazing the Cosmic Shimmer Metallic Gilding Polish looks on the black cardstock!

Debbie used Hot Off the Press Unicorn & Castles Dazzles™ Stickers to make this magical card. I love the use of Silver Sparkles Holographic Paper as a mat.

Thanks for stopping by today. Life is too busy, leave a little time to make something pretty and share it with someone who needs a boost. Happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

Hi everyone! I’m excited to show you Paper Wishes New set of Beautiful Borders Engraved Dazzles™ Stickers! This line of Dazzles™ is different because they have a transparent finish and the gold and silver embossing is bolder and includes etching. They are really stunning!

The set comes with 5 sheets of gold and 5 sheets of silver. So many possibilities!

For this card, I used a Center Step Die-Cut Card, Paper Painting Paper Pack and Ribbon Set, Gold Tiny Words & Phrases Dazzles™ Stickers and Bright Spectrum Noir™ Pen Set.

When using Spectrum Noir™ on Beautiful Borders Engraved Dazzles™ Stickers, or any alcohol-based pen, it is important to color on the back of the sticker (yes, the sticky side). If you color on the front, the alcohol will remove the embossed metallic finish. Fortunately, Spectrum Noir™ Pens are designed to adhere to slick surfaces, so the color won’t come off.

For this rose card I used both paper and chalk on the back of the stickers. Ruby Rose Paper Pack and Ribbon Set made just the right background for these pretty roses.

Once again I turned the sticker over and this time I brushed some green chalk onto the ferns and leaves.

I backed the double rose sticker (separate sticker not part of the border) with mauve paper that I first smudged with dark red chalk.

Then I added dimension by aligning the rose images and foam taping one over the other.

Thank you for stopping by. Remember to leave a little time to make something pretty! Happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

Hello everyone! I have always loved decorating Easter eggs and today I have some “next level” Easter eggs for you! These gilded eggs are stunning and surprisingly simple to do!

It is important to note that I used blown out raw eggs for these techniques. Never use eggs that you intend to eat.

If you have never blown out a raw egg, it’s very easy to do. I used a thumb tack to make a tiny hole on each end of a raw egg and then placed my mouth covering one end and blew out the contents. I washed the egg shells and let them dry before coloring with food coloring.

After the colored eggs dried I sponged on some IndigoBlu FlitterGlu, which is a wonderful glue that stays tacky even after drying, making it perfect for stamping and gilding eggs!

I dipped each of the tacky eggs into a different color of Nuvo Gilding Flakes: gold, copper and silver.

I used Scoochy Foam to buff off the excess gilding and polish the eggs.

Alcohol inks make it easy to achieve a marbled look on your eggs.

I used Tim Holtz Rustic Lodge Alcohol Inks in Bottle and Denim. Use gloves (or your fingers will be stained for days) and move the colors around on the egg.

Then I added drops of Blending Solution which allowed the colors to bleed. The solution also provides a nice shine to the eggs.

And finally, an Easter egg window card to send to someone far away.

To make the window I glued a 4 3/4″ square of The Sweet Life green dot paper and a 3″ white cardstock scalloped circle die-cut to the card front.

Center a 2 1/2″ circle cutting die on the scalloped circle and secure with Stencil Tape.

Open the card, lay flat and run through the die cutting machine.

Die cut an Easter egg and Script Greeting “happy” from Gold Sparkle Holographic Paper. Back the egg with pink paper from The Sweet Life Paper Pack and glue the egg to the back of the window edge. Embellish the egg and scallops with Fuchsia Jewel Dazzles™ Stickers and glue the “happy” die cut below the window.

That’s all for today. I hope you have an egg-ceptional time with your Easter crafts!

LeNae Gerig

With Easter and Wedding Season fast approaching, today I’m bringing you some cards that can be used for a variety of occasions.

This Boho Cross Stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs would be perfect for baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals and, of course, Easter.

This card was a snap to make. I gold embossed the Boho Cross image onto white cardstock. Then I cut it out, leaving a 1/16″ border, and then added some Teal Mirror Round Jewel Dazzles™ Stickers. The little “Blessings” is from Gold Tiny Words & Phrases Dazzles™ Stickers and can easily be changed to fit the occasion.

The Hammered Gold Paper background is layered with white cardstock embossed with the Label With Dots Embossing Folder.  I then brushed the edges and embossed surface with Indian Gold Tonic Nuvo Embellishment Mousse using a Cosmetic Wedge.

This card would be lovely for an Engagement or Wedding.

The vertical Faith, Hope & Love Stamps are perfect for banner flags. Alternating the blue tile and white wood Indigo Lace Papers provided nice contrast.

The coordinating Royal Blue Chantilly Mixed Blooms flower layered over the ivory bow from the Indigo Lace Ribbon Set adds just the right pop of color!

That’s all for today. I hope you found a dose of inspiration here. Happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

Hi everyone! Hot Off The Press has new Fantastic Frames & Phrases Dazzles™ Stickers that make fun and easy shaker cards!

I cut and layered my papers from  The Little Things Paper Pack to fit my card front, then cut an Adhesive Foam Sheet to size, creating the two pieces of my card topper.

Then I die cut the layered paper and foam with the Hot Off The Press Shaker Card Cutting Dies.  Tip: Don’t adhere the paper to the adhesive foam side).

After separating the layers, I placed an Acetate Sheet on the adhesive side and smoothed the surface to make sure all of the die cut edges were adhered well to the acetate (otherwise sequins can escape).

Then I realigned the paper with the acetate covered foam and glued it in place.

Then I placed little piles of Denim Blues Sequins on the card front, where the die-cut openings would be and glued the card topper to the card front. To finish, I placed the Fantastic Frames & Phrases Dazzles™ Stickers on the card front, die cut another balloon shape, and foam taped it between the balloon windows.

Here is another example using Ruby Rose Paper Pack, Fantastic Frames & Phrases Dazzles™ Stickers and Ruby Rose Sequins.

For this card I used Twilight Jewels Paper Pack and Ribbon Set, Fantastic Frames & Phrases Dazzles™ Stickers and Mixed Berry Sequins to make a window card using Acetate between the card front and the Dazzles™ sticker.

That’s all for today! Thanks for stopping by for a little dose of inspiration. Happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

Hi friends! Can you believe that I have never used an Anna Griffin Card Kit before? Some of her kits came across my desk and I was AMAZED at how jam packed they are with beautiful patterned cards and die-cuts.

The kit even contains the foam tape necessary to place the die-cuts! (However, I did find that a glue stick was necessary to glue the liner in place.)

This is the Grace Card Kit and my card took just minutes to make! This kit makes a total of 12 cards!

The Sunny Salutations Pop-Up Card Kit also makes 12 cards and there are more than enough die-cuts to add to your other paper crafting projects.

I kept the card front simple:

Glued the die-cut liner inside the card:

And the pop-up is ready for the die-cut pieces:

Then I just foam taped the die-cuts in place and BOOM! A great pop-up surprise for my friend!

Paper Wishes has many Anna Griffin Card Kits to chose from. I was so pleased with the quality and value of the kits and the cards were quick and easy to make.

Here’s a sweet treat for Valentine’s Day!

That’s all for today. I hope you get a chance to make something pretty this week! Happy crafting.

LeNae Gerig