Paper Wishes Blog

Hello everyone! Hot Off The Press has 2 NEW gorgeous Artful Card Kits! Sunshine & Smiles and Let It Shine Artful Card Kits come with everything you need to make darling cards like these.

from Sunshine & Smiles Artful Card Kit

from Let It Shine Artful Card Kit

Each kit contains coordinating papers, cut-out greetings and gorgeous die-cuts! I love bringing these kits along on trips. So easy to pack and I can be crafty on the go!

However, by adding coordinating embellishments you can take your cards to the next level! Here I added Illuminate Embellishment Bottle,  Enamel Dots and Ribbon Set. 

This card has plenty of sparkle thanks to the Sparkle & Shine Embellishment Bottle, Enamel Dots and Ribbon Set.

That’s all for today! Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

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