Paper Wishes Blog

Hello friends and happy holidays to you all! I hope you’ve had the opportunity to share the season with friends this week. Speaking of friends, we have made some lovely friendship inspired cards and can’t wait to share them with you!

The Flower Flourish Cutting Dies make a beautiful flower vine! I used green Pastel Cardstock, Flowers, Flourishes & Feathers Paper Pack and Stitched Stackers Cutting Die for the card background, vine and flowers.

I sponged green ink, from Pigment Ink Pad Bonanza, on the edges of the green vines, leaves and flowers.

I die cut large and small flowers from both lavender and purple Flowers, Flourishes & Feathers Paper Pack and used a paintbrush handle (an excellent substitution if you don’t own a stylus) and foam mouse pad to curve each petal. I also inked the petal edges with either lavender or burgundy ink.

And for the finishing touches I added half pearls from Jelly Fish Sparkletz Embellishments, Pink Flowers, Flourishes & Feathers Ribbons and a greeting from Smile Today! Stamp Set.

Debbie made this beautiful card using Vase Garden Cling Rubber Stamp, Ribbon Stackers Cutting Dies, Black/White & Colors Too Paper Pack and the Choose Happy Stamp Set.

After coloring her image with Le Plume Pens, Debbie cut out the image and added Crystal Lacquer (coming soon to Paper Wishes) to the vase portion.

When the Crystal Lacquer dries the glossy finish looks like water in the vase.

Debbie also added Peppermint Jazz Embellishments to the poppy centers and black buttons to the card front.

Thanks for joining me today! And from all of us at Paper Wishes, Happy New Year!

LeNae Gerig

Merry Christmas crafty friends! Music is everywhere here at Paper Wishes! I don’t know how she did it, but our Paper Wishes buyer has found a treasure trove of vintage Sheet Music and it’s perfect for paper crafting!

The music is packaged in collections of both large or small sheets and some have torn edges and cover art included.  You will receive at least 4 sheets per set, more if the pages are small.

I used a 3-D Flower Template to make roses and leaves to decorate a frame.

I traced the swirl rose pattern onto the back of the sheet music.

You can cut out the swirl, but I chose to tear some of the roses to give the edges a distressed look.

Then I inked the torn edges.

Starting at the end of the swirl, wrap around a bamboo skewer or small paintbrush handle. When you reach the opposite end, glue the end to the base of the rose.

I glued a burgundy Crepe Ribbon bow to the corner of a frame and glued a cluster of flowers and Hammered Gold leaves to the bow center.

For more ideas and techniques using the Sheet Music, join me for the December 26th Paper Wishes Weekly Webisodes. 

Merry Christmas from all of us at Paper Wishes!

LeNae Gerig

Hi everyone! Today I’m happy to bring you a sneak peek at our collection of Penny Black Valentine’s Day Stamps.

This card features the Love In Bloom Stamp Set, Curved Stitch Cutting Die borders and Black/White & Colors Too! Paper Pack and Ribbon Set.

I used the Shabby Shutters Distress Oxide Ink for the the “grass” and stamped the tree with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. To add a little sparkle I placed Red Heart Jewel Dazzles™ Stickers over some of the stamped hearts.

After coloring the remaining stamped hearts with a Pink Spectrum Noir Pen (Skintone/Pale Hues) I stamped a greeting from Words Sweet Stamp Set.

Both stamp sets are adorable and so versatile too!

Take a look at what Debbie did with the heart, dove and bow stamps.

Debbie used Le Plume Water Color Markers in Pine Green, Brown and Persimmon along with a watercolor paintbrush and water to soften the colors.

For a different look Debbie used a masking technique and Yellow, Pine Green, Violet and Steel Blue Le Plume Watercolor Markers.

Thanks for joining me today. Next week I’ll have a special Paper Wishes Christmas Blog for you. Merry Christmas and happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

I used the Winter Snow Folder to emboss White Cardstock and Blue Cardstock from 12”x12” Pastel Cardstock.

I lightly sanded the embossed surface, which revealed the white core, of the blue cardstock.

Then I added blue ink to the embossed surface of the white cardstock.

After cutting both colors of embossed squares to 5 1/2” I cut each into three pieces. I glued the pieces to 6” wide cards made from Gray Pastel Cardstock.

I added Silver Jewel Dazzles™ Stickers to the center of each embossed snowflake.

I used 9 Tags & Little Labels Cutting Dies Set and Christmas Sentiments Stamp Set for my greeting at the top of the card.

This card features a mat made with Silver Snowflake Holographic Paper.

If you prefer a more traditional sized card, this 5”x6 1/2” card was easily made by cutting down the embossed images.

Thanks for joining me today and don’t forget to check out Paper Wishes Weekly Webisode, tomorrow, December 19. We will be featuring MORE Apple Blossom Embossing Folder techniques.

Happy crafting,

LeNae Gerig

If you haven’t tried them, here’s a recap: The inks are a fusion of both pigment and dye ink. What you get is an opaque ink that works great on both light and dark cardstock.

To create my background I used Dried Marigold Distress Oxide Ink and then I added Pine Needles Distress Oxide Ink Pad.

I really like the chalky look of the Distress Oxide Ink and it blends and moves around the paper beautifully.

Next I used the All Over Swirls Stencil and Rusty Hinge Distress Oxide Ink to add another layer to my background.

The final step in creating my background was to mist the inked paper from about 12” away. I didn’t want to get it too wet, just enough to “activate” the Oxide and make the ink really pop!

I used Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad and Stamp A Garden Stamp Set on the Distress Oxide Ink background.

I applied Pine Needles Distress Oxide Ink to one half of some scrap white cardstock and Rusty Hinge Distress Oxide Ink to the other half.  I stamped 3 line art butterflies from the Stamp A Garden Stamp Set, cut them out and Foam Taped them to the card for dimension.

One of the great things about Distress Oxide Ink Pads is that they are very opaque and the ink literally sits on top of the cardstic without soaking in. That’s why it works so well on dark cardstock. I stamped this greeting using Dried Marigold Distress Oxide Ink Pad.

Thanks for joining me today. See you next week with Apple Blossom Embossing Folder techniques. Happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

The Christmas Circlet Mini Tryfold Card is one of my favorites with each scene changing as you open the panels.

This card also used 8 Circle Double Stitched Cutting Dies. I just love the cute stitched edge.

The final panel reveals the circular greeting and Santa!

The Potting Shed Mini Tryfold Stamps & Dies make cards that take you behind French doors and into a cute “She Shed.”

Doesn’t this panel look like it would be fun to color? You can use either Spectrum Noir Pens (Alcohol Based) or Le Plume Markers (Water Based).

This card also used Square Double Stitched Cutting Dies.

For cards with a more masculine feel, the Tool Shed Mini Tryfold Stamps & Dies makes fun “Man Cave” cards.

I love the details on this panel.

And finally, the “Lookin’ sharp!” greeting.

Each stamp and die set has instructions on how to create your own trifold cards or you can buy them pre-folded.

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Buying packs of 8 Trifold Cards & Envelopes make the cards even easier!

For more card ideas and techniques from Art Impressions, tune into Paper Wishes Weekly Webisodes, Wednesday, December 12.

Thanks for joining me today and happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

One of the things I like best about Clipboard as photo frames is that you can change the photos often or even display Christmas cards!

Consider displaying them in groups for more impact.

For my clipboard, I applied VersaMark Watermark Stamp Pad to the surface of the 8″x8″ Script Stamp.

I stamped onto Burgundy Suede Paper, pressing firmly on all parts of the stamp. (Tip: When you remove the stamp, you won’t be able see the stamped impression because VersaMark Watermark Stamp Pad is clear.)

I sprinkled the stamped image with White Super Fine Embossing Powder.

After taping off the excess Embossing Powder, heat with a heat gun until each area of image changes color.

I used the Bodacious Blooms Template to make easy flowers, alternating embossed Burgundy Suede and Holly On Green Paper.

Follow the template instruction for folding squares of paper and tracing patterns for the size and style flower you chose. I used a 4 1/2″ Molly, 3 1/4″ Debra and 3″ Molly shapes for my flower.

I Inked the flower edges with Black Ink and layered them with Foam Tape. Then I placed 3 Circle Gems on the center to complete my flower.

Inside Information: You may be wondering why I decided to heat emboss on suede paper instead of directly onto the clipboard. Initially, this was my thought and the embossing on the clear clipboard DID look amazing! However…

it also curved and warped my “acrylic” clipboard beyond help (I even tried heating it again and pressing between 50 lb. boxes of paper!) Lesson learned.

I used a Script Stamp for my clipboard, but you could also use the Music 8″x8″ Stamp. Furthermore, I made my Clipboard with a Christmas theme, but you could use any color of Suede or Patterned Papers and create an everyday themed clipboard.

Thanks for joining me today and happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig

Of course, a die cutting machine is required to use the cutting dies.

The  Matchbox measures 3 1/2″x1 1/2″ and its so easy to make.

Before assembling the die cut base, consider stamping a sweet message inside.

This box uses Red Hearts Holographic Paper-perfect for Valentine’s Day! Extra Sticky Tape was just the thing to glue the folded ends together.

Fold the cover and place Extra Sticky Tape along the small flap to secure.

Fill with goodies and tie with ribbon and you’re done!

But wait! I have more ideas for you!

This little Christmas box uses The Little Things Paper Pack and Traditional Christmas Stamp Set. Notice Rudolph has a little glitter glue nose!

This little Valentine’s Postbox also uses The Little Things Paper Pack and stamps from Christmas Sentiments Stamp Set. How cute to stamp the wrappers on each chocolate. Don’t forget the love note inside!

The base of the box is the same as the Matchbox, and making the rounded cover is so easy.

Check the Paper Wishes Weekly Webisodes for more ideas and cards too!

Thanks for joining me today. See you again on Thursday! Happy crafting!

LeNae Gerig