Creative Cards Saturday

Howdy Scrappers!  It's Jody here and I'm happy to be hanging out with you for Creative Cards Saturday.  This is my first assignment as a Design Team member and I'm super excited!  I wanted to share some easy ways to add texture to your projects without adding too much bulk.

Now if you're like me, you don't want your special cards to get ruined while traveling via the USPS (U.S. Postal Service), right?  Right!  The rule of thumb for the USPS is the envelop has to fit through their little thickness tester, which is a quarter inch slot, in order for there NOT to be any extra postage charge for a thick envelop.  This quarter inch of space also allows for the envelopes to be fed through the machine without being damaged.  Sometimes I feel like the Post Master at my local Post Office grabs that darn thing as soon as he sees me walk in!

Solutions! One way to add texture without adding all that bulk is to use burlap string or bakers twine.  Memory Works carries the WRMK Bakers Twine in wide variety of colors, along with the awesome Sew Easy Tool.  You'll also find burlap string in some of the monthly Express Kits.  This small addition can add a nice touch of texture and depth to your cards and other projects.

A second way to add dimension is by using 'pop-dots.'  I used the American Crafts Dimensional Tabs to give my punched cloud element a little lift off the card.  I also inked the edges to give them more definition.  I used both techniques on the card below.

Hint: When tying a knot or bow with burlap string or baker's twine, put a small dab of Glossy Accents onto the center and your bow or knot won't come loose. 

Another great way to add some texture and shine to your cards, or any other project, is by using Ranger's Glossy Accents.  Just use the bottle tip to dispense a small amount onto a die cut (or hand cut) element, sticker, stamped image, flower or whatever your heart desires.  Glossy Accents dries fast and adds a pretty shine to spice up your project.  You can also use Ranger's Crackle Accents for a unique cracked effect as well.  Did you know that Glossy Accents is a super strong adhesive also?  This great product can do some serious double duty as a part of  your scrapping supplies.  I can't scrap without it! 

My hand cut banner before Glossy Accents.

After Glossy Accents

Another way to add some texture is to curl the edges of your paper.  I love this technique and use it to add a vintage feel to my projects.  All you need is a little water and your fingers!  I used my aqua pen to run some water along the edges of the paper,  then used my fingers to gently curl the paper.  So simple! 

**I used a card sketch for this card from Let's Scrap. (sketch  03-16-11)

You can see the Crackle Accents used on the flowers.

Here are my Memory Works supplies:



Other supplies: Fiskars Cloud Punch & ATG Gun.

Thank for stopping by today and hope you'll use some of these easy techniques on your next projects.  Please stop by my blog, SpiegelMom Scraps, for more pictures.

Happy Scrappin'!

Inspiration Friday: One Card, Five Techniques

Happy Friday! Today, I thought I'd share some of my favorite techniques, all while sharing the steps to create a greeting card. Maybe the techniques are something new to you, or maybe they're something you've seen before. Either way, here's a little challenge...try to incorporate one of these ideas into your "Scrap-time" this week!

Supplies to create this card:

4.25"x5.5" folded card
Tim Holtz Tissue Tape
October Afternoon 5 & Dime word stickers
ZVA Bling: Flourish
a button
We R MemoryKeepers Sew Easy floss (Tertiary)
Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists (but any glimmer mist would work)
Ranger Distress Ink (I used Black Soot)
Tattered Angels glimmer screen (but any mask/plastic template would work)
Paper Towel
Fiskars Squeeze punch
Glue Dots Pop dots

Technique #1: Upcycle the "bar code" strip from 12x12 patterned papers.
Not only do many of the 12"x12" strips on double-sided paper often have a little sampling of the pattern on the back that you can use right on your project, but you can also use the strip as a guide! I used a strip from a piece of Cosmo Cricket paper to create a fun pleated border for my card.


I LOVE the Tim Holtz tissue tape! The rolls go a LONG way. And, did you realize that it's adhesive...very much like duct tape, but lighter, cuter and it is removable and doesn't lose it's "stick" if you need to move it around. I started on the left-hand side of a 4.25" piece of the bar code strip, and simply stuck down the Tissue Tape about 1/2", then folded back, then repeated in order to create my border. Once I was done, I folded the ends of the tape around to the back side. I inked it with my Distress Ink to give the edges some definition and adhered it to the card.

Technique #2: Make Tissue Tape flowers.
I can't take credit for these marvelous (and oh so easy) flowers. Tim Holtz has a great video tutorial on his website. But, the cliff notes version is this: Start with a scrap cardstock circle. Adhere about 1/2" of Tissue Tape on outer edge, then pleat as you go, sticking it down and going around the outer edge of the circle, then work in towards the middle.


For my flower I did about three rounds from outside to inside, then just tore it off when at the center. For added dimension, fluff up the edges throughout, and ink it up! You can use any kind of brad, button, sticker, etc, for the center.

Technique #3: Experiment...Go crazy and punch shapes from paper towels.



While cleaning up after using some glimmer mist recently, I thought about how pretty my paper towel was with all that ink... Note that I can't vouch for the acid-free or archival quality of a paper towel; however, in card-making, that generally doesn't matter so much! So, as an experiment, I used the Fiskars Squeeze Punches to punch scalloped circles from a Kirkland Brand (Costco) Paper Towel. My punches did great with that brand, thickness...I haven't experimented yet with any other brands. I love the fabric feel of these punched circles!! Then, I sprayed them with Perfect Pearls Mist in Forever red, which gave it a pinkish iridescent shine. I used my heat gun to dry the circles. Just be careful not to scorch them...!


Then, I used one as a center to my Tissue tape flower with a button sewn on, and another as a backing for my "Live Laugh Love" Sticker. Love experiments "gone right"!


Technique #4: Repeat patterns in your project.
Repeating patterns is a design principle that almost always looks great. You don't want to over-do it, of course, but I love how it ties things together.


It's hard to get a good photo of the Perfect Pearls Mists on my card, but I placed a flourish mask on the top of my cardstock base, then sprayed Perfect Pearls Mist (Forever red color) over it. I used my heat gun to dry quickly. Then, I adhered the ZVA Bling flourish to add a finishing touch.

Technique #5: Layer multiple textures.
Layering is another design principle that I use a lot in my paper-crafting. In this card, I used many textures...the tissue tape, the "fabric like" paper towel flowers, the bling, the stickers, the button, which give it a richer feel than just paper alone.

This really lends it a hand-made touch. But, you don't have to use five different things. Even just using Pop Dots to raise a paper piece off a page can create more depth in your project.

So, what idea are you going to use or try? I'd love to hear!