Color Ready Ribbon, Butterflies and Flowers

One of Oprah Winfrey's most popular show topics was "My Favorite Things". Well paper crafters I must admit these are SOME Of MY FAVORITE THINGS. Why? Because these items that can be easily colored to match any paper pattern, theme, and cardstock. The versatility is awesome and very cost effective.

One of MY favorite products is the Color Ready Ribbon. You can color this ribbon using your ink pad and a dobber. Another must have this summer are the color ready butterflies and flowers. They come in a neutral color with black newspaper like print and it just magically absorbeds ink. You can use any ink pad in your collection! Use it with chalks and spray water on them and watch the color spread. I just LOVE IT! I have even used markers but I find that the color is just to intense. Smooch them! (No, not kiss them) You can use the Smooch spray on them or any other color ink spray.

Don't have ink spray? Well let me help you with that. Use one of Close to My Heart reinkers (any color of your choice, add water, and put them in one of our misters). That's it! Spray and ink your little heart out. Love alcohol inks. Change the formula above by substituting the water for rubbing alcohol, 90% works best.

This is how small one of the butterflies come but the package includes larger ones too.

Now color them and check out how cute they would look in a card. I used Sweet Leaf and Juniper ink pads and dobber to add this color combination. First use the lightest color then layer it with any darker color of your choice. This pop up card below was designed by my friend and mentor Cindy Leek from Paper Pads and Pictures.

Last but not least, trust me you will love the color ready ribbon with its texture and ease of use. I've also included a YouTube video link that offers a short tutorial on how to color the ribbon. Just check out the video to see how truely awesome they really are.

If you must have it, feel free to contact through this blog or purchase online at my Close to My Heart site at http://www.francisames.ctmh.com/.

Enjoy!

Father's Day Card Ideas Part 2

Okay, So I've promised some more Father's Day greeting card ideas and here it goes...

This greeting card is what I call an oldie but goodie. The patterned paper is Lucky and is no longer available for purchase. I was lucky enough to still have a few sheets left. I tend to reach out for it for a male themed project. I stamped the image from Live Inspired (C1408) another retired item from Close to My Heart but if it's in your collection it's time to dust it off and put it back into use.

The inside sentiment was created using the Close to My Heart (CTMH) stamp Tag the Occasion (B1362) and punched it out with the CTMH scalloped punch. There's plenty of space to write your sentiment. Did your dad inspire you to take off with your dreams? Is he a pilot? Maybe a song bird?

 

This next greeting card I took a few extra pictures because I had fun playing with stamping.  Again, I used Pemberly BT, Dessert Sand Card Stock, Colonial White Card Stock, Cocoa ribbon, and natural Baker's Twine.

• To create the gear images I used the Close to My Heart stamp Vintage Type (D1481) and the Honey ink pad. I had yellow tone bling from many years ago and thought that was a great added touch. You may substitute it with brads for a more masculine look.
• The star on its cover was stamped using (C1475) in Honey ink pad. I used a foam square to make this image 3D. Remember if you have the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge this can be modified by cutting out the star with your Cricut at 1 1/4 inches and make that the 3D image.
• The word Father was stamped using the Outdoor Denim ink pad and Vintage Type Set Stamp.
• You're 1 in a Million is just another great element that was created using stamp C1475.

 The inside of the keeps to the theme.

Again I used stamp C1475 to create the bottom right pattern. I used Dessert Sand ink pad so that the color won't dominate the space but just add balance. Repeating the gear patterns on the right using stamp D1480-Vintage Type. Don't forget to add something to the center of the gear.

The Father's Day sentiment is a repeating theme I stamped the sentiment many times using Tag the Occasion (B1362) and made an assembly of the circular tags for various Father's Day card. I used Outdoor Denim Ink Pad. The patterned paper used was Pemberly, the card stocks used were cocoa, dessert, and colonial white.

I believe this last greeting card is a great fit for the military dad with it's stars resembling metals and gears reminding him of his hard work being appreciated. In one word, it says thanks for being my hero!

Father's Day Card Ideas

Last year in my search for great greeting card ideas for Father's day was dissapointing. I've seen so many versions of neck ties. They were all very nice but not all dads fall into the traditional role. We also have father's that don't wear neck ties to work. There are firemen, police officers, chefs, artists, musicians, etc. How about priests, they are father's right? Well maybe it's just me I wanted to see something and say ,"Now that's very clever! Or that fits my dad." I have sold so many Father's Day greeting cards because I think outside of the box. Most of the time I don't have enough time to even take a picture before they are sold. Why? Because not all father's fall into the same traditional category of business man, fisherman, or handy man. So why do so many handmade greeting cards have these themes?

I created a few of what I call my traditional generic cards below but I'm hoping you will be inspired to think outside of the box. However, I'm hoping my readers will be "Thinking Outside of the Box" and create inspiring greeting cards. I'll give you a hint on some great ideas check out the Close to My Heart stamps Born to Ride, and Super Hero. Check out the blog Paper Pad and Pictures dated May 8th and May 26th. There are some really great ideas, and I created one on Cindy's blog featuring a Super Hero.

The challenge I find in creating unique greating cards is finding the right stamps. Close to My Heart always has great products to choose from and I will continue to post more pictures for you to see this week.

I made the above card using a clear acrylic card sold through Close to My Heart. I used the Pemberly paper packet to cut out the strips of brown and denim blue for the front cover. I also glued the same color strips for the back of the front cover. Using the natural color Baker's Twine to add a more masculine touch to the front. The tag was cut using the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, and stamped the greeting that can be found on Tag the Occasion Stamp (B1362). For the inside of the greeting card I used the Pemberly patterned paper (B&T) and rounded it's corners. On the back of the card I rounded the corners of a Colonial White cardstock and then adhered it. To adhere all pieces in place use Liquid Glass! This card fits a standard A2 envelope.

This second card was a bit of a challenge. I tried to use a non-Close to My Heart stamp that I purchased at JoAnns. Like I said, I searched for stamps early this year and I was able to find a dollar acrylic stamp. I can honestly say that I will no longer do so since the quality was lacking. The stamped image is not crisp or clear as you can see in this photograh. I still used it and treated it as a vintage shabby look. All other products I used were from Close to My Heart. I used Outdoor Denim to stamp all images, sponged the corners of the card to coordinate all pieces. I also used cocoa cardstock to mat the stamped image and for a color block. Pemberly is again one of my favorite masculine papers and on the opposite is floral so it can be girly too:) I stamped the tags using Vintage Type stamp (D1481) and of course using the Art Philosophy to cut out those adorable tags in 2 1/2 inch size. Dont' forget copper brads, cocoa ribbon, and baker's twine.



I will post a few more pictures this week. In the meantime, Happy Crafting and Happy Father's Day!

Discount on Classes-25% OFF

This is a great deal that Michael's stores are offering. That's 25% off of scrapbooking and cardmaking classes. So if you ever thought of it but decided not too, then now is your chance. Offer ends on JUNE 23rd.