BIRTHDAY ARCHES

For my last card this week I have decided to use the Everyday Arches and Everyday Skies to create a birthday card.  

The Everyday Arches stamp set does not include a birthday sentiment, so I borrowed one from Cheerful Daisies and also used the Cheerful Daisies die to cut the sentiment.

Today's card is a "loose" interpretation of a sketch that I recently shared on my Template Time Learning With Friends Video.  Here is the sketch.

Can you see the connection between the card and the sketch?  

If you are interested in seeing additional cards made using this versatile template watch the replay of my monthly Template Time Learning with Friends video.

The two rectangular elements on the template were replaced with arched elements, and I had to move them around a bit to get my arched sentiments to show, but I think the connection between the template and the card is there.

Templates should always be used as inspiration.  Never think you need to copy them exactly!

The sentiments were heat embossed with Black Embossing Powder because I wanted them to really pop on the Everyday Skies Designer Series Paper (DSP).  This card uses three different designs of this gorgeous DSP. The birds and hot air balloon were stamped with Night of Navy.

After die cutting the arches from the DSP, leftover strips were used on the inside of the card and the envelope to make a beautiful, coordinated set.  The sentiment on the inside of the card is from the So Sincere stamp set.

Use this link to download a tutorial for today's card.

A list of the products used is shown below.

Product List

Everyday Arches Bundle (English) [164630]	Cheerful Daisies Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [161290]	Cheerful Daisies Dies [161296]	So Sincere Cling Stamp Set (English) [162283]
Fresh Freesia 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [155613]	Everyday Skies 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [164622]	Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146985]	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Versamark Pad [102283]	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110]	Basics Wow! Embossing Powder [165679]
Pastel Adhesive Backed Sequins [160387]	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

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GETTING OUT OF THE RAIN

Today's Everyday Arches card gives our happy little rabbit, Willy, a place to get out of the rain.  

As you can see, Willy loves dancing in the rain, but sometimes he needs a break to dry out.  And based on the look of the sky, the rain isn't done yet, so I'm glad Willy found a safe haven under his arched door.

Willy is from the Playing in the Rain stamp set.  I used this beautiful stormy sky designer series paper (DSP) from Everyday Skies.  It reminded me of the sunrises I often see out my window in the morning.  A sunrise that looks like a storm is coming.

Willy doesn't worry about storms.  He's got his bright yellow slicker and umbrella, so he is prepared.  And he can't wait to splash around in the puddles forming in front of his door,  Willy's striped Cajun Craze door was also created from the Everyday Skies DSP, and the arched frame around the door which protects him from the rain was made using two Everyday Arches dies and Night of Navy cardstock.

 

Willy is determined not to let the rain prevent him from dancing.  He is embracing the journey as his card suggests.  Isn't he cute?  He even put on a cute little bowtie for his jaunt in the rain.

The inside of the card is decorated with a scrap strip left over from the front Everyday Skies DSP.

Use this link to download a tutorial for today's cute card.

A list of the products used is shown below.

Product List

Everyday Arches Bundle (English) [164630]	Playing In The Rain Cling Stamp Set (English) [160542]	Playing In The Rain Dies [160550]	Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867]
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Everyday Skies 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper [164622]	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708]	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110]
Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [103033]	Daffodil Delight Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154883]	Petal Pink Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154893]	Basic Black Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154843]
Pecan Pie Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [161674]	Water Painters [151298]	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897]	Adhesive Backed Dragonflies & Birds [162743]
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

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AN ARCH OF SUNSHINE

This week I will be using the Everyday Arches Bundle.  The dies alone were enough to entice me to purchase this OnLive Exclusive, but the sentiments that fit in the arches sealed the deal.

Today's card uses a very old technique that I call Dry Embossing with a Shim.  It's not a very enticing name but it was the most descriptive I could come up with.

We used this technique in the "olden" days when I first started stamping.  As I recall, embossing folders came into being before we started having the huge variety of dies that we have today.  We used this technique to create a "flat" spot in the middle of an embossed piece of cardstock.  

Today, we usually just put a die cut on top of the embossed cardstock layer so we have a flat surface for our stamped images or sentiments.  The drawback to using an additional die cut is that you add another layer to your card, and all those extra layers add up to more postage.

If you are not familiar with how to do this technique watch my Learning with Friends video where I show you.  

I hesitated about even making this video because the technique was so old.  However after sharing it I was really surprised by the number of people that told me they had never heard of the technique before.  I guess there is some truth to the saying, "what's old becomes new again".  Kind of like hip hugger and bell bottom pants!

Today's card has an arched flat shape in the center of the Eyelet 3D embossed layer.  To create my "Arch of Sunshine", I used a mask made with one of the Everyday Arches dies to mask the Basic White cardstock layer before I embossed it.  Then I used Blending brushes to create my sky.  

After I completed by sky, I then made a shim using the same arch die and embossed the Basic White cardstock with the Shim Technique.  The sentiment and hot air ballons were added after embossing.

For all the details on how to make this card you can download a FREE tutorial at this link.  It includes Step by Step directions, all the dimensions you need and a list of the products used.  The tutorial also includes all the written directions and some additional hints for the Dry Embossing with Shim Technique.  There is also a link to the video so you will always be able to easily find it.

For the inside of my card, I used the mask again to create another pretty sky and then stamped some more hot air balloons.  There is plenty of room to write your message in the sky!

Listed below are the supplies that I used for the card.  You can click on any image to get additional information or easily make a purchase.

Product List

Everyday Arches Bundle (English) [164630]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [159229]	Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock [159276]	Highland Heather 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146986]
Lemon Lolly Classic Stampin' Pad [161666]	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad [147101]	Bubble Bath Classic Stampin' Pad [161664]	Highland Heather Classic Stampin' Pad [147103]
Gorgeous Grape Classic Stampin' Pad [147099]	Lemon Lolly Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [161673]	Summer Splash Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [163826]	Bubble Bath Stampin’ Blends Combo Pack [161675]
Blending Brushes [153611]	Eyelet 3 D Embossing Folder [163414]	Iridescent Faceted Gems [163368]	3/8" (1 Cm) Sheer Ribbon Combo Pack [161635]
Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653]

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