Category Archives: Techniques

Peter Rabbit’s Flower Garden for Throwback Thursday

Memory Place Peter's World Peter Rabbit's Flower Garden Card by Kathy Clement Photo 01

Peter Rabbit’s Flower Garden Spring Décor Card for Throwback Thursday

Hello, Friends!  Spring has sprung, so for today’s Throwback Thursday, we’re going to pop in and pay a visit to Peter Rabbit’s Flower Garden.  This home décor style card is made with bits and bobs left over from my Memory Place Peter’s World paper collection.   You might remember the little Peter Cottontail Folio Kit I made a while back with these sweet papers.   I still love these classic images and vintage style patterns.

Peter Rabbit's Flower Garden by Kathy Clement Memory Place Peter's World Collection Photo 01

It turns out that Peter is quite the gardener!  Look at the gorgeous array of blossoms in his spring garden!  This 5 1/2″ square top fold card is all about dimension and texture.  I used some sneaky tricks to create a dimensional scene that pops off the page.

  • First, create a 5 1/2″ top fold card base.  Stitch a layer of patterned paper onto a 5 1/4″ square of white cardstock and adhere to the card base.
  • Now, fussy cut the image from patterned paper.  Leave the bottom edge intact.  Just trim around the sides, the flowers and peter’s upper body.
  • Next, tuck the script that was around  the edges of this panel behind Peter’s body.  If you attach this paper with foam dots, it creates that extra layer of dimension .
  • Now adhere the right hand edge of the leafy area to the right hand edge of your card base.  Don’t place any adhesive on the bottom or top…just the leafy area.
  • Then repeat this same step on the left.  When you adhere it to the card base, gently push it toward the center of the image to create a bowed effect.
  • Next place a leaves, hollyhocks, beaded grass and a large blossom behind Peter’s body.

Add the rest of your flowers.  Fussy cut the label and adhere with the same “bowed” technique.  And don’t forget to add some little blue buttons, as Peter has once again lost his.

The Bow Cluster

Tie a 3″ double loop bow from Blue Topaz Argyle Print Satin Ribbon.  Top it with a Baker’s Twine bow and another flower.  I found these cute charms in my stash and dangled them from the bow cluster.

A Peek Inside

Add a pocket to the inside of the card so you can tuck in a tag and a tea bag.

And there’s room on the tag to write a wee note.

I hope I’ve shared some tips, trick and ideas that you can use in your next card making adventure.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

**Please note: Since Throwback Thursday posts feature older, retired collections and paper pretties from my stash, I may not always be able to  link to all supplies used.  Thanks for understanding!

  • Memory Place Peter’s World Paper Collection
  • Trims
  • Little Birdie Flowers
    • Elsie Moon Light Flowers (out of stock in Moon Light)
  • Charms from my stash (many of my charms are given to me as gifts, so I have no idea where they came from.  Check the Funkie Junkie Boutique, ButterBee Scraps and Hobby Lobby)

Prima Lavender Party Dress Card Folio

Prima Lavender Party Dress Card Folio for Throwback Thursday Kathy Clement Photo 01

Prima Lavender Party Dress Card Folio for Throwback Thursday

Hello, Friends!  Today’s Throwback Thursday is a Prima Lavender Party Dress Card Folio.  While cleaning out the Closet of Shame, I ran across a bunch of lovely chipboard pieces and a flash of inspiration!  Who doesn’t love having a new party dress for spring?  I know, right?  So after a bit more digging, I decided to use this lovely, retired 2017 Prima collection for our Throwback Thursday this week.

Put on Your Party Dress

Mixed Media Techniques for Chipboard Prima Lavender Laserowe Love by Kathy Clement Photo 01

Chipboard is such a wonderful addition to a card design.  You can paint it, cover it with paper, spritz it with mist or, as I did on today’s card, alter it with embossing powder.  This is probably my favorite way to alter chipboard.  Why, you may ask?  Because it is fast, easy and looks terrific!  It will probably take me longer to tell you the steps I followed than it did for me to actually do them.  Here’s how I took this brown paper bag dress to party dress with a little mixed media magic.

  • First, tap the entire surface of the chipboard with VersaMark ink.  Be generous!
  • Next, lightly shake a closed jar of Stampendous Shabby Ivory Embossing Enamel.  This helps mix the particles evenly throughout the mix.
  • Now place the chipboard in a funnel tray or on a piece of printer paper.  Gently shake the embossing powder out over the surface.  You are aiming for even coverage.
  • Then carefully pick up the chipboard and let any loose granules roll off onto the printer paper or into the tray.  Do not tap or flick the back of the chipboard!  Just let gravity do its thing!
  • Now you want to pre-heat your heat gun for a few seconds.  Use tweezers to hold the edge of the chipboard and use the heat gun to melt the granules.  Keep the gun moving at all times.  Chipboard will burn.
  • Heat the granules until the gold flecks start to melt and puddle into the ivory granules.  Now this chip is perfectly cooked!

Take it to the Next Level

The dress is very pretty at this point.  But I wanted to take it to the next level.  So once the chip had cooled, I spritzed it lightly with some Lavender Fields Glimmer Mist that I had in my stash.  Then I gently heated the embossing enamel a second time.  The embossing medium will “open” and allow the mist to sink into the mix, creating a lovely impressionistic pattern on the dress.

I also inked the edges of the dress with Dusty Concord Distress Oxides.  Then I spritzed and flicked water to make some pretty inky puddles.  You can play with this technique.  It’s fun!

TIP:  Adhere an acetate floral overlay from the Lavender Collection to the center of the dress to create soft pattern and design.  Use a dries clear adhesive for this step.  It’s pretty magical, if I do say so myself!

Learn how I altered the chipboard doily and the background tag in the video below.

Finishing Touches

Add some pretty ribbons, trims and posies and this dress is ready for the prom!

Learn how to add these sweet charms in the video, too!

A Peek Inside

Party Dress Card Folio Prima Lavender by Kathy Clement

I decided to create a little folio inside the card base.  The top half is an accordion pull-out with a ribbon closure.

Layer up bits and bobs on the cover to create a pretty collage.

Here’s a peek at the pages inside the 4 3/4″ x 7 3/4″ folio.  Lots of lovely room for photos and journaling the story of a wedding, anniversary, prom, birthday party or bridal shower.

Party Dress Video on YouTube

Here’s a little process video showing how this card folio came together.   I hope you enjoy!

And that’s it for Throwback Thursday this week!  I’ll be adding this little ditty to my Etsy shop if you’d like to see it in real life.

I’ll add a supply list below.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

***Please note: Since Throwback Thursday posts are designed to encourage us to use up paper pretties from our stash, I use a lot of retired items in these projects.  This means I may not be able to provide a link to all the supplies used.  Thanks for understanding!

Mermaid Garden Pop Up Card Tutorial

Little Birdie Crafts Songs of the Sea Mermaid Garden Pop Up Card Tutorial by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Mermaid Garden Pop Up Card Tutorial with Little Birdie Song of the Sea Collection

Hello, Friends!  How about a little Pop Up Card Tutorial to brighten your day?  Today we’re talking a stroll through a lovely Mermaid Garden with Little Birdie Crafts Song of the Sea Collection.  If you’ve never made a pop up card before, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easy it is to make using this pop up mechanism technique.

The video tutorial below will guide you through all the steps for creating the card base, pop up mechanisms and decorating the cover of this whimsical creation.

This vibrant 5″ x 7″ card is loaded with texture and dimension.  Mixed media elements like paint spatters, dry brushed edges, layered fibers, altered chipboard, glitz ribbon and metal charms create a feast for the eyes.

And don’t forget those fabulous Little Birdie Flowers!

I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the simple pop up technique I share in the video below.

I hope you’ll give pop up cards a try after viewing this video.  You can make them very simple by adding just the main pop up box.  Or you can take it to the next level by adding lots of pieces as I did in this tutorial.  Either way, you are in for a crafty good time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Supply List

Graphic 45 Ocean Blue Shaker Card

Graphic 45 Ocean Blue Shaker Card by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Graphic 45 Ocean Blue Shaker Card

Hello, Friends!  Happy Monday!  I had time over the weekend to make this mixed media Graphic 45 Ocean Blue Shaker card.  And boy, was it ever fun!  You all know how much I love everything about the sea, so I could not resist purchasing this collection when it was revealed.  I’m hopeless when it comes to pretty papers!

This is a 6″ x 6″  card with some mixed media effects to add extra texture and interest.  Here are some of the steps I took to create this card front.

  • First, create a 6″ x 6″ kraft cardstock base.
  • Next, double mat royal blue and soft blue cardstock to add a frame to the card base.
  • Now, cut a 5 1/4″ x 5 1/4″ square of the tan pinstripe paper from Patterns and Solids.  Ink the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.
Ocean Blue Shaker Card: Create the Shaker Frame

The next step is to create the shaker frame.

  • Begin by heat embossing a Reneabouquets Seashell Square Frame with Vintage Champagne Embossing Powder.
  • Then flip the frame over and back with clear cardstock (acetate).
  • Next, place 3 layers of 1/8″ foam strips around the outside edge of the frame.
  • Now, cut a 4″ x 4″ panel of the sea shell patterned paper and center on the card base.  Fill the center with Shades of Chambray Shaker Mix, silver glitter glass and itty bitty seashells.

Now mat the sentiment on a piece of waste chipboard and adhere to the patterned paper. Then carefully center and adhere the prepared shaker frame.  Oooooh….preeeeeetyyyy!

Ocean Blue Shaker Card: The Embellishments

This seahorse is die cut from mat board using a Tim Holtz Sand and Sea Bigz Die.  Here’s how I altered it.

  • First, spritz the matboard or chipboard very lightly with water.
  • Next, place it in a Sizzix embossing folder.  I used a Tim Holtz Reptile Texture Fade and then ran it through my die cutting machine.
  • Now for the mixed media fun.  Paint the embossed chipboard with Folk Art Country Twill Acrylic Paint.  Heat dry.
  • Follow this with some Deco Art MEdia Fluid Acrylic paint in Burnt Sienna.  I just randomly dabbed this on with my finger.
  • Now, tap on some DecoArt Media Antiquing Cream in Patina Green.  Again, just dab this on lightly with your finger.
  • When the paint has all dried, tap with Versamark Ink.  Randomly sprinkle Seth Apter Dirty Sand Baked Texture over the surface and heat emboss.
  • Tap again with VersaMark and then heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
  • Back with dimensionals and adhere to the side of the frame.
  • Finish up with some Prima Georgia Blues Flowers and RRR Blue/Ivory/Gold Plaid Ribbon.
  • Wrap burlap string around the sides of the panel, securing on the back side with tape.
  • Now adhere to the card base.
Ocean Blue Shaker Card: A Peek Inside

This is a birthday gift for a beach loving friend, so I added a little gift pocket.

Then I created a little magnet using a small Ephemera Card as the base.

Here’s a look at all the goodies in the pocket.

I can’t wait to give this to my friend!

Did I share some tips, tricks and ideas you can use in your own crafty adventures today?  I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Carta Bella Christmas Market Rustic Cardinal

Carta Bella Christmas Market Rustic Cardinal by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Carta Bella Christmas Market Rustic Cardinal Mixed Media Card

Hello, Friends!  This Christmas Market Rustic Cardinal Mixed Media Card celebrates my favorite winter bird.  I just love the way a cardinal’s bright red plumage brightens up a dreary winter day.  And they have such a cheery song.  So when I found this vintage rusted cardinal embellishment in a local flea market, I just had to add it to my stash!

This is a simple 7″ x 5″ top fold card base.  Stitch together layers of the patterned papers to create the background.  Then get your Mixed Media Boots out of the Closet of Shame and have fun!

Christmas Market Rustic Cardinal

I decided to take Carta Bella’s Christmas Market into the woods this time.  Our son kindly cut me some thin-ish slices from a Bradford pear that fell in their front yard.  This one is about 1/2″ thick and about 4″ in diameter.  Here’s how I created this rustic cardinals lofty perch:

  • Begin by thinning white gesso with a little water.  Then brush lightly over the surface of the wood slice.  Don’t forget the bark!  The white gesso will immediately winterize the wood.
  • Next, while the gesso dries, die cut a whole pile of festive greenery.  I like to use scraps of designer paper for this as the patterns add interest to the grouping.  This time, I used Tim Holtz Skeleton  Leaves and Mini Greenery.  (Links below)
  • Once the gesso is dry, tap the surface of the wood slice randomly with Versamark Embossing Ink.
  • Now, sprinkle the surface with Seth Apter Blizzard Baked Texture and heat emboss.
    • TIP: Keep heat embossing until the Baked Texture melts completely.  These chunky powders can take a while to fully blossom.  You can stop at any point, of course, but I really baked this one, and I loved the effect.  Experiment and find the perfect stopping point for your personal taste.
  • Next, tap the cooled surface with Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive.  Then immediately sprinkle with Rajni Chawla’s Crystal Clear.  Looks just like freshly fallen snow!
    • TIP: cut a piece from a make-up sponge to dab on the adhesive.  Rinse and re-use!
  • Pile on the greener, then tuck in your cardinal and berries.

Christmas Market Rustic Cardinal: A Peek Inside

Here’s a fun way to use washi tape to hold a honey stick in place! And who wouldn’t love a buffalo plaid treat pocket?

Chocolate, tea and honey?  Sa-weet!  So you get eye candy and tummy candy all in one!

To see more projects made with Carta Bella Christmas Market, look HERE and HERE.

I think this card would be gorgeous on a Christmas mantel or side table, too.  In real life, it glistens and sparkles like fresh fallen snow.    You can find this one in my ETSY shop!

I hope I shared some tips, tricks and techniques that you can use in your next crafty adventure.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST