Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Brutus Monroe - Envelope Box Card

 Hello friends - thank you for stopping by.  I appreciate your visit.  My card share for this week for Brutus Monroe features many products from the March release.  Can I just say, I am totally enamored by this release.


I made this card using the WRMK 1-2-3 Punchboard.  This was a challenge to figure out and I'm not sure my directions are still quite right.  I went through several proto-types.  But here my basic instructions - please ensure you follow every carpenters golden rule "measure twice - cut once" - I say measure more.

Start with a 7 5/8” square piece of cardstock.  Using the 1-2-3 Envelope Punchboard and following the score mark for a 4” x 5” card size, make the envelope box but do not score on top and bottom.  Then round the corners.  Line up the rounded edge of the top in your paper trimmer at 6 ½” – this will be a little tricky, but I used a ruler lined up at 6 ½ vertically and then bumped the rounded corner up against the metal ruler.  Cut the bottom off and set aside.  Fold on your score lines and burnish.  Cut a strip of card stock at 1 ¾” x 5 1/8 and score at 3/8” on both ends.  Then trim off a hair from each end.  I ultimately cut off 1/8” of each end.  Then adhere this strip to the inside of your envelope box, butting the edge to the back.  Do one side and then the other – this I found the easiest and ensured that the overall card will lay flat.  Then take the bottom piece you cut off earlier and cut off sides and trim to your liking.  Mine measures about 2 ¼ cutting off the rounded corner ¼” inch.  You don’t have to do this, I personally don’t like the corner or rounded corner sticking up in the middle of the envelope.  But, you do you, create your own ending.  I also followed a really old video of Christopher Alan’s for how to use the 1-2-3 Punchboard to create a lining for envelope.  But basically I made the same size as the base and then just trimmed off the sides and the bottom used that for my decorative panel.  I added this before I adhered the inside cross bar and bottom part of the envelope on.  Then decorate as you wish!  I used strips of heavy acetate on the butterflies.  If you want your sentiment to be directly on the card and not a separate element, stamp this first before adhering the bottom to the base.


Ultimately, I think once you get through one, making more will be super easy to do!  I hope my card inspires you to try something new or different or maybe even old.  I know I've had this punchboard for than 10 years and every time I use it I think to myself, why don't I use this more often?!

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Tuesday Morning Sketches #748

 Hello!  I'm back from sunny California.  I was there visiting my kids for a week and it was wonderful.  We enjoyed our time together doing this and that.  Did a birthday celebration for my oldest son.  And I finally had a good Mexican meal!

But now it's back home, catching up at work and my dog is irritated with me but happy to be in his own home and away from the "little girls" which are the ex-husband's chihuahuas.

Anyway, the latest sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this one is a great one because it's way open.  Great for building a scene.  My card features dies and a stencil from Tonic Studios.  The little stamps decorating the bowl are really old, from a company called Raisin Boat - I sure do miss them!  And the frame die is from Pink & Main.


I bought the Creative Pastimes die set months ago and used it a few weeks ago on a card that had a yarn ball and knitting needles.  Well the bowl is actually supposed to be a basket, but I stamped on it and then covered it in clear embossing powder so that it looks like a vintage glass bowl.  When I got this set I put the whisk together right away because when I saw the set my mind right to that whisk having a dollop of cream on it.  So this piece has been sitting on my table ever since.  It was time to put it good use!

I do hope you'll join us at TMS.  Be sure to leave the team some love!

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Tuesday Morning Sketches #747

 Hello!  I hope everyone is doing well.  The latest sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and although this may look a little challenging it's really an easy sketch.  Remember, a shape is just a shape and it takes many forms.  I kept my card true to the sketch but you are the creator of your art.  You make this sketch work for you.

My card features A Walk on the Wildside from Tonic Studios.  Originally this was released earlier this year in a Tonic Craft Kit that you could only get by subscription but Tonic Studios brought it back about a month or so ago for individual purchase.


The die set does have other critters such as a koala bear, sloth and alligator along with plants and flowers.  It's a super cute set.  There is a coordinating stamp set which is where I got the sentiment from.  I just love it!  I embossed it using gold embossing powder.  The leaves are also from Tonic Studios that I picked up on sale.  And I did use Shimmer Splash from Brutus Monroe in Gilded (gold).  Oh the hexagons are from the Christmas Bauble kit and I used a Glitter Marker in Lemon Drizzle to just give the edges a bit of shine.

I do hope you'll join us at TMS and be sure to leave some love for the team!

Friday, March 1, 2024

Color My Heart Color Dare #590

 Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  Color My Heart Color Dare #590 is up and ready for your fun and creativity!

This challenge is....


My card features a super sweet die set from Brutus Monroe called Tea for Two.  I hope the grayish white of his beard counts as neutral - in my book it does.


My colors are a little deeper but that's how I colored them. I needed depth and boldness in color.  And yellow clouds!  Those clouds look like cotton candy!

Give this color palette a go!  I think you'll like it!!

Birthstone Challenge March-April

 Hello!  It's time for another challenge at Birthstone Challenge.  This challenge will run until April 15th.  The birthstones are Aquamarine and Diamond and the twist is Birthday.  This couldn't be more perfect for me than had I suggested this myself.  My boys were born in March and my daughter in April so this is totally them.  LOL

I love this card, too!  Check it out....


I started with a heart stencil and some Nuvo Moonstone Glimmer Paste to create my background.  I then die cut some flowers from the Blooming Bouquet Box from Tonic Studios.  The vines are from Layered Circle die.


The sentiment I foiled onto some Holographic card stock from Simon Says Stamp using Teal hot foil from Spellbinders and the hot foil plate that I think is from Pink Fresh Studio but I'm not positive.  I am so pleased with how well this foiled onto this card stock.

I do hope to see you join our challenge!

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Brutus Monroe - Spring Birdhouse

 Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  I have such a great card to share with you today.  At least, I think it's pretty great.

BRU2054 Smells Like Spring Stamp Set
BRU2238 Smells Like Spring Coordinating Die Set
BRU2115 Birdhouses
STENCILSUB Gears Galore
BRU6175 Chroma Mist - Merlot
BRU2828 Foil Reactive Embossing Powder
BRU19027 Foil Transfer Sheet - Silver Sketch




I was inspired by Christopher Allen and Candi who recently shared projects made with foil and foil reactive embossing powder.  Smells Like Spring is fixing to retire so I needed to jump on using this set right away while it's still available for purchase and at an amazing price!



First, I put the Gears Galore stencil on some white card and spritzed and spritzed and then spritzed a little more with Merlot Chroma Mist.  What an amazing color!  Then when that dried I stamped the flowers and added the foil reactive embossing powder and used the Silver Sketch foil in a few places on the background - it didn't work great but that was my fault.  It was a little hard to see!  

I then stamped the birdhouse and colored it using Distress Oxide Inks in Hickory Smoke, Weathered Wood and Black Soot.  I also stamped the flowers and colored using various shades of alcohol markers.  I then used a foil transfer pen and more of the Silver Sketch foil  for a bit more of added shine.  Overall, I am really happy with this card.  I think it turned out lovely.


Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Tuesday Morning Sketches #746

 Hello!  Thank you for stopping by.  I do appreciate your visit.  The latest sketch is up at Tuesday Morning Sketches and I would really like you to think brushstrokes.  You don't have to, but it could be a lot of fun.

My card features Embellishment Mousse from Tonic Studios lovely flowers and sentiment from Brutus Monroe.  The card stock is Dove from Concord & 9th.


I started off with painting Embellishment mousse in gray and pink with a very stiff stencil brush.  You know the kind, the one that looks like my Grandpa's shaving cream brush?  Using this is what allowed for the brushstrokes and in person, this is so amazing and the pink looks pink instead of white.

I heat embossed the flowers with Raven embossing powder from Brutus Monroe and then colored then with the embellishment mousse by thinning it with water and painting.  The leaves I colored with alcohol markers.  The sentiment is from Super Sentimental also from Brutus Monroe.  

The flowers are part of set called Smells Like Spring which is on the Retirement List.  You can get the set and coordinating die set for $26.99!  

I hope you'll join us at Tuesday Morning Sketches and be sure to leave the team some love!