Here is a card I designed for a class at the store last month. The focus of my class was little tricks and techniques... little "extras" that add Wow! to your card.
So for this card, I showed customers how to punch out circles from cardstock and designer paper and apply crystal lacquer to create their own faux brads and page pebbles. (I actually made them up a few days before so they'd be dry enough to use on the cards in class, but had all the supplies available so everyone could give it a try!) We just punched out 1/4" and 1/2" circles, applied a glue dot to the back and stuck them down on wax paper. Then put the tip of your crystal lacquer bottle in the center of the circle, and squeeze and swirl the lacquer around until the circle is covered. Let them dry overnight. Or instead of wax paper, save the paper that your glue dots come on and use it! I read about this technique on someone's blog, but unfortunately I didn't "star" it in my Google reader to know who to give credit to. (If you know who I'm referring to, please let me know!) Another little accent idea that I showed customers (and often don't remember to do!) is to stamp one word from the sentiment on a scrap, as seen here with the word "seize." And a third little "extra" on this card is the green scalloped border along the edge of the designer paper. Instead of cutting each of those scallops with a corner rounder, or decorative-edge scissors (I NEVER get a straight line with those things!) I showed customers how to use the large rectangle Nestabilities to cut a border. (Credit to Sharon Johnson for that great trick!)
Here are a few close-ups of the faux brad and page pebbles!
This was one of the most fun cards from our class! One of my customers had a great time teasing me about the fact that this card has no ribbon! (They know me so well!)
Hope you're having a great Saturday! Happy stamping!
Stamps: Cupcakes (Hero Arts); Cardstock: Pomegranate Smoothie, Parakeet, Lemonade (Bazzill), white (The Paper Cut), designer paper (Basic Grey); Inks: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), markers (Tombow); Accessories: 1/4" and 1/2" circle punches (EK Success), Crystal Lacquer (Sakura), Nestabilities (Spellbinders).
This is stinkin' cute Tammy!! I love the faux brads and those page pebbles are awesome - I thought they were build-a-brads - LOL! Way cute cupcake card! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
Posted by: Alexandra Hobson | August 16, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Tammy, I'll bet that was THE most fun class!!! Great card and lots of great tricks/tips and gee, I'm AMAZED I could teach YOU anything -- LOL -- you've made MY day!!! TFS!!!
Posted by: Sharon (notimetostamp) | August 16, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Hi Tammy
This is gorgeous and so bright and cheery - love the cupcake too!
Posted by: Dawn | August 16, 2008 at 04:39 PM
What a cool card! I wish I had such creative talent! I don't scrapbook (yet). One of these days when my budget allows (and I have the space for it), I might just have to give it a shot!
Posted by: Wendy | August 16, 2008 at 04:40 PM
Great card Tammy! I laughed out loud about the ribbon comment! Too funny. I hope they appreciate you as much as we do! Thanks again for the award. That was so nice of you! Best, Curt
Posted by: Curt O'Brien | August 16, 2008 at 09:06 PM
This card is way too cute :D!! I was just looking at this very same stamp set today when I went to a scrap store in another town. Love the idea of the faux brads and pepples- will have to give that a try very soon :).
Barb
Posted by: barb | August 16, 2008 at 11:35 PM
The colours look amazing together!
Cute card-I want that stamp set!
Posted by: Tegan | August 17, 2008 at 05:03 AM
What great tips! TFS :-) And the no ribbon thing IS funny, hee hee hee!
Posted by: Anita | August 17, 2008 at 09:40 PM
This is of course adorable. I want to also thank you for all the nice comments you leave on my blog. You are extremely thoughtful. :)
Posted by: Tina | August 17, 2008 at 09:45 PM
very cute and a fabulous idea!!! tfs!! :)
Posted by: Kimberly | August 17, 2008 at 11:28 PM