Three Ferns, Three Cards

 

While I am occasionally guilty of impulse buying, my purchase of this Three Ferns stamp from Hero Arts was not such an act. I have wanted this simple, classic stamp since I first laid my eyes on in quite some time ago. It will be one of those stamps that will be used over and over again for years to come and will be particularly good for cards with masculine appeal.

I used a resist technique to create this first card, stamping my image with VersaMark on patterned paper. After embossing it with clear embossing powder, I used a round sponge to apply Olive ink and bring the design to live. On this card, the look is soft and subtle. I like it!

Materials & Tools: Colonial White, Olive, and Bamboo cardstock; Expedition paper packet; Olive and VersaMark ink pads; Clear embossing powder; Hero Arts Three Ferns stamp; Happy Birthday stamp set; Copper mini brads; Embossing heat tool; Round sponge.

 

 

This next card is a CAS (clean and simple) design that was going to be a one-layer card before I decided it really needed a border. Instead of mounting my card front to the mat piece and then adhering it to the card base, however, I cut down the card base and mounted it on the green piece. Following me? In other words, the larger green piece is the back of the card. Regardless, it was a 10-minute project that makes for a perfect sympathy card.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Garden Green cardstock; Garden Green ink pad; Hero Arts Three Ferns stamp; Impression Obsession Sympathy Sentiments stamp set; Kaiser Kraft pearl accents.

 

 

The photo of this last card does not do it justice. I’ve discovered metallic stuff gives me the same fits as glitter when it comes to photographing it. It’s either too much or too little. Anyhoo, I stamped the image with VersaMark again, this time embossing it with copper embossing powder. To give the Olive cardstock some texture, I used what I call the “Saran Wrap” technique. If you “stamp” with a wadded up piece of plastic wrap, you can achieve texture that almost looks like suede. Desiring more boldness with the sentiment than I achieved with the top card, I opted to stamp it with New England Ivy. Mission accomplished. And the result is an all-occasion card that would be appropriate for either a man or a woman.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Olive cardstock; Expedition paper packet; Copper metallic paper from my stash; Olive, New England Ivy, and VersaMark ink pads; Copper embossing powder; Hero Arts Three Ferns stamp; Say it in Style stamp set; 3/8-inch Natural Twill ribbon; Copper Picture Hanger and mini brads; Plastic wrap; Embossing heat tool.

 

I think I should take a little break from my corner more often. Man, all enthused about trying new/different  things, I’ve had fun the past few days. Instead of scrambling for ideas, I have ideas. 

Not feeling 100 percent, I took a little hiatus from work this afternoon, too, in the form of a half day of vacation. It must have been what I needed, because I perked up when I got home. That said, I’m off to go get a much-needed haircut.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. Enjoy the evening, and a big thanks for stopping by!