Tri-Fold "Home in Tuscany" Card - Part 1

This is the second card that I bought as a "Tri-Fold" set. I apologize for the bad lightning, but I shot these pictures in the basement and didn't realize the lightning was so bad until I had them all colored in. But I think you still can see the images.

For those of you who haven't seen the "Wedding Chapel" card, here are the instructions again, this time for the "Home in Tuscany".

First, this stamp sets comes in three different parts, plus a stamp with a fitting phrase. Instructions are also included in the set, so read everything carefully before you start. I would recommend to use a piece of scrap-paper and stamp all images as instructed first. This way you make sure you get the sides and measurements correct and everything lines up. Use this as a template for other set you make.

For your base you need to cut a piece of white cardstock at 5 1/2" x 11". Score your card in even 1/3's so each part will measure 3 5/8". Don't fold yet, because it makes it easier to stamp.

Each stamp set tells you exactly which stamp goes on the inside of the card and which one will go on the left and right side (outside).

In this case I stamped the Tuscan house on the middle section of my card, about 1/2" from the top. Now you turn your paper around, the house image facing towards your work surface.

The "Winding Road with barrels" will be stamped on the left panel of the card and the "Table for two" on to the right panel. Depending on your tri-fold set, check the instructions.

Since these stamps are rubber stamps and not clear, it is a bit more difficult to line them up. Instruction calls for the "Winding Road" to be stamped 1 3/4" from the top of the card and lined up with the score line. Don't stamp it to far to the left (or to the right on the other side), otherwise you will end up with a big white space when your card is closed.

Now stamp the "Table for two" image about 1 3/4" from the top on the right panel, lining it up with the right score line.

In my pictures here you see the card already cut out, so yours will still be three full panels. 

Now all that is left is to cut around the side panels. First fold your card along the scorelines. Start cutting on the right about 1" from the bottom and follow around the table and vines all the way to the scoreline. Cut along scoreline to the top. For the left side, start cutting about 1 1/4" from the bottom along the road and barrels and up the score line. 

This is a free cut, so it is up to you how close you like to get to the image and how much background you like to leave. Fold card together and see if everything lines up. Fine tune the sides a bit, so the card has nice edges on each side.

Stay tuned for part 2 - coloring the image

If you like to create this "Tri-Fold" card and learn how to stamp, cut and color the images, please contact me. Check my class schedule for ongoing classes. 

Tri-Fold "Wedding Chapel" card - Part 2

Welcome to part 2 of the Wedding Chapel tri-fold card. Now the fun part begins, coloring it. You can use any coloring medium you like, just make sure you stamped the image with the fitting ink for your medium. If you decide to use alcohol markers, be sure to keep the card open during coloring, since the alcohol markers have the tendency to bleed through the paper. This also means you have to cover the insides of your left and right side with some cardstock!

I decided to color my card in with some watercolor pencils. I started with the side panels and ended with the middle section of my card.

Lets start with the bench. Feel free to pick any color combination you like. To get some shading into your scenery, make sure to use lighter and darker colors and blend them together.

As you can see on the right, I didn't smooth the colors out at all, that's because I used watercolor pencils, which I can smooth out with water at the end.

I used darker colors under the bench, on the outline of the bush and lamp. In some areas I left white space so I could blend the color form the side out. Once my imaged was colored in, I went ahead with a fine brush and just a hint of water. The brush should feel almost dry to the touch. I always start from the light color to the dark, so from the light blue into the dark. I made sure the lines between the shades that I created are smoothed out completely. As you can see on the next picture, the colors are blending very well and no lines are be seen anymore. The inside of my panels are also nice and clean, so I don't really need to cover them with cardstock, but I will since I think is looks better.

I followed the same technique with the bridge on the other side....

Color before I activated it with water...

.... and after I used water to blend the color.

















... and the chapel from the inside, before ....

















... and after!

 And here a look on the complete colored image before I used the water to blend all the colors and lines...

... And the tri-fold all colored and blended out.

Stay tuned for the finished card with cardstock and embellishments.

Do you like to create this card? Would you like to learn how to stamp a tri-fold card and how to use watercolors? Well contact me for class dates.

Tri-Fold "Wedding Chapel" Card - Part 1

During the summer I was testing some of my new "Tri-Fold" stamps from Art Impressions. Since the weather was so nice, I thought I make myself comfortable outside as well...

You might ask what is a "Tri-Fold" card and how do they work?

Tri-Fold simply means you have a card that will open to the left and right side. When closed you see a 3-D like picture. Let me show you how this looks like:

First, these stamp sets come in three different parts, plus a stamp with a fitting phrase. Instructions are also included in the set, so read everything carefully before you start. I would recommend to use a piece of scrap-paper and stamp all images as instructed first. This way you make sure you get the sides and measurements correct and everything lines up. Use this as a template for other set you make.


For your base you need to cut a piece of white cardstock at 5 1/2" x 11". Score your card in even 1/3's so each part will measure 3 5/8". Don't fold yet, because it makes it easier to stamp.

Each stamp set tells you exactly which stamp goes in the inside of the card and which one will go on the left and right side (outside).

In this case I stamped the wedding chapel in the middle section of my card, about 3/8" from the top. Now you turn your paper around, the chapel image facing towards your work surface.

Again, in this set, the bridge will be stamped on the left section of the card and the bench on to the right section. Depending on your tri-fold set, check the instructions.

Since these stamps are rubber stamps and not clear, it is a bit more difficult to line them up. Instruction calls for the bridge to be stamped 2 5/8" from the top of the card and lined up with the score line. Don't stamp it to far to the left (or to the right on the other side), otherwise you will end up with a big white space when your card is closed.

Now stamp the right image about 1 5/8" from the top on the right panel, lining it up with the right score line.

In my pictures here you see the card already cut out, so yours will still be three full panels. 

Now all that is left is to cut around the side panels. First fold your card along the scorelines. Start cutting on the right about 1" from the bottom and follow around the bench and lamp all the way to the scoreline. Cut along scoreline to the top. For the left side, start cutting about 1 1/4" from the bottom along the bridge and up the score line. 
This is a free cut, so it is up to you how close you like to get to the image and how much background you like to leave.

Fold card together and see if everything lines up. Fine tune the sides a bit, so the card has nice edges on each side.


Stay tuned for part 2 - coloring the image

If you like to create this "Tri-Fold" card and learn how to stamp, cut and color the images, please contact me. Check my class schedule for ongoing classes. 

September is National Stamping Month at Close To My Heart

This month Close to My Heart has something to help every kind of papercrafter say a big “Hello” to life! 

Three exclusive C-size My Acrylix “Hello Life!” stamp sets are available for $13.95 each OR you can get an even better deal when you buy all 3 set from only $34.95.

Each stamp set is designed to fit with a specific type of papercrafting, whether that’s:

- scrapbooking (CC1040), 
- cardmaking (CC1041) or 
- pocket scrapbooking (CC1042). 




However, all these sets coordinate with each other and with shapes from the new Cricut “Artistry” cartridge collection…

come and check these sets out! 

Remember, these stamp sets are available for one month only, so get your orders in for one stamps set – or all three before these gorgeous stamps disappear!

Watercolor Card "Get Well" with Butterflies - Part 3

Last but not least, the butterfly watercolor image I made a while ago.

Isn't it nice how the color is dancing around the butterflies...or are the butterflies dancing around the color?

I love this one, but now that I look at the picture, I think I have to change the color of my "Get Well" flag. It looked brighter in the basement then now during daylight. I was going for the turquoise color in the card...oh well!

What do you think? Should I leave it this way or change?

Watercolor Card "Thinking of You" in gold - Part 2

Here is the final card from the second watercolor image I did. 

Gold sequins just did it for me and beside the black mat I used one of the background colors to go around the edges of my card base..

Watercolor Card "Thinking of You" in blue - Part 1

As promised...here is the first of the three watercolor images I made the other day. 

I tried a couple of different background colors for the mat, but black was just the perfect colors. Love the sequins on the blue watercolor...they remind me of water bubbles. Hmmm? This might become a new card idea...we will see

Butterfly Card with ZIG Marker watercolor background

Well, you know how much I love the ZIG markers and sometimes they are awesome for creating backgrounds with water.

Looks complicated doesn't it? Let's see how hard it is to do a background like this.

Again, with these markers you have to use the right paper to get the best results. I used a piece off Bristol watercolor paper and stamped three different kind of butterflies in VersaMark on it.
White embossing powder was used to seal the stamped images.

Now we come to the fun part and make sure you pay attention since it is really complicated:


I picked green, blue, pink, red, orange and yellow markers. I stared in the lower left corner and scribbled a strip of green in a diagonal way. Not very accurate or all the way to the edge. Next I did the same with the blue, leaving a little white between the two colors. I followed the same procedure with pink, red, orange and ended it with yellow.

I put a little runner adhesive on the back and secured the watercolor paper to my crafting mat. Now I took my water spritz bottle and sprayed away. Multiple spritzers until the color stared moving and blending into each other.

Now you can just leave the piece to dry or you can use your heating tool to speed up the process.

The embossed image resists the colors and makes the butterflies pop. I mated the piece on a piece of black cardstock and adhered it to the card base. 

I stamped the phrase again with VersaMark on black cardstock and white embossed it. It is placed with foam dots to the front and a few sequins round up this creation.

So how difficult was this? Like to try this technique and a few more for yourself? Well contact me to see which openings are left for my watercolor classes....Don't miss out and try multiple mediums before you decide which one works best for you and your budget.

More Watercolor Images ...

Today I show you a few more samples of previous shown stamped images, but this time in a different color scheme.

This example on the left was created by using Ranger Distress Markers and Distress inks and a water brush. 

I haven't mated it yet, but it will be going on a card soon ;-)

The other two examples were done with the ZIG markers, but in a lighter color scheme. Both are not finished yet... as you can see.

Learn these and other techniques during my watercolor classes.

Test pencils, markers and paints and see what suet's you the best....

Contact me for more details...

September ... Stamp of the Month

I think this is one of my favorite Stamp of the Month set so far. I love the wonderful flower arrangements. Perfect for watercolor stamping, backgrounds and so much more. The two bigger flowers and the leave also coordinate with the new Cricut "Artistry" cartridge (Z3167) 

The Stamp of the Month "Paper Garden" (S1509) can be purchase during the month of September for $17.95 or if you place an order or at least $50 in September, you can get this special stamp set home for only $5.

See the cards I created with this stamp set. Don't miss out on it, it is a great versatile set! 

 Stay tuned for more ...

Make sure when you order from my website to hit the "Join" button on the lower right side called "September Special" and have the chance to win some free products in September!

Watercolor Technique with Kuretake ZIG markers

Vibrant colors, a watercolor background and all was done with the Kuretake Zig Clean Brush markers.

Using the right paper, blending the colors on the paper is easy.

I started out by stamping the "Flower Corner" stamp on white Strathmore Bristol 100lb cardstock. I used Versa Mark ink and white embossing powder to make the design stand out.

I colored each flower with two different shades of ZIG marker. Yellow and orange, orange and red, yellow and brown and purple and pink. The leafs are done with the two green shades that come in the 12 marker set (like the other colors I used)


I stared with the darker color and blended in with the lighter shade. These markers are so juicy that my light color was picking up the darker shade so I had to clean it of in between on a piece of scrap paper.

Flowers and leafs are done in the direct on paper blending technique. For the background I used one of the blues in the set, but here I worked with my waterbrush. First I saturated the background just a bit with water and then placed some color right around the stamped images. With more water on the brush I moved the color around to cover the whole background. If not enough color was left, I just added more.

The "Thinking of You" stamp from Close to My Heart was stamped in VersaMark and embossed in "liquid platinum embossing powder". I placed the piece on a black cardstock base and onto the card base with the fold on top. A few sequins round up this card.

Like to learn this and other watercolor techniques? Contact me for class dates... 

Close to My Heart ... Seasonal Expression Book "Holidays"

Not only is our brand New Idea Book 2015-16 out, but you can also indulge the new Seasonal Expressions book "Holiday"

Find all your Halloween, Christmas and Holiday papers, stamps and embellishments in one place. Many new card kits, workshops on the go, home decor items and so much more to love.

Contact me if you like your own personal copy or check it out online on my website.

Make sure when you order from my website to hit the "Join" button on the lower right side called "September Special" and have the chance to win some free products in September!

Close to My Heart... New Idea Book 2015-16 is here

It is here..... finally the waiting time is over! Enjoy the brand new annual Close to My Heart Idea Book 2015-16 online and click here

You can order a paper version of the annual Idea Book and the new Seasonal Expression Book by contacting me for more details or check my website, place your order and put the Idea Book in your shopping cart.

Make sure when you order from my website to hit the "Join" button on the lower right side called "September Special" and have the chance to win some free products in September!