How to Make a Fun Birthday Card Two Different Ways

I always need birthday cards - don't you? Making them is extra fun and easy using the Sunshine Tag Set from FSJ. This set comes with two 12x12 sheets of pre-printed tags. Detail cut them, or use the FSJ Bread Tag Die to cut them out, (a variety of other tag and rectangle dies will be adorable and work well with these pre-printed tags too!)

I really really love the fun color combination on today's card. I never would have thought that Haystack would look fantastic with Cosmic Grape - but I am TOTALLY digging it, especially along with some Cool Pool and Turbo Teal! (Like I always say...EVERYTHING looks good with Cool Pool.) The star was die-cut from a Gel Press print I had tucked away - it's mostly Turbo Teal ink and a little Sparkle Silk. (That's what gives it those lighter color spots.) 

Next up, a REALLY simple card idea. You can borrow this idea, and whip these up in any color scheme you'd like, in about ten minutes. This idea is perfect for those last minute card needs! Just do some simple stamping with the Birthday Pop Stamp Set onto a panel of Whip Cream cardstock, and add a strip of washi tape and a paper clip.  Then, attach it to a Turbo Teal card base and add a splatter of Black Silk. 

I like this card idea because it would work for kids, adults, men, women - ANYONE. Change up the colors accordingly, and it's sweet and simple for anyone!

Now friends, I challenge YOU to grab some of your favorite stamps and supplies and make a celebration themed card. FSJ is nearing 10,000 followers on Facebook, so they're hosting a fun challenge and giveaway. Here are all the details!

To enter this challenge, please do the following.

1. Make sure you've liked and are following Fun Stampers Journey on Facebook.
2. Create a project using the CELEBRATION theme and share it on your blog, Facebook page, or Instagram feed.
3. Leave a comment on the FSJ post about the challenge with a link to your project & tag a friend who might want to play along, too!

Ten winners will be selected from FSJ's followers that have commented on that post with a link to their project + tagged a friend. Winners will be announced on that Facebook post once FSJ reaches 10,000 followers. They will tag the winner, but check back to see if you’ve won. Prizes will be shipped from the Journey Station.

Sound like FUN!? I hope you'll play along! Need a little more information on today's projects? Here you go...

Supplies Used on Today's Projects:

Sunshine Tag Set

Bread Tag Die

Colorful Journey Printed Paper

Birthday Pop Stamp Set

PS. I made the coordinating envelopes for these cards, using the FSJ Scoring Board. Making envelopes is my new favorite thing to do! You can find a quick tutorial and more information about the Scoring Board on this blog post!

PSS. My friend Tania, is a GEM at making cards with the cute pre-printed tags from FSJ. For more inspiration, check out her blog posts here: YAY Celebration Card, Awesomeness Card, plus THREE summer cards using tags!

Make a Fun Whale Card with Spellbinders and FSJ

Hello crafty friends! I have such a fun handmade card to share with you today. I used the clear stamp set called Sunshiny Day from Spellbinders. This stamp set is part of Spellbinder's September Card Kit of the Month which is filled with darling embellishments, dies, and cardstock in addition to this stamp set. But for this card, I used only the stamp set, and I paired it with some FSJ goodies, because they all work so beautifully together!

To begin this card, you'll want to grab some ink (Huckleberry Fusion, Rich Coral, and River Stone.) Stamp the whales, hearts, and anchors across a panel of Whip Cream cardstock. Splatter panel with Beach Ball Silk, and then adhere panel to a Huckleberry Fusion card base. 

Next, stamp the sentiment. The Sunshiny Day clear stamp set has a fun variety of words to mix and match. Create the sentiment you want, and stamp it onto cardstock strips, but detail cutting the word "whale-y". (So cute, right!?) 

To finish off the card, add some die cut circles, and a heart, plus some twine, a paper clip, and a strip of sparkle washi tape. This is a great friendship and all occasion card - but wouldn't this be a darling Valentine card too!? (I think I'll be pulling this stamp set out again, when February comes around!) 

In case you've missed the exciting news, FSJ and Spellbinders are joining forces to bring more crafty goodness to your life! You'll find FSJ and Spellbinders together in the same store now, and there are so many amazing products and fun things coming your way!

I'm so glad you stopped by today! I hope you liked my WHALE-Y fun card!!! ;) Are you new to FSJ and/or Spellbinders? Follow them and keep up with all the crafty goodness! 

Find Spellbinders and FSJ on social media! 

Spellbinders on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube

FSJ on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube

And while you're at it, I'd love it if you follow me too! 

Laura Williams on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest 

Have a great day!!! xoxo

Supplies Used on Today's Card:

Sunshiny Day Stamp Set

Huckleberry Fusion, Rich Coral, River Stone True Color Fusion Ink

Circle Around Die Set

Snapshot Frames Die Set

Candy Apple Twine

Candy Apple Journey Tape

How to Make Creative Use of Your Stamps on Christmas Cards

It's November, which means the holiday crafting season is officially upon us. It's time to get cracking on those Christmas cards! One of my favorite things to do is take some everyday stamp sets, and give them a holiday twist. It gives a little new life to those stamp sets, and also allows you to use what you have, even if you don't have a ton of seasonal or Christmas crafting supplies. I hope you'll be inspired today to dig through your crafty stash, and see what you have that isn't holiday related, but just might be perfect on your holiday cards! 

This first card does have a strong focus on a holiday stamp set - the gorgeous Poinsettia Burst from FSJ. But let's take a look at that background, shall we? For the background of this card, I pulled out the Life's Moments Stamp Set.  Isn't this a fabulous set?

Life's Moments is a great everyday stamp set with sentiments for all types of occasions, and such pretty solid blocks with different leaves and plant shapes cut out from them. I love this set for all-occasion cards - but stamped repeatedly in red, this suddenly takes on a whole new look . . .for CHRISTMAS! The berry shape coordinates so nicely with the poinsettia, I just love it!

To give the background it's diffused faded look, I pulled out my Gel Press. Then, I stamped the image repeatedly across the Gel Press using Cranberry True Color Fusion Ink. I VERY gently placed a sheet of scrap paper over the surface, just to pull up part of the color, and then I pressed Buttercream cardstock onto the Gel Press and got this slightly uneven but faded look - precisely what I was hoping for! I splattered it with Gold Silk and then layered the rest of my card together. 

Here's a TIP! Looking for more product in your stash that's perfect for the holidays? Check out your enamel dots, rhinestones, and sequins. But look beyond the red and green (although they're a great place to start!) . . .gold and silver are also absolutely gorgeous for holiday cards! 

Next up, a cool winter card. I used a fairly seasonal set for the sentiment, called It's Cold Outside. And although I love the winter animals from that set, I wanted to give this card a different spin. So I pulled out this cozy coffee cup from Le Cafe.  It's definitely not a winter stamp set, but could this be anymore perfect together!? The swirls on the sentiment even echo the steam from the cup. Perfection. I love this together. 

I had a little more Gel Press fun on this card too. For the background, first I brayered out some Cool Pool Re-Inker onto the Gel Press, and pulled a quick print. Then I stamped the Flannel Life background stamp onto the print. (Oh, would that be another non-Christmas stamp that is amazingly perfect for winter? Why YES!) I used a bit of the excess Cool Pool print, to stamp and detail cut the blue coffee cup. 

This is sort of a different color combination for a winter card too - and I LOVE to pull out some wacky color combinations for winter and Christmas cards. The cool blues and purple really are lovely for winter, but the oatmeal cookie color warms it up a bit, and the pop of black grounds everything nicely.

SO here's your challenge, should you choose to accept it. Search your stash. Find some NON-holiday product. Put it together to make a holiday card. Maybe even try a new color combination with it! Get crazy! Have fun! It's November! Go for it! 

So, I have one more BIG thing to hit you with today before you go - have you heard? FSJ and Spellbinders are joining into one big crafty collaboration, starting TODAY November 1st. You'll be able to purchase FSJ right from the website, no direct sales coach required! We are so excited for you to shop on our new website, and explore all the goodness that Spellbinders and FSJ have to offer! If you're new to one or both companies, you'll have a great time exploring the website! And I'll be sharing lots of ways that you can use Spellbinders and FSJ products together to make crafty gorgeous creations! Together we bring paper to life!

Don't miss a thing:

Find Spellbinders and FSJ on social media! 

Spellbinders on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube

FSJ on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube

Supplies on today's cards:
Poinsettia Burst Stamp Set 
 Life's Moments Stamp Set
Journey Gel Press
It's Cold Outside Stamp Set
It's Cold Outside Die Set
Flannel Life Stamp Set

How to Add Colorful Watercolor Techniques To Cards

Adding watercolor techniques to handmade cards and crafts is so much fun because no two projects will ever look exactly the same. If you like to experiment and play with watercolor, you will absolutely love today's ideas! All of today's cards were inspired by a blog post over on the FSJ blog last week. If you haven't seen it, I want you to pause, hop over there to check out the tutorial, and then come right back. (Don't forget to come back - okay?) 

The FSJ blog post does a great job of showing step by step how to make a watercolor background that starts with a Create-a-Palette ink pad, along with Liquid Colors. The FSJ Create-a-Palette is an empty ink pad which can be loaded with Re-inkers or Liquid Colors (dye based liquid inks.) There are five sections, so you can add 5 different colors to make all kinds of cool ombre or rainbow color palettes. If you have other brands of rainbow ink pads (as long as they are dye ink and not pigment ink) you can use this same technique! 

The Create-a-Palette I used for the Merry Christmas card is loaded with the following Liquid Colors: Limeade Splash, Fresh Forest, Catalina Splash, Cool Pool, and Limeade Splash (Yes, this pad starts and ends with Limeade Splash!)  

For the first card, I followed the same directions on FSJ blog post, but i got the Color Splash watercolor sheet very wet before I smooshed it together with the clear block loaded with color. The more water you spritz onto the inky block, and the more you add to the paper, the more your colors will blend and bleed. It's all about playing to find what you like!

To finish off that first card, i added an embossed tree, a sentiment on a strip of vellum, plus some little finishing touches. I didn't want to go too crazy because I want that gorgeous watercolor to show! (I really like the pop of pink though, because it really balances out with all that green!)

Next up, I used the same technique, but I used a lot less water. I did spritz my watercolor paper with some water, but i kept the water mostly at the center of the paper, and i blended it with my finger a little, so that it wouldn't be totally saturated. My colors still blended really nicely, but you'll see it doesn't bleed as much. (I really like both effects!) For the apple crate, I used a practice sheet that I had been playing with these same colors. I didn't love the way it came out, but it was perfect for those red apples. 

And here's the Create-a-Palette I used for this card. It's loaded with the following Liquid Colors: Candy Apple, Rich Coral, Peaches & Cream, Orange Creamsicle, and Lemon Drop. 

Last up, is probably my favorite! I took this technique a step farther. I only inked up half the block with the colors. And I only got half of the color splash sheet wet. (But I got that half VERY wet.) I smooshed only half the sheet with the color, and immediately stood it up and let it drip down. I repeated the process a few times until I really got as much drippy mess as I liked. While it was still wet, I splattered it with Sparkle Silk. The snowflakes are embossed on vellum, so they are the perfect accent, without overshadowing those gorgeous wintery colors!

This Create-a-Palette was loaded with: Catalina Splash, Cool Pool, Lovely Blue, Pretty Amethyst, and Lavender Fusion Liquid Colors. (Remember - when using watercolor techniques, the pad MUST be loaded with dye inks. FSJ's True Color Fusion Re-Inkers can absolutely be used in these pads, but you cannot mix them with water!)

So, what do you think? Does this crazy watercolor mess get you excited to create, or does it stress you out? I like that this kind of mess is kind of a controlled mess. Just keep some baby wipes handy, and you'll be okay, I promise! I hope you feel inspired to pull out some different supplies, or to try something new - I'd love to see what you make with this watercolor smooshing technique! If you have questions, I'm always happy to help. Shoot me an email, get with me on social media, or comment below! Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Note: In the photos of the Create-a-Palettes I used, you can see that I stamped an image to add to the lid of my ink pads. That way I have a quick visual reminder of what the color palette looks like. (FSJ's ATS sized background stamps are a great size to stamp for the lid of your ink pads.) 

Supplies used on today's cards:

Create-a-Palette Ink Pads

Liquid Colors

Color Splash Watercolor Sheets

Sparkle Silk
All Year Long Stamp Set
All Year Long Die Set

Did you miss the original tutorial for these projects, plus one more piece of gorgeous Christmas inspiration on the FSJ blog? Go check it out! 

How to Make a Cozy Buffalo Check Christmas Card

Tell me - what are your feelings on buffalo check? Do you think it's the warmest, coziest, most perfect print for fall and winter? And is it extra fabulous when it's mixed with black, white, red, and kraft? If you said yes, then you and I can still be friends. (Alright fine, we can still be friends either way, because I adore you!) 

I am smitten with this buffalo check stencil from FSJ. It's an easy way to add some buffalo check goodness to your handmade cards and crafts. These two coordinating projects came together easily, with a bold winter color palette, plus a few stamps, papers, and that darling stencil! 

To create the Peace on Earth card, you'll want to sponge red ink over the buffalo check stencil, onto white cardstock. Trim the panel down, mat it on black cardstock, and adhere to a kraft card base. Easy peasy so far, yes? Next, stamp and heat emboss that GORGEOUS sentiment onto kraft cardstock and die cut or trim. (Don't you love the distressed texture of the solid area on that stamp? It stamps SO beautifully!) Assemble the card together, and add a few enamel dots for an aqua POP. 

Next, why not create a coordinating gift card pocket? Start by die cutting the Gift Card Pouch from FSJ, onto kraft cardstock. Trim a small panel of patterned paper. (That amazing black and white print is from the Cozy Prints paper pack. And bonus - there's a buffalo check print in that paper pack too!) Mat printed paper with red cardstock and adhere to pocket. Stamp and heat emboss sentiment onto a diecut circle, and adhere along with some sparkly washi tape, die cut holly leaves, and a twine bow!

There's something about black, white, red, and kraft for holiday decor and crafts. I just love it. But I love AQUA so much too - so the pop of aqua on these projects just makes my heart happy. Color is EVERYTHING to me! Are you doing any holiday crafting? I'd love to see what you're up to! Shoot me a link in the comments, and I will be sure to stop by and visit! 

Supplies used on today's projects:
Buffalo Check Stencil
Gift Card Pouch Die Set
Cozy Prints patterned paper
Holiday Joy Stamp Set (Check out this link for another darling card with this stamp set!)
Special Day Tag Die Set (coordinates with the Holiday Joy stamps!)
Silver Sparkle Tape

I told you I love this color combo for Christmas. Check out this post with more Christmas projects using many of the same products as today's project! I can't help myself! Such cuteness!

How to Make Crafty Christmas Decor 

With an Embroidery Hoop

Do you still want MORE Christmas inspiration? (Yes, of course we all do!) Stop by my Pinterest page and pin to your hearts content - I am adding more inspiring ideas for Christmas, and all year round - every single day!

How to Make Simple Stamped Christmas Cards

Have you started making holiday cards yet? These Christmas cards all showcase the Nutcracker Suite Stamp Set and coordinating dies from Fun Stampers Journey. You can use this rubber stamp set, along with some simple patterned papers to make three easy handmade cards that don't require fancy techniques, coloring, or lots of cutting. Ready to check out these holiday cards with me? 

First up, is my favorite of the three cards. I channeled one of my favorite crafty friends for this one. If you don't know my girl, Teri Anderson - please RUN to her blog and check out her awesome work. Teri ALWAYS (always always) inspires me with her use of patterned paper, and stamping ideas. She just adds some Teri MAGIC and they are AMAZING. SO, I totally thought "What Would Teri Do?" (I have no idea if this is actually what Teri would do) but I love the way she pieces patterned paper together. This is such an easy way to use little bits of paper, and after adding a sentiment strip, and two little stamped and die cut trains you have a quick cute Christmas card! You could knock out a whole bunch of this card, or something similar, with all kinds of gorgeous paper combinations. 

 Next up, I did a little bit of embossing. But don't panic, this is still a pretty simple card. Just gold embossing on white cardstock, matted with black, and a little strip of patterned paper on the card base. What really punches up this card a bit is the rounded corners. Notice I only rounded them on two corners. Saves you a little work if you're making a ton of this card, and it just adds a fun finishing touch.

Last but not least, every nutcracker needs a ballerina friend, so here's my pretty pop of pink Christmas card. (You know I love pink for Christmas, if you've been hanging out here lately!) I LOVE to tie in a coordinating envelope for my cards, so after I stamped and die cut these pretties, and added some patterned paper, I used my scoring board to make a matching polka dot envelope. (You can find a whole post about my FSJ Scoring Board and how to make envelopes right here!)

It feels good to make a variety of projects using one stamp set, and some coordinating colors. Each of these cards is a little different, but they were all simple to make with some easy stamping and die cutting. Nothing fancy, just good old handmade cards! I hope you liked them! If you have any questions, leave me a comment, or shoot me an email.

Supplies used on today's cards:
Nutcracker Suite Stamp
Nutcracker Suite Die Set
Christmas Magic Stamp Set
Cozy Prints Patterned Paper 
Scoring Board

Do you love Pinterest?  Are you looking for MORE Christmas inspiration? Come on over to my Christmas Cards and Tags board and save some of your favorites!

How to Make Simple Cards With Patterned Paper

Hello my crafty friends! Today I'd like to share three cards that all share the same basic layout. If you're a new crafter, this is a great post for you - and if you've been making handmade cards for years, you might just love this trip back to the basics. Today's cards are perfect for the upcoming fall and winter holidays, and an easy idea for mass-producing cards. (Plus, it's a perfect excuse to pull out some of your favorite patterned papers!) 

Let's start with the fall thank you card first, as we talk about the how-to's: 

HOW TO:

To begin each of these cards, you'll want to collect up some mix and match patterned papers. Two-sided prints are perfect for this, because they're ready to go with coordinating prints on each side. 

Trim a 4-inch strip of patterned paper, and then trim that strip into 3 and 2-inch pieces. (For each card you'll need one 3-inch strip and one 2-inch strip.)

Then, trim a 4.25x1-inch strip of cardstock, in any coordinating color. Pick a card base, and then adhere everything together - the two patterned papers pieces, plus the cardstock strip.

Last, choose a nice big sentiment, stamp and fussy cut it out and adhere it to the card. 

This card is flat, and ready to pop in the mail without worrying about added bulk. It also doesn't need any embellishments or extras, as the printed papers are so strong and beautiful on their own. 

Now, let's look at a Christmas version of this same idea. Below, the card on the left uses the same exact layout. Two prints, a strip of cardstock, and a simple trimmed sentiment. BUT...let's take a look at the card on the right. For this one, I used the flip side of each piece, and then I added just a FEW really simple additions. Two die-cut holly leaves, some twine and a button add a little extra pizzaz to the same card. (I still super love the simplicity of the first card though - don't hesitate to leave it AS IS, especially if you need to make a bunch of them!)

                 

Lastly, here's one more - this time for Halloween. Again, we've used the same layout. Two patterned paper pieces, but this time I added a strip of cardstock with the sentiment. And then I added a cute little skeleton accent. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! I find it weirdly calming to just cut up a whole bunch of patterned paper and make card bases. And then when I need to knock out a set of cards, they're ready to go. (Is that strange?)

                    

Supplies Used on Today's Cards:

Fall-o-ween Prints

Cozy Prints

Many Thanks Stamp Set

Christmas Magic Stamp Set

Jack O Lantern Stamp Set

B&W Halloween accents

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Check back next week when I'll have some more simple handmade card ideas to share with you - just in time for Christmas card season! xoxo

Looking for more Christmas crafts? Check out these posts:

How to Make Crafty Christmas Decorations with Embroidery Hoops

How to Use Wrapping Paper on Handmade Christmas Cards

Don't forget to pin this for later!

Make an Elegant Christmas Card with Gold Embossing

Gold embossing makes a Christmas card extra elegant, doesn't it? I love pairing black or white with gold embossing, especially for handmade holiday cards. Today's Peace on Earth card also features a bright blue background that I printed on the Journey Gel Press. (You might remember a similar print that I made for these fall thank you cards. I made this print at the same time!)

I'll talk you through the process for this Christmas card, and share a few tips and techniques along the way. For a little information about how I made the blue background print, be sure to click over to the thank you card post for the whole scoop.

How to create extra depth on layered cards:

I really wanted this card to create a scene. I love the images in this set, and it's fun to create a simple setting with the buildings, trees, and traveling wise men. Here are the steps I used to get started:

1. Fold a card base and adhere panel of blue printed paper.
2. Trim a white cardstock panel card-front sized, and die cut oval from the center.
3. Emboss white cardstock. (It's important to do this AFTER die cutting the oval, or the embossed texture will smoosh back down!)
4. Rub Gold PanPastel over texture, focusing mostly on the oval outline, to subtly accent the texture.
5. Adhere white cardstock to base, using one OR two layers of foam tape. And that, my friends, is the first TIP to create extra depth. If you really want a thick layered card, don't be afraid to double layer foam squares.
6. Play with stamped and cut images to create the scene. Experiment with tucking images behind and above layers, and create your scene. I tucked one side of the buildings behind the oval, and I added foam squares behind the tree, overlapping it with the buildings. Playing with the layers will help tie your images together.

Can we talk about embossing for a minute? I have a few tips for you:

Embossing Tips

1. Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer before you start embossing. It'll help remove anything oily or sticky from your hands. (Even the natural oils in your skin can affect embossing!) 
2. Use a brand new sheet of cardstock, from the center of the pack, that you've likely not handled before.
3. Before stamping, wipe cardstock with one of those fabulous anti-static pouches, if you have one. If not, try wiping your cardstock with a dryer sheet. OR if you have Colorless Blender PanPastel, sponge a little across cardstock. This will help resist stray flecks of embossing powder. (This is the method I use. I keep my Colorless Blender, and a sponge right in the drawer with my embossing supplies.)
4. Keep a tiny paintbrush handy to brush away any stray flecks of embossing powder, before heat setting. 

I'd love to know, do you make Christmas cards each year? What's your go-to style? Crisp and elegant, colorful and bright, traditional, or do you go crazy with a funky style all your own? (Or maybe you try a little of everything, like me!) Happy crafting my friends! Christmas is coming!

Supplies for today's card:

Adore Him Stamp Set

Adore Him Die Set

Journey Oval Die Set

Bright Days Embossing Folder

Journey Gel Press

Gold Silk

Gold Embossing Powder

Gold PanPastel

Colorless Blender PanPastel

Are you looking for more inspiration for holiday cards? Go check out my Pinterest board of holiday card ideas! You're sure to find something that will inspire your Christmas and Hanukkah card making! Thanks so much for stopping by today!! xoxo