Barbecue Punch Art (with faux cloud technique)

What do you do when you need a card for a dude or a dad and you've already used your masculine stamp sets to death?  They've seen them already! You're out of aces! 

You make punch art.  Yes you do! 

Punch art....because it's easy, it's WOW and you can create anything, really you can!

To create a BBQ or (grill) you'll need a large 1 3/4" circle punch, word window punch and a 1/2" circle punch.  That is it! 

Faux clouds in the background were done with the scalloped oval punch.

The grass was made by punching the scalloped border and then going back over it (offset) to make the ends 'spikey' and more grass like.  Voila. Man card.  Fast. Easy.  Me likey.

Shout out and thanks to all of the ladies who share their punched art with me through organized swaps and blogging we've received and given a lot of inspiration...and this BBQ saved my bacon....

speaking of bacon...

Doesn't that ribbon look like bacon?  Perfect :)

That Old Black Magic

What we do, when we do what we do, and oh we do it so well...

Let me mesmerize and tantalize you with our black magic spell...

Hey, it's my blog I can do lame poetry if I want, right? Okay, I'll knock it off.  What isn't lame is this, lookie.....

Isn't it beautiful?  Do you know what this is?

THIS, my lovely friends is the Black Magic Technique (or velvet Elvis painting as I like to call it).   Do you see the printing/script to the left of the art?  THAT is detailed instructions on how you do this beautiful technique....and THAT is what we do every month at Technique Club.  Oh yes!

Every month I get together with my Technique Club ladies and we make a 6x6" embellished page with the technique instructions, the sample of the technique (which they add to a 6x6" scrapbook)...

PLUS...we make two projects in addition to learning the monthly technique. 

 

It's a fun afternoon (or evening) out, and since they always leave with a detailed/sample of what they learned...they have a wonderful reference to keep and can reproduce everything at home!

It's brilliant, really, we have such a great time! 

If you're in the Edmonton area and want to join or start a techniques class with me as your instructor, please contact me through the links in the header of this blog, or pop over to the Prairie Paperie page on facebook and send me a message!

When you do visit the Prairie Paperie page on facebook you'll meet some lovely people and see a variety of projects and my latest classes and events. 

I've also posted this for the amusement and enjoyment of your eyeballs and inner craftmonster, isn't it pretty!  Details are on the facebook page, come join us and say hello and introduce yourself why don't ya?

Do It Yourself (DIY) Postcard

If you're a follower on the Prairie Paperie page on Facebook you may remember when I showed you this digital design that I made using My Digital Studio (and I promised to show you what it looked like made into a real postcard that you can mail!)

In the next photograph you can see that I've printed the graphic out on GLOSSY 4x6" photo paper on my home printer. (hurrah for the home printer!). 

Note: in my settings I always choose vivid colour in the printer controls.

When you flip over to the back side of the glossy photo paper you have a GREAT canvas for stamping.  The paper on the reverse side is matte and has a bit of a grain to it, so Classic Inks will adhere very nicely to this surface....

To get the visual layout of a 'real' postcard I drew a line down the center of the card with a Stampin' Write marker and a small ruler.

Tip:  Use lighter colour inks when working on the back of the postcard, because the photo paper is thinner than cardstock and you do not want it to bleed through to the front.

I used my Winter Post stamp set to stamp the "Post Card" image in Sahara Sand Classic Ink.

For the 'post marked' image in the right hand corner I used a Stampin' Write marker, in Sahara Sand,  and inked up everything but the middle of the circle (which had a Christmas sentiment inside)...this technique is called 'omitting'.  I huffed on the stamp to remoisten the ink and stamped it onto the cardstock.

Next I inked up a small heart stamp from Holiday Blitz and the XOXOXO stamped it within the circular part of the postmark image. To finish it off, I watercoloured the heart with a blender pen and a pink watercolour wonder crayon.

My Digital Studio software, and all stamping products mentioned are guaranteed available through my Stampin' Up! store through June 30, 2010. You can go to the store by clicking HERE.  

What happens after June 30...our new catalogue is released with some brand new stamp sets and colours!

I hope you enjoyed your tutorial on how to make a DIY Postcard! 


Just think of the possibilities you have with your camera, My Digital Studio, your laptop/computer and your home printer!


~Dreena~

3D Thanks!

A great big

(and I mean really big)

thank you to all my blog readers.

My blog is now over 5000 visits!

This goes out to you...

If you are a reader or a visitor would you please leave a comment and say "hi" maybe where you are from and how you discovered my blog?  (or just hi!) I'd love to know who you are!

I hand cut this bad boy with a hobby blade.  The proof is in the rough edges and awkward but beautiful hearts. Does anyone who specializes in 'fussy cuts' have tips you can share on how to cut around curves with a hobby blade?

Side note to my best friend: (Leigh if you are reading this I did NOT pick up a hobby blade...I hired trained professionals who specialize in the art of utilizing sharp utensils)....


I love this card, it was so fun to make and it's definitely a 'wow' item.  It is a HUGE card at 4x8" and when you open the card the word THANKS pops right out at you! BAM!  I like that...a bit of drama suits me fine!

~Dreena~