| Hello Card Maker, Ah ... the holidays are over and 2009 stretches ahead of us, filled with the promise of new craft supplies and unlimited creativity. Are you ready? Once again, my resolution this year will be to get cards made and mailed before the special day. I almost managed it in 2008, so we'll see how it goes this year! Readers, do you have any special crafty resolutions for the New Year? Use my feedback form to share your plans! Reader Letters
Pamela writes, via e-mail: "I've only been into card making less than one year, and I absolutely LOVE it! I took art classes in high school and that was as far as my creativity got, until now. I know there is a lot for me to learn and I've been reading every catalog and newsletter and magazine I can find. So far, I have created 10 cards and finished two albums for my granddaughter.
"My question is, can you tell me where I can read, not only the different uses vellum has, but HOW to use it? When I work with it I'm just never really sure if it looks right and I start questioning whether to take it off and redo the card, or leave it. I really enjoy putting my own creativity on a card, so I try not to make my cards look like one I've seen before." Pamela, the cool thing about vellum is that you can see through it, which makes it such an elegant addition to a special card. On the other hand, unfortunately, you can see through it, which makes it especially difficult to attach in a pretty way. I haven't really been satisfied with any type of adhesive that I've tried to use with vellum, so I generally use brads or clips to attach vellum to a card. As far as printing on vellum goes, it's very important to make sure the ink is dry before taking the next step. Because vellum is so slick and nonporous, it smears easily. Readers, do you have any tips on using vellum? Use my feedback form below! Zonnie writes, via e-mail: "I would like to enhance my cards with glitter. What is the best way to add �sparkle' to my cards? I'm experimenting with spray glitter, but the color selection is minimal. I hope you can help me." Zonnie, this article by frequent CardMaker contributor Judi Kaufmann should have all the information you need to add a little glitz to your cards. Enjoy! Back to top.
Glitz & Glitter By Judi Kauffman Everyone likes a little of "bling" now and then, and card makers are no exception. Explore the wide array of products that sparkle and shine to use to create cards that catch the eye and capture the heart. Those of us who get distracted by shiny objects can pile on as much glitz and glitter as a card can hold. Gem-topped brads, glittery stickers and ribbon, and other embellishments are readily available and come in a wide variety of sizes and styles. Glitter and embossing powder are available in hundreds of colors. Manufacturers ship new releases every season, making it fun to shop for supplies.  Like most card-making project designs, the first consideration is the recipient. If a friend carries a large rhinestone-studded purse made of shimmering copper leather, go for glittery background paper and pile on the embellishments. For someone who wears a single pearl on a gold chain and shudders at the mention of a diamond bracelet, accent the card with just a touch of sparkle. If you're working on cards without knowing where they will be sent, let your eye and your supplies guide you. Cards sometimes call out for a tiny dash of glitz and other times require a massive infusion.
Card stock and paper come with sparkle covering the entire surface -- one company calls theirs Sugar Coated -- as well as in styles with glitter or foil in selected areas of the pattern. You can add your own touches with glitter or glitter glue, embossing powder or sparkling fibers, or make paper from scratch and mix sparkling inclusions into the pulp. Scrapbooking supplies are just right for cards too. Paper and card-stock stickers, sticker gems, chipboard letters and shapes, sparkling brads, flowers, and clips are but a few of the many options. Put charms, hologram stickers, glitter ribbon, glitter spray, sequin ribbon, iron-on metallic braid, foil, Mylar and other items on the list, while you're at it. Add die cuts, punches and embossing to the mix, and the possibilities expand exponentially. Customize, alter, combine -- surprise yourself! It's easy to see why I haven't budged from my studio in days! Here's a resource list to help you get started on your own quest for Glitz & Glitter. Surfaces Pens - Gelly Roll® Metallic, Stardust (glitter), Glaze (3D translucent) and Pen-Touch (gold, silver) pens; Sakura of America™, SakuraOfAmerica.com
Chipboard Letters & Shapes, Stickers - Tin Type hologram adhesive-backed alphabet
- Stanislaus Imports, StanislausImports.com
- Chipboard alphabets and shapes, dimensional and embossed stickers, bead stickers; K&Company, KAndCompany.com
- Chipboard alphabet; Inque Boutique, GoInque.com
Embossing Powders, Sparkling Fibers, Ribbon Inks, Paints, Sprays Brads, Gems, Charms & More - Sugar Coated brads; Doodlebug Design Inc., Doodlebug.ws
- Sparkle brads, crown-shaped brads; Hot Off The Press, PaperWishes.com
- Bead Party Bling! Bling! (sticker gems); Sulyn Industries, Sulyn.com
- Artgirlz™ Charmz, Artgirlz.com
- K&Company, KAndCompany.com
- Heidi Grace Glittered Flowers; heidigrace.com
- Allison Connors glitter flower paper clips, rhinestone cherry brads, layered brads and more; Creative Imaginations, CreativeImaginations.us
- Shimmer Sheetz iridescent and tranluscent Mylar, traditional and shaped sequins and spangles; Sulyn Industries, Sulyn.com
- Glitter brads; Karen Foster Design, KarenFosterDesign.com
- Swarovski® Crystal flatbacks, hotfix, pearls, sew-ons and buttons, and other components; Swarvski North America, Create-Your-Style.com
Copyright © October 2008 CardMaker magazine. All rights reserved. Back to top.
Click here for printer-friendly page. | | Ruby writes, via e-mail:
"I need new ideas. I am not very creative on my own, but your ideas have helped me a lot. I was also wondering if you have any ideas for cards for the male population. I have no problem coming up with cards for females and children, but males?" Ruby, just pick up the latest issue of CardMaker magazine, or visit our Web site at www.CardMakerMagazine.com. Editor Tanya Fox always has tons of great ideas, and there are even bonus projects online that can't be found in the magazine. Some of the tricks I use when making cards for the men in my life are to use bright colors (think Ford Mustang or Fender Stratocaster � ) or deeper, richer earth tones. I lose the lace and glitter and go for a more rugged look with chunky brads, twigs or even twine. Readers, do you have any ideas for adding a masculine look to handmade cards? Use my feedback form, and I'll pass them along in a future newsletter. Hayley, writes via e-mail:
"I have to laugh at someone who thinks crossing a few things off the list of Christmas shopping when it's already December is a huge feat! Mine's been done since the end of October and already wrapped with individual touches to match the cards, including the black paper and ribbon for my favorite Grinch. By mid-November, I'd finished and pre-stamped my cards to post a week before Christmas. I've been told it's strange that I like creative pursuits that usually involve a mess and suit people with no time for practicality, but I'm a total organization nut.
"Surely wanting something done on time to be presented on the occasion is not an anti-craft sentiment? Nor making a huge revolving calendar of birthdays and big events so no one is forgotten? Surely being organized enough to be sure everyone will get a card -- and one considered in advance, with enough time to do each perfectly is not so hard? When making a personal effort to care, is it so much extra effort to schedule in a half an hour slot in you diary, so you don't forget or leave it to the last minute?
"And, for my workmates who would 'do it later,' if I can find time to create an 8-page mini scrapbook of a colleague's history with the company before she leaves ... surely you can spare two minutes to sign your name next to your photo? For my mother who expects me to produce handmade cards on two minutes notice as she waltzes out the door to a wedding or baby shower, you knew you wanted the card a month ago when you got the invites. Why didn't you organize it? Being organized isn't that hard!" Wow, Hayley, it's good to know somebody on the planet was blessed with all of the organizational skills that I obviously do not have! I spent years entertaining the blissful illusion that when the boys grew up and moved away, life would suddenly become less chaotic and everyone would receive their cards on time. Yeah ... right. I have improved somewhat, in that most people receive their cards within a week of their special days (my mom actually got her package a full day early this year!), but I don't anticipate ever having my Christmas shopping done in October. It's wonderful that we can all be so different, yet be united in card making! |
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