A Year of Flowers: Creative, Stamped Cards for Every Occasion

by Melanie Muenchinger (Other)

Overview

A one-of-a-kind set containing realistic floral elements for building arrangements and blooms to fit every season—tulips in spring, sunflowers for Thanksgiving, poinsettias for those festive winter months—this guide enables crafters of all skill levels to create handmade floral cards utilizing a single stamp set by Gina K. Designs. Organizing 32 projects by month and holiday, the book features detailed, step-by-step instructions for both simple and multilayered designs in a variety of color palettes and layouts, from whimsical to vintage. With its built-in calendar and address book, A Year of Flowers will not only allow crafters to grow and perfect their card-making skills over the course of the year but also help them sit down, plan, create, and get cards out on time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781596355248
Publisher:	Annie's
Publication date:	07/01/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	64
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Melanie Muenchinger is a senior designer and illustrator at Gina K. Designs. She has created nearly 50 stamp sets, and her work has been featured in CardMaker and Crafts 'n Things magazines. She lives in Austin, Texas.

Read an Excerpt

A Year of Flowers

Creatively Stamped Cards for Every Occasion

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By Melanie Muenchinger

Annie's

Copyright © 2012 DRG
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-59635-524-8

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CHAPTER 1

January

Thank You Bouquet

Layering stamped images using the masking technique allows you to add depth to your projects. Start by stamping the flowers that are intended to be the focus of your project, followed by stems, leaves and additional blossoms to build a pleasing arrangement.

Materials

Cardstock: yellow, purple, green, white smooth

Masking material

Stamp sets: A Year of Flowers, Arranged With Love

Ink pads: black dye, watermark

Copic® markers: BV02, BV31, G99, RV000, RV29, V17, Y08, Y11, YG03, YR16

Adhesive foam dots

Paper adhesive

Form a 4¼ x 5½-inch card from yellow cardstock.

Cut a 4 x 5¼-inch piece from purple cardstock. Using watermark ink, stamp tulips and stems onto purple panel as desired (Photo 1).

Adhere the stamped panel to card front as shown. Using black ink, stamp the following onto masking material: two lilies, three tulips and five stems. Cut out all stamped images from masking material.

Cut a 3 × 3¾-inch piece from white smooth cardstock. Stamp two lilies onto white panel as shown (Photo 2).

Cover both lilies with masking-material lilies.

In the same manner, stamp three tulips onto white panel, overlapping masked lilies as shown (Photo 3).

Cover tulips on panel with masking tulips (Photo 4).

In the same manner, stamp stems onto panel as shown. Cover stems with masking stems and stamp leaves onto panel. Remove all masks. Color images using markers (Photos 5–7).

Adhere panel to purple cardstock; trim a small border. Adhere to yellow cardstock; trim a border. Attach to card front with foam dots.

Using black ink, stamp "Thanks" onto green cardstock. Cut out word and adhere to card front as shown.

Sources: Cardstock and stamp sets from Gina K. Designs; Memento dye ink pad and VersaMark watermark ink pad from Tsukineko LLC; markers from Imagination International Inc.; foam dots and paper adhesive from Tombow USA.

Treasured Roses

Sympathy cards are not our favorite projects to make. Unfortunately, these events are part of life and often unexpected. To be prepared for a time when you may not feel like making a card, create a few using beautiful images, colors and sentiments that will convey what's in your heart.

Materials

Cardstock: light blue, white, dark brown

Masking material

Stamp sets: A Year of Flowers, A Beautiful Life

Dye ink pads: dark brown, tan distress, blue distress

Copic® marker: W-3

Die templates: Petite Scalloped Ovals LG (#S4-139), Petite Ovals LG (#S4- 138)

(Die-cutting and embossing machine

Craft sponge

Adhesive foam dots

Paper adhesive

Form a 4¼ × 5½-inch card from light blue cardstock.

Cut a 4 × 5 1/8-inch piece from white cardstock. Using tan ink, stamp roses randomly onto white panel; allow some roses to run off edges of panel. Clean stamp. In the same manner and using blue ink, stamp two roses onto white panel (Photo 1).

Sponge tan ink around edges and lightly across entire white panel (Photo 2).

Using desired color of ink, stamp a rose onto masking material; cut out. Place rose mask over a rose on white panel. Using corresponding color of ink, stamp leaves onto masked rose, over-lapping mask. Repeat until all roses have leaves (Photo 3).

Adhere white panel to dark brown cardstock; trim a small border. Adhere to card front.

Using 2¼ × 3¼-inch Petite Scalloped Ovals LG die template, die-cut and emboss a scalloped oval from dark brown cardstock.

Stamp sentiment onto white cardstock with dark brown ink. Using desired Petite Ovals LG die template, die-cut and emboss an oval around sentiment making sure oval will fit onto dark brown scalloped oval. Attach ovals together using foam dots. Adhere to card front as shown.

Stamp two roses onto light blue cardstock with dark brown ink; in the same manner, stamp four leaves onto white cardstock. Cut out roses and leaves. Color shadows on all stamped images using marker. Layer and attach to card front as shown using foam dots.

Sources: Cardstock and stamp sets from Gina K. Designs; distress ink pads from Ranger Industries Inc.; marker from Imagination International Inc.; die templates from Spellbinders™ Paper Arts; adhesive foam dots from Plaid Enterprises Inc.; paper adhesive from Tombow USA.

Happy Birthday!

Don't be afraid to stamp your focal points on pastel papers instead of white for a striking effect. Colored cardstock picks up coloring very nicely, intensifies it evenly and saves you time in not having to fill in a base color for your image.

Sources: Cardstock, A Year of Flowers stamp set and Arranged With Love stamp set from Gina K. Designs; Memento brown dye ink pad from Tsukineko LLC; Copic® markers from Imagination International Inc.; self-adhesive pearls and adhesive foam dots from Mark Richards Enterprises Inc.; Classic Squares LG die templates (#S4-126) from Spellbinders™ Paper Arts; double-sided adhesive from Tombow USA.

CHAPTER 2

February

Beautiful Valentine

Create a bouquet with this lattice technique to give your handcrafted greeting card extra detail and dimension.

Materials

Cardstock: black, white, red, green

Masking material

Stamp sets: A Year of Flowers, A Beautiful Life

Black dye ink pad

Copic® marker: C-3

Silver self-adhesive rhinestone

Labels Fourteen die templates (#S4-290)

Die-cutting and embossing machine

Scoring tool

Adhesive foam dots

Paper adhesive

Form a 4¼ × 5½-inch card from black cardstock. Cut a 4 × 5¼-inch piece of white cardstock; set aside.

Cut a 4 × 5-inch piece from red cardstock. Stamp five roses onto red panel, reinking and rotating image each time (Photo 1). Note: Stamped roses should just barely touch each other. Stamp one or two roses onto masking material; cut out.

Cover roses on red panel with masking roses. Stamp roses on either side of each masked rose, overlapping masked roses and extending past edges of red panel, creating rose clusters. Remove mask (Photo 2).

Use marker to create additional shading on roses as desired.

Cut around rose clusters, keeping overlapping roses together and snipping in between roses just touching (Photo 3).

Lay rose clusters onto 4 × 5¼-inch white cardstock panel; referring to photo, trim edges as needed. Using paper adhesive, adhere a cluster of roses to upper right corner of white panel, only applying adhesive to center of roses. Attach remaining rose clusters to white panel as shown using foam dots (Photo 4).

Stamp seven leaves onto green cardstock and cut out. Apply paper adhesive to ends of leaves and adhere to card front as shown, tucking leaves under rose clusters (Photo 5).

Stamp sentiment onto white cardstock. Using 1¾ × 2¾-inch Labels Fourteen die template, die-cut a label around sentiment. With long edge of label horizontal on work surface, score a vertical line ¼ inch from left edge. Mountain-fold at scored line. Attach sentiment label to white panel as shown with foam dots; wrap and secure folded section of label to back of panel using paper adhesive. Embellish sentiment with rhinestone. Adhere assembled panel to card front with paper adhesive.

Sources: Cardstock and stamp sets from Gina K. Designs; Memento dye ink pad from Tsukineko LLC; marker from Imagination International Inc.; self-adhesive rhinestone from Mark Richards Enterprises Inc.; die templates from Spellbinders™ Paper Arts; paper adhesive from Tombow USA.

Sunflower Hello

Give your lattice flower design a twist by incorporating the spotlight technique and punched shapes to add color and dimension.

Materials

Cardstock: kraft, yellow, green, rust, dark brown, blue

Stamp sets: A Year of Flowers, A Beautiful Life

Dark brown dye ink pad

Circle punches: 1-inch, 1¼-inch, 1 3/8-inch

Adhesive foam dots

Paper adhesive

Form a 5½ × 4¼-inch card from kraft cardstock.

Cut a 5¼ × 4-inch piece from yellow cardstock. Starting in the middle, stamp sunflowers onto yellow panel (Photo 1). Note: Allow sunflowers to slightly overlap and extend off edges of panel as shown.

Trim around sunflowers on yellow panel, leaving them attached where they overlap (Photo 2).

Attach to card front using foam dots. Note: It is OK if some of the sunflowers get cut apart as the lattice will piece back together when it is adhered to card front.

Stamp four sunflowers onto rust cardstock. Using a 1-inch circle punch, punch center from each sunflower (Photo 3).

Stamp five sunflowers onto green cardstock. Using a 1¼-inch circle punch, punch center from each sunflower (Photo 4).

Using foam dots, attach punched centers of sunflowers to card front as shown; trim as needed to align edges.

Stamp "hello" onto blue cardstock. Punch a 1¼-inch circle around word. Punch a 1 3/8-inch circle from dark brown cardstock. Adhere circles together; using two stacked foam dots, adhere to lower right corner of card.

Sources: Cardstock and stamp sets from Gina K. Designs; adhesive foam dots from Plaid Enterprises Inc.

Just for Being You

Cut out a stamped and masked vine of flowers to create a pretty border. Accent the flower centers with glitter for extra sparkle.

Sources: Cardstock, A Year of Flowers stamp set and Arranged With Love stamp set from Gina K. Designs; Memento dye ink pad from Tsukineko LLC; Copic® markers from Imagination International Inc.; white pen and glitter glue from Ranger Industries Inc.; self-adhesive pearls from Mark Richards Enterprises Inc.; Standard Circles LG die templates (#S4-114) from Spellbinders™ Paper Arts; adhesive foam dots from Plaid Enterprises Inc; double-sided adhesive from Tombow USA.

CHAPTER 3

March

Get Well Soon

Coloring images direct-to-stamp with water-based markers allows placement of color exactly where you want and creates a soft watercolor look when spritzed with water before stamping.

Materials

Cardstock: lavender, purple, white

Stamp sets: A Year of Flowers, Say It With Flowers

Dye ink markers: light blue, lavender, purple, green

5 (2mm) silver nailheads

Die templates: Lacey Squares (#S4-295), Fancy Tags (#S4-235)

Die-cutting and embossing machine

Spray bottle filled with water

Watercolor brush

Scoring board with scoring tool

Adhesive foam dots

Paper adhesive

Form a 4¼ × 4¼-inch card from lavender cardstock.

Using 4¼ × 4¼-inch Lacey Squares die template, die-cut a square from purple cardstock. Adhere to card front.

Cut a 3 5/8 × 3 5/8-inch piece from white cardstock. Use light blue marker to color top section of flower stamp (Photo 1).

Color middle section of flower lavender and bottom section purple (Photo 2).

Spritz flower image lightly with water and stamp a flower onto white panel as shown. Repeat to stamp second flower (Photo 3).

Color stem green and spritz with water. Stamp stem onto white panel. Repeat to stamp a second stem and two leaves. Dampen watercolor brush and gently blend color on stems and leaves (Photo 4).

If desired, add more color by running a wet watercolor brush across the tip of a green marker and applying color to stems and leaves (Photo 5).

Using scoreboard and scoring tool, score a border 1/8 inch from edges of white panel. Adhere to card front.

Color sentiment stamp with purple marker; stamp sentiment onto white cardstock. Using 7/8 × 3½-inch Fancy Tags die template, die-cut and emboss a tag around sentiment. Attach to card front as shown using foam dots.

Embellish card with nailheads.

Sources: Cardstock and stamp sets from Gina K. Designs; Memento dye ink markers from Tsukineko LLC; nailheads from Mark Richards Enterprises Inc.; Mini Mister spray bottle from Ranger Industries Inc.; die templates from Spellbinders™ Paper Arts; scoring board with scoring tool from Scor-Pal Products; paper adhesive from Tombow USA.

Happy Day

Turn a daisy into a completely new flower with this simple, direct-to-stamp technique which allows for precision inking and more versatility with your images.

Materials

Cardstock: yellow, red, black, white, kraft

Masking material

Stamp sets: A Year of Flowers, Say It With Flowers, A Beautiful Life

Black dye ink marker

Copic® markers: E57, G94, R29, Y08, Y17, YG23

Large red button

21 inches 5/8-inch-wide white/black gingham ribbon

Adhesive foam dots

Paper adhesive

Form a 4¼ × 5½-inch card from yellow cardstock.

Cut a 2 3/8 × 4½-inch piece from red cardstock and a 2½ × 4¼-inch piece from black cardstock. Adhere cardstock pieces to card front as shown.

Cut a 3¾ × 4½-inch piece from white cardstock. Using black dye ink marker, color desired portion of flower stamp (Photo 1).

Huff on stamp and stamp image onto white panel as shown. In the same manner and referring to photo, stamp a second flower onto white panel and two flowers onto masking material.

Mask flowers on image panel. Color stem stamp with black marker in the same manner as before and stamp stems onto image panel. Repeat to stamp a leaf as shown. Remove masks. Stamp ladybug onto lower right corner of panel. Color all images using markers. Adhere to card front.

Stamp "have a happy day" onto kraft cardstock. Cut out words as shown. Attach to card front using foam dots.

Cut an 11-inch length of ribbon; wrap around left side of card front as shown, securing ends at upper left corner of card front. Adhere red button to card front covering ribbon ends. Tie a bow with remaining length of ribbon and adhere over button.

Sources: Cardstock, stamp sets, ribbon and button from Gina K. Designs; Memento dye ink marker from Tsukineko LLC; markers from Imagination International Inc.; adhesive foam dots from Plaid Enterprises Inc.; paper adhesive from Tombow USA.

Daisies for Baby

Stamp multicolored images to create an interesting background and focal point. For variety, try mint green with yellow for a gender-neutral card.

Sources: Cardstock, A Year of Flowers stamp set and Basket Blessings stamp set, ribbon and buttons from Gina K. Designs; Memento dye ink markers from Tsukineko LLC; corner rounder from EK Success; Lacey Circles (#S4-293) and Standard Circles LG (#S4-114) die templates from Spellbinders™ Paper Arts; scoring board, rolling embossing tool and double-sided adhesive from Scor-Pal Products; adhesive foam dots from Plaid Enterprises Inc.

CHAPTER 4

April

Here Comes the Sun

No matter the season, a sunny card complete with sponged clouds and cut-out flowers will brighten anyone's day!

Materials

Cardstock: turquoise, white, dark brown, yellow, olive green

Curio Victoria printed paper

A Year of Flowers stamp set

Dye ink pads: brown, blue distress, green distress

Orange dye ink marker

Green grosgrain ribbon: 5½ inches ¼-inch-wide, 4½ inches 5/8-inch-wide

Sponge dauber

¾-inch circle punch

Adhesive foam dots

Paper adhesive

Form a 4¼ × 5¼-inch side-folded card from turquoise cardstock.

Cut a 3¾ × 5-inch piece from white cardstock. Sponge blue ink onto white panel, creating a sky background as shown (Photo 1).

Adhere to brown cardstock; trim a small border.

Cut two 3¾ × 1¾-inch pieces from olive green cardstock. Referring to photo, cut a curved edge along top edge of both olive green panels; ink edges green (Photo 2).

Layer and adhere olive green pieces to sky background as shown, using foam dots as desired to separate "hills."

Using brown ink, stamp a daisy onto printed paper. Cut out daisy, cutting slits between petals to create dimension (Photo 3).

Color center of daisy stamp with orange marker; stamp daisy center onto yellow cardstock. Punch out with ¾-inch circle punch (Photo 4).

Adhere daisy center to center of printed paper daisy with a foam dot.

In the same manner, apply orange ink to outer petals of the sunflower stamp. Stamp outer petals onto yellow cardstock (Photo 5).

Cut out flower and attach to layered panel as shown using foam dots and tucking flower behind olive green pieces.

Adhere one end of ¼-inch-wide ribbon to left side of layered panel ¾ inch below top edge of panel; wrap opposite end around bottom of panel and adhere to back, forming flower stem. Wrap 5/8-inch-wide ribbon around flower stem as shown; tie knot and trim ends.

Using foam dots, adhere daisy to layered panel as shown. Adhere panel to card front.

Sources: Cardstock and stamp set from Gina K. Designs; printed paper from BasicGrey; distress ink pads from Ranger Industries Inc.; foam dots and paper adhesive from Tombow USA.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from A Year of Flowers by Melanie Muenchinger. Copyright © 2012 DRG. Excerpted by permission of Annie's.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Contents

Letter to Readers,
Author Bio,
Getting Started,
Tips, Tricks & Time-Savers,
January,
February,
March,
April,
May,
June,
July,
August,
September,
October,
November,
December,
Dates to Remember,
Buyer's Guide,