Time to Celebrate 2019!

Designed by Sharon M. Reinhart December 2018

Happy New Year to each of you! I hope that 2019 will be a great year for all and that we will be able to feed our creative souls throughout the year! Just a quick little post today, its about using what you have when you do not have a theme specific design. I wanted to create a card for the New Year and didn't have stamps that were specific to New Years. Can you believe it? I know I can't either, although maybe its more about my organization or lack of organization right now. Anyway I pulled out some background stamps from the Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge set and a clock and sentiment stamp from a Technique Tuesday set.

The background was created with the horizontal lines stamped in red ink, splatter in black ink and once dry I also heat embossed a second set of splatter with silver embossing powder. An additional clock was created and also heat embossed with silver and then die-cut using a Spellbinder's circle die template. The hands of the clock have been stamped with red ink and a mini silver brad attached to the center.  The sentiment, perfect for New Year's or any celebration was stamped with red ink and then layered onto red cardstock followed by the beautiful glitter paper. A little secret here, I didn't have any silver glitter paper but I did have this beautiful gift bag and cut it apart to create my glitter layer -- another way to recycle! I truly hope you are inspired to create! Until next time, All the Best to You and Yours!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Paper Crafting Inspiration



Projects designed by Sharon M. Reinhart

Had a great time sharing some inspiration at the Happy Critter Crop yesterday (fundraising event for animal rescue) an event organized by Sandra Lavoie. Great job Sandra! I shared this little make and take with attendees at the crop. Here is a little tip, when you are looking for inspiration you don't always have to start on a big scale. Start small as shown with the 3-1/2-inch mini card on the right in the photo above and then you can always build on it as shown in the photo below with the 5-inch square card. I also find its a great way to create ensembles, adding the favor bag shown above on the left.

 

The supplies used to create the cards are Colorbox Fluid Chalk ink yellow ochre, Stampin' Up Flower Shop rubber stamp set and coordinating punch, Martha Stewart butterfly and leaf punches, Fiskars mini scallop edgers, Hero Arts sentiment stamp set LP253, Wonderfil thread, green cardstock, shimmer yellow gold cardstock, and white cardstock.

I hope you are inspired to create something wonderful today!

Creatively Yours,

Sharon

Splatter-Stamped Than You Cards

As shown in the January 4, 2016 CardMaker Magazine Update

My most recent CardMaker update went live January 4th. With the holidays behind us, some of you may be in need of Thank You cards or want to experiment with splatter stamps. This article is just the tip of the iceberg discussing different ways of utilizing splatter style stamps to create backgrounds. I hope you will head on over to CardMaker Magazine using this link and check out our most recent update! While you are there I encourage you to sign up for this free resource which will go directly to your inbox every three weeks with articles by the editors of the CardMaker Update - yours truly and designer extraordinaire Kimber McGray.

Two Cards - Same Supplies!

Projects designed by Sharon M. Reinhart

Just stopping by with a little bit of inspiration. I have chosen to share these two cards as they make use of similar supplies and design but with just a little switch in the sentiment the occasion changes easily. So if you are short on time or creatively blocked, look at some of your previous designs and see if they would suit another occasion. The little Easter banner greeting is delightful and such a deal, only 1.50 at Michaels -- can't loose on that one. Simply stamp, and then trim around the banners and attach to the card with foam mounting tape! Almost any embossing folder would work equally as well on the white layering square. I believe I have shared the card with the Kiss sentiment before but I wanted to show you how you can borrow and reuse ideas from your own creative library.  That's why it is also a good idea to take photos of your cards prior to giving away! Hope you are inspired to create!

Stamped Tea Bag Medallion Card!

Project design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2013

Hi all! I am participating in a blog hop today and thought I would share this card made with designer and friend Ann Butler's 1-inch Faux Quilting stamps from Unity. The quality of these stamps are great, producing wonderful stamped images! These stamps can be used in a variety of projects and surfaces. Quilting effects on fabric, paper, air dry clay - they all work wonderfully. I have chosen to create a tea-bag folded medallion to adorn a Christmas ornament. The stamps that I used are from two different sets - the 1" Diamond and Plaid and the 1" Doily Picnic sets. The ink used is the Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink from Clearsnap in Warm Red. I also encourage you to visit EZ-De's stamps designed by Ann as well as her ink line from Clearsnap. The ornament shape is the 2011 Heirloom Ornaments die set from  Spellbinder's TM and the embossing folder is the Snow Burst folder from Stampin' Up. This card is going to be the inspiration for some Christmas gift tags that are on the To Do list! Hope you like it!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Elegant Stamped Heart!

Project Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart

Just had to share this Valentine card that I made for DH. The inspiration for this card is from a delicate heart image created by the talented Suzanne Cannon of Quietfire Design, it is from set #6248 which is perfect for Valentines, Wedding, Anniversary or simply to let someone special know that they are loved. Just love the beautiful intricate heart that Suzanne has created with her own talented hands! There are wonderful flourishes and in the right hand side a very pretty flower. I chose to leave the image as is without alterations.The flower however would look very beautiful colored with Tombows, Distress Markers, Copics or your medium of choice.
Usually when I purchase unmounted stamps, the first thing I do is apply the cling cushion material - with these stamps you don't have to. I read someplace on Suzanne's site or blog that she often just puts some double sided tape on her mount and then attaches the rubber image. I thought I would put this to the test and voila it is so true! This image of the heart was stamped with only the rubber image on an acrylic mount. Now you are free to adhere the images to cling cushion and its probably recommended but I was very surprised and impressed at how well it stamped using only the mount. I am thrilled to hear that Annie's catalog is now stocking some of Quietfire Design images that I used in my newest book Iris Folding for Life's Special Moments, (not sure if it has officially released but it is up on the Annie's site) and yes it is about iris folding and we have included a variety of materials such as fabric, shimmer sheetz, cardstock, ribbon and papers. I will be sure to keep you posted on this.
The red velvet in this Valentine card is Christmas velvet ribbon that I purchased at the end of the holiday season at a majorly reduced price and its perfect for many other occasions as well. The small hearts are actually punched from the velvet ribbon and in the past I have also used die templates to cut out shapes - love this stuff! My other bargain find was the black glittered band - it is from the wedding section of Michael's and it was 90% off - .53 cents was the cost, can't lose at that. The other addition to this card was a script embossing folder. I hope you enjoy this creation!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Cards - Back to School style



Project designs ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2012

I wanted to share with you the topic of my last Cardmaker newsletter - using school supplies to create cards! Can you guess what the circular pattern on the wish card was created with?  How were the blooms created? Head on over to the Cardmaker's September 3rd, 2012 issue to find out and learn more about these fun cards. This newsletter is a free resource, so sign up while you are there in order to have this wonderful resource go straight to your inbox. The next newsletter coming out is by Kimber McGray on September 24th. There is a new issue every three weeks - Kimber and myself are the editors of the newsletter and alternate the writing. There is also an archive of past newsletters packed full of useful and inspiring samples, free projects and information. The stamps used in these cards above are from Quietfire Design, Dyan Reavely, Invoke Arts and Unity Stamp Company.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

 

Tag Art for Mom!

Project Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2012

I thought I would share this tag that is beautiful on its own or would make a wonderful card. With Mother's Day quickly approaching this would be a great way to show Mom just how much you care. I created this tag as kits that I will be offering for sale at a fundraising crop that I am participating in. I donated my time and supplies to create a make and take with the ladies. This is not the make and take - still working on that one, guess I better hurry up and get it done. This project is created with a shipping style tag. The Sizzix postage stamp die paired with coaster board was used for the frame and book print paper for the flower which has been die cut with a Spellbinders die.  The music score background from Stampendous was stamped onto kraft color tissue paper and then layered onto the tag. Some brown and copper craft acrylic paint distressing and wire tendrils were added along with a stamped mini domino.  Three different styles of fibers are the finishing touch. Hope you like it!

Creatively Yours,

Sharon

Snowflake Tea-Bag Fold Card

Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart November 2011

I had a great time participating in the Calgary Critter Crop organized by Sandra L. in support of the Calgary Humane Society yesterday. What a great group of ladies! I donated a make and take to the event and taught a tea-bag folding technique. They all did a great job and I could see that many had caught the tea-bag folding bug, as there were quite a few busy fingers folding circle shapes. This is one of the kits that was available for purchase. This card makes use of a Magenta rubber stamp to create the tea-bag folding papers, Memories midnight blue ink, Spellbinder's Create a Flake one for the snowflake, clear sugar beads to accent the snowflake, Sizzix embossing folder for the card base along with metallic rub-on creme to accent the raised embossing. This fold begins with the basic triangle fold and then continues on by folding the top layer up and under to the center fold at left and right sides. For further ideas and inspiration please check out my most recent book Tea Bag Folding Through The Seasons by clicking the cover at right. I will share the actual make and take project with you in an upcoming post. Enjoy!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Stamped card with Background Technique

Card Design © Sharon M. Reinhart

Hi All! Well I am working with my stamps and inks again and I love this background technique it is super simple. All you need is an acrylic block, the type used with cling and/or clear stamps, distress inks, mister with water and white cardstock. Apply the distress inks direct to the clear block from the ink pad. Dab and swoosh the inks (technical terms of course). Apply inks from lightest to darkest in order to minimize color contamination of your ink pads. The colors used on this card are peeled paint, faded jeans and vintage photo. Spritz the ink with water, then press it onto white cardstock. This technique works wonderfully on watercolor paper as well! A quick and easy water-color or direct to paper background! The stamp image is from Crafty Individuals (Magenta). For the flowers, I learned this trick from a friend, thanks Nancy for sharing! Purchase the flowers from the wedding section from Michaels and then to custom color simply use your Bic Mark It pens, Tombows or Copics, or even inks and sprays, it's as easy as that. The Bic Mark It pens were used in this card. Hope you enjoy this creation!
Creatively yours,
Sharon

Stamping Inspiration!

I was sorting through some things and came across this card from my past. I remember making this card for a class and I just loved how it turned out. When I first started making cards I started as a rubber stamping enthusiast, I still have a love for rubber stamping but for many other techniques and mediums as well. This particular card utilized vellum, chiyogami paper, pearl paper, threads and of course a rubber stamp. The image was stamped on vellum with permanent ink (Memories Artprint Brown) and then stamped again on pearl card stock and heat embossed with gold. The color of the cardstock on the embossed image was removed in specific areas by painting bleach onto the surface. The image was trimmed around and adhered onto the scroll using foam mounting tape. Paper beads made with the same Chiyogami paper that is layered on the card, adorn the edges of a wooden skewer  at top left and right and another bead with threads at the center bottom. The reason I am sharing this card with you is that it was one of my favorites but also because some techniques and cards are timeless. It can also be a useful tool to revisit some of the techniques you have used in the past especially if you are in need of some inspiration. Hope this card inspires you to create!
Creatively yours,
Sharon