An Easter Card Trade

I like to participate in card trades, because it gives me yet another reason to play with my stamps, inks and papers. It also lets me be lucky enough to receive happy mail from others who are participating in the same trade.

So how does it work? I create a designated project a certain amount of times and commit to send them to others by a certain date. In return, I receive a handmade project from others who also commit to do the same.

The theme for the most recent card trade was creating an Easter Card. There was no question in my mind which stamp set I was going to use. I love the Fun Stampers Journey ATS (Artist Trading Stamp), He is Risen.

The only question was which technique should I use? After several attempts that just did not work out, decided on using a technique that I fell in love with several years ago. When I first learned about Pyramage online, but I don't know who to credit for this (If you know who I should give credit to, please let me know). The technique consists of using the same shape in varying sizes. Well...let me tell you that the Spellbinders Nesstabilities dies worked perfectly. I selected one of the labels dies.

I stamped the same image on to 4 pieces of cardstock and then started using the dies to cut out the images starting with the smallest die first. I then layered them on top of each other using foam squares, assuring that I matched up the top image to the lower image.

I was pleased with the outcome of the cards and will likely use this stamping process again. My goal is to create a tutorial on the process, next time
.

All three cards 

using printed cardstock as card base

This is my favorite card - I used a printed cardstock for the base,
but think this could easily be re-created by using a would grain stamp image

This is the third card created. They have all been sent to one of the
trade recipients
I hope they liked their card

Steampunk Tag

I just participated in a Facebook group that gave the weekly challenge of creating a tag showcasing Fun Stampers Journey products with a mustache theme. Hmmm....Immediately I knew what I wanted to create. One of my sons loves the Steampunk genre, which is a cross between the Steam Engine Era, Sci-Fi and Victorian. Now, I just may get a few lashings for giving this unique genre such a simplistic overview, but want to keep the explanation simple. It really is a fun, fun, fun genre to create with...so many possibilities. Here is my Pinterest Board, to give you a quick look at Steampunk: http://pinterest.com/papercraftcafe/steampunk/

When Fun Stampers Journey first came out with the Journey Gears and Retro Party Artist Trading Stamps (ATS), I knew I was going to love creating with them.

So, I needed a mustache theme tag and Voila the Retro Party ATS came to mind. It so perfectly goes along with the Journey Gears ATS.

Products used: FSJ Oatmeal Cookie Ink and cardstock. Journey Gears and Retro Party ATS. Journey Twine, Journey Glaze, Gold Silks (to color the gears gold) and Spellbinders Media Mixage pieces. The "You are Awesome" greeting comes from he Little Big Greetings FSJ stamp set.

This fun tag layout could easily be made into a greeting card. I sometimes find it hard to create cards for guys and I think this could be a card that would be enjoyed by the man in your life.