Ellen Hutson

Notecards in a Box

Posted on by Lynn Hill

It’s so easy to jump on Facebook and send a quick FB messenger note of thanks to a friend. But, I don’t think the need for a friendly snail mail note will ever disappear completely – unless, of course, the postal service happens to go away. Lord knows I am doing my best to keep the USPS in business with my regular cards and stamp buying endeavors.

My mother-in-law recently mentioned that she needed a small package of stationery so that she could keep in touch with a few people. I was headed to Hallmark and then I realized that it would be more fun for her to have a personalized set of notecards and I set out to make the perfect set for her.

I love getting cardstock that matches my ink colors and at Taylored Expressions it’s an easy task because there are cardstock colors for just about every shade of ink offered on the website. I used toffee ink and matching toffee cardstock for the first three notecards. I love the way toffee looks on crisp white cardstock so I inked the Full of Flowers background on an A2 base and my notecard was all but finished.

I think the cards would have been complete with the very simple background die as the cover. However I wanted to add something to personalize the cards. I recently ordered the Initially L die set specifically for this purpose from Taylored Expressions because I knew it would come in handy for all kinds of projects for my mother-in-law and for myself. We are both “L” girls.

I cut a rectangle strip of toffee and a circle from red pepper cardstock using the smallest circle in the Noteworthy Belly Band die set. Don’t you love that color combination? Then, using the smaller uppercase letter from the Initially L die set I placed an L in the center of the circle. The card was cut down to provide a 1/8″ border when set on top of a toffee base and I think it rounded out the card perfectly.

I made three more cards using cupcake paper and ink with a circle cut from My Favorite Things’ ripe raspberry cardstock.I couldn’t make up my mind whether the card looked best with a cupcake background or with the ripe raspberry so I made a couple using each color. Even after finishing them I couldn’t decide which one I preferred. Just about the time I am ready to say that I prefer the cupcake background my eye goes for the ripe raspberry.

I wanted one set using a red, white, and blue color scheme so I pulled out some Catherine Pooler Rockin’ Red ink and a piece of navy cardstock (I think it was from a discontinued color by MFT). A deep red L finished the card just like I wanted it.

There are so many ways to perfectly align a red rubber background stamp and I always use the Misti stamping platform so that I can reapply ink when (not if, when) it doesn’t completely cover on the first application. I make a ring using purple tape and place it on the back of my cardstock to hold it in place. I remove the foam plate from my Misti and line the paper up using the grid inside the stamping platform. Once the paper is positioned I place the rubber stamp face down on top of the paper and close the Misti door. This will enable you to lift the Misti cover with the stamp adhered. Add ink to the stamp and close the door.

I have found that red rubber stamps need a bit more pressure than the clear stamps, especially when the image is a background. I don’t sweat it. After I close the door I give it a firm press and lift the door. If there are some areas that aren’t fully covered I will close the door again and press in the area that the ink didn’t transfer sufficiently. Sometimes, after I open the door a second time, I find that I need to add another coat of ink to the stamp. If more ink is needed I repeat the process and keep checking the stamped image until it is evenly covered across the stamping area.

When I plan to use a stamp for several cards using different colors of ink I use a Lawn Fawn Stamp Shammy to give it a quick clean. I like to get the shammy wet, ring it out, then lay it on the base of the Misti and smooth it out. I then close the Misti door and give it a firm press. If the ink is particularly juicy I will open the door, flip the shammy over, and repeat the process. When I am going to immediately press with a different color I use a dry microfiber cloth to dry the stamp. These cloths work so much better than a paper towel or baby wipe because they are lint free. They can be bought on Amazon in sets of 24 and they last “forever”. If there will be a time lapse before stamping in a different color I leave the Misti door open and allow the stamp to air dry.

To really clean stamps, both red rubber and clear stamps, I use Taylored Expressions Stamper’s Spritz. This stuff works better than any stamp cleaner I have used in the past. It comes in a spritz bottle and is available in a refill bottle that’s pourable. To be honest, I don’t even have a spritz bottle. They were out of stock when I decided to try it so I just bought a refill. To use the liquid, I pour a bit onto one of my microfiber cloths and rub it across the stamp I need to clean. It works like a charm.

*** Beware: The Stamper’s Spritz will remove the wood finish from furniture if you don’t wipe it up after a spill. I would say, “Don’t ask me how I know this,” but am hoping you won’t make the same mistake as me so I’ll fess up. I opened the bottle one day and a little bit of liquid ran down the side of my bottle. I didn’t think it was a big deal so I screwed the lid on the bottle and went about my business. When I came back the next morning I started cleaning my desk so I could begin a new project and when I lifted the bottle there was a ring on my BRAND NEW DESK. Being honest here, I got tears in my eyes. I would’ve been more upset if it had been on my kitchen table or another surface that is always visible but, that said, I still love the product but am very careful when I use it.

To finish my cards, I purchased a set of pre-folded A2 notecards and attached the card fronts to them. This finished project included ten really nice note cards that I slipped in a clear card box along with the envelopes and a set of stamps. A belly band gave the box a pretty visual and these cards would make a nice gift for someone who enjoys sending snail mail. I know my mother-in-law will empty her box in no time. When she starts running low I can make just make more cards to add to the box. They would also work well as a note to accompany a mailed gift.

Supplies:

I do not receive compensation for listing the items I have used in this post; however, I like for you to be able to easily click links to order any items you might find interesting.

I am visible on Instagram (@LynnHillIsACraftyMess) and Facebook (@LynnHillIsACraftyMess) and I hope that you will scroll to the bottom of the page and click to subscribe.

When I first started card making I had a difficult time finding a cardstock with the quality I wanted. I discovered My Favorite Things and was so pleased that I began using their cardstock exclusively. When Covid hit and it was difficult to get just about everything, MFT began reworking their cardstock and are just now beginning to get restocked with new colors. In the meantime, I found Taylored Expressions’ cardstock and love it just as much as I always loved My Favorite Things paper. I would also recommend Gina K. Designs’ cardstock if you want quality paper. If you are looking for the perfect high-quality cardstock for your cards and paper projects I would recommend Taylored Expressions. There are 53 colors of cardstock available and 51 colors of matching ink. What cardstock do you use and is there are reason you prefer one brand over another?

Until next week, happy crafting!

Easter Wrap Up – Spring Cards Galore

Posted on by Lynn Hill

Sorry to be late posting to my blog this week but you know how people get busy and then time gets away! However, I didn’t want to let Easter get by without one last post of some really cute cards that made their way out of my mailbox and into the hands of some of my mini friends this week (**ALERT** I have heard reports that some have received theirs while others in the same households are still empty handed. That seems to be the way of the postal services these days. I hear their machines – both human and mechanical – are overworked and in under abundance).

I won’t give a lot of details for this week’s cards, mostly just pictures, but I did want to give a couple of little tips that I have found make my card assembly much easier.

Adding lettering to the front of a card using a word die looks really nice but can be a frustration when trying to line it up properly. I have found that cutting cardstock letters from the die then placing the negative of the word in the location I want it on my card makes this task an easy and frustration free endeavor. Run the letters through a Xyron 150 sticker maker, remove them from the backing, then place them back into the negative. Give the inserted letters a good rub to make sure they are fully adhered. Then, lift the negative away and your word will be aligned neatly on the front of your card.

My second tip is a perfect way to add artwork to an A2 card. Place the A2 card into the corner of your Misti. Add adhesive to the artwork and align it with the edges of the Misti. No more crooked card alignment.

When raising a panel on your cards for effect, how many 3D foam squares or strips is too much? some people place a sheet of foam over the entire back of their panel and others just make a rim around the four sides. I love using foam strips and have found that the 1/8-inch strips are perfect for this job. I surround the outer edges of my panel then make an X in through the center. Finally, fill in any large areas that might find themselves sinking if they become pressed in during the mailing process. Finally, if a card needs extra protection add a foam card cushion inside the envelope. This keeps the mail processing machinery from damaging your artwork or tearing the envelope open. But, be sure to add extra postage if you use one of these handy little pieces of foam because the extra depth will signal the USPS that your card is too thick for the minimum payment. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, click the link for Card Cushions in the supplies list below for a visual.

And now for my last Easter cards of the season – Check the supply list if you are interested in any of the tools I used – And if you have questions about a specific card, please add a message below and I’ll be sure to respond.

  • TE – Oh Hoppy Day
  • MFT – Over the Moon for Ewe
  • TE – Cap It Off Alpha
  • TE – Iconic Wishes Sparrow
  • TE – Be Joyful Sentiments
  • TE – Bunch O’ Bunnies
  • Avery Elle – Sending Hugs

Supplies:

I do not receive compensation for listing the items I have used in this post; however, I like for you to be able to easily click links to order any items you might find interesting. When Possible I have included two links in case items are out of stock on one site.

Oh Hoppy Day Card:

Over the Moon For Ewe Card:

Cap It Off Alpha Card:

Iconic Wishes Sparrow Card:

Be Joyful Sentiments Card:

Bunch O’ Bunnies Card:

Sending Hugs Card:

Miscellaneous Tools Used:

** MFT Items that have been discontinued are often available from FranticStamper.com, Doodlebugswa.com, and Scrapbookpal.com. When possible I provide links to directly to MFT.

I am visible on Instagram (@LynnHillIsACraftyMess) and Facebook (@LynnHillIsACraftyMess) and I hope that you will scroll to the bottom of the page and click to subscribe.

Thanks for checking out my post. I hope you have had a nice Easter holiday and that you were able to share it with loved ones whether from a distance or fully vaccinated and in person. Please come back next week when I will have another new card to share with you.

Where Have You Been?

Posted on by Lynn Hill

When we lived in Bartlesville I lost my wedding ring. I had no idea where it was. I searched and searched but finally gave up when I knew it was not to be found.

Fast forward five years. We were getting ready to move from our home and we wanted everything to be as good as possible for the new owners. We hired a plumber to come and replace the drain pipe in our bathroom because it was a slow drainer.

The pipe was replaced and water went down the drain quickly and smoothly and we were happy as could be. Actually, “happy as could be” was only a short-lived feeling because about two hours after the plumber left, my phone rang and he asked, “Do you happen to be missing a ring?”

The realization that my ring was probably in that pipe sent me shrieking over the phone lines. The plumber told me he was preparing to throw the old pipe in the trash pile when he turned it upside down to shake the water from it. As he tossed it to the pile he saw something fall from the pipe.

A quick search divulged a barely discernible wedding and engagement set lying in a pile of mush. The rings were solid black. But, when I described my rings to the plumber he told me, “What was lost is found!”

The solid black rings were barely recognizable and I was sure no amount of cleaning would repair them. After a couple of weeks I got a call from our jeweler who told me the rings were as shiny as if they were new.

Just like my rings, I was gone from this blog for a while. However, unlike my rings, I don’t have an amazing or fantastic story. About a year ago my site got corrupted and I was locked out of my website. I just didn’t find the time to fix it and figured I would eventually get back into a blog when I had time.

The Coronavirus quarantine has given many of us a LOT of time to do things we have been putting off or that needed a dedicated amount of time to accomplish. I have found the time to begin sorting pictures that go back 40+ years, I have visited with family members via Zoom and FaceTime, I have tried new recipes, and I have been given time to figure out how to get my website fixed. Actually, it gave me about 10 hours to work with my hosting company to get the problems worked out. As I told them, “I am a total idiot, uneducated to website programming/operation, and know NOTHING about what I’m doing.”

Thanks to their great work and my patience (I was on hold off and on for about 7 of those ten hours) I am ready to begin posting again!

My Favorite Things Stamps recently offered a free digital printable that could be used to create greeting cards for healthcare workers around the world. Making people feel good is one of my favorite things to do and I knew that healthcare workers would be feeling a lot of extra stress and pressure so this freebie created a perfect project for me.

I have recently been learning to use Copic alcohol markers and took the opportunity to use the freebie to create 20+ thank-you cards (I have actually made about 100 but only 20+ with this free digital stamp). Since I have a few friends and family members who are healthcare workers I sent them cards and then I creeped some of their Facebook pages to search for other healthcare workers I felt might need a boost in the morale side of life.

In addition to the free digital stamp, I used Small Sayings Volume 3 by Julie Ebersole, Essentials By Ellen; and Totally Random Sayings, Essentials By Ellen to create the Thanks sentiments on the cards.

I had not done much work with skin tones or hair color so by making many cards it enabled me to work on lots of skin tones and even some hair texture that I really enjoyed. I know I need more practice but for a novice I am pretty happy.

I have to give a shout out to Sandy Allnock at Art-Classes.com for the hair texture lesson. She is a great teacher and has a calm, positive voice. When she is instructing she doesn’t carry on about anything other than what you are learning. I like that style! If you are interested in learning how to draw, color, or paint you should check her out. She even has some Bible journaling classes.

The free doctor and nurse printable digital stamps by Birdie Brown (designed by Torico) are available until the end of April. After that you can buy the dies and stamps at MFTStamps. If you should decide to print some of these stamps to make cards be sure to credit #mftstamps in your social media as a thanks to them for the FREE stamps.

I have also been busy creating cards to put out for our grocery delivery people when they make a drop off. I am thankful they are willing to do my shopping while I try to stay home and away from the public.

I would love to hear about your interesting ways to acknowledge people who have been working hard to keep your world running during this pandemic. Just click in and comment.

Feel free to click any of the links I have provided for card-making products. I do not get paid in any way when you click my links, I just wanted to provide you an easy way to access some of the great products I like.

I promise not to wait a whole year before I post again.