Table of Contents Almost Spring Hello Love Reader Letters Digital Days Seems like everything is digital these days. I traded my film camera for a digital camera a few years ago, and just recently bought a digital voice recorder to use for interview notes. It's amazing how this tiny machine can store as much data as a shoebox full of microcassettes! Technology is so exciting! Soon, the excitement will be coming to a computer near you -- that's right, CardMaker magazine is going digital! If you think the magazine and newsletters are fun, you'll be blown away by the additional benefits of a digital subscription. Two years of past issues will be at your fingertips with your subscription, and you can download and print any pattern in those issues immediately! You can enlarge any text, detailed schematic or technique to see it more clearly, and print only what you want! Tired of storing the magazines for future use? You'll be able to keep them right on your computer! Word searches for a particular item or theme will be easy to generate. Pick up the latest issue of CardMaker magazine or keep an eye the Web site at CardMakerMagazine.com for more details on how to get your digital subscription. Back to top. Almost Spring Winter in my neck of the woods is usually cold, gray and damp. This year, however, has been different -- and not in a good way -- wind chills in the negative 40s, inches upon inches upon inches of snow that refuse to melt within a reasonable amount of time (like overnight!) -- and did I mention COLD? I'm ready for spring. The good news is that February is halfway to spring, at least in my book, and we can spend this "halfway" month making cards for a holiday that is sure to warm even the chilliest heart -- Valentine's Day, of course! I know, I know, this is a holiday that was manufactured solely to sell greeting cards and chocolate bars and red roses -- but hey, we're in charge of our own cards. Make one for anybody you choose! It's just one more way we can spread a little sunshine when the days are not quite spring-like. Back to top. Free Project One of the things I love about this project is that it uses packaged drink mix as the ink, for great effect. Because the "ink" is so watery, the edges of the image will bleed, giving it an aged, heirloom appearance. I wonder if you could use something like instant coffee or (better yet!) hot cocoa mix for a similar effect. I guess I'll have to give it a try! Hello Love By Judith Mara Materials Card stock: red, white, black Large Black Dot printed paper Stickers: white alphabet, white hands, red hearts Script background rubber stamp 16-ounce packet red flavored drink powder Foam brush 2 1/8-inch square punch Paper adhesive Form a 4 1/2 x 6 3/4-inch side-folded card from red card stock. Dissolve flavored drink powder with a small amount of water to make a runny ink mixture; use foam brush to apply ink onto stamp. Stamp image twice onto white card stock; let dry. Punch three 2 1/8-inch squares from black card stock and three 2 1/8-inch squares from stamped card stock. Referring to photo for placement, adhere squares to card front, leaving an even border around each square. Attach alphabet stickers to spell "hello" and "love." Attach a heart sticker to a hand sticker and attach to center right square. Attach another hand sticker to lower right corner inside card. Use provided pattern (PDF format) to cut an envelope from Large Black Dot paper; assemble and decorate as desired. Lower right corner inside card Sources: Printed paper from Boxer Scrapbook Productions; rubber stamp from Stampabilities; hand and heart stickers from Mrs. Grossman's; alphabet stickers from Creative Imaginations; square punch from Uchida of America. Copyright © January 2008 CardMaker magazine. All rights reserved. Back to top. Click here for printer-friendly page.

Reader Letters

Vellum is one of those materials that add elegance to any project, making it especially suitable for Valentines. A few issues ago, I requested tips on using vellum, which I don’t use very often in my personal card-making adventures. Many of you do, however, and were gracious enough to share your favorite ways to use this beautiful paper.

Susan said:

"When printing on your computer, you can emboss your vellum if you shake the powder on as soon as it comes out of the printer."

Christine said:

"When I use vellum, I like to punch holes in the corners and attach the vellum with textured ribbons or yarns through the card. I have also stamped on vellum, cut out the pictures and used adhesive dots to give a 3-D effect on a card."

Judy said:

"I learned this from a class I took. Score the vellum 1/2 inch from the top and then fold so it goes around to the back of the card on the fold. Tape can be put on the 'flap' and doesn't affect the front of the card. Also, you can tape a matted embellishment to the vellum and then place a piece of tape under the embellishment between the vellum and the card, securing the vellum to the card."

Pam said:

"Tombow makes a vellum adhesive that comes in the holder just like other tape dispensers. I have used it, and it's the best I've found so far. When stamping on vellum, I usually don't want to take the time for the ink to dry, so I use embossing powder. I like the look of it, too."

Anne said:

"The best adhesive I've found is Creative Memories Frosted Photo Splits. These little double-sided squares of adhesive are hazy, not clear, and thus blend in better on the underside of the vellum. Be sure to rub gently to maximize the adhesion and to minimize any visual effects from the viewing side."

Nancy said:

"One of the fun things that I do with vellum is print a quote or saying (always giving credit to the author) on the computer. I let it dry overnight. Then I apply chalk type ink to the back of the saying, so I can highlight a specific word or add color to a flower. Later I run the vellum sheet through my Xyron machine to apply an even layer of adhesive -- thus creating my own tailor-made sticker. And because vellum is translucent, I can apply this sticker over a patterned piece of paper that further enhances the card."

"When printing on vellum, go to the printer setup page, and tell it that you are printing on vellum or film, or whatever option is similar to vellum. That has helped my printing to not bleed."

Teresa said:

"One of the most simple and elegant ways to overlay vellum without affixing it to the surface is to (1) die-cut corner shapes into the surface itself and insert the corners of the vellum, much like you would a photograph, or (2) attach old-fashioned photograph corners, which you can either buy or create using same die-cut shapes as in #1. The benefit of #2 is that you can make the corners from a colored or textured paper, which adds a dimension of color and/or texture apart from the surface and vellum."

Carol said:

"I attach vellum with brads mostly, but sometimes I use adhesive under vellum and then hide the adhesive by placing something on top of the vellum (buttons, rhinestones, ribbons, etc.). My favorite way to hide adhesive is to attach a tag to the vellum with a sentiment on it. I love making cards and using vellum is also a great way to use a dry embossing technique."

New Year's Resolutions
How are those New Year’s resolutions coming? Did you fall off the wagon on Jan. 2, or have you managed to reinvent yourself in ways large and small? Let me know how you’re faring (use my feedback form), and I’ll share your stories in a future newsletter.

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Until then,

Happy card making!

Sue Reeves
Editor, CardMaker newsletter

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