Dancing Pen Calligraphy and Future Artists!

We would like to introduce you to Elecia Fogg; she is a very talented artist in the area of Calligraphy. Here is a little information that she wrote about herself "I am a calligraphy artist that specializes in social calligraphy. I am ready for hire for envelope addressing, place cards, escort cards, certificate fill-ins etc. I am self taught and have been creating calligraphy for almost 20 years, creating beautiful calligraphy for weddings, parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, bridal and baby showers, holiday cards, for fun!" Elecia showed off her lovely writing on our Embossed folded Cougar White A-7 Invitations which come with matching envelopes. Be sure to browse all our Invitation Sets.

Elecia's pen name is DANCING PEN. Her blog and ETSY name really attracted us to see what she could do and we were very impressed. In today's world we often see so many Computer generated fonts, that it is refreshing to see when someone can do this type of work with Pen & Ink! Be sure to take a few moments and browse the DANCING PEN Shop.

She Created this valentine using our Basis RED 5x7 Petal Card. These are packaged 10 to a pack. They are a great card to use for Valentine's Cards or Christmas Cards.

Elecia mentioned that she has a 5 year old daughter and some girl friends who also enjoy making cards and that they would love to have a play day creating. So we decided to that it would be a great idea to send some extra cards and paper scraps to these aspiring young artists.

And It looks like the girls had a great time making their own valentines and spring cards. We so enjoyed seeing these photos and thought they might bring a smile to your face, too!

A very Special THANK YOU to Dancing Pen for sending us some of her work. So if you are need of that extra special touch on your next project be sure to contact Elecia, or if you know some one looking for a Calligrapher, be sure to recommend DANCING PEN!

Valentine's Day Themed Cards

Ryan McGurl of SCARLETT DESIGN created these lovely Valentine's Day Theme Cards using Products from CutCardStock.com . Ryan grew up in New England and attended both the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Boston University, for graphic design and art history. You can see her work by visiting her shop .

For the Doily Heart Valentine Card, Ryan used our 5x7 Red PETAL Card. Be sure to check out the variety of Petal cards available in many colors in sizes 5x7 & in 6.25" square.

Ryan wrote up some instructions, if you would like to duplicate the cards that she made.

Doily Petal Fold Valentine’s Card
Supplies:

1 red A7 (5 x 7”) Perfect Petals Card

1- 8.5 x 11 sheet each Stardream Metallic 81# text MARS, Malmero Perle' Sparkle 81# text Vermillion and Blanc (white)

Adhesive, I recommend a glue stick

Scissors, with a fine point for cutting small pieces or an exacto knife

Optional: Decorative Paper Punches

Directions:

1: Print out the template on each of the three papers

2: Cut out the shapes as noted on the template, cutting out the dark areas.

Alternatively, you can use decorative paper punches to create your own design, just be sure the two white designs match up. You will also need to cut a 4 7/8 x 6 7/8 rectangle from the white paper.

3: Center the rectangle on the Petal Card, and adhere. Center the Red heart on the rectangle and adhere. And write the message of your choice inside it. Place the two maroon hearts on each side of the red heart.

4: Using the red heart as a guide, adhere the white hearts to the outside of the petals (one heart will cover

two petals) and trim away any excess.

Bleeding Hearts Valentine’s Card

Supplies:

1 white 5 x 7 folded card

1- 8.5 x 11 sheet each Magenta, Brown Bag Kraft Paper, and Stardream Metallic Jupiter

Adhesive, I recommend a glue stick

Scissors

Red Marker

Directions:

1: Print out the template on each of the Magenta and Jupiter papers. Or you could use a light box or brightly lit window to trace the shapes onto the papers.

2: Cut out the shapes as noted on the template (click on template below). You will also need to cut a 5 x 7” rectangle, with a 4 x 6 “ opening in the center of it,

from the Jupiter paper, to create a frame. Additionally, cut out two thin curved strips from the Kraft paper.

3: Line the frame up along the edges on the front of the card, and adhere. Adhere one of the Kraft paper strips diagonally across the front of the card.

4:Adhere 3 of the magenta flowers evenly spaced along the Kraft paper strip. On top of the flowers, adhere 2 petals, so that they meet at the top, but are open at the bottom.

5: Use the second kraft paper strip and remaining flower cutouts todecorate the inside of the card.

6: Using the red marker write ”Happy Valentine’s Day” or a message of your choice on the inside of the card.A Special Thank you to Ryan from SCARLET DESIGNS for designing these cards and including instructions for them! Be sure to stop by her blog and see her great photography and unique creations.

Cards & Photography

Just for taking the time to take our Poll to the right, When you spend $30 at CutCardStock, you can save $5 off your order. Be sure enter the following coupon code at check to get your savings: SURVEY valid through February 20, 2010

We are featuring some work from Rochelle Kassens, a very talented Photographer who has used some of our cards to display her photography . Rochelle states: " My work has been featured in a variety of books, newspapers, magazines and publications, including my photocards being currently utilized by President and Mrs. Carter. President's George W. Bush and William Jefferson Clinton also have photographs in their collections, as well as several Church leaders and clergy. "

You can see some of her work at her etsy store MONTAGE.

She took a great Beach photo and layered it in our
BLACK LICORICE A-7 (5x7) Gate fold Invitations and then she layered an invitation on the side panel; and she finished it off with a matching A-7 Envelope with a seal to complete the ensemble.


In this lovely Pink Floral Photo on the left, Rochelle printed her photograph directly on our White A-2 folded cards . These cards are converted from Wausau Exact Ice 80# cardstock which has a smooth digital image surface. Then she paired it up with our Polar White A-2 Envelopes. The soft look of this flower is very eye catching.

Here is a A little bit more about Rochelle: "My background has been diverse! Juried Art show participant, Published Photographer, Architectural designer, Inspector to FEMA, Journalist, Author, Poet, Graphic Designer, Builder of visions, Creator of dreams, Service to others is vital! Latest publication: Several photographs of mine appear in the book,
"SACRED GROUND: A Tribute to America's Veterans", by Tom Ruck, which commemorates our National Cemeteries. Published by Regnery Publishers 2007"
Here are a couple more of Rochelle's pictures for you to enjoy:
She mounted her photo below on our Brockway Deckled edge White A-7 folded Card

A special thank you to Rochelle for these Lovely Photos that will sure to get our minds thinking and longing for SPRING! Be sure to stop by her store MONTAGE and see more of Rochelle's Talented Work.
If any of you have projects that you would like to share with us so we can share it with others on our blog, please feel free to email photos of your work to norma@cutcardstock.com or to info@cutcardstock.com Be sure to include the items from CutCardStock.com that you used in your projects.

Survey Coupon and Some Projects

So what do you all think of our new Blog look ? I luv how separated the side links appear. Hopefully it will be easier to find all the great links we have on the side bar.

Speaking of our sidebar.... we have posted a simple survey at the top of our side link. It's a quick click and vote..... and for your FABULOUS input we will give you a $5.00 off of $30 purchase coupon.
Coupon Code is: Survey
Just type in (Survey) at check out and it will apply the discount. Thank You for your input...it is greatly appreciated !

I played around with a few projects this month.
I luv to ink & dye just about anything! The only problem with dyeing and inking with paper is one has to make sure it can hold up thru this vigerous process.
This is why I can brag about our Neenah ENVIRONMENT 80 lb Cover wt Cardstock. It is absolutely FABULOUS for this type of art & not to mention that I luv that it is 30% -80% post consumer, depending on the color you get.
Here are the tags I made:



To get to this look what I did was:
1.) Cut my tags out
2.) Filled up a small bowl with water
3.) Soaked the tags for a few seconds, than just squished the tags into a ball.
4.) I than took some Tattered Angels Paint by Glimmer Mist and poured a bit into my water bowl. So now I have a mixture of water and paint.



5.) I than unfolded my squished up tags and re-dipped them into this bowl of paint.
6.) I dryed them a bit with my embossing heat gun
7.) I still wanted the wrinkles a bit more flattened so when they were mostly dry I layered them between two pieces of cardstock and took an iron to them.
8.) Now I have a beautiful shimmery, painted tag. I than added a hand cut stamped bird to it.
9.) I also used a Tim Holtz stamp and stamped directly to my tag once dry.
10.) If you want more shimmer you can spray directly on them with any of the Glimmer Mist sprays again once they are dry.

The Glimmer Mist paints/sprays are beautiful. They have a shimmer in them and will make any project stunning. They have a HUGE selection to choose from too.




Here are some more tags using the same technique but with different paint colors.
Once again the Neenah ENVIRONMENT 80 lb Cover wt Cardstock is perfect for this dyeing and painting process...Have Fun with it and I would luv to see what you create.....so link me up !



Have a Blessed and Creative Day !

New Item--Cougar NATURAL A1 envelopes with a SQUARE FLAP

CutCardStock now has NATURAL A1 envelopes with a SQUARE FLAP. Those of you who want a RESPONSE Envelope with a square flap instead of pointed flap can now purchase them at CutCardStock.com.

CutCardStock carries NATURAL Envelopes in many sizes and also has many choices of matching Invitations. If you are looking for an nice Off White (non yellow) envelopes try the NATURAL Envelopes from CutCardstock.

Here is a sampling of our NATURAL Envelopes--all converted from Domtars Cougar NATURAL paper:
NATURAL 5 inch Square Envelopes--50 pack
NATURAL 5.5 inch square Envelopes--50 pack
NATURAL 6 inch square Envelopes --50 pack
NATURAL 6.5 inch Square Envelopes--50 pack
NATURAL 7.5 inch Square Envelopes - 25 pack


Shop all Square envelopes .

Envelopes In the following Announcement sizes:
4 bar (A1) Pointed flap - 250 pack
A1 SQUARE FLap- 250 pk
A2 square flap -50 pack
A6 square flap 80# envelopes- 250 pack
A7 square flap available in both 70# and 80# envelopes
A8 square flap
A9 square flap

Shop all our ENVELOPES


Affordable Matching invitations and invitation sets can be purchased from CutCardStock.com


Cougar Natural Cardstock and paper available in a variety of sizes and weights.