Make It Monday: video tutorial.

Hey there, and happy Monday to you!
What's better than getting a card in the mail from someone special? Getting one that's all decorated on the outside too! I have a new video to share with you this morning with Papertrey Ink all about "Envelope Wraps".

Envelope Wraps are a great way to dress up your envelopes by using Papertrey Ink's stamps and dies. You can add them to an envelope you are mailing. If you do so, I would recommend running them through a Xyron machine to make them super sticky before mailing, so they don't come off during the shipping process. (And ask the postal worker to "hand stamp" them!) Or you can just use them to dress up an envelope for a gift box or gift bag you are hand-delivering!

The Wine Bottle Tag die is what I used to create these wraps for my envelopes. But you could use any sort of larger tag die that would wrap around to the back of your envelope, or you can just cut a piece of cardstock and score and wrap it around to the back. Won't these make your envelopes so much fun for the mail?! The mailman (or lady) will love seeing some bright and happy envelopes, and your recipient too.

This is what the Wine Bottle Tag die looks like when you wrap it around to the back (the circle).

Swing by Nichole's blog to see the full video on how to create these, and hopefully it will give you lots of ideas for dressing up your boring white envies!

Envelope Wraps:

(All supplies are by Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.)

1. You envelope: Simply You stamps, Bigger Blooms stamps

2. Hello There envelope: Background Basics: Super Stripes stamps, Bigger Blooms stamps

3. Special Delivery envelope: Special Delivery Sentiments stamps, Bigger Blooms stamps, Bountiful Banners , Background Basics: Art Deco stamps

4. To You. From Me. With Love. envelope: Journal Accessories stamps, Bigger Blooms stamps, Smokey Shadow Bitty Dot paper, Mini Blooms stamps.

2pm EST: "Sprinkle of Salt"

Hi Stamp-a-Faire attendees! We're back with another fun technique for you to try!

This time we are working with salt to create a mottled effect. You can use sea salt, but I just used regular salt from my kitchen and watercolor paper, water, ink refills and a paint brush.

I found that watercolor paper works much better for this technique, as is resists the water for a few minutes to allow you to have time to add the salt. Regular cardstock didn't work for me, because by the time I sprinkled the salt on, the paper had already soaked up the water. :) You want the water to sit on the paper long enough to add the salt.

I used this technique to create a mottled background for my card. Here's how to do the "Sprinkle of Salt" technique:

1. First, I cut my cardstock base and chose my ink colors for the background (reinkers that you refill your ink pad with.) I chose Lemon Tart, Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist and Summer Sunrise inks to create the salt mottled effect. 

2. On watercolor paper, I used a brush to get the paper very wet. 
3. Next, I dropped a few drops of each ink color in the order I wanted them. I used a paintbrush to brush them out a bit. 
4. While still wet, I spinkled salt over the top. I let it dry completely, then scraped the remaining salt off the card. (Here is what it looks like when wet.)

5. Last, the flowers were die cut with Bigger Blooms dies and used coordinating Bigger Blooms stamps for the blooms. A sentiment from Bigger Blooms on Aqua Mist cardstock finishes the look.

Visit Nichole's blog for more salt ideas. Give the "Sprinkle of Salt" challenge a try. Hope to see your finished projects!

Best. Day. Ever card:
STAMPS:
INK: Lemon Tart, Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise, New Leaf, Raspberry Fizz inks
PAPER: white
DIES: Bigger Blooms
OTHER: pearls by Melissa Frances.