Happy Day

Our Daily Bread Designs' challenge this month has been a sketch challenge. The posted this sketch for participants to use as the basis for their card designs:

I rotated the sketch 90 degrees counterclockwise. I also decided to forego the bow, since this card is for my uncle's birthday.

I stamped the "Cattails" image from Our Daily Bread Designs with Hero Arts Cup o' Joe ink onto a piece of textured off-white paper. I then die cut & embossed it with the largest Spellbinders "Classic Ovals SM" die. While the paper was still in the die, I inked the inside portion with Antique Linen Distress ink. I inked around the edges next with Brushed Corduroy Distress ink, then finally the very perimeter with Gathered Twigs. The die masked the outer portion of the oval, so I got an instant "mat" by inking the inner portion.

I temporarily adhered the oval to a piece of brown paper with a slight grid pattern, then used that as reference to position my greeting stamp (source unknown). I stamped the greeting in Versamark, then heat embossed it with Ranger Gold embossing powder. After permanently adhering the focal image, I trimmed the panel down, and inked around the edges with Gathered Twigs. Then I adhered it to a piece of "Cream Sheet Music" patterned paper, by The Paper Studio. My uncle is a singer, so when I found that paper in my scrap stash, I knew I had to incorporate it!

I lifted the top & bottom portions of the focal image and tucked some ribbon underneath each end. I wrapped the ribbon pieces around the patterned paper, and adhered them to the back side. I did squirt a little liquid glue under the ribbon pieces on the front, just to help anchor them even more.

For the outer mat, I cut a piece of white cardstock to 4.25x5.5", then inked around the perimeter with Gathered Twigs. I let that dry for a couple of hours, then used my ATG adhesive to mount the patterned paper to the mat. I adhered that to a white A2 card base. Finally, I used some Gold Pearl Liquid Pearls to add some dots to the top of the brown panel. I just feel that helps balance the gold greeting on the bottom.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Live Love Cards February challenge: "Masculine Cards"

Through the Craft Room Door: "Anything Goes"

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"

Thinking of You Trio

I heard Jennifer McGuire say that one of her goals for this year is to make multiples of cards when she works. The idea is that it doesn't take much longer to make a few than one, once you get your supplies out and get going. It makes sense, so I have decided to try the same thing. I don't know that I'll make multiples every time I sit down to make a card, but I do plan to do it more than I have in the past.

The other day, I sat down to make a few more cards for the Lasting Hearts Card Drive. I decided to use one of the butterflies from Hero Arts' "Butterflies #3" set (discontinued). I stamped it on a piece of white cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then covered it with a mask I created from a sticky note. I stamped the "Designer Woodgrain" background by Hero Arts over that in Cup o' Joe ink, and then inked the entire panel with Brushed Corduroy Distress ink. Finally, I removed the mask and colored the butterfly with my Prismacolor colored pencils. I also added shading around the wings & body with a brown pencil, just to help the butterfly pop a little more.

I stamped the greeting, from Hero Arts "Floral" set (also discontinued), 3 times on strips of different colors of cardstock in Versamark ink. I then heat embossed each strip with Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder. I cut each strip into a banner shape, then cut 2 more banners from patterned papers for each card. After arranging my banners, I used my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher and some staples I'd colored gold with liquid leafing, to staple the banners to the card front panel. Finally, I adhered the card front to a white A2 card base.

I'm entering my first card in the following challenges:

a2z Scrapbooking's February challenge: Masking
A Blog Named Hero: A Bit of Sparkle (used metallic embossing powder & shiny gold staples)
Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes

Happy Easter Birdie

The deadline for Easter & spring-themed cards for Send a Smile 4 Kids is fast approaching. The general deadline is 3-4 weeks before Easter, so they have time to distribute them. With Easter being on March 27 this year, that means cards need to be sent within the next couple of weeks! I had made this card with a young girl in mind. This time I thought of an older child.

I used Sketch #SC552 from Splitcoaststampers.com for my design. I first printed the "Spring Bird" image from Bugaboo Stamps onto a scrap of 140 lb. Canson XL watercolor paper, After die cutting it with a Spellbinders "Standard Circles" die, I colored the bird with my Inktense pencils and a damp brush. I watered down some Broken China Distress ink, and painted the background with that.

I chose 3 patterned papers from my scrap stash, in colors that complemented the bird. I cut them to size, and adhered them to a piece of tan cardstock, which I matted with a piece of blue. I printed the greeting onto white cardstock, and cut that into a strip. Finally, I adhered the bird & greeting, and mounted the finished card front to a white A2 card base.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Send a Smile 4 Kids: "Easter or Spring Cards 4 Kids"
Simon Says Stamp's Work It Wednesday: "Use Something New" (new image)

Happy Easter

Catch the Bug challenge blog's theme this week has been "Anything Goes." I created this Easter card to send to Send a Smile 4 Kids, based on a sketch from Splitcoaststampers.

I printed the "Cute Easter Rabbit" from Bugaboo Stamps onto a scrap of 140 lb. Canson XL watercolor paper, then die cut it with a Spellbinders "Classic Ovals LG" die. I colored the bunny with Inktense pencils, and painted the background with Tea Dye & Cracked Pistachio Distress inks & a wet paintbrush. I created the greeting in Photoshop, and printed it on a strip of white cardstock.

For the background, I cut 2 panels from patterned paper from Recollections' "Paddywack" 6x6" paper pad. I matted each with pink cardstock, using the measurements I'd determined from the sketch. After mounting my panels to a white A2 card base, I adhered the greeting strip & focal image.

I'm also entering this card in Send a Smile 4 Kids' "Easter or Spring Cards 4 Kids" challenge.

Going Away Card

A member of my mom's writing group is moving away, and she asked me to make a card for the other members to sign for him. I kind of struggled with this, mostly what greeting to use. Finally, with my mom's approval, I decided on a "greetingless" card.

I first created my focal panel. After I determined how large to make it, I cut a piece of white cardstock. I stamped the "Small Forest" by Art Impressions (I believe this is discontinued) multiple times across the bottom part with Hero Arts Forever Green ink. Then I inked over the whole panel with Tea Dye & Brushed Corduroy Distress inks, and went around the edges with Ground Espresso Distress ink to darken them. Finally, I stamped Art Impressions' "Migrating Birds" image twice above the trees with Versafine Onyx Black ink. I added a couple additional birds to even up the spacing.

For the frame, I used the largest of Taylored Expressions' "Frame in Frame" dies. I had to extend the length by doing some partial die cutting to cut part of the frame, then moved the die down and cut the rest.

I cut a piece of white cardstock to 4.5x7.25", and inked it with Peeled Paint Distress ink. I then adhered my focal panel & frame to that. Finally, I mounted my card front to a white card base.

I'm entering this card in Live Love Cards' February challenge: "Masculine Cards."