One Stamp, Two Cards

Send a Smile 4 Kids' current needs includes Spring & Easter cards. I used one stamp--Northwoods Rubber Stamps' "Small Wagon with Bunnies and Chicks"--on both a general Spring card and an Easter card.

For my Spring card, I used Sketch #SC617 at Splitcoaststampers.com for my design. I stamped the image onto a scrap of Strathmore Vellum Bristol paper with Lawn Fawn's Doe ink. I used my Prismacolor colored pencils to color the scene. Even though I used a semi-dark ink, it still has the basic effect of no-line coloring because of the generally darker colors I used. After I finished coloring, I die cut it with a circle die.

I used patterned papers from the "Hello Sunshine" 6x6" pad from Doodlebug Designs. I added in yellow & teal cardstocks for the background strip & blue banner, respectively. I die cut a larger circle from a solid green paper in the pad. I adhered the yellow strip to the background patterned paper, added the green circle & banners, and finally adhered the focal circle. I wrapped green baker's twine around the top of the panel, adhering the ends to the back with a little double-sided tape. I tied a bow from the same twine, and glued it in place with a bit of liquid glue. After matting the panel with an A2-size piece of darker yellow cardstock, I adhered it to a white card base.

Using the same image, I added an Easter greeting ("Happy Easter 02" from Stampabilities) to my second card. For my design, I turned to Sketch #SC568, also at Splitcoaststampers. I stamped the image this time with Ink on 3's Fade Out ink, so I could do some true no-line coloring. I again used my Prismacolor pencils, and die cut it with the same circle die as in my first card.

I cut a piece of teal patterned paper from Simple Stories' "Vintage Bliss" 6x6" pad to 5.25x4". I added a butterfly paper from the same pad, matting that with a light grey cardstock. The butterfly paper kind of visually "melted" into the mat, so before I adhered it, I inked around the edges with Pumice Stone Distress ink to add definition.

I stamped my greeting with Evergreen Bough Distress Oxide ink onto a strip of tan cardstock that I had also inked with Pumice Stone. The green ink actually matches the chevron patterned paper I used perfectly! I adhered that strip in place, & added my image circle, the perimeter of which I had inked with Pumice Stone. I matted the whole piece with yellow cardstock, & adhered that to a white A2 card base.

I'm entering my cards in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Two or More Patterned Papers"
613 Avenue Create: "Anything Goes" (playing the "banners & bows" twist with my first card)
Send a Smile 4 Kids Challenge: "Easter or Spring Cards 4 Kids OR Anything Goes 4 Kids"
Dies R Us Challenge #139: "Wild Things (Animals)"

Happy Birthday Balloons

My Favorite Things' Wednesday Sketch Challenge #474 inspired the design of this card. I need a birthday card for a friend, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to use this sketch and some new (and old) products!

I thought the circles in the sketch translated well to balloons. I used 2 dies from Lawn Fawn's "Party Balloons" set for the largest balloons, and a few from My Favorite Things' "Bundle of Balloons" to fill out the design. I die cut the 10 balloons from rainbow colors of cardstock. I chose a cream cardstock for my background, as I wanted something neutral, but not stark white. I glued all the balloons on, basically following the sketch. I didn't add balloon strings, since I felt that would just clutter the design, and they were unnecessary anyway. I finished that panel by adding a narrow strip of lavender cardstock along the left edge.

I stamped the greeting, from MFT's "Big Birthday Sentiments," in Versamark ink onto a strip of Essentials by Ellen 40 lb. vellum. I heat embossed it with Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder. After trimming the left end into a fishtail banner, I used my Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher to staple the banner to the edge of my panel.

For the dark teal panel, I used a new-to-me Echo Park stencil, "Birthday Balloons." I taped my cardstock to the back of the stencil, & used a palette knife to smear Liquitex Gloss Super Heavy Gel medium over the stencil. Once I had a smooth layer of gel, I carefully removed the stencil; cleaned that, my work surface, & palette knife; and set the panel aside to dry.

After the gel dried, I adhered the teal panel flat to a white A2-size card base. I popped the main panel up with craft/fun foam, using double-sided tape to adhere everything. The hardest/longest part of this process was probably the design. I know that sounds ironic, since I was working from a pre-made sketch. But just trying to figure out what balloon sizes fit where, so I could die cut each from the "right" color took a while. But I love how this card came out.

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

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: "Anything Goes"
Creative Knockouts Challenge #335: "Birthday Wishes"