Monthly Archives: April 2011

Masked Leaves

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Wow, it took me a long time to figure out what to do with PTI’s latest Make-It-Monday challenge (mim10). The challenge was to use dies for masking. The sample created in the video used reverse masking.

Since no idea was presenting itself automagically, I decided to get all my PTI dies out and rifle through them until the muse got interested. I finally settled on using the leaf dies, but I could easily have done this same thing with flowers.

Anyway, the way I did it: I took a piece of printer paper and cut it to card front size. Then I ran it through my Big Shot with the leaf die, moved the die, ran it through again, ditto (for 3 leaves). Then, just like Lisa’s video, I added repositionable glue and adhered it to my card base. Next was sponging – I used 2 colors per leaf and chose to go from green (summer), to yellow (fall), ending with brown (winter). Finally, with the mask still in place, I went back and stamped the Geometrics grid background over the sponged leaves using vanilla ink.

Of course then I just sat and stared at the card not knowing what to do next! Obviously I figured something out 🙂

Thanks for taking a peek.

Thinking of You
Stamps: Places Please, Vintage Picnic Sentiments, Background Basics: Geometrics (PTI);
Ink: Kiwi, Olive, Curry, Mustard, Suede, Espresso (SU); Vintage Cream (PTI);
Paper: Rustic Cream, Ripe Avocado (PTI);
Other: Rustic Twine (PTI), Leaf dies (PTI), Place Card die (PTI);
Techniques: Reverse Masking, Sponging;

Linen & Flourishes

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Last night I actually stamped for the heck of it – no challenges, no need, just cuz! I pulled out my scrap pile and rifled through until I found something I wanted to use – the Rose faux linen piece. Of course after that I didn’t know what I was going to do!

I had a bird punch also in my scrap – though not of a color that would help. But looking at that made me think of the Punch Potpourri set. And that made me think of PTI’s Embellished set (the flourishes look so similar). So an idea was born, lol.

Thanks for taking a peek!

hello
Stamps: Punch Potpourri (SU), Embellishments (PTI), Communique Sentiments (PTI);
Colors: Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, White, Pear, Peach (SU);
Other: Choco ribbon (SU); Rhinestones (Kaiser); Leaf Die (SU); Bird Punch (SU); Machine stitching.
Techniques: Faux Linen

Retro Doilies

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I finally purchased a doily set. There are so many out there! This set is from Maya Road and I love it! The images aren’t huge (the blue one is the biggest of the set), but I think it will do for what I want.

I needed a few quick cards so I could get some RAKs into the mail. I pulled out the doily set and picked a retro-feeling color scheme. The card just took a couple minutes to make. The sentiment is stamped on the same type of paper, trimmed, and popped-up.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thank You
Stamps: Doilies Stamp Sheet (Maya Road); Wonderful Words (SU);
Colors: Rustic White (PTI); Bermuda Bay, Kiwi Kiss, Soft Suede (SU);

Cards of Different Colors

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Today I am posting the final card that I created for mom’s Inside-Out camp. I ended up making two versions (ya know, in case she runs out of DSP in the one color). I did CASE the card from Selene (view hers); and while her card is based on a sketch, I did copy her ribbon/button & border punch – so I’m referencing her card instead of the sketch (I did find her card before I found the sketch). I changed the colors and images from Selene’s card and used DSP instead of stamping for the background.

Anyway. I’m really happy with how these turned out. They both make me smile, even though the evoke different feelings. To see either card in more detail, just click on the photo.

For the flowers, I used markers to color the rubber before stamping. I used a lighter and darker color to add some shading.

 
Since the camp is about decorating the insides, this post wouldn’t be complete without a peek at the inside. I went very simple with just using the same supplies – DSP and Border Punch.

Thanks for stopping by!

All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Blue Card
Stamps: Friends Never Fade;
Colors: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, White;
Other: Markers (Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Choco Chip, Olive), Greenhouse Gala DSP, Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Button, Linen Thread, Scallop Eyelet Border Punch;
Yellow Card
Stamps: Friends Never Fade;
Colors: So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, White;
Other: Markers (Regal Rose, Rose Red, Choco Chip, Olive), Greenhouse Gala DSP, Pear Pizzazz Seam Binding, Button, Linen Thread, Scallop Eyelet Border Punch;

Peek-A-Boo Bird

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Here is another card I created for mom’s Inside-Out camp. This is a window card – where some of the inside peeks through a hole in the front. I CASEd the layout from a card in the StampinUp 2010 catalog (p45).

This window is achieved by using StampinUp’s Movers & Shapers dies. First, the front of the card base and the DSP were die cut. Then, between those two layers I added a square of Window Sheet (acetate). The cage is stamped onto the acetate – the bird is on the inside of the card.

 
I did have, um, we’ll call it fun 😀 , trying to figure out the logistics of the inside. I knew when mom & I discussed having a window card that I wanted to use Aviary and have the bird peeking through from the inside. However, when I actually tried to decorate the inside it was rough making it seem “natural” but not show through the window (and we’ll just pretend that you can’t see that ONE note from the wheel peeking through the bottom of the window).

Wonderful Friend
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Aviary, Wonderful Favorites, Music Notes Wheel, Cheep Talk;
Colors: Pear Pizazz, Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Vanilla;
Other: Sunny Garden DSP, Acetate, Rhinestones, Scallop Border Punch, Movers & Shapers dies (or you could use a Coluzzle 😉 );

Honey of a Day

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Yesterday was a honey of a day. It was gorgeous! My hubby and I sat outside and enjoy the sun for a bit and then we took the kids to the park. I really am loving my new home and neighborhood!

Thankfully not only was the sun out, but my muse came to play too! I’m working on some more camp cards for my mom. This camp’s theme is Inside-Out. We’ll show different ways of decorating the insides of cards.

First up is a pocket card. While this may not seem like a traditional card, the “inside” is decorated – and I want to remind her folks to think outside A2 (something I don’t do often myself). Of course, we’ll just overlook the fact that the “base” of this card is indeed A2 sized 🙂

The hive was stamped onto dotted pattern paper and cut out. I just used a marker to color in the hive base (you can still see the dots of the paper). On the inside, I used a marker to color the honey, but left the pot plain. And another touch of different pattern/same color DSP.

To enlarge the photo above, just click on it. Thanks for stopping by!

Buzzin By
All supplies StampinUp unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Buzzin By, Sanded;
Colors: Old Olive, More Mustard, Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, White, Black;
Other: Regals Patterns DSP, Olive 1/8″ Taffeta ribbon, Eyelet, 2 1/2″ Circle Punch;
Techniques: Paper Piecing, Pocket Card;

Thoughtful Garden

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This card is for the Embellish Magazine color challenge with decorative trim. Their inspiration photo was beautiful!

I wanted a mottled look for the tag, so I used alcohol and reinkers on glossy paper. Then I heat embossed the flower. < Insert many muse-less days. > A few great finds in my scrap pile later and this card is done!

It isn’t a ‘regular’ sized card – the base is 4 w x 4.5 h. Basically I laid it out and then trimmed off the white space.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Thinking of You
Stamps: Many Wishes (Gina K); Background Basics-Text, Fillable Frames 2 (PTI); Fancy Phrases (dotted oval – WM);
Colors: White, Lemon Tart, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado (PTI);
Other: Glossy paper (SU); Tag die (PTI); embossing powder; label die (Spellbinders); leaf die (SU); trim (stash); ribbon (PTI);

Rainbow Flowers

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I created this card for the Make it Monday challenge (mim9) which was to use heat embossing.

I think I was feeling a bit creative tonight as I didn’t use a sketch for this card (*shocking* I know). Heck my muse was so much in charge that I don’t even remember how I got started with this one! [Now if only she’d stick around for awhile.]

I think first came the decision to do clear embossing with sponging (in a rainbow of course). Since I was going with rainbow flowers, I decided to send this card off to my niece (she’s in college-hence the “miss you”), so I kept the rest of the card bright & cheery.

Oh, and I have to tell you my “snowflake”. [Sidenote, my mom and I call it the “snowflake” technique because the first time we decided to cover up a mistake, we ended up using a snowflake.] I sponged the flower heads with the rainbow colors and then went back and added sponging to the stems. The stem sponging *so* did not look right, so I covered up most of the sponging with the ribbon.

When I was putting the card together, I did wonder whether it was balanced or not. I thought about adding something to that top left corner, but instead, I moved the sentiment a little off the card on the left and then added glitter centers to the flowers. I’m thinking the glitter helps with the balance, so the top/left doesn’t feel as empty. What do you think? Could I have achieved balance a better way?

Thanks for taking a peek!

Miss You
Stamps: All About You & Additions, Fillable Frames 2 (PTI);
Colors: Hibiscus, Sunrise, Lemon, Plum, White (PTI); Landscape (Pallette), Turquoise (SU);
Other: Chartreuse ribbon, Fillable Frames 2 die (PTI); glitter (SU); sticky shapes (O’SoSticky);
Techniques: machine stitching, sponging, heat embossing

Easter Patterns

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This card started as an attempt at the blending challenge for PTI’s Make-it-Monday, but my blended panel really wasn’t any good. The rest of the card had potential, so I didn’t chuck it all.

The layout is a CardMap from Dec 2010 (PageMaps).

The card needs something to make it pop, but I’m not sure what that thing is. If you have a suggestion, I’d love to hear it. Click on the photo to see it larger.

Thanks for stopping by!

Easter Wishes
Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages, Take Note (PTI);
Colors: Plum Pudding, Spring Moss, White (PTI);
Other: Egg Hunt DSP, Limitless Layers 1 3/4″ die, Egg die, Lavender button, Rustic White twine (PTI); Corner Rounder punch, Leaf die (SU);

Blended Thoughts

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My company has departed and the first thing I did was stamp for Papertrey’s latest Make-it-Monday challenge (mim8). The challenge was to use a sponge to blend ink colors in the background.

It took me awhile before I could come up with an idea. I think I chose my colors before deciding on doing a silhouette. I used Lemon Tart, Spring Moss, and Aqua Mist to create the background.

I’ve had an embossed frame card base in my scrap pile for months so I decided I could use it on this card. Instead of using it as a card base, I just used the frame.

When it came time to stamp the large blue stem on the front, my Aqua wasn’t up to the task, so I switched to StampinUp’s retired Soft Sky. Of course stamping with that necessitated the use of the Sky card stock for the ribbon label too.

I like how the yellow lightens up the feel of the card. Overall I’m pretty happy with this one. Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking of You
Stamps: Life, Vintage Picnic Sentiments (PTI);
Colors: Lemon Tart, True Black, White (PTI); Soft Sky (SU);
Other: Lemon ribbon (PTI); Perfect Details Texturz Plate (SU); Ribbon Label die (Spellbinders);