Love Over and Beyond Card

For today's card, I was playing again with the Valentine's/heart theme. Of course, the season is upon us, but in addition, my Mom was a pediatric cardiologist, so hearts have always held a special place for me. I digress; back to my card...

I had die cut several different colors (textured violet, patterned lavender and plain red cardstock) and sizes of hearts at a friend's house (Our Daily Bread Design dies???), which looked like they would make nice balloons. I liked the metaphor of love taking us up, up, and away. I used a heart embossed panel to start, then popped the mini hearts up with foam squares and attached baker's twine and knotted them together to turn them into a balloon bouquet. I've really been enjoying my large word die, "Love." I cut it out of red foil for shimmer and interest, and stacked 4 layers to give it added dimension to match the balloons.

Challenge I'm playing: Simon Says Anything Goes

Honeybee Thanks

Honeybee Thanks

For this card, I was playing with my fun new hexagon shaped dies, punch, and embosser. Actually, I had borrowed a hexagon border die from a friend with an idea in mind, but as I played with the layout, that piece did not survive. Ironic that the inspiration didn't fit. Shows what I know! But I do know I love all things French country, and for me that includes bees, so here it is...

I tried something new on this card: I framed every element in black to add pop and definition.  I wanted to tie in a bit of the yellow from the bees and evoke a honeycomb without even more hexagons, so I added the polkadot panel. The layout was suggested by a new challenge I'm undertaking: CAS(e) this Sketch #107.

Friendship is the Little Things Card

This time, I have tried to play along with a friend theme at CASology. I used a great new (to me) Penny Black tulip die to make green and pink polkadot cuts that I trimmed and glued together, a la my guru.  I added a matching pink dot ribbon and pink hued sunshine. For my sunshine to feed my friendship flowers, I stamped it then wet embossed it with clear powder to get shine and resist, then I sponged it with a mix of pink and yellow Tim Holtz distress inks and popped it up with foam. Then I embossed the panel to continue the dot theme. I like the fresh feel as I ponder yet another snow day here at home!

CAS Moroccan Love Card

 

It's a day of firsts: my first solo card, my first blog, and my first ever online or contest entry.
I was inspired by the upcoming Valentine's Day, but wanted to avoid the typical red and pink
color schemes. Sadly, I learned the hard way that purples do not photograph well.

That aside, here's how I did it: First, I die cut the hearts using both Our Daily Bread Designs and and My Favorite Things heart dies borrowed from a friend. I used some textured and some designer scrapbook paper. I sponged several blue and purple inks together to add depth to my panel then adhered the hearts. I embossed my large panel with a Moroccan-inspired folder to add texture and interest. Finally, I die cut 4 copies of my "Love" from Little B "Handwritten" die set, stacked them, and voila! My first attempt without my training wheels (Thanks, D!).

Thanks for letting me play along with the CAS(e) this Sketch #106 challenge.