Sunday, February 22, 2015

Monochrome Valentine


So when I saw this week's challenge at CASology, Monochrome, I knew one of my unused ideas from last week was just the right game to play, so I started experimenting. I must say, the monochrome makes it seem a bit "flat" to me, but...I enjoyed playing with my toys.

It was my first foray into Washi tape -- not as sticky or "thick" as I would like -- not impressed, but there are so many more patterns than ribbon from Michael's! I added baker's twine for a little more flair. I had originally used an embossed panel, but the tape just wouldn't stay stuck. I preferred that other look though.

For the sentiment, I stamped it at a friend's house (and thus don't know the collection), then die cut it with Spellbinders scalloped hearts at home. I sponged the edges with Tim Holtz distress ink Barn Door then popped it up with foam.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Love Mobile



I did a lot of playing with this card: overlapping panels, a swirly embossing folder I don't normally use for texture, wordy designer paper on the topic of love, and stacked die cuts of the word "love." While you can't see it in the tiny photo, the word is stamped onto textured purple paper, which I then added shimmer to with a clear Sakura gel pen. I stamped the picture design with chalkboard lavender then clear embossed it while it was wet. I then used my markers to color in the hearts, and added some "shine" with a white gel marker. I thought it turned out a lot more interesting than many of my other Valentine's attempts. I hope you like it!

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Words of Love

Words of Love


This is the latest, derived from the cute CAS(e) this Sketch challenge of the week. Thus, the layout has a simple bar down the left side, embellished with blue and white kitchen twine, and the design element and sentiment are in the lower left-hand corner.  I've been amazed at the fact that those layout sketches really do turn out well, no matter how basic my own design may be.

I've been really liking playing around with words (shocking for a writer, isn't it?!), so this card combines wordy designer papers, an embossing folder, and even a die cut.  I love it: words for texture, words for design, and words for meaning. A girl could get used to this. Throw in my favorite language (the panel is in French, bien sur) and color, and I kinda like it... I hope y'all do!

Challenges:
CAS(e) this Sketch #109


Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Welcome to the Neighborhood card

Welcome to the Neighborhood

For this card I obviously started with a layout from the challenge, but from there I was free to play. I had a new to me Stampin' Up set with all these cute little house and tree parts, but had previously had no idea about how I intended to use them. And suddenly I have a new neighbor moving in, so voila!

I learned a few lessons in lining up the parts (and for the record need to look up a video on how to use the Stampamajig, which was wholly ineffective in my hands!). And for the color scheme, I was trying to make a more masculine card as a mini-challenge to myself, since they all seem to end up a bit girly despite my tomboy self!

After stamping the card, I water-colored the sky and field elements using Tim Holtz (H is for Holtz! challenge) distress inks and water.  When that dried, I stamped the white clouds on, which I subsequently clear embossed. From there, I found the cute little Welcome sign and fussy cut it to simulate a street sign, then popped it up with foam.



I also added a meaningful sentiment to the inside and punched it out.


i hope my new neighbors like it, and that y'all do too!

Challenges I am competing in:

CAS(E) this Sketch #108


Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Simon Says Monday Challenge: H is for ...



Monday, February 2, 2015

CASology "Birthday" Challenge

Have Cake If You Wanna! 




I had a new birthday script die (Memory Box dies) that I wanted to play with, and a bestie with a pending birthday in March, when the CASology Birthday Challenge came up, so this seemed the time... 

I cut some sea green (reminds me of our past trips together to the shore) paper full of loving words from my Valentine's stash.  You, and she, will have to take my word for that -- I failed to see how thin the die was until I used it. Now the letters add interest, not meaning. Sad. Anyway, she's a pink kind of girl (I'm not), so I dove into my hot pink textured paper for both the panel and the cupcake punchout and added a ribbon with dark and light pink swirls to tone it down a bit. The cupcake is stamped in white ink then clear embossed. I also stamped part of another stamp to get the hot pink "it's your" for a font contrast.  Inside, I added my sentiment: Have Cake if you Wanna! to continue the theme from the front, and to play off my friend's well-known love of all things sugar.

I knew I enjoyed crafting and liked pretty stationery, but there has been a surprise in all this for me.  I'm really having fun in this brand new hobby tailoring my cards to things meaningful to the recipient or to our relationship. I've always liked snail mail, but thought I wasn't sentimental when I didn't like store-bought cards. Now I know it was just that the sentiment was wrong. Love to my friend!