Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Twofer #36 Challenges

Hi everyone.  It's the start of a new Twofer Challenge.  This month Darnell has added a new type of challenge - Your Choice.  It's the same as Anything Goes ... just make sure to mention what your choice is in your post in case it's not obvious.  I used Ornate Background (Simon Says Stamp) for both cards.


As always, please follow the prompt below ...

For my first card I stamped the image in black and heat embossed in clear.  Then I fussy cut around some of the images to create a large border for my card.  I watercoloured with distress inks and then added the border to my card front.  Finished by stamping the sentiment (Happy Messages - Stampendous) in black and clear heat embossing to match the image.  This is an encouragement card to hopefully brighten a friend's day.


For the second card I used the same background, this time stamping in Smoky Slate ink.  I added the sentiment (Brushed Words - Stampendous - retired) in black and clear heat embossed to make it stand out.  I added a thin black strip of card stock to finish.  This is a sympathy card I'm sending to my brother-in-law who recently lost his uncle.

I hope you'll come play along with this fun challenge.  Make sure to follow the prompts above and include a photo of both cards in your post in order to follow the rules.

Hope to see you in the Twofer gallery!




Card #1 - friend
Stamps:  Ornate Background (Simon Says Stamp); Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Mowed Lawn, Mustard Seed, Peacock Feathers, Wilted Violet (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:  Clear embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, waterbrush

Card #2 - Thinking of You
Stamps:  Ornate Background (Simon Says Stamp); Brushed Words - retired (Stampendous)
Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:   Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!); Black (Memento)
Accessories:  Clear embossing Powder (Ranger), heat tool

Challenges:

34 comments:

HilaryJane said...

What an amazing stamp and what a lovely contrast between the 2 cards. I love the boldness of the colours in your first and the lovely subtle grey of your second, it really lets the pattern shine xx

Nstiz said...

Both of these are so well done, beautiful and creative. I can't believe you fussy cut that large border but how fantastic it looks.

Robyn Oliver said...

Two lovely and so different cards Loll, fabulous use of the b/g stamp i soft grey and then to create the border, hugs Robyn

JD/ Jill said...

Wow! So very nicely done! Your colors are so very striking! Stunning cards. Both of them..

Loll, did you get something in the mail from me?

Christine Alexander said...

wow Loll, two amazing cards, they looks so different with one having the bright colours and the other no colouring. Love them both :)

conil said...

Using this stamp was a stroke of genius. Looks beautiful colored or neutral. Both you cards are brilliant.

Pat said...

Two gorgeous Twofers Loll and love that Ornate Background stamp in its entirety with a monochromatic look using that lovely soft grey ink and with a black border and sentiment, and then the contrasting look using some beautiful bright colours fussy cutting around parts of it to create this wonderful border and love the 'friend' sentiment in that great script. x

Susan said...

What a stark contrast between the two cards! Amazing to see how different that stamp looks in the soft uncoloured neutral vs the vibrant colours! Both are beautiful in different ways. The neutral one makes a lovely peaceful thinking of you card (love the black strip to tie in with the black sentiment). And the vibrant colours of the other one make me feel happy - and take me back to my youthful hippy days when I'm sure I had a dress in those colours in a similar swirling pattern!!!

nancy littrell said...

Two Gorgeous cards using your background stamp, Lolly, but with completely different techniques and looks. Your watercoloring with DI's turned out beautifully and I have always loved your Friend sentiment. Love your more subtle 2nd card background filled with love for your BIL. TFS my friend. Love and Hugs...Nancy

Trina P. said...

You nailed the twofer challenge! Two completely different cards using one stamp. The first is bright and bold whole the second is subtle and classy.

TK said...

Wow! What a pretty design to use, Loll. I love the bright boldness of the border, but using the same image as a tone on tone fits the bill too!

Irish Cherokee said...

Love both cards. Very bold colors on the first card. Love it. Uncolored stamp of the second card is great just as is. Great job!

Hugs and Blessings,
Jim

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Super cards and Super ideas, love them.
Faith x

Happy Dance said...

So, I've been sitting here staring at my computer screen for about 10 minutes now, looking at every inch of your cards. This, to me, really captures the essence of the Twofer concept - using that one stamp and making two completely different designs. To say you've nailed it is an understatement. My eyes bounce from those bright colors to that beautiful, soft gray, and I am wowed. I love these cards, Loll, and really do love what you've done with that Ornate Background stamp. Fantastic!!! Stay safe. xo Bev

Mac Mable said...

Wow what a striking first card with wonderful vibrant colours and the most perfect and gentle sympathy card to send to your brother-in-law Loll x.

Brenda in IN said...

That colorful card is a wonderful encouragement card. I love how you cut it to use as a border. The second card is stunning and I like how the stamp is so big and covers the panel.

Bonnie said...

The bright colors and artistic design are uplifting and a perfect way to lift someone's day, Lolly! I love the soft gray stamping with the narrow black strip on the side! Soothing and perfect for a sympathy card!

Marcia Hill said...

WOW...these are both STUNNING Loll!! I love that background stamp you used and both of your cards are SO different and each one SO dramatic too! The colorful one that you fussy cut is so eye catching and yet the simplicity of the softer gray colored one is the one that totally catches MY eye!! Love them both my friend!! Hugs. :0)

Ina G said...

What a beautiful stamp you have used here Loll. Stunning colouring on the first one and what a perfect sympathy card for the second. Both gorgeous makes.

Heather said...

Wow, Loll, these are fantastic. It's great in colour but equally impressive in one tone!

Brenda said...

What beautiful twofers Loll! I love that background stamp you used, cool idea. I love how you fussy cut around it to make a thick border on your card, a card that is sure to brighten your friend's day! Your second twofers is so elegant looking. Kinda looks like a coloring page too. lol Would be fun for the recipient to color. Love the black and white color combo. A great think of you card for sure. Hugs, Brenda

Darnell said...

These are both stunning, Lolly! You've shown a perfect example of how two different designs can be made even when using an all-over background stamp! And what a stamp it is!! It looks lovely simply stamped in soft gray as a sympathy design and I really like the narrow border edging in black. And then you really made it sing with the bold and bright colors for your friend card. It's a whimsical stylized display of color, so you picked the perfect fonted friend sediment to balance the design! Thank you for joining in TCC #36! Great to see you Wednesday! Keep well and safe. Love, Dolly

Ros Crawford said...

Both so different and both so beautiful!

BożenA said...

I have this background stamp, but your suggestions made me want to use it asap. I love both cards, and when put together they make a great impression.
xx

Barb Ghig said...

Two really gorgeous cards, Loll! I love all the bold colors you chose for the first one and your monochromatic stamping on the 2nd card is so elegant! xx

Jo said...

Two very different card and equally beautiful. Love them ....thinking of you too xx

Anita in France said...

What a wonderfully intricate image, Loll ... that you've made shine on both cards! The vibrancy and punch of the first with the boldly coloured border is fantastic! It's such a fabulous contrast to the soft, dreamy look you created with the grey on white and just a touch of black ... a beautiful way to express condolences. Hugs, Anita :)

Leslie Miller said...

Wowie, you can do a lot with that stamp! Fantastic with all the brilliant colors, but also as a subtle background. Totally love both, Loll!

Papercraft Boutique said...

This is amazing, Loll! What a wonderful contrast between the ornate image colored with vibrant colors and the monochromatic one. Using part of the background image by fussy-cutting it is a wonderful way to stretch the use of your stamp.
The clear heat-embossing on Smoky Slate definitely made a difference!
Hideko xx

oldpunca said...

Stunning Twofer, Loll! It's amazing how you made border of fantastic colored flowers on the first card. Perfect fussy cut. Sympathy card is elegant as it should be.
Hugs, Sonja

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Wow Loll - just love both cards!! That background stamp looks amazing colored and as a border! Love it too stamped as a background!!

Linda said...

WOW! Two very different cards from just one stamp. I love the simplicity of the grey stamped version, the design reminds me of lace.
When you colour the image it gives it a funky, retro look ..... I love it! xx

ionabunny said...

Gorgeous cards and stamp. Love the two variations. Love the subtle thinking of you card. Hugz

Karen Dunbrook said...

gorgeous...love them.
xx Karen