Gingham Smiles

Hi everyone.  Here is my third and final card for my card class this Saturday.  After designing two elegant cards, I thought it would be fun to have something a little more whimsical ... a watering can full of spring flowers.  Love the gingham watering can ... you can't go wrong with gingham (or polka-dots!). :)

This time I shaped the watering can rather than the leaves of the bouquet.  I'm really happy how it turned out.  The photograph doesn't show the 3-D effect, but trust me, it turned out well.  I cut apart the pieces of the watering can (handle, spout, main part) so that I could sponge around all pieces for added dimension, but it also allowed me to shape each piece with my stylus and give them a "roundness".

Unfortunately, it's been a tough week for both my cousins, so they emailed me asking to postpone for a little while.  Life can be stressful when working and going to school - so I totally understand.  Good thing is I have the designs ready for whenever we can reschedule. :)

I had a lot of fun designing the three cards for this class and am excited about sharing these techniques - hopefully soon! :)

Stamps:  Sweet Summer Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Yellow Gingham (Making Memories); Gumball Green, Crushed Curry (SU!)
Ink:  Crushed Curry, Gumball Green, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Little Leaves die (Sizzix), 8 Petal flowers die (C.C. Designs), Watering Can die (Silhouette Cameo), sponges, white gel pen, Stamp-a-ma-jig, stylus and mat

Madera Hello

Hi everyone.  Back with a second card for the class I'm teaching this coming weekend.  This card uses the same background technique (faux mother-of-pearl) and the same sentiment as yesterday's card.  I wanted to show the girls that making color changes and a different shape gives a completely different card.

When I made my faux mother-of-pearl piece, I used a full A2 card front (4 1/4" x 5 1/2").  Before I sponged on any color, I cut off a small strip (2 1/4" x 2 3/4") for yesterday's card, leaving this larger piece for today.  All I needed to do was to figure out what colors of ink to use and go from there.

I sponged three shades of blue ink on this (although the lighter one probably doesn't show much) - Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Tempting Turquoise.  I sponged heaviest with Bermuda Bay (LOVE it!) ... and so that dictated the color of my blooms.  This is my favorite flower that I own ... it's the hydrangea punch from Martha Stewart.  I've had it for several years and use it a lot.  I paired it today with the Madera Corner die from Memory Box - they work so well together.  I added sponging, shaping, veins and dots for interest on the flowers and then secured them to the corner die using crystal effects (same as glossy accents).  I learned this trick from Jennifer McGuire.  If you place a good sized drop of crystal effects and then push your shaped bloom into it, when it dries, it helps to keep the bloom shape.  It works!

The sentiment took me a couple of tries with this.  I first stamped and heat embossed it in white directly on my main panel ... it didn't show up enough on the pearl background.  So I stamped it onto a small strip of card stock and added it as a banner, placing over top of my embossed sentiment ... always good when you can figure out a way to save a piece. :)

Stamps:  Where your heart is (Simon Says)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Bermuda Bay (SU!)
Ink:  Pool Party, Bermuda Bay, Tempting Turquoise (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Madera Corner die (Memory Box), Hydrandea Punch (Martha Stewart), Nestabilities Labels Two (Spellbinders), Frost Shimmer Paint (SU!), saran wrap, stylus and mat, white gel pen, crystal effects,

Tropical Hello

Hi everyone.  Have been busy for a few days, but managed to find some time to create this card.  I started it last night ... and struggled and struggled ... nighttime is NOT my creative time!  Back at it this afternoon and still struggled.  Decided I needed to put everything away and forget about it.  I will move on to something else.  But I am stubborn :) ... so I pulled it back out and it finally came together.

You have probably noticed that I am totally "in love" with this layout ... have used it a lot lately - so that was the starting part that was easy.  And I knew I wanted to use coral and yellow - so I had my layout and colors.  The trouble I had was with the backing for the flower ... what to use.  Tried all kinds of leaf sizes and shapes along with some flourishes.  The leaves should be green, right??!!  It all looked so wrong.  As soon as I added the white leaves, I felt at peace :)  Struggling over - yay! :)

This is going to be a card for a class I'm holding this coming Saturday for my two cousins (sisters Joanne and Colleen) ... and Joanne's daughter Demi.  I am so looking forward to spending a crafty afternoon with them.  I wanted to show them how to make this beautiful (and easy) background.  This is the same background technique (faux mother-of-pearl), I used for the Peace Dove card shown here.  I just randomly pounced a squished up piece of Saran Wrap with some white enamel shimmer paint on my card stock (leaving lots of open space) and after it dried, sponged on yellow and coral inks.  So easy, so pretty and a great backdrop for this pretty 3-D hibiscus flower.

The two other things we will be covering in the class is how to add dimension to die-cuts.  Taking a flat die-cut and using a stylus and mat to add shape ... as I did with the leaf sprigs above.  It adds a lot to the overall look, without a lot of extra work - simple.  And the third thing I'm going to cover is how to add details to a flower to bring it to life, including layering (paper tole), sponging edges and shaping for dimension, and adding finishing details (veins and dots).

Now I just need to come up with two more designs to fit the course. :)  Here's hoping I'll be back soon with more cards.  :)

Edited to Add:  I'm entering this into the latest challenge at Curtain Call - Perfectly Peach.  Thanks for letting me know Lee-Anne! :)

Stamps:  Where Your Heart Is (hello sentiment) - Simon Says
Paper:  White (Neenah); Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Fresh Foliage and Hibiscus Flower dies (Memory Box), Frost White shimmer paint (SU!), saran wrap, sponges, white gel pen, stylus and mat

Baby Thanks

Hi everyone.  Time for the latest challenge at Addicted to CAS.  It's amazing how quickly the weeks are slipping by and we're already into March!  We had so many fabulous entries for the Coffee challenge that just closed - thanks to all who played along with us!

On to today's challenge ... the host this time is the talented Harriet (Ally Cat Cards) ... and she chose this code word:

This challenge's sponsor is

Prize:  5 free digis
(please follow the rules to be eligible to win)

____________________

Now, as most of you know that follow my blog, my DDIL Nikki gave birth to a baby boy back in December.  Cooper is the most beautiful baby I've ever seen ... of course, this is his Nana talking :)  Two baby showers were given in Cooper's honor, so I made up a few thank you cards for Nikki to use.

I had a lot of fun making these cards ... I used my Silhouette Cameo cutting machine to cut out the onsies, then made little hangers from wire and a piece of paper (here's the link to the instructions by the muli-talented Jackie Topa!).  So cute.  I added a thank you sentiment to hang the onsie from and some stitching lines to finish.

I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge (ATCAS Challenge (#33 - code word: Baby).  As always, the challenge is open for two weeks so there's lots of time to play along.  Click on the link to find out about the challenge and see the wonderful Design Team cards by the rest of our team, including our new Guest Designer for March ... Karen (Made by Meadie)  - you'll be glad you did!

Stamps:  Many Thanks (Paper Smooches)
Paper:  White; designer paper (unknown)
Ink:  Island Indigo
Accessories & Tools:  Silhouette Cameo, wire