Once in a Lifetime Card

I intensely dislike "the dreaded pink," so I almost never use it in my cards--this IS a rarity!

Since the background paper is sooooo beautiful, I just HAD to use it for a May card.  You can't see it here, but the paper has metallic gold highlights, which gives the card some glimmer.  Of course, I also HAD to match the color of the tulips on the dsp, so out came my colored pencils.

First, I used Versafine Smokey Gray ink for the tulip blossom and stem, which gives them a softer  look.  After coloring the stem with two greens,  I began to color the tulip blossom.  Starting with the lightest color, I blended in a light peach and  two shades of the dreaded pink, working with the ones that best matched the dsp colors.  Once I was satisfied with the tulip, I stamped the greeting over the stem and cut it out with a label die.  I then chose a green scrap that best matched the shade of the leaves in the dsp and cut it out with a larger label die, a little more ornate than the white one. Before mounting the image to the card with dimensionals, I went over the tulip stamens with a black marker.

It truly is an adventure to work with the dreaded pink, although I think this color is appropriate for blossoms.  What is YOUR least favorite color?

TIP:  When working with colors you dislike, sunglasses really help!

MY STAMPIN' BUDDY

Mothers Class Butterfly!

We'll be doing a variation of this card today in Mothers Class.  I found a pack of cards and envies that I bought half price ages ago.  The cards are slightly smaller and fold on the left side, so I eliminated the black embroidery floss and rounded just the upper right corner.

To start, I used some scraps from the scrap drawer for the background dsp.  Next, I stamped the leaves with a light green ink on white and used the matching die to cut it out.  After mounting it on the card front with ds tape, I stamped the Hero Arts butterfly on white cs and colored it with colored pencils.  The two large dots on the top were filled in with yellow Stickles after I attached it to the card with a slim piece of mounting foam tape.

To finish, I added the greeting and black embroidery floss then rounded the corners.  Voila!

THREE OF A KIND

... FOUR, ACTUALLY!

Our new pastor needs some note cards, so I pulled out my SU "Country Pleasures" set and stamped the church scene four times--one for each season.  Since there is a snow man and bare trees, I had to get creative; but that's what stamping is all about, right?

For Spring, I added "leaves" by dabbing light green and yellow markers around the branches.  To cover the snowman on the lower left corner, I stamped, cut and mounted 2 leaves from another SU set, "Fabulous Florets."

The winter card was the easiest, since the trees remain bare and the snowman belongs in the scene.  All I added was the background and a tiny snowflake.

Summer was fairly easy also with two shades of green for the leaves and grass, with the "blessings" oval mounted over the snowman.  The background came from my scrap drawer, as did all the others.

Finally, the autumn card (my fave) was done with yellow, brown and orange markers for the leaves.  I also dabbed some "leaves" under the tree.  The image is mounted on a brown metallic scrap which was all the embellishment needed.  The "blessings" stamp was used on the inside left for this one, and I hope they will all bless someone as they are used!

(Don't forget to click on the photo for a larger view.)

YOUR OPINION IS NEEDED!

 This is a shadow box card I came up with for next week's Mothers Class.  At first, I was satisfied with it; but then I decided to add the strips of white on the sides.  Having done that, now I think the banner on the bottom is a little too heavy for the delicate image.

What do you think of:
a.  the size of the banner
b.  the plain green or the white strips on the sides

If you leave a comment with your answers,
I will send you something from my most recent
 cleanout of the Tower as a thankyou!

BLACKBOARD TECHNIQUE

I finally got the chance to try this technique for myself!

First, I used a label die to cut  black cs, then I stamped the image and sentiment with white pigment ink.  Then I embossed it with white ep and dabbed some white ink on the black with a sponge.

Next, I ran the front of the card through the Cuttlebug, rounded the bottom corners and added the strip of black and white Washi tape (something else I've been wanting to try.)

I had the fern previously stamped with Versamark on light green cs laying on my table, so I used it here (already die cut.)  After adding the white Hero Arts flower and some gems, I'm finally happy with the way it looks.

Trying new products and techniques is always fun!

Masculine Birthday Card

This is one of those rare cards that comes together beautifully!  Notice how the cupcake icing and the banners are essentially the same shape.  The black scallops echo the same design.

For the inside, I used the same cupcake and scalloped edging.  I then stamped and cut out the birthday hat and smaller cupcake, mounting them with dimensionals.

This was a fun card to make!

PEG STAMP BORDER

Time to get out some peg stamps and pastel inks!

This quote from Isaiah promises all the help we need when we need it.  What better way to highlight it than with Spring colors!  The border was done with several peg stamps in greens and yellows.  The yellow embroidery floss provides the finishing touch.

All-Purpose Card

This is a simple card that could be used for any occasion.

In order to keep from cutting off the leaf tips when using the oval die, I first cut around the ends of the leaves with a craft knife.  Then I slipped the die underneath to make the oval cut.

The leaves are colored with a green marker.  The shading is done by going over some of the lines again after the first coat dries and sinks into the paper a bit.  Green bakers twine provides the only embellishment needed.

The striped dsp was cut out from a large scrap--just right for this card!

Another Butterfly!

Using the same die as the previous card, I just cut the wings in half to make a side view and mounted it over the chevrons with dimensionals.

The chevrons are a fun way to use up some scraps.  I chose four coordinating paterns, cut them at an angle and mounted them with snail.  The gem flowers are stickers from my stash.

The birthday greeting fit nicely in the open space.  To finish, I mounted the gray panel over a white card with dimensionals.

Butterfly Dies Are Back!

Now that it's Spring, even though the weather is still wintry, it's time to get out our colorful butterfly stamps and dies again!

For this card, I stamped the background on pool cs with Versamark.  Then I added the butterfly and the banner.

Easy card to make and send!

This Year's Easter Card

Here's the card I sent out this year.  The embossing folder (a gift from Evelyn!) made it easy to make multiple cards.

After running the Very Vanilla cs through the Cuttlebug folder, I rounded the corners and mounted it to the white card base with dimensionals.  For the dogwood blossom, I used grey ink on vellum, colored the center on the back with a Barely Banana marker and cut it out by hand.  I then mounted it on the cross with a glue dot.

For embellishment, I kept it simple with just a touch of Stickles in the flower center.  Most of the blossoms had green and gold centers, and some had purple Stickles.  Inside it said "He is risen,"  which I also stamped on the envelope.