Challenge Card

Just finished this card for some challenges.
The Our Daily Bread challenge http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/ was to use a verse as the focal point.
The Colour Create challenge http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/ was to use light lime green and aqua, with the optional extra of butterflies.
The Card Patterns Blog challenge http://www.cardpatterns.blogspot.com/ was a sketch.
Here's my card:

The verse is from the ODBD Scripture Collection 1.  It's one of my favorite verses.  I layered my papers, used an EK Success punch for the aqua border piece.  Triple bow, Hero Arts flowers, and Recollections crystals.  I inked the verse with aqua ink, then used my black Marvy marker over the darker highlighted parts of the verse for emphasis. Butterflies are punched from cardstock and vellum and highlighted with glitter glue.

I really enjoyed this challenge.  Hope you'll take some time to check out the Our Daily Bread Designs blog and Colour Create blog (links above).  I was a winner of the last ODBD challenge, which was to use flowers.  It was a great honor for me.

I hope you have a wonderful, joyful Memorial Day weekend, and get to be with those you love.

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Faux Layering for cards and scrapbook pages

Sometimes I want layers on my card, or page, but need to keep actual layers to a minimum, or I already know that I'm going to use lots of layering with elements, so want to keep my paper layers to a minimum. Or sometimes I just can't find the right print or background paper for the cardstock I'm using (hard to believe if you ever saw the stash of paper I have in my room). But, it does happen. 

I have made my own background papers using lots of different techniques, usually make the paper, then cut and layer it onto my card. I found this really fun technique on Stamp With Tami's blog http://stampwithtami.com/ where she made a "faux layer" directly on the cardstock.  I tried it, and am really hooked.  Link to Tami's video tutorial is below.
Here's the card I made using Tami's technique:

The top part of the card, where it looks like torn floral paper, is actually the technique part. I did it directly on the cardstock!  Doesn't it look like a torn layer added to the card?
To create this look, simply tear a piece of scrap paper, put it on your card where you want your faux layer to be, and using a sponge applicator, apply ink along the torn edge of the scrap paper.  As you apply ink, drag some of it up onto the rest of the card, but lightly.  Then, keeping the torn scrap paper mask in place, stamp some images on the exposed paper, making sure to have some go off the edges. When you remove the torn paper mask, Voila!  You have what looks like a torn layer on your card!  Here's Tami's YouTube video, which illustrates this technique step by step. She did a fantastic job with this tutorial. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQF9QDnYsDw&feature=player_embedded#! .

I love this technique! Hope you will give it  a try...it's so much fun to do.  You know me, I love to play with my inks, so this is right up my alley!  The rest of the card:  I used Hero Arts stamps (G2120) Natural Bamboo, and C2703 With Caring thoughts. I inked the bamboo with greens and brown ink, then used a damp paint brush to pull the color off the stamped image, to give it that smudged watercolor look.  I stamped the verse on a scrap piece of cardstock, cut it apart, mounted it onto the brown, then foam taped it onto the card. I colored the pearls brown (upper left and flower center) with my Peel Off markers.

That's it.  Easy card, and quick!  And I am always hearing the need for ideas for men's cards.  This is a great card idea for a man, just use a different verse!

Enjoy the rest of your week. I think we've already entered summer!  Going to be nice all week. 

Blessings and peace,

lynda

I Got Some New Rubber Stamps!

I love the new stamps I bought on line at Our Daily Bread Designs.  I got a set of scripture stamps, a lovely lilies of the valley stamps set, which I used on the card I am featuring today.  I made it for three challenges.  One is for the Our Daily Bread Designs challenge, in which you had to use flowers. Here's a link to the blog and challenge:  http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Latest%20%20Challenge .  The other challenge is a sketch challenge by The Pink Elephant here:  http://thepinkelephantchallenge.blogspot.com/ . And, finally, the Basic Grey challenge, which was to use punches: http://basicgreychallenges.blogspot.com/2010/05/week-20-punch-it.html .
And here's my card:

We're finally having some really nice spring weather, and I couldn't help just sitting out on the porch for a while after work today.  Everything seemed so fresh and new, and it was so good seeing neighbors busy in their gardens and yards.  Which is where I should be.  Well, my granddaughter, Keeley, will help me in my garden tomorrow and over the weekend, because she's spending the weekend with Nana and Papa, and we are thrilled.  The blog will be quiet this weekend, but Keeley and I will be stamping, you can be sure of that!

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Another Challenge Card

Here's another card I made this evening for the Colour Create Challenge/Design Team Call  http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/2010/05/colour-create-44-dt-call.html  . The challenge was to use khaki, aqua, brown, and cream on a card.  Here's my card:

Thanks for all your wonderful kudos and comments on yesterday's card. 

Blessings and peace,

lynda

Friends Are Treasures Challenge Card

If you are looking for the Technique Tuesday blog post, please scroll down one to the previous entry.  I just finished this card for a couple of challenges, and needed to get it up before going to work tomorrow. I made this card for the Colour Create Challenge and Design Team call, here http://colourcreatechallenge.blogspot.com/2010/05/colour-create-44-dt-call.html , in which we had to use khaki, aqua, brown and cream; and the Penny Black Saturday challenge, here http://pennybfriendssaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/2010/05/penny-black-saturday-week-101.html , which was to use flowers and Penny Black stamps.

Enjoy! 

Blessings and peace,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - Pleated Medallions

I saw this technique on the Hero Arts Club Blog yesterday, and really liked it, so I used it on this Father's Day card.  Instructions on how to make the medallion are here http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/2010/05/17/marvelous-medallions/ . Once you are on the site, there is a link you can go to which shows how to make the card they made. These medallions are soooo much fun to make and are really, really easy.  I used my score board to do the 1/4" scores, and it was easy-peasy! I used my hot glue gun to secure the medallion and hold it in position. I'm making medallions out of everything now, nothing is safe. I can't help it,  they're so FUN to make!  Here's my card:

For my card, I started with the kraft colored card. I found some texture makers in Joanne's the other day, and thought they looked interesting, so I bought a package and brought them home to experiment. They are called Studio (by Sculpey) Texture Makers.  They're made for clay, actually. They come two to a package. This one is from the Country Squares package.  They are a flexible, soft plastic.  I simply inked it with my VersaMark pad, and pressed it onto the kraft card (I used a brayer to get it on there good and even).  That's the basket weave design you see on the background. I did use them with my Cuttlebug, but more on that in another post.
I added the brown and patterned paper layers, the green strip with the stamped verse, the brads, and finally the medallions with the stamped circles. Of course, I distressed all the pieces, because I can't seem to stop distressing everything! 
This month's theme on the Hero blog is birthdays, Father's Day, and graduation.  I am submitting this card for the Father's Day part.
That's it for today.  Be sure to make some time for yourself, to create, to play, to enjoy nature, and to get refreshed.

Blessings and peace,
lynda

Technique Tuesday - White Gel Pen Highlights

Sometimes a touch of white is all a card needs to really give it that finishing touch.  After I made this card, I knew it needed something.  I took out my white gel pen, and began tracing the flowers on the blue panel, then drawing some dots and circles, following the black paisley design.  It really made this background "pop," and enhanced the look of the card.

I finished it off with some crystals, flowers, and, of course, glitter.

I use the Sakura gelly roll white pen.  It doesn't skip as much as some others I have tried.  The trick is to write, or draw slowly, and the pen should keep up with you.  If you go too fast, it will skip.  I store my pens in a cup with the point down, and in drawers flat.

Hope you're having a good week so far.  I had a great day today, scrapping with my friend Sylvia.  We started out at my Prayer Shawl Group at my church, then went right to my house to scrap. We got lots of pages done in a scrapbook she is making for her daughter's upcoming wedding!  We really had a good time, and feel good about all we got accomplished.  It was a lovely day off.  Back to work tomorrow!

Blessings and peace to you.

lynda

Floral Card

Had a pretty productive day yesterday afternoon with my friend, Karen, stamping and playing at her house after work.  I made a couple of cards, got some organizing done, and we solved the world's problems.  Well, maybe not the world's problems, but we did have lots of fun.

I fell in love with an Inkadinkado clear stamp set of Karen's, and had to use it to make a card.  Here it is:

I used the black India Ink pad to stamp the images, and used my Dove Blender with stamp pad ink to paint the images.  Spellbinder's nestabilities dies, and an EK Success punch.  I sponged the white panels to soften the white a bit, added some Stardust glitter gel pen, and crystals for some understated bling.  Finished off with a double bow. 
I think I have to go buy this stamp set....I really, really like it.

Hope you're keeping safe from the wind today, and having a good weekend. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and soon-to-be moms tomorrow!

Blessings and peace,

lynda

The making of a thank you card

I really had fun making this card.
I started with some Hero Arts grass textured paper for the card itself. I cut two panels with the Labels Eight Spellbinder's Nestabilities dies, one from natural textured cardstock, and one from natural plain cardstock. I set aside the larger die (textured), and stamped the Hero Arts Graceful Leaves F4321 stamp in green a couple of times onto the smaller plain natural panel.  Then I embossed it, as well, with gold embossing powder.  This to finish the panel, I stippled light, then dark green ink along the edges and well into the panel, leaving it lighter towards the center.  Finally, I stamped Thank You (Hero Arts D337). I lined the edge with my gold leaf pen, then added three brads along the left side.  I attached the stamped panel to the larger panel with foam tape, wrapped some gold cording around them three times and tied in a knot, and set aside.
I punched the edge of a scrap of gold paper with a Martha Stewart border punch, and layered it near the bottom of the green card.
I attached the prepared panel with foam tape over the card and border.
I made a scrunchy flower (see several week's ago Technique Tuesday post for directions). I used pages from an old book, my blossoms Spellbinder's Nestabilities dies, stippled green ink, then sponged gold Lumiere paint on the edges.  I added a touch of gold ribbon and made a bow with the gold cording and adhered them under the flower on the right bottom of card.  I added a silk blossom, and was finished.

I'm really having fun with making my own flowers lately.

Tomorrow is Friday, and I only have half day of work, then I'm off to Karen's house to play.  I love to get together with other stampers/scrappers.  It's so fun to share techniques and ideas, and bounce ideas off each other.  Soooo, TGIF!    Gotta go figure out what I want to drag along with me for my outing tomorrow!

Goodnight, and sweet blessings to you!

lynda

Technique Tuesday - Scored Background

I love my Martha Stewart scoring board!!!  It has a compartment to store the bone folder so it is always with the board, and also comes with a handy envelope guide and project booklet.  This booklet shows how to use the board to make an A-2 envelope, and tells how to adjust for other sizes, and also how to make a small gift box, A-2 card, of course, and A2 gate fold card.  AND, it's less than half the price of the other scoring boards I've seen on the market.  Another great feature, which I appreciate very much, is that the score lines are 1/8 inch apart, rather than 1/4 inch.  OK, 'nuff said.  Now, on to the project I did with my MS score board.

By the way, I created this card for some challenges.  Cards Blog challenge was to create a Mother's Day card http://northridgemedia.net/blogs/cards/uncategorized/challenge-gallery-and-new-challenge-29/ .  I used the Paper Crafts Sketch challenge sketch http://www.papercraftsconnection.com/blog/tag/go-to-sketch-challenge-2/ , and Raise The Bar challenge was to make a mother's day card http://raisethebarchallenge.blogspot.com/ and finally, the Our Creative Corner (OCC) challenge to make a Mother's Day card with no flowers. 

If you click on the image, you will get a closer look at the background (kraft colored) panel.  Notice the criss/cross pattern.  This is the technique I'm going to show you today.
* I cut my kraft panel to the desired size, then I placed it at an angle on my score board.  I used the rulers along both edges to get the desired angle to be perpendicular to the sides of the card.
*Then I simply used the bone folder to score lines every half inch.
*Then I turned the card, lined it up, and made half inch scores in the opposite direction.
*The final step was sanding.  I used a sanding block to lightly sand the raised edges, or criss-crosses. This took some of the color off, and made them show up more.  Another option would be to use a sponge and some ink and lightly drag it along the surface, highlighting the raised areas with ink.

I used Hero Arts stamps, and Spellbinder's dies. The hearts on the bottom right are punched, then run through my Cuttlebug with the swirl folder.  I distressed the panel and the hearts with brown ink.  I dyed the lace pink with some ink and a waterbrush.
I think I'll make a couple more of this one, without the MOM punched letters.  It would make a great birthday card for a special friend, or daughter, or mom!  I am really loving this clear set with the high heels....been having a lot of fun with it.

Well, that's it for now.  I got home early from work today, and decided to get this post up.  It's so nice outside, I think I'll sit on the deck and read for a while.  I'm about half way through The Lovely Bones, and am anxious to finish it.

Blessings and peace to you!

lynda