OWH Sunday Sketch

Yesterday I saw this card during the PTI blog hop and loved the watercolor wash look to the striped pattern.  When I saw today's OWH Sunday Sketch I thought that design would work perfectly.

I used SU! watercolor paper for the main layer and created the stripes using reinkers on a baby wipe (Crushed Curry, Tangerine Tango, Melon Mambo, and Cherry Cobbler).  Its important (especially using watercolor paper which absorbs a lot more) to let the paper dry ... you can see a little bit of blooming on the words and flight trail.  It actually looks pretty neat, but if it bloomed much more I would have had to remake the card.

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Simple Shading

I love all the shading techniques that I see on cards ... especially the way some designers can use Copics.  Its amazing.  Some days I can attain nearly that level of greatness, but usually I don't have the time or inclination to do it.  But I love shading.  It gives such depth to a card.  So you can imagine how excited I was when I discovered a new technique that shades simply using basic techniques combined together (you may already know about this, but to me it was quite a revelation!)

See doesn't that look awesome (OK I'm biased :)  and so simple.  For this card I used Gracious Vases and when I stamped the solid centers, I inked it up, stamped off on scratch paper, then did a rock-n-roll using the same color on the edge I wanted darker then stamped on my card base.  Perfect shading, in like  a minute flat. 

Usually when I use the rock-n-roll technique its with different colors, don't know why I never thought to use the same color, 1 generation removed before.  Still it made my day start bright and cheery and now I am sharing it with you.

Here's the whole card:

For anyone in my stamp class at work - you will be making this in July :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop

Inspired By ... That's the theme for the next few months on the PTI blog hop.  Nichole posted a photo to be inspired by and we can make anything imaginable based on our inspiration.

(photo credit)

I saw the paint stripes right away in the picture ... how they blend and smear together.  I wanted to recreate that effect.  Plus I've been dying to use my Gracious Vases set and I thought this might just be the right time for that too

I first stamped the center vase, them masked it and stamped the 2 side vases (outline) and the flowers.  Then I stamped the solid centers using versamark and embossed with Clear EP.  I also used a versamarker on the flowers and embossed those as well.  To make sure I stamped the vases in a straight line I added a pencil line where I wanted them, then decided to go over it with a black marker and let it be a part of the card.

After all the masking and embossing I used re-inkers on baby wipes (Sweet Blush, Melon Berry and Berry Sorbet)  I didn't do regular stripeslike the standard Baby Wipe technique tutorials I've seen, just swiped it over areas until I got the look I was going for. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy the rest of the hop.

CPS223: Thank You Very Much

My daughter got some great news today ... another scholarship.  This was a privately endowed scholarship through the university she will be attending in the fall.  The only caveat is that she write a thank you note to the couple who gave the money. 

I thought sending a handmade thank you card in addition to her thank you  would be an added bonus, and show my appreciation as well.

I used this week's CPS sketch and made it a garden themed card (since the college is Agriculture and Life Sciences)

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MIM: Reverse Masking

Its another Make It Monday technique ... this week is reverse masking.  Regular masking is where you cover your stamped image so it looks like other images are behind the central one. Its a great way to create depth in your card. 

Reverse Masking is when you actually cover everything except the inside of the stamped image and them add pattern or colors to the inside.  Watch the video tutorial to get the whole scoop.

I did both kinds of masking on this card and kept it pretty simple in the process

I started out with the paper airplane image from Happy Trails (avionics engineer ... paper airplane .... a natural match :).  I masked the outside of the airplane and all the rest of the card to prevent any smudges and then stamped Background Basics: Newsprint inside the plane image, kinda like the airplane is bringing all the news to whoever gets this card. 

Then I masked over the top of the airplane and stamped the postage stamp image from Road Trip in Pure Poppy.  I added the trail and sentiment (from Happy Trails) and voila ...

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OWH Sunday Sketch

Trying to get caught up on everything after being gone this week at college orientation.  My oldest leaves in August to start her collegiate career ... sigh .... they grow up so fast.

Here's my take on this week's Operation Write Home Sunday Sketch

I misjudged the length of the sentiment so the circle actually had to be put off the edge of the card and trimmed but it still fits the bill.

I colored the flower with R83, R85, R89 and YG97.  I also got some new self adhesive half back pearls form SU! so I added an itty bitty one to the flower center.

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OWH Sunday Sketch

I had more free time than I thought I would this weekend and got to play along with the OWH Sunday Sketch as well

I used a color combo of Pacific Point and Cherry Cobbler ... I wanted a bright blue bowl of cherries for some reason and used that mental image as a springboard for the colors. 

See that punched border ... new border punch from SU!  coming in July in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog ... LOVE ... :)

CPS 222 and more new stuff

I got to play some more with my new SU! stamps (coming in July in the 2011-2012 catalog) and paired them with some stamps from PTI as well.  I used CPS 222 as my layout

I used some of the images from Garden Variety, released in May, to create my own garden themed background paper.  I ran a zig zag stitch around the layers to add some interest (and because I haven't sewn on a card in a while)

For the center layer I used my picket fence die.  I did a little direct-to-paper with Crumb Cake ink to give it a weathered texture and did some selective stamping using a sentiment from Take Three: Summer on the last fence post.

The chair image is from Cherish Friendship, a new set that is great for coloring.  I used a bazillion Copics to color the chair and flower basket.

Thanks for stopping by!!

New Stuff Alert

One of the things I love most about being a SU! demonstrator is getting to order stuff early ... I hate to wait, I really do

I got my new catalog pre-order this week and since its OK to share sneak peaks of projects I thought I'd show one I made to whet your appetites for the new catalog season coming in July ...

I started with an Early Espresso card base and distressed it with Early Espresso and Vintage Cream inks.  I stamped the pear image and sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black onto watercolor paper and colored with Copics (New Leaf Trio, Spring Moss trio, E59 and C1).  I rolled the edges of the crumb cake layer to make it look a little more scrolly and tied it up with Early Espresso bakers twine.

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Friends ...

One of my very dear friends, Anita, is moving out east soon, due to her husband's job.  I know we'll still keep in touch, what with technology the way it is, but I wanted to sent her off with some cards, so she can keep in touch with people the old fashioned way too.

I had some materials left over from a few stamp camps so I made up those cards and changed out the sentiments to be more "thinking of you" or "hello" types of cards.   I did want to make one original card though.  I decided to go with a botanical silhouette style stamp and try Heather Nichols white ink resist technique

I started out with a piece of Crumb Cake card stock and stamped the grass silhouette image in Fresh Snow ink.  Then I brayered over it with Ripe Avocado.

I love the variations in the ink intensity from how much the brayer roller was inked and how much I rolled it over the card stock.  And as individual and unique as hand-made cards are, these are even more unique because the brayering will be different just about every time ...

Here's the whole set ... see the variations in the background layer ...  awesome-tastic!

Thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps: Just Because [SU!]
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Fresh Snow, Pure Poppy [PTI]
Paper: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip, White [SU!]
Other: chocolate twill ribbon [SU!]

My First Any Hero Card

When I received my OWH stamp that I ordered to stamp the back of my soldier cards, I was pleasantly surprised to also receive a free status of liberty stamp from the Stampers Best company.  Its amazing and I deiced to use it to make my first Any Hero card for OWH.  Any Hero cards get sent out to various units and given to random soldiers.  They are meant to encourage.  I've seen examples on OWH from school kids just writing about their every day life. I'm told news form home is treasured.  I just want to sen my thanks.  So this will be going in my next soldier box which should get mailed out this week.

See the detail on the statue of liberty ... I told ya ... amazing.  I couldn't believe it was included for free.  It was their way of saying thanks ... and this is mine.

Since this card will be going out soon, I did a more patriotic color scheme.  Oh, and the stamps I ordered for the back of the cards ... they reiterate the sentiment.  So all of the cards I send in now will be saying "thank you" from me :)

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June SFYTT

Yesterday was the first Saturday of June and that means a new Sketch For You To Try.  These always fall right when I need to make cards so I was ready to use this sketch for some more graduation thank yous

I went with a nautical theme so all the thank you cards weren't floral and girly.  I tore paper to make the waves on the background layer and then just started layering clouds and sails and things.

Color scheme is Night of Navy, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue.  The pop of red is Pure Poppy dotted patterned paper

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Stamp Camp Card - Flip Flop

I was taking requests for my June card class and got a request for a flip flop card.  Here in Iowa, its "supposed" to be summer, but today its rainy and in the high 50s ... not summerish if you ask me :)

I found the template a template at this website for the shoe part.  The rest was just playing around.

Even if the weather isn't very summery, the colors in the card are.  That'll have to do for now I guess

Thanks for stopping by!!

Birthday Wishes

One of my dearest friends, Dee, is turning 50 this month.  She's having a blow-out of a party to celebrate too!  I made a pretty card, but I may have to make something celebrating the number too :)  {evil grin}

Here is the nice card I'm bringing to the bash ...

I used the layout from this 'bot birthday card and changed up the colors and stamps to come up with a lovely birthday card for my friend.

Thanks for stopping by!