Another half-front card

This week's card is a variation of the half front card from last week, but with a "peek from underneath" wreath from one of our Seasonal Wreaths sets.  Without the bow it would be a perfect card to make flat-for-mailing.  You could substitute a vertical strip of patterned paper to keep things interesting.

I used a second layer of white card stock inside, as I knew I'd be using Copic markers and didn't want the colors to bleed through the back of my card.  I am running low in some colors of card stock so I needed to get creative about a border to emphasize the edges.  My solution was to make a loosely painted watercolor-y border using diluted distress oxide inks in colors similar to the Copics I used to color the pumpkins.  (Although this is the inside, it would make a lovely card front if you are so inspired!)

Here's a close-up of the corner with the focal image and sentiment.   I spattered the inside with the same distress oxide colors used in the border, along with some green and brown and also a little white acrylic paint. 

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Seasonal Wreaths, Fall/Winter
• Carta Bella Welcome Autumn 6x6
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Circles SM
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Circles LG
• Memento Full Size Dye Ink Pad - Espresso Truffle
• Copic markers
• distress oxide inks for sentiments and "watercolor" border

These are quick and easy and great for those scraps of paper that are not quite long enough for a full card.  I think they're fun because they are just a little different from the norm. 

Christmas in July!

Card-making is so much fun when papers and stamps work together to form a cohesive theme or to tell a particular story.  Today's card uses two paper pads and one stamp set to set the scene for the beloved, familiar and heart-warming "T'was the Night Before Christmas." 

The idea for this card initially started with a leftover 4.25 x 9 inch scrap of white card stock (scored at 5.5) and a glance at our stockings/mittens bundle.  It was almost fully formed before I even made it to my desk.  This was one of those cards that practically made itself it was so quick and easy!  

The feeling brought forth by this stanza and these images is one of "All hearts come home for Christmas," the warmth of the holiday spirit, of faith, family, and friends.  So many wonderful, precious memories of Christmases past along with happiness and hope for the Christmases yet to come.  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Christmas Stockings & Mittens Bundle
• Carta Bella A Wonderful Christmas 6x6
• Craft Consortium Brick Textures 6x6
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Circles SM
• Spellbinders Nestabilities - Standard Circles LG
• Stamp Simply Steel Dies - Fishtail Sentiment Banners
• May Arts 5/8" Faux Linen Canvas Ribbon Sampler - 27 yards
• Melissa Frances Self-Adhesive Round Pearls - Cream

Enjoy our Christmas in July SALE from now through July 27th!  

Thinking of You...Be Strong!

Hello everyone!  I've been participating in Tour de Fleece since July 5, and everywhere I look it seems as though my fiber artist friends are spinning Summery "pool" colors.  As I was looking through my paper pads, my eyes were drawn to these lovely blue-greens, so I had to follow suit!  

 

This "splotchy" print looked almost like a map or globe, so I decided to stamp the Mackinac Bridge directly onto the designer paper.  I added a bit more blue and green to the stamped design in the appropriate spots, but most of the coloring was that grey-green for the bridge structure.  

I loved the way the colors of that paper were like spilled ink, so I took a piece of card stock and splashed and splattered it, then dragged it through some ink pressed onto my craft mat.  Then I added the sheet of designer paper stamped with a swan and sentiment.  (It's raining here today, so I may have to get a dry iron to completely dry and flatten the paper which was still a bit damp when this photo was taken).  

A very easy and fun card!  I hope you like it!

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Mackinac Bridge
• Craft Consortium Grunge Light 6x6
• Craft Consortium Beach Hut 6x6
• Craft Consortium Test of Time 6x6
• Seam Binding
• Kaisercraft Self-Adhesive Round Pearls - Latte
• various distress inks/oxides
• Copic markers

Sunflower Season!

 

Hello everyone!  I hope you have had a wonderful week!  It has been a busy one here since my birthday/4th of July and the start of Tour de Fleece!  

Sharon is hosting a sale of Stamp Simply's Florals through July 11th, so I thought it would be fun to feature one of those sets.  The sunflower set is one of my favorites, although I honestly love them all!  

I combined our vintage seed packet stamps/dies with the sunflower for this Summery card front.  I stamped the frame directly onto a sheet from Craft Consortium Grunge Light, bringing some of those pale pinks from the corner of the paper into my coloring.  Gradient colors get me every time!  (I might have to try my hand at dyeing some fiber or yarn to match the gradient of this paper!  It is SO pretty and so perfectly Summer!)  

It is full-on Sunflower Season in Florida right now!  Our grocery store is full of sunflower bouquets.  Giant blossoms!  

I used several distress oxide inks to splatter the entire card, hoping that it would give it a Summer-out-in-the-garden, hands-in-the-dirt kind of feel.  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Sunflower Season Bundle
• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Vintage Seed Packet Bundle
• Craft Consortium Grunge Light 6x6
• May Arts Baker's Twine - 110 Yard Spool - Kraft
• Ric Rac
• button from stash
• Copic markers
• white acrylic paint, distress oxide inks for spattering

For those who are curious, here's what my Tour de Fleece is looking like so far!  I've got lots of spindles, in both Turkish and supported styles, and one wheel going.  Lots of wonderful color and a couple of natural undyed fibers as well. Tour de Fleece runs simultaneously during Tour de France...spinners set challenges for themselves according to their interests and skill level, taking rest days and challenge days right along with the Tour riders.  So much fun and always full of inspiration.  

Just Popping by to say Hi!

Recently one of my besties who is visiting the Pacific Northwest sent me a photo/video of a beautiful field of poppies, and that's what inspired today's project.  I was struck by the intensity of the colors and the peacefulness of the scene, the grasses and flowers bobbing their heads in the soft breeze and glowing in the light of that "golden hour."  I really wanted to try to capture that in a clean and simple card.    

The flowers in the photo were a variety of reds, oranges, yellows, and white but I chose colors here that would harmonize with this lovely designer paper.  I love the contrast of the paler portion of the background with the brightly colored blossoms.

I kept auditioning various ribbons and laces but in the end decided to just keep things really simple.  I stamped the sentiment directly onto the designer paper background and added some spatters to kinda tie it all together, hoping to let the paper and flowers shine all on their own.

Here's the inside.  I absolutely LOVE this "Just Because" sentiment since we really don't need a reason to send a card!  

Supplies:

• Stamp Simply Clear Stamps - Pretty Poppies Bundle
• Craft Consortium Grunge Light 6x6
• May Arts 5/8" Twill - 30 Yard Spool - Sage
• Melissa Frances Self-Adhesive Round Pearls - Cream
• Memento ink
• Copic markers
• Distress oxides and white acrylic paint for spattering