Evolving Card Design: Part Two

So, yeah... since I needed to straighten out all the mixed-up chaos, and I'm still having fun playing with this design, I made a second card, this one is for the WCMD 2012 Challenge 4: Scene It Challenge.

I really want a unicorn, but to be honest I think a Pegasus would be even better - you could fly! Or maybe a dragon... gosh, the strep throat has gone to my head and you're hearing my thought patterns now... You're welcome!

 

For this card I used the heat embossed chevrons again but all in tumbled glass distress ink going much darker on the card base edges. I chose a sunny colored washi tape and added a unicorn. I think the unicorn and the dirt path he's running on really brings the scene together. This card will be going to UT MD Anderson Cancer Center to cheer up someone who's fighting breast cancer (or whose mom is). There was a Hope You Can Cling To challenge to make a card for kids and I really enjoyed it. I don't often make kids cards and it's a lot of fun.

Okay, if you're still reading, THANK YOU.

It takes a certain type of AWESOME to plow through this sort of Monday Morning meandering.

Warmly,

~~~Nicole

Evolving Card Design: Part One

Since I'm down with making seventy of these cards for Christmas this year, I think it's safe to say that I like the design. Something about the simple layers just gets me.

But, as usual, I got a little bored after six in a row and decided to treat myself with mixing it up a little.

So I made this:

 

It was still pretty easy.

Step 1: Stamp Chevron on card base in Versamark Ink

Step Two: Sprinkle with Clear (or white) embossing powder and heat.

Step Three: Apply distress ink somewhat randomly with foam pad. I used Tumbled Glass, Mustard Seed and Spun Sugar

Step Four: I'm assuming the top layer is pretty self-explanatory, cut out clouds. Attach some on top with dimensional tape. Cut a few extras and make them into trees by coloring them green - layers of mustard seed and tumbled glass makes the green pictured - add your sentiment.

Here's a better look at the rainbow chevron layer - my Versamark ink is just filthy with glitter but I decided not to worry about it. 

A little sparkle is a good thing!

So I was all excited as the challenge (in my mixed-up mind) for WCMD at Ellen Hutson was

trendyscenewithdistressink

See what happens when I read on little sleep with no coffee???

In reality, there were challenges (PLURAL) so this one is for

WCMD 2012 Challenge 5: Trend Watch Challenge  

"It's time to get your trend on - this challenge is to use a trendy shape such as the chevron, hexagon, triangle, etc on your project.

And Ranger has a challenge to go with the release of individual Distress Seasonal Distress Ink Pads:

"project that features Distress Ink Pads"

OOPS!

Please check out my next post for the latest version of this design.

Origin of a Christmas Card Design

When I saw a christmas card by Kristina on the Simon Says Stamp blog I fell immediately in love with it.  It was clean and simple but so elegant. 

So I ordered the supplies and tried to make sure it was easy enough my family could help make them with me. This always takes a few tries and a little tinkering.

Here's the original, as close to Kristina's as I could make it.

 

But it felt a little barren. So for the next card I added a sentiment:

 

Better, but how about kraft for #3?

 

Hmm. Washi doesn't pop on kraft... maybe cream? Yeah... cream. 

LOVE IT!

What do you think? Which style is your favorite? 

This is my entry for the World Card Making Day Challenge 1: Holiday Greetings at Ellen Hutson's Classroom Blog.

I loved this design so much I made some funkier ones...
posting soon :-)

World Card Making Day: Two for the Time of One

 Happy World Card making Day.

As you know, I like to be efficient and one of my favorite crafty habits is to make more than one of something if I've gone to the effort to haul all my supplies out. In the end you save time and money plus you usually get ahead a bit, especially if it's a card as you make the card you need and a second one for later.

This card is for the SplitCoast Stampers Hope You Can Cling To "Five Words" Challenge.

 

My thanks (and possible apologies) to Kate Crane who was where I first saw the idea of cutting Hunk's head open to let his thoughts show.

And this one is for the Moxie Fab World "Love" challenge.

Mixed-Media Quote Tutorial

When I saw this month's Faber Castell's 'October Take the Challenge! with Mou' was word art I was so excited as making art with the sentiment as the main focus  is one of my favorite styles.

I thought it would be fun to make a quick, easy project that would be a great gift. I used Faber-Castell products but I'll be letting you know what supplies you can substitute.

Start with an 8x10 piece of watercolor paper and color sections with different colored gelatoes. Don't stress too much about how it looks, just have fun. If you don't have gelatoes, watercolor paints, Inktense blocks and Neocolor will work well too.

Brush with water using a wide paintbrush

Apply gesso through a stencil using a brush.

 

Move the stencil around to cover the whole page.

 

Cut a heart from a piece of paper. I used some home made paper that I'd decorated with paint, stamps and stencils but any patterned paper works great.

 

Add washi tape arrow and printed quote. 

Seal well with Mod Podge. Be extra careful to glue down the seams.

 

Use Pitt Pens to add details to your piece. 

If you don't have Pitt Pens, use Copics, sharpies or any other marker you like.

Scribble on a craft mat with your marker 

 

Add a little water with your paintbrush.

And flick splatters all over the open parts of the piece.

 

Let dry and add any finishing touches

 Thanks so much for stopping by. 

If you make something similar please let me know, I'd love to see it.

Warmly,

~~~Nicole

Hope You can Cling To Challenge Card

"Splitcoaststampers is proud to partner with the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center for our third annual month long card drive to benefit those affected by breast cancer."

I wanted to be a part of this very important card drive and the first challenge was,

"My challenge to you is to make a project that reflects the absolutely essential part of your style - the thing that makes you, YOU. You will journey to your stampy happy place and find that go-to design principle that makes you the happiest and most comfortable.

For some of you, it may be vintage, for some it may be a card that sparkles, or one that makes you laugh. All I want you to do in this challenge is BE YOURSELF and tell me what it is in your description that your stamping style is made of."

I think it's safe to say that my style is bright, graffiti with a lot of paint thrown in, artsy, probably couldn't duplicate the card if I tried, cheerful with a little edge... how'd I do?

Donna Downey Stamp from Unity

Motivational Mixed-Media Collage

I Choose…

to live by choice, not by chance;

to make changes, not excuses;

to be motivated, not manipulated;

to be useful, not used;

to excel, not to compete.

I choose self-esteem, not self-pity.

I choose to listen to my inner voice,

Not the random opinion of others.

I choose to be me.

Warmly,

~~~Nicole