More Patterned Paper

This is another card I made using more than three patterned papers.  In this case they lead the eye to the focal point which is a die cut label, a teabag fold and prima flowers.  I added a strip of white on the left.  Those pads of 8" patterned paper collections are really great in my opinion.

Patterned Paper

For stamp club exchange cards we were challenged to use 3-5 patterned papers in a design.  This was my first design.  I cut the paper into triangles and adhered them to dark brown cardstock.  The design was completed with brown satin ribbon tied in a bow and the addition of silk flowers with a gold brad center.  Punched leaves added more color, as did a punched border.

Shaped Card

This is a shaped card I made using a die cut.  It's smaller than the normal card but is an interesting change I think.  The colors match much better than these images show but one is a scan and the other a photo and I wasn't able to get the color right.

I actually made three die cuts, the front, the back and the patterned paper, and then adhered them together.  The flowers are punches with nail head centers.  The butterfly is a embossed die cut, two layered together.

Die Cut Window

I haven't often use my dies to create a window in a card but perhaps I'll do more of that in the future.  I adhered the text paper to the card front before making the cut.  I also used the same die and its "big brother" to cut the frame.  The butterfly, flower and flourish are also die cuts with the butterfly adhered to the card inside as you can see in the second image.  Rhinestones were added for the butterfly's body, flower center and as accent to the corners of the frame.

I think there should always be something on the inside of the card that isn't visible from the outside so I added another flower and a text banner.  The banner seemed to fit better on the left so there's lots of space for a hand-written message on the right.

In retrospect the patterned paper maybe wasn't the best choice for the other elements (or vice versa?) but I think it's acceptable.

Negative Die Cut

The patterned paper is the negative left from die cutting the flowers used on yesterday's card.  I saved the other half of the paper and used it in another design because the entire piece seemed to be too much for one card.  I added some light yellow paper behind the open spaces that I allowed to show through when I added the flowers - just to create a little contrast and interest.  The flowers were stamped before I die cut them.  I added some small punched flowers with dimensional paint for their centers and I also added the text banner.  All that was adhered to dark green cardstock and then to the card front.

Positive Die Cuts

I'm taking an online class to learn more about die cutting so I'll be showing you some cards I've made which apply the material covered in class.

This is probably the way we most use our dies - cut out a shape and incorporate it into a design.  But I did a few other things.  1) I cut the flowers from patterned paper;  2) I kept the negative space from cutting the flowers (and will show you a card tomorrow which uses that piece of paper); 3) I stamped the flowers before cutting them.  The leaves were stamped and then cut with a punch.

The flower centers are black pearls and I added a strip of black and lime green ribbon.  I used the green ribbon to made a "half bow" using two strips of ribbon.  Then I matted the lime green cardstock onto black before adhering it to the card.  And now you've seen green flowers.

Another Double Dutch

This is a second Double Dutch design.  The bottom doors have patterned paper and star brads.  The top door has an embossed label topped with an embossed oval.  The flower was inked and dimensional gold paint created the center.  Leaves are punched out.  The design is completed with a die cut butterfly with fiber body and antennae.

A Different Approach To A Trading Card

I've been making artist trading cards for a while but this was a new approach for me.  It started with the background which I created a couple of years ago using acrylic paint on paper towel.  I scanned that and cropped it to atc size before proceeding.  I took the flower photo downtown last week, isolated it digitally and "planted" it on the background.  The rest is digital brushes (shapes and textures) and text.  I think I might have to try more of this, especially since I scanned about 10 other backgrounds!

A Reappearance

Oh my, here's that Stampin' Up doily image again!   This time I used it on a "Double Dutch" design.  It was gold embossed on black and cut out.  I added a strip of black with gold embossed text and an EK Success punch edge.  The bottom doors are embossed and layered with a strip of patterned paper.  A couple of cream-colored flowers with a brad center complete  the design.

More Signs of Spring

I'm sure spring is beautiful all over the country but I think it's especially pretty in our valley where so many blooming trees grow well and are full of color this time of year.  This is a fruit tree and, of course, the added bonus of the blossoms is that they result in fruit if all goes well.  We always have late frosts that tend to not be good for the young, developing fruit so we keep our fingers crossed.  Usually we come out okay but are glad we dont' have to make our living from or survivie on what we grow.

Orange!

I got a new embossing folder and had it try it out.  I embossed glossy cardstock and then sanded the raised area.  I applied Distress Ink over the entire card and where it was sanded the ink was darker.  I added die cut flowers and flourish.

Vertical Stripes

This is a variation of a card we made at Becky's class last month.  I added the flower to my design but otherwise it is very similar to hers.  Both the detailed lavender and the white flower came from die cuts.  I think it's a nice design that can be used for all sorts of occasions.  Thanks, Becky!

Bright Yellow

The first sign of spring in my yard is usually the daffodils.  Before they are finished, I have three different variations of color.  The first ones stay in the garden but after that I bring some inside so I can enjoy their brilliance full time.

Dress Card

I used variations of this design for my cards last month.  It was fun to play with different patterned paper and backgrounds.  The dress is made by cutting a scalloped circle, removing two scallops for the bodice and then folding the remaining scallops.  Pretty easy, especially with a die cut circle.  I added a ribbon bow and other small embellishments.   I also tried it with a smaller circle for trading cards and that works equally well.  You just have to adjust a bit depending on the number of scallops in the circle.

Yummy Indeed

This is the dessert tray that was presented to our table when we had lunch at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel in early March.  The triangle-shaped peanut butter and chocolate ganache were excellent. Of course, I couldn't have just one so I also tried one of the petit fours which was also delicious.  Just to be on the healthy side, I also ate some of the berries.

This is a highly rated hotel.  Never mind that my husband's nephew is in charge of the food and beverage department.

Borders, Lots of Borders #4

This is the last of the "3-5 borders" card that I made when I need two for our stamp club exchange.  I adhered several borders to white cardstock and then ran that through my Big Shot with a Nestabilities die cut.  The rosette was made with the Tim Holtz die cut using patterned paper.  I adhered a flower with a half pearl center and some ribbon.

Purple, Purple, Purple

I've been using a lot of purple color this spring so it isn't surprising that's what I used on this card.  It's another one I made for the stamp club exchange but we only need two.  However, if I'm "on a roll" I often make more which I can always use for other purposes.  This is another EK Success border punch and the flowers and leaves are also punched out.  I made a braid using narrow satin ribbon to add a little dimension.  Rhinestones add a little glitz to the flower centers and the white background was treated with a Stampin Up embossing folder.

Metal Man

This is another artist trading card that I made for swapping.  The background is acrylic paint swiped across greed cardstock.  I stamped some text and the grid pattern.  The imabe of the man was stamped, cut out and added with foam tape for some dimension.  The copper gear is a die cut and I added metallic brads for accents.

Monochromatic Borders

This is the second design I came up with using 3-5 border punches or die cuts.  The borders are from an EK Success punch.  The leaves and flowers are also punched.  The flourish was cut using an electronic cutter.

Signs of Spring

This is an artist trading card that I made with a spring theme.  The bird is a stamped image, though I added pen lines for his legs.  The background is melted metallic crayon and the flowers and butterfly are punched.  I hand-cut the grass.  

Borders, Lots of Borders

Our assignment for last month's stamp club card exchange was to incorporate 3-5 borders (punched or die cut) into a card design.  My first inclination was to use bright colors and this is what I came up with.  The blue flower is a Hero Arts image and the leaves are punched.  I made the spirals out of thin strips of paper for a unique, fun accent.