I like my blog post title today; it sounds so much better than, say, stuck in a rut. :D I do seem to get that way when it comes to making sympathy cards, though. Many agree that they're among the most difficult cards to make, so when you find a design that works, it only makes sense to stick with it for a while. A few weeks ago, I made this card for a friend, and now I've made this card for another friend whose father-in-law died recently.
Slightly different patterned paper, slightly different mix and configuration of images, different placement of sentiment. I almost hesitated to show this card, but luckily for me, Scrapbooker's Paradise is having a CASE yourself challenge (PPC#93). (CASE = copy and share everything.) One could argue that I didn't exactly take my other design and improve it, but there's no arguing that I did CASE my other card. ;) I couldn't find an ink that would match the paper, so I inked the sentiment in two different inks before stamping, and that seemed to work.
To look on the bright side of things (which I'm often surprisingly inclined to do) I have yet to need to send a second sympathy card to the same person, so I'm good to go with this design for a while if I want.
Supplies: white cardstock, My Mind's Eye Honey Cake patterned paper, various Unity & {ippity} stamps, Colorbox frost white & stormy sky & evergreen bough distress inks, WOW white embossing powder, Spellbinders oval die
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In my brain, Thanksgiving is long gone. But for our neighbours (note the Canadian spelling...) to the south, it's next week! So in honour (yep, that spelling again!), a Thanksgiving card today.
This is the first Thanksgiving card I've ever made, so not surprisingly, I have very few true Thanksgiving stamps. But I have this cute little turkey! And you can't go wrong with a Dickens quotation. (Although I have to admit, I haven't been able to find the original source for this quote, so I hope it's *real*.) See the three colours of twine? I won spools of these three recently from the Twinery! :D
It's another Friday, so I'm joining the fun at Unity Friends with Flair. Since it's a Thanksgiving card, I think it qualifies for Unity's fall-themed challenge. I'm also linking up to Simon Says Stamp's current challenge for Thanksgiving or thank you cards, as well as this wek's CASology challenge, where the cue word is "thanks". And to all my American friends... an early Happy Thanksgiving!
Supplies: Stampin' Up naturals ivory & kraft cardstock, Unity September 2011 Kit of the Month (All Seasons) stamps, Memento dandelion & tangelo & Brilliance coffee bean inks, clear embossing powder, Sharpies, Twinery lemondrop, mandarin & cappuccino twine, pop-dot tape
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Last month Hero Arts had the perfect challenge for me in my current crafting frame of mind, since they were looking for holiday cards. So did I flood them with entries? Of course not. :P I put one card in, at the last minute, and it wasn't even a Christmas card.
I made this card from one of the sketches on offer, posted it at the last minute... and thought it was, well, okay. I looked at it again over the next few days, and then finally decided to take it apart and see if I could make it better.
The thin black mats just seemed to make the other elements 'pop' more, and the off-white card base brought out the colours of the patterned paper more effectively than the white. It's still not my favourite card ever ;) but I'm definitely happier with it.
In the meantime, I'm trying to be a little more efficient when it comes to the current month's contest.
Of course this month Hero Arts isn't asking for holiday cards, but I managed to work one in anyway, using three of the colours in their colour palette -- red, blue and olive. I also added some bling with snowflake embossing tinsel on the reindeer sweater and glitter embossing powder on the tree, as well as the star on top.
This reindeer does look merry, doesn't he? :D
P.S. It's my week off, but the current Crafty Creations challenge looks like a fun one, so check it out!
Supplies: (thank you) white, mauve & black cardstock, Generations subtles collection card base, Basic Grey plumeria patterned paper, Hero Arts Le Journal stamp, Versafine onyx black ink, clear embossing powder, Martha Stewart border punch, K&Company BW Flora & Fauna Charmers charm; (be merry) white cardstock, DCWV patterned paper, Hero Arts Christmas Reindeer & Get Merry! stamps, Versafine onyx black, Versamark, Stampin' Up old olive craft & real red & Brilliance sky blue inks, clear & glitter clear embossing powders, Ranger snowflake embossing tinsel, recycled star, pop-dot tape
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I have another entry for the last ever Chick Challenges with {ippity} challenge! I was struggling with the second layout they offered, but was then inspired by -- of all things -- my great-niece's newly redecorated bedroom. She's turning six soon, and as with many girls that age, loves pink, and princesses, and fairies... and butterflies. Her room is so pink, it seems to glow, and in one corner, there is a large butterfly mobile with additional butterfly wall decals. Those details coalesced into this:
The photo doesn't capture all the glimmer and shimmer I managed to pack onto this card. I used two colours of pearlescent ink, a Crafter's Workshop butterfly stencil, two images from Bevy of Butterflies and a sentiment that I stamped three times, including a second-generation stamping in the pink and purple. The glittery ribbon and some bling up the shine factor, too. I think it's a perfect card for my girly-girl's birthday. ;)
Supplies: white & purple cardstock, Unity Bevy of Butterflies & (?) stamps, Brilliance pearlescent orchid & pearlescent purple inks, Crafter's Workshop mini butterfly ballet template, Stampin' Up basic rhinestones, 3/4" square punch, $ store ribbon, pop-dot tape
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And... it's Friday again already! Time for Unity Friends with Flair. For today's card, I went with one of the two sketches on offer for the current Chick Challenges {with ippity} challenge. Wouldn't you know it; I only just recently discovered this site, and now the challenge blog is closing!
I'm not sure I've ever made an ironic card before, but I thought "winter joy" would be a fun sentiment to pair with this less-than-joyful penguin. He's coloured with a combination of Sharpies and watercolour pencils, and the sky sponged with a little iridescent ink. I used one kind of Stickles on his hat trim, and another kind for the snow. I like that this guy can be coloured a little differently each time I use him. I may try paper-piecing him soon!
As always, check out the Unity blog to see what else people are creating this week! Oh, and maybe their weekend sale. ;) Have a great weekend.
Supplies: white & blue cardstock, DCWV patterned paper, {ippity} pain and pride & roly poly winter joy stamps, Versafine onyx black, Versamark & Stampin' Up real red inks, clear embossing powder, Sharpies, watercolour pencils, frosted lace & rock candy distress Stickles, Spellbinders circle dies, Inspirations grosgrain ribbon, 3/4" square punch, pop-dot tape
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There is nary a flower in sight at Crafty Creations Challenges today. The challenge: a project with NO flowers. When I mentioned the theme to my husb, he said, "that's a challenge???" :P He's obviously used to my style of crafting. ;) If you like to embellish your creations, it may be more difficult. But have no fear! I'm here to give you some ideas.
Idea #1: Keep it CAS (clean and simple). 'Nuff said.
Idea #2: Pick an animal theme! I went with cats.
I needed a card for our cat-sitter after a weekend away, and used this sweet Market Street Stamps cat, paper-pieced with appropriate cat-themed paper, along with a little pink for her ears, nose and cheeks.
Idea #3: Go for a Christmas card! As long as poinsettias aren't involved, this should make it easy. And snowflakes can always stand in where flowers might normally go.
Isn't this reindeer elegant? I was also glad to discover that even after two years, my silver embossing powder is still usable, though starting to look a teeny bit tarnished. I think I can eke another few months out of it. A sentiment could just as easily have gone where the snowflakes are.
Check out the rest of the DT inspiration this week, and show us what you can do without flowers!
Supplies: (cat card) white & SU pink pirouette cardstock, Reminisce here, kitty, kitty patterned paper, Market Street Stamps cool cats, Versafine onyx black ink, clear embossing powder; (reindeer card) white & Recollections silver cardstock, navy paint chip, Hero Arts dashing reindeer & Christmas reindeer stamps, Versamark, silver embossing powder
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