Card Sketch Wednesday #22-2017

Today we have this card sketch. 

Sue has this pretty card that uses a wonderful embossed pattern as the background.

I die cut the large circle from patterned paper from the paper pack using MFT Die-Namics Stitched Circle Stax. For the middle circle, using the same die Stax, I used a scrap piece of cardstock, in a complementary colour. The chevron banner was cut using paper from the paper pack. The solid grey banner was cut using a scrap piece of cardstock. The sentiment is from Simon Says STAMP Big Scripty Greetings. For the “small” circle of the sketch, I added a flower with a brad in the centre. The card seemed to be missing something, so I embossed the background with Cuttlebug’s Oxford embossing folder.- Sue

My card uses different shapes.

I used paper from my pad for the background and the three shapes which I cut with hexagon nesting dies.  I also used one of the pages that had strips of different patterns for the strip of arrows.  The sentiment came from a set that I no longer have the name of and was stamped in navy.  I thought it needed something else so I used these wooden airplanes from my stash and colored them with alcohol markers.  A really quick and easy card. - Denise

Sympathy Tuesday #22-2017

On Tuesdays we are making sympathy cards.

Sue shares this beautiful card.

Typically, my sympathy cards have been black, grey and white. For this card, I tried to add a bit of colour. I chose a patterned paper from the pack which is dark brown with some colour patterns. I used Stampin Up’s Thoughts and Prayers 2 of 2 for the tree silhouette and sentiment, both stamped with Stampin Up’s Early Espresso ink. I finished the card with three Recollections’ (Michaels) faux pearls. I think that the colours are subdued enough for a sympathy card – don’t you think? - Sue

I make the sentiment the focus on my card.

I chose my paper pack this week based on a couple of the other challenges.  When it cam to making a sympathy card, I went through the pack several times before I could come up with something that I thought would work.  The paper in all the packs is double-sided and I think that this is really the B side of the paper so to speak. (If you know what the A and B sides of a record are, then you are old like me, lol.) Anyway, since it was black and white, I thought it could work and since this sentiment from Unity Stamp Company (Beautiful Life, Blessed Memories) is large, the paper just becomes a background.  I used a nesting die set to cut the sentiment and a mat.  I added some red jewels by Eyelet Outlet to give it some color because the black and white seemed a little too bleak. - Denise

Youth Monday #22-2017

We continue using our paper packs with a youth card for today.

Sue has a fun card for us today.

I realize that my selection of paper didn’t really scream youth/baby. However, the orange tone-on-tone paper reminded me of the wrapper of Crayola crayons. I pulled out my Lawn Fawn Color My World stamp set and stamped the crayon three times. I coloured them in with Copics R46, G05, Y38 and BG05. The sentiment stamped in black is from Paper Smooches’ Sentiment Sampler. I matted the card with black, to mimic the black outlines on the crayon wrapper. I struggled a bit with placement of the fussy-cut crayons. I settled on a “random” placement. I felt inspired to add a bit of “crayon colouring” at the base of each crayon. -Sue

My card for a child or those young at heart.

Since my husband and son are pilots, I am drawn to papers with planes on them. I chose an image from the Cricut Cartridge called A Child's Year.  I love this cartridge because of all the great silhouettes it has.  I cut it from dark blue card stock and used two papers from my pack for this week.  The paper kit is called Getaway by Echo Park.  I sent ahead and cut a banner from the same paper as the background but turned it a different way.  The sentiment is from a set called First Class by Close To My Heart and was stamped in dark blue. - Denise

Here is my pack for this week

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Shine and Sparkle Sunday #22-2017

This is the last week of using the same paper pack for the week and we are shining and sparkling this Sunday.

Sue works up a shiny birthday card.

Close up

I like working with 6x6 paper packs. In fact, I’m a bit of a hoarder when it comes to 6x6 paper packs! A lot of work is done for you as the papers all coordinate. So for this card, I chose the striped paper with a ‘sort of’ solid paper to create the base of the card. I felt it needed something more, so I added a narrow strip of grey. To add the shine, I die cut using Simon Says STAMP’s Painted Happy Birthday die using a piece of shiny teal cardstock. To complete the card, I added a few sequins for a bit of sparkle. Easy-peasy! - Sue

This is the paper pack that Sue will be using all week.

MME’s 6x6 Reunion Paper Pack

I made my sentiment shiny too.

I recently acquired a Minc foil applicator machine because it was a great price on one of the online stores I use.  This was the first chance I had to play with it.  I also purchased a font bundle online so that I had some pretty fonts to use.  I first used white card stock but then realized that it would really show up better on a darker paper.  I made the sentiment on my computer and then printed it on my laser printer using a dark patterned paper from my paper pack for this week.  I then sent it through the Minc machine using silver reactive foil.  You have to print using toner, which means either a laser printer or a copier.  I then used some silver paper that I have to mat behind it using oval nesting dies to cut out both.  I cut from the middle of the silver paper ans used the rest to mat behind the patterned paper.  I decided the top of the oval was too empty, so I added three silver brads.  I really like the look of the silver sentiment and it was easy to do, so I will be using it again soon. - Denise

Shapely Saturday 21-2017

What shapes can you do for your cards?

Gracie certainly has a striking card that is far from a run-of-the-mill rectangle.

Time to go through my Silhouette files again!  I found this cute little pitcher card.  It opens from the top.  I inked the edges of the flowers and attached them with glue dots.  I added blue twine around the pitcher before attaching it to the card base.  I used the paper pad for the strip on the card. ~ Gracie

I used a variation of a box card.

                                     Side view                                       back of card

Card folded for mailing.

One of the things that happened when the new Explore and Design Space came out was the ability to use svg files in addition to the cartridges.  Since I have a pretty large collection of cartridges, I never really looked into using svg files from other sources until I looked at some from svgcuts.com  They have some beautiful 3-d projects and when they had a special before Mother's Day, I went ahead and purchased 2 collections and the 3rd collection called Garden Party was free.  This bird house is part of that collection and really takes box cards up a notch.  I used a yellow card stock as the base and several papers from the Graphic 45 Nature's Sketch Book for all the other cuts including the flowers.  I sponged distress ink around all the cuts and added enamel dots for the flower centers instead of the paper centers.  I also fussy cut some butterflies from the paper to add a few extra places.  I was also able to add writing on Design Space to write on the front and back of the card to personalize it.  I love this and can't wait to make others from this collection. - Denise

C.A.S.E A Card Friday #21-2017

Our card to C.A.S.E. today features a lot of patterns.

Gracie has a wonderful interpretation of the card.

I think my card turned out a little louder than the CASE card!  I started with a red panel and cut strips from Paper I have used this week from my paper pad.  I used the Thanks to You stamp set from Pink and Main and stamped the words on the strips with black Memento ink.  I put a ribbon down first then added the strips of paper.  I added the diecut butterfly and black enamel dots. ~ Gracie 

You can also use a print in place of embossed paper like I did.

The 6 x 6 pad from the collection I used (Graphic 45 Nature's Sketch Book) has a lot of subtle prints that act as solids, so I choose to do all my flags from them.  I choose a paper with a design using all of the colors from the 8 x 8 pad of the same collection and used that as the background.  The sentiment is from a set called Remembering With You and I masked it off to stamp one line at a time on the banners.  The strip is from another page of the 8 x 8 pad that has a lot of different patterned stripes on it. I kind of like stamping the sentiments on various flags like this and will do it again. - Denise

Technique Thursday #21-2017

The technique for today is a special fold called double dutch. A tutorial on making this fold can be found here.

It is so much fun trying different folds!  Today's challenge is a Double Dutch fold.  I used red cardstock to make the base and two different papers from my paper pad for each area of the panels.  I even put a paper on the back of the card.  The sentiment is from Raisin Boat Formal Phrases and is stamped on white cardstock with black Memento ink.  I die cut the sentiment, the panel for the inside and the butterflies.  I added 3 flowers from my stash. ~ Gracie 

And one from me.

I used a pale yellow card stock to make the base.  Having some pages in my paper pad (Graphic 45 Nature's Sketch Book) that have these pretty panels really made this card go quickly.  I matted the three different designs on a background paper from the pad.  I only had narrow placed on the side to put the sentiment, so I designed it on Design Space to make the writing vertical and put a rectangular box around the writing then, wrote and cut it on my Explore. - Denise

Card Sketch Wednesday #21-2017

Using a sketch is always a great way to jump start a card.

How cute is Gracie's card?

This card cheered me up making it, lol!  I love the little panda!  The digital image was purchased from 2Cute2Ink.  I colored it using Spectrum Noir markers.  I printed the sentiment on my computer.  I used 4 sheets of paper from the paper pad to make the panel. I attached a metal dot to the take out box where the handle would appear to move.  It is all mounted on a white cardstock card base. ~ Gracie 

My card added some dimension.

This card sketch had the dimensions of the pieces which helped to make it go quickly.  I used several patterns from my pad (Graphic 45 Nature's Sketchbook); The center panel came from a page of cutouts.  I used the same panel from a second page and fussy cut all the butterflies.  (I really hate fussy cutting, but it is getting easier)  I then attached just the body over the same images and folded the wings up slightly.  It really gives a great look.  I decided against putting a sentiment on the front.  I also sponged all the edges of the pieces which adds to the dimension too. - Denise

Side view of the center.

Sympathy Tuesday #21-2017

Using the same paper pad in a week that includes both a child's card and a sympathy card shows just how creative the design team will be this month.

Here Gracie creates a stunning sympathy card .

Looking through my paper pad I found this pretty sheet of paper.  Searching through my stamps I found this Technique Tuesday stamp Ruffled Rose.  I stamped it on the paper with Versa Mark ink and embossed with gold embossing powder.  The sentiment is also from the same stamp set.  I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers and mounted it on white cardstock then on a peach cardstock base. ~ Gracie 

Denise chose green and black for her card.

I think the ferns on the paper have a calming effect, so I chose that as the background.  I stamped the image and sentiment on velum with Versafine and then added clear embossing powder to both set the ink and give it some dimension.  The flowers are from Unity and the set is called Insightful Meadows.  The sentiment is also from Unity in a set called May Strength Surround You. I mounted the whole thing on a black card base and offset the velum so that more of the ferns would show. - Denise

Youth Monday #21-2017

Kid's cards can have cuteness overload as we see with Gracie's card for a 1st birthday.

Youth Monday!  I have a precious grand-nephew turning one.  Around here that means 2 cakes; one for the adults and a miniature cake for the birthday boy so we can take wonderful pictures to scrapbook!  The image is a digital printing I purchased from Etsy.  It is colored with Spectrum Noir markers.  I inked the edges of the w white panel with marigold distress ink. I used another sheet with polka dots from my paper pad and strips of burnt orange cardstock for accent.  It's all mounted on a white cardstock base. ~ Gracie 

Denise has a cutie too.

I used a technique called stamped paper piecing where you stamp on both plain paper and patterned paper.  You then cut parts from the patterned paper and place them on the plain paper.  I used a yellow patterned paper for the birds used Spectrum Aqua pens to color the rest of the stamped image and around the birds.  These birds are part of the Unity Kit of the Month for May called Free Your Dreams. The sentiment is from an old clear set I have that I no longer know the name of, but it really went with the image.  I am technically using two paper pads this week that are from the same collection by Graphic 45 called Nature's Sketchbook.  One is an 8 x 8 pad and has some wonderful paper images that I will use later this week..  The other is a 6 x 6 pad and contains both solids and overall patterns. - Denise

Shine and Sparkle Sunday #21-2017

Gracie really shines with this card for Shine and Sparkle Sunday

Today's challenge begins with using the same paper pad for the week.  I chose Colorbok Mint Julep.  I always used bling so today I added some sparkle as well.  I die cut a butterfly and a big script "thanks".  Then I had fun.  I covered the butterfly and thanks with Nuvo Glue then guilded them with silver guilding flakes.  I made a panel with a sheet from the pad and attached it along with a strip of black ribbon to a white card base.  After gluing down my die cuts I thought I still need some bling so I added some rhinestones! ~ Gracie 

Here is the pad Gracie will be using all week.

Gilding Flakes make my card shine too.

Inside

I stamped an image on one of the neutral papers from my pad (Graphic 45 Nature's Sketch Book) with a stamp from Unity's KOM - May 2017 called Free Your Dreams with a 2 in 1 glue.  When it dries, it is still sticky and you can then add gilding flakes.  When you do this, it helps me to dilute the glue slightly and work very quickly to stamp the paper and lift it up or it will tear the paper.  You also have to clean your stamp quickly.  In fact the first one messed up by not getting all the image so I used that for the inside.  The inside image is from Club Scrap and is called Moroccan Spice Greetings.  - Denise

I will post a picture of my paper pad tomorrow.

Shapely Saturday 20-2017

If you are looking for the water-color blog hop click here.

While rectangle or square cards are easy, a shaped card can really make a statement, so our Saturday cards will feature shapes for the next few months.

Tantalaya has made a wonderful border to set her card off.

For the shape card I used dies from Darice the Nesting Book Pages. I used the same die to cut the card shape and to cut the pattern paper to go on top. I then took a die cut piece and stamped thank you sentiment and fun design under it and attached to the front of the card. Then attached a ribbon and knotted it and finished it with a Prima flower, and at the very end, I misted the card with sheer shimmer spritz in frost to give a slight sheen. - Tantalaya

Having an electronic die machine can make shaped cards a snap.

I choose a teapot from one of my cartridges A Child's Year) and on design space I sized it and then copied it twice.  On one of the images, I flipped it and lined it up with another until the handles met and welded them together.  I cut that in a blue cardstock and cut the third one trying to put the design to be where it would work for the teapot.  I did add lines to the top and handle so that it would look like it had an actual top.  I used a button on the top since I am trying to use up some of the baubles in my stash.  The sentiment was from Fiskar's Thanks a Latte and was cut with one of my nesting dies. - Denise

World of Watercolors - May Blog Hop

Welcome to A Year of Card Techniques Blog Hop where each month we feature a different card technique. We’ve assembled a team of card makers who range from new to advanced, so you’ll see a great variety of cards and ideas.

For May, we are venturing into the world of watercolor. There are so many watercoloring techniques available to us today; far too many to list here. But actions speak louder than words; so our team has worked with their favorite mediums to bring you lots of examples and loads of inspiration.

If you would like to check out our past technique hops, you can do that here:

• January-Shaving Cream Marbleizing
• February-So Sketchy
• March-no hop this month
• April-Stamp Set Showdown

We have an amazing sponsor this month, Jodie Park of Close to My Heart:

Please take a moment to check out the great products Close to My Heart has to offer. To visit Jodie on Facebook page, just click here.

And the awesome prize this month is:

We really appreciate feedback, so please leave a comment on each of the blogs in the hop today. One winner will be chosen from all comments on the hop as of May 26, 2017. The winner will be announced in our June hop; so be sure to come back next month.

And speaking of winners, the lucky hopper from last month is Golden Goddess Designs; picked by Random Name Picker. Congratulations! Please get in touch with last month’s sponsor, Wilma Payne at wpayne@email.com, by May 26th to claim your prize.

You should have arrived here from Amanda. If you're visiting here first, you might want to start at the beginning so you don't miss a thing and increase your chances of winning by commenting on each blog.

Three of the team have made multiple projects for this hop.

We begin with one of Gracie's

I really had fun with this challenge.  Imade several cards then had to choose which to show you.  I really like to watercolor images and for these I used watercolor pencils followed with an aqua pen.  - Gracie

Next up is one of Sue's

I started with watercolour paper and stamped flowers and sentiment from Altenew’s Adore You stamp set with Versamark, added gold embossing powder and heat set. To add colour, I used distress inks (stormy sky and dusty concord), smooshed on  an acrylic sheet and picked up with a water brush.  To complete the card, I matted it on a piece of gold cardstock. - Sue

One from Denise

I did a technique called mirror stamping for this card. I stamped the image with Versafine black ink on a red rubber sheet called gasket material (I bought mine at Lowe's in the plumbing department). I then laid my water color paper over it and rubbed to get the image to transfer. I then used a Stamp-a-ma-Jig to line the image up and stamp with the actual stamp on the top. I used Distress Inks with water brushes to water color the image making sure to dilute the colors for the reflection The stamp set is from Unity and is called Grey Skies Happy.I actually won a watercolor challenge with this card on the Unity Show and Tell Facebook page. I was so excited to win with something I made. - Denise

Another cutie from Gracie

I used Neenah bright white paper with very little water.  My daughter laughed at my rabbit.  She told me he is supposed to be white.  I told her he is - with shadows lol. ~ Gracie

Sue is back with another beauty

I started with watercolour paper, Altenew’s Floral Shadow stamp set and my MISTI.  I chose the stamp and placed it in the MISTI. I added colour, one at a time. Each time, I chose a colour, inked up part of the stamp, spritzed lightly with water and adhered to the watercolour paper. I did this three times, each time for each colour (distress inks – wild honey, sketch and twisted citron). The sentiment is from the same stamp set

and stamped using  Versafine Onyx Black ink. To complete the card, I matted the card on black cardstock. - Sue

A different watercolor technique from Denise

I tried something new to me called no-line water coloring. I stamped the image from a Unity Kit of the Month called Free Your Dreams (May 2017) with a light Distress Ink called Antique Linen on watercolor paper. I then used various Distress Inks with a wet brush to paint the image following the lines of the stamped image. I tore the edges and mounted it on a floral paper from a 6 x 6 pad by Crate Paper called Storyteller. Because these lines are so light, the tend to almost disappear as you paint them. It is a very loose look for my first time and I think I will have to practice some more, but I like the different look it gives you. - Denise

And a final one from Gracie

I used a large brush to make the blue stripes for the knome's background.  -Gracie

Now you’re off to visit with Lisa. Hope you had fun and thanks for stopping by. See you next month with another technique!

Card a Day Challenge Design Team

Here’s the full line-up in case you get lost:

• Sharon
• Claudia
• Kim
• Wilma
• Jearise
• Amanda
• Card A Day Challenge Team
• Lisa
• Sandy
• Jodie
• Candy
• Debbie

C.A.S.E A Card Friday #20-2017

Today we C.A.S.E. a card that can use a lot or a little of your different patterns.

On this cased card I used the same pattern and shape of the card.....Instead of using four different pattern paper I used the same pattern on mine. Also since the card was in blue colors I used pink for the card base on up. The center square I used MFT's stitched square die set. and I also used the Sugar Pea Enchanted Garden from the stamp of approval box. Instead of using ribbon and twine, I used Lace for a soft accent. Then to finish it off I used the Nuvo jewel drops Rose Water. I misted the card with sheer shimmer spritz in frost to give a slight sheen. #stampofapproval - Tantalaya

My C.A.S.E. card

Inside

I love to personalize my cards, so I printed a sentiment on a square piece of white card stock using my Eplore and the writing feature.  I used a Pilot Precise v5 pen because they fit the the adapter perfectly and write very well.  They are also waterproof so I could use Distress Ink over the writing.  I stamped a flower image from the Unity stamp called Be Your Won Kind of Beautiful with Versamark and used clear embossing powder to heat emboss it.  I went over the images and sentiment with Distress Ink blending the purple and green colors together to match the colors in the paper.  I chose to use two patterns around the center instead of four, with another strip of striped paper behind everything. Some lavender enamel dots finished the front.  I used leftover pieces to decorate the inside of the card.  The inside sentiment is from Club Scrap. - Denise