You Are Loved

Here is another one layer card (for Day 7) using the watercolor paper and markers for an ombre effect (for Day 8).  I did this with a popsicle stamp last week and really liked how it looked.  This time I did swipes of marker onto the watercolor paper and then went back over one edge to make a fade-out.  After it dried, I carefully placed different sized heart dies over the colors and cut.  

 

To add a little extra something special, I spritzed some shimmer spray over the hearts.  I know some people will say that this isn't a one layer card because of the die cuts, but I consider it a one layer card.  Super easy and pretty cute!

I just realized that this card can qualify for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog challenge - Have a Heart.  Some of the heart dies are from Simon Says Stamp!

Stamps by Paper Smooches.

Happy Everything!

Hello!  I've been away form my stamping space for a couple of days and have been a bit bummed to not find time to do any of the Clean and Simple Card Making homework.  I'd watched videos while folding laundry, though, and got to stamp a little bit today.

The Day 8 lesson was on Inking and Stamping techniques.  I don't usually use a lot of techniques because of limited time so this was a challenge.  Instead of using the ones highlighted in class, I went with a resist technique.  It is similar to the crayon resist from your grade school days, but I used clear embossing powder instead of wax crayons.

I stamped right on the watercolor paper and embossed.  Then, using the slick craft sheet, I tried the watercolor marker technique that Kristina used to add the color.  I kinda like the messy, artsy look to the card even though it is not a clean, crisp design (nor can I get it to flatten!).  I really liked using the watercolor markers again and managed to use them again for another card that I'll share soon.

Stamps from Hero Arts and Paper Smooches.

Clean & Simple Day 4

Hi everyone!  It is almost the weekend and I'll be so sad that the kids will be home and I won't have time to stamp.  Boo!  I have enjoyed stamping these last few nights and it has been so relaxing.  

Taking the online class, so far, has helped.  It has reminded me of and introduced me to some stamping techniques and just some basic principles of designing a clean card.  Kristina, Jennifer and Julie (and friends) are really great instructors.  

Today's class was all about cards with white space.  These have become my favorite cards to make recently.  I'm not one for a card with lots of embellishments, so I wholeheartedly "embrace the space!"  One of the examples was Casual vs. Formal white space cards.  My take is below.

First up, Formal.  I used stamps from "Here's the Scoop" by Lawn Fawn for both cards.  I stamped the popsicle without the face to make it more mature, colored in the image using markers and blender to make an ombre-style popsicle.  Then I added some teeny die cut hearts for the melty drips.  

The second card is the casual card, though, with that bow tie, it could also be formal.  It definitely has a fun vibe to it.  I made this one especially for my son; he has an appreciation for James Bond's magnetism!  If 007 was a frozen treat, he'd be the ultimate cool popsicle.  I like it when I can take one stamp and find a few ways to use it.  I'll have to give that a go sometime soon.  

Have a wonderful Friday!

Clean & Simple Day #2

Yes, I am behind on sharing cards.  What can I say?  Sick kids happen.

Anyhow, I do have something today!  The lesson for Clean & Simple cards was one layer cards.  I do love making those, so I was happy to do my homework.

For this first card, I used two of the techniques that were shared: debossing an image and reverse masking.  I'll be honest, I was thinking about my globe-trotting husband when I made this card.  He is in London at present and my kids were missing him the other night.  I've got to remember to put this one in his suitcase on his next trip.

Here is just a close-up of the debossing.  I just love that wee heart die cut from Simon Says Stamp!  Stamps from Avocado Arts.

Here is another card with the reverse masking technique (and another one of the sketches from Day 1). I used a bunch of different stamps for inside the circle and a white gel pen to outline it.  I think that the gel pen is a great way to "fake" having layers on a card.

Stamps from Paper Smooches, Avery Elle, A Muse and Simon Says Stamp.

For my final card, I used the burnishing of glitter on double stick tape to make my own glitter tape.  What a great way to add some sparkles to a card!  I used the gel pen again to add lines to the shadows on the HB2U; another easy way to add interest to the card.

Stamp by My Favorite Things.

I'm hoping to get around to stamping again tonight.  **I'd rather watch 30 Rock, but I promised my husband that I'd wait for him to get home.  I'm going to miss Liz Lemon!**  

January AEI♥U Challenge #3 and Clean and Simple Homework

I love when I can kill two birds with one stamped card.  I know that sounds bad, but you crafty folks get it, right?

So, I am taking an Online Card Class all about Clean and Simple Card Making.  I really enjoy these classes because they offer lots of techniques and tips, videos and .pdf files for the card samples.  It started Monday and there was homework.  I was always the kid who did homework as soon as I got home from school and that night I sat down and did my homework!

There were four sketches for card making and I chose one by Julie Ebersole.  I chose a simple patterned paper and punched out some wee hearts and used just one stamp.  Fairly clean and fairly simple.  

I am using this for the Avery Elle January AEI♥U Challenge, too.  The inspiration was this photo:

Instead of using the black and gray, I used two tones of aqua with the white and pop of red (and those stripes).  I took this one out of the box, didn't I?  Well, that is the nice thing about inspiration - make it work for you!  Hope you have a wonderful day!

January AEI♥U Challenge #2

Hi all.  Wowzers - two in one day and hopefully another tomorrow!  I've got another card for the Avery Elle January AEI♥U Challenge to share.

This was based just on the colors of the inspiration photo.  This is another one that could go to just about anybody, and I will probably save this one for my son.  Since the chalkboard art look is trending right now, I figured I'd give it a go.  I have seen lots of tutorials out there (this is a good one).  It is pretty easy and fun, plus it gives me a chance to doodle a bit.  I don't know about you, but I had gobs of doodles in just about every notebook from high school through college.  So long as you can find stamps that work as chalkboard art, it is a pretty easy style to do.

Hope you are having a terrific Tuesday!

January AEI♥U Challenge

Good morning!  I have pulled out some *new* stamps that I purchased with some birthday money to gear up for the Online Card Class.  I have discovered stamps from Avery Elle that are very hip and trendy and I adore them!  In reading their blog I found a monthly challenge and figured I'd give it a go.

This is the inspiration for the challenge.  

Here is the first card I made:

I decided to use the colors and the striped boots for my inspiration.  The Lots of Love stamp set had a striped heart stamp which was perfect for this!  I like the black/gray/red for a Valentine's Day card because it can be given to anyone.  (The layout was one I had in my sketchbook from a card I had seen somewhere but I don't know where.)  It felt good to stamp for fun and I stamped a couple of other cards that I'll be sharing soon, so please peek back here if you have time.  Thanks!