September Swaps

Today I've got September swaps.  First, the swap card that I sent to my swap partner (see above).  The theme was FALL.

I knew I wanted to use the scarecrow dies that I got recently.  I cut the pieces for it from misc fall paper scraps - then wondered what I could use to go with it for a card front.  I found this "hay" paper in my stash and decided it would make a perfect backdrop for my scarecrow.  I also found some decorative pieces in my stash that I thought might go well with it - sentiments & pumpkin.  However, I soon saw that they faded into the background instead of standing out like I wanted them to.  So, I took a piece of white paper, inked it to blend in a bit, and glued it in place before adding all my decorative elements.

Inside:

Inside, I added a border of the straw paper with another embellishment from my stash.  The sentiments were stamped using stamps from Crafter's Companion Compenium (CCC) - sheets called Thank You and Thinking of You.

Materials Swap - My Materials:

The kit I sent was made up of white & green card stock, a printed wood grain (freebie from Debbi Moore - colored with distress ink so the color coordinated better, a piece of freezer paper prepared napkin, ribbons, and misc embellishments & sentiment from my stash.

My Card:

The focal is a piece of inked white paper - with leaves/acorns fussy cut from the prepared napkin and matted with green card stock.  I also matted the sentiment & embellishments.  I used double ribbon to create a border - and then a snippet of one to create an embellishment for the sentiment.

Inside:

Inside, is a border made from leftover wood grain paper, green card stock, matted embellishment, and fussy cut acorns from the prepared napkin.

Her Materials:

She included some gorgeous metallics as well as a die cut background, but I decided to save them for another card and focused on the die cuts and green piece. 

My Card:

She had sent an extra piece of white card stock which I used with inks to create a background piece for the pumpkin and the brown strip.  I also decided to flip the leaves and ink the back of them and use that side on my card.I embossed the background with my new Spellbinders 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" embossing folder called Scattered Fall.  The sentiment was die cut from a Spellbinders set called Merry Everything.

Inside:

As you can see, I used narrow leftover strips from the card front to form a border on the inside.  Then I stamped a greeting using stamps from May May Made It called Blessed Inside and Out.

HD Pearl Bouquet - Thanks a Bunch

Today's card is one of a set of five cards that I made using materials from Hunkydory's Pearl Bouquet Card Kit - from the set called Thanks a Bunch.  Here's what the set looked like - one die cut sheet, one AS (Adorable Scoreable card stock) sheet, and two "insert" sheets (which you'll see were only SOMETIMES used as inserts):

It's hard to photograph this set because the colors are soft and the pearlescent sheen creates a glare in the light.  Here's a closeup of the part in the lower right corner that has the glare on it:

And here are the 5 cards that I made with these materials (and a bit of stuff from my stash):

I made four 5x7 cards, and one slimline.  And now, a closeup of each

Card #1:

This was actually one of the last cards I made - using the last bit of the sheet of AS.  As you can see, I just had enough for a partial panel - but liked the look.  I combined it with the border strip (which I cut in half so it fit top and bottom) a focal die cut piece, and a sentiment piece - all from the set.

Inside:

Inside I simply glued a die cut frame from the set - and stamped a greeting from CCC (Crafter's Companion Compendium) sheet called Heartfelt.

Card #2:

When I was considering what to do with the focal oval you see on this card, I knew I wanted a white fancy die cut to surround it.  I looked for ovals but didn't have anything.  Then I looked at my 5x7 Spellbinders Card Creator dies - and this one (Heirloom Legacy) fit the oval shape PERFECTLY!  That is extremely uncommon for oval shapes, but I thought it looked so pretty with the AS background, the white die cut, and the oval focal from the set.  I added an oval sentiment from the set and my beautiful card front was done!

Inside:

While I could have gotten another card from the set if I had saved this for the outside of another card, I really liked it on the inside of this one.  The sentiment at the top, though it's hard to see in the picture, says "Lots of Love".

Card #3:

I'll admit that I'm not as happy with the way this one turned out - but I supposed it's not bad for using an "insert" paper to create the outside of my card.  I simply cut the paper a bit smaller than the card front & inked the edges.  Then added a circle border die cut from the set, an inked paper border from my stash, a greeting (made with my Mom's stamps & dies), and 3 flowers from my stash that were layered on top of each other.  I actually inked the center of the 3rd one, though it's hard to see in the picture.

Inside:

Another piece of the insert paper was cut to size for the inside - again with inked edges.  Then I stamped a message - again from CCC - this time the Birthday Female sheet.

Card #4:

I think this one is my favorite card - which is why you also see it at the top of this post.  This one started with a small embellishment die cut, but by the time I was done layering, it really works well for a focal.  The layers were all created using the same die set as card #2 - Heirloom Legacy 5 x 7 Card Creator by Spellbinders.  I had the oval pink AS which I had cut from the center of card #2 before gluing the white on top, but I wanted a pink background for the whole.  I went to my stash and found scraps from a HOTP paper that went great with it!  I actually had to piece the background because of the two pieces I had, neither was big enough - but you REALLY can't tell.  Obviously, most of the die cuts were from white card stock.  As a final touch to the card front, I added a ribbon and a stamped greeting (from my Mom's stamp and die greeting set).

Inside:

I used scraps from my stash to make borders top and bottom.  The die cut greeting I wanted to use on the inside really seemed to need white around it, so I die cut a piece from white card stock using a die from Spellbinders Tear Drop Circles dies.  The stamped message is again a stamp from CCC's Heartfelt.

Card #5:

The last card is actually the one I made first.  It started with a strip from the right-hand side of the AS.  It wasn't large enough to cover the whole thing, so I took part of the border of the same AS piece and glued it in place across the top - trimming a little off top and bottom so it fit the card front.  Then I took a piece of ribbon and used it to make it look like the die cut sentiment (from the set) was hanging from the top border.

Inside:

I used a portion of one of the insert papers, but a bit smaller than the card when opened.  I folded it in half lengthwise and glued just a narrow strip down the front right by the fold.  The rest of it is loose, but gluing it that way means the card opens well.  I plan to stamp a message on the inside when I know who it is going to and what I want it to say.

So, there you have it.  Five cards from this beautiful set.

The PLUS of Ugly Papers

These cards were made from scraps that I used WITH some "ugly paper" cards - though they don't contain ugly paper themselves.

Card #1 (above):

I liked this basic layout - a square focal, and a rectangular area below that for the greeting.  It's one of my "go to" layouts.  This time, I framed the square area, and added two small pieces for my "focal".  For the sentiment area, I cut up the gold inner frame (which came with the frame you see in the square) and rearranged the pieces to form an interesting base for my sentiment.  Focal/Sentiment & frames from Hunkydory Pop-a-Topper Ladies Choice.

Inside:

I will certainly stamp something on the inside of this card when I figure out what I want it to say, but for now I just used various of the papers/card stock to create a pretty place for it.

 

Card #2:

This template was also taken from a video (see ugly paper post).  I thought I would be making it with the ugly paper too - until I used one of the pieces I would have needed on the inside of the last card!  Anyway, this one is pretty straight forward.  Narrow bits create the inner angular borders.  The tan is actually a full panel to which the other pieces are glued.  I simply added my focal/frame with foam tape, and slipped the sentiment underneath (both also from a Pop-a-Topper sheet from the Ladies Choice book.  It might be nice to add a touch of ribbon to some of these - including this one.  Maybe I will?

Inside:

Again I use the triangular piece inside - with mats and an embellishment.

Ugly Papers PLUS

Today I'm using another "Ugly Paper", but this time, I went looking through my stash until I found another patterned paper and some solids that looked decent with it.  Since most of my ugly papers are NOT double sided, it's been a bit challenging, but this time I decided to pick another pattern and use it as if it were the back side of my paper so that I could mimic some of the YouTube videos that I had been seeing.  I started out assuming I would just copy those, but I'm not good at copying!  So, some look a little like the cards here, and for the rest I was definitely doing my own thing!  Also note that all of these cards are 5 x 7 sized rather than A2.  Focals, sentiments & embellishments mostly came from Hunkydory's Pop-a-Topper book of Ladies Choice - I noted in the descriptions below where something else was used..

Here's a picture of the ugly paper I started with:

But I added a pretty light aqua stitched patterned paper, and several solid colors - aqua, teal, navy, tan, and gray.  And here are the cards that I made.

Card #1: 

This is one of the cards that was made using something similar to the template shown in the video - however, I cut my diagonals from squares that were 4 1/2" square rather than 4".  I also chose to make it look like my pieces were matted (though in actual fact the mats were just the rectangles around the whole card).  What looks like mats on the diagonals were actually just narrow strips I glued in place.  I also used a leftover piece of the narrow strip to create a "ribbon" to hang the greeting.

Inside:

Using leftover strips of papers and card stock, I created this layered border - and then added another embellishment.

Card #2:

I created the basic card fronts using my papers and card stock before I knew what I was going to use for focals, etc.  Sometimes that means that the end product is quite different than what I had originally envisioned.  This one is a case in point.  The background with the ugly paper is actually matted strips of it with space between - but you can't see that because of the large focal that covers that space!  I had a square of teal card stock that I had cut out from behind something and it turned out to be a great mat for the focal when turned on point.  The framed focal was glued directly to the card, but the sentiment was added with foam tape.

Inside:

Once again, the inside is simply a border created with some of the papers I'd been using.  Another die cut element from the Pop-a-Topper pad adds interest.  I'm sure I'll stamp something inside, once I've decided what I want to say.

Card #3:

While I thought the first card was interesting with it's diagonal shapes, I thought it was also fun to do the same thing with both pieces from the same paper.  Once again, the diagonals a "matted" by gluing narrow strips in place.  So much easier - and less waste besides.  

Inside:

This time I used the narrow strips not only to mat the top and bottom of the triangular piece, but also as a narrow border from which my little embellishment hangs.  As you can see, I added some ribbon from my stash to make the embellishment more interesting.

Card #4:

I can't decide whether the card I showed at the top of this post (Card #2) is the one I like best of these, or if this one is.  This card uses what I think of as my "go to" sketch - a focal above, with a sentiment/border below.  This time the focal is one piece, and the sentiment area is multiple papers with a simple greetings.

Inside:

I really like the inside of this card as well.  The light colored panel looks so good with the border strips, greeting, and embellishment.

Card #5:

Here I have another from my "go to sketch".  This time, instead of Hunkydory Pop-a-Toppers, I used a Hunkydory Little Book (LB) page for my focal - this one from the Little Book of Memorable Moments.  The "ugly" paper serves as a background with a plain green card stock mat on top.  I cut the LB page down so it fit in the upper portion of the mat.  I then cut a piece of plain navy for the bottom portion.  Finally, I added a greeting that was die cut (Card Making Magic - 5x7 Card & Box set) from white card stock.

Inside:

Inside I used scraps of all three to form borders surrounding the blank space I left for adding a message - either stamped or hand-written when I decide to whom this card will be sent.

So, I have FIVE 5x7 cards made using this paper - some with pieces of coordinating patterned paper, some just with card stock added, but all have something added beside focal/sentiment/embellishments.

Sept Digi Papers Challenge

Today I have 4 cards created using printed digital backgrounds, my Stampscapes stamps, and greeting stamps.  I think the colors of these backgrounds are GORGEOUS - and they work really well with my stampscapes stamps.

Card #1 (above):  Here the sentiment stamp is from MayMay Made It - a set called Blessed Inside & Out (the inside of the card will say "He gave me so much to be thankful for."  As you can see, I used several of my Stampscapes stamps - flying birds, two horses, and a man with a walking stick. 

Card #2:

Once again this card has a sentiment from Blessed Inside & Out.  The inside will say "I will start with you".   As you can see, I also added a heron & a flock of birds.  I was careful to wipe the stamp below the heron's legs after inking it, so what was meant to be water ripples didn't show up on the grass!😃  I also only stamped a small portion of the flock of birds.

Card #3:

I love the way the little man rowing the boat draws the eye on this card.  That and the flock of birds were the Stampscapes stamps on this one.  The little "Peace on Earth" sentiment is from HOTP's Christmas Tags and Trims.

Card #4:

This card was actually the first one I did, and I learned I can NOT stamp on top of darker colors, even though stamping with black, and have it turn out the best.  Live & Learn.  That sentiment stamp is from HOTP's Christmas Labels & Trims.  As you can see, I used three Stampscapes deer to complete the scene.  Once again, I was careful to wipe off the ink on the grass some had below their legs - and even part of their legs so they would look right amongst the fog.

More Ugly Papers

Today I have more makes using up my "ugly" papers.  Some makes turn out better than others, but it's a fun challenge to see what I can come up with!   Here's a look at the paper I started with:

It's a 12" by 12" sheet that looks MUCH better at a distance than it does up close!  I really don't care for the distressed look, but if you like it, you might like this paper, too.  Anyway,  here are some of the cards that I made using this paper.  (I already made another card that used this paper.  Check out Ugly Papers Round 2 post.)  I'll show you several more here (I had TWO sheets!).

Card #1:

The first card I made was a square card.  I simply used a large cutting die (With Heartfelt Thanks by Card Making Magic) to create the front panel and glued it in place.

Inside:

 

I used the same die set to cut the center out of this paper and give me a place for stamped greetings.  These were from Crafter's Companion Compendium (CCC) page called Thank You.

Card #2:

As you'll see as I share the cards I made from this paper, the colors in it varied widely.  Here I used red to mat the small squares I cut from one portion of the paper - though I could not have used that color on other pieces of the same paper!  The focal is a floral selection from my stash - leftover from a card kit.  The stamp is from the CCC With Sympathy page.

Inside:

The same sort of matted squares help form a border on the inside - along with some more of the flower leftovers.  The stamped message is another from CCC's With Sympathy.

Card #2:

This card uses paper from the same sheet, but an orchid/lavender color is what felt best to go with this section.  I glued the patterned paper to an embossed piece (HOTP Leafy Vine) of white card stock before wrapping the lavender ribbon around either end of it.  After gluing the entire panel to the card front, I added 3 little bees that I found in my stash - attaching them with little foam dots.

Inside:

I did something similar to create a border on the inside, using a merlot colored ink to stamp the sentiment (CCC Thinking of You page).

Card #3:

Okay, this isn't the card - but is the piece I expected to use on the card.  However, it looked too plain.  So, I decided to emboss it (Cuttlebug's Anna Griffin Rosa) - and it didn't help.  In fact, I ended up putting it in the embossing folder wrong so I got a debossed look - not the end of the world, but didn't help the ugly paper I started with! As I was contemplating what to do, I suddenly got a look at the other side of the paper:

Such a pretty embossed pattern on the white back side of the patterned paper!  I liked that so much better that I decided to use it to make my card:

As you can see, I simply added a dark pink mat and a die cut greeting (Creative Expressions Stacked Happy Birthday) and called it good.  I wish that I had thrown on a ribbon border with bow, but it's too late now.

Inside:

I finised the inside with scrap border strips and a stamped message (CCC - Birthday Female).

Card #4:

Another card, another matting color.  As you can see, this section of paper looks really good with brown matting.  I started by cutting strips and matting them to use for the background.  I then was able to use a square piece (cut from the center of the paper removed by the die cut on the inside of the first card), turned on point to look like a diamond, to form the backdrop for the focal sentiment (die cut using 2-dies from Thinking of You Word Dies by Card Making Magic - words from scrap of card base, shadow from the same matting brown card stock).  I thought about using a white card base, but it just didn't look good on that.  Then I tried cream colored - no better.  Finally I found a light lavender piece of card stock in my stash that went relatively well - and made the card base from that.

Inside:

Once again, I used brown to mat an additional strip of patterned paper to form a border inside.  Then I stamped a message (from CCC's Birthday Female).

Card #5:

I really had a hard time working with this paper.  It was the same section of paper as card #2 above (remember I had two sheets of it).  I found myself staring at the yellow centers of the flowers saying to myself, "those sure are ugly - wish they weren't there".  Then it hit me.  I could simply slice them out!  So, that's what I did.  It left me with two sort of triangles as you see in the card.  After inking the edges, I glued them to a white panel and then wrapped blue-lavender ribbons to create a border on the inside edges. It took me quite a long time to find a piece of card stock that would blend well enough to use as a mat for that created topper.  After gluing it in place on the mat, I added a bow, a silver jewel dazzle, and a stamped sentiment (JustRite's Celebrate Today Vintage Label Four).

Inside:

 

Inside is another strip of paper wrapped with ribbon for a border.  I also added a silver Jewel Dazzle on the ribbon.  The sentiment is stamped using a CCC stamp from their Celebrate page.

By this time I was down to just a few little pieces left.  Ordinarily I would have found a way to use them to make a card, but since the colors really didn't go together (even though it was all from the same pages) I decided to just let them go.  6 cards (remember one was in a previous post) from two 12 x 12 sheets of card stock doesn't seem like that much, I was VERY happy to have use up this paper!