Another KCC 14

For Mother's Day I got a set of 6x6 papers that weren't really my style.  I decided to start using them up by choosing the 6 I liked least and chopping them up as per KCC#14 (see Kendra's Card Challenge).  The result is once again proof that there are no ugly papers - even if they seem so at first!  In fact, there are three cards in this set where I deviated quite a bit from the sketch because I didn't want to cover up portions of the printed paper!!!

I forgot to take a picture of the "before" set of papers, but here's a picture of the the entire set of 15 cards completed using those six 6x6 papers (and stuff from my stash):

For most of these cards, I matted the pieces with black paper.  Where I did something else, I'll call it out as we look at each individually.  Most of them also utilize greetings from Sassy's LLC - and I'll also note where this is not the case.

Card #1:

Here the papers are matted as normal, but I inked the edges of the sentiment before double matting it - first with a dark cream before the standard black.  The flowers were from my stash - with scrap Dazzle sticker centers. The leaves were die cut using dies from two different Card Making Magic sets (A2 Card & Box Set and Ultimate Number Overlay).

Card #2:

I REALLY struggled with this sketch.  I turned the sketch upside down because I felt it would be too top heavy with these papers if I didn't.  I embossed and the card front using D'vine Swirl embossing folder from Cuttlebug, figuring that would help add interest to the background - but it probably added to the difficulty as it seemed to clash with many focals that I tried to add.  I finally found this dragonfly in my stash of Dazzles from HOTP.  I matted the body /wings with peach colored card stock from my stash to help it stand out better.  Then I double matted my greeting, using the same peach.

Card #3:

Next up is probably one of my favorite sketches from this set.  As you can see, I colored the flower on the sentiment piece with peach and then die cut a peach mat for it (Nellie's Multi-Frame Flower).  I added Jewel Dazzles in the upper left corner and in the center of the flower, and finished it off with a little ribbon bow.

Card #4:

This is another sketch that I particularly like.  This time I used silver line dazzles to create a bit of separation between each paper - and then matted the greeting with a mat that was die cut from silver metallic tag board.  Once again the die was from Nellie's Multi-Frame Flower.

Card #5:

This is probably my least favorite of this bunch of cards, but it's okay.  I found the tag in my stash & stamped the sentiment using a stamp from HOTP's Birthday Greetings stamp set.  The flowers were in my stash.  I inked the edges of them.  Finally, I added silver Line Dazzles on either side of the patterned paper strip and silver Jewel Dazzles at the center of the "flower" and the corners around the sentiment.

Card #6:

This card came together so beautifully.  The sketch called for additional strips from my stash.  I chose to use peach card stock, emboss it with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots folder, and then lightly ink the raised portions.  I also used the peach for a mat (Nellie's Multi-Frame Flower again) behind the sentiment (with inked edges) before matting it on black.  Then I went looking through my stash and discovered this peach colored butterfly with gold dots (from the dollar store) and a couple of companion butterflies in the same colors.  They really set the card off beautifully.

Card #7:

This card is VERY different from the sketch, because the sketch called for a large square to cover the background - and I wanted the background image to show!  So, I took the strips that were intended to frame the square top and bottom and combined them as a mat for my strip sentiment.  I added another circle sentiment to the upper left corner and used the other two cut pieces there.

Card #8:

For this card, I found a label in my stash with colors that went beautifully.  After fussy cutting it, I matted it on a rectangle of black and then added my sentiment (inked it lightly so color would blend).  After adding the little angled strips that were part of this sketch, I went searching through my stash for something to add.  I found these pieces of a punched border (EK punch called Medallion Chain), and matted them with white card stock.

Card #9:

I often find sketches with a big blank square a bit intimidating (and KCC usually has at least one of these in a set).  In this case, I found a couple butterfly stickers in my stash and a printed sentiment from one of Debbi Moore's sets which helped pull the whole thing together.

Card #10:

I knew I wanted an embossed background for this, but it was amazing how challenging it was to find an embossing folder that would align okay with the pieces of patterned paper!  I ended up using this folder from a Gears Wheels Cogs Kit - Love Cardmaking Issue 5.  The folder is called Embossed Metal.  After adding my squares & sentiment, I went looking for die cuts in my stash - I found the heart & tore it to simulate a broken heart, and then found a little plant sprig to simulate hope.

Card #11:

Here I used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder on the card front & inked it lightly.  I added my patterned papers and strip of black, using a Thin Line Dazzle to separate the two patterns.  From there, I again deviated from the sketch because I didn't want to cover the flower with circles.  I just added two as you see here, and finished with a cream colored ribbon bow.

Card #12:

For a third time, I deviated from the sketch which called for a large circle in the center.  Since I didn't want to cover the flower, I left the circle off and found another place to put the remaining pieces - one of which turned into a mat for my sentiment.  I added a couple of flowers from my stash (inked the one to blend with the background colors) and finished it with a Jewel Dazzle center.

Card #13:

Here I chose a gray embossed "hand made" paper for the background - from a set I bought years ago at Costco.  This time I matted the pieces with a dark brown glimmer paper.  After placing the elements as per the sketch, I added a few flowers from my stash, adding Jewel Dazzle centers.

Card #14:

This time, I used a die cut panda as my focal (Elizabeth Crafts Panda die) and another fussy cut Debbi Moore sentiment.

Card #15:

My final card is very simple.  This time I again used the dark brown glimmer paper - for both the wide strip and the 3 decorative dots.  As you can see, I chose to simply ink the edges of my pieces rather than matting them.