HD Meadow Farm - All in a Day's Work

Today I have cards made using the Hunkydory Meadow Farm set called All in a Day's Work.  This is what the set looked like before I started work:

I'll be honest.  This isn't my favorite set.  Trying to figure out how many cards I could get was a challenge.  I ended up cutting ears off some pieces to add to others so they weren't missing ears and I could use them on a separate card.  I got 5 cards from this set:

Now for a closer look at each.

Card #1: 

As I usually do, I started by looking at the AS (Adoreable Scoreable printed card stock) that came with this set.  I decided to cut the bottom part of it into a slimline card.  I had to slice out some of the hazy greenery to make it fit the way I wanted with the same amount of red on each side.  This join was visible, so I added a bit of washi tape over the join.  After gluing the whole to the card front, I simply added a sentiment from the set.  Easy peasy!

Card #2:

I cut the remaining AS into two pieces - one a bit smaller than 5 x 7, the other a bit smaller than A2.  I used the first for the background of this card, and the second for the background of the next.  For both, I matted them with black paper.  Then, for this one, I simply added the main focal piece (with a couple of pieces added to the horses faces for dimension) and a sentiment from the set.  Card #2 DONE!

Card #3:

Again, I matted this piece with black and glued them both on the card front.  Then I added a couple of smaller horse pieces.  I trimmed them around the "collar" parts of their get-ups (not a horse person - don't know names!) and put them in place so they looked a bit like they were hanging their heads over the stall door.  I did have to cut the left ear from the horse in back and move it to the right so he'd have an ear there (figured the other one would be hidden anyway).  I also had to grab an ear from a smaller die cut to add to the right side of the horse in front so he would have two ears.  I then added a second layer of the harness pieces before adding the sentiment (with a sticker "holding" it).

Card #4:

Now it was getting even more challenging.  I only had a small scrap of the AS left!  I found a "cloudy" A2 sized piece of paper in my stash and added the single horse so he looked like he was behind the remaining piece of AS that I used for a lower border.  I finished that border off with a border strip that came in the set and added a sentiment from the set to the upper left corner.

Card #5:

By this time, I had one more set of horses to use up.  Because of the way they are made, there isn't much I can do except align them to the left side (because they're cut off there) and put them behind something (because they're cut off there).  This time, however, I also had a sentiment that was greenish in color so I needed to somehow make that fit.  I found this background piece I had made with a wax resist technique a long time ago.  It would help blend in the sentiment.  Then I needed to find something for the horses to stand behind.  Since the AS was gone, the only thing I could find was a piece of scrap from the die cut sheets.  That worked pretty well - especially when I added the remaining border piece from the set to the center of it.  I had a remnant strip of the background card stock that was plain (no resist there).  I decided it would work well with a strip of gold tag board from my stash to create a border near the top for the sentiment to sit on.  I felt that I needed a little more near the bottom left corner, so cut a couple of red hearts from the tiny scrap of AS remaining, cut another from white, and scattered them there.

ColorMe

 

Today I decided to tackle a stash buster challenge - to use up some ColorMe products from HOTP.  The pattern on these products is designed to behave like an embossed resist - letting you fairly easily color in the pattern with colors of your choosing.  What I have is from years ago and working on these reminded me of why I haven't used it much!  Truthfully, though, what made it most frustrating to work with these was less the fault of the ColorMe, and more the fact that for some reason, none of my water brushes will let water through any more!  

Card #1: (above) - To color this first one I used Gelatos.  I colored them on my craft mat and picked them up with a wet brush to color in the design.  These are designed to be used on 5" x 6 1/2" cards.  My card blanks are 5" x 7", but this design worked well.  I fussy cut the bottom off the design and then it fit centered on my card front nicely.  They included sentiment pieces, so I colored one and then matted it on white card stock that had been die cut with one of Spellbinders Fancy Tags dies.

Inside:

 

Figuring out what to do on the inside was a bit challenging since I didn't have similar paper.  I found some scraps in similar colors and created a border.  They DID have a little rose on the sentiment page that I colored and added here.

Card #2:

 

This time I used Inktense pencils with my water brush - much easier to control!  Again I colored a coordinating sentiment and matted it on a Spellbinders Fancy Tags die cut piece of white card stock.  However, this time I decided to create an A2 sized card.  That meant that I cut off part of the ColorMe - which gave me something for the inside of the card!  I used a black Sharpie to color the top and bottom edges, and added a turquoise sticker border along each outside edge.  Then I added some little butterfly stickers, and some Jewel Dazzles to complete the look.

Inside:

 

Inside I simply added a strip from the leftover piece to create a coordinating border - again using a black sharpie top and bottom.

New Year New Swap Card

I'm STILL trying to get my table cleaned off.  I had gotten on the digi-swap cards made, but still had this embossed piece I had made for it that I ended up not using.  SO, I went looking and realized that it would work perfectly for this month's swap card - that was to use a background that I embossed, inked, or stamped.  This one, at least, is two of the three (Darice's Damask embossing folder). 

To this I added a border created with two different widths of ribbon before gluing it to the card front.  Then I added the sentiment - in front of a pink die cut & punched circle (actually two layered circles - the top of which is vellum.  The die cut you and stamped/die cut sentiment are both from a set my Mom has.  

The focal was created by adding a flower (Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms dies) to a white glimmer paper mat (Spellbinders Splendid Circles cutting die) which I added to the upper right corner as you can see.

2025 Jan - Digi-Paper

Today I have 4 cards that I created using digital papers I printed on 1 sheet of paper - the digi-paper is not new, but it's the first I've used in the new year.  The first 3 cards are all similar - cut from two patterns and an embossed white glimmer paper (Cuttlebug Divine Swirl embossing folder) that were all the same size.  I simply stacked the three and cut two cuts to create 3 pieces from each - then mixed and matched.  On all 3 I used thin white sticker strips (Dazzles) to separate the papers. Then inked the outside edges of each panel.

Card #1 (above):  Before gluing the panel in place, I ran a white ribbon across the top.  Then, after gluing the panel in place, I added a Sassy's LLC sentiment matted on a double-layer of punched pink circles (top layer is vellum) and added a couple of ribbon bows - one pink, one white.

Card #2:

This one has the pieces arranged upside down from the previous (because I preferred to have the white toward the top.  I again added a Sassy's sentiment, but this time the double layer was in green (again, the top layer is vellum).  I finished it with a green ribbon bow.

Card #3:

Again, I wanted the white at the top, so this time I created the card vertically.  As you can see, I added a strip of the ribbon across the top before gluing the background in place and adding the sentiment & ribbon bow.

Card #4:

This last card was made using the scraps left over from cutting the previous to size and gluing border strips of patterned papers to the inside of the previous 3 cards.  You can't really tell it, but the top patterned piece doesn't extend the full width like the bottom piece does.  In addition to adding the matted sentiment, I added a few flowers & leaves from my stash (Spellbinders - Be Bold Blooms, Grand Tropical Flamingo, and Tropical Friends die sets - may be others)

New Year Table Cleanup!

I had a bunch of stuff on my table that was leftover from making things for the holidays and it was past time to clean it up!  This card was made to use up scraps of patterned paper that were leftovers sitting on my table.  The flowers were made using dies from Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms set - a great set for flowers!  All sentiments were from a stamp/die set my Mom has.  Here's how I made it.  1) I took all the pieces, taped them together, narrowly matted them on white, and added white strips between the papers.  2) I cut a piece of black paper just smaller than the card and embossed it using a Cuttlebug Divine Swirl embossing folder - then glued it to the card front before centering the matted piece on top of it.  3)  I added inked stamped images, die cut flowers, and punched dots to complete the card.

End of Year WOW

Today was the last day to post a project for the White On White challenge on the message board I frequent.  It's been a long time since I made one of these.

I started by embossing a piece of white glimmer paper (Brocade embossing folder from Fun Stamper's Journey).  This piece was cut to 4" x 5 1/4" so that it would fit with a bit of a border around it.  Before I added it, I created the border at the bottom.  I started by adding a strip of double-sided tape to which I added a piece of netting - ruffling it as I went.  Then I added another strip of double-sided tape and wrapped a piece of satin ribbon around to cover the tape (used scotch tape to fasten it to the back of the panel.  I found a narrow paper ribbon that I added to the top of the satin ribbon - again taping it in back - before gluing the panel to the card front.

To finish the card, I added a double layered die cut sentiment (Moonstone Happy Anniversary cutting die) - cut from white card stock, and 3 white butterflies that I had gotten from the dollar store.  Looking at it, it might have been better if the border had been raised a little to divide the card in thirds, but it is what it is.

KCC16 - Feels Like Frost

It's been awhile since I did a KCC, so I thought I'd do another KCC16.  I used papers from a Stampin' Up set called Feels Like Frost.  The papers were double-sided, but one side was a beautiful silver and white foiled pattern while the other was printed winter scenes and the two sides really didn't go together.  I found I generally had to choose to use one side or the other for all of the pieces as I was working with these.  As usual, I made the full set of 15 cards:

However, because the silver side didn't work well with the pictoral side, and some of the pictorals didn't go together (though quite pretty).  I left some pieces off of them - and then made a 16th card using those leftover pieces (see at the end of this post).  Below is a more in-depth look at each card I made.

Card #1: 

As you can see, I used the silver side.  I think this is my favorite sketch from this KCC set.  I matted some of the pieces in silver as you can see - including the Hunkydory sentiment.  I finished it by adding a ribbon bow and some Jewel Dazzles.

Card #2:

Again I used the silver side.  I embossed a piece of silver foil using a brick embossing folder by Darice.  I matted the center paper on white and added another white piece in the center (that one with inked edges).  I used Dazzles border stickers around the edge of the white mat.  For the focal I added greeting stickers, then added the leaves stickers.

Card #3:

This time I used straight line Dazzles stickers around each piece.  I turned the small white piece on point and added some balloon stickers for the focal.  I added a sticker greeting and this card was complete.

Card #4:

Again, I used the silver side - this time adding a silver ribbon across the center.  I matted my greeting on silver and then added the silver package stickers to each block to complete my focal.

Card #5:

Again I used the silver side and matted some of the pieces on silver.  I found this white tiger in my stash and thought it would make an interesting focal.  Then I found a Sassy's LLC greeting that went well.  Finishing touches were a fiber bow from my stash and Jewel Dazzles.

Card #6:

As you can see, this time I used the printed side.  I love some of the pictures on the printed size, but I'm finding it more difficult than expected to combine the various patterns.  At first glance they don't go together as well as I had hoped!  I matted the pieces with lavender card stock.  The focal was matted using a Spellbinders die (Splendid Circles) to die cut the mat.  The focal is a die cut sentiment (Creative Expressions - Stacked Thinking of You), matted on a white mat that was die cut using a die from Gemini's Winter Wonderland set.   I finished it by using a simple hole punch to create the decorative circles at the bottom left.

Card #7:

Even though I used the silver side of the papers, this one was one of the harder sketches for me this time - couldn't figure out about a focal and decorating.  I don't remember having this much trouble with this layout previously.  At any rate, after matting the squares and putting them in place, I finally decided to add a square of white to mat the little cat die cut (Temu).  You can't tell it from the picture, but I used a glimmer/glitter paint to add some sparkle to the cat.

Card #8:

Once again, I really liked the blue flowers, but the other piece didn't seem to go at all.  I finally discovered that if I wrapped the ribbon around the top of it - the part that was most glaringly out of place - I could make it work.  Anyway.  I matted everything on a dark blue paper, and added a strip of white card stock between the two papers.  Finally, I added the sentiment - matted on a blue punched scalloped circle and a silver glitzy mat die cut with Spellbinders Splendid Circles.

Card #9:

This time I gave up on the extra pieces - they were supposed to be added as little banners in the lower right corner and I just didn't like it.  I set them aside thinking maybe I could use them to make a 16th card.  We'll see.  At any rate, I embossed a light lavender mat using my Darice Damask folder.  I found a light purple card stock and die cut the sentiment from the center (Creative Expressions - Stacked Just Because) before matting the focal picture.  I glued it in place on the embossed mat, then wrapped the whole with a narrow silver ribbon before gluing the whole to the card front.  I added a ribbon bow and the sentiment as you see in the picture.

Card #10:

Again, I had two papers that I wasn't sure went together.  I decided to create the background from a green card stock this time - embossing it with my Swiss Dots folder from Cuttlebug.  I matted both pieces with a purple glimmer paper, then added a darker green mat to the lower piece.  The focal is a Sassy's LLC sentiment, matted with a scalloped punched purple mat before matting on a plain white circle inked with green.  I added a narrow purple ribbon bow.  I added purple punched dots to the upper right corner, then added gold Jewel dazzles to the center of them.  It still felt really plain, so I added a butterfly sticker from the dollar store (and drew in antennae for it).

Card #11:

This time there were multiple pieces arranged in a frame.  I glued them to a white piece of paper - then matted them on silver glimmer paper.  I decided it might be interesting to add the "Mrs. Santa" to the center of the card for a focal.  Finally, I added the Jewel Dazzles to the lower right corner, and the sentiment (from a Hunkydory sentiment book) to the upper left to complete the card.

Card #12:

I was disappointed with this card because the glue lines on the back of the papers showed through - which did not happen on any of the other cards.  Not sure why, but I did my best to disguise this (not entirely successfully).  At any rate, I glued the pieces to a silver mat, wrapped the white ribbon around the center.  I used another of my Snowflake Foiled Fancies from HOTP for focal and embellishments.  I matted the focal on a piece of white card stock that had been die cut with a Spellbinders Teardrop Circles cutting die. I added a Hunkydory sentiment and a silver ribbon bow.

Card #13:

After embossing the card front with a Fun Stamper's Journey embossing folder called Brocade, I matted the patterned piece and glued it in place.  After punching a blue scalloped card stock mat, and a silver die cut mat (Splendid Circles from Spellbinders), I added a blue matted silver tag piece behind it before gluing everything in place and attaching a sentiment from Sassy's LLC.

Card #14:

As you can see, I matted the patterned paper on white and wrapped a ribbon around it, then matted them on silver linen card stock.  The sentiment (another Sassy's LLC) was matted with the same silver card stock.  Last touch was a ribbon bow toward the lower left corner.

Card #15:

This last of this KCC16 set was turned on its side.  I matted the papers on silver linen card stock.  Then added more of that card stock to the upper left and lower right corners.  I then added some silver holographic border Dazzles before creating the sentiment pieces.  The main one is a Sassy's LLC sentiment matted on silver linen card stock (die cut from a Spellbinders Teardrop Circles die set).  I used a narrow border sticker to border the sentiment.  The smaller sentiment in the lower right corner is one stamped and die cut using one of my mom's sets - matted on a scrap of silver linen & then silver mirror, I also used the narrow border sticker right around this sentiment.

Leftovers:

This final card was created from leftover pieces that I had decided NOT to add to the KCC's because their patterns really didn't go well with the other patterns I was using.  By using the silver side, they all went together and I created this final card.  I matted a piece of white card stock on silver glimmer paper and embossed the two together (Fun Stamper's Journey Brocade again).  After gluing that to the card front, I put the patterned papers together as you see - dovetailing the ends of the smaller pieces.  I glued them in place and added silver narrow border strips.  After double matting the sentiment (another stamp and die set of my mom's) and putting it in place, I added 3 small Foiled Fancies Snowflakes (from HOTP) and a white ribbon bow to finish the card.