Same but Different!

 

Compare this card with the next one:

They look quite different and have a different feel, despite the fact that they are made with the same card base (cream colored A2), the same patterned paper (stripe from HOTP), the same teal card stock cut with the same die, the same color ink, the same flower Dazzles, and even have a similar layout!  In part, the difference springs from the focal - as I'm sure you would have guessed - but the differences are greatly enhanced by a chalk/ink technique that I'll describe in a minute.

First, a look at the other elements on each card:

• Most elements on these cards were cut with dies from the Marvelous Squares set by Spellbinders.  Most are pretty straight forward, but the diamond-shaped frame on the first card may need a bit more explanation. I started with a square of striped paper that was larger than the die that cuts the corner decorative elements (which were cut at the same time and used on the 2nd card - after being matted on cream colored card stock).  This gave me a square with decorative cut-outs and a diamond shape in the center.  I snipped out the diamond shape (with a pair of scissors) at the 4 attached points.  This frame was then backed with the blue card stock.  With the two pieces taped together, the outside edge was trimmed with a pair of decorative edged scissors.
• For both focals, the die was used as a stencil and a bluish ink applied with a make-up sponge to give the softened edges you see, then the sentiment was stamped.  Though the color of ink is the same, it looks a bit different depending on whether it was stamped/stenciled on tan or blue card stock.

I wish I had pictures of these two cards at this point, as the difference from the finished cards was striking.  At this point, the focals just didn't seem to go with the cards!  Though they were colors that coordinated with the patterned paper, they just stood out too much.  Starting with the 2nd card, I decided to add a bit of tan chalk around the outside edges of the cream colored card stock to help pull the card together better.  That made such a difference!  The focal actually seemed to go with the card now!

The first card was a little more challenging.  I started by adding a row of Stickles dots on each side. This helped, but the card still felt somewhat disjointed.  I tried adding chalk around the edge like I had with the 2nd one.  The first color I tried was too green.  I tried going over it with a bluer chalk. That helped, but still didn't look quite right.  Finally, I grabbed the ink I had used on the focal and, using a make-up sponge, applied it over the chalked edge.  That finally did the trick. My focal finally felt like it belonged on the card. So, I guess the moral of the story is to keep trying different techniques until you get what you need!

Oh yea, one more difference.  On the first card, I ran my teal card-stock square through an embossing folder for added dimension.

Sketch Challenge

This card is my take on a sketch challenge posted on the Paper Wishes Message Board.  I took several liberties with the sketch, but was intrigued by the little envelope in the sketch.  I have an old book from Hot Off the Press that has a bunch of vellum envelopes in it and I've been trying to figure out how to use them, so I figured this was a perfect chance to try.

PW Sketch

This is the sketch.  As you can see, rather than a 3-row greeting, I stamped my greeting all over the striped paper, my envelope was set at a bit of an angle, and the corner treatments are a bit different, but I'm sure you can see the similarities as well.

For the corner treatments, I used a spellbinders die from the Decorative Labels Twenty-seven set with purple glimmer paper and threaded a white ribbon and purple piece through that. The flowers are from the same vellum book as the envelope - cut out and backed with white paper so they can be seen better.

I made a little greeting to go in the envelope by using a small embossing folder that I inked with some dusty concord distress ink before embossing.  Here's a picture with the little greeting mostly pulled out of the envelope so you can see it:

The raised white letters really stand out well against the distress-colored background.

Purrfect - for Me

Today's card is a little hard to see, but is a card I made for my honey.  I don't particularly like the layout I used, because there's a bit of a fight for focal - should probably have put the flower closer to the cat.  Anyway, I enjoyed playing with the techniques. 

The cat and the saying above her were embossed with clear embossing powder.  "You're Purrfect" is stamped with embossing ink all over the piece to the left of the cat. The result is similar to that of the cat but a bit lighter since it wasn't also embossed.  I used the same mini stamp set (one from Inkadinkadoo) to stamp on the ribbon - this time using a maroon ink.  It's not easy to see in the picture, but I used red Jewel Dazzles, adding one to the brad at the center of the flower, and cutting a couple more into almond shapes for the cat's eyes. The eyes look GREAT in person!

Spellbinders Thanks

This card was made for a Spellbinder's challenge - but I forgot I was supposed to take pictures of each step, and I ran out of time to re-do it and get pictures of each step. SO, I didn't get it submitted for that, but I was really happy with the way it turned out and figured I'd share it here.

The base is a piece of lavender card stock, with patterned paper from HOTP matted with purple glimmer paper.  I used 3 Spellbinder's Die Sets:

1. Fancy Ribbon Threader, 
2. Labels Twenty-Seven, and 
3. Decorative Labels Twenty-Seven.

From the first I cut/embossed the largest piece and the piece for the sentiment.  I threaded silver ribbon around the outside of the large piece as you can see, and tied a bow.  I cut a strip of lavender card stock, inked the edges, and threaded it through the slots.  For the sentiment, I stamped that on a small piece of lavender card stock, inked the edges, and glued to the ribbon threader mat.

Next I cut/embossed several shapes from the purple glimmer paper and lavender card stock:

• Lavender - all from the 3rd set - largest, next size down, and smallest.
• Purple - next to smallest from 3rd set and largest and smallest from 2nd set

To assemble, I took the largest purple one and inserted it into the largest lavender one. This required a little snipping with my scissors on two sides of the lavender to give the look I wanted (the die only cuts for insertion on two of the sides and I wanted all 4).

The rest were just placed on top of each other as shown - adhered with foam tape for dimension. 

To finish the card, I added a small Dazzle sticker in the center and silver liquid pearl dots in strategic places.  It looks really nice in person, if I do say so myself. :)

It's been a busy holiday season for me with unexpected visitors, so I haven't been able to post to my blog regularly so far this year.  Hopefully I'll soon be back on track with that!

Have a wonderful 2013!