Ornamental Iris

Welcome followers and new friends from Card A Day Blog !  I have something today that I haven't seen as yet on the CADB.  Our theme this week is Christmas Ornaments, and, since I wanted to do something a little different, I decided to do a card with the technique of iris folding.  For those of you who might not be familiar with iris folding, it looks much more complicated than it really is.  It offers great impact for just a little extra time and preparation.

Almost any shape can be used for an iris fold design.  All you need is paper cut into strips and a piece of card with a shape (or shapes) cut into it.  There are many tutorials and free designs available on the internet, so just use your favorite search engine, and get ready to have some fun.

My card features a stamp from Stamp N Plus Scrap N.  They are worth checking out as they have quite a variety of stamps for iris folding.  (no affiliation)  Here is the stamp I used:

I started with an A2 card base (5 1/2 x 4 1/4) layered with a dark navy blue mat cut just a bit smaller.  The other papers I used were, as some of you may have guessed, scraps, of course.  (One of these days all my scraps will be gone; then what'll I do?)  I stamped the image with Versamark, embossed with a dark blue powder, and cut the oval.  Using the pattern provided with the stamp (Not all stamps come with a pattern, but it's an easy work-around.) I turned the design paper over on top of the pattern, and applied the paper strips according to the numbers.  Once you've done a few of these design you become familiar with how they're done, and you really won't need the pattern unless you're using different colors as I did here.

The pattern shows up pretty well, but I took a nice close-up for you

The center of the iris fold design is often a tiny picture, such as a flower, but I chose to use the embossing powder to bring out the blue color.  I used a glitter pen to add some sparkle, and then stamped and embossed the little greeting.  Since the folded paper bits make for some thickness, I decided to mount the dp (inked the edges first) onto an inked piece of white cardstock using foam tape to even out the card.  Before I completed the front I added some matching twine and a bow.  I thought about using ribbon, but the twine just seemed less fussy-looking to me.  Here is the completed front:

 When I was deciding which embossing powder to use I stamped snowflakes with my two choices.  I couldn't waste the two little samples, so I cut them out and used them with my inside sentiment which was also embossed.

 Here are the recipe details:
     Papers:  Wausau Bristol Vellum, Gina K Designs Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight In the Navy
     Stamps:  Stamp N Plus Scrap N, Papertrey Ink Signature Christmas set
     Twine:  We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy Deep Ocean floss
     Inks:  Versamark, Memories Direct Blue, VersaMagic Ocean Depth Chalk Ink, Sakura Clear Star pen


Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day to visit; hope you had some fun.  I know I did!


Always keep your creative genius flowing.........

 CHRISTINE

A Beary Cute Halloween

I just love being part of the CRAFTERS DIGITAL ARTS CENTER where so many digital artists come together to share their designs and ideas.  My card today is for the CDAC Progressive Challenge #4.  The theme for this challenge is Halloween or Mystical, and the digi art I chose to use comes from Sew Many Cards Digital Stamps.  I couldn't resist such a cute design.  Here it is after coloring:

I used Copics and Bic Mark-Its for the coloring---lots of them as you can see here:

The card base is white Wausau Vellum in standard A2 size.  I used black Recollections card stock for the mat, and ran it through my Cuttlebug in a Sizzix for Stampin' Up Spider Web Textured Impressions folder.  I gave the spider web a hint of color and glitter with studio g silver chalk ink.

I used the out-of-the-box technique (you'll find lots of tutorials if you do a quick search) to cut and frame the image, and used foam tape to mount it on a piece of Papertrey Ink Bitty Dot Basics paper with the corners cut using a Tonic corner punch.  The image and the card base were lightly inked with Martha Stewart by EK Success Curry ink.

For the finishing touches I used a dimensional sticker for the greeting (K&Company) and added a funny little spider (EK Success Jolee's Boutique).

On the inside I added another dimensional sticker mounted on the same dotted paper:

Well, I hope you enjoyed this cute little Halloween creation.  I loved working with adorable little Bailey Bear and his jack o'lantern candy bowl.


Have a wonderful day, and always keep your creative genius flowing!!

CHRISTINE

It's Snowing!!

Well, actually I hope not since it's nearly 80 degrees outside. But I've got a pretty snowflake card for you today. I'm the designated designer for today's Card A Day Blog, and I've had some major fun with this creation.  There are some interesting materials I've been wanting to play with, and this card provided a great oppotunity to do just that. Let's start you off with a photo:

I started my card with a standard A2 base in off-white. I considered using white, but I really liked the off-white with the dp I was using.  Once again, I used a scrap, but this time I can tell you where it's from. I didn't really have a specific idea for my card. I just knew I wanted to use my Martha Stewart snowflake punches that have been sitting around for awhile. I also knew I wanted to try out some of my 'mystery' materials.

With my Martha Stewart punches in hand, I took a piece of silver-glittered white paper that may have come from the loose stock at Michael's.  I cut a 2 1/2" strip to use with the Scallop Snowflake Deep Edge punch. This punches only half a snowflake, so I punched the strip on both sides to create the full snowflake. I punched three of these, and used one full one and one cut in half with the scallop trimmed off on the front of the card.

Next I took a foil candy wrapper (high shine) and a top from a yogurt container (less shiny), and stabilized them with paper scraps secured to the back. I used the Snowflake All Over the Page punch for these, and cut the snowflakes from the center since I wanted loose snowflakes. I glued these and the larger scalloped snowflake to 1" circles, and affixed some foam tape for dimension. These are the wrappers I used:

I picked up a cast-off 4" paper doily that I hadn't used on another project, and cut out the center. The scalloped snowflake fits perfectly inside. I used some glitter pens and inking to tone down the stark white of the doily. I also inked the card base and the white glittered paper using the same ink.

The tag is the same paper as the card base. I rounded the end under the snowflake and gave the other end a ribbon cut with scissors, and then stamped the greeting and inked the edges in a color to match the dp.  Here's a photo that gives an idea of all the dimension on this card.

For the card's inside, I affixed a piece of the design paper along with the second full scalloped snowflaked, and added a simple greeting.

Here's the full recipe:
     Paper:  Stampin'UP Very Vanilla, K&Company Yultide stack
     Stamps:  Stampin'UP A Christmas Carol and Merry & Type sets
     Punches:  Martha Stewart Scallop Snowflake Deep Edge and Snowflake All Over the Page
     Inks:  Tim Holtz Distress by Ranger in Antique Linen, Stampin'UP Pear Pizzazz
     Glitter Pens:  Copic Spica, Sakura Clear Star
     Also used:  paper doily (possibly from a dollar store), Zig 2-Way Glue pen, tape runner

And finally, here's a full front view of the card; hope you like it:

I hope the real snow doesn't fall on us too soon, at least not where I live.  :))  :))



Always keep your creative genius flowing.........

CHRISTINE

Hauntingly Spooktacular

I have another fun, I think, Halloween card for you.  In fact, each time I look at it I like it even more.  This card was made with ALL scraps, even the card base, as I made it for a scrap challenge at Paperthreads.  The challenge is to make a holiday-themed card using only scraps.  I had such fun making this one.

Here's the inside:

And close-ups:

All the circle stamps came from Just Rite 'Witch Way to the Treats' set, and the graveyard stamp is from an Inkadinkado mini borders set.  Everything was stamped with Ancient Page Coal Black and colored with Tombow and Stampin'UP markers.  I also used Spellbinders Circles and Petite Scallop Circles, a 1" EK Success circle punch, and the Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper.  The embossed 'frame' around the card was done on my Score-Buddy.  Other inking was done with Stampin'UP inks, and a tiny bit of glitter was added to the spider web using my Sakura clear star pen.

Please don't ask what paper I used; after all, it's all scraps, and I just don't remember.  :)

This challenge runs until October 12.  Thanks Paperthreads!
I'd also like to enter this card in the Making Halloween Cards Challenge

Thanks for stopping by today, my friends!!

Always keep your creative genius flowing.........

CHRISTINE

Angel Watching Over You

I certainly had a great time blog hopping this weekend with all the World Cardmaking Day hops going on.  At Card A Day Blog we're continuing our 2 1/2 month-long Christmas card extravaganza that was started with our weekend hop.  If you haven't been there yet, check it out.  I am one of several designers who will be bringing you Christmas card inspirations through the next eleven weeks, so get your supplies ready and make some cards with us.

Today is one of my days at CADB, and the card I have for you was actually my daughter's idea.  I threw out the question, "What should I do for this card?"  She was already aware of many of the themes we have coming up, and since this is an 'anything' Christmas week she suggested an angel.  What an excellent suggestion; I love angels!  (I think she was looking in the mirror when she made the suggestion.  She is definitely MY angel!)

I went in search of my angel stamps -- yes, I have several -- and chose, with daughter's help, a lovely set from Stampin'UP.

I stamped my angel with Ancient Page Coal Black dye ink and colored her with Copic markers.  Her halo and wings were colored with an EK Success metallic gold pen.  She was then mounted with foam tape onto a die cut.

The sentiment is another die cut piece, and is adorned with dimensional stickers (not sure where these came from--don't have the packaging--maybe K&Company??).

I was using a red card base, so I thought it best to have a lighter paper matted on the inside for the sentiment and signature.  I used the same design paper inside as I used outside.

The same die-cut set is used for the inside sentiment (layered) as for the angel.  All the papers were inked before assembling.  As you can see, I also rounded all the corners.

Here's the full view:

And now for the details:

     Papers:  Papertrey Ink Pure Poppy, K&Company Yultide design paper pack, Stampin'UP Very Vanilla

     Inks:  Ancient Page Dye Inkpad in Coal Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen

     Stamps:  Stampin'UP Angelic Joy set

     Dies:  Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Four and Shapeabilities Grommet Tags

     Misc:  Crop-A-Dile Corner Chomper, Scotch tape runner, Cuttlebug

See you again soon, my lovelies.....leave a comment if you can!  :)

Do remember to keep your creative genius flowing.........

CHRISTINE

CDAC Progressive Challenges and WINNER!!

Thanks so much to all those who participated in the Card A Day Blog Christmas Card Blog Hop, helping to celebrate our blast off to the holiday card-making season!!  Be sure to stop back there to see if you're a grand prize winner.  And a great big welcome to my new followers!!!  I am truly blessed to have you join me, and I will do my best to bring you new inspiration as often as possible while throwing in a bit of blog candy from time-to-time.

Now, before I get to the winner of my blog hop prize, I'd like to show you my entries from the past two CDAC (Crafter's Digital Art Center) Progressive Challenges.  Just click on the link for all the info.

I decided to make bookmarks for PC #2.  The theme was 'back to school,' and we had some really fun images to use.  I hadn't laminated my bookmarks yet so I wouldn't get the glare for the photos.  They'll also have some pretty ribbons attached.

The first image is an adorable bookworm from Jen's Digi Stamps.  I wanted my little curiosity seeker to have a little sass so I made her purple and added a little sparkle.  I also added my own slogan.

The second bookmark was made with an image from Stamp-n-doodle.  I just love this little cutie going off to school with her bookbag in hand.  Once again, I added my own take on a slogan.   I hope you like the play on words.....I couldn't resist, especially the way she's holding the apple next to her winking eye!

 
Both images were colored both digitally and using Copic markers and a Sakura glitter pen.

For PC #3, I decided to make a tag.  She may decide to become a bookmark, too (we're big readers in our house), but she really started out as a tag.  The image is Oak Fairy from Gurukitty Designs.  I thought it would be fun to give her the colors of an Autumn forest, and the sentiment is from the TCP Studio 'Autumn Harvest' stamp set.  She is colored with Prismacolor Pencils and the inking is done with variousTim Holtz Distress Inks, Memento Rich Cocoa and Versamark Onyx Black.

And now for the winner!!!  I was torn on whether or not to tell you what you've won, but I've decided to keep it a surprise.  I know I love getting surprise goodies in the mail, and I hope you do as well.  So, here we go, the winner is......................................





                                              TINA CAMPBELL


Congratulations, Tina!!  Please email me with you mailing address so I can get your surprise right out to you.

Thanks for visiting today, everyone!  I'll be back tomorrow with another card design for CADB.  Christmas is definitely in the air, so join us for lots of design inspiration and (yes, more prizes!) a new challenge!


ALWAYS keep your creative genius flowing.................

CHRISTINE

A Gift for You

Can you believe it's that time of year already?  Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?  How about those Christmas cards you were going to start making right after last Christmas??

Welcome to the Card A Day Blog World CardMaking Day Christmas Card Blog Hop.  If you just happen to be visiting me today, and you want to start the hop at the beginning, just click on the link.  You'll get all the important info about the HOP, the CHALLENGE and the PRIZES!!!

Our hop is featuring Christmas Cards to help get you inspired in your own holiday card-making.  My card is designed to look a little bit like a wrapped gift.  It has a little shimmer and shine, and the very traditional colors of red, green and gold.

I started with an A2 base of generic white card stock.  The green mat was run through the Cuttlebug using a Christmas tree folder and inked to give it more dimension.  I used a tone-on-tone red striped pattern paper for the smaller mat and gave it a little shimmer around the edges using a glitter pen.

For the centerpiece "bow" I used a large medallion stamp, and cut out a section that looked like a snowflake and would fit the size I needed.  That piece was embossed using a snowflake folder, and also enhanced with glitter pens.  The ribbon under the bow is actually a scrap piece of patterned paper that just happened to have the look I wanted.

Every gift needs a tag, so I stamped a scrap of gold shimmer paper, hand cut and mounted it, and inked the edges in red just as I did the card base.  I attached it using a large pearly red brad and a bit of twine so that it's free-swinging.  Here's a close-up:

The 'gift' is the wish inside stamped in a dark olive with some lighter green 'snowflakes' scattered about.

Here's a nice close-up so you can read the sentiment a bit more easily:

This last photo has the most accurate depiction of the colors.

RECIPE:
     Papers:  PAPERTREYink, Wassau
     Inks:  Stampin'Up Real Red and Pear Pizzaz, Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Pine Needles
     Glitter Pens:  Copic Spica Green, Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Star
     Stamps:  Holly Berry House Medallion 1707-N, Waltzingmouse Complements of the Season
     Brad:  American Crafts Elements Pearl Brads

I hope you've enjoyed your visit today at Creative Genie-ous.  If you leave me a comment AND you're a follower of my blog, you'll be entered in a drawing for some blog candy from me.  This prize is separate from the main blog prize, so be sure to get entered in the challenge for that one.  It's a biggie!!

Your next stop is Cindy Foster's blog, Cindy's Creations.  Be sure hop on over and leave her some love!!  And check back Monday both here and at Card A Day Blog to see who won!


Thanks so much for coming by today and always keep your creative genius flowing!!!


CHRISTINE

World CardMaking Day Blog Hop

Hi everyone!  Just want to give you a little advance notice about a cool blog hop I'm in this weekend.  As a designer for the Card A Day Blog, I am participating in a hop celebrating World CardMaking Day which happens this year on October 1st.  The hop includes 13 designers, and will run the whole weekend through midnight ET on Sunday night so you'll have plenty of time to check out all their blogs.  There are lots of prizes involved both from the main blog as well as some of the designers' personal blogs.  And we are having a challenge!  You'll have to visit and play along to win!! 

Our special hop will be featuring Christmas cards to help inspire you in your own holiday cardmaking for the upcoming season.  Then the daily card inspirations will continue, starting Monday until just before Christmas, with various themes, including Christmas Around the World, Children and Christmas and much more.  Every month is a new challenge with more prizes!!  So visit often!

Hope you'll save some time to pop in for the hop!!

Hugs!!

CHRISTINE

Best Witches.....

It's 'Halloween' week at the Card A Day Blog, and I decided I wanted to try cute rather than scary.  If you're new here from CADB, welcome.  I'm glad to have you here for a visit, and hope you'll decide to become a follower.

As I was foraging through my Halloween goodies to come up with an idea for my card, I happened upon some Sizzix dies that I had forgotten about.  I had been considering a newish stamp set that I had, and thought the combination would make for a fun card.  It all started with a certain cute little Halloween witch.................

I stamped her on white cardstock, colored her with markers and paper-pieced her dress.  I die-cut the ghost, and then backed his head with a shimmery scrap to highlight the eyes and mouth.  Then I inked him with some blue and gray for dimension.  I die-cut the word 'Beware' from a piece of gray and black patterned paper, but instead of using the letters, I used the negative and backed it with some orange that I had darkened a bit with gray ink.

Next I went to work on the jack-o-lanterns.  I had two different dies, so I cut them both twice, and reversed the colors for the eyes and mouths.  I colored the stems, and inked around the eyes, mouths and outer edges.

The card base is a two-sided patterned paper.  I liked the green for the outside of the card, but it was a bit bright.  I used gray ink on a cloud background stamp to darken the green a little.  You really can't see the clouds, but it provides the needed effect.  I used a torn paper mask so as not to stamp the lower part of the card.  Then I added a dark bottom border using more of the gray/black striped paper.

Most of the elements were mounted with dimensionals.  You can see all the layering in the next photo.

The reverse side of the card stock is sort of a wild flame pattern.  It's in the wrong orientation for fire, and I thought I would insert a liner.  Flipping the card open, I decided it would be a fun surprise to leave it as it was, and just added a sentiment and a spot for a signature which carried over the colors from the outside.

Here's a closer shot of the sentiment!

I had so much fun putting this card together.  Hope you like it!!

Here's the recipe:
     Stamps:  Unity Bella Blvd 'Best Witches'; Impression-Obsession 'Clouds'
     Dies:  Sizzix Brenda Pinnick Pumpkin Face, Ghost, Jack-O-Lantern #2
     Inks:  Stampin' Up Basic Gray and Bashful Blue; Versafine Onyx Black
     Markers:  Copic; Tombow
     Cardstock:  Glitz Design Hallow Flames; Generations Stackers; Recollections; Stampin' Up
     Scissors:  Fiskars Paper Edgers

I hope you have a sec to leave a comment........I'm really glad you stopped by today!


And remember:  keep your creative genius flowing.........

CHRISTINE

Cats and Bats and Spiders, OH MY! ! !

I think Halloween really might be my favorite holiday for making cards.  It's just so much fun to pull out all the spooky and creepy and scary elements that we can use for this wild and crazy holiday.  Today's card is another design for the Card A Day Blog theme week, 'Cats and Bats.'  This post is somewhat photo packed so you can get up close and personal with all the details and angles.

The base for today's card is a leftover piece of a 12x12 Halloween-themed heavier-weight design paper I used last year.  You can see the card, which used the reverse side of the paper, here .  Unfortunately, I neglected to note down the source of the paper.  As in that card, I decided to make this one a tri-fold shutter, it gives so many surfaces and hiding places for design elements.  The 6x12 base is scored at 2", 4", 8" and 10" and cuts are made the length of the piece at 1 5/8" from each edge and between the 2" and 10" score lines.  The spacing of the cuts can be changed as desired.  Here is a photo of the back of the card which will give you a good idea of what your piece should look like when scored, cut and folded.  The card finishes at 4"x6".

With the base prepared, I started planning all the elements.  Of course, I knew the theme I was following, so that gave me my start.  I decided to feature the 'stars' of the theme, the bats and cat, on the front.  They needed a 'setting' so I added the gravestone.  You're going to love this:  the gravestone was cut from an old envelope.  I thought the inside of the envelope was great for a look of granite.

 

I love the look of the 'blood-drip' letters in the warning sign.  And, of course there must be a spider creeping along in the fallen branches.

The spider needs a sparkly web.  And it just wouldn't be right to leave out the jack-o-lantern or the skull and crossbones.  I also added a little extra sparkle here and there which doesn't show up well in the photos.

 

I hope you've enjoyed my bit of Halloween fun with cats and bats.  Here's the main recipe, followed by a few last photos.

RECIPE:

  Dies:  CRICUT October 31 Cartridge; Cuttlebug 'Creepy', 'Beware', 'RIP'

  Papers:  Recollections

  Stickers:  Jolee's boutique, K&Company Layered Accents 'Spooktacular'

  Rub-Ons:  K&Company

  Rhinestones:  Studio 18

  Ink:  Stampin' Up Basic Gray

  Glitter Pens:  Copic Spica Black, Gelly Roll Clear Star

  Dimensional:  3L Black 3D Foam Squares

  I hope you have a moment to leave some love.  See you again soon!!

Be sure to keep your creative genius flowing.........

CHRISTINE

THANKFUL

Hello, lovely blog family.  I'm here today to bring you another Card A Day Blog inspiration.  Our theme, this week, is 'Giving Thanks.'  With Canada's Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, and our US Thanksgiving not far behind, it seems an appropriate time just now to be making those cards.

I've been wanting to make a 'banner' card for awhile, so I decided to try it for this one.  First, I'll show you a pic of my supplies.  I gathered alot more than I ended up using, but sometimes doing it that way helps with the inspiration.

This ended up being another opportunity to make use of more of my scraps, especially since I took some time recently to sort them.  I don't usually have too many because I do try to use them as I go along, but there always seem to be more than enough around to play with.  The idea went through several changes before I settled on my final project.  I initially thought to make a 9"x4" card with a particular background paper, then I changed papers, then I wanted to do a 6" square, and finally I figured out something that I really liked using my always-and-ever favorite standard A2 size, 4 1/4"x5 1/2".

I had hoped to be able to take pictures along the way, but I got so distracted as I worked that I forgot all about the camera.  I'll definitely try to improve on that for future posts.  Now, without further delay, I bring you my card, which I am dedicating to you, my followers, because I truly am thankful for you taking time out of your busy day to come and visit.

Here are a couple of close-up shots where you can see the details and layering.

And here's the recipe:
     Paper:  K and Company, Recollections, Generations Stackers
     Dies:  Spellbinders Nested Maple Leaves and Petite Scallop Circles
                Die-namics Fish Tail Banner
     Stamps:  JustRite Times New Roman 60pt., Stampin Up Build a Blossom
                    Martha Stewart San Serif Typeface and Custom Stamp Setting Kit
     Punch:  Stampin' Up Build a Blossom
     Ink:  Memento Dye Ink in Rich Cocoa and Potter's Clay

Thanks so much for your visit today.  I really enjoyed making this card for you; hope you like it!


Keep your creative genie-ous flowing.

CHRISTINE

Havin' a Hootin' Good Time............

   A big welcome to those of you joining me from the new Card A Day Blog .  I do hope you'll consider becoming a follower.  If you're already a follower, and are not yet familiar with this fun, new inspirational blog, please stop on by.  We have several wonderful designers, weekly themes, and challenges with prizes!!

  I am having so much fun using OWLS on my cards this week.  Every day, it seems, I'm thinking of different ways to use this versatile image, especially when I hear the owls hooting in the woods behind our house at night.

  The card I have for you today has a slightly more atmospheric mood.  I'm using it for Halloween, but it can easily be adapted with a different style of owl and different backgrounds and elements for most any kind of event.

  I guess I've been in a 'krafty' mood this week -- paper, that is -- because that's how this card started.  But the way I feel about it.....

  My card base is the standard A2 (5 1/2" x 4 1/4") size.  I stamped the background forest in Stampin' Up Basic Gray ink using a wonderful 6"x6" stamp, 'Branches,' from Impression Obsession's Cover-a-Card line.  If you're not familiar with these stamps, do check them out.  They have some really fabulous backgrounds (disclaimer here:  no affiliation).  I wanted a shadowy look, but not too dark.  My big golden Autumn moon is cut from a lovely shimmery paper from Paper Temptress using a large Spellbinder's circle die.

  I needed something for my owl to sit upon, but I wanted a change from the branch, so I put him on Martha Stewart's Spooky Fence punched from Recollections black card stock.  The owl, itself, is from the Stampin' Up set, Dark and Dreary, and was stamped on white cardstock with Versamark ink and heat embossed with Zing black embossing powder.  The sentiment comes from a Studio G mini set, and is stamped on the same gold shimmer paper used for the moon and also embossed with the black powder.  It's matted on a bit of the punched fence for a little added detail.  Both the owl and the sentiment are mounted with dimensionals.

  The three little birds in the tree are actually part of the fence punchout.  I felt I needed a bit of something on that part of the card, so I cut them off the fence, coated them with Glossy Accents and put them in the tree.  For a finishing touch, I used glitter pens to add a spooky glow to the owl's eyes and some moonlight glimmer to the spider webs, the fence and the ground between the fenceposts.  If you click on the photo, I think you'll get a better look at the detail and texture on the card.

Here is a photo showing you the supplies I used:

  Just for a fun surprise, the inside of my card is stamped with the same background as the front.  It reads, "So Have a Happy Whoooootin' Halloween."

  I hope you've enjoyed your visit with me today.  Feel free to leave some love, and tell me what you like (or don't) about today's card.


Do remember to always keep your creative juices flowing.........


CHRISTINE

Owl Love You Always.........

I'm so happy to be bringing you my first card as a designer for the brand new Card A Day Blog which was just launched a few days ago.  We'll be getting into a Christmas Card Blog Hop in October, but for the month of September we are offering weekly themes which we hope will give you lots of inspiration for your own cardmaking.

Our theme for this week is OWLS.  It was quite a challenge to decide how I wanted to play with this idea, but I decided on a cute idea for an anniversary card.  This idea works equally well anytime you want to share your love with someone.  It's a fairly easy card to make, so you should have no problem adapting the idea for yourself.

I started with a Neenah kraft card base in standard A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"), and added a design paper mat.  Sorry, I used a scrap and don't remember the source.  The main face of the card can be made with any generic white or off-white card stock, mine is white.  The owl stamp is from a mini set by Studio G, and was stamped with Versamark, then heat embossed using Sweet Stamps Fine Detail Copper embossing powder.  I hand cut the owl, and set it aside to work on the other stamping.

The branch is from the set Birds of a Feather by taylored expressions. I colored it using Tombow and Stampin' Up markers, and, using the "huffing" method, I stamped the image.  I had stamped a few samples before stamping on the actual card, and decided I liked the rustic look I got when I didn't color in the image too carefully.  The word OWL is from the same mini set as the owl stamp.  I stamped it using Stampin' Up Soft Suede ink on a die-cut circle and layered it onto a petite scalloped circle.  I then inked the edges with Memories Direct red.  The rest of the sentiment is from the same set as the tree branch and also stamped with the Soft Suede along with the inking on the card edge.

Finally, I stamped a few hearts from the Heart and Flower set from Martha Stewart in the same red mentioned earlier.  I decided to give the owl a big heart, so I used the smaller of the two heart stamps and colored it in with another Stampin' Up marker because I wanted a brighter red.  I gave it a coating of Stampendous clear embossing powder.  The owl itself, as well as the word 'owl,' the owl's heart and one of the floating hearts are all applied with dimensionals.  Here's a photo of most of the supplies I used:

I sure hope you've enjoyed today's project, and would love your comments.  See you again soon!


Remember, keep your creative genius flowing.........

CHRISTINE