Relax Card

I had a BLAST making this card. I started with the Verve challenge going on right now but realized that it worked for several other challenges! Scroll down to see the other card I made for those challenges as well. 9 challenges in two posts, that is a record! Wahoo!

The Verve challenge was to combine the styles of two of their DT members, Jen, who is known for her colouring and Janelle, who is known to have  a paint brush in one hand and a Copic in the other. So combining those two styles is the goal but if you really want to make it challenging, add Jen’s love of kraft paper and Janelle’s love of mixed media.

Since I’ve been trying to add more mixed media to my work, I decided this was a challenge made for me. Especially since I won a Mojo Monday recently and had some brand spankin’ new Verve stamps to try out! And some new mists and masks… Yeah! I started by getting out my new Mister Huey’s mists but then I made the wise decision to cut some tags and test spray the mists. Sooo glad I did because they are so NOT the colours on the label!

Then I sprayed the background on my card base. Next time I will use some adhesive because the paper curls when the first few spritzes hit it but the mask doesn’t. I allowed it to dry while I prepared my tag. When I die cut the corrugated cardboard, the bumps got all squished so I lifted them back up with my bone folder. Then I applied two colours of paint, the turquoise you can see easily and a gold glimmer paint that is harder to see, along the edges. Then I added the sand and shell bits and while still wet I added some glitter. The rest is pretty easy to figure out.

I’m entering this in the following challenges.

Verve Dive Dare

Simon Says Stamp: Transport. I know a surfboard is a bit of a stretch but lifeguards use them to get to swimmers in danger so I figure that makes it count!

CAS-ual Fridays 105: Mapquest Summer Vacation

Ribbon Carousel 82 Fun in the Sun

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Verve
Ink: Mister Huey’s Bonny Blue, Memento black, teal zeal, Vintage photo Distress
Paper: reclaimed corrugated cardboard, kraft, aqua cs-PTI,
Accessories: mask-Crafters workshop, Copic markers, acrylic paint, Divine Twine, WRMK grommet, MuddPuddles shell bits, Malibu sand, foam dots-Jody Morrow, tag die-Spellbinders

Friends Forever–Verve Sketch

This card was for Feb week 4 of Viva la Verve Sketches. The ones they post at SCS. My kids spilled water on my computer so we had to let it dry out before I could post it here. I don’t know if you have to use Verve to qualify to win or if you can only win if you have played all 4 sketches but I liked the sketch so I played anyway. (ETA: yep, all 4)

I am really proud of this one. It’s been ages since I used my old stand by of pink and brown. Feels good to come back home! I have a few tips for you in achieving this shabby look.

Tip 1: To get a beautiful distressed edge, add water before rolling, squishing and pressing the paper. It’s a softer look that just shredding the edge with a distresser or scissors or your nail. The opposite side of the paper will show which is a lovely, shabby look. I used a Q-tip and water with Perfect Pearls in it. Never pass up an excuse to add some pearlized water! but you can add some ink in it to colour the white edges if you wish, either to match your paper or a brown for distressing. If you want some torn sections, do that before or after because it won’t tear well while wet! See photo below for some close up areas.

Tip 2: Spritz with diluted colour mist using pearl water. Just a little bit gives it an aged, stained appearance. It can be subtle but really helps bring the card together. I used it on all the corners except the ribbon banner corner. Fill a Mini Mister by Ranger  about 1/8 full with water and to 1/4 full with ink. Test and adjust until you like the intensity. You may need less darker inks and more lighter ink.

Tip 3: When you look at a sketch, think beyond your initial impression of what items should be used for a particular component. The horizontal element in this case was a scalloped strip. I could have gone with a scalloped punched paper strip or a scalloped edge ribbon which would have been even more interesting. But this ribbon treatment is miles above both of those IMHO. And if you immediately thought of ribbon for the banners, try thinking of ribbon next time. Or vice versa. What is even more interesting is combining them!!

Tip 4: Stamp on non-traditional surfaces and in layers. Stamping on the doily didn’t turn out perfect but that's what I wanted. The tips of a couple letters ended up on the holes and the texture isn’t perfect (part of the stamp too) but it looks vintagey! I also stamped the music on the striped paper which already had some texture on it from the manufacturer. If it hadn’t, I would have added some texture or script or something to it.

Tip 5: This isn’t specifically a shabby tip but a general tip. Cut apart or unmount that wheel stamp you never use! They are cheap and a great source of images. I now have 12 different words and 2 or 3 images! I wouldn’t have used that wheel hardly ever! (I bought it knowing I would cut it apart based on someone’s recommendation) The music image I used is also a wheel I unmounted. I leave it naked, no EZ Mount even, so I can apply it freehand which gives it a shabby or grunge look depending on how much ink I use and how dark the colour is.

Do you like the tips? The angled photo with props? These are also changes I’m considering trying out though it may seem slow to adopt as I use up some older photos. Let me know. Only though feedback can I make sure you get what YOU want out of this blog!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: music wheel, friendly words wheel-SU!
Ink: spray ink-Mr. Huey Boss Lady Studio Calico, chocolate-PTI, melon berry (stamped off)-PTI
Paper: chocolate CS-PTI, vintage typing paper for doily-stash, dp-MME
Accessories: perfect pearls-Ranger, pearls-Dollarama, flowers-stash, leaves-unknown silk cut smaller with rose creations die-Spellbinders, Doily die-PTI, ribbons-stash, sewing thread, foam dots-Jody Morrow, Scor-Tape, Ribbon-May Arts

Gift Card Holder/Gift Box for OCC Sketch Challenge and Verve Blog Party #5

This box was really fun to make. I was dubious about the accuracy of the template I was using only because scoring channels are REALLY wide. The set is made by Oriental Trading Company and I’ve had them for years, I just never got around to making any of them. Well, I marked the very center of the scoring channels and used my Scor-Pal. The template went together beautifully! I was so excited and I can’t wait to use more. This box is pretty small so it is perfect for a gift card or jewellery, DS game or other small gift.

Click on the sketch to visit the challenge.

I know my ribbon is a bit hard to see, May Arts silk ribbon is a bit sheer when placed up against patterned paper; wish I’d remembered that beforehand. Oh well. I added pearls so you could see it better. The flowers were initially flat, the light pink center was part of/the middle of the darker pink flower. I very carefully cut it out. Then I scored the darker pink flower, now a ring only and accordion folded it. I cut the turquoise paper with a Purple Cows hand held cutter with a tiny wave blade. Not EASY! Then I scored and accordion folded it too. The light link circle was cupped using an embossing stylus and a piercing mat. I also curved the leaves using similar techniques.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Paper: Crate Paper
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, Kaisercraft pearls, Sizzix swirl die, Oriental Trading Company template

Gift Card Holders for Verve Blog Party Challenge 5

This challenge was super easy because while the challenge email was sitting in my inbox, I was making gift card holders for hubby to take to work to sell! I had wanted to spread the love, posting several times rather than all at once but oh well, it is worth the chance to win a prize!

All tags are Cuttlebug dies with white CS-SU! using JustRite Stampers for the lettering. All gold and silver cord are by SU!

Gift Card Holder #1

Template: Cash or Charge by Lauren Meader for PTI
Paper: Alpine kit-CTMH, silver shimmer and white CS-SU!
Accessories: silver ribbon,  Basic Grey notch and die tool for insert, snowflake punch-MS

 

Gift Card Holder #2

Template: Cash or Charge by Lauren Meader for PTI
Stamps: snowflakes, joy, hearts-SU!
Ink: celery-SU!
Paper: celery CS-SU!
Accessories: rhinestones-stash, ribbon-May Arts

Gift Card Holder #3

 

Template: Cash or Charge by Lauren Meader for PTI
Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Ink: riding hood red-SU!
Accessories: Copic marker, foam dots-Jody Morrow

Gift Card Holder #4

Template: copied from Mastermind Toys
Stamps: snowflakes-SU!
Ink: Versamark
Paper: rose red-SU!
Accessories: Pilot gold paint pen, gold EP-SU!, ribbon-May Arts

Gift Card #5

Template: copied from Mastermind Toys
Stamps: SU!
Ink: memento black, handsome hunter-SU!, Versamark
Paper: handsome hunter, white CS-SU!
Accessories: gold EP, Pilot gold paint pen, Copic markers, foam dots-Jody Morrow

Enjoy, Rebecca