Nasturtiums

Wow, another CAS card and a bright one at that! I decided to play Flourishes Timeless Tuesdays Challenge to use flowers.

I like to use the company’s stamps for challenges if possible but as I have NO Flourishes Stamps (how is that possible!?!?) I used some images I was given by Bonnie Sharp. I coloured them a long time ago so I am sorry, but I don’t know the colours I used. Once again, I can’t seem to get the colours in my photos right, the green in the ribbon isn’t as dark as the  leaves but much more vibrant than it looks.

The bow was an interesting discovery. I wanted both tails behind the loops and out to the sides but I couldn’t tie a bow to end up that way to save my life. So I used the method shown in THIS tutorial up to and including step 5. Then I punched two holes in the card, vertically, just under where you want the center of the bow to go. I placed the bow center over the holes and used another piece of ribbon to thread from the top hole over the bow down to the lower hole. Then I used a glue dot to attach the ribbon ends to each other inside the card. I prefer this method to simply tying a ribbon around the bow for the bow middle because it is less bulky because some bulk is inside the card. The size of the holes will depend on the thickness of your ribbon when bunched as does the spacing between the holes. Test ahead of time to determine the sizes to use. Remember that you don’t want the holes too large or you will see them and if the holes are too close together they may rip through.

Apparently, you can also get the tails to go to the back with the Bow-Easy if you pull them both up while tightening the knot. I’m not sure it would work with ribbon stiffer than the silk used in the example I saw online but I intend to try it out.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: Flourishes
Ink: UK
Paper: image-UK, white, summer sun CS-SU!
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, ribbon-May Arts, Copic Markers

Becky Oehlers’ Compose a Card Challenge – Baby Feet

Can you believe I’ve done another graphic card? Me neither! But that is why I do challenges, to stretch myself. Becky Oehlers’ started a challenge at her blog called Compose a Card. This is sort of a multi-faceted challenge. She provides the colours, paper sizes, accents to use and even a song as inspiration. She shows a card she made herself and a the photo she used as inspiration to make the card. She even gives you a PDF of all of the above to use when creating your own card! Cool huh?

I started out thinking of using the same dots as she used but as I looked for dotted backgrounds, I noticed this alphabet I bought second-hand a while back. The font was way too big for the little paper so I made up my own with an alphabet set. You might not notice it at first but there are two buttons under the bow.


Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: SU!
Ink: fresh snow-PTI, real red-SU!
Paper: aqua CS-Bazzil,  white, real red CS-SU!
Accessories: white taffeta ribbon-SU!, buttons-PTI, foam dots-Jody Morrow

Dragonfly Card for TE Card Drive

Taylored Expressions released a set a while back based on dragonflies. Some of the proceeds go to an organization called, “Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep”; they offer free professional photography services to families who have lost or are about to lose a preemie or newborn. Such a beautiful idea! I’ve made nighties and pouches before to hold babies that have died so I was very moved hearing about this organization and Taylor’s donations though I’m not a huge fan of dragonflies so I passed on the stamp set. Now Taylor is having a Card Drive for a local hospital where a relative and friend work in Labour and Delivery. They give dragonfly cards and a few mementos to families who have experienced a loss. So despite not loving dragonflies, I decided to make at least one card for the drive.

If you would like to participate, please see the details at Taylor’s blog post. Please read all the details, I forgot the bit about including an envelope for any card not standard size! Nuts, this measures 5x6” because I wanted to take full advantage of that fabulous DP! Not that I mind including an envelope but I simply don’t have any that size anymore. I used them all up for my craft show. Perhaps a clear one will do. Those I have!

I was uninspired by the dragonfly component of this challenge until I remembered that Basic Grey’s Wisteria pack includes dragonflies and I just bought the 12x12” pack with stickers; I was sure there would be one in the bunch and I was right! I am not the biggest glitter person ever so for me this is quite a bit of bling though on the subtle side. The Labels 4 nestie shape is covered in diluted white Liquid Pearls, the dragonfly is covered in Antique Linen Distress Stickles and I scribbled with a clear Spica pen all around the border or the card several times for more shimmer.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Ink: dusty concord, antique linen Distress inks
Paper: Wisteria-Basic Grey, white, amethyst-SU!
Accessories: Liquid Pearls, Distress Stickles, crocheted, silk ribbon-May Arts, Tiny Attacher, button-stash, dragonfly sticker-Basic Grey Wisteria 12x12” pack, labels 4 nestabilites, clear Spica pen, Copic BV02 to colour ribbon, EK Success large corner rounder, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Heart Envelope for Whimsical Wednesdays

This is one of the simplest cards I’ve ever made. I am not exactly a CAS kind of girl most of the time. I like my bling and pearls and ribbon and…

No, it isn’t just you, this card pic is out of focus. I have tried so hard to get sharp images, I think it MUST be camera shake (me) or the camera itself because I have been having a terrible time; the settings are all correct for how I like to shoot. I have to go back to the  store and get them to diagnose the problem.

Anyhoo, I made the template for this cute little envelope by reducing the size of a template from Wal-Mart on my printer/scanner. I used a punch out from the triple heart SU! punch as a template for the hearts which are cut from wool and acrylic blend felt from The Felt Girl on Etsy. Though based in the UK, the shipping was quite reasonable and the product is quite good quality! This card idea was inspired by a card made by Julie Ebersole. Her’s didn’t have the diagonal hearts, I added that to go with the sketch for this week by Madelynn. I made another  card more like Julie’s, it is shown below. This is a neat sketch huh? It leaves lots of room for many different techniques.

WAA HOO I hope you will all WELCOME Andrea Murdoch to our team!!! As you might have noticed from the notations on my sidebar, a couple team members have temporarily stepped down for a while. So, since Jess likes to keep  the team at 13 (not sure why), we are creeping up in numbers again. Be sure to visit her blog to welcome her to the TEAM! I can’t wait to see her FABULOUS work!! After visiting everyone, be sure to play this week’s sketch. Leave your DIRECT URL with Mr Linky so we can all see your work and if uploading to an online gallery, be sure to use DDSC24.

Last but not least, be sure to let me know which card you like best. I think I like the second one better but I really like both.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamp: PTI mega mixed messages, background basics-hearts
Ink: ridinghood red-SU!
Paper: white, kraft CS-SU!
Accessories: wool felt, SU! triple heart punch (as template)

More Notepads

I just love making these, so cute and fun. You really have to try it.

 
You could use any notepads really, you just cut your paper the length of the notepad plus the thickness of the pad plus about 3/8”. Score at the measurements you used to add up the length of paper needed and adhere the 3/8” strip to the back of the pad. That’s it!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: alphabet-CTMH
Ink: chocolate, perfect plum-SU!
Paper: (top) DP-DU!, (bottom) DP-MME, chocolate cs, (both)Vanilla CS-SU!
Accessories: PTI twine and buttons, scalloped circle nesties, Masterstroke ribbon, notepads-PTI