Last 2 cards for June 2011

This card was made for the stamptv.com challenge to "CASE" a designer's card. Here is AJ's card that I copied but we had to make a minimum of TWO changes to it.
http://stamptv.ning.com/photo/img5209-1?context=user

Here's my card

I changed the background from turquise to turquise patterned paper. I also changed the flower stamp and sentiment (because I only have Enjoy the Sunshine hehehe) but kept it b&w because the DP was already so busy.

And here to close of June 2011 is just a simple card:

Meljen's Challenge #64 - Stripes and/or Plaid

Here's my entry for Meljen's Challenge #64 - Stripes and/or Plaid

I love Meljen's little possum. I added the sentiment in Microsoft Powerpoint next to the image before I printed it out.

Gatefold card

I made this card for a friend who broke her foot! Shame! And they live in a double-storey house with LOTS of stairs.

I followed Gina's instructions (http://stamptv.ning.com/video/gatefold-card-with-a-twist)
Stamp from Enjoy the Sunshine. (Sentiment I created myself)

Flutter Fairy

This card is an entry for:
1.  Lawnskaping Challenge #12 - Sketch
2.  Digital Pencil's "Flowers, Flutters, Fairies, Fancy Fold ... Choose one or all" challenge

Here is the Lawnscaping Challenge Sketch:

And the beautiful and adorable little Baby Fairy Flora is from Digital Pencil!

The butterfly cut-out was stamped with the "love you" stamp from GinaK's "enjoy the sunshine" stamp set.

DP challenge Stock the pantry 3 (6/20)

Doodle Pantry has the cutest digital stamps but also beautiful, inspirational Scripture messages. I chose this one as it is one of my favorite passages:

You can find the Doodle Pantry image HERE
Challenge: DPSTP03

CPS sketch 224

This week's CPS sketch #224 is a nice one! This is my card based on it (sketch at the bottom):

The sentiment's frame was made using GinaK's technique to use Spellbinder tags as a frame! See HERE for the technique video on www.stamptv.com
Instead of the large tag die, I used the smaller, narrowest one.

And here's the sketch!

Muchas Gracias - BBQ is a guy thing

I just love this guy from Mo Manning's Digital Pencil. Click here to buy.
The sentiment is one of a very cool digital stamp set of tickets with Thank You in Spanish/Italian, German, French, English, Russian, and Japanese. Click here to buy this stamp from Raindrop Echo Designs.

The BBQ guy was colored using Derwent artist pencils and cut out with Square Spellbinders Nestabilities. Another larger square was also cut and embossed with the larger sized nestability.
The ticket was cut out with a Spellbinders Fancy Tags die.

Win from the talented Tami Mayberry!

Tami Mayberry, a very talented designer for StampTV is launching an exciting new stamp set this week! See HER BLOG for more information!

Here's a sneak preview of the set:

But very importantly, she is offering a give-away of the Stamp set! So head over to Tami's website!

Stenciling with Impressabilities

I created the background image by using Gina's technique to stencil with a Spellbinders Impressability. After I've stenciled it with distress ink, Spun Sugar, I used a mini-sponge dobber with Aged Mahogany to lightly accent the flower centres.
See: http://stamptv.ning.com/video/stenciling-with
For the sentiment I stamped it on pink cardstock, cut and embossed it with a Spellbinders oval tag. I then also cut and embossed a Spellbinders Fancy Tag with the same cardstock and used Gina's technique as seen here: http://stamptv.ning.com/video/using-a-tag-die-as-a

new tools, new techniques

I went and got some new tools / materials today which allows me to create cards using new techniques. Here's two:

Perfect Pearls
See Stamptv technique video: http://stamptv.ning.com/video/glitter-it-up-with-perfect
Here's my card (using one of my new fancy tags!)

Pad-to-Paper using Distress Inks

I went and splurged on my first three Tim Holtz distress inks today. Here I used all three: Antique Linen, Spun Sugar and Aged Mahogany. I used the direct pad-to-paper technique, overlapping Antique Linen and Spun Sugar for the background. I then went along the edge with Aged Mahogany to create the frame.

... and another paper-pieced card (with another of my new fancy tags!)

Digital Pencil's Challenge #87: Tags!

For this week's Digital Pencil (Mo Manning) challenge we had to make a tag and use our favorite embellishment! I love ribbons & brads so used both since I always seem to manage combining them both!

Here's a link to the challenge and to see what the other fabulous entries look like: http://mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/06/challenge-87-tags-tags-and-more-tags.html

And here's my entry (I actually hung this on my kitchen cupboard door next to the stove):

More on paper piecing

I love paper piecing. It saves you from having to color parts of the stamped image and really lifts the image. But what type of images are best for piecing and what type of paper should you use?

To see the technique of paper piecing, see HERE on a Stamptv.com technique video.

From the technique video you can see that images with larger open areas are ideal to be used for piecing. This way your paper will show best. On very fine, intricate images, the detail of any patterned paper will be lost.

The paper you select could in part be related to the theme of your card. For e.g. shells for an ocean-themed card. But this is not necessary. It could also either be a solid color (see A Day the the Beach where the umbrella and bucket are a solid red) or patterned.

In my previous card, Regatta, I have three sail boats each with a different piece of paper. One is solid, another stripes and the third flowers.

If you select a patterned paper, it is best that the pattern is quite small so that you will actually see it once pieced onto the stamped image.

I have also found that thinner paper piece make work easier than really thick designer paper (cardstock). Normal scrapbooking 12x12 pages are usually ok, but just check that you might not want too high a raised border on the paper piece from the stamped image. (unless that is a special effect you're going for of course :D)

In the card below (a new one for the paper piecing challenge on Stamptv.com 20-06-2011) I have selected three different floral papers to paper piece the umbrellas.

The images and sentiment are from the Enjoy the Sunshine set from GinaK design.

Regatta

I created this card for the StampTV facebook page "Summer Inspiration Challenge". The boat is from the GinaK stamp set: "Enjoy the Sunshine"

I created a mask by stamping one image on top of some scrap paper which I then cut out. I first stamped the first image and then put the mask on top of it. I then stamped the left and right boat without overlapping the first image. The sails are all paper pieced.

The boats themselves were colored using Memento markers and the top of the water as well. The ocean was created by rubbing blue chalk ink onto the paper with a sponge blender. Because I stamped this onto glossy paper I rubbed some of it off with a paper tissue (this effect was actually by accident - whoop!)

The birds were hand drawn with black Memento marker.

Meljen's Pink & Pearls challenge!!

One of Meljen's new release images is this pretty ballerina. Having a 4yr old ballerina in the home just drew me to this image.

The challenge was Pink & Pearls!

You can buy this digital stamp HERE.

Digital Pencil's Challenge #86: Recipe with the CPS222 layout (and my Retro Kitchen entry)

I was so glad to come across Digital Pencil that features Mo Manning's absolutely beautiful and often humerous digital stamps! Here's the store link.

Challenge link: http://mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/06/challenge-86-recipe.html

For this challenge we had to: "Create a card or project with one element in this recipe. It could be an image with 2 people, an image that portrays love or a sense of humor. You could even create a card with a recipe included or something that has to do with cooking."  And here's my entry:http://mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/06/challenge-86-recipe.html

I also used the CPS layout 222 for this one. It is such a stunning layout (and the more you do it the quicker you get at it :D)

The dark back-layers is actually a burgundy but unfortunately appears almost black on the photo.
The sentiment I created myself in MS Powerpoint.
The stripy and dotty papers is from a Trim Craft "Desert Bloom" paperpack. See more from my online store.
Image was hand-colored using Derwent Artists pencils.

I'm a Meljen's Top Fiver!!

I'm so excited! Meljen's team picked me as one of their top five entries for their Thursday challenge for my Day at the Beach!

This is a great honour for me and I get to display the Top 5 badge :D

Check here for the winner and the other top 5's!

CPS sketch 222

A friend asked me to make a card for a baby girl and I thought that the sketch 222 would be a nice challenge!

See http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/ for CPS's blogspot and here's the layout:

 

Here's my card:

Sources:
Both patterned papers are a free digi-paper download from http://www.shabbyprincess.com/downloads.asp - See the 'shabby mommy' zip file
The images are from Digi Web Studio:
http://digiwebstudio.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5446&number_of_uploads=0

CAS challenge from Lawnscaping Entry #2

Here is my second entry for Lawnscaping's CAS challenge (see #1 below)
http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2011/06/lawncaping-challenge-11-cas-sponsored.html

 The back of the card is longer than the front and the sentiment is stamped on the back part. You can also faintly see that there are 3 score lines at the bottom of the front of the card.

Sentiment and flower stamp from GinaK's Enjoy the Sunshine set

 

CAS challenge from Lawnscaping Entry #1

Here's a nice CAS challenge from Lawnscaping:

http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2011/06/lawncaping-challenge-11-cas-sponsored.html

And here's entry # 1:
This card also provide a bit of fun. You can give it with the petals 'closed':

and get the recipient to open the message :D

The card consists of 2 layers of Spellbinders Labels 8 (largest size) of which the top parts are glued together. (The back layer is scored at the top for easy opening.)

The petals are cut from Spellbinders Petite Ovals Small (smallest size) and the flower centre is from Spellbinders Scalloped Circle Small (smallest size).



The sentiment is from GinaK's Enjoy the Sunshine set.

More ocean-themed cards

The card below was made for a Friday stamptv challenge where we had to incorporate texture.
See here for the technique on making the background (instead of using pad-to-paper I used a foam applicator and kept to the blue theme):
http://stamptv.ning.com/video/weathered-wood-backgroundThe image and sentiment is from Enjoy the Sunshine stamp set (http://www.shop.ginakdesigns.com/product.sc?productId=815&categoryId=-1)

This card was also made with an image from the Enjoy the Sunshine set. The background paper was made with a cuttlebug embossing folder that was lightly inked with chalk ink before being embossed.



Moxie Fab's Sewing Challenge

I just love the challenges and inspirations from Moxie Fab World.  They have a super challenge (closes 20 Jun) and you have to incorporate a sewing tool item, e.g. sewing machine, needles, thimbles etc.

http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2011/06/im-sew-excited-challenge.html

I'm submitting my antique Singer machine image card:

Life is Good

Another entry for the Meljen Design team's challenge # 61!

http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.com/2011/06/challenge-61-and-new-release.html

I just had so much fun with their digi-stamps I couldn't resist.
The sentiment is from GinaK's stamp set, "Enjoy the Sunshine"

Here are the source links:

GinaK Enjoy the Sunshine set: http://www.shop.ginakdesigns.com/product.sc?productId=815&categoryId=-1

Beach umbrella: http://whimsystamps.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_18&products_id=1101

Beach cat: http://whimsystamps.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_18&products_id=1100

Sand castle: http://whimsystamps.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_18&products_id=1030

Enjoy the Sunshine

This card was created for the Meljen Design Team's challenge # 61

http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.com/2011/06/challenge-61-and-new-release.html

I used 3 Meljen digi-stamps next to each other:

The sentiment is from the GinaK "Enjoy the Sunshine" stamp set.

Here are the source links:

GinaK Enjoy the Sunshine set: http://www.shop.ginakdesigns.com/product.sc?productId=815&categoryId=-1

Beach umbrella: http://whimsystamps.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_18&products_id=1101

Beach baby: http://whimsystamps.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_18&products_id=1028

Sand castle: http://whimsystamps.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_18&products_id=1030

A "Summer card with Waves" challenge

The following card was done for the Summer Card with Waves challenge and the Meljen Design team's challenge #61 (A coastal creation!)

http://create.northridgepublishing.com/departments/challenges/fathers-day-cards-challenge-gallery-and-a-new-challenge/
http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.com/2011/06/challenge-61-and-new-release.html

The two images are digi-stamps from Meljen's Designs. The sentiment I made myself.

When paper and ribbon is enough

I had some extra layers cut and wanted to quickly make up some cards. I didn't have time to do the whole focal image and sentiment process so I just used the layers with some ribbon, button and brads in these examples. They are nice since they can be used for any occasion.

A day at the beach

This card was made using two digi-stamps from Meljen Designs side by side.

Beach umbrella: http://whimsystamps.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_18&products_id=1101
Sandcastle: http://whimsystamps.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_18&products_id=1030

The umbrella and bucket was paper pieced. The sand was shaded using a tissue over my finger dabbed with Wheat chalk ink. The rest was colored with normal coloring pencils.

The clouds (a first try) was done using Gina K's technique for clouds. See here for the instruction video: http://stamptv.ning.com/video/quick-and-easy-clouds-1

Masculine cards

I know that a lot of people get stuck when it gets to making cards for guys. According to my husband the 'rules' are quite simple.

1.  No shiny stuff
2.  No bows (but knots are ok)
3.  No flowers

If you're lucky and you're making a card for someone specific and you know what their hobbies / sports / likes are it should be easy to find a focal image. Keep the colors bold or neutral. Usually you will stay clear of pastels.

If you're making general masculine cards, it is usually safe to stay with themes like the following:

*  Sports
*  Ocean (lighthouses, ancors, boats)
*  DIY (tools)
*  Men's clothing (ties, men's hats etc)
*  Geometric shapes

I'm sure the list can be extended but this is a good start and I found that as you start looking for one image, it makes you think of something else that's appropriate!

Here are some masculine cards I made with Father's Day in mind:

Digital focal image: Meljen's Designs - Purchased at http://whimsystamps.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13_18&products_id=1035. This was colored with normal coloring pencils.

Digital image: http://www.clker.com/clipart-26399.html
"Dankie, Pa" is "Thank you, Dad" in Afrikaans.
Digital paper: Go to stamptv's Freebie Page: http://stamptv.ning.com/page/freebies-2 - Scroll down to "Jersey Shore" and download the ZIP file.

Digital image: http://www.clker.com/clipart-small-boar-rowing-beside-lighthouse.html
Same digital paper as card above.

Sewing Challenge

The following cards were made for the Sewing challenge on http://www.stamptv.com/ (Use sewing on your project -- either real or faux stitching OR a sewing THEMED project)

The focal image is digital (can't find the link for it!!) and the oval was paper pierced and then threaded with embroidery thread and needle.

The DP was from a paper pad from Trim Craft in "Desert Bloom" (6x6). For more design options see: http://www.scrap-a-doodles.co.za/categories/Collections/Trim-Craft/?sort=newest

I imported the image into Microsoft Powerpoint and added the sentiment. The sentiments for all the sewing cards I found here:  http://www.quotegarden.com/needlework.html

Image source: http://ushistoryimages.com/images/antique-singer-sewing-machines/fullsize/antique-singer-sewing-machines-3.jpg

For my fellow "Joburgers", the designer paper was bought at Le Papier (located at Benmore Gardens centre near Sandton, South Africa). http://www.paperworld.co.za/index.php?/Paperworld-Le-Papier-du-Nord

The image was again imported into MS Powerpoint and the sentiment added.

Once again the oval was pierced and then threaded with embroidery thread.

This darling Granny is actually an image from a coloring page: http://www.printactivities.com/ColoringPages/family/grandma-quilt.html

The pink dotted paper is also from Le Papier (see link above)

I imported the image into MS Powerpoint and added the sentiment. I reprinted the image onto pink colored paper. I cut out only the quilt part and paper pieced it to the original black and white image.
See GinaK's technique video on paper piecing (not pieRcing :D):

To add interest I threaded a scrap piece of fabric and pulled the thread to create the "waves" (what on earth would one call this in proper sewing terms I wonder). 3 buttons sewed on with embroidery thread and knotted completed the image.

Other members' entries for the challenge: http://stamptv.ning.com/photo/photo/search?q=STVMONSH1

Practise makes perfect

I'm almost too shy to put this first card pic here but I wanted to show that practise does make (almost) perfect. But also that it's worthwhile watching what experts have created and also take note of their techniques. The first card here is one of the first I've made (I think I deleted the very first one because it was just shameful :D).

(Once again blogger is throwing this on its side, sorry)

So what's wrong with this? First of all, it lacks depth. Doesn't it look a bit "empty"? Depth is achieved by layering. If you look at samples of experts' cards you will see that they often use 2 layers on top of the basic card stock to mount the focal image on.

Examples:

Giovana who created the card above is one of my favorite GinaK designers on http://www.stamptv.com/ . Her style is very much what I'm working towards achieving. Do yourself a favour and visit her website. Your eyes are in for a treat.

By using two layers like this, you immediately give depth and interest to your card. It functions as a way of "setting the scene" so to speak.

If your main paper is quite busy you often just need one 'framing' layer behind it to make it "pop".

 https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQTc0ez9_yM_xpMYjE3Gri_4Pk682C_5myUUkaFMFLXtrFL_5iuayoA8ypTWav9rwUE34BIoO97qsO9QOKZiXjdmpiwV7DBo_lr-jEH_TcPa7vtqIhOZh53e3q3-q7kZQDOUSj5S5tJ0/s1600/Elegant-Elements.jpg

Theresa Momber who created the card above is an absolute artist when it comes to shading. Check out her website for fantastic instructions.

What about CAS?

All this layering is of course not always necessary if you are going for a "CAS" look (Clean and Simple).

With CAS your composition of image, sentiment and embellishment is key. The whole point is to leave it clear and uncluttered.

This card of mine is a good example:

For brilliant layout ideas see:

Clean and Simple

CardPositioningSystems

I'm particularly happy with the cards I made for the May http://www.stamptv.com/ challenges. (http://redcardcorner.blogspot.com/2011/05/cards-for-may-challenges.html) They show an improvement even if only in my eyes.

Visit GinaK's http://www.stamptv.com/ website for lots of opportunity to learn.

Congratulations (Designer Paper)

This card was made using DP (Designer Paper). Actually two layers of it that came in a beautiful pack (6" x 6") I bought from http://www.scrap-a-doodles.com/ -

The packs can be seen here: http://www.scrap-a-doodles.co.za/categories/Types/Paper/Scrapbooking-Paper/TrimCraft/?sort=newest

Cards for May challenges

The cards below were made for stamptv.com challenges. Some were a real challenge since it made me do cards I've not been comfortable with before such as the Chabby Chic one below.

The challenges work as follows: One of the design team will come up with either a layout, color, theme etc challenge and we're then invited to play along! At the end of the challenge week (Mon-Mon or Fri-Fri) a winner is chosen at random. It's great fun and so inspiration to see what the other ladies (and men!) come up with! I know I've advanced a lot because of them.

Original Chabby Chic challenge: http://stamptv.ning.com/forum/topics/mix-it-up-monday-shabby-chic



The card below I made for a friend of my Mom's. It doubled as a challenge entry on "Focus on Flowers": http://stamptv.ning.com/forum/topics/mix-it-up-monday-focus-on

This card was made for a Black and White challenge as part of their May stamp release challenge. I used one of GinaK's techniques on the background by coloring an embossing folder using an inkpad before embossing white paper with it. Came out awesome.

Link for technique:http://stamptv.ning.com/video/inking-a-cuttlebug-folder-1
Link for challenge: http://stamptv.ning.com/forum/topics/gkd-may-release-challenge-2

 Here's another entry for the Black and White challenge. I've seen little bit of paper piercing done on cards but when I googled it, I saw that some people do the most intricate designs! I found this website (that's actually for embroidery templates) but works great for paper piercing too.

This 'about' page tells you a little about how to do it: http://forums.about.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ab-scrapbooking&tid=57666
And here's the link within this page: http://s143.photobucket.com/albums/r125/madjara/embroidery-ornare

Here's my card with a close-up below:

 This card was a CAS (Clean-and-Simple) challenge where you had to use only one stamp, one sentiment and one type of embellishment (which could be repeated but only one type, e.g. ribbon OR pearls OR buttons etc). I'm more comfortable in general with CAS :D
The challenge (a May release challenge): http://stamptv.ning.com/forum/topics/gkd-may-release-challenge-1

Here's a Masculine birthday card challenge (for any age). I made one for our friends Lianne and Byron's baby boy who (God willing) will be born TODAY (1 June)!
The challenge: http://stamptv.ning.com/forum/topics/free-for-all-friday-challenge-1