On the Diagonal

Starting to grow a little tired of matching up all my edges I decided to experiment with diagonals.  The result is a card that seems to throw you off balance. 

I'm not sure if this could qualify as masculine due to the rose image, but the rest of the colors lean that way.

The Inkadinkado rose image was stamped on white cardstock, colored using Tombows and a water brush, and mounted on a piece of pale yellow from a Wal-Mart scrap pack .  The dark green panel is from a pack of handmade paper (origin unknown), and the diagonal panels are from K&Company scraps.

Supplies:

Paper:  Recollections Card Stock;  1 lb Scrap Pack from Wal-Mart; K&Company Classic Mat Pad; Handmade Fiber Paper

Stamps & Ink:  Inkadinkado Best Friends; Archival Ink Jet Black

Other:  Tombow markers, water brush

Fireworks!

What a party Bella and Bronte are having! The combination of this image from Mo Manning's Digital Pencil Shop and the patterned paper screams fireworks to me. I'm sure the fact that, as a kid, Memorial Day Weekend meant the regatta was in town and fireworks were on the agenda has nothing to do with my impression. I printed this image on medium weight cardstock, and colored it with my Tombows and my trusty water brush.

Since the base color of the card is a deep red, and the card will likely end up in a box to be shipped to Operation Write Home, I lined the card with light weight printer paper. I experimented with some mini brads I found at Michael's to attach the liner paper:

Supplies:

Paper: Recollections Card Stock; plain printer paper

Stamps: Mo Manning's Digital Pencil Too - Celebrate digital image

Other: Tombow markers; water brush; acrylic block; mini brads

Experimental Flowers

I have inheirited some of my mom's crafty personality, and we love to banter back and forth with ideas and critiques. I'm pretty sure my father and husband don't understand all our artistic chatter, but they do their best to keep up. Mom and I also manage to balance each other out a bit. When it comes to letting the paint fly she's great at letting go and experimenting. Somehow I ended up wound a little tighter. Together we manage a happy medium where I provide some focus and she provides the freedom.

So what does this have to do with today's card? Today's happy flower card is the result of some time spent together where I was experimenting with that new cuttlebug of hers, and mom just sat back and watched. I like the simplicity of the card - and so far all of my cards have been pretty simple (do they qualify as clean and simple, or just beginner simple?). But the elements all seem to be a bit linear in their placement.

Ah well - it was a successful experiment anyway. I learned how to use the small edge embossing folder, and the flower die-cuts. Next time I'll try and let myself go a little bit. I did manage to cut out the green leaves by hand, and add some dimension to the flower with foam tape... does that count? {grin}.

Supplies:

Paper: Recollections Cardstock

Stamps & Ink: Archival Ink Jet Black; Hero Arts Anyone Can Stamp sentiment.

Other: Cuttlebug die 2x2 Flower #1 and A2 border embossing folder; scissors

Chasing Flies...

Yesterday Joel (my dear hubby) spent half the afternoon chasing down a herd of big green horse flies. With the window work (and previously mentioned open door policy for the dogs) it seems the huge flies descended on our dining and family rooms during the mini heat wave that hit us. (I spent about 20 minutes following him around and vaccuming up the remains - having them fly around bothers me less than all those bodies.)

So it seems rather fitting that Friday he arrived at the office to find this card waiting for him:



It was hard keeping it a secret from him - he likes to come in to see what I'm working on! When I first saw this Bugaboo digital image I knew he had to get the first card I made from it! You see, I never have to worry about getting bit by insects when Joel's around (apparently he's sweeter than I am)! Plus we had been out camping in California with my brother in May so it all just seemed to fit!

The image was colored using my Tombow watercolor markers and a water brush - I haven't figured out how to use the markers directly on the paper yet... but since I love to paint with watercolors it's all good. I just mix my colors on an acrylic block, dip the brush and go.

Supplies:

Paper: Recollections Cardstock; Black Ink Banana Leaf Decorative Papers

Stamps: Bugaboo Digital Image - Stella Summer Blocks mosquitos

Other: Tombow markers, water brush

Happy Dragonflies

We had a dragonfly zip into our house last week. I've never seen that before; moths, flies and annoying no-name bugs visit all the time (leaving the door open for easy dog access is a great way to invite insects too!) but we've never had a dragonfly visit. Fortunately, after a quick inspection of the family room, the dragonfly found it's own way back outside.

So, when mom walked out of Michael's last weekend with a new dragonfly punch I knew I had to try it! Another simple card, but the patterned paper says it all. I used the punch for both a border design, and then re-attached them to the top of the card. Who knew that putting them on randomly would be so difficult?!

Since this card is going to Operation Write Home I lined the card with white paper. The inside has a little more of the design paper to show through the dragonfly punch outs. Operation Write Home is an organization that ships blank handmade cards to members of the military serving far from family. Messages are then written and sent back home for their loved ones to treasure.

Supplies:

Paper - Recollections Cardstock; Scraps of patterned paper from Michael's; plain white printer paper

Other - Borrowed dragonfly punch from mom; Ribbon from mom's stash; blue thread; Aleene's Clear Gel Tacky Glue

The Journey Begins

Look mom - I've finally started my own blog! I know, I know you've been on here for a while... you like to dive in and go for it; I tend to be a little more deliberate. {smile} But here I am, creating my online adventure book for my artistic creations.

And now for my first card post... I have to give credit to Sandy for introducing me to the card making world, and I have been absorbing information ever since!

Over Memorial Day weekend mom brought her cuttlebug, and we experimented with her new toy. Together we created this simple little card with the dandelion die cut...

The dandelion image was cut from green and yellow scrap cardstock, and the sentiment was embossed on the bottom edge of the card. The outside frame from the green cut was placed on the cover. The green dandelion is up on foam tape, and the yellow dandelion is rotated so that the petals differ from the green flower, and mounted on foam tape.