Sunday, September 14, 2008

A New Design Unfolds

While vacationing in Chicago last month with my mom (www.studiobeecreations.blogspot.com/), we stopped in the first ever Paper Source location. They were having a fantastic sale on lots of goodies including some summery paper colors. Included in the sale were sets of matchbook cards (A2 size). I bought a set of 25 just to get the measurements.

When I attempted to score the card in the correct dimensions, I was off by about 3/4". And not just the first time! By the time I figured it out, I had four cards with an extra score near the bottom fold. So, I covered the score mark on the inside of the card with a piece of ribbon which I also used to tie through as a bow on the top of the card.

Then, I needed to cover the score mark from the outside. I decided to incorporate a stamping element on the card. And I love heat embossing. So, starting with the "happy" cards, I pulled out the Stampin Up "Happy Everything" stamp set (pg. 143 of the 2008 catalog). These are posted for sale on etsy.


The "smile be happy" card uses the Quickutz Sophisticate set. I cut out the large letters using the Quick Stamps foam to stamp and emboss in copper the "smile". Then I used the smaller gel stamps from the set for the "be happy" pop up piece. On another card, I stamped out "time to smile".

"Best" is also cut from QK dies - can't remember now which font. But it looks like Biography. I stamped using craft ink and then heat embossed using clear. Once I get it posted, you'll be able to see the detail. For "Best Dad" I used the QK Silhouette to cut out the grill. But since I found the white core of the paper I used too distracting, I used a coordinating Stampin Up ink marker to color the edges. I did the same with a graduation cap for the matching "Best Grad" card.

It has been about 2 weeks since my last blog entry OR my last etsy post. I have been working on a creative project for work. Hopefully I will be able to share that story by this weekend.

Thank you for visiting. On your way out, check out my sister's blog at http://joy-full-ness.blogspot.com/.

Monday, September 8, 2008

From the Road: Lesson Learned

Keep all ribbon scraps!! These two cards both demonstrate this important lesson I've learned in my efforts at creating on the road. Especially this "just for you" card. The row of little knots was the perfect accent.


The negative image (from the In Any Event Stampin Up set) is stamped on vellum using classic ink from Stampin Up. The watercolor effect was unintended, but I will use it again. Unfortunately, the "thanks" sentiment did not come out clearly enough to be read. So, I covered it with a lovely piece of textured cardstock edged in brown ink and stamped using the Quickutz Sophisticate set. Finally, the vellum is attached to the same creamy cardstock with large brushed gold eyelets.



With this card I was going for understated. The paper itself is busy enough without accenting it too much. I began with the brown center - a scrap!! I knew I wanted to use the marigold yellow to tie it the paper's color theme (the back side of this double-sided paper is marigold yellow, too). But I also like to layer my paper pieces with ribbon. So I took a length each of gold and thinner brown-stitched ribbon and layered these in between the paper. The sentiment to "wish big" (from the Wish Big Stampin Up set) is stamped in pink. The white card stock is edged in the same. And, even though I was going for simple, I couldn't resist one more embellishment... the white cupcake (same set) heat embossed in the brown paper.


Check back in a couple of days to find out what the "flip flap" is all about.