Love is in the Air

Happy Thursday everyone! 

I can't believe the cold temperatures in many parts of the country. I was watching the Atlanta ice storm yesterday as I have a son living there. Crazy! Stay warm and safe wherever you are.

I'm not sure why, but lately I am drawn to softer looks in my card making. I especially like the use of white on a single color. Maybe I'm hoping for an early spring. Another thing I like is how versatile many of the beautiful Valentine stamp and die sets are. Love is ALWAYS in the air. You can adapt most of these for anniversaries, birthdays, weddings or just a simple, I Love You card. This is one example of using this beautiful Simon Says Stamp heart wreath for a wedding card. 

By using a soft ink color on this bold geometric background stamp it transforms it into something quite elegant. Trying for different looks with the same supplies are probably one of the funnest and most addicting things about this crazy hobby. 

To finish it off, I white heat embossed the greeting on vellum and scattered some pearls and a little clear Wink of Stella on the hearts around the wreath. Have a beautiful day. 

Happy Stamping!!

Simon Says Stamp HEART WREATH Craft DIES S217	Hero Arts DESIGNBLOCK TINY FLAGS Rubber Stamp s5881 2014	My Favorite Things CSA NEW BEGINNINGS Clear Stamps MFT	Hero Arts WHITE EMBOSSING POWDER PW110 Emboss	ZIG Wink of Stella GLITTER CLEAR Brush Tip Marker 025320
Bazzill 40 LB VELLUM 8.5" x 11" White 25 Sheets	Hero Arts MIX NOTECARDS POOL PS639 Blue	Neenah Classic Crest 80 LB SMOOTH SOLAR WHITE Paper Pack 25 Sheets	*Hero Arts Shadow Ink Pad MINT JULEP Mid-Tone 2013 AF246	EK Success CRAFT TWEEZERS Precision Tip 54-04000
03441 Fiskars PREMIUM CUT LINE Paper Trimmer 12 Inches

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Stitched Journaling Cards

Finally...Here are the cards I promised to share from last week. 

You will recognize the one that I already shared. You can check it out here. All three cards feature the stitched journaling card from Lawn Fawn. 

The background on all three cards was made the same way. First stamping an image on white card stock, than coloring in the image with Distress Ink. 

The pumpkins on this first card are from Penny Black. I never get tired of the magic of simple Copic coloring and what it can do to transform an image, bringing it to life.

Flowers make me smile, and blue, the rich blue of the sky, makes me smile. Blue is such a happy color. So what better sentiment to pair with these sunflowers on this Impression Obsession background. 

The gold sparkle Lawn Fawn trimmings finishes it off.

Happy Stamping!!

*PRE-ORDER Lawn Fawn STITCHED JOURNALING CARD Lawn Cuts Dies	*Lawn Fawn OUR FRIENDSHIP GROWS Clear Stamps	*Penny Black Cling Stamp PUMPKINS Rubber Unmounted 40-145	*PRE-ORDER Impression Obsession Cling Stamp FLUFF Rubber Cover a Card CC014	*Hero Arts Rubber Stamp DESIGNBLOCK TWEED PATTERN 2013 s5654	*New Copic 36 Sketch Markers Most Popular Colors	*Tim Holtz LOT ALL 36 DISTRESS INK PADS Complete Set
*Uni-ball Pen Signo Gel Pen WHITE Smooth Broad

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Technique Play - Collage Card #2

I love the look of collage cards, especially one layer ones. It fascinates me to see how much depth can be created on a single layer card with just stamps, ink, and a creative mind. Execution is always a little elusive for me, however. 

I tend to gravitate towards clean and simple because it's easier to picture ahead of time. To many steps and I'm lost. I think it's age. At least that's what I tell myself. I'm always been one to lose my car keys so maybe it's not true. Shhhh....

Anyway, I've decided to practice and post my attempts here on my blog. I though it would be fun to compare over time and see if it gets easier. You can find my first attempt at a collage here.

This is my second official attempt. There are elements that I love and things I wish I could change. I used water colors to stencil the dot pattern in the background. My daughter asked me what I spilled on my card so maybe it doesn't work...what do you think?

I did the leaves with three colors of Distress Paint: Peeled Paint, Rusty Hinge, and Wild Honey. I like the overall effect but I'd probably try softer colors next time. I do like the wheat field at the bottom. I stamped the background in Hero Arts Soft Sand and the front with Wild Honey Distress Ink. Doing it in two different colors gave it a really nice dimensional effect. 

I'd love to hear from you and links to your collage cards. What tricks do you have to pull together different elements into one cohesive look? Do you have a favorite system or just go with the flow?

Happy Stamping!

*Hero Arts Rubber Stamp SILHOUETTE FERN K5314	*Dyan Reaveley Stencil 9 X 12 DOTTED FLOWER Dylusions DYS34018	*IO Clear Stamps FABULOUS FRIEND Impression Obsession	*Tim Holtz Distress Ink PAD TUMBLED GLASS Blue Ranger	*Tim Holtz Distress INK PAD SHABBY SHUTTERS Green Ranger
*Tim Holtz Distress Ink PAD WILD HONEY Yellow Ranger	*PRE-ORDER Tim Holtz Distress Paint SET OF 24 Ranger TDD24SET	*Hero Arts SHADOW Ink Pad SOFT SAND Beige AF144

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Bold Bright Butterfly

I am finally back. This week has been a busy one with lots of family. My son is off to Japan for a couple of years so our house was full with well wishers. 

I chose to pattern this card after the third of three card sketches we had to choose from this week. I took my lead from Julie Ebersol and flipped the sketch around. The color scheme was a couple of different shades of green, a turquoise color, cream and brown. I chose to leave out the cream color and use white for the card base instead. I did cheat somewhat and added a touch of yellow to the butterfly. 

I had SO MUCH fun coloring this butterfly. I colored him while my family watched a movie and it took the whole time. I tried the technique of flicking two different copic markers from opposite ends to come up with a third color in the center. It was a lot of fun. 

I also did the paint splatters using the tips out of couple of Dylusion spray bottles and flicking it over the card base. I love the bright color. Color makes me happy. Have I said that before? I do have one very stained finger so I'll have improve on my method a little. 

In this close up of the butterfly my obsession with the white gel pen surfaces again. Of course I also used some liquid pearls and white enamel accents on the tips as well as Stardust Stickles for some glamour. 

Happy Stamping!

*Hero Arts Rubber Stamp ARTISTS BUTTERFLY Summer	*Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD PEACOCK FEATHERS Ranger SPRING	*Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD MOWED LAWN Ranger SUMMER	*Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD PEELED PAINT Green Ranger	*PRE-ORDER Ranger DYLUSIONS INK SPRAY CALYPSO TEAL Dyan Reaveley DYC36739
*PRE-ORDER Ranger DYLUSIONS INK SPRAY DIRTY MARTINIS Dyan Reaveley DYC36753	*New Copic 36 Sketch Markers Most Popular Colors	*Uni-ball Pen Signo Gel Pen WHITE Smooth Broad	*Ranger PEACOCK Liquid Pearls Decorative Glue	*Ranger 2012 KEY LIME Liquid Pearls Decorative Glue LPL28192
*Ranger ENAMEL ACCENTS Black White Opaque Dimensional Glaze Inkssentials	*Ranger Inkssentials MINI GLOSSY ACCENTS Glue Dimensional Adhesive .5oz	*Ranger STICKLES STAR DUST Stardust White Clear Glitter Glue

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