Something old

I am currently working on a birthday card for a special person and am having trouble getting it to look like I want.  I am trying for something vintage-y and elegant, but it all just seems to be crap at the moment.  So, I don't have anything new to show here, but have found something made around the time of the introduction of the 2011-2013 In Colours.  

The background image is the shadow image from Simply Soft and then I have used the Petite Pennants Builder punch to show off each of the new colours with their matching papers.  The hardest part was stamping the single letter on each pennant.  OK, and threading them all on too.  

Simply Soft altogether

As promised, I was working on a card using the new Reason to Smile set, but after a few attempts it still wasn't working, so decided to copy someone else's idea.  As this is a new set there weren't many ideas out there to copy, but during my time I found this card.  Simply Soft is one of my favourites and I have used it many times but strangely I have never thought of putting all the flowers together like this.  I also tried to copy the same colours Loll used, but substituted the softer Wisteria Wonder instead of Elegant Eggplant.  

 

I'm happy with the white triptych panel, but not entirely convinced that the backing is right.  So this is the remake. 

So, spots instead of stripes, white instead of Wisteria?  I actually think I prefer Loll's version now even though at first I thought it was a bit underdone.  

An unintentional watermark

Catching up on all my favourite websites I found this card by Sandi MacIver that I thought I would try to copy.  I don't have all the bright papers that she has, so decided to use some of the ruffled ribbon instead.  This is my first version.

Then I thought it looked a little plain and realised I had forgotten the butterfly she had in the top right hand corner, so stamped a dragonfly but it looked flat, so stamped another, cut it out and mounted it on top.  Also put a greeting on the bottom and used a circle behind to make it stand out better.  Then had to photograph again and decided to put the card on the water feature instead of the ground to save bending down.  Of course the wind would have to come up just then and the card dropped into the water, fully submerged.  So now I have my own watermark on my card, only it's not quite the watermark I wanted.  

Apart from the ribbon sagging slightly, I think it the second version looks better.

Stamps are from Simply Soft, one of my favourite hostess sets, French script and postmark from Foilage Foilage and dragonfly from Asian Artistry, a retired hostess set. 

Mother's Day card

Hope you had a relaxing weekend and all the mum were spoilt on Sunday.  This is the card made for my mother in law.  It is a duplicate of the one made previously but with a colour change.  Lots of embossing, sponging, distressing and water colouring.  And even the inside as well.  

I've never really liked the technique of distressing - why ruin perfectly good cardstock, but it suits this style of card.  


By the time you read this I will have started a new job in Blacktown.  Hope we both like each other and work out.  

 

Faux Silk Technique

OK, I know it has been a few days, but I do have an excuse.  Have been busy preparing for a class this weekend and cutting cardstock.  I love it when we get together and create. 

This is a card that we did in a class a few months ago.  The technique is called Faux Silk and there are a few different ways to do it.  My card has a white cardstock background and then on a piece of white tissue paper, slightly larger than your white cardstock, stamp your image.  I used StazOn black ink and then coloured in the image with a blender pen.  After it is dry, scrunch the tissue paper into a tiny ball, unwrap it, and scrunch it again.  Smooth it out a little, but not completely, then with a glue stick put glue all over the white cardstock and place the tissue paper on top, trying not to take out too many wrinkles.  You can either trim the excess off, or tuck it under towards the back. 

I have read also that some stamp the image onto the cardstock backing and then glue the scrunched tissue paper over the top of that, so I guess it depends on whether you want a softer or more prominent image on your card which way you do it.  Either way, it really is an easy and effective technique.  

Enjoy your weekend, I know I will.  

Simply Soft

This is the birthday card made for a friend of mine who is celebrating her birthday today.  Happy Birthday Linda.  I can show you the card as I know the postman has already delivered it.  

This is my take of a Karen Barber Kreation which I loved when I first saw it.  I tried to find her card to show you, but here is her website.  I am sure you will enjoy trawling through looking at her cards. 

I have stamped the images from Simply Soft with Early Expresso (which I find is better than black) and watercoloured them in various shades of pink, sponged around the edges and then embossed the corners using a new non-SU embossing folder.  I really just wanted the dots, but as you can see on the pink matt I had to have a bit more than originally planned.  The edges of all pieces have been distressed to try to give it a vintage-y feeling, which is helped along with the lacy Victoria Crochet Trim.  I am not normally a fan of distressing (why ruin perfectly good cardstock?), but am very happy with the way this turned out.  After photographing I added a sentiment on the inside of the card, you know, that "just one thing" syndrome.  

This card is made with Very Vanilla and Pretty in Pink cardstock.  Have also made another version in a different colour, which I love as well, but you will have to wait for a while to see that one. 

I may not get back here again on Friday.  Kaitlin is turning 18 on Saturday and there are few things to be made before then.  Have a great weekend, and if you are currently experiencing lots of rain, enjoy it, at least you don't have to water the garden. 

"Simply Soft"