2013 Cards in Review

I pulled together some cards that I really liked from 2013.  Harder than I thought it would be!

 

 My favorite coloring job ever.  Plus I love the Lulu images.

  

Country birthday just right for this country girl.  My first try at spattering.

 

Who doesn't love sequins and being able to use the negative of a die cut?  Very time-consuming but the results so worth it.

Spatter/sponge bokeh with eye-pleasing results.  I love silhouettes.

 

I was really torn if the rolled tree card was one of my top picks; I like but do I love?  In the end it makes the list because it's cute and whimsical and I'm proud of the concept and execution.

Love this one.  It's simple but powerful.

In looking back, I can see that my fav cards involve flowers/trees and usually are CAS.  I've been experimenting with many different styles and techniques so to see my personal style develop and become more focused is way cool.

I'm joining in with Debby's 5 favourite creations of 2013

Getting Inky, Folk Art Style

In the first card, I took my Memento tear drop inks in a variety of colors and randomly placed them on the stamp.  I was careful (mostly) to use the lighter colors first to avoid color contaminating the pads with dark ink. After stamping, I used my Spectrum Noir black pen to ensure the hummingbird's head was ultra dark and used white Enamel Accents and a white Gelly Roll pen to put the white dots back.  I used my markers to color in only part of the flower; it's like the hummingbird is sipping the color into itself.  Neat-o.

The second card was done the same way as far as the inks go with an added step of re-stamping the central bird in black.  Can you see the birds forming the wings?  Really cool stamp set.

The Details:  PTI white card stock and sentiments, Pop Tone Black Licorice card stock, Recollections paisley stamps, Inkadinkado Mindscapes (hummingbird), Memento Tuxedo Black, Bahama Blue, Pear Tart, Lilac Posies, Tangelo, and Love Letter, Spectrum Noir pens, Enamel Accents, Gelly Roll pigment pen.

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?

Hello!

I took a much needed break from everything that wasn't a book, tv, paper or food over the last few.  It has been gooooood. But that's not the only thing I'm excited about.

I've made a card inspired by the current Runway Inspired Challenge AND completed it in time to enter!  Like I said, vacation = good.   In the challenge pic, I was drawn to the color (one of my favs), textures, silhouette, and sunglasses.  I used a silver shimmer paper embossed with branches/grass to mimic the runway itself, the same paper for the "belt" sentiment, glossy white paper behind the curved green circles panel inspired by the model's silhouette, and black sequins based on the sunglasses.  You can just barely tell from the photo that some of the green circles are glittery--gotta have some glam for the runway!

The Details:  PTI white card stock base, Paper Studio Uptown Flair designer card stock, Canson Effects paper in Cyber Gray, SMART Kromekote Plus Glossy cover stock, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Stampendous Counting Birthdays stamp, StazOn Jet Black ink, and Craft Medley black sequins.

I'm entering this in Runway Inspired Challenge #50 Matthew Williamson, Seize the Birthday, CASology #76 Party, CAS-ual Fridays CFC 124 Happy New Year, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Bling It On, The Male Room Celebration, and CAS on Sunday #24 Happy New Year.

Masking AND Embossing, Oh My

For this card I first stamped the sentiment then masked it before stamping the snowflakes in a random pattern.  Using a shim I created out of a few layers of chipboard packaging and a rectangle die, I ran that through with my embossing sandwich and the snowflake folder (so I could avoid having snowflakes on the sentiment).  Next I quickly placed the rectangle die over the sentiment again and went over the edges with a--oh, poo, what's that thing called--it's got a ball on the end and you use it often with old school stencils.  Not a brayer but a. . . .   Anyhoo, a really elegant look.  I'm going to try this for a winter birthday someday.

The Details:  Inkadinkado Snowflakes, Hot Off the Press Christmas Cheer sentiment, Memento Blue Danube, PTI white card stock, dark blue card stock from old stash, Paper Studio embossing folder

I'm entering this in CAS-ual Fridays CFC 123 Let it Snow, Simon Says Let it Snow,  Allsorts #237 Snowflakes, CAS on Sunday #23 Christmas, Addicted to CAS #28 Snowflakes, Make My Monday CAS Christmas, Totally Papercrafts #197 Non-Traditional Christmas Colors, The Crafter's Cafe Monochromatic, Here Comes the Boys #66 Anything Goes, and Loves Rubberstamps #82 Anything Goes Christmas.

Diorama, sort of

I've noticed a few cards out in blogland that had Santa and his sleigh in the sky.  I love that iconic image but didn't have it . . . until I was flipping through my Bo Bunny 6x6 book and found this.  I immediately thought window, my snow dot embossing folder and the village. 

The Details:  Spellbinders oval die, Memory Box die, Sizzix embossing folder, Liquid Pearls, Bo Bunny Silver & Gold Collection designer paper, PTI white and kraft card stock, pop dots, Christmas Crafts Christmas 2013 sentiment, Memento Love Letter

I'm entering this in CAS-ual Fridays CFC 123 Let it Snow, Simon Says Let it Snow,  CAS on Sunday #23 Christmas, City Crafter #189 Christmas Colors, Make My Monday CAS Christmas, Here Comes the Boys #66 Anything Goes, and Loves Rubberstamps #82 Anything Goes Christmas.

Believe in Miracles

I really went in a different direction than my sort of usual clean style.  You know when you're looking through your stash and something just grabs hold of you?  That was the patterned paper in my case.  I love this color palette a lot and hadn't realized I had built up such a stash of coordinating pieces.  

I've made this card for my niece who needs encouragement.  We're all there for you, Miss Bell.

The Details:  PTI kraft card stock, file die, cork, "inside" & numbers; K&Company Flora and Fauna tag, Recollections banner, copper & silver wire from my stash, button brad, Stampabilities Be Strong and border stamps, pop dots, Recollections Classic Borders stamp (on the vertical strip), Memento Tuxedo Black and Desert Sand inks, Doodle Deux 6x6  patterned paper, Glossy Accents

I'm entering this in Dynamic Duos Kraft & Medium Blue, Crafter's Cafe Monochromatic, and House of Cards Photo Inspiration.

Say Hello to My Little Friend

 

You know what I wish I had?  Snowflake dies.  Would those not be amazingly amazing  instead of the circles on this card?

The Details:  Lifestyle Crafts circle dies, PTI white card stock, Technique Tuesday Flurry sentiment and snowflakes, There She Goes Holiday Cheer image stamp, mystery snowflake paper, Paper Studio Christmas Basics red dot paper, Spectrum Noirs, Memento Love Letter, Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue

I'm entering this in Make My Monday Frosty, Paper Playtime #25 Winter Fun, Incy Wincy Let It Snow,  Crafty Cardmakers #106 Winter Fun, Kaboodles Doodles #201 Non-traditional Christmas Colors, Tip Top Tuesday #116 Snowflakes, Simons Says Wednesday Let It Snow and Seize the Birthday with Winter topping.

Merry

Oh my gosh, I am beat and it's only Tuesday!  I'll be very glad for the weekend and this little thing I call sleeping in.  Oh, how I've missed her.  ;-)  I did manage to crank out a super easy card in my stupor.

The Details:  PTI white card stock, Paper Pizzaz designer paper, old school label maker, pop dots, brads, Paper Studio embossing folder.


I'm entering this in CAS on Sunday #23 Christmas, Keep It Simple #28 Snow, Sister Act #36 It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, CASology #74 Snowflake.

Go-To Winter Card

I worked this card up with Christmas in mind but looking at it in Blogger I can now see it also used for a winter wedding, christening or birthday.  It's soft and vintage without being too frou.

I first embossed the grayish/creamish designer paper then tucked the ribbon beneath before I rounded the corner.  I then rubbed ink over the snowflakes to draw them out more and to tie in the blue iridescent ribbon.  I like doing a double-bow on my Bow Easy when the ribbon is sheer to give it more oomph.  I ran the snowflake through the x-shaped Xyron sticker machine then covered it with glitter, followed by hemp and glue dots.

The Details:  cream ribbon from my Victorian costuming days, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, hemp, Craft Smart blue ribbon, Paper Studio embossing folder, Versamark Sea Breeze, Pop Tone card stock for base, BasicGrey Nordic Holiday designer paper, Martha Stewart corner rounder, Bow Easy, Sugar Coating lily white glitter.

I'm entering this in CASology #73 Ribbon, Keep it simple! #28 Snow, Crazy for CAS #33 Blue/Grey, Freshly Made Sketches #115, BasicGrey #109 Happy Christmas, Seize the Birthday Winter Topping, and Sweet Stampin' Ribbon.

Winter Scene

It's record-breaking cold here (don't laugh--it's in the 20s) which I adore.  Here in the Northwest (sun = good) + during winter = amazing. 

The Details:  Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue, Hot Off the Press Sentiment on the front, Hero Arts sentiment ("Peace Love Joy") inside, Rubber Stampede Winter Woods, Fiskars All That Glitters Snowflake, Technique Tuesday Flurry snowflake, HOtP Penguin snowflakes, pearlescent silver card stock from old stash, Canson Effects pearlescent champagne paper, Offray ribbon, Hampton Art clear embossing powder, PTI white card stock base.

I'm entering this in Less is More #149 Metallic Plus One Other Color, CAS-ual Fridays CFC 122 Out on a Limb, CASology #73 Ribbon, Keep it simple! #28 Snow, Crazy for CAS #33 Blue/Grey, and Sweet Stampin' Ribbon.

Mod Tree Card

I took a break from Christmas cards to work this up.  I intended it as a wedding card but it would work as a Valentine card too.  I love its modern sensibility.

For the card, I die-cut the tree out of the thin packaging cardboard then sponged the trunk.  Because it's a 5x7 card (rather than the A2 size the die is meant for) I extended the trunk by scooting the template up 1/2 inch as I sponged.  I then stamped one of the more angular leaves (there are a ton to choose from in this set!), eyeballing the placement because I didn't want to muck around with creating a leaf template based on the die.

I've also included a pic of my prototype card.  The design is too busy given the leaf choice and my decision to include the sentiment.  Even the grain of the trunk lends to the visual crowding of the card front.  The final card is way more focused. 

The Details:  PTI white card stock, PTI Mighty Oak stamps and die, Memento Tuxedo Black and Love Letter, Memory Box Resting Birds die, red card stock scrap, Hero Arts sentiment inside

I'm entering this in Addicted to Stamps and More #74 CAS, Papercraft Star #169 Tree Image, Loves Rubberstamps #81 Anything Goes, Crafty Creations #251 Anything but Christmas, Cards for Men #24 Anything Goes, Crafty Cardmakers #105 CAS, CAS-ual Fridays #CFC122 Out on a Limb, Sweet Stampin' Black White & One Other Color.

Vintage Stocking Card

I found this skate stocking among the stickers my kid sister gifted me from her stash and was immediately drawn to the vintage style and colors.  I had picked up the linen background paper on clearance and hadn't realized it was one of those with a different colored core so when the embossing folder "broke" it I was pleasantly surprised; I just rubbed it a bit more to bring out the blue even further.  I then used the Big Splash die upside down with shimmery paper to evoke blustery wind.

The Details:  Darice embossing folder, Memory Box Big Splash die,  PTI white card stock, Fiskars sentiment inside, I'm guessing a Jolee's sticker

I'm entering this in Festive Friday Vintage, Shopping Our Stash #129 Holiday/Winter, Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Stocking, Christmas Card Challenge No Stamping and Stampin' Royalty #204 Winter.

Rolled Paper Tree

I love how this tree turned out.  So pretty and girlie--love, love, love it!  For the rolling, I tried pens, pencils, my Exacto, etc, finally settling on a Brittany #8 (5.0mm) wooden knitting needle. Nice and smooth and uniformly round.  For the twine garland (my stepson's idea!) I just ran it through every other paper roll and secured the ends with Glossy Accents.  Finally I added some stash buttons and was happy to discover a big one that reminds me of a shining star (in pink but let's not quibble). My inner girlie girl is doing such a happy dance.

Can you believe it's only 3 weeks until Christmas?  Eek!

The Details:  Hero Arts sentiment, My Mind's Eye Merry Little Christmas 6x6 papers, buttons from my stash, pink baker's twine, PTI white card stock, Memento Pear Tart, Glossy Accents, foam dots, Cuttlebug embossing folder

I'm entering this in CAS-ual Fridays CFC 121 Create with 8 (buttons in my case), Christmas Card Challenges No Stamping, Curtain Call Countdown to Xmas, Sisterhood of Crafters Handmade, Addicted to Stamps & More #73 Holidays, Shopping Our Stash #129 Holiday/Winter, My Sheri Crafts #124 Funky Xmas, and House of Cards Holiday.

Deck the Halls with Wobbling Owls

Another colored image ornament card.  I love that little owl.  If he were bigger I would have made him into a wobbler (look at that owl dance! LOL). 

The Details:  Inky Antics snowman stamp, Hero Arts sentiment inside, Christmas Crafts sentiment outside, Spectrum Noirs, Spellbinders (scrolled) and Lifestyle Crafts oval dies, Enamel Accents, red card stock from old stash,  Basic Grey Nordic Holiday paper

I'm entering this in BasicGrey #109 Happy Christmas, Penny Black Traditional Holiday Colors, 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Pick a Previous Theme (#6 Snowmen), Allsorts #235 Inspired by Christmas Song, Fab 'n' Funky #195 Cute Critters,  Addicted to Stamps & More #73 Holidays, and Totally Papercrafts #195 Ho Ho Holidays.