Unexpected color combo

This summer has been super busy! Because my kids are so talented, I've been running them to music camp and play rehearsals. Not to mention taxiing them to friend's houses, and to work. So I find myself with these little pockets of time to work on designing cards between dropping them off, and picking them up. Often times, I have to leave in the middle of making a masterpiece. 

While I'm gone, you'll find my desk with a half-made card on it. But before I go, I try to lay out all the elements so that I don't forget where I was intending to go with a project. I'm so scatterbrained that if I don't do this, by the time I return to my desk, I'll have forgotten all my design elements. Getting older stinks!

I've never used Pink Pirouette with Tangerine Tango before. But when I was pulling paper out of my cabinet, I dropped some and these two colors landed next to each other. I loved them together! So I had to put them into a card. 

The bee was cut from vellum and I dry embossed the back of the wings to make them white, and bump them out a bit. I also colored the back of it's body with Crushed Curry (my new favorite yellow). Again, Backyard Basics Framelits made cutting him out a breeze!

Happy stamping!

Peek a boo

Clean, simple lines. Crisp colors. And great use of negative space! I have to admit, I love this card! And I love how easy Backyard Basics Framelits makes cutting the butterfly out. Sometimes it's all about the tools. And that is the case here. 

For the sentiment, I inked up my stamp once and then stamped it three times without reinking. I love how it looks like it's flying off the page. Just like the butterfly. It gives the card a sense of movement.

Happy Stamping!

Masking tape is the secret

A little bit of masking tape and some glossy paper equals some serious bang! This card whipped up so quickly and I think it's awesome! I love it when a tiny bit of effort pays off in a big way. 

The paper piercing adds texture and whimsy. Again, a little bit of work brings a lot of personality to this card. 

Happy stamping!

Faux linen

I tried a new technique today with limited success. It's the faux linen technique. I used a sanding block and layers of ink, but I'm thinking I may have needed a coarser grit sandpaper. In any case, I still love how this turned out!

A couple of butterflies were all that was needed to give the card an extra bit of texture!

Happy stamping!

More vellum

Here's another card that we will be doing for Stamp Camp! My BFF loved the last card that I did with vellum, so I came up with this with her in mind. I love how such a simple technique can have such a huge impact! 

When coloring vellum, just be gentle with your markers. There are little cracks that can rough up your marker tips. And you run the risk of poking holes if you are too aggressive. 

Happy stamping!

Mystery ink

Don't you hate it when you make a mistake? Me too! And here's an example of such a mistake. I had painstakingly sponged the perfect balance of Tempting Turquoise, Riding Hood Red, and Daffodil Delight onto my card stock. I had blended and blended until I had bits of purple and orange peeking through. Then I had spritzed just the right amount if water onto my work and had created just the perfect watermarks all over the place. And finally, I had waited patiently while all that water dried. It was a thing of beauty. 

And then it happened. Early Espresso ink  somehow appeared on my work! I don't even know how it happened! But there it was, staring me in the face. And there was nothing to do but start again. 

So that's what I did. Repeated all of my steps. Did it all over again. And I was extremely careful. I kept all Early Espresso ink far, far away. Well, until it was time to stamp my focal image and sentiment. 

Thankfully, the ink stayed where it was supposed to this time. And I love this card!

Happy stamping!

Crisp and clean

They say that less is more. Sometimes I try to use this concept when designing cards. I have to admit, I have a hard time with it. I'm not sure if I'm just not confident enough in my design, or like it or not, I love cards with lots of stuff! In any case, I tried my hand at keeping things simple today. No ribbon, no sponging, no embellishments. Just clean lines, good design, and a little whimsy.

And you know what?  I have fallen in love with this design! Perhaps I've conquered my fear of "less"? Only time will tell…

Happy stamping!