Belle Papier {pretty paper}

I’ve created a lot of different kinds of cards. Stamped, scrappy, clean, shabby, stitched, painted…whatever. I always love trying something new. I’d been wanting to try my hand out at creating a digital card design and last October seemed like a good time. So…why am I just getting around to sharing it with you now? Actually I can’t believe five months have gone by this quickly! And why have I NOT made another digi card? Hmmmm…  Anyhow, I designed this card for Paper Crafts magazine for a Father’s Day quote project. It’s in the May/June issue that has just been released. I was so excited to get my subscription copy in my mailbox on Friday just before we went away for the weekend. It was so relaxing to sit and spend some time relaxing at the cottage, drinking tea and enjoying each page. It’s a fabulous issue and if you like stitching on cards, there are some awesome ideas. I’m excited to have a few designs in that article as well. You can purchase this magazine at your local craft or bookstore or on-line here.

Whatever You Are

Ok…now this image may just look a little strange. I totally forgot to take a photo of the final design and so here is the card front in digi format. The black “frame” is NOT part of the card…I had to put in something there or the white card would just fade off into the white blog background.

My hubby was so kind to put up with me for this project. Stealing his stuff and then making him pose. I’m glad the photos were just of his hands as he was rolling his eyes at me! LOL I guess this card isn’t going to be much of a surprise this year  but hey…how much more personalized can you get?

Quick Tip: Try something new and stretch your creativity!

Hope your day is a good one!

I told you the other day that colored pencil on Kraft is one of my favorites right now! I love the look and it’s so easy to do. And the colored pencil pigment just goes on so nicely to the  more open cardstock surface. I’m not really a yellow person but I’ve been drawn to it more and more lately. And don’t lemons just remind you of summer?

Charming Gardeners

Supply List:

Stamps:
Fruit Basket (Shady Tree Studio line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Mother’s Day Centers (Mona Lisa Moments line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Black and Brown Memento ink by Tsukineko
Paper: Kraft cardstock by Prism
olive cardstock by Bazzill
Patterned paper by Pink Paisley
Other: flower by Prima, ribbon, velvet brad by Making Memories, colored pencils by Prismacolor

Here’s another design with the popular yellow and gray color combo. It’s a sneak peek at the latest CHF backgrounder. Isn’t Double Damask gorgeous? As you can see…it stands on its own. You won’t have to wait long for this one…it’s released on Friday.

 Damask Friendship

Supply List:

Stamps: Double Damask Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms
Friend Centers (Mona Lisa Moments line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Smokey Grey Versafine ink & Black Memento Ink by Tsukineko
Paper: Simply Smooth White cardstock by Prism
Other: ribbon by Creative Impressions, flower by Prima, velvet brad and metal tag by Making Memories

I’m keeping this post short and sweet as it was a long but super fun day yesterday. Unfortunately…life happens and I have lots to catch up on today.

Have a sweet day!

Cottage Happiness

I’m off to Toronto today for a Copic Certification class. As I never seem to be able to get away for CHA or other events, I’m just thrilled that there is a class closer to me finally. Now I’ll be able to teach Copic Marker classes if I want and also hope to pick up a few new tips. As you know, I love my Copic Markers. It was a bit of a gulp for me to mkae that initial purchase but now I’m set and hooked for life. I especially love coloring my Thomas Kinkade stamped images with Copics. It’s a bit of a different technique than coloring larger spaces where you want to saturate the paper. When I color the TK images, I color the larger areas first and then go back and shade in the details. I actually dab on the color in the tighter areas, approaching it with a more impressionistic technique. I’m super excited about seeing Lesley Langdon and Jennifer Roach again and  meeting Marianne Walker and Sherrie Siemens for the first time. Lesley told Sherrie not to worry that we’d behave, but I didn’t promise anything.

Today is also fun as it is the release of the latest Thomas Kinkade stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms. I’m loving this beautiful Friendship Cottage stamp. I thought it would make a sweet wedding design and paired it up with some elegant silver screened patterned paper and a wedding centers sentiment. I can also see it making a sweet spring, friendship, new home, hello…well, just about anything card.

Quick Tip: To create balance in the design, I reversed the colors and balance from the main image to the background design. What do I mean? Well…take a look at the top image as it is easier to see. The image seems weighted more heavily and more dark blue on the left side of the image while the right side is “lighter” and more green. To balance this out and make it pleasing to the eye, I placed a large amount of dark blue on the right side of the background and a small amount of green on the left.

Take care my friends!

Supply List:

Stamps:
Cottage Happiness (Thomas Kinkade line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Wedding Centers(Mona Lisa Moments) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Black Memento by Tsukineko
Paper: Simply Smooth White by Prism
Patterned paper by Pink Paislee
Other: Copic Markers, brads by Making Memories, velvet ribbon by May Arts

I know, I know…more dots! This time in black and white. I adore black and white cards. They are so clean and graphic and you need to focus on pattern and texture as there is no color elements for support. I really like the Distressed Circles Scrapblock simply stamped in black on white. To play up on the dotted theme, I added  a circular daisy and a semi-circle element of black buttons. I like the way the buttons “enclose” the main elements of the design in one place. The daisy, the tape strips, the sentiment etc. I love to group things.

Dots and Daisies

Quick Tip: Use a punched circle template for easy button placement. You could also use a large circle and eye-ball placement after tracing the circle with pencil.

Thanks so much to all you kind readers with so many helpful ideas for ink pad storage! I ended up ordering two 48-pad storage units from Organize More. I love how their organizers all are the same size so you can build your own wall of storage. I can’t wait till they arrive!  At the rate we’re going, it’s going to be another couple months before I’m finally in my room but once I am…you can be sure I’ll post photos.

Tomorrow it’s time for another Thomas Kinkade release. I can’t wait to share my colored design with you.

Until then!

Supply List:
Stamps:
Distressed Circles Scrapblock by Cornish Heritage Farms
Classic Essential Expressions (Mona Lisa Moments line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Black Memento by Tsukineko
Paper: Simply SMooth White cardstock by Prism
Other: gaffer tape by 7 Gypsies, buttons by Autumn Leaves, fabric tape (dots) by Making memories, flower by Prima, ribbon by Creative Impressions

I just cannot seem to put this set away! This sweet little gnome keeps saying, pick me up and stamp me. I think it’s that cute little face and the curves on his beard. How DOES Kim do it every time?! This time I thought I’d go for a fresh spring look with a funky bright color combo. Colored pencils on Kraft cardstock are my new addiction. Doesn’t the color pop?

Gnome Wishes

Have a beautiful day!

Supply List:

Stamps: Forest Friendzy (Kim Hughes Line) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Black Memento Ink by Tsukineko
Paper: Kraft cardstock by Prism
Other: lace by Making Memories, pleated ribbon & Flower by Prima, gingham ribbon by creative Impressions, colored pencils by Prismacolor, button by Autumn Leaves