Circles and Butterflies

Back today with another Pinterest pin inspiration.  I tried to stay near the inspiration on this one, but use the tools and supplies I have on hand.  Here's the details:

• You'll remember this card.  I way overdid it with the circle die cutting.  This is because I wanted to select just the right pattern for that card and I felt like I needed a lot of choices (read:circles) to do that.  What better use could I put those spare scraps than on this design?  I simply cut a few circle frames using the same die out of a light green cardstock.
• The flowers were cut using my Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret dies and shaped.  They have pearl centers and both were brushed with my Ink Blending Tool using Vintage Photo Distress Ink.
• The sentiment was stamped with black Archival Ink onto a piece of cardstock and then cut out using my paper trimmer.
• A little seam binding ribbon bow nestled in with the flowers. 
•  The butterfly comes from a 3D sticker set, not my own work, but it was beautiful in person.  Not sure the picture highlights that enough.

Most important is the purpose to which I put this card.  I have been aware of the work done by Compassion International for a few years.   Several times I've looked into sponsoring a child through their ministry and just didn't follow through.  I'm sure that was because my opportunity to participate was waiting for this past December when I finally signed up.  Compassion allows you to sponsor a child in a poor or underdeveloped community throughout the world.  The money is put towards after school and other care programs including healthcare.  The ministry also then uses those opportunities to spread the love of Jesus to the children in the community.  They don't seek to rescue children out of their communities, but instead focus on making an impact on their lives for good.  As a sponsor, you get the opportunity to enter into that impact by financially supporting their ministry and then writing letters and sending small packages of paper made items to your sponsored child.

I signed up to sponsor Yuli Ester Garcia who lives in the Dominican Republic with her family.  She attends school regularly and participates in Compassion's outreach in her community.  For only $456 a year (or $38/month), I can sponsor Yuli's educational, healthcare and spiritual growth.  That seems such a small cost to me and such a large gain for her.  I sent her this card and a handwritten note to introduce her to me and my family.  There will be a bit more letter writing throughout the year.  I'm thinking it is a good marriage between my desire to impact a child who is in need and my paper crafting production.  Now, I have a reason to send pretty cards to Yuli.  I'm thinking she's really going to like the butterfly, don't you?

If you've never checked out Compassion International's program before, I'd recommend you click through the link and read a little.  Based on the background work I've done and what my experience has been so far, I have every reason to believe that they really are making a difference in the lives of children right now, today.

I've linked this project up over at Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Blog: Simon Says Anything Goes with Pearls.  Come on over and join the fun!

I am in no way affiliated with Compassion International (other than as a sponsor to Yuli) nor have I been encouraged to write this post by anything other than my enthusiasm for their program. 

Happy Birthday Card

Embossing folders.  I've not had a machine where I could effectively use them.  That changed when I purchased my Grand Calibur.  However, this means that I haven't fully incorporated their craftiness into my skill set.  Yet, they are wonderful for texture and interest on a card.  This one today was made using that fabulous paper pad from Prima- Madeline.  Here's the details for this card:

• The sentiment frame was cut using my Spellbinders Labels 18 die from a piece of script patterned paper. The sentiment was stamped using with brown Archival Ink.  
• The second frame was cut using two different Spellbinders Labels 18 which I taped into place on a piece of patterned paper from the set.
• The flowers were cut from patterned paper using my Posy dies.They were shaped and a pearl accent added to the center.
• Several floral elements were  cut from brown and green cardstock scraps.  I've got pieces from my Spellbinders Floral Flourishes die, Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage, and some other dies I've long since forgotten where they came from.
• The background is embossed with a folder and Vintage Photo Distress Ink brushed on the raised portion using my Ink Blending Tool.  The background and the card base were also edged with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.
• A piece of seam binding tied to the frame finishes the design.  

I left the inside blank on this on to be added when the purpose is identified.   We're headed towards 90 degrees today here in Phoenix.  My goodness, but spring has sprung!

ETA:  I've linked this card up over at Scrapbookpal.com.  They have a running challenge each month to use certain suppliers/products and then get featured over at their blog.  Here's my entry for the last part of February.   Click on this link to check out their latest challenge.  Their online store supplies many of my common tools and supplies and some of the lowest prices around.  Check them out.

A Floral Happy Birthday

I'm loving my Prima Madeline paper pad right now.  The papers have such bold patterns with classic colors that really inspired my creativity. This lovely went to Dan's sister for her birthday.  Here's the details for this card:

• The sentiment frame was cut using my Spellbinders die from a piece of the Prima Madeline paper.  I taped it down to get just the right frame.  The sentiment was stamped using Vintage Photo Distress Ink to give it a slightly lighter color given the dark matted frame behind.  The frame is raised from the background frame using foam squares.
• The flowers were cut from patterned paper using my Vintage Floret dies.
• Several floral elements were  cut from brown and green cardstock scraps.
• The background is a combination of fussy cut and die cut.  The patterned paper I selected had a frame that I fussy cut out the inside.  A separate frame was cut die cut with my Spellbinders Labels-Seventeen die using a matching script patterned paper.  I slid this frame behind the left side of the fussy cut and in front of the right side. 

On the inside, I stamped a sentiment from my Heartfelt Expressions stamp set and placed a circle die cut with mismatched patterns.  I'm really pleased with the final result and I think Joanne really liked her card.  Dan's family typically sends funny cards, so she may have felt it a little out of character and missed her brother's humor.  Still, I'm hoping the charm of the card will overcome her disappointment.



I'm entering this card in the following challenges:  Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday Challenge: We Love Stamps because I used two of my favorite sentiment stamps and the Inspiration Journal's February Monthly Challenge because I just love stamping "best wishes" on birthday cards.   I've also linked up with Word Art Wednesday for their Challenge #119: Anything Goes. Come on over and join the fun!

Life is Beautifully Filled with Pattern

 This card was inspired by this pin.  I decided to use one of my Quickutz dies to cut out the circles from leftover scraps in my Prima Madeline paper pad.  I layered the down on a piece of cardstock and then cut it to fit on the card.  The piece is edged in Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The sentiment is stamped in brown Archival Ink.

On the inside is a brown Archival Ink sentiment from my Heartfelt Expressions stamp set.  A die cut piece of patterned paper creates a focal point. 

Another simple, but satisfying card.  I wish I could say the stash is building.  However, I've found good reasons to send each of these cards out for a purpose.  I guess I'll just have to keep it up.

Butterfly Wishes- A Happy Birthday Card

I'm still catching up on my posts of cards made during a post-Christmas creativity spree.  I thought about one big post with lots of pictures, but the photo editing required seemed too daunting and the details seemed to time consuming.  Here's the details for this card:

• The frame was fussy cut out of a piece of the patterned paper from my Prima Madeline paper pad.  
• The butterflies were cut from a different piece of the patterned paper used as a background.  I layered the fussy cut butterflies and folded the wings to create a 3D effect.
• I've forgotten the manufacturer of the floral swirl cut from green cardstock.
• The sentiment was stamped in brown Archival Ink using a Fiskars cling stamp.  I used my Spellbinders die to cut the sentiment frame.  A little Vintage Photo Distress Ink to edge all the pieces and a few pearl accents to add a piece of class.

On the inside, I stamped a short sentiment.  I'm really pleased with how the card turned out- just a bit of paper piecing but a nice card I'll be glad to send out to a friend.

A Vintage Floret Thank You

Here's another card I made playing around with my Prima Madeline paper pad.  I really am trying to use up the paper pads I've bought.  I found my stash of pre-made cards mostly depleted by the end of last year and am working to make a bit of a stash again.  Here's the details:

• The flowers were cut using my Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret dies and shaped.  They have pearl centers.  
• The tag was cut using my Accent Essentials Cricut cart and then the sentiment was stamped in brown Archival Ink using a Fiskars cling stamp. 
• The floral swirl and leaf stem are both Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage dies cut from textured green cardstock.  I'm pretty cheap when it comes to buying dies (except when I have birthday money to buy gifts, then I spend like it's going out of style!).  I purchased this set and have simply loved using them.  It is a great foundational die cut for all my Heartfelt Creations flower dies.
• A little seam binding ribbon to finish the card. 

On the inside, I stamped a short sentiment in brown Archival Ink and another small flower using my Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.  That's a small colored pearl accent in the center too.

I was so pleased with this- I already have an intention to send it to friends as a thank you for breakfast last weekend.  Wait- what happened to building up the pre-made card stash?

A Layered Papers Happy Birthday Card

Popping in quick to share this simple card today.  It went together in a snap.  I let the patterned paper do the design work, layering three different patterned papers and a stamp frame from the paper pad.   All papers are edged in Vintage Photo Distress ink.  I stamped the sentiment- on old wood mounted stamp- using my Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.  A flower and a couple of floral swirls and I really like this 5 x 5 card.  I kept the inside simple- room to write a personal note.

A Vintage Floret Hello Card

I was playing around with my paper pads and trying to come up with unique card ideas.  I simply love the papers from Prima's Madeline paper pad.  It's been in the stash for quite a while and the papers last through card/project and after card/project. Here's the details:

• The frames were cut out of cardstock using my Imperial Gold Labels 4 dies and edged with Vintage Photo Distress ink.
• The flowers were cut using my Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret dies and shaped.  They have pearl centers.  
• The sentiment was stamped in brown Archival Ink using a Fiskars cling stamp. 
• I've forgotten the manufacturer of the floral swirl.  They are a matching set- two different sizes and die cut from green cardstock.

On the inside, I stamped a short sentiment and added a die cut piece from the scrap heap and another small flower.

This one was fun to put together.  Thanks for checking in.

ETA:  I'm linking this up over at the Inspiration Journal's January Challenge: Dieing for 2014.  Hurry, the deadline is February 2, 2014 to join the fun!

Encouraging Baby Shower Card

One of the lovely ladies at the Bible study that I facilitate is expecting her second child.  Second child baby showers are iffy- especially when expecting the same gender as your first.  I couldn't just leave it alone with the group gift and put together this pretty little confection.  The papers are from the Prima Madeline paper pack. 

The flower was stamped with silver Brilliance ink (you can't tell in this picture) onto a shiny vellum and cut using the Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret die.  I inked the flower with a Brilliance teardrop pink ink.  After shaping and layering the flowers, I placed a store bought pearl and inked the pearl with the pink Brilliance ink as well.  The leaves come from the Heartfelt Creations Aster die set.  This was also inked with a green Brilliance teardrop ink, shaped and portions cut for use.  The fibers and ribbons come from the stash- too old to identify.  Everything is edged in Vintage Photo Distress Ink- a go-to standard for me.

The inside needed a little dressing up so I made this Bible verse in Word and printed on a piece of the patterned paper from the pack.  There's a light script behind the verse that adds a little depth in person that the photo doesn't actually capture.  It's just the right sentiment to encourage an expectant mom.

Hope your day is encouraging too!

I've linked this creation up at the Cute Card Thursday In the Summertime challenge.   With all that bright flowery goodness, it reminds me of summertime.  Come join the fun.

True Beauty

Another simple card made from the Prima Madeline paper stack.  Everything is edged in Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The sentiment is a future tense.  So.not.true for my Brandy.  Her brilliance is currently blinding.  Still, the card is lovely enough to go in the batch I sent to her.

Andie

Patterned Play Class- Day 4

This day's lesson involved using simple touches to add to patterns in the paper.  The other technique for the day also included using Picket Fence Distress Stain to white wash patterned papers to soften the pattern and have them fit together.

The two navy pieces are from the Glitz Vintage Blue paper pack.  The red piece is from the Prima Madeline paper pack.  The maroon piece is from the Prima paper pack Botanicals.  It was difficult to get a good picture to see how much I didn't like the patterns and colors together.  There's just too much going on here.

I started by using the Picket Fence to wash over the top of these paper scraps.  After using my Quickutz dies to cut out the flower shapes, I tried arranging them on the monochromatic patterned paper.  It took a little to figure out how the flowers go together.

I used another of the tricks I've read in other places... the Fibonacci number sequence is naturally occurring in nature. If you observe many clusters of leaves, number of petals in a flower, etc. the number is almost always (there are exceptions, this is just the "rule") within the sequence.  The numbers are found by adding the previous two numbers in the sequence.  It starts with 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, etc.  Essentially, there is an order to the grouping of items and this order is attractive to the human eye.  I've sometimes used it to fix scrapbook layouts and/or card designs that aren't quite right, but I can't exactly place why.  Even grouping items together works- like having 4 of anything, which is not Fibonacci and making two groups of two- suddenly it works.  So, here I started with three flowers... too little.  By adding the other two, suddenly it worked.

I did some more hand drawing of the stems using my Vintage Photo Distress Marker.  The card looked a little plain, so I used the iRock to place the bling on the polka dotted flower and it seemed to meet my class requirements (add small touches to the patterned paper) and finish the card off properly.

The inside of the card is finished with an unaltered strip of the navy patterned paper.  The sentiment comes from A Close to My Heart stamp.  It is a quote stamp that takes up a great deal of space.  I simply inked the first word "Happiness" on the front layer and the last two "A Journey" on the inside of the card. 

I don't think it is my favorite from last week, but it stretched me, gave me some ideas for using my Picket Fence and I've finished one more post of my work.  I've one more lesson to cover.. we'll see whether I get it done :).   Does it help to mention that I've accomplished a lot at work?

Time's running out, this is just a way to remind you that if you haven't commented on the recent post regarding our blog milestone, please click the link provided.  Each comment is a chance to win some blog candy.  All comments must be received by midnight of March 31st, 2013.  We're a small blog, so the chances are large, you could be a winner!

Andie

Pattern Play Day 1- Thinking of You

I just had to share this card with you all.  It represents a stretching of my natural comfort zone and a final result I am so pleased with.  The lesson for this day was to plan your card out using patterned papers to create visual effects.  The example card used three circles with different patterned papers filling the negative space.  I didn't have the same dies, so this is my take on the card.  My circle die is from my old Quickutz set that creates a circle frame leaving the three empty spots and then a smaller circle to be placed inside.  I thought the pattern very busy, so I ended up using two coordinating pieces of paper with a bit bolder print.



I had an epic fail version where I tried to stamp a border onto the kraft paper.  I really didn't like the result- the border patter was too busy, the ink too dark once stamped on the kraft paper.

I think you are compelled to agree with me- this didn't work.  I found a scrap of blue paper from the Prima Madeline paper pack and slid it in place... magic.  I cut the piece down to size, edged everything in Vintage Photo Distress Ink and I think we have a winner.

The sentiment stamp comes from a Close to My Heart set.  The circle "frame" is adhered using foam tape.  I selected the orientation to create some uniformity for my matchy, matchy eye by rotating the wheat sheaf to move toward the left in the top circle and toward the right in the bottom circle.  A final piece of twine and the card is finished. 


Time passes so quickly.  Just a reminder, don't forget to comment on our post regarding a milestone for our blog.  Click the link provided and leave a comment before March 31st, 2013.  Blog candy is available to you should you win the random drawing!

Andie

It's All Bright and Cheery

Don't you just love the Prima papers?  I have really clamped down on my patterned paper purchases for the past few years.  I had the great fortune of knowing a paper crafter who gave away boxes of patterned paper.  I actually sorted through the boxes and selected only my top favorites... somewhere around a couple hundred pieces of paper.  I left boxes of paper behind for others.  I probably can't use all that I have so purchasing paper can be difficult for my cheapfrugal personality.  Finding Prima paper packs for 40% off fit the bill though.  I purchased them months ago and have been looking for a way to use them.  Needing to make cards to celebrate my best friend's birthday fit the bill.  The Prima papers on this card came from the Prima Madeline stack.  The sentiment stamp is once again the Hero Arts Luscious Frames.  The brackets and swirls are from a Recollections stamp set.

Andie

Hello Again!

Here's another of the card I made while on vacation.  The patterned paper is from Prima's Madeline paper stack.  The Hello stamp and flower stamp are from Hero Arts Luscious Frames stamp set.  The wood frame is from a Studio Calico set Scalloped Circles and I've inked it with some Peacock Feathers Distress ink.  The bracket stamp and swirls are from a Recollections set.  Everything is edged in Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  This patterned paper is so spectacular.  It really makes me look forward to my card class that starts today.  Hopefully all this creativity inspires a few more posts.  Between catching up from a week off work and trying to keep up with my homework, I'm sure to be a busy gal.

It's not to late to join me for Pattern Play- an Online Card Class.  Click the link to register and look me up when you get there.

Andie

Well Hello There!

I'm currently out of town on vacation.  We've spent the week in lovely Newport Beach, California.  The weather has been amazing and though I did squeeze a bit of work in on Tuesday, we've mostly spent our days at the beach.  I've been able to make a few cards for relaxation.  Here's the first of a few.  I'll post the other later as I have more time to write the posts.

Brandy recently celebrated a milestone birthday that  will go nameless.  We, due to a few conflicts, have yet to celebrate together.  Since I knew that our celebration would have to be delayed I've decided to send a letter/card a day to tell her how much I appreciate her friendship, kindness and general fabulousness.  This card will be used to communicate such levels of encouragement and appreciation.  Let's hope work keeps her busy until it arrives.


The card was made using some cream cardstock as the card base.  The patterned paper is from Prima's Botanticals and Madeline paper stacks.   The washi tape is a Recollections set that I colored with my Distress Markers.  The color was difficult to pick up in the photo.  The tape was torn to make the edges uneven.  The frame and Hello stamp come from the Hero Arts Luscious Frames set.  I used the Stamping with Distress Markers technique to color the frame creating the beautiful sentiment.  Everything is edged with Vintage Photo Distress Inks. 

The blog also marked a very momentous (for us) occasion this week.  More on that later.  I'm entering this card into the Moxie Fab World's Washi Tape Challenge.  Come and join the fun!

Andie