Day 1- Hawaii Scrapbook Page

Bear with me as I figure out the best method for photographing these pages.  I'm finding scrapbook page photographing to be very different than card photographing.

This page shows a picture right after our very long flight to the islands.  We're all washed out, tired and a little weary.  That's one of the reasons I chose to use my Here Comes the Sun stamp from the now defunct Market Street Stamps. 

I used my Scattered Straw Distress Ink to stamp the sunburst and my Worn Lipstick Distress Ink using a second gen image of the hibiscus flower from Hero Arts Luscious Frames stamp set.  The Hawaii 2008 was printed on the computer, the flower stamped and then circle cut with my Creative Memories circle cutters.  The Day 1 Tired sentiment is a set of rub-on letters from the stash applied to a corner piece of patterned paper from the Maggie Holmes Signature Series.  The flags at the top are scraps from the stash.  The two little die cuts are pieces of my new Heartfelt Creations Ornamental Add On dies.  

Ooohh!  The kids are so young....  I'm linking this project up with the Use It Tuesday Challenge #64- Use Two Hoarded Items.  You'll see how I used a hoarded stamp, some scraps for the flags, some really old rub-ons, and pictures printed in 2009.  Do the pictures count? :)

Patterned Paper Class- Day 3

Day 3 of my Patterned Paper class covered using bold patterned paper.  I am not so sure how I succeeded in using bold paper on this card.  The tip that I was striving for was to use a bold  pattern to create accent pieces for your card.  these three circles were actually cut from the bolder side of these papers and I just loved how these softer patterns looked together (that flower was so accidentally cut, you probably don't believe it wasn't on purpose).  The Hello stamp comes from my Hero Arts Luscious Frames set.  It fit well, so I went with it.

Everything is edged in Fired Brick Distress stain.  I picked a flower from the stamp set and stamped one on the inside corner.  Then I realized the card didn't fit in the envelope I chose so I cut the card down.  Only then did I realize  I cut the flower off.  So, I added two more stamped flowers to create a bundle that *maybe* doesn't look like I'm a dork.

Super simple, but I  really like how it finished.  Not overwhelming and just the right sentiment.

By the way, if you haven't commented on our recent post regarding our blog milestone, please click the link provided.  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

Patterned Paper Class- Day 3

So, I've been remiss in making blog posts for the Patterned Paper Card Class I've been taking this week.  Working and crafting are a competing activity.  Blogging just gets squeezed in there where it fits.  Yesterday's class was focused on using hard to use patterns- like particularly bold patterns that seem too large for a card.  The tip of the day that really stood out to me what to split up that pattern by cutting it apart. 

Also, the concept of "placing" the image on the card.  This patterned paper comes from a 12 x 12 piece so old in the stack that no manufacturer identification is on the paper.  The paper has an embossed image that has a sheen over the top.  The picture hardly captures what I mean, but I would never have chosen this particular paper for a card.  Too much!  However, using the two tips of the day, I have to say I really like the result. 

I carefully chose the large pink flower from the 12 x 12 paper to place it strategically in the visual sweet spot (rule of thirds I learned from my reading on taking better pictures with my camera!).  Quite frankly, I should have shifted the large pink flower a little more to the right, but I would have lost the pretty blue flowers in the right bottom corner, so I fudged. 

I normally wouldn't have cut in the middle of a patterned paper either- why waste a perfectly good piece of 12 x 12 paper to "select" as spot when the paper won't work anyway (this is my monkey mind talking).  However, I have three sheets of this patterned paper in the stash that I haven't used for so long I've forgotten when and where I purchased it.  Quite frankly my ole monkey mind, it is time to put that paper to good use.  This is one of the reasons I took the class.  I need to see what I have as a resource for creating what I want rather than always looking to go shopping for more.  I don't need more, I've got a whole store in my front room. 

Nevertheless, I am quite pleased.  The sentiment comes from the Hero Arts Luscious Frames stamp set (been using that quite a lot).  I stamped with my Fired Brick Distress Ink onto a strategic scrap of the larger patterned paper and edged the piece with the same ink. 

Give those bold patterns a try- if me and my old monkey mind can do it, so can you!

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