Wednesday, August 15, 2018

A Handful of Creative Cards!

Had fun making my second card as a Design Team member at Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge Blog using a set of digi is named "Funny Elves" from Maria Mendel Illustrations. (If you want your own copy of this cute trio, the set is available right now for 40% off- just $1.77- at www.etsy.com/shop/MMedelIllustrations) I found the striking chalkboard print paper atJoAnne'ss. The little imp on the front of the card is mounted atop a penny slider, so he spins happily as he moves down the card. I found easy instructions here-newtonsnookblog.com/2013/10/penny-slider-card-tutorial.html. (I provided a close-up pic so you can see the curved path that he follows. ) Meanwhile, his two friends frame a sentiment on the inside of the card. (This wonderful sentiment is a freebie from TLC Creations. You can find it here- desiref.blogspot.com/2017/11/atg-with-create-with-tlc-challenge-no16.htmlStop by pennyschallenges.blogspot.com to be inspired by the cards made by other DTs and learn how you can win free digi images from this week's sponsors.
 
Entered into: 
Doing Life- Create with TLC Challenge #22                                   (desiref.blogspot.co.za)
Happy Little Stamper- Mixed Media-Words                                 (happylittlestampers.blogspot.com)
Crafty Hazelnut’s Christmas Challenge- #397 Anything Goes (craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)
Happy Little Stamper- Christmas-Anything Goes (Sequins)  (happylittlestampers.blogspot.com)

I learned how to make an "Impossible Card" a while ago (video here- maymaymadeit.com/blogs/news/the-impossible-card-in-multiple-sizes) and knew that I needed to use to showcase this handsome owl from Beccy's Place. He is from a set named, "You're a Hoot" that Beccy Muir generously provided to me during my few months as one of her Guest Designers. (I am just in month two of three, so I'll be sharing more makes with Beccy's amazing images in the future weeks.)  I colored the owl with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen and added a few hand cut leaves to the fun sentiments that came with the digi set. Isn't the end result… well.. a hoot?!
 

Entered into: 
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge                               (craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.com)

Another card made using an image and sentiment from a Beccy's Place digi set named "Bonsai." I kept this card pretty simple, coloring the image with Spectrum Noir markers and white gel pen, and mounting the image on rich gold imprinted, Asian themed paper from a 12x12 pad. A strip of red velvet ribbon taped to a strip of metallic gold paper adds a bit more texture and glimmer.
Entered into: 
Beccy’s Place Challenge- Aug                   (beccysplace.blogspot.com)

My final card for this post is actually two cards! I absolutely love the intriguing stamping opportunity called "Twofer Card Challenge." The goal of this fun challenge is to use the exact same stamps or dies to make two cards with distinctly different designs for two different occasions. This month the challenge was even more challenging than usual because the theme is "Geometric Shapes." I opted for squares and came up with two VERY different cards. 
Here are details- For the Halloween Card, I used a stencil and Exacto knife to cut six squares out of the front of an A2 sized kraft brown card. I printed off the wonderful Frankenstein image and sentiments (all are freebies from davelowe.blogspot.com/2015/10/4th-day-of-halloween-monster-warnings.html) Frankie is pre-colored in grey tones, so I added green chalk, white gel pen highlights, and silver detailing to the bolts and metallic bands.  

For the second card, I used a Close to My Heart set to stamp two butterflies (on white scrap) and two flowers (on yellow vellum scrap) and set them aside. I made a pinwheel flower base using four of the kraft brown squares that I had cut from the first card, plus cut squares yellow dotted squares cut from an upcycled McD's coffee cup (instructions here- owhstarsandstamps.org/2011/04/tutorial-pinwheel-ii.html) . The sentiment is a freebie from maxammadestudio.com/2018/02/making-vintage-card-and-sentiment.html
After assembling the card, I used a fine-tip Sharpie black marker to draw small lines to represent the butterfly's path. I'm entering the butterfly card into the current Butterfly Challenge where the colors and themes revolve around the letter F. My card includes two colors- Ferrari Red and French Blue, and two themes- flowers and more than one fold. (The card is a gatefold.)   I love the beautiful two sided scrabook paper , so made sure you got to see both sides by creating a gate fold card. On the front, you see the distressed denim and on the inside the quilted denim, plus the other butterfly and a sentiment from QKR Stamps. (You can find it here - www.stamponit.net)
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Entered into: 
Twofer Card Challenge #8 Geometric                    (twofercardchallenge.blogspot.com)
Butterfly Challenge- #105 Letter F                         (butterflyspotchallenge.blogspot.co.uk)
Di’s Digi Stamps- 2 or more patterned papers     (disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.co.uk)

18 comments:

  1. Oh I'm just loving your twofer entries too! I think the best thing about this challenge is seeing how people can make two completely different cards using the same element, and I think your idea to turn the squares into a flower is so clever!
    I especially love the monster, as I adore all things Hallowe'en (as you may have noticed!), and having him peek through the window is just perfect.
    Postman just arrived literally as I was typing this, and brought me a set of Tim Holtz zombie stamps I can't wait to play with. I may have to borrow your window idea when I make a birthday card for my friend. I know he'll love it!

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  2. Wonderful cards, love the two with Beccy's image.

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  3. Fabulous collection of cards Kathy, well done! The elves from the first card are super cute, you've done a great job with the colouring. I really like the chalk board paper you used in the background too. I bet he looks awesome spinning down the card!
    I LOVE the way you've coloured the little owl on your second card Kathy, the feathers look amazing! Great choice of card fold too, he looks quite proud sitting up there for all to see.
    The Asian inspired papers on your next card are wonderful, the colours are beautiful and the gold highlights really add a richness to the project. I like the addition of the white gel pen on the bonsai too.
    You're twofer cards are awesome, especially that fabulous monster! You did a great job with the geometric challenge and really achieved a different feel for each card.
    Well done Kathy!
    Cheers,
    Beccy

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  4. What a fabulous collection of cards!! Your two-fer set is very cool. Love the flower made out of squares! Thanks for playing with Di's Digi Designs.

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  5. Oh my Godness. You are so intuitive by using the squares from the first card. Absolutely love your design. Thankyou for coming and spinning the butterfly wheel with me this week. Hugs Mrs A.

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  6. Such a fun contrast between spooky and serene! I love the way you used your square shapes to create two very different looks. I never noticed that McD's coffee cups had such a great design! Thanks for joining in the fun with us at the Twofer Card Challenge!

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  7. My goodness you are such a prolific card artist, Kathy! Each of these cards is fantastic in design, shape, and execution! Your Twofer cards are especially clever in your use of the squares and I love them both outside and inside! Thank you for playing in Twofer Card Challenge #8! Hugs, Darnell

    p.s. I did want to let you know that the Twofer badge is specific for using "stamps or dies" for the challenge prompt elements, not "stamp/image." You can, however, use digi images as you've done for your non-prompt elements. I just wanted you and anyone reading this to know that. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks for the clarification, Darnell. Does my card qualify? Since I used a stencil and cut the squares to make the flower, I don't know if it counts. If not... let me know and i'll put my thinking cap back on for a different Entry. (And yes, I can be pretty prolific in my cardmaking. Often spend hours a day stamping away. It is my stress therapy! (And working in the field that I do- drug prevention- life is pretty stressful!) PS I'll make an edit to my post to reflect the challenge elements correctly.

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  8. Wow you are a card making machine lol...and I love ALL of them! The "word" paper makes an awesome background for the Elf, and that Owl card is fabulous. Thank you for sharing with us at Craftyhazelnut's PPC XXX

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  9. Wow, all your cards are fabulous! I am coming over from the twofer challenge, and I am loving both of your twofers! Your Frankie card is so fun and clever. I also love your pinwheel card, it seems they are making their way back-I've always loved them but haven't made one in a while. Love how you put the flower in the center of the pinwheel. Fabulous idea! Hugs, Brenda

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  10. Kathy these are just beautifully crafted and fits in perfect for our 22nd ‘ATG with CREATE WITH TLC’ challenge. Thanks for sharing your creative talent with us. Good luck and hope to see you play with us again.
    Hugs
    Desíre
    {ATG with a CREATE WITH TLC Element}
    {Doing Life – my personal blog}

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  11. What a fabulous collection of cards, Kathy ... you're so productive! Your twofer is so fun ... how spooky is that frankenstein staring in through the window ... and in contrast, your square petalled bloom is soft and dreamy with the butterfly flitting across the card! Love that you took the design to the inside on both cards! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Twofer! Anita :)

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  12. Your penny slider card is fantastic Kathy! Such a fun way to use the image. Beautiful paper and lovely sentiment! I am loving your creations!

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  13. Lovely card with the butterfly and flower - thank you for joining in the challenge at Di's Digis.
    Alison x

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  14. Your Christmas card is great. But I think it is not mixed media.
    Thanks for playing with us at HLS Mixed Media Challenge.
    Good luck!! Michelle (DT)

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    1. Michelle, thanks for the heads up. I thought it might quality as mixed media because of the spinning penny component. But then, I'm not quite sure what all qualifies as mixed media. Have had a hard time finding a definition via google. In any case, I'll see if I can delete that entry.

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  15. What A fun festive card and I love the spinner element.
    Thanks for sharing with us at Happy Little Stampers.
    Hugs
    Carol x

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  16. Fabulous cards! Thanks for playing with us at HLS!- Aditi

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Thanks you for your comments. They bring joy to my day!