Playing With Color

Every month a member at Studio Calico hosts the Layout a Week Challenges.  The challenges are generally applicable to traditional layouts, project life and card-making.  Its always fun to see what people come up with, but this month the first challenge might be one of my favorites ever.

Carson Riutta (also a member of the SC Creative Team) is hosting the February LOAW challenges and her first challenge was so much fun.

The challenge was to mix at least 10 inks and then blindly choose three.  Use just those three colors (plus neutrals) to make a project - layout, project life spread or card.  I love mixing colors and patterns but this challenge made me really nervous.  And I'll admit it - I was prepared to cheat and pick over if I really hated the colors that I ended up with.

I took all of my color theory ink pads (except the black, greys and creme brulee) and laid them o0ut randomly at my desk.  Then I had my husband mix them up.  I held a sheet of  stickers in front of my face and picked three at random.  Here's what I ended up with.....

That's right - purple rain, lime light, and glass slipper.  I happen to really like all of those colors, but I never would have thought about using them together in one project.  My daughter took one look and told me I really lucked out.

I decided to make a spring card for my project.  So I left the ink pads on my desk and when through my small scraps looking for papers in that fit my color story.  And I found a great card sketch at Paper Issues.

Here's what I ended up with.

I used a metal die to cut the word happy out of a piece of scrap paper and used some puffy stickers from Evalicious for the sentiment.  The tag pulls out and provides a great opportunity to add a "secret message" when I am ready to give the card away.  And those purple jewels were left from the Lemon Lush collection Studio Calico issued about a million years ago.  (Yes I am still hoarding papers and embellishments from that collection.)

This was a great way to experiment with different color collections.  Play along - and if you are a member at Studio Calico, don't forget to link to the challenge thread - a gift certificate goes to a random winner every month.  And link me up too - I will come give you some love.

World Card Making Day

Saturday was World Card Making Day.  It was also my daughter's homecoming dance.  As a result, I didn't have much time to play.  But I did crank out cards for the six challenges at Studio Calico.  They were all super quick and easy.....

Challenge 1: Use a project life card

I had been hoarding that stitched card forever and it was perfect for this challenge.

Challenge 2:  A fall card

It turns out that I have almost nothing fall like in my stash so this was a tough one.  That wood veneer piece from the last Pinkfresh Studio kit saved me.  And I did like the gold and copper against the dark blue background.

Challenge 3:  Use an alph stamp or alpha stickers 

This card was all about the colors.  Sometimes a simple design with great colors can have a big impact.

Challenge 4:  Use a stamp or die you haven't used before.

I rarely use my stamps and have gotten rid of tons (literally maybe) over the summer.  But this one I loved.  I went way out of my comfort zone with layered stamping, stamping on wood and even using watercolors for the sky.  It might just be my favorite card in the bunch.

Challenge 5 - Use at least two die-cuts

I used the scribble circle die from pinkfresh studios and a feather die from studio calico for this quick and easy card.  I like that it is so versatile and could be used in a number of situations.

Challenge 6:  a Christmas card that could be mailed easily and that is reproducable.

My original plan was to use gold heat embossing on the sentiment.  But after several tries, I couldn't get a result that left the word "twinkle" clear.  I did use an old trick here and chalk the edges of each layer.  It helps to give the illusion of dimension when you don't want to add thickness.


 Even though I didn't have much time to play, 6 cards was enough to remind me of all the reasons I enjoy card-making (even though I really consider myself a traditional scrapbooker.  Here are my top five reasons:

1.  It's a great way to try new techniques - things are way less intimidating on a small scale project and I'm generally way less worried about "ruining" something.  I mean I actually used my watercolors on a project.........
2. I use products that otherwise wouldn't ever get used - like that kite.  It was super cute but I wasn't sure I was ever going to use it.
3.  I have the hardest time throwing away scraps - but those small pieces of paper have a tendency to get out of control.  Cards are the perfect way to use them.
4. Sending a homemade card is a great way to share my love of papercrafting with all those people in my life who just don't get it.  (We all have those people right?)
5. I can make a really pretty card with lots of layers very quickly (as compared to making a layout).  This is a great way to squeeze in some scrapping time in a really busy week.
6. I actually use my stamps.

So did you participate in world card making day?  What did you make?

A Graduation Card - Let Your Light Shine

I just about never make cards - maybe 3 in the past year.  But I'm a really proud mom this weekend.  My son is graduating from high school, and he has grown into an amazing young man.  This week he shared a speech titled "Knowing and Loving Yourself" that he gave as a senior retreat leader with this quote as a theme:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?"  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.  As were are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

He originally heard the quote in the movie, Coach Carter, and learned that it was originally from Marianne Williamson.  When I read his speech, I was incredibly moved by his insight into who he is and the journey he has taken to date.  I was impressed by the confidence and maturity it took to share his own strengths and weaknesses with his peers and with his ability to share his challenges with his classmates. 

So I decided that I would not take the easy way out.  I would make him a card - and try to include messages related to the speech I read in that card.  After all, he's pretty amazing and deserves a card as unique as he is.

I started with a scrap of paper and then pulled out a 12x12 sticker sheet from the new MME collection Find Your Wings and Fly.  The sentiments were perfect.

The sentiments on the stickers were perfect and I loved the colors.  But the pennant sticker was two long.  So I cut off the top and used the striped piece as a layering element.  And of course, washi and enamel dots make everything better.

I wanted to continue the positive messages on the inside.  So I combined a couple of Studio Calico Project Life cards with another stickers from the MME sheet - and of course, a little more washi.

And then I tried my first envelope ever.  While it was a bit large for the card, it was perfect for the lottery tickets I was tucking inside. (We will buy him a new computer to take to school in the fall, but the day itself calls for something fun.)  I used a piece of patterned paper from I Lowe Scrap for a really fun look.

I'm excited to have a really special card for Nicholas.  He's certainly made our lives richer and I want him to know how special he is.

Have a great Sunday.

Simple Thank You Cards

I don't make cards very often - I just have a hard time getting the proportions right.  But I needed a couple of thank you cards and didn't have time to go to the store.  And I have a room full of supplies.  So I dug in and got to work.

The first card was for one of my daughter's friends. Elisabeth had some health problems this year and she brought her the homework on every one of the 30+ days she missed this year.  We wanted to give her an ITunes card to show our appreciation.  And the card needed to appeal to a  year old girl. 

So I dug out a kraft card base and an assortment of washi. I covered the card base with strips of washi to create a bright fun base.  Then I decided to use a shipping tag to add the sentiment.  I attached it with some bright color twine that was secured inside the card. 

I used a glassine bag on the inside of the card to cover the place where the twine was attached.  The gift card fit in there perfectly and created a finished look.

I also needed a card for her mother who drove her daughter to our house to drop off the homework all those days.  I wanted to make something pretty and sophisticated.  I started with a card base with a decorative edge on the front.  I added a strip of that beautiful ombre washi from Studio Calico to the insided of the card so the edge really stood out when the card was closed.  Then I went for these Amy Tangerine stitched vellum embellishments (some of my favorites and created a simple border design.  I added a layered sticker from Simple Stories and used Heidi Swapp alphas for the sentiment.

 

The end result was pretty and feminine.

And I had so much fun making these cards that I asked for a score board for Mothers Day.  I think I'll be making more cards in the future.

Hope you have a tremendous Thursday.