mim#258: cover plate tags

Wow, look at me posting for PTI challenges three weeks in a row. And while I’m patting myself on the back, I’m even more impressed with myself because something in the circuit panel blew yesterday and there is minimal electricity in my house right now. Fortunately and thankfully, the refrigerator, two a/c window units and a handful of outlets were not affected. Unfortunately, the outlet for my internet box – not sure what the technical term is – does not have power, so I have to switch it out with the a/c when I want to get online. Good thing the temps are getting cooler at night.

So, back to why it’s kudos to me. The room where I craft does not get a lot of natural light; it’s located on the northwest corner of the house. That means I usually have a very bright overhead light on that illuminates the whole room. Last night, when I made this card, I had one table lamp that, in comparison, seemed to be like working in candlelight. Oh, how spoiled I am.

This week, Papertrey’s Make It Monday Challenge #258,  combining tags and cover plates, was presented by Laurie Willison. Because I tend not to use a lot of tags as tags, I usually make them on an as-needed basis to match the packaging. That meant that my tag for this Make It Monday would be going on a card, a guy’s card. This seemed to be a great way to add texture and keep it graphic, both go-to elements for me when making a masculine card. When the MIM video finished playing, YouTube was kind enough to recommend this video from Vicky Papaioannou and my plan for the card came together. Don’t you love when things like that happen?

Do you think guys wish upon a birthday star?

nancy

supplies:

stamps:  Wishes Come True and Simple Stars (PTI)

ink:  enchanted evening (PTI)

paper:  rustic cream card stock (PTI); passion fruit card stock collection (Recollections)

dies:  Tag Sale #3, Cover Plate: Stars, Seeing Stars, Coffee Cozy Details, Super Star Border, and Double-ended Banner (PTI); Linen & Canvas impression plate (PTI)

extras:  jute twine (Westrim)

happy fall y’all – no, not yet!!!!!!!!!

Papertrey’s August release contained a number of autumnal products and because I’m not at all ready for a change in seasons, I thought of skipping this month’s Create Along With Us challenge. Obviously, I changed my mind and even made two cards, both with a decidedly fall flavor.

The first card chosen as inspiration is Danielle’s pink Happy Fall card. With its lighter, more feminine colors, this card is perfect for that transition period of the warm days and cool nights of late September, which is probably part of the reason I chose it. Another reason is that I own the fabric tape Danielle used. Because I had yet to unwind that tape, this was the perfect opportunity to get it out.

 

Back in April, I described my approach to Create Along With Us. Another reason for my duplicative approach is that it pushes me to try things that I otherwise would not. Using a white leaf on an autumn card or pairing Soft Stone with these colors is not something I would do, but I love how they look on Danielle’s card… and on mine.

Another technique that I haven’t tried – it just didn’t seem worth the effort to me – is ink blending on word die cuts. Boy, was I ever wrong! It’s not much effort and the blended die cut has so much depth.

This card is my attempt at Betsy’s Inspired:  Blessed card. The flower cluster from Don’t Forget to Write seemed to be a good substitute and its stamp set was another item I had yet to use. After making this card, I’ve decided that I need to add some wheat to my collection. (I think I had decided that before I made the card.)

Hope you’re still enjoying some sweet summertime.

nancy

supplies (happy fall):

stamps:  Stitched Sentiments, Pumpkin Patch, Birthday Classics: September and Birthday Basics (PTI)

ink:  sweet blush, berry sorbet, harvest gold and classic kraft (PTI); rich cocoa (Memento)

paper:  soft stone card stock (PTI); white card stock (Recollections)

dies:  Leaf Prints (PTI)

extras:  fabric tape (Recollections); ribbon (stash)

supplies (prayer is a hug):

stamps:  Don’t Forget to Write, Botanical Silhouettes and Inspired: Prayer (PTI)

ink:  aqua mist, canyon clay, terracotta tile, summer sunrise, harvest gold, ripe avocado, simply chartreuse, fine linen and classic kraft (PTI); rich cocoa (Memento)

paper:  classic kraft and fresh snow linen card stock (PTI); watercolor paper (Master’s Touch)

dies:  Don’t Forget to Write and Happiness in Bloom Leaves (PTI); Stitched Rectangles (SSS); Inside/Out Stitched Square STAX (MFT Stamps)

it’s the pits: a card for mim#257

Each week, I try to play along with Papertrey’s Make It Monday Challenge, but I usually don’t finish a card in time to post. This week, I was determined to complete and enter my card for Make It Monday #257, sentiment strip grounding, presented by Lexi Daly.

Back at the start of July, I bought two pounds of cherries and pitted them the old fashioned way – with a sharp knife. From those cherries, my daughter made a cherry-blueberry crisp that was amazingly delicious. I mentioned to her that I wanted to buy more cherries and freeze them to have the crisp in the winter, but that I dreaded pitting all of those cherries and having my fingers be stained for two plus weeks. Brianna asked why I didn’t buy a cherry pitter and I explained that I had one many years ago that was worthless, so I’ve just stuck with the knife. She shared that her dad has one and insisted that it is easy to use. Fast forward one six-cherry pitter and five pounds of cherries later and I have a freezer filled with washed and pitted cherries just waiting for a cold winter’s day when Brianna bakes us a cherry crisp.

What do cherry pitters have to do with grounded sentiments? In actuality, nothing, but I incorporated that approach on a card using the cherry from Scent-imentals. I made the card for my father-in-law so that I could share the cherry pitter story. He lives in a nursing home a few states away and I like to send him cards and share little tidbits about what is going on in our lives. In reality, it is easier for me to make a card and write a note if there is a story that guides both; otherwise, I sit there staring at a blank page with my mind just as blank (for both making the card and writing the note).

One would think that after a woman pits five pounds of cherries, she would know exactly what they look like. Right? Well, the blank mind above apparently carries over into other parts of my life. After a “watercolor cherries” search on Pinterest, the following image jumped out at me, more for the design than the actual cherries.  Please note that the pin only went to the image and I was unable to find the original work of art to give credit to the artist.

I was not planning on doing anything that detailed since I am not an artist, but I did want to try to use the flow of colors. After working with a paintbrush for color placement and drips, I gave up and went to the smooshing technique. So much easier!

Sentiment strip grounding was a perfect approach with this card. The woodgrain tape was not only great for the sentiment strip, but it also symbolized a tree branch from which the cherries were growing. Obviously, I overthink things.

Hope you had fun visiting.

nancy

PS – One would think from the length of this post that I wouldn’t have any trouble filling a note card. ;-)

supplies:

stamps:  Scent-imentals and Flower Fusion #10 (PTI)

ink:  harvest gold, bright buttercup, hibiscus burst, pure poppy, scarlet jewel, green parakeet, new leaf and classic kraft (PTI); espresso truffle (Memento); VersaMark

paper:  citrus blend card stock (Recollections); watercolor paper (Strathmore)

dies:  Scent-imentals (PTI)

extras:  wood tape (Studio Calico); black embossing powder (PSX)