saf2016: master color recipes

I'm posting very late, so I'll come back and add some background information along with products used.

saf2016: share your masterpiece

 

If I’m posting on my blog, it must be time for either Papertrey Ink’s anniversary celebration or Stamp-a-faire.  Since the weather is disgustingly hot and humid, it could only be Stamp-a-faire, a wonderful free online stamping event. To open the festivities, Nichole asked us to share THE PROJECT that we are most proud of, our masterpiece.

I looked through my photo file, remembered different projects, and thought about the why behind those projects I was considering. Should I pick that card because it was the prettiest? or that one because it was made to encourage my daughter as she worked on her last college film? or my first gratitude journal because of memories of blessings that it holds inside? or the “I Believe” mini-album that each of the girls in my Sunday School made because of the faith captured? After much deliberation, I decided to share a simple card. It is not in any way a masterpiece nor is it close to my usual style… unless I’m making a card for a guy.

Why this card? To understand, you’d have to know the way I approach card making. Usually when I make a card, I start with someone else’s card that I use as inspiration. I definitely try to make it my own, but it is rare that I look at a stamp or die and an idea for a card immediately comes to mind. That doesn’t bother me because I consider myself a crafter rather than an artist and I approach this hobby the way I would cross stitching or crocheting – with a starting pattern. To me, the inspirational card is similar to a stitching pattern, which I make my own with color, patterned paper and/or the actual stamps I own.

This card is my exception. When I saw the stamp set in Studio Calico’s Blue Note card kit, released in December 2013, I immediately knew that I wanted to use the stripes and stars stamps for a Fourth of July card. I even pictured it in my head! When I sat down to make my cards in June of the next year, I was so excited with how it turned out. The card was super simple, but with the layers of color that I love. To me it was perfect for an Independence Day card, but the best part was that it was all me from start to finish. And that is why this card is my masterpiece.

 

When I stopped by the PTI forum, there were a number of people whose plans for playing along were disrupted. Unfortunately, I’ve fallen into that group. My daughter has pneumonia so I’ve been playing nursemaid this past week, but still had hopes to sneak in a card. Last night, though, I got sick and spent the night curled in a ball with stomach pain. I’ve straightened out enough to be able to type this very wordy post and am determined to make a card on Monday. Such is life.

I hope you are enjoying your Stamp-a-faire experience.

nancy

PS - My daughter has joined the human race once again. The medicines and rest are working.

supplies:

stamps:  Let Freedom Ring (PTI); Blue Note card kit (Studio Calico)

ink:  pure poppy and enchanted evening (PTI)

paper:  white, pure poppy and enchanted evening card stock (PTI)

dies:  Super Star border (PTI)

create along with us

It is fascinating to see the different approaches to Papertrey Ink’s Create Along With Us challenge. When Nichole tells us to create our own version of a project that the design team shared during the release, I take it to mean that she has given me free rein to copy a DT member’s card – well, as best as I’m able with what I own. What intrigues me with others’ approaches is how a person is able to reinterpret a card in such a way that it no longer resembles the original; yet, when you read the explanation of the process, it makes perfect sense. I’m not sure if I take a duplicative approach because I am a literal person or because I am so enamored with the original design that I want one of my own to hold in my hands. Whatever my reason, the lovely card that chose to be my inspiration is Betsy’s “don’t dig up in doubt what you plant in faith” card, the last in the post.

Although this is a very close interpretation of Betsy’s card, I had to make some changes to the placement based on the stamps used. I picked the small roses stamp from The Sweet Life because it is a three-flower cluster with two layers of color, as is the original. (The middle layer of the roses was not stamped.) The sentiment from Garden Grace was used because of its similar type of proverbial message and it fit with the design. I did put some thought into my card!

While this is no Betsy card, I was pleased with how it turned out… until I noticed the stray ink that snuck on the front. After trying a few methods to hide the ink – obviously without success – I told my daughter that if the recipient mentioned the goof, they just wouldn’t have to be subjected to another of my cards in the future. How’s that for being an adult?!

Thank you for stopping by.

nancy

pti ninth anniversary

Because I am playing beat the clock, just pictures of the cards will be shared for now. During the week, I’ll try to return with some information about each card. Please know that if I’ve shared two cards for a challenge, I’ve only entered one. It just means that I was having fun with a challenge and kept creating. Also, as I mentioned in my Create Along with Us post, it has been five months since I’ve made a card. Because I’m out of practice, I’ve CASE’d a few of my cards, trying to make them with the supplies I own.

Color Recipe

Clothing Inspiration

 

Grab & Craft:  I used every second of the five minutes for grabbing supplies. They included watercolor paper, cardstock, watercolors, Fancy Flakes dies, Two Feet Deep and Winter Hills stamps, and ink.

Color Pop Fortune Teller:  Summer Sunrise, Berry Sorbet and Royal Velvet

Paper Crafting Alphabet:  new product, border, at least five colors, and incorporate yellow

My computer is old in technology years and leads to some challenges because of no longer being able to update its browser. One of those challenges is not being able to comment on some blogspot blogs; it is dependent on how the comments are set up. Please accept my apologies if yours is one of the blogs. I was that person who commented on every blog for each challenge or blog hop in which I was a participant, so this really bothers me. Thank you for visiting.

nancy

pti create along with us

I last made a card in September, five months ago. When I was at my computer, looking at wonderful, lovely, colorful cards, I wanted to make something, but by the time I got to my supplies, the desire to create would disappear. Papertrey Ink’s anniversary challenges flipped the switch for me and I’ve made 13 cards since Thursday. I’m a very slow card maker, so that productivity is close to miraculous. My anniversary challenge cards are in the next post. My PTI Create Along With Us challenge card follows.

My inspiration is Betsy’s wonderful, merciful Savior card. Since I kept going back to Betsy’s blog to stare at that card, I thought it would be the perfect choice for this challenge. Basically, I copied Betsy’s card as best as I was able using Beautiful Brushstrokes, One Liners: Happy and my novice watercoloring skills.

Thank you for stopping by during this very busy time.

nancy

stamp-a-faire 2015 (part 2)

Here are two more cards for Papertrey Ink’s Stamp-a-faire, posting here strictly for entering the challenges. The remainder of my cards can be seen in part 1 of my SAF post.

This second card for the mix and match challenge is based on Dawn’s tutorial on mixing color. I started with a color that I don’t use often, orange zest, and paired it with some richer autumnal colors. I love how the card turned out, placing it in my top two along with the make it work card.

To me, those hexagons are colorful leaves, either still in the tree or blowing through the air. I haven’t quite decided on that yet. When you open the card, the leaves are in a pile on the ground. Do you think the recipient will see this card the same way?

As mentioned in SAF part 1, the blue version of the card for this challenge charmed me, so I decided to make another in shades of pink. I prefer the blue version, but the embossing on the pink card looks more like stitching. That might have something to do with me re-inking my VersaMark pad.

Again, thank you Papertrey for this incredible event.

nancy

stamp-a-faire 2015 (part 1)

If you’re reading this post, you probably know about Papertrey Ink’s Stamp-a-faire with its theme based on Project Runway, one of my favorite shows. I actually watch it live. Let’s jump right into my projects.

I tried to make something for the bridal challenge, but just wasn’t happy with how it was turning out. I need color! So I moved onto the patterns challenge and worked with Laurie’s sketch.

I try to send a card to my father-in-law every week or two. When I sit down to write, I usually draw a blank, so I've started keeping a list of things that happen to write about. I used that list to figure out themes for my cards, which leads us to the camping card. The card is much simpler than my usual. I added some enamel dots, then removed them, deciding to keep this card a little more masculine for Scotty.

The inside of the card with the trail of footprints from Summer Camp is actually my favorite part of this card.

My daughter and I canned peaches last week, so this next card uses Friendship Jar. I took on Danielle’s challenge of using twine and wrapped some around the jar to attach a tag. This card is really sweet and too feminine for Scotty, so I might save it for someone else and make one using graphic patterns for him. Then, again, he was married for more than 50 years to Patsy, who loved pastels and florals, so he might like something a little girly in her memory.

I made two cards for the mix and match challenge, one for Betsy’s tutorial of mixing patterns and one for Dawn’s on mixing color, which will be in the SAF post part 2. My card is based on this cheerful card. What I am most pleased about with my pattern mixing is that I used papers from different collections.

After watching Melissa’s video on using stick pins, I had a plan for my card until I saw Heather’s blue stamped and stitched card. I don’t often use blue, but I wanted to try a card in that color scheme, so I CASEd Heather’s card as much as I could without having the patterned papers or stamp set that she used. This card so charmed me – not quite as much as Heather’s – that I decided to make another in shades of pink (posted in SAF part 2). I still plan on making the stick pin card for my sister’s birthday later this month.

Next up is the runway inspired challenge and if you haven’t taken the time to look at the video of Sean Kelly’s rainway dress, please do so. He took creativity and innovation to a new level with the dress he designed.

The design team pulled so many wonderfully inspiring dresses for this challenge. My initial choice was Dawn’s look and using Garden Grace, but nixed that due to timing. My second choice was Lexi’s Venice-inspired look.

The black-striped paper is an obvious nod to the striped top. I didn’t want to use a solid block of color on the bottom of the card, so the berry sorbet grid picks up the color without the visual weight of the pants. And the floral cape is captured with the Beautiful Brushstrokes flowers. I placed them horizontally, at a slight angle, rather than vertically because I was thinking of how the outfit looked when the model first posed on the runway.

For the make it work challenge, I pulled the papers used in my failed bridal challenge from the recycling bin. As I mentioned earlier, I need color, so I added some to the card design, which made all the difference for me. Oh, that little felt heart is left over from the threads challenge. I’m really happy with this card. It’s definitely in my top two from this SAF.

Since I was in my pj’s when I shot this photograph, there was no way that I was going to be in it. Instead, here are the cards that I’ve made thus far for Stamp-a-faire 2015. I still have ideas swimming around in my head from all of the inspiration, so I’ll be making more cards over the next few weeks.

Thank you to all at Papertrey who make Stamp-a-faire such a fun and inspiring event.

nancy