Fall To Layout 18

In keeping with the scalloped theme this week... I present the sketch:

Don't worry too much about the dimensions. I simply started with the scalloped square, then figured out what size the patterned paper would work as. In this case, I used the largest square nestability, and the squares end up measuring 1-3/8 with the mat.

When I went to place the sentiment, I realized that neither white craft ink or chocolate ink would show up well over the patterned paper. I tried a slightly different approach. I stamped the greeting on a piece of Spring Moss, stamped a snowflake on some vanilla cardstock, punched that out, and pieced it together nicely over the square. I like how that turned out.

One fun thing about this sketch is you can really make it as simple or complex as you want. It was somewhat inspired by last year's Fall/Winter Stampin' catalog cover. That one is an example of just how complex this layout can be. My card, however, is an example of this layout at it's simplest. Feel free to add in a square layer behind the 4 squares, use more than one type of patterned paper, add more embellishments, have fun with it!

Supplies: Stamps: Snow Flurries, Mixed Messages

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Cranberry Crisp

Paper: Cranberry Crisp, True Thyme, Holiday Thyme DSP, Vanilla

Accessories, etc.: 3/4 circle punch, various nestabilities, pop dot

Embrace Scallops

I used the SCS sketch for today for this card's layout. I love scallops and this layout was perfect to feature them. I used two sizes of Cuttlebug die to make the scalloped squares. The striped band of paper came with scallops on the edge from the patterned paper pack I had. Supplies: Stamps - PaperTrey Believe; Ink - Memento Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo Leaves; Paper - PaperTrey Vintage Creme, Making Memories FaLaLa paper pack; Misc - Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, Cuttlebug Scalloped Square Die, Dimensionals

Embrace Scallops!

I love anything to do with scallops. It's great that they are so trendy right now (and that doesn't seem to be changing!). There's just something very classic about adding a scalloped edge. It works well with squares or circles or simply an edge of something.

For my card today, I started with a navy card base. I ran that through the cuttlebug with a long scalloped rectangle nestability (one could easily use scalloped scissors or a punch to get the exact effect). Next, I stamped some acetate with snowflakes. I attached that inside the card, then added some ribbon, silver cord, and a snowflake shrink charm. Pretty quick! There's no sentiment just yet, I figured a nice saying stamped in white or silver would look nice peeking through the snowflakes.

Supplies:

Stamps: Rustic Snowflakes (PTI)

Ink: Stazon White

Paper: Night of Navy, Acetate

Accessories, etc.: organdy ribbon, silver cord, polyshrink, scalloped die

10 Minute Monday

Here's a nice 10 minute card for today. The thing that took the longest was tying the bow right! I colored the ornament, cut it out, and popped it up with dimensionals, and added glitter to the heart with a clear spica pen.Supplies: stamps - Heartwarmers (CHF), PaperTray (PTI) for "string" paper - ww ink - tuxedo memento, copics acc - ribbon, clear spica glitter pen, dimensionals

10 Minute Monday

This card was made in 10 minutes. I have finally learned to make several of some things and keep them for another card. So I made the cuttlebug snowflake several days ago - I made about 4 of them so I could have them ready for a card. I covered the cut and embossed snowflake in Essential Glue and sprinkled the glitter on. With the Essential Glue pad there is no need to heat it for glitter to stick! More minutes saved! I cut a square out of white cardstock with a nestability and then embossed the paper with the snowflake folder and Cuttlebug. I used a little Multi Mono glue on the top and bottom of the snowflake to adhere it to the main panel and then attached the panel with dimensionals to give it more depth. I embellished it with a flat back pearl sticker. I stamped the sentiment and used the Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio die to cut it out. Supplies: Stamps - GinaK; Ink - Memento Bahama Blue; Paper - PaperTrey Stampers Select, Bazzil; Misc - Cuttlebug, CB Snowflake die and embossing folder, glitter, Essential Glue Pad, pearl sticker, ribbon, Spellbinder Square Nestability, Spellbinder Ribbon Tag Trio, Dimensionals

Ten Minute Monday

This week I bring you a somewhat deceptive 10 minute card. It looks more complex due to all the different patterns and layers involved, but it's really quite quick.

First off, the 3 flowers are all one stamp, so that's easy enough. I stamped that and the greeting onto a linen stamped background vanilla panel. The background papers were based off of scraps I had on my desk. I wanted the green pattern to pop out a bit more, so I mounted that on some orange. The real reason this card came together so quickly is due to the proportions. Although the main panel isn't directly proportional to the card front, it's close enough. I decided on the proportions first, found a stamp to fit into those proportions, then chose colours based on the theme. It may seem a bit backwards, but I find that using this approach makes for a quick-to-execute project!

Supplies:

Stamps: Eastern Blooms, It's Your Birthday, Linen

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Kiwi Kiss, Haiku DSP, Vanilla

Accessories, etc.: pop dots

Hi everyone! No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth. DH had surgery 2 weeks ago, and I am just now starting to feel like I'm catching up. So here we go:

FTL 17

Focus on Patterned Paper

The sentiment is stamped in white craft ink, and the snowman's heart is actually christmas red stickles.

Supplies:

(happy birthday)

stamps - Flirty Flowers (Unity), Eastern Blooms (SU)

paper - kraft

ink - craft (eggplant, lavender, white)

acc - kiwi gg

(holiday cheer)

stamps - Heartwarmers (CHF)

paper - kraft, pacific point, ww, baja breeze patterns dsp

ink - white craft, tuxedo memento, copics

acc - christmas red stickles, oval nesties, kiwi gg, white brad, dimensionals

FTL 17- Samples

Alright, here are my cards. I had them finished before today, but I forgot to set up my scheduled post, oops! This first one I made first, then designed my sketch to match. This gold American Crafts ribbon served as my inspiration. The snowflakes and the sentiments are all embossed with gold powder. My second card features some very basic watercolouring. I stamped the leaf prints with Stazon on, then went over them with twinkling h2os. Added the sentiment and some brown twill and that was that.

I find that when keeping things to the one layer, you need to bring in that extra "pop", either in the form of colour, shimmer, or a dimensional point of interest (whether really, like in the case of ribbon or embossing powder, or perceived, say if I had outlined or added a shadow to the leaves). Thanks for stopping by, if you decide to play along, feel free to leave a link in the comments or use the keyword FTL17 over at SCS! Have a good weekend!

Supplies: Stamps: Snowflake Serenade, Autumn Leaf Prints, Brighter Tomorrow Paper: White, Ink: Stazon Brown, Versamark, Chocolate Chip Accessories, etc.: Ribbon, twinkling h2os

FTL 17

Here's the sketch, my samples will be up after 2:30 CST.

Fall-To-Layout 17

This is a nice one layer sketch that can be easily mass produced. I think tying the ribbon took the longest! I just love how this $1 ribbon from Mike's matches the the snowflakes and the Memento Bahama Blue ink. I thought it needed some bling so I added the Amuse Twinkler Micro Dots to the snowflake centers and the Amuse Twinkler Mini Stars to dot the "i"s in the sentiment. Supplies: Stamps - Clear Dollar Stamps, Printworks (sentiment); Paper - PaperTrey Stampers Select; Ink - Memento Bahama Blue; Misc - ribbon, Amuse Twinkler stickers

Joy of Patterned Paper

I am addicted to patterned paper! It was hard to decide what to do - I wanted to start making my Christmas cards and use some new stamps. So I started by taking out all of my holiday patterned paper and came across this Daisy D's paper from last year. I thought it was perfect to go with the PTI Rustic Branches set. Not only did the pattern paper suggest the stamp to use, but it also suggested to score vertical parallel lines and then emboss the edge with the Cuttlebug border embossing folder. Supplies: Stamps - PaperTrey, Ink - SU! Old Olive, Memento Lady Bug; Paper - PTI, Daisy D's; Misc - Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Border Embossing Folder, Scor-pal, Dimensionals

Embrace Patterned Papers

When I was going back through the older posts, I kind of couldn't believe that I hadn't focused on pattern paper. I was sure I had (maybe I did but missed it...) Anyway, if it is a repeat, it's because it's that much of a staple in CAS stamping! Patterned paper can stand alone with a bit of ribbon and a sentiment (as Monday's card showcased), it can also be added as a form of an embellishment. Sometimes it simply gives you a starting point. A certain combination of patterns, images, or colours can be just the right source of inspiration to get that creative mind going! That's actually what happened with this card. I LOVE the Haiku paper (so much so that it may very well be a pack that I purchase again, which is quite the rarity for me!). I love the repeated patterns and the fresh combination of colours. I grabbed a piece of paper, and used the colours as my starting point- Tangerine and Saffron. Throw in a bit of white and you've got a sharp colour combination! To really make the silhouettes pop I embossed them with white and added a white rub-on sentiment. The card base is made from textured white cardstock.

Supplies:

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Haiku, Tangerine, Saffron, White

Accessories, etc.: white EP, ribbon

Ten Minute Monday

This card is quite possibly one of the fastest cards ever. When I started it, I wasn't even planning for it to be such a quick card. But once I got that beautiful paper on the chocolate card base, I just didn't want to cover it up! Instead, I accented the corners with brown brads, tied a bit of matching ribbon on, and then applied a chocolate rub-on. I quite like how it turned out. It could be used for all sorts of congratulatory events. I thought it would be especially good as a masculine congratulations. Supplies: Paper: Haiku, Chocolate Chip Accessories, etc.: Hidden Garden Rub-on, Chocolate Brads, Ribbon

FTL 16

I really like Natasha's layout - it is a quick, basic layout but you can do so much with it. I love the Fall so I wanted to use some Fall colors - blue for the crisp , clear sky, oranges and yellows for the flowers and some brown mixed in. I layered some felt flowers that I bought last year at PTI and have been neglected for so long! I put them together with some fall brads that I found at the Target $1 Spot. I chose the Happy Birthday sentiment from PaperTrey's Birthday sentiments set - I think this font is perfect for a clean and simple card. I matted the main panel with brown Prism cardstock to match the sentiment color. Once I decided what I was going to do it took less than 10 minutes to make it! Supplies: Stamps - PaperTrey Ink; Ink - Memento Rich Cocoa; Paper - DCWV, PTI Stampers Select, Prism; Misc - Felt flowers, brads, glue dots

Layout #16

I've been doing this online scrapbook class and this week's topic is repetition. Perhaps that is what inspired me to pull out this layout! It's such a great way to bring a card together, simply by repeating 3 of the same thing! Here's my card, I was in the mood for something cheerful and vibrant. I went with a mix of Summer Sunrise and Pure Poppy on the ladybug bodies. The touch of black really pops the colour nicely.

Supplies: Stamps & Paper from PTI (Little Lady)

This is the last one!

When I used this design most recently, I made 4 different versions. I promise, this is the last one. It's funny, even though they are all the same design, they all have very different looks. That's actually what this post is about- focus on the flowers! By changing the type of flower and the colours you use you can really alter the look of any card! Here I went with an almost Spring theme, since I chose light pink, purple, and olive. The great thing about flowers is how easy it is to achieve different looks. You could make clusters, watercolour the images, do some masking. I suppose you can do these things with any images really, but I find flowers are always so inspiring! There's SO many options out there it's crazy. It's also one of those themes where you can already own several flower sets, but a new one will catch your eye, because just like flowers, floral stamp sets off something new and unique with each design!

Ten Minute Monday!

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadian readers! Hope you're enjoying the day.

I whipped this card together in under 10 minutes this morning. It helps when you have stamped images lying around- no that's not cheating, just being resourceful! I cut out the image, added a rub-on, cut out some scallops and adding a bit of ribbon. Done! I LOVE this colour combo-riding hood red, pink pirouette, and chocolate chip. It's just beautiful. I can see it working quite nicely for valentines later.

Supplies: Stamps: Eastern Blooms Paper: Riding hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, White Ink: Chocolate, Riding hood Accessories, etc.: scalloped rectangle die cut, chocolate ribbon, Hidden Garden rub-ons.

FTL 15

Well, I hope you all liked my layout from earlier in the week because it's my sketch this week. This one truly is a fall-to layout for me. I use it ALL the time! It's got enough elements that make it interesting. There are also several possibilities with those elements. You don't have to use flowers on the main image panel, but I know there are lots of options out there for floral images.

So here's another version of this layout. I used the polka dots to make a subtle background, then chose nice, bright colours for the flowers.

Supplies: Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, Garden of Life, Birthday Basics Paper: Only Orange, Kraft, White Ink: Summer Sunrise, Cantaloupe, White Accessories, etc.: Orange Ribbon, gelly gems, brads

Embrace...Dots!

Here is another very quick, simple card focusing on dots and circles. No stamping on this one and it would have been under 10 minutes to make if it didn't take me so long to get that bow right! I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the three circles and then used the Martha Stewart Butterfly punch and papers from DCWV Fall mat stack for the butterflies. I used the colors for yesterday's SCS color challenge: Chocolate Chip, Tango Tangerine (Pumpkin Pie) and Kiwi Kiss (Old Olive). In real life, the card stock is Old Olive but the photo makes it look totally different. Supplies: Paper - DCWV Fall Mat Stack; Misc - MM Ribbon, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, MS Butterfly punch, Glud Dots

Embrace... Dots

Well last week was stripes, so it seemed appropriate to focus on dots this week. In case you haven't already noticed, I have been loving my new set of Polka Dot Basics. This is one of those sets I kept putting off getting since it didn't seem as "fun" as some other releases. It's such a staple, it's so nice to have access to such a wide variety of dot backgrounds! I started with a very basic white ink on a kraft background and went from there. I brought in a few flowers from Garden of Life, and I made a whole bunch of cards. They all have the same layout, but by changing the size of the dot background, the flower stamp, and the colours, they all look very different!

Supplies: Stamps: Garden of Life, Polka Dot Basics, Birthday Basics (PTI), Petals and Stems (Verve) Ink: Pure Poppy, Bamboo Leaves, White, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky, Chocolate Paper: Kraft, White, Chocolate, Olive Ribbon: Red dashed, Brown dashed, Accessories: Red Brads

Under 10 Minutes Monday

This card looks like it takes more than 10 minutes to make but with the right tools it actually takes less than 10 minutes. I used my SU! markers and colored directly onto the flower stamp, spritzed a bit of water on the stamp and then stamped it onto PaperTrey Stampers Select cardstock. I cut out the image with my long rectangle nestabilities along with the two mats. I ran the image panel through the Diamonds in the rough Cuttlebug embossing folder. I scored the front of the cardstock in a diamond pattern to match the embossed panel. Then I just put all the pieces together. This is a layout that I use a lot when I need a quick set of notecards. Supplies: Stamps - Penny Black; Paper - PaperTrey Stampers Select, Bazzil; Misc - Cuttlebug, Diamonds in the Rough Embossing Folder, Long rectangle Nesstabilites; Scor-pal

Time for another Ten Minute Monday

My card today was inspired by one I spotted in PaperCrafts 101, on page 131. It featured white letters and a stamped background. I changed the size of the card, didn't add any embellishments, and I changed the colours. It's nice when you can be inspired by the publications around you. I don't like to copy, but I spotted this one and thought, hmmm, I like that! I found my white foam alphabet stickers and a few dot stamps and got to work!

Supplies:

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics

Ink: Whisper White, Pure Poppy

Paper: Textured Brown CS, White, Pure Poppy

Accessories, etc.: White foam stickers

FTL14

Here's my version of this week's sketch. I really do love making circular cards. It's something I used to never do, simply because I didn't have reliable enough tools. With the nestabilities die-cuts it's so easy to make shaped cards. A few tips...

The largest circle is almost 4 inches across. So I cut my base to 4x8, folded it in half, then cut leaving a space of nothing right above the fold (so as not to cut the folded paper into 2 separate circles). Next, I got a 4x4 square and made my card as if it was a square. I adhered the blue paper, then the strip of patterned paper. Next, simple cut out the circle card front from that. You only have to make 1 cut and everything is exactly where you want it! No lining up curved layers.

The rest of the card was quite simple, stamp 3 snowflakes, cut them out, add gems and attach with pop dots. Stamp a little sentiment. Done!

Supplies:

Stamps: Rustic Snowflakes (PTI)

Ink: Bashful Blue, Paris Dusk

Paper: White, Bashful Blue, Holiday Thyme (yes I still have some!)

Accessories, etc.: gelly gems, circle die cuts, pop dots

FTL14

Happy World Card Making Day!!!!

Supplies: stamps - Beautiful Blooms (PTI), Birds of a Feather (Unity) paper - kraft, pink pirouette, ww, choc patterns ink - choc, baja breeze, pink pirouette acc - scallop edge punch, kiwi ribbon, BAB, mat pack & piercer, silver brads, flower die (provocraft), pop up glue dots

Fall to layout 14 Autumn

Happy World Card making Day! Supplies: Paper - PaperTrey Stampers Select, DCWV Autumn mat stack, Basic Grey Ambrosia; Misc - Cuttlebug Leaf dies, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, paper piercer, piercing template, glue dots, dimensionals

Fall To Layout 14

It's World Card Making Day today! Hopefully you find some time to enjoy doing exactly that! I have a sketch that may serve as some inspiration to you. I decided to change things up a bit and offer one of my favorite circle layouts. The flower shapes can be optional. Sometimes depending on the sentiment placement, the mix of patterned papers and ribbon, you really don't need those extra mini layers. My interpretation of the sketch will be posted later today (since I'm typing this Friday night and I am tired). Stick around, Becky's interpretation is phenomenal! Hope you can participate in the fun today! I thought I'd post just a sampling of a few of my favorite CAS-showcasing blogs to help inspire:

• Dawn McVey
• Chloe-Jill Designs
• Sherri Barron
• Angie Tieman
• Sharon Johnson
• Ashley Newell
• Designs by Dallas
• Amy Rohl
• Kristina Werner
• Julie Ebersole
• Becky Carafa

Embrace....Stripes!

This was a fun and easy card to make. I love this paper from DCWV Nana's Nursey. There are such cute and coordinating papers in this 6x6 pack. I used a striped paper for the bottom and cut a strip of another paper to put across the top. I made the tag with my Just Rite Stamper Harmony Classic II Special Occasions set and the Small Letters set and cut it and the scalloped mat out with my nestabilities. Supplies: Stamps - Just Rite Stamps; Ink - SU! Sage Shadow; Paper - PaperTrey Stampers Select, DCWV; Misc - Nestabilities, Dimensionals