Hi Friends~
I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday. I went shopping for one of my Grandson's upcoming birthday party on the way home from the doctors and lifted a box that was much heavier than it looked. Those of you who have been here for a while know that I have a disability that stems from my back and impacts other areas, too. Well, I lifted this box, and let me just say...I am ready to sleep because I am taking every medication that I am allowed to take. My back is hurting very much. I told you I would share some cards...so share I shall...
This is one of the Christmas cards I sent out. Yes, Christmas! I saved the photos, but thought I never even took any! LOL The base of this simple card is SU! olive cardstock. I then used my pad of My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found Christmas" papers. Gorgeous papers with a Distressed look to most of them. I used a template to cut the design paper in a wide scallop edge and attached it with a glue tape gun. I used Hero Arts Gold Embossing Powder for the sentiment...and if you want shiny writing-- theirs is the best, in my opinion! I have several different gold powders from different companies, but they have a more matte look to them. I don't know what company made the beautifully ornate "Merry Christmas" stamp. The bow matches the sheen of the words. The ribbon is from Better Homes and Gardens Floral and Nature Crafts. It ties so easily, it laid rather flat. So on some of them, I attached a gold star "crystal" in the center of the bow. I'm sorry about the lighting. I can see here that the greens don't match well. They did in real life. These were so easy to make...and that was a good thing. Because I didn't really start popping them out until about the 2nd week in December! LOL
I made this card in two different base colors, SU! ivory and SU! white. I used a fabulous "Dream Weaver" metal die cut. I didn't use it that way, I used it as a template to color in. First however, I embossed some by hand--on a light table with a stylus. It took forever! I don't know what happened. It was as if I forgot that I have a Cuttle Bug that embossed...or that I have Embossing Powders that emboss. Or, if I only wanted to color them with markers...I didn't even need it embossed! Have you ever had a few days like that? LOL I ended up using the "Dream Weaver" piece as a template. I used SU! olive and always artichoke markers on the leaves. I used Stickles Red for the berries, and Stickles Gold on some of the leaves to add a bit of highlighting to it. After this point, I outlined with a very thin black pen, every detail on the card. The Holiday Greetings is part of the die cut. So, I just traced the letters.
I will not suggest you ever try this way of making cards. It completely ruined the markers I used. The metal cut up every nib, and I can't use those markers again. It was also so very time consuming, without the finished-polished look. Granted, I made some mistakes.
What would you have done if you bought that Die Cut, and wanted to use it as the focal point of a card? I send A2 cards, and it fits that exactly. I am asking for suggestions to try out for an A2 card. I have most materials on hand. I would LOVE to see what ideas you come up with. I really appreciate your suggestions. I have just passed my 2 year anniversary of making cards, and I don't see any improvement even though I have added so many items to my art room.
Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with me. I am excited to hear from you. The only way I will get better is to learn from others. I watch techniques on blogs...but it is YOUR opinion I would love to read today!
Don't forget to leave a comment before each Tuesday at 8pm to be eligible to win that week's He IS Able Blog's Card Set of the Week. The recipient will be randomly chosen, and the number of cards/envelopes will be randomly chosen also. You could win anywhere between 1-5 cards each week! God Bless! And, thank you SO much for being here.
He IS Able!
Traci Starkweather
I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday. I went shopping for one of my Grandson's upcoming birthday party on the way home from the doctors and lifted a box that was much heavier than it looked. Those of you who have been here for a while know that I have a disability that stems from my back and impacts other areas, too. Well, I lifted this box, and let me just say...I am ready to sleep because I am taking every medication that I am allowed to take. My back is hurting very much. I told you I would share some cards...so share I shall...
This is one of the Christmas cards I sent out. Yes, Christmas! I saved the photos, but thought I never even took any! LOL The base of this simple card is SU! olive cardstock. I then used my pad of My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found Christmas" papers. Gorgeous papers with a Distressed look to most of them. I used a template to cut the design paper in a wide scallop edge and attached it with a glue tape gun. I used Hero Arts Gold Embossing Powder for the sentiment...and if you want shiny writing-- theirs is the best, in my opinion! I have several different gold powders from different companies, but they have a more matte look to them. I don't know what company made the beautifully ornate "Merry Christmas" stamp. The bow matches the sheen of the words. The ribbon is from Better Homes and Gardens Floral and Nature Crafts. It ties so easily, it laid rather flat. So on some of them, I attached a gold star "crystal" in the center of the bow. I'm sorry about the lighting. I can see here that the greens don't match well. They did in real life. These were so easy to make...and that was a good thing. Because I didn't really start popping them out until about the 2nd week in December! LOL
I made this card in two different base colors, SU! ivory and SU! white. I used a fabulous "Dream Weaver" metal die cut. I didn't use it that way, I used it as a template to color in. First however, I embossed some by hand--on a light table with a stylus. It took forever! I don't know what happened. It was as if I forgot that I have a Cuttle Bug that embossed...or that I have Embossing Powders that emboss. Or, if I only wanted to color them with markers...I didn't even need it embossed! Have you ever had a few days like that? LOL I ended up using the "Dream Weaver" piece as a template. I used SU! olive and always artichoke markers on the leaves. I used Stickles Red for the berries, and Stickles Gold on some of the leaves to add a bit of highlighting to it. After this point, I outlined with a very thin black pen, every detail on the card. The Holiday Greetings is part of the die cut. So, I just traced the letters.
I will not suggest you ever try this way of making cards. It completely ruined the markers I used. The metal cut up every nib, and I can't use those markers again. It was also so very time consuming, without the finished-polished look. Granted, I made some mistakes.
What would you have done if you bought that Die Cut, and wanted to use it as the focal point of a card? I send A2 cards, and it fits that exactly. I am asking for suggestions to try out for an A2 card. I have most materials on hand. I would LOVE to see what ideas you come up with. I really appreciate your suggestions. I have just passed my 2 year anniversary of making cards, and I don't see any improvement even though I have added so many items to my art room.
Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with me. I am excited to hear from you. The only way I will get better is to learn from others. I watch techniques on blogs...but it is YOUR opinion I would love to read today!
Don't forget to leave a comment before each Tuesday at 8pm to be eligible to win that week's He IS Able Blog's Card Set of the Week. The recipient will be randomly chosen, and the number of cards/envelopes will be randomly chosen also. You could win anywhere between 1-5 cards each week! God Bless! And, thank you SO much for being here.
He IS Able!
Traci Starkweather
beautiful card. Sorry I have been MIA. I have been praying for all needs. Right now I am struggling with a cold and my asthma and could use some prayers.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Sweetie! We know you are always around. And, your prayers are appreciated so much. You are so faithful in your prayers. I know you understand the importance of every prayer request and every prayer offered to the Lord.
DeleteI am praying for you to feel better quickly. That it won't linger. And, that the Great Physician will heal all of your needs and any needs of others in His time.
You are so appreciated!
He IS Able!
Traci Starkweather
When you back hurts, you really hurt!
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better very soon...
I like both of your Christmas cards
very much.
Also, I tend to like a vintage, distressed
look to most of my cards...
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
Hello again, Cindi~
DeleteThanks for visiting again. I hope it becomes a habit! :) You may want to read my very first post, it tells a lot about me. Just click on "2010." It is under all of the post titles in red. There is only one post there. It is a bit interesting, if I say so myself! LOL! I am trying to learn how to give my cards a more Vintage look, but don't know what I am missing. I have the materials. Just not the know-how. I'd love for you to share your thoughts with me on how I could be more Vintage-like. Trust me, my body is...I just want to turn the cards that way. LOL Thanks for being here, Cindi.
Please let me know if you ever see this. If any of you can see this. It is new. There is a button to reply to comments. I just don't know where it shows up!
He IS Able!
Traci S.
tracistarkweather@gmail.com