…Bothered & Bewildered…
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Category Archives: dcwv
Darkness Abounds…
I’m not sure why, but of late I’ve been finding myself experimenting more with a more neutral color palette than what I usually work with. I tend to get carried away with my greens (my favorite color) and blues. So, I suppose this new dip into browns and blacks is a welcome change. Though, hopefully, it’s not a reflection of my mood.
This particular card project had no intended use or event in mind. I purposely stayed away from a sentiment. As I finished it, I though it somehow looked a bit funereal–again that darkness. I suppose it would make an appropriate sympathy card. Yet, there is a bit of formal elegance to it–and with an appropriate sentiment–might work in other venues.
The black wrought-iron like centerpiece was cut using the Cricut ‘Damask Décor’ cartridge. I then mounted it on a piece of bronze foiled cardstock from Die Cuts With A View’s (DCWV) “Textures & Finishes” stack. The zig-zag cut background paper is from Teresa Collins. The card base is Stampin’ Up! cardstock. When I was getting ready to assemble the card, I thought about some waxed twine I had and decided to wrap some around the damask piece several times and string some crystal faceted beads on it, to give the card just a bit of light reflection (since the palette was so dark). Overall, I was pretty satisfied with the way it turned out. I have another project using ‘Damask Décor’ coming up that has a completely different feel and color palette.
Balloons Make Everything Better…
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Materials & Tools Used:
- Papertrey Ink cardstock in Raspberry Fizz
Bazzill textured cardstock in Snow
DCWV ‘Black Currant’ foiled cardstock
Cricut Imagine
Cricut Imagine Art Cartridge, ‘Imagine More Cards’
Cricut Imagine Art Cartridge, ‘Best Friends’
Papertrey Ink Parisian Lace Doily Die
Cuttlebug
Missing Hoo…
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Materials Used:
Stampin’ Up! Cardstock in Early Espresso
DCWV Foiled Cardstock from “The Naturals” Stack
Stampin’ Up! Cardstock in Whisper White
Stampin’ Up! Cardstock in Crumb Cake
Papertrey Ink Stamp from “Mega Mixed Messages” Set
Tsukineko Memento Ink in Rich Cocoa
Cricut Imagine
Cricut “Campin’ Critters” Cartridge
Stampin’ Up! RGB Color Codes
Stampin’ Up! 1″ Square Punch
Stampin’ Up! Scalloped Square Punch
3M ATG 714 Adhesive
Zig Two-Way Glue Pen
LaBlanche Rose Stamp
Today’s card project was inspired by a single stamp. I recently came across a unique stamp line that originates from Germany called LaBlanche. The stamps are intricate pieces of artwork that are captured in a high-quality white silicone and pre-mounted on a foam block. The silicone allows for high-definition detail to be imparted into your stamping–as well as being perfect for heat applications as they are silicone. I saw the image of this rose and was immediately hooked. The LaBlanche line is big in Europe and has developed a large cult following here in the U.S.
Inspired by the rose image, the rest of the project was built around showcasing the rose. The other stamp and paper elements showcase it nicely (I think). Copic users will love the details in these images for coloring (and the built in shading helps beginners get a better feel for layering your colors). The cardstock and ribbon are from Papertrey Ink. The decorative paper is from DCWV’s “Mariposa” Stack.
Winter Wishes
I want to take a moment and wish all my readers and their families a Happy Holiday season. Whatever holiday (if any) you celebrate, I wish you and yours a peaceful time with family and friends. May love warm your hearts and the season stir your spirit. I wish you love and much joy…and I’ll “see” you again after the holidays.
I have one more of my Christmas cards to share with you today. I think I’m really going to miss making Christmas themed cards as we head into the new year. I tend to create in seasonal moods, so I probably won’t return to Christmas cards again until next Fall. But, soon we’ll have the New Year and holidays beyond until Spring awakening. Keep warm. Keep happy. And as always, keep crafting. xox, A.
Ornaments
Christmas is one of my favorite times of year–for many different reasons. However, I have to admit that I have a fondness for ornaments. Over the years, I’ve amassed quite a collection of Christmas ornaments–from German blown glass, vintage glittered balls, figurals, pysankas to everything in between. There’s something about sparkling ornaments hanging on a tree reflecting the colored lights that speaks to one’s soul. It’s the perfect embodiment of the spirit of the holiday and the fascination of the child inside of all us that will never grow up.
Today’s card project is inspired by my love of ornaments. It’s also another card made experimenting with my Cricut Imagine. The ornament layers were printed and cut with the Cricut Imagine Art Cartridge entitled “Snow Angel” at 4″. The layers of the ornament were then assembled using Stampin’ Up! Stampin’ Dimensionals to create depth and visual interest. The base cardstock and ribbon are both from Papertrey Ink’s Blueberry Sky color way. The card mat is a 4″ x 5″ piece of glittered cardstock from Die Cuts With A View (DCWV) “Winter Wonder” paper stack. The sentiment is a clear acrylic stamp from Papertrey Ink.
I hope that if you celebrate Christmas, your tree is filled with beautiful ornaments that remind you of family, friends, and most importantly, love. As always Crafters, keep the adhesive and scissors nearby–because there’s nothing that can’t be made a bit better with the proper tools.
Vintage Christmas
Well, I hope you are all keeping warm and busy as the holiday season ramps up! I’ve feel like I’ve been on a shopping crusade. I’ve made a big dent in my holiday gift-giving list. Unfortunately, I seem to end up picking up something for myself every place I shop (one for him, two for me, one for her, three for me….). Shopping is my calling in life, lol.
For the past week, I’ve twisted or pulled something in my right shoulder and its really put a pinch in my routine(s). It was so bad for a couple of days, I was in bed with a heating pad, some decent pain killers and the thankless task of trying to find a position to lay in that didn’t hurt. It’s finally on the mend (*fingers crossed*), but I’ve been lax in the crafting department. I finally worked on this card yesterday…and I really love the very vintage Christmas feel it invokes.
Ahoy, Matey!
I finally got around to playing with some of my new goodies from Papertrey Ink’s October 2010 releases. The box had just been sitting there waiting for me to pillage and plunder. Can I just say I am in love with the new color ways–Blueberry Sky and Pinefeather. I ordered the cardstock, satin ribbon, polka dot ribbon, and wool felt in both colors. They are truly yummy! In addition to my stamp picks, I had to order the new die set called “Limitless Layers: 1 3/4″ Circle Collection”. This five piece die set has limitless possibilities and is definitely a must-have. Today’s card project uses the die set and some of the new Blueberry Sky collection.
The basic premise of the “Limitless Layers” set is that you have a 1 3/4″ circle die shape that can be backed by four different decorative circle shaped dies to create tags, badges, buttons of various materials to embellish your craft projects. I chose to use the scalloped punch out die and a piece of American Crafts glitter cardstock in Ocean to create the sentiment badge for my project.
For those that are curious, the Papertrey Ink die line will work with nearly all die-cutting systems (e.g., Sizzix, Cuttlebug, Spellbinders, etc.). While I have a Sizzix Big Shot, more times than not I will grab my Cuttlebug to use the dies and they cut wonderfully. The correct “sandwich” recipe for using these dies is: A Plate + C Plate + die + material + B Plate.
For this card, I used the new Papertrey Ink Blueberry Sky cardstock as my base (5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″). The base mat is a piece of Stampin’ Up! textured cardstock in Brilliant Blue (5″ x 3 1/4″). The decorative mat is Die Cuts With A View (DCWV) cardstock from the “All About Boys” stack (4 3/4″ x 2 1/2″). The scallop cut is American Craft glitter cardstock (2 1/8″ diameter). I wasn’t sure if I was going to use a colored circle (Blueberry Sky) or a white circle (Stampin’ Up! Whisper White) to stamp on–so I cut both just to have the option. (NOTE: I used my Zutter 1/2″ Round-It-All to cut the corners off the cardstock base and mats.)
While flipping through the DCWV “All About Boys” stack, I found a page that had a glazed image of a pirate ship on it and it served as the inspiration for the project.
To begin layering my card, I wrapped a piece of the coordinating Papertrey Ink Blueberry Sky satin ribbon around the Brilliant Blue mat and then adhered that layer to my card base. I chose to place the mat on the folded (scored) edge of the card to create a bit of visual interest with the ultimate color layering.
Next, I inked the edges of the pirate ship mat with Tsukineko Memento ink in Danube Blue and adhered it to the ribboned mat layer.
For my sentiment badge, I decided to use the white background and a Stampin’ Up! set called “Pirate Time”. I stamped the skull image using the Memento Danube Blue ink and the captain’s hat using StazOn in Jet Black. I used a Sakura Glaze pen in Black to handwrite the “Ahoy!” sentiment and inked the circle edges with more Danube Blue and a sponge dauber. I used Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere the white layer to my glittered scallop and then attached the badge to the cardfront.
The final touch was another stamped image on the inside of the card. Keeping with the pirate theme, I used a skull map stamp from a Stampin’ Up! set entitled “Beware Pirates” and StazOn Jet Black to finish my card.
Here are a few more close-up images of the finished project:
Bones
Here’s a cute and quick Halloween card. I fell in love with this particular skeleton stamp from Tim Holtz’s Stampers Anonymous collection. I just picture this line of dancing skeletons getting ready for the big chorus line number as the witching hour approaches. (Yes, I have issues…)
The base cardstock is from the ‘Midnight Spell’ paper stack from Die Cuts With A View (DCWV). I used a 4″ x 5″ piece of Stampin’ Up! Whisper White cardstock to stamp my images on. The blood splatter, barbed wire, skeleton, skull and sentiment are all Tim Holtz red rubber cling stamps. The inks I used are Tsukineko Memento in Tuxedo Black and Papertrey Ink in Scarlet Jewel. The tissue tape embellishment is also from Tim Holtz and his Ideology “Hobgoblin” collection. ( I adore all of the tissue tape lines and highly recommend them.)
