Happy

Having unearthed a printed pack of beautiful florals in soft colors, I thought they’d be perfect on a Bay Window card . . .

A good part of their beauty is the dry embossing that has already been done with the floral images.  In real life, the effect is gorgeous!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Cocoa, Fawn, K&Company Autumn Scrap Pack

Inks:             Distress Pumice Stone

Dies:            Memory Box Eva Stem, Impression Obsession Large

Bow, TKOnline Celebration Set: “Happy”, Joy Butterflies                 

It's Your Day!

This Bay Window card started with a piece of multi-colored printed paper and proceeded wildly on its way . . .

I punched out lots of flowers from colored scraps and sprinkled them all over to add to the fun.  It’s cathartic to go a little chaotic at times, don’t you think?

 Cardstock:   Bazzill Red Devil, Rainforest, Assorted Printed Papers,

Scraps         

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up “It’s Your Day!

Inks:             ColorBox Cream White

Emb Pwdr:   Stamp-n Stuff Ivory Pearl

Dies:            Bottone Stitched Ovals, TEMU Sea Grass, Impression

Obsession Small Bow, Punch Bunch/Carl Flower 

punches                

Doo Dads:    Gelly Roll Clear Star         

Happy Anniversary

My youngest brother and his wife live in the Seattle area of Washington State, an area of the country that always brings blues and greens to mind for me.  Their proximity to the ocean and the abundance of evergreens make for a richly colored scenic joy.  So for their anniversary card, those are the colors I wanted to work with . . .

 

The text would be more visible if larger, but it wouldn’t have fit on that narrow strip.  Next time, I’ll try placing larger letters on the side panels . . . 

Here's an inside view:

Cardstock:   Bazzill Admiral, Parakeet, Fascinating Folds

printed papers

Dies:            TEMU Words Set: “Happy Anniversary”

Doo Dads:    Gelly Roll Clear Star          

Harvest

Triple Treat today, folks, so be sure to scroll down a bit for three photos! 

I decided to dip into my oversized stash of handmade papers as I thought the coarse textures would suit the Thanksgiving mode.  I also need to whittle down the handmade paper collection.

Then I had fun with some alternative color schemes and wanted to share the results.  I did ten different cards for Thanksgiving but thought that three views were enough.

The first sample is a radical departure from the usual fall color palette . . .

The word “Harvest” doesn’t show up as much as I would like and although I tried using white and black letters, the silver glitter paper was the best choice.  Next time, I’ll try backing the text with contrasting cardstock.

The next two pictures show traditional and non-traditional colors.  Both make me happy and in future, I plan to try unusual color schemes just to shake things up a little. 

 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Neenah #110 Solar White OR Marcos

Jute, Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink cardstock Silver Sparkle   

Dies:            Tim Holtz Tangled Twigs, InLoveArts Pumpkin Leaf,

DieNamics Leafy Flourish, Dies to Die For Pumpkin

Patch, On Air Store Harvest                     

Doo Dads:    Past Time Stamps Gold Ultra Fine Crystal Glitter         

It's Your Day!

As promised, I’ll be posting a number of cards featuring the Bay Window design I recently presented.  Besides the fun I’m having with this layout, I want to show the wide variety of looks it’s possible to get with this basic design.  So here’s a sample for a Guy Card . . .

Along with the warm colors, the dotted end panels and the dry embossed texture help soften the straightforward design.  I’ll be experimenting with both stamping and die cuts to decorate the five panels, but for now, I’m really glad to find ways to help use up my rather obese collection of printed papers . . .

Here's a shot of the inside:

Cardstock:   Bazzill Twig, The Paper Cut Brown Umber, Assorted

printed and solid papers  

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up “It’s Your Day”

Inks:             ColorBox Cream White

Emb Pwdr:   Stamp-N Stuff Ivory Pearl

Emb Fldr:     Darice Wire Fence

Dies:            Gina K Rectangle Small Set Double Stitch                  

Celebrate

On the September 20^th Splitcoast Stampers posting HERE, the following novel card was featured.  I absolutely loved it and will be making scores of these, one of which will be entered in next year’s NJ County Fair . . .

 The design is called Bay Window and that’s exactly what it looks like.  It stands up beautifully on its own but goes easily flat for mailing, as the next picture shows . . .

Once you get the panels cut out*, the card goes together lickety split.  The card is a standard A2 size and fits easily into the envelopes you usually use for that size.  Depending on the papers and embellishments you choose, this design can be used for any occasion, any age, and would also work really well for a Guy card.

Cardstock:   Bazzill Intense Yellow, assorted printed papers

Dies:            FineGood “Scalloped Circle Set”, Memory Box Breezy

Wreath, TKOnline Celebration Set “Celebrate”            

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear

*On the otherwise excellent directions accompanying the Bay Window Card posting , I found that the dimensions for Panels #2 and #4 were oversized.  

The sizes posted are:

Patterned Paper: 11/8” x 4”

Cardstock:  13/8” x 41/8”

The sizes I used are:

Patterned Paper:  1” x 4”

Cardstock:   11/8´x 41/8”

Cheers

More fun with matte-finish acetate . . .

 

It does take more time make these because of the sheer window.  That means the back of the design has to be covered with the same die cut in order to give a finished look.  If the die cut image isn’t symmetrical, it’s the front of the second die cut that will need to be glued down in order to match the design.  Coloring the design with wet ink plumps up the edges of the watercolor paper so the back of the die cut no longer looks like the back.

Lastly, the message area will be visible through the window on the card front.  So adding a matching panel that opens to reveal the message is a quick and easy step to do.  Here’s a photo of the inside of my card . . . what looks like glue ooze on the back of the window is actually glitter.

 I don’t mind taking the extra time because I absolutely love making window cards!

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Graffix Acetate Matte, Canson

Montval Watercolor #140       

Inks:             Distress Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron

Dies:            Fitouna New Leaves, Mimgo Leaves, Goodculler

Stitched Rectangles, TK Online Celebration Set:

“Cheers”     

Emb Fldr:     Stampin’ Up Petal Burst 

Beacon Village

My friend Noela recently moved to the historic and very charming town of Beacon, NY and I thought an equally charming card was in order for her . . .

The adorable houses have simple shapes so it was easy to cut out masks in order to stamp the trees “behind” the buildings.  I think the grassy background is a little too high, so the next time I use this image, I’ll bring it down a notch.  The bird was an afterthought and I believe he adds just the right touch . . .

Cardstock    Bazzill Raven, Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth

Stamps:       Stampscapes Prickly Branches, Just For Fun Collaged

Row Houses

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black

Colorants:    Zig Clean Color Deep Red, Bright Yellow, Yellow,

Mid Green, Green Grey, Olive Green, Deep Green,

Shadow Mauve, Light Blue, Persian Blue, Brick Beige,

Deep Brown, Dark Brown

Dies:            DieNamics Pierced Rectangle Frame, Impression

                     Obsession Sea Birds, DieVersions font Hint of Lime               

Dream

My love affair with the Bay Window card design continues this time with soft pinks and some lacy die cut trim . . .

 

 Hope you’re not getting bored with this style – I’ve got lots more ideas to try out!  I’ll take a break and stick in other layout designs from time to time but I plan to keep coming back to the Bay Window as I am having way too much fun with it to quit . . . 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Dark Rosy, Light Rosy, K&Company Autumn

Scrap Pack, Scrap Brown 

Dies:            Tim Holtz Crochet, Memory Box Cascadia Butterfly Trio, 

Elizabeth Small Butterfly (body only), Cheery Lynn Tiny

Flower Kit, YPP Craft Words “Dream” 

Doo Dads:    Wink of Stella Clear