Sunday, October 28, 2012

Grand Tags

Chilly nights are here, and days are just cool enough to keep bunnehs inside. Work continues on the studio, and I'm hoping I'll be moved in by Thanksgiving! Yeehaw! Being inside most of the time now gives me a little more time to play with my toys.


I created this card for one of the Hope You Can Cling To challenges on Splitcoast Stampers. Tenia challenged us to use music as our inspiration, and include pink.



I used Tami Mayberry's Grand Tags set by Gina K Designs. I love this set because it does all the thinking for you. I stamped the image twice, cut out the piano, and popped it up on foam.

I'm thinking of so many of my friends up and down the East Coast who are under the aim of Hurricane Sandy. I hope everything can get back to normal very soon, and that everyone will be safe. I'm off, now, to start on Christmas orders. If you would like custom made cards, leave me a message with your email and I'll get back to you.

Ta for now!

~ky

Recipe:
Cardstock - Gina K Designs Pure Luxury
Patterned Paper - My Mind's Eye Indie Chic, Saffron
Inks - Memento Rhubarb Stalk, Potters Clay
Rhinestones - Basic Grey
Ribbon - Hobby Lobby

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Practice makes perfect

Mom always told me to keep trying until it worked. Then she told me to keep practicing, not until I got it right, but until I COULDN'T GET IT WRONG. My Mom was amazing, and I miss her daily. Her advice comes back to me every day. So, listening to her voice, I took another stab at my hardest card making technique - one-layer cards.

YIKES! Almost as hard for me is the CAS (clean and simple) style. Here are 2 samples of my recent efforts.


Both cards used Theresa Momber's Whimsical Wishes stamp set, by Gina K Designs. I embossed the pink card with my Spellbinder's nestabilities die, and cut a matching piece of scrap cardstock to use as a mask. I buffed on the Spun Sugar distress ink, leaving it lighter in the center.


I stamped the image in Picked Raspberry, and used my distress markers using the thumping technique on the leaves. I added just a little bling to the centers of the flowers. I am pleased with how it turned out. But I was compelled by Mom's voice reminding me to practice until I couldn't get it wrong.


This is the second card, using the one-layer and CAS styles. Being a graphic designer, I often struggle with balance in my designs, especially when I'm working off the cuff. I didn't have a plan for this, but I just kept going. I was trusting my practice to lead a so-so project into a wow project.

What works: Having three strong elements on the lower left needed balance on the right. If you look at it, the 'weight' of the midge with one rhinestone, and the four graduated rhinestones on the right, it adds up to the 'weight' of the three circles because the space between the right-hand elements adds to their value.

Weight - if you look at a card and your eye is following a triangular pattern, that is one of the most pleasing alignments, you should feel like the card is centered. If you look, follow the triangle, but your eye comes to rest on one side or the other, that is unbalanced, or side-weighted.

I could have chosen to stamp the sentiment in teal. That certainly would keep it even more clean and simple, but it wouldn't balance the weight. The lighter color of the sentiment reduces it's focal importance to keep the card balanced.

Ok - enough of the technical stuff. I enjoyed making this card, and I think I'm a little more practiced at CAS and one-layer design. Thanks, Mom!

And thank you, too, for stopping by.

~ky

Recipe:
Pink card: Cardstock - Gina K Designs Pure Luxury
Ink - Distress Ink and Distress Markers
Rhinestones - Basic Grey

Blue card: Cardstock - Gina K Designs Pure Luxury
Ink - Memento Teal Zeal, Peanut Brittle
Rhinestones - Basic Grey

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Last Flowers

Welcome to Fall! That means most of our beautiful plants are dumping flowers and leaves, or at least putting out one last show for us. 


This stamp set is by Theresa Momber, through Gina K Designs - Tropical Nature. I love this set because of this big flower image. It is so much fun to color!


The festive color of these blooms just begged for a bright backdrop. I am trying to use up all the rest of my older paper packs because I want to buy the new stuff. Tee hee! Oh - I'm part of another challenge group that inspires you to pull out your old supplies - stamps, paper, tools, even techniques! Pop by to get a daily dose of inspiration at Stamping With The Oldies. I'll see you there!

Happy inking!
~ky

Recipe:
Cardstock, Gina K Designs Pure Luxury
Patterned Paper, Basic Grey Lime Rickey
Dies and punches, Spellbinders and EK Success
Ribbon, Hobby Lobby
Ink, Memento and Copic markers
Welcome to the Bunny Nest! I host rescued animals in a small in-home setting. Currently, I host 3 bunnies and 2 kitties. These animals will be socialized and housed for the entirety of their lives in my home. They inspire my crafts, and I use any proceeds to pay for their needs. Thanks for visiting!