Priscilla's Papercrafts: Freshly Made Sketches

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Simplicity for Freshly Made Sketches

I never realized just how much I can struggle when creating my cards. I enjoy the process of stamping (I never have trouble picking a stamp set and colors) but once I've stamped the image, I often find myself getting into the same old rut--a cardstock base, another layer, and then some centered and squared images.

So it was refreshing (and challenging) to use a sketch from Freshly Made Sketches with several angled layers and lots of white space...could I do it?

I first had to decide what stamp would be enough of a focal point to grab the attention away from all the white space. Then came my colors, and here's my finished product:

I LOVE this card! So fresh and simple, yet elegant and beautiful. Love the sketch!

I started with a piece of Whisper White cardstock, and stamped just the image from Love is Kindness (this single stamp has an attached sentiment, which I masked). The image is actually a vertical orientation, but I laid it down horizontally. I colored the flowers with my Daffodil Delight and Old Olive Blendabilities...

...then I carefully paper-snipped around the three bottom flowers.

This was layered (with Dimensionals) on a slightly larger piece of Basic Black, with the snipped flowers hanging over the edge. And then it's put on a layer of Flowerpot Designer Series Paper.

The sentiment (from Lotus Blossom--a FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp) was stamped on Whisper White, using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. And the card base is Basic Black.

What do you think? Do you struggle with card layouts? Won't you leave me a comment and let me know?

All products can be purchased here.

What have you created today?

Love Is Kindness Wood Stamp

Lotus Blossom Photopolymer Stamp Set

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Daffodil Delight Assortment

Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Old Olive Assortment

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

Flower Pot Designer Series Paper

Stampin' Dimensionals

Paper Snips

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Not What I Had Imagined!

I often read on other's blogs that the card they have created was JUST what they imagined it to look like. Really? Do people really have the ability to "imagine" a card and then make it? That's a gift I just don't have.
So when I decided to participate in the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week, I should have known that the card I "imagined" would never happen. But truth be told, I'm not unhappy with the outcome...
Here is the sketch:

I started out planning to highlight Designer Series Paper from the new Occasions Catalog. Birthday Bash Specialty DSP is fantastic! Great colors and two sheets have actual embossed gold foil images. Such pretty and fun paper. But could I get it to work with this sketch? NO! So quick detour in plans...

I chose the #Hello Stamp set as a FREE gift from Stampin' UP! for having met a challenge. It wasn't a set I originally wanted (I'm not into social media) but I got to thinking of my nieces and nephews who love Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc, and figured it would give me a whole year of card-making for their special occasions.

I embossed the @ using Crushed Curry Embossing Powder. I then cut it out with the Starburst Framelits, and adhered it to a Whisper White circle cut with the 2" Circle punch.

My card base is Basic Grey, after a run through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. A narrow layer of Crushed Curry is topped with Bermuda Bay (also embossed, using the Large Polka Dot Embossing Folder). Then I laid down a piece of Tangelo Twist, topped with two pieces of Confetti Celebration Designer Series Paper (often overlooked and way underused!), and then my @ is popped up on Dimensionals.

#birthdaysrock is stamped in Bermuda Bay; the end was flagged with the Banner Punch (a must-have if you like flagged tips!) and adhered atop a slightly larger piece of Bermuda Bay.

The card had a masculine feel and will be perfect for my nephew's birthday in January--woot woot! Head start on 2015 cards!

How prepared are you for card-giving in the new year? Won't you leave me a comment and let me know if you prepare in advance or last minute?

All products can be purchased here.

What have you created today?