Playing with DSP, Part 1

Today, I'm starting a new series of posts here on my blog.  We'll be playing with DSP (Designer Series Papers), including Vellum and our Core'dinations CS (Card Stock).  I have a lot to share with you, so let's get started.  First up, is a card that features DSP as a beautiful background and yet an integral part of the card.  I've also used DSP to decorate the flap on a coordinating envelope.

Try to picture this card without the DSP layer.  It wouldn't be very exciting, would it?  My goal here was to make the DSP be an important part of the card, without overpowering the focal piece --- the beautiful flower.  Wrapping Baker's Twine around the focal piece is an easy way to add a nice touch of elegance and texture.  I've stamped the flower twice and cut out just parts of it to mount on top of the complete flower.  This gives a wonderful 3-D element to this beautiful flower.

Spring is trying hard to reach our area, but it is having a difficult time so far.  Maybe the soft, beautiful colors of our Sweet Sorbet DSP will give the weather some encouragement.

We'll be making this card, along with cards featured in this series, at my April 7 Monday Night Stampers class. 
I have a series going now, so come back soon to see additional parts of this series.  You won't want to miss a thing.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

The Other Half of My New Card Display

In my previous post, I showed you my new card display, but that was only half of the display.  Here is the other half, on the other end of my 'clothesline' display.  There are all the projects we'll be making at my April 7 Monday Night Stampers class.  It's going to be all about playing with Designer Series Papers (DSP).  There's one additional project that I haven't shown and that's a check book cover.  It's a little more difficult to fit into a display with cards and projects.  Let's take a look at what I do have on display:

We'll be playing with designs and techniques as we work with DSP, vellum and Core'dinations CS.  We'll make a cute little treat bag, a check book cover (not shown) and 4 great cards.  The cards include using vellum, a folded frame design and a sunburst design.  I hope you can join us on April 7 for some great stamping fun.  The class is $18. or free w/$35. or more order.  I'll share more details and some close-ups of these cards in a future post.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

My New Card Display

I put up a new 'clothesline' for displaying cards in my studio.  It is working out very well to use it for class previews.  Here are all the projects for Friday, March 14, so you can see them all at a glance.  We'll be working with some super fun water coloring techniques and playing with using DSP as a part of our design.  Each card has layers of delicious texture.  Each card is unique in its design.  Each card is super fun to create and I hope you'll join us for this class.  Scroll down to see further details on this class, as well as other upcoming events.

Close-ups:

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Post Number 1000! ...and a You Make Me Happy Card

Today makes me happy.  This card makes me happy.  How fun would it be to receive a card with this message?  Well, it's sure to be fun to make and send it, too.  My color story is totally based on the Sweet Sorbet DSP --- Pool Party, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding... light, crisp and totally Spring!

Design Tips:
Punch 1 piece of Crisp Cantaloupe using the Decorative Label Punch.  Cut in half and trim to fit behind text stamped from same punch.  Now, you have 2 layers... a text and a mat for it.

Sometimes, you can achieve an extra little pop of color and texture just by adding some little pieces of ribbon, tucked in behind another layer on your card.  I think this simple ribbon addition really dresses up this card.

... and speaking of happy... 
          Today's post marks 1000 posts for me!  
Wow!  I never dreamed when I first started my blog that it would go so well.  Thank you so much for following my humble little blog.  I hope I bring some joy and inspiration to your day each time you stop by here... and be sure to come back often!

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Happy Watercolor Flower

My card today was inspired by some I've seen online with this type of design, but I went about it a lot differently.  I made mine using our Circle Collection of framelits dies.  I opened my card up completely, cut the circle, then scored and folded back the cover of the card.  Because I decided to add the ribbon trim to my card, I folded the front back so that you still see part of the card base to the left of the ribbon trim.  This gives a completely different look to your card.

The stamped design is actually on the inside of the card and shows through the opening to the front.  Because so much of the inside shows, I used 2 layers inside the card and then coordinating trim on the edge of the front.  I added an embossed strip of CS to the front, to pull all the colors together.  My color story is directly from the Sweet Sorbet DSP, playing with Crisp Cantaloupe and Sahara Sand.  This was a really fun card to create.

Design Tips:
I knew I wanted some kind of 'trim' extending over the left edge of my card and chose the Stretch Trim ribbon because it was out and in use with all my projects using our Sweet Sorbet DSP.  Your supplies can often guide the direction you go in your creative process.  You could easily change the entire color story and try using the edge of a punched piece of CS using one of our border punches or our Tasteful Trim die instead of a ribbon trim.

The flower was stamped onto the inside of the card.  Only the stem will end up showing, so stamp in the color of ink you'd like for your stem.  I actually used Sahara Sand, because I was making the entire card in soft, subtle colors.
The top of the flower was then stamped with black StazOn ink onto watercolor paper --- two times.  The first flower top was cut out completely and adhered flat onto the inside of the card over the previously stamped image.
Only part of the second flower top was cut out (See photo.) and adhered with dimensionals.  This gives an incredible dimension to the flower.

The linen thread was tied into a bow, a glue dot was rolled up and stuck to the back of the bow to adhere it to the card.
The envelope is lined with Sweet Sorbet DSP.  The card base is Sahara Sand.

You can't see it, but I stamped a message on the inside of the card, on the bottom left.  It says:  "You make me happy."
I think anyone would enjoy getting a card like this.

... and one final note:
The size and shape you choose to cut for your 'opening' will be based on the size and shape of your stamped image.  Place different sizes and shapes of framelits over the image you are thinking of using and see how it all works together.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Let's Talk Cards, Part 2

Yesterday, I shared with you a sneak peek at one of my upcoming classes, along with a closer look at one of the cards.  Today, let's take a look at another one of the cards from this upcoming class.  This card features a 'sunburst' effect along with paper piecing.  I love the crisp, clean look of the black and white color story.  Let's take a look.

 ... and another look at yesterday's featured card:

Again, here's a sneak peek at what we'll be making for our (March 14) Friday Night Cards Class.

These cards will include playing with DSP a bit and a lot of water coloring techniques.  I think you'll enjoy them a lot.  The class includes envelopes and all materials to make the cards, except your adhesive.  All the envelopes are dressed up to coordinate with the cards, too.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.

Let's Talk Cards, Part 1

While I have been recovering from my knee surgery, I have had a little more time to explore new techniques, revisit old favorites and try some cards with more detail and some 'wow factor' for some of my next classes.

Today, let's talk about my Friday Night Cards Class.  I am bumping up this class, by featuring a smaller number of cards we'll make, to allow time to create cards with more detail, new techniques, and/or special 'wow factor' details... all of which require more time.  I feel like my group is ready to bump it up a bit.  Here's a sneak peek at what we'll be making for our March Friday Night Cards Class.

These cards will include playing with DSP a bit and a lot of water coloring techniques.  I think you'll enjoy them a lot.  Would you like a closer look at one of the cards?  OK, here you go!

After our harsh winter that shows no end in sight, these colors are a welcome sight.  My color story:
- Pool Party
- Crisp Cantaloupe
- Pistachio Pudding

By the way, the class includes envelopes and all materials to make the cards, except your adhesive.

- Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top of the page to see my class schedules and registration policies or click on the left for sneak peeks. 

- Come back soon and come back often for more creative inspiration.