A Gorgeous Color Combo / Vintage Cards

Would you like to try a gorgeous color combo?  Try Marina Mist, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and a touch of Very Vanilla.  It's a winning combo!
Today's sketch was inspired by another sketch challenge.  I want to show you why I get my creative juices flowing by starting with a good design.

In today's post, I will show you 2 cards -- both inspired by the same sketch design.  The first card is has a feminine, vintage look.  The second card is all guy.  I decided to stay with the same exact color scheme, so you can readily see just how easy it is to follow a good sketch design and go most any direction that you'd like to try.

The first card uses the Elements of Style stamp set, along with snips of ribbon, seam binding and crochet lace trim.  I added lots of texture by using textured CS on the Soft Suede layer, using one of the framelits dies (1/2 on each side of the focal piece), and embossing the Crumb Cake layer with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  An embossed image from the Notably Ornate stamp set adds even more texture to the Soft Suede background.  The text is punched out with the Modern Label punch.  The circle punches are 1" and 1 1/4" circles -- for the little accent piece.  I actually used Stampin' Write Markers to color all the stamps, except for the embossed image in the background.  I love the look of this technique in stamping.

The second card is all guy --- a cowboy!  I started with all the same colors / same layers, including the embossed image from the Notably Ornate stamp set.  I used only 1/2 the piece cut from the framelits die this time and added embossed horseshoes to go with the cowboy theme.  The cowboy and horseshoes are from the Out West stamp set.

I tied a few knots along the hemp, to give the look of barbed wire.  One horseshoe is 'hanging' on the 'barbed wire' and the other 2 are hooked together.  I don't know if my arrangement is lucky or unlucky.  I'll hope for the best:)

Both cards have lots of layers, lots of texture and lots of dimensionals. 

I've never really had any trouble coming up with my own designs, but I just love the challenge of trying to follow a given sketch.  I think it's always good to push yourself to try new challenges, new color combinations, new styles, new everything --- just to keep yourself motivated and constantly growing as an artist ... and to keep your designs fresh and alive.

I hope this post inspires you to really jump in and try creating cards using design sketches for a good place to start.  Plan out your colors and choose your stamp sets.  You can plan out embellishments to compliment your design as you work through your project.

Gnome Fun

I didn't need to do an extra post today, but was inspired by a color challenge I saw while blogging.  I had to rise to the challenge because I love Cherry Cobbler and Daffodil Delight together and the challenge included these 2 yummy colors AND Lucky Limeade working together in vivid, perfect harmony.  I earned the Gnome Sweet Gnome stamp set with some free Hostess Dollars and wanted to play around with it.   My design was inspired by a quirky little sketch challenge that I thought lends itself to some whimsical fun.  Here's my little yard ornament:

I used some Lucky Limeade DSP scraps for the 2 strips in the background.  The diagonal strip is textured Lucky Limeade CS.  I wanted to add the flowers to the strip for some extra fun and texture.  The Daffodil Delight flowers are from the Fruit and Flowers stamp set.

I stamped an extra hat for my little fellow and attached it with glue dots, for added dimension.  I did the same for the 2 mushrooms.  My little guy is holding a punched glimmer paper flower ('painted' with Lucky Limeade reinker).  I added a clear button over the sparkling flower and then added touches of clear Dazzling Details sparkle to the flowers, my gnome's belt buckle, the frog's eyes, and the polka dots on the mushrooms.  The card front is framed with the Framed Tulips embossing folder.  I finished off the project with a little knotted bow of Daffodil Delight taffeta ribbon.

So, once again...

to my friend...

Here's another card I made to send to a friend.  I've used Island Indigo, Pool Party and Whisper White.  The ribbon accents are done with Pear Pizzazz Pleated Satin Ribbon.  The In Color brads add a little extra embellishment.

In the close-up, you can see that I used markers to color directly onto the stamp.  Once you huff, you're ready to stamp a vivid image onto your Whisper White CS.  For more tips on this method of coloring, check my previous post.  I sponged around the white layer, to give it more depth.

After I completed the card, I added a layer of Pool Party to the inside, to make it easier to see the message.  I also added a bit more texture and glimmer by using the Color Spritzer with an Island Indigo marker on just the right hand portion of the card, mostly at the top corner.  I then came back and spritzed the entire card front with my Frost White Shimmer paint/alcohol mixture.  Yes, I use this a lot; it just adds the perfect finishing touch.

The stamp sets I used are Up in the Air (Hostess Set) and Friendly Phrases.  To attach the Pear Pizzazz Pleated Satin Ribbon (Say that 3 times fast! :)  --- here's what I did:

• I cut my Pool Party piece, using one of the framelits dies.
• I cut off part of the shape, to lay it flat against the straight edge of the card.
• I laid the piece down onto the card front and drew around it lightly with a pencil.
• I removed the cut piece and traced the pencil line with Liquid Tombow adhesive.
• I then gently pressed the ribbon into the wet adhesive.  It attaches really well.
• Next, I traced around the back edges of the Pool Party piece with Liquid Tombow so it would attach well to the ribbon.
• I also added dimensionals to the center area of the Pool Party piece, to accommodate the height of the ribbon.

After that, I just finished the rest of the layers for my card.  I plan to use this one in the Clean and Simple blog challenge.

I love this color combo together and hope you'll give these colors a try.  I am always amazed at how easy it is to work with the pleated ribbon.  It comes in other colors, too, so you can come up with other great color combos that you like.  Try finding a favorite new color combo to try today.