#CTC193 - Graceful Glass

Join the design crew this week as we CASE from pages 164-179 (add your creation to our Facebook page with the link over on the right).

The card on page 171 caught my attention and I although I didn't have that stamp, liked the arrangement of the apples, so will be casing the layout:

I've chosen the flower stamp from Oh So Eclectic for the similar distorted colouring as the apples. I've then layered the matching die cut from the Eclectic Layers Thinlits over each of the flowers - my colour choice being Grapefruit Grove, Gorgeous Grape and Mint Macaron. I used the Early Espresso that the apple top was stamped with as the colour for the centre of my flowers, there is a die that cuts that shape perfectly to pop under the top layer of the flower and I carried that colour through for a more striking background mat which I layered onto a thick Whisper White base. The top layer was embossed using the 3D Dynamic Hexagons TIEF. The greeting is from Perennial Birthday and stamped in Mint Macaron, die cut with Layered Circles matted with an Early Espresso scallop from the same die set. All elements have been added to the card with dimensionals. (I would have liked the circle to be just a little smaller but felt it was going to be too close to the greeting, so it is as it is)

Funny enough, as I was writing my post it reminded me of another card I'd made. When I looked it up, it was my very first time joining the amazing ladies on the design crew - and it used a similar layout as well as these co-ordinating stamp and dies - here! 

That's it from me - now let's head over and check out Judy's inspiration:

CASEing the Catty - #CTC169 Sale-a-bration

Not much longer but back to the Sale-a-bration catalogues this week...

I've chosen the shaker card on the top left of this image at the bottom of page 17: 

Notice I've changed the orientation to landscape to maximise the ability to hide my shaker frame which was filled with Gold Glitter Flakes and Mini Sequin Trim pulled apart. Little tip you might already know - ensure all tape covering is removed before turning your shaker card over!! (Thankfully not too much escaped!). I used thick Whisper White and diecut the word celebrate, then went crazy with my Moss Green Brusho adding a little Yellow on top then waited until it was pretty much dry. I swiped the Dynamic Hexagons TIEF with Soft Suede ink, but not evenly so as to replicate a hive, and it gave random bits of colour in the grooves. I then used my Versamark pad and swiped across the top and added Clear Embossing Powder. Before I heated, I brushed some of the powder off again randomly, to give a shiny image as honey might on a hive. Initially I went towards a Crushed Curry base, but it didn't give me enough contrast, so I drew my inspiration of Elegant Eggplant from the dots of Brusho at the top of the image. You can see these better in my collage photo below.

I made faux washi tape with a strip of Color Theory DSP ripped, and added the banner greeting with words from Party Pandas. You may have seen similar bumblebees to these here before, but I was meant to make more for this card. Stamped with Memento Ink and coloured with Watercolour pencils with Wink of Stella on the wings and antenna - yes I fussy cut their antenna! Little moment of insanity perhaps. I used Tombow to adhere them, added some of the foil hexagons and a few Metallic sequins.

A hard card to show the effects but I've tried with the photo below:

Thanks for stopping by and time to move on and see what Kathryn has been up to this week:

Feel free to play along - create your card and upload with the link over on the right.

Masculine Themed International Blog Highlight

Another month and and another International Blog Highlight put together by Kylie Bertucci, where global entries are accepted and then voted on with the Top 10 featuring in a Blog Hop.
  

SEE ALL THE ENTRIES HERE

This theme lead me in the direction of an upcoming birthday card I needed to make, and my favourite go-to card for a 'Wow', the Tri-fold card.  Didn't remember how awkward these can be to photograph so apologies, and hope you get the idea.  Don't be put off if, it's not as hard as you think but if it isn't your thing, scroll through this post as I have a very quick and simple card with the same theme

This features a few more of my last hurrah's which I've been doing in my May posts.  Yes, sad to say The Wilderness Awaits and Wetlands are on the list, along with the 12"x12" Kraft cardstock, and previously mentioned Delightul Dijon cardstock and ink.  

My simple method of creating this card:  Cut base card of Kraft, 6" x 12", score at 2", 4" 8" and 10".  Rotate and line up at the 4 1/2" mark on your trimmer, cut from 1st score line to last score line, rotate 180 degrees and do this again (or 1 1/2" and 4 1/2" if that is easier). Then simply start at the first score and mountain fold, then valley fold. 2nd row, miss 1st score (hidden under the oval), then mountain and valley fold, and last row is same as 1st. From there my Early Espresso mats, are each 1/4" smaller than the measurement in kraft, and then the next layer of Whisper White, another 1/4" increment smaller again. I know it looks busy, but by keeping the layer of white crisp and choosing not to colour the images, I thought it masculine but not fussy.  The extra dimension stamped in Delightful Dijon is from Timeless Textures and the Large Numbers were cut in Delightful Dijon and Early Espresso, top layer embossed with the Hexagons Dynamic TIEF and coated with some Crystal Effects (now retired, but the Fine Tip Glue can be used as an alternative).  Folds up to fit in a normal envelope:

As promised, if you are feeling a little daunted, here's a quick card I put together featuring the same stamps sets, with a sneak peak of the new Wood Textures DSP stack, using the Layering Squares and Stitched Shapes framelits. Linen thread wrapped and tied off with a knot and the greeting from Wetlands die cut from another last hurrah, Tags and Labels framelits.

Thanks for staying to the end and don't forget to throw a vote my way!!  Regards, Sandra

Get Well Soon - International Blog Highlight

I am signed up to Kylie Bertucci's International Blog Highlight, where our projects get voted on, and the top ten get to be part of a blog hop. As you will see - the topic is "Get Well Soon" which I did struggle with for a while.  If you like what you see below, please vote for me "Sandra Collett".

The direction I started off on will perhaps become a project for another time, but has been used as the prop for my photo. The new Mini Egg Carton was spritzed with Rich Razzleberry reinker and water - #suchfun!.

I knew I wanted something bright and cherry as when you're a little under the weather you need something to lift your spirits. This project evolved in different directions as I went, but that's the great thing about crafting - doesn't always have to be fully planned when you begin.

I started with some vellum cardstock and heat embossed the words "Get Well" using the Layered Letters Alphabet and white embossing powder (which looks more like cream in the photo).  It didn't have the dimension I wanted so I reached for the Hexagons Dynamic TIEF (I think know this will get a lot of use from me) and embossed the vellum.  I couldn't decide what I wanted behind it after trying both plain cardstock and dsp. I ended up using the Rich Razzleberry ink pad and swiping colour across the back of the vellum.  While the ink was drying I cut mats from Rich Razzleberry and Whisper White cardstock.  Out of the top mat I cut a window and adhered this over my trimmed vellum. I reached for an old favourite - Petite Petals and created a bunch of flowers with the matching punch. I used the Bold Butterfly framelits and cut 3 butterflies which were stacked and slightly offset as I went - Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry and Vellum - of course  with a couple of rhinestones. The white layer had dimensionals added under it, although you can't tell from this angle.

On the inside I stamped "Soon" from the same alphabet set in Rich Razzleberry, along with some flowers in a couple of corners.  The butterfly was die cut from the scrap of hexagon embossed vellum - like the soft yet random effect.

The detailed photo shows how prior to adding the flowers I went around the embossed letters with a Rich Razzleberry marker (pen end). To complete the card Wink of Stella was used over the butterfly, letters and centre of the flowers. Thanks Kylie for inspiring me to find Mo and Jo!!