Sunburst Layout - Prints and Swirls

Bright prints, embossed swirls, strong shapes, elegant script, dark brown on cream - all in a sunburst layout.   Lots of "try this, try that," and I like the end result. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) Hawaiian shores (turquoise card base), vintage cream, dearest Jane patterned paper (book print), and pattern packs in melon berry (light orange polka dots) and limeade ice (light green gingham).   
• Dies are PTI hello sunshine and photo finish strips.
• Embossing folder is Cuttlebug d'vine swirls.
• Sentiment "Hello" is computer-printed in brown ink with Edwardian Script ITC font (expanded spacing, "H" in larger font size). 

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (235)

Tan with Blue-Green and Cream

Simple and restful colors and design.  I like the mix of circles, straight lines, and angles.

It's always fun for me to find a new die combination, and I have two "finds" on this card - the eyelet lace on the embossed strip, and the blue-green layer behind the tan frame. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) fine linen (tan), ocean tides (blue green), and rustic cream, with stripes from the fine linen pattern pack.
• Dies are Spellbinders labels one (largest layer of sentiment) and PTI photo finish strips, framed out #2, and eyelet lace.  I added a few tan dots to the eyelet lace. 
• The sentiment "Thinking of you" is computer-printed in blue-green ink with Harrington font (bold, expanded spacing).

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (234)

Springtime Scene with Pine Trees

I bought my pine tree die too late for snowy-themed cards - as always for Operation Write Home, I'm working several months ahead of the calendar. But pine trees aren't just for winter!  So this card shows a springtime scene with bright greens, a warm sunny sky, and a scattering of star-shaped flowers.

In addition to my pine trees, I used two other dies with snowy names.  They will get year-round use in my card making.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink limeade ice (light green), new leaf (medium green), summer sunrise (yellow-orange), and orange zest (orange) with two patterned papers from the Pretty Pastels 8x8 pad.
• The sun is edged with Y38 Copic marker, and the tree trunks are darkened with E87.
•  The dies are My Favorite Things snow drifts and fresh cut grass, Papertrey Ink snowflake flurries, and WPlus9 pretty patches: tree.  I used a Fiskars 1/4" star punch for the flowers.
• The hill is embossed with Stampin Up square lattice embossing folder.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (233)

Pink and Red Hello with Tag

Pink and red, but not a Valentine. It's bright and happy.  I like the shapes and patterns together.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink sweet blush (pink), rustic white, leaf print from pure poppy (red) pattern pack, and the pale pink print from pink patterns 6x6 paper pad.   Note: the gray border is background, not part of the card. 
• I edged the tag with Copic marker R290, one of my custom colors.
• The dies are Papertrey Ink tag sale #6 and framed out #9.
• Twine is by We R Memory Keepers.
• The sentiment "Hello" is computer-printed in red ink with Edwardian Script ITC font (bold, expanded spacing).

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (231)

Green Dots and Star - Thank You

Green dots with gold-and-cream twine and a star.  Curves and angles.  The star is popped up with foam tape.  The overall effect is simple and rather elegant. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink ripe avocado (dark green card base), simply chartreuse (medium green star), and rustic cream, with polka dot paper from the Pretty Pastels 8x8 pad.   
• Dies are Papertrey Ink tiny tags (star tag), double ended banner, and edgers #1.
• The twine is gold shimmer from The Twinery.  Where their usual twines have a white base, the two new shimmer twines (gold and platinum) have more of a cream/ natural base, very nice with these paper colors. 
• The sentiment "Thank you" is computer-printed with green ink in American Typewriter font (bold, expanded spacing).

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (232)

Flower Frame with Pink and Aqua

Sweet and pretty, with dots, a flower, and a chain of hearts.  In real life, the pink frame and the flower match beautifully, unlike my picture. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Neenah solar white (sentiment and flower center) and Papertrey Ink aqua mist (card base), simply chartreuse (green), and berry sorbet (pink) with pattern papers from the pink patterns 6x6 pad.
• Dies are Poppystamps blooming posie and Papertrey Ink framed out #10, heart border, and heart-2-heart #7 (large leaflet).  I used a 1/4" hole punch for the flower center. 
• Embossing folder (used on lower half of card base) is Cuttlebug swiss dots.
• The sentiment "Hello" is computer-printed in green ink with Helvetica Herculanum font (bold).

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (230)

Turquoise and Tan Thanks

A simple design with variation of colors and shapes.  The sentiment square is popped up on foam tape, and the twine also adds some dimension.

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source peacock (dark turquoise) and Papertrey Ink fine linen (tan), Hawaiian shores (medium aqua card base), and aqua mist (light aqua) with stripes from the Papertrey Ink fine linen pattern pack. 
• Dies are Papertrey Ink framed out #6 and WPlus9 pinking squares.
• Twine is from The Twinery - caribbean. 
• The sentiment "Thanks" is computer-printed in turquoise ink with American Typewriter font (bold).

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (229)

Pink Butterflies on Gray

Bright pink butterflies on a three-windowed frame.  I like the complex butterfly shapes on the simple frame outline.

Like yesterday's card, this one is for Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps midweek challenge, to make "Miss You" cards for our heroes to send to loved ones at home.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink soft stone (light gray), hibiscus burst (medium pink), and raspberry fizz (dark pink). 
• Dies are Papertrey Ink take three and heart-2-heart #10.  The small butterfly shape has antennae like the large one, but I trimmed them off to layer for this card.  
• I used a pink 0.3 Copic multiliner to draw the dotted lines on the butterflies.
• The sentiment "Miss you" is computer-printed in pink ink with Apple Chancery font. 

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (228)

Purple Vase with Flowers

A purple vase with lavender flowers.  The pennant shape adds the look of ribbon to the vase.  A wavy-edged strip of paper grounds the vase and the sentiment.  For today's Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps midweek challenge, to make "Miss You" cards for our heroes to send to loved ones at home.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) vintage cream, lavender moon, and plum pudding (purple), with patterned paper from the Guide Lines paper pad.   
• Dies are PTI mega gracious vases,  PTI beautiful blooms II #3, PTI heart-2-heart #7, My Favorite Things wavy edge, and My Favorite Things mini wavy pennants.  I used a 1/4" hole punch to make the flower centers. 
• Die cuts are edged with V15 Copic marker.  The stems are drawn with Copic 0.3 purple multiliner.
• Sentiment "Love you, miss you" is computer-printed with purple ink in Papyrus font (expanded spacing, small caps).

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (226)

Simple Flowers - Blue, Lime Green, and Orange

I haven't been making cards much this month.  Instead I've been drawing daily in my Advent Calendar - click here to see it on my other blog, Mostly Markers.

Today, though, I did a line drawing of some simple flowers, and scanned it for printing to use on cards.  I'll enjoy coloring it with different color schemes.  This one is extra bright and cheerful, perfect for our very gray and rainy weather.

Card details:

• Card stock is Hero Arts cerulean (blue), Neenah solar white (drawing and sentiment), and Papertrey Ink limeade ice (green) and orange zest.
• My drawing is colored with Copic markers: custom color B2000, B05, B14, YR07, YG05, YG21, YG23, and G43.
• Dies are Papertrey Ink limitless layers 2-1/4" squares.  
• Embossing folder is Cirque by Sizzix (Tim Holtz).
• Sentiment "~Miss You~" is computer-printed in blue ink using Curlz font.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (225)

Blue and Cream Tag with Bird

Today I have a tag to share, made for Ellen Hutson's 12 Tags of Christmas with a Feminine Twist challenge.

Inspired by Jennifer McGuire's Day 4 tag, my plan was to create a tag with a bird, a branch, blue and cream colors with touches of brown and green, and shiny materials colored with Copic.  I've never done an "artistic" tag before, and I was trying to achieve some of Jennifer's effects without her supplies.  So, it was an adventure!

And the finished tag is ....
    .... ummm .....
         .... not quite what I intended ...
              .... but nicer than I predicted as I struggled to make it.
Thanks, Jennifer and Ellen, for inspiring me to try something new and different!

Tag details:

• The tag size is 3-1/4 x 1-3/4". 
• The patterned paper background is Ranger glossy white cardstock colored with Copic ink refills B21, B41, and B45, using the Ranger felt ink applicator tool.
• The lace is cut from Hero Arts eggshell card stock using the Memory Box Charlotte border die.  It is colored around the holes with Copic B41 and edged at the bottom with B45.
• The bird and leafy branch are die cut from clear shiny packaging material, and colored on the back with Copic markers B39, B45, E09, E49, and G29.  The dies are WPlus9 folk art florals.  I was unable to die cut the packaging material all the way through, even with a metal shim, so I finished cutting it with scissors. 
• "Peace" and the dark blue outlines are drawn with Copic cobalt multiliner. 
• The tag base is Essentials by Ellen craft-a-board, edged with Copic B45. 
• The hole at the top is punched with a 1/4" hand punch.  The ring is punched with a 3/8" punch.  
• The ribbon is 1/4" silk, colored with Copic B41 and B45 markers.

(224)

Yellow-Orange Flowers with Dots

Yellow-orange flowers with polka dots ...  and swirls and texture.  The colors have a monochromatic look, even with the few touches of blue, green, and brown.

This card is full of Operation Write Home inspiration.  I created it for the December "flowers" challenge, sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs (thank you, ODBD!) to benefit Operation Write Home.  And my layout was inspired by this week's OWH Stars and Stamps Sketch #149 , though you might not recognize the sketch after I moved everything around! 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink summer sunrise (square layer), polka dots from the summer sunrise pattern pack, and a swirly print from pretty pastels.    
• My flower drawing (adapted from my 2011 Advent calendar) is printed on Neenah solar white, and colored with Copic markers E23, E41, E95, YR21,  YR30, Y19, Y38, YG61, G43, and BG70.  Also, I edged the circle with E23 to give it a bit more definition.  
• For another card with the same flowers in purple, click here.  
• Embossing folder is Stampin Up square lattice.
• The circle die is from Papertrey Ink limitless layers 2.5" collection.

Created for Operation Write Home, "supporting our nation's armed forces by sending blank handmade greeting cards to write home on, as well as cards of gratitude to encourage them." (223)

Christmas Card 2012

Our Christmas card this year, like the past two years, is made with one of my Advent calendar drawings.  It's a Nativity scene, decorated with rays of light, angels, and gold bands.

The words of the angels, "Behold a great joy," are adapted from Luke 2:10,  "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy."

The card has a white border and is computer-printed on Neenah card stock. (222)  Click here for my 2011 card and here for 2010. 

I'm beginning to create my 5th year's Advent calendar, with a small drawing and a few Advent-related words each day.  It will be posted at least weekly (or even daily) on my other (drawing) blog "Mostly Markers."  For now, I've just posted my blank 2012 template, which you're welcome to use.  It also includes links to my 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011 calendars, if you'd like to see what they look like.  I've truly enjoyed this annual activity, which slows me down for a little time each day to reflect on the meaning of the season.  Edited December 26, 2012 to add: Click here for my completed 2012 Advent calendar drawing.