Aqua and Teal Hello

A simple note card with diamond patterns and ovals.  Several shades of aqua and teal.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink: aqua mist (light aqua), ocean tides (dark teal), and patterned paper from Pretty Pastels.   
• Dies are Papertrey Ink fillable frames #10 (ocean tides) and framed out #8 (aqua mist).
• Embossing folder is Lifestyle Crafts diamonds and dots. 
• The sentiment "Hello" is computer-printed in teal ink with American Typewriter font (bold, expanded spacing).  In real life, it's a good match for the ocean tides color.  

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." (211)

Blue Gingham with Doily

More of the lacy "love" theme.   This card has a bit of a country patchwork look, with gingham and polka dot prints and a sweet doily.  Not my usual style, but I really like it.  It was inspired by this card on Melissa Bickford's Just Dandy blog.  Thanks for your beautiful card and all your inspiration, Melissa!

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink blueberry sky (medium blue card base), enchanted evening (dark blue), spring rain (light blue), gingham print from blueberry sky pattern pack, and polka dots from enchanted evening pattern pack. 
• The doily is from Ellen Hutson's small doilies pack.  (Discontinued)
• The dies are Papertrey Ink heart-2-heart #3, upper case block alphabet, and pinking shears border.  
• The tiny light blue heart is punched with a Fiskars 1/4" heart punch.
• The top line of the sentiment "sending you all my" is computer-printed with American Typewriter font in blue ink.

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." (209)

Gray with Pink - Hearts and Swirls

Continuing with yesterday's romantic theme.   Gray swirly patterns and embossing with pink hearts.   In real life, the grays are darker, and it has a bit more drama.  I like the patterned paper's leafy swirls echoed in the embossed background. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink hibiscus burst (medium pink), raspberry fizz (dark pink), stamper's select white, smokey shadow (dark gray), and the leaves print from the smokey shadow pattern pack.   
• Dies are Papertrey Ink double-ended banner (smaller of 2 dies) and Spellbinders classic hearts (2 smallest size dies).  
• Embossing folder is Cuttlebug d'vine swirls.
• The tiny 3rd heart is punched out of the middle (medium pink) heart with a Fiskars 1/4" heart punch.  I filled in the hole with Ranger glossy accents, to make it shiny.    
• Technique: The punched heart needs to be straight and centered, side-to-side, to look nice.  To make it easier, I draw a pencil line through the center (top to bottom) on the back of the medium-sized heart die cut, and line up the punch on it.  Also I look to be sure the die cut is evenly placed in the punch before punching.
• The sentiment "Love you" is computer-printed in pink ink with "Lucida Calligraphy" 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." (170)

Heart with Lace - Red, Black, and White

Working on my next box of cards for Operation Write Home.  When I fill up the box, it will be time for Valentine cards, and it's always time for "love" themes.   This romantic card combines flowers, lace, and a heart with dramatic red, black and white colors. 

Card details:

• Card stock is  Papertrey Ink true black, pure poppy (red), and In Bloom patterned paper (black and white), on a stamper's select white card base.   Note: the gray is background, not part of the card.
• Dies are Memory Box Charlotte border (lace) and Spellbinders classic hearts (2nd smallest 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." (208)

Two Purple Patterned Cards

Two cards using the same colors and patterns.  On both cards, the sentiment provides a strong visual element.  I used a simple layout with plenty of contrast to stand out from the busy, small patterns.  

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink lavender moon (light purple), plum pudding (dark purple), vintage cream, and guide lines 6x6 patterned paper. 
• Dies are Papertrey Ink limitless layers squares (lacy square - top card) and Savvy Stamps hello (bottom card).  The limitless layers set includes a 2-1/4" square die, but I cut a 2-1/8" square (with my paper trimmer) to show more of the lacy purple border.  
• The top card's corners, including the bottom corners of the base layer, are rounded with 1/4" corner chomper. 
• Sentiment on top card "With All My Love" is computer-printed in purple ink with Edwardian Script ITC font (bold, expanded spacing).  
• The four tiny holes on the top card's sentiment layer are punched with a 1/16" hole punch.  

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." (206, 207)

Pink Circles and Stripes with Heart

My pink and white card is for the October challenge sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs (thank you, ODBD!) to benefit Operation Write Home.  This month's challenge theme is to "use circles on your card."  I used several sizes of circles - a large scalloped circle behind the heart, small circles on the floral patterned paper and the accent on the heart, and tiny circles (dots) in the patterned paper and Swiss dots embossing.  My layout was inspired by a sketch from the OWH Stars and Stamps blog.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink stamper's select white, sweet blush (light pink), berry sorbet (dark pink), and several papers from Pink Patterns 6x6 pad.  In real life, the pinks all look very nice together!  Note: the gray is background, not part of the card.
• The heart is cut with the 2nd-smallest die from Spellbinders classic hearts.  
• The scalloped circle is punched with a 2" EK Success punch.  The accent dot is punched with a 1/4" hole punch.
• The pale pink layer is embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss dots embossing folder.
• Corners are rounded with 1/4" Corner Chomper.

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." (203)

Diagonal Stripes - Aqua and Brown

This diagonal layout, #209 from Clean and Simple Stamping, features a simple sentiment above some patterned stripes.  It was not an easy one for me to try, but I'm glad I did.  Thank you, Natasha, for the inspiration! 

Card details:

•  Card stock is Paper Source peacock (dark turquoise) and Papertrey Ink aqua mist (light aqua), dark chocolate (brown), rustic white, gingham print from the dark chocolate pattern pack, and bitty dots print from the aqua mist pattern pack.
• The stars die is from the Papertrey Ink super star border die collection. 
• The sentiment, "Thinking of you across the miles..." is computer-printed in turquoise ink with Hobo Std 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." (202)

Purple Flowers with White - Three Squares

Three squares with flowers.  I like the contrast, balance, and flow with the patterned paper, the flowers at different angles, the shimmer of the little pearls, the mix of squares and curves, and the off-center layout.   My card was inspired by this (very different) card on Susan Raihala's Simplicity blog. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink royal velvet and stamper's select white, and the leaves print from royal velvet pattern pack.  Note: the gray is background, not part of the card. 
• The die for the sentiment is Papertrey Ink double-ended banner (small).  
• The flowers are punched with an EK Success retro flower punch.  I punched a 1/8" hole in the flower centers, then added a bit of Ranger liquid pearls.

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." (177)

Red, White, and Blue with Yellow

My last few cards were monochromatic - not this one!  Red, white, and blue with some bright yellow-orange.  A nice mix of textures and patterns.

When I bought the "seed packet" die,  I thought it was an interesting shape, but wasn't sure if I would like using it.  Love it! especially with a curved sentiment like this one. 

Card details:

•  Card stock is Neenah solar white and Papertrey Ink enchanted evening (dark blue), summer sunrise (yellow), pure poppy (red), bitty dot basics 2009 (enchanted evening), and stripes from the summer sunrise pattern pack.  
• Dies are Papertrey Ink seed packet frame 2 and flower fusion #9.  The yellow dot is a 5/16" circle punch.
• Embossing folders are Stampin Up square lattice (red) and Cuttlebug candy cane stripes.  
• The sentiment "Thank you" is computer-printed in blue and red ink using "Stencil Std" font.  The dots above and below the words are periods.  I used the Word Art feature in PowerPoint to curve the sentiment.  

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." (201)

Purples with Lace Panel

A sweet, lacy love card, with nice textures and colors. 

Card details:

•  Card stock is Papertrey Ink plum pudding (left side), lavender moon (right side), and rustic white (lace panel).
• The lace is cut with the Memory Box charlotte border die.
• The ribbon is 3/8" satin.  The embroidery floss is DMC 3041. 
  Edited May 5, 2013 to add:  DMC 3041 has a slight brownish tinge and looks very brown in some lights (bright sunlight, for example).  I found Anchor brand #872 is a better color - almost the same as DMC 3041, but without the brown.
• The sentiment "Love you, miss you" is computer-printed in purple ink with Edwardian script ITC font, expanded character 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." (200)

Three Greens with Dots

This card has three green colors - light, medium, and dark - and also three different types of dots - patterned paper, embossing, and glued-on quarter-inch punched dots.   I like the variety of shapes and textures on a very simple "medallion band" layout. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink spring moss (light green), simply chartreuse (medium green), ripe avocado (dark green), vintage cream, and the bitty dot pattern from simply chartreuse pattern pack.  
• Dies are My Favorite Things layered label die set (3 die shapes).   
• The two green dots to right and left of sentiment are punched with an old 1/4" hole punch. 
• Embossing folder is Darice dot point, from my local craft store.
• Sentiment "Thinking of you today" is computer-printed in green ink using Wide Latin 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." (199)

Pink Hearts and Lines

 

A nice balance of shapes and lines, lots of white space, some pattern and some solid color.  

Note: the gray is background, not part of the card. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink raspberry fizz, stamper's select white, and leaves pattern from the raspberry fizz pattern pack. 
• Dies are Papertrey Ink heart prints (medium and large) and My Favorite Things jumbo squiggle.
• Corners are rounded with Corner Chomper 1/4". 
• The lines were drawn by tracing around the dies with a pink Copic 0.3 multiliner.  On another card with the same design, I tried using dashed lines for faux stitching, but it somehow was too cluttered and "busy."  The solid lines, as shown here, look better. 

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." (198)

Tan with Brown - Psalm 23 - Before and After

Two versions: "Before" (left) and "After" (right)

Today I have a "before and after" card, for the September challenge sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs (thank you, ODBD!) to benefit Operation Write Home.  This month's challenge theme is to make a card which includes either a Scripture verse, or an uplifting quote or sentiment.  I chose the 23rd Psalm. 

On my "before" card (left),  the text (though legible) didn't stand out very well on the striped paper, and the layer looked bumpy going over the twine strands.  On my "after" card (right),  I used my striped paper for the background, not for the sentiment, and I popped up the Psalm panel on some foam tape. A big improvement!  You can click on either card for a better view. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink fine linen (tan), dark chocolate (brown), and stripes from the fine linen pattern pack.  
• Twine is rustic jute button twine from Papertrey Ink.
• The embossing folders are Stampin Up square lattice on the "before" card base, and Craft Concept solid stars on the brown layer for both cards.
• The little brown stars are punched with a Fiskars hand punch.  
• The 23rd Psalm is computer-printed with brown ink using "Handwriting Dakota" font (bold, expanded spacing.)  The double-line border around the Psalm is also computer-printed. 

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." (197)

Heart Stems with Turquoise and Burgundy

I enjoyed drawing this today, tall stems with hearts, and then coloring it for my card.  Unusual colors together - turquoise and burgundy with white, and touches of brown and green.  I like it.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink scarlet jewel (burgundy) and Hawaiian shores (turquoise), with Neenah solar white.
• The drawing is my "heart stems" doodle, as posted here on my drawings blog (Mostly Markers). 
• Technique: To color my drawing, I started with rough, wide stripes of color - Copic markers BG32, B32, YR24, and G43.  After it dried, I spritzed on some colorless blender ("0") to make the spotted/splotchy effect.  When that was dry, I colored the hearts (RV06, RV55, R56) and added color along the stem and ground lines (G46). 
• I used a Copic brush-medium multiliner to edge the circle with black (coloring the edge of the paper with the side of the multiliner brush tip). 
• Dies are Papertrey Ink limitless layers circles (2-1/2") for the three smaller circles, Spellbinders Nestabilities big scalloped circles LG for the largest white circle, and Papertrey Ink double-ended banners (shorter banner) for the sentiment.
• The sentiment "Love You Always" is computer-printed with burgundy ink in "Curlz MT" font (bold).  The two hearts are also computer-printed in Zapf Dingbats 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." (195)

Purple Flowers with Yellow Dots

For today's card, I die cut some purple flowers, then traced around the same die with a purple pen to create my background pattern.  A very nice effect.

The tracing idea came from a Papertrey Ink forum post by Ashley ... "tracing the shapes of certain dies would make a cool background."  Thanks, Ashley, I'm glad you thought of this! 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink royal velvet (dark purple), winter wisteria (light purple), summer sunrise (bright yellow), and soft stone (light gray).
• The die is Papertrey Ink flower fusion #3.
• I used a purple Copic 0.3 multiliner to trace around the die.  
• The flower centers are dots from a 1/4" hole punch. 
• I added some texture to the card base with a linen impression plate from Papertrey Ink.
• The sentiment "Thinking of you" is computer-printed in purple ink with Zapfino 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." (193)