Star on Blue Houndstooth

Strong red and gold lines and shapes, contrasting with a quiet blue houndstooth print and gray chevron texture.  Intense and a bit dramatic.

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source curry (gold), Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red) and stormy sea (gray), and houndstooth print from Simple Stories so rad 6x6" pad.
• Embossing folder is Sizzix chevrons (retired).
• Die is My Favorite Things stacking stars.  I inlaid a 1/4" red dot, punched with my very old office supply hand punch.
• The sentiment "thanks" is cut with the Silhouette Cameo, using my design from this card.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Blue Jay with Leafy Branch

A cheerful card with a bright blue jay.  I enjoy watching blue jays outside, though they certainly don't play well with the other birds.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamper's select white, spring rain (light blue), simply chartreuse (medium green), and the bitty dots print from PTI spring moss (light green) pattern pack.
• Dies are PTI winter woods (bird), PTI double-ended banner, and Poppy Stamps meadow leaf.
• The sentiment "thinking of you" is from PTI keep it simple: thinking of you, stamped with PTI blueberry sky (medium blue) ink cube.  The 2-step blue jay is from PTI winter woods, stamped with PTI blueberry sky and smokey shadow (dark gray) ink cubes.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Green Leaflet on Green

A bright green card with embossed and die cut leaflets.

Card details:

• Card stock is Paper Source spruce (dark green - retired) and Papertrey Ink (PTI) new leaf (medium green) and rustic cream.
• Die is PTI branching out.  I used one leaflet from the top of the branch.
• Embossing folder is Cuttlebug leafy branch, borrowed from a friend.
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI communique sentiments, stamped with PTI new leaf ink cube.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Stripes and Arrows - Hello

A blue striped background and multicolor arrows.  There's an energy that I like in the color contrasts, patterns, and diagonal layout.

In real life, the striped background is more blue.  It's a challenge for me to capture the deep rusty orange color, which often looks too red on screen.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) terra cotta tile (rusty orange), smokey shadow (dark gray),   stripes from PTI blueberry sky (medium blue) pattern pack, and arrow print from Pink Paislee pen pals 6 x 6" pad. 
• Die is Savvy Stamps hello.
• The banner is notched with scissors.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

525

Thanks with Teal and Kraft

Simple and bold "thanks" with starry texture and a bit of plaid.

This is my first card design for Operation: Quiet Comfort.  As explained on their web site, "Operation Quiet Comfort exists solely for the purpose of honoring and comforting America’s military men and women who become sick and injured while serving in harm’s way.  We also provide support to those who care for them.  We collect, package and ship supplies for U.S. Military men and women receiving care at medical facilities abroad."  The packages also include cards with messages of support and encouragement ...  "thinking of you, patriotic, thank you, cheerful cards." 

Now that Operation Write Home has ended, I'm excited to start supporting our heroes far from home with Operation: Quiet Comfort. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) tropical teal and kraft, and the gingham print from PTI aqua mist pattern pack.
• Die is My Favorite Things many thanks.
• Embossing folder is Darice stars asst (assorted).
• Twine is by We R Memory Keepers.

Created for Operation: Quiet Comfort.

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Rust Birds on Sky

Three rusty-red birds on a background of blue sky and tan trees.  The damask print has the effect of a bark pattern.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) terra cotta tile (deep rust), blueberry sky (medium blue), and the damask print from PTI fine linen (tan) pattern pack.
• Embossing folder is Darice dot point.
• Dies are PTI cover plate: winter woods, Impession Obsession (IO) birds, and IO sm. bird set.
• I added some detail to the birds with Copic black multiliner and E15 marker.

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Shimmer Gold, Cream, and Scarlet

Lovely shimmery colors for a family anniversary celebration.  I like the embossed textures and the mix of heart, star, and flower shapes.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) shimmer in gold, cream, and scarlet.
• Dies are PTI heart-2-heart #11, flower fusion #9, and sketched shapes (large circle).  
• I inlaid the gold heart into the cream flower, so that the scarlet background color would show through slightly and give more definition to the heart's edge.  In real life, it makes a difference.
• Embossing folders are The Paper Studio tiny stars and Stampin' Up petals-a-plenty (retired).
• The sentiment "anniversary wishes" is from PTI keep it simple: anniversary, stamped with PTI scarlet jewel ink cube.

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Christmas Card 2015

Our 2015 Christmas card shows Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus in the Bethlehem stable, with an angel, a donkey, and a sheep.  For six years now, we've been using one of my Nativity drawings to print our cards.  This drawing is from my 2014 Advent calendar.   The sentiment inside is "Wishing you all the joy of Christmas!" 

The card has a wide white border and is computer-printed on Neenah card stock.  If you'd like to see my other Christmas card drawings, click here, then scroll down.   And here on my Mostly Markers drawing blog, you'll find my 2015 Advent calendar drawing (work in progress through Christmas Day), some links to six more years of my calendars, and more of my Advent-Christmas drawings as well.  Wishing the season's blessings to all my readers ...

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Turquoise Swirls with Plaid

Textures and details in blue, turquoise, and purple.  I like the straight and curvy lines together. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamper's select white, Hawaiian shores (light turquoise), tropical teal (deep turquoise), and the bitty dot print from PTI royal velvet (dark purple) pattern pack.
• I made the plaid paper with PTI plaid builder stamped in PTI Hawaiian shores, blueberry sky (medium blue), and royal velvet inks.  I edged it with Copic marker V17. 
• The sentiment "thank you" is from PTI keep it simple: thank you, stamped with PTI tropical teal, blueberry sky, and royal velvet inks. 
• Label dies are from PTI my mother, my friend.  The banner is notched with scissors.  
• Embossing is Cuttlebug d'vine swirls.

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Cardinal with Branch on Teal

One of my favorite birds, the cardinal, on a leafy (or pine) branch.  I like these colors which could work for winter, but other seasons too.  The layout didn't seem to need a sentiment.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamper's select white, spring moss (light green), and the bitty dots print from PTI ocean tides (muted teal) pattern pack.
• The bird and branch are two-step stamps from PTI winter woods, stamped with PTI pure poppy (red), smokey shadow (dark gray), dark chocolate (brown), and ripe avocado (dark green) ink cubes. 
• Dies are PTI winter woods.

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Green Stripes Diagonal

Happy colors for a birthday theme.  This card started when I tried out my new stripey stamp set with no regard for good stamping.  My uneven lines looked interesting, so I kept going with it.  I like the diagonal lines with the curly die cut word. 

Card details:

• Card stock is Neenah solar white and Papertrey Ink (PTI) vintage jadeite (light green) and new leaf (medium green).
• The die is "happy" from PTI tipped tops.
• Embossing folder is Paper Studio tiny stars.
• The stripes are from PTI plaid builder, stamped with PTI new leaf and vintage jadeite ink cubes.  I used the stamp with two triple stripes.
• The sentiment "happy birthday" is from PTI keep it simple: birthday, stamped with PTI new leaf.

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Big Dots - Red, White, and Blue Thank You

Bright and bold in red, white, and blue with big dots, striped ribbon, and a two-tone sentiment.

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

Card details:

• Card stock is Ellen Hutson white linen, Paper Source royal blue, Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red), and a print from from PTI pure poppy "+ white basics" patterned paper collection.
• Die is PTI wonderful words: thank you.
• Ribbon is Recollections 3/8" grosgrain.
• Bottom corners are rounded with Crop-a-Dile 1/2" corner chomper.

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Layered Flowers in Teal and Purple

Playing with some multi-color stamping.  It was just an experiment, but I was happy to find I could make it into a nice card.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamper's select white, royal velvet (dark purple), and gingham print from PTI tropical teal (deep turquoise) pattern pack.
• The two floral clusters are from PTI mini blooms.  Using the MISTI, first I stamped all the leaves and flowers with Hawaiian shores ink (medium turquoise), and then reinked just the leaves to stamp with new leaf (green) and parts of the flowers with tropical teal. Finally, with a small damp brush, I added some touches of royal velvet ink.  (All of the inks are PTI.)
• The sentiment "just because" is from PTI keep it simple: just because, stamped with royal velvet ink.

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Green Truck with Trees and Birds

A detailed scene with a fall or wintry feeling.  I like the truck in its woodsy setting. 

Not shown in the picture: I stamped a small green letter T (for the recipient's name) on the circle on the truck door.

Card details:

• Sky is Stampin' Up (SU) soft sky (blue) card stock.
• Ground is Paper Source (PS) gravel (gray) card stock. 
• Clouds are Papertrey Ink (PTI) stamper's select white card stock, die cut with the smaller PTI heart-2-heart #6 cloud.
• Birds are PTI true black card stock, die cut with Impression Obsession small bird set.
• Grass is PS sage (light green) card stock, die cut with My Favorite Things (MFT) fresh cut grass.
• Narrow trees are SU soft suede (deep brown) card stock, die cut with Savvy Stamps branch.
• Thicker trees are PTI classic kraft card stock, die cut with PTI polka dot parade #6. 
• Truck is PTI pinefeather (dark green), true black, and kraft, cut with Impression Obsession classic truck.  I added a kraft circle to the door, punched with an old 1/4" hole punch.  Also I added some brown colored pencil to emphasize the embossed lines on the truck body. 

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Leafy Branch with Greens and Tan

Simple and serene with tan and a few shades of green.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) spring moss (light green), ripe avocado (dark green), fine linen (tan), and the bitty dots print from PTI simply chartreuse (medium green) pattern pack.
• Dies are Elizabeth Craft thanks and Savvy Stamps tall branches with leaves.
• I die cut the leaves from the tan panel, colored them roughly (dabbing/ swiping in patches) with Copic markers, and then laid them back into the negative cut.  
• Copic colors are YG21, 23, and 95.
• The corners of the leaf panel are rounded with Crop-a-Dile 1/4" corner chomper.

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