Green Large Dots Card with Purple - Before and After

A new Memory Box die, "tender leaves," inspired me to revisit a card (below) from 18 months ago. One of my earliest designs, it had some nice ideas, but just didn't add up to much. The new card (above), I like!

Scroll down for card details.


Card details (top card):

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink spring moss (light green), simply chartreuse (medium green), ripe avocado (dark green), and plum pudding (purple).
• Corners are rounded with 1/2" Corner Chomper.
  
• Leaf die is Memory Box tender leaves.
  
• Sentiment is computer-printed in black ink using Papyrus font.
• Flowers are Hero Arts, colored with Copic markers. The flower center is a dot of heavy water-color paper, colored with Copic marker.
  

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." (5d)

Felt Flower with Tiny Tag

Playing with some new felt. Though I love to use bright colors, the bottom card seemed a little too bright. I'm happier with the top card, where I replaced the red with an orangey-brown color.


Card details:

• Card stock and felt by Papertrey Ink (PTI): blueberry sky (blue card base and felt flower center), canyon clay (orangey-brown flower (felt), eyelet lace strip, and tiny heart on bottom card), pure poppy (red flower (felt), eyelet lace strip, and tiny heart on bottom card), harvest gold (yellow), simply chartreuse (deep yellow-green), and spring moss (light yellow-green tag).
• Dies are PTI eyelet lace border and tiny tags. Embossing folder is Lifestyle Crafts diamonds and dots.
  
• The tag is tied on with bright yellow embroidery floss and adhered with foam tape. It's a 2-layer tag using the solid (no heart) tag as a base. I put Scor Tape all across the base tag layer, then pressed down the heart tag on top. That left an opening with Scor Tape inside, and a solid base to adhere my tiny contrasting heart.
• Sentiment "love" is computer-printed with green ink in "Stencil Std" font (bold).
• Flower is punched with 1-1/4" EK Success scalloped circle. Flower center is hand cut. I will buy some dies for the future. Although I was able to punch the PTI felt, it wasn't easy. I had to punch it part way, then turn the felt a bit inside the punch, then finish punching. More force than I like to use, and probably not so good for my punch. And would only work with a symmetrical shape.
  
• I sewed french knots with bright yellow embroidery floss, then pulled my thread tails to the front (4 threads at a time) and separated the threads.
  

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." (133)

Ten Green Bows

My card today is completely CASEd from Kristina Werner's card posted here.

Except I made mine with greens instead of reds and pinks; I used punched bows instead of stamped hearts; I changed the sentiment and moved it up above the first row of bows; and I placed my white panel on a colored card base.

Yes, I pretty much changed everything! But it's really still the same card as Kristina's. Nine elements in a grid with a horizontal sentiment and a vertical baker's twine bow along the side. I would not have thought of this card on my own. Thank you, Kristina, for the inspiration!

Card details:

• Bow punch is by Martha Stewart.
• Baker's twine is peapod and honeydew from The Twinery.
• Sentiment is computer-printed in green ink using "Hobo Std" font.
• Card stock is Papertrey Ink new leaf (deep green bows) and simply chartreuse (yellow-green bows), Paper Source jadeite (lighter green bows) and spruce (dark green card base), and Neenah solar white (white panel).

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." (132)

Blue and Green Pattern with Linen

A strip of patterned paper. A scalloped border. A diagonal bow of striped ribbon. Created for the February ribbon challenge sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs (thank you, ODBD!) to benefit Operation Write Home.

Card details:

• Patterned paper is computer-printed using a PowerPoint design, blue and green ink on Papertrey Ink (PTI) fine linen card stock. The other card stock is PTI simply chartreuse (green) and enchanted evening (blue).
• The ribbon is 5/8" satin, colored with Copic markers YG23 and YG91, and striped with Copic cobalt multiliner. In real life, the colors look nice with the card stock.
  
• The scalloped border is cut with PTI's small scalloped border die.
  

Like most of my cards, I made this one 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." (131)

Plaid on Canyon Clay with Blue and Cream

Last week's card with different colors. I like this one, too.

This time the plaid is printed on a Papertrey Ink (PTI) fine linen background. The other card stock is enchanted evening (dark blue), canyon clay (orange-brown card base, and vintage cream (sentiment.) The twine is PTI rustic jute button twine. See last week for more details.

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." (130)

Blue Plaid with Cream

My last few cards have been very BRIGHT colored. They were fun to do, but today I wanted a calmer and quieter color scheme. Soft blues with cream and a touch of brown and gray. Ahhh.

Card details:

• Patterned paper is a PowerPoint plaid (text lines at 90 and 45-degree angles) printed on Papertrey Ink spring rain card stock.
  
• The other card stock is Papertrey Ink vintage cream, enchanted evening (dark blue), and blueberry sky (medium blue card base).
  
• The "thinking of you" sentiment and the dotted-line circle are computer-printed with blue ink in Papyrus font.
• The twine is DMC perle cotton, #3, ecru color.
• Circle punches are EK Success, 1-1/2" and 1-3/4".
  

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." (130)

Yellow Card with Red and Blue - Heart U

Just a few textures, shapes and colors. It makes me smile. Not much else to be said!

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) lemon tart (yellow), blueberry sky (blue), and pure poppy (red).
  
• Embossing folder is Lifestyle Crafts diamonds and dots.
• Oval dies are Spellbinders Nestabilities classic ovals large (blue), and PTI 2-1/4" limitless layers ovals (red and yellow).
  
• The sentiment "heart U" is die cut into the yellow oval, allowing the red beneath it to show through. Heart is from Spellbinders Nestabilities classic hearts (smallest size). U is from PTI block alphabet dies, upper case.
  

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." (129)

Kraft Thanks with Red, Orange, and Yellow Stripes

A "Thanks!" sentiment die cut into kraft, with stripes of colored card stock showing through. Three colors of embroidery floss knotted together. Simple but interesting, I think.

Posted for the "die cuts and punches" midweek challenge on Operation Write Home's Stars and Stamps blog. Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink kraft, pure poppy (red), orange zest, and summer sunrise (yellow).
  
• Dies are Papertrey Ink block alphabet, upper and lower case.

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." (127)

Two Cards with Stripes and Circles

..

Two similar cards, using up some (very old) patterned paper, for this week's Sketch Challenge #106 on Operation Write Home's Stars and Stamps blog. The paper is, well, not very subtle, which is why it got so old in my stash. I just let it be itself.

Card details:

• Card stock (left) is Papertrey Ink (PTI) Hawaiian shores (medium aqua) and Paper Source (PS) peacock (dark turquoise), and reverse side of striped paper (light red). Card stock (right) is PS curry (gold) and spruce (dark green), and reverse side of striped paper (light green). I don't know the name of the striped papers.
• Circles are a combination of EK Success circle punches and PTI 2.5" limitless layers circle dies. Starting from the center: 5/8" punch (medium aqua or gold), 1" punch (dark turquoise or dark green), 2" scalloped punch (striped), 2-1/4" plain punch (dark turquoise or dark green), PTI die (medium aqua or gold), and PTI die (light red or light green).
• The bottom of the banner is scalloped with Fiskars clouds edger scissors.

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." (128)

Bright Daisies with Pink, Yellow, and Aqua

After last week's geometric black, white, and gold, I needed to play with some curvy lines and girly colors. So I colored up my daisy drawing and matted it with dark pink, yellow and aqua on a two-tone pink card base.

Card details:

• My daisy drawing is computer-printed on Neenah solar white and colored with Copic markers BG10, Y15, G40, YG05, YG63, R000, R24, RV02, RV34, and RV55.
• The colored card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) raspberry fizz (dark pink), hibiscus burst (medium pink), and lemon tart (yellow), and Paper Source blossom (light pink) and pool (aqua).
• The dies are PTI eyelet lace border and Mat Stack 4 (regular and layerz).

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." (126)

Black, White, and Gold Layered Circle

Black and white with a splash of one other color - the midweek challenge on Operation Write Home's Stars and Stamps blog. I chose a gold color and played with layers to create my card.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) true black, Paper Source curry (gold), and Neenah solar white. Patterned paper in the center is one of my PowerPoint papers, left over from last week's card. The dots on the 2nd white scallop are made with Copic marker black 100.
• Embossing folder is Cuttlebug candy cane stripes.
• Circles are a combination of EK Success circle punches and PTI 2.5" limitless layers circle dies. Starting from the center: 1-1/4" scallop (white), 1-1/2" plain (gold), 2" scallop (white), 2-1/4" plain (black) , PTI die (gold), and PTI die (white).

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." (125)

Before and After - Purple Flowers with Green and Aqua

Left: Before (lighter colored leaves)-----------Right: After (darker colored leaves)--

Recently when I showed my "before" card to a friend, I wondered if the dark lacy purple circle was too dark. Her suggestion was to darken the leaves. Great idea! It wasn't bad before, but I do like it better now.

For card details, click here for the original posting. My only change was to add some G07 Copic marker to the "after" leaves.

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." (120)

Patterned Squares with Red, Black, and Gray

Black, white, and gray with some touches of red. The button and twill ribbon add a little texture and dimension.

I made this card for the January "three patterned papers" challenge sponsored by Our Daily Bread Designs (thank you, ODBD!) to benefit Operation Write Home. My layout is today's Sketch Challenge #104, from Operation Write Home's Stars and Stamps blog.

Card details:

• Card stock is Papertrey Ink (PTI) pure poppy (red) and Paper Source gravel (medium gray).
• I made my patterned paper on the computer in PowerPoint and printed it on Neenah white card stock. The patterns are letters and symbols
  o O * . \ /
  in Papyrus font, which is an interesting hand-drawn looking font. I added some red with Copic marker RV29.
• The black edges are drawn with Copic multiliner.
• The three layered buttons are cut with PTI Buttoned Up dies and tied with black embroidery floss. I twisted the black twill ribbon under the button to help cinch it in. Then I used a bit of foam tape to stabilize the button, which is already lifted up by the twisted ribbon.

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." (123)

Eyelet Stripes on Canyon Clay

A lovely new card stock color for my card base - canyon clay from Papertrey Ink. I attempted a fancier card today, but it wasn't working. So I made this, much simpler, and I like it a lot.

Card details:

• The card stock is PTI fine linen (beige), dark chocolate (brown), true black, and canyon clay (orangey brown).
  
• The stripes are cut with Papertrey Ink (PTI) eyelet lace die. Adhered with Xyron.
  
• I saved some of the leftover dots to add back to the lace. Dots of fine linen in the black lace, for instance. Adhered with Zig 2-way glue pen. I'm using my "quarter inch dots" blog label, because the effect is similar, but they're closer to 3/16".
• The sentiment "Thanks" is computer-printed with black ink in Courier 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." (122)

Brown Polka Dots with Hearts and Stripes

Dots, hearts, and stripes. And a button. It just wasn't right without the button. My layout is this week's Sketch Challenge #102, from Operation Write Home's Stars and Stamps blog.

Card details:

• I made my patterned paper with a Crafter's Workshop 6x6" circle grid template (a thin plastic stencil) and my Copic airbrush. The texture comes from a PaperTrey Ink (PTI) impression plate - linen.
• Correction added Feb. 12, 2012: I made more patterned paper like this today, and by trial and error, I found that the Copic colors for the airbrushing are E09 (light amount for the lighter circles) and E29 (medium amount for the darker circles). Not E09 and E15 as originally posted.
• The solid color card stock is Ellen Hutson golden brown, Paper Source papaya (light orange), and PTI Hawaiian shores (turquoise).
• The dies are Spellbinders Nestabilities classic hearts (3 smallest sizes) and PTI Buttoned Up #2 (1/2").
• The lines and heart are drawn with brown Micron pen.
• I sewed the button with embroidery floss - white floss colored with R32 Copic marker - a good match in real life.

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." (121)