Monday, January 2, 2017

Top 10 Projects of 2016

Happy New Year!  

I hope everyone had a happy and safe new year celebration.  Before, I start the new year in full force, I'm taking a step back to review some of my favorite projects of 2016.

It is fun to go back and see what was created at the beginning of the year and see how my style has evolved over 12 months.  While I'm not sure I have a distinctive style, I do tend to like a bit more clean and simple.  Lot's of white space, few embellishments.  Most of my cards use copic markers, and I'm still trying to improve my shading and color choices.

Here are my 10 favorite cards of the year (in no particular order)...



This is a departure for me.  Very little color - the main image is stamped in black and the sentiment banner has a splash of color from distressed inks.

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This card is made with my newly purchased Zig Real Brush Watercolor Pens. While most of my cards have bright colors, I like the soft colors of this card.

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This was a super fun card to make. This card was done with some masking. A technique that I really found that I enjoy very much!

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I learned to love one layer cards this year.  Here is an example of one of my favorites. Not only a one layer card, but a funny image and lots of bright colors!

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This card was my first attempt at partial die cutting, which I found I really liked, and made several Christmas cards with this technique. This card also has another favorite technique...embossing paste!

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Shaker cards are the best!  Super fun to make and recipients always love them.  This was my go-to celebration card for the year. It works well for milestone birthdays and generally celebration cards!  I used the silver foil paper to add a bit of added sparkle to the cards!

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This fun card was my first attempt at a square card...which I found I really like! Also, I love this technique of making background clouds--super cool. And then of course, some bright colors to round out this festive card!

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My favorite characters this year has been monsters.  Finding fun ways to color them with copic markers is the best! This card has some of my favorite monsters!  Any my favorite card size 4 x 4!

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One of my favorite techniques for the year, has been to use distress ink to watercolor my stamped images.  This makes me feel artistic.  This is one of my favorite images to watercolor.  Also, this was one of the projects where I stamped my main image in something other than black.  I have to remind myself that not everything needs to be outlined in black!

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I choose this card as a favorite, because I took a risk.  The theme for this one was watercolor, and this was the first time I made a whimsical watercolor background. Typically, I would control my background with a splatter stamp, but this card just called for a messy background :)

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Looking back at 2016, I feel like I tried lots of new techniques and for 2017 will continue to try new things!  Thanks for stopping by and hope you swing by often in the New Year!

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Less is More - Dimension

One more day of 2016!  Boy did this year just fly by.  I'm hoping for a better 2017, as we have had some difficult challenges during this last year.  But the good news, is that it is ending a it bit more positively than a few months ago!

We have a new challenge starting over at Less is More, so spend sometime in your crafting spot and join in the fun.  Our theme for this challenge is Dimension.  Super fun and lots of possibilities.  Here's my take on the challenge...

I started by using my stencil and adding distressed ink to the card front. I then cut the circle and used the inlaid die technique to insert the red circle after using embossing ink to highlight the sentiment.

I then stamped and colored my main image with Copic markers and popped him up on some foam tape.

Add the sentiment at the bottom and done!





Here's a close up shot, so you can see the dimension I used for the main image.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!








Supplies:


Tuesday, December 20, 2016

CASology Guest Design - Toast


Displaying Guest Designer Badge.jpg
I'm excited to be invited to be a guest designer at CASology.  The challenge for this week, will actually run for two weeks since we are getting closer and closer to the holidays.  This gives everyone a bit of extra time to join in.






The theme for this challenge is "Toast"  This is perfect for me since I'm still working on a few cards; now Christmas cards have turned into New Year cards!  Here's what I came up with....looking forward to seeing what you come up with!



This is a very simple card!

I stamped the sentiment and main image on a standard 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card.  I then used my small square die and cut the main image.  I then just adhered all pieces to the folded cardstock, colored my image with copic markers!

The inlaid die technique is one of my favorites and makes this card super easy to make and mail! A very simple champagne toast!



Supplies:


Sunday, December 18, 2016

Christmas Present

I'm still trying to get the last of my Christmas cards done and mailed by Monday!

Here's one that I just finished today.  It was pretty easy to make a few of these.  While I don't mass produce any cards, I typically make several of each so I can keep one and send out the others.

This has been my favorite size recently, the 4x4!  It is cute and easy to mail, even when you add dimension to the front.

I started by die cutting the present on silver paper.  I then die cut it with red Christmas paper.  I then simply put the pieces together on a bit of fun foam.  I then embossed the sentiment with silver embossing powder.  Added a few stars around my present and done.







I'm entering this card in the challenge over at CASology. This week the theme is bow, and this shiny silver bow fits perfectly!




Supplies:


Saturday, December 17, 2016

Less is More - Children

We have another challenge over at Less is More.  This is our last challenge before Christmas, so hope you can come over and join us.  We would love to see what you come up with.

Here's my take on the challenge.

I started by drawing a circle with pencil to create my sentiment circle.  I then stamped my "Thanks" sentiment and the stars.

I then stamped the background and the main image.  I colored the main image with copic markers.  I added a bit of foam tape to the back of the superhero for a bit of dimension.

I then added the sentiment at the bottom.



Here's a close up of the card.  You can see the dimension of the superhero.

Look forward to seeing what you come up with.







Supplies: