Apple Hugs

This is supposed to be a 4.5" x 4.5" card that I made a little bigger to fit the envelope I have a little better.  The pattern is from Wishes and is called All Squared Up.  I made Hugs for my Cardaholics group challenge - use fruit.

The inside may be a little hard to see and understand.  Let me explain this picture...

The saying I stamped on the inside is, "from me to you & sending many".  I connected the different stamps I used to create that saying with the colors, circles, and lines.  In my mind, the inside is tied to the outside saying.

I almost went with "lots of Hugs.  lots & lots" but didn't... maybe another time.

This set is a great one to have in your stash, is A1303, and available through June 2023.

The apple is a stamp of the month from July 2013!  I've kept it in my stash because I like it so much.  If I was making this card for a specific person, I could have used the sentiment in the set, "Love you to the core".  But I wanted the card to be more versatile and went with "Hugs".

The background stamp is Leafy Background & Sentiments (D2162) - available through June 2023.  I could have used one of the six sayings with that set, but didn't.  I thought it would look great as a background, and was rather pleased when I was right.  It's stamped with Clover Ink (Z6507)on the true side of Clover cardstock (X6040).

The apple stamp is colored with watercolor pencils.  I briefly thought about using a water brush to smooth the pencil lines, but decided that I like the look too much.  To me, it fits the style of the stamp.  I did stamp, color, and cut out a second apple.  This is mounted on top of the attached apple to give the image some dimension.  The focal piece is attached to Toffee cardstock (X5950), and the card is finished off with gold glitter gems (Z3312).

Originals - Background Blocks

The thing I like about this stamp is that is one large focal point.  It's easy to place on a card and be done.  Or, as with this card, add a tag for the saying (April Stamp of the Month - Sweet Tweet).  Then you're done.  Coloring the flowers can be zenful (is that a word?! to be full of zen; relaxing).  Find paper first, then color to match.  Or color, and find paper to match.

The stamp could be used to create background paper too - stamp tone on tone cardstock.  Cut that up, and you're good to go, especially with this Background Blocks pattern from the Originals cardmaking pattern book.

So Much Happy - Last Call

One more look at this paper pack... Same paper and accessories, but different look.  Make it From Your Heart Volume 1 pattern #27 has been turned on its side and lays horizontally for this version.  And this is the third card I made with the challenge paper and accessories (ribbon and tag).

As you can see, the tag is threaded with the ribbon.  And because of this post, you're wondering if  the ribbon goes the length of the card or has a gap.  : ) The flower and saying are from the Change the World stamp set. I colored the flower with the Antique Pink Blend and Pale Pink Shades Tri-Blend Markers.  Ballerina ink was used for the background images of the saying that was stamped in Sapphire ink.

The next time you look at a pattern, see how you can make a few variations of it.  I rotated the pattern 90 degrees.  If you take a look at this version of the card, you can see changing the perspective (ok, and stamps), you easily can get more for you buck.

Stop and Smell the Flowers Take 1

In the depths of Winter, I can't wait to see the flowers bloom.  Here is the first sightings of said flowers.  : )

Card challenge - use a specific paper and accessories - go!  I created three different cards using the challenge parameters.  This is one of them. : )  Each card is different, and I can honestly say I don't have a favorite.

The floral paper and the brads were used to fulfill the challenge.  The cool thing about our background and texture paper is that it's reversible.  So, yes, the bright yellow paper is the backside of the floral paper!

The design is pattern #27 from Make it From Your Heart volume 1.  "Stop & Smell the FLOWERS" was stamped in Sapphire ink on White Daisy Cardstock.  The leaves behind the Candy Apple and Lemonade flowers are second generation Clover inked.  The flowers were hand cut (you can purchase the set with coordinating Thin Cuts for the flowers - Z4668).

For all the variations, the outer two flowers are adhered directly to the card.  The middle flower (second generation Candy Apple) is raised with 3D thin foam.

Technique: Second Generation.  Ink your stamp in the desired color.  Stamp onto scratch paper, and without reinking the stamp, stamp a second time.  Depending on the ink color, you might be able to get a third generation, and even a fourth generation image (darker colors such as Sapphire are good for this).