Category Archives: inspiration

Nov22

Zentangling a Card

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Zentangling a Card

Have you ever tried Zentangle? It’s a combination of drawing and doodling, and a bit of meditation as well. At least it can be. How about a card using some zentangling as decoration?

zentangled card

This card started with the zentangle border. A bit of handmade paper, a few Stampin’ Up rub-ons, a bit of baker’s twine, and a card is done. I think it looks pretty cool myself, but I may be biased. 😉

If you want to try some Zentangle yourself, check out One Zentangle a Day by Beckah Krahula. (affiliate link) I haven’t taken a class on it yet, but used this book to learn a bit about it. The book is broken down into daily patterns to practice, as well as a bit of discussion about techniques that can help your zentangle drawing even more elaborate and realistic. It’s simple enough that my eight-year-old son can follow along, and detailed enough to keep me occupied.

Don’t forget, if you want to get a card from me, make sure you’re on my email list!

Nov21

Faux Quilting

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Faux Quilting

There are so many hobbies out there that are appealing. Quilting is one of those that requires skill and practice in order to excel. I love the way quilts look. The combination of colors and patterns and texture makes me want to sit down with my sewing machine and start creating my own quilts. However, my own skill set lies with paper.

So let’s make a faux quilt card!

faux quilt card

 

Now, if I were really serious about making this look quilt-like, all those dashes would be actual stitching. But I’m one of those weird people who worry about damaging their sewing machine, and so stick to using a pen to create a stitching look.

This was made with the hexagon stamp set from Stampin’ Up, and the Creative Memories hexagon punch. Stampin’ Up has a punch designed to go with this set, I just already had the CM one, and didn’t feel the need to invest in one almost the same as what I already had.

Which brings me to my point for the day. To get the most out of your stash, repeat yourself. Use a stamp over and over. Use the scraps from one project on a different project. Use up all the paint on a palette on multiple projects, rather than letting it dry out. Just because you’ve used one item on a specific project doesn’t mean it won’t work on an entirely different creation as well.

Make what you have work. Over and over and over again. You’ll be surprised at just how creative you can be when you push yourself.

 

Nov19

Keeping It Simple

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Keeping It Simple

Today’s card started off with another alcohol ink background. Since it seemed like a masculine background, I looked for paper scraps that would work with the background, and stumbled across these fun little cards from a Simple Stories 6×6 pad. Adding a sticker that’s been in my stash for ages was the perfect finishing touch.

Boy and alcohol ink background

Today’s tip: while you have your supplies out to create a background, make more than one. By making batches of backgrounds or bases, you’ve always got a great starting point for when you’re actually ready to make a card or two or ten.

Have you been making any cards this month? What’s your favorite technique to use when making a card?

Nov18

Playing With Alcohol Inks

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Playing With Alcohol Inks

When was the last time you played with alcohol inks? I bet it’s been a while, hasn’t it?

Alcohol inks come in dropper bottles, and you apply them to surfaces with a small foam sponge or pad. It’s important that you use a sealed surface in order to get good coverage and intermixing. These are one of Tim Holtz’s favorite supplies, and he’s used it on everything from transparencies to dominos to metal to glossy coated cardstock.

alcohol ink background

I started with mirror cardstock (a type of metallic coated cardstock with a high gloss) and three colors of alcohol ink on one sponge, and then dabbed the sponge across the background. When Ink stopped transferring, I add more drops to the sponge, and kept going. This is one of those backgrounds that are simply stunning in person, but don’t necessarily translate well in photos.

A patterned paper in coordinating colors, and then a stamp in a related theme finishes off the card nicely.

Thought for today: there are lots of ways to start a card. You can start with a sketch, and build it based on the pieces of the sketch. You can start with a favorite image, and work from there. You can have a theme or sentiment in mind, and choose supplies based on that. Or, you can start with technique, as I did here, and then make the rest of your design choices based on how your technique turned out.

There is no right or wrong way to create a card. There’s just done. I like done, how about you?

Don’t forget, if you want to get a card from me, make sure you’re on my email list!

Nov15

Out of This World!

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Out of This World!

This card was a lot of fun to make. Want to see it made, from start to finish?

Cara Miller’s copic coloring class is available here. It’s a great introduction to copics.

You know how sometimes you have a vision of a project, and the end product is something that matches your vision? Yep, that was today’s card.

Beam me up!

Now I have to just remember to leave it out in the light to see if that glow in the dark embossing powder really does glow in the dark.

Don’t forget, if you want to get a card in the mail, you need to sign up for my email list!