FMS 265

The weekend is almost at an end. It's been busy and social, as this time of the year often is, but I found a quiet moment to pop into my craft room to have a play with the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.

Today's card is an experiment with bling. I don't usually go in for very much sparkle and shine but it's happened on a Christmas card or two of late. This card uses several subtle bling elements which I wanted to contrast with the natural scene. Two of those elements are the scallop-edged halo of silver glimmer paper that just gives a hint of sparkle. Another is the silver embossed 'birthday'.

Another is the use of rhinestones down the centre of the butterfly. The butterfly has been inked and blended and some highlights added with white gel pen, before getting a layer of clear Wink of Stella.

This close-up shows the Wink of Stella on the wings. It also captures the final bling element: there are a number of fern fronds heat embossed in Iridescent Ice powder. They show up as sparkle but in places there is also a resist emboss effect in the sponged background.

In real life, the effect of the sparkle and shine elements is subtle, yet collectively appealing. So I will call this experiment a success!

Ingredients

Card: Soft Sky, Silver Glimmer, Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Watercolour paper

Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Butterfly Basics, Number of Years

Inks: So Saffron, Calypso Coral, Old Olive, Black Stazon, Soft Sky, Versamark

Other: Number of Years banner die, Elegant Butterfly punch, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, silver embossing powder, white gel pen, rhinestones, clear Wink of Stella, dimensionals, layering circle framelits, blender pen, sponges

Global Design Project 57

The wonderful colour challenge at Global Design Project has stuck with me ever since I saw it earlier in the week.

Over the last few days, I've mentally designed several cards and mentally experimented with three new techniques but when I sat down to actually turn one of these ideas into reality, the colours seemed to have a mind of their own. In the end, I didn't do anything really fancy. I just let those delicious colours speak for themselves in the company of a stamp set I've really under-utilized: Number of Years.

The stamps lend themselves to an impressionistic approach so I've used double strength Blushing Bride in places to give more illusion of depth as single strength pink recedes quickly into the background.

Ingredients

Card: Rich Razzleberry, Mint Macaron, Whisper White

Stamps: Number of Years

Inks: Rich Razzleberry, Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride

Other: Mint Macaron Washi Tape (from Affectionately Yours), Blushing Bride baker's twine, pearls, dimensionals.

SIP 46 PCCCS193

Funny how no matter how big your stash of completed cards is, you never seem to have the one you want. After getting a present for my brother's 25th wedding celebrations this weekend, I realised I had no silver anniversary cards! Rush job in the sense that we're leaving to travel over to his place very early tomorrow so it had to be made tonight.  I've taken inspiration from two challenges for my brother's card.

Firstly, the tic-tac-toe challenge at Stamp, Ink, Paper.

I'm playing the first column: Flowers, Bling, Pink.

Secondly, the sketch at The Paper Craft Crew Challenge.

I like the subtle extra bling in the silver thread that's behind the floral cluster. I'm also very happy with the extra zing in the softly sponged flowers.

Update: So delighted to be a Top Pick at The Paper Craft Crew.

Ingredients

Card: Blushing Bride, Whisper White, Silver glimmer paper,  DSP from Birthday Bouquet, scrap of Pear Pizzazz

Stamps: Number of Years, Botanical Blooms

Inks: Pool Party, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Other: Silver embossing powder, Large Number framelits, Botanical Builders framelits, silver thread, Basic Grey stamp'n'write, dimensionals, Itty Bitty punch, circle framelit, 2 1/2" circle punch, sponges, rhinestones.