Sunday, July 4, 2010

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July to everyone, especially those with brave family members in the military. I love this stamp from Eat Cake Graphics and went right to it when I read Late Blossom's One Layer Wednesday patriotic card challenge.  I stamped it with PTI True Black onto PTI kraft, then used my Staedtler Watercolor Crayons and an aquapainter to color it in.  I wanted the flags to be the standout, so I kept their clothes fairly muted.  I used one of those horrible-finger-pain-inducing discount tiny punches to punch out the stars. A few landed on the paper and  I thought it'd be a fun way to add some subtle interest to the top of the card, so I glued 'em on-I hope it doesn't put me over my one-layer limit! 

Yesterday was a "no-computer" day for us (we spent the day watching movies, swimming, reading, and playing Wii instead!), so I have a couple more cards to share from the last few days.
I was still in a "pretty" mood on Friday, so I made another embossed & waterpainted flower, this time using PTI Delightful Dahlia.  After embossing it on SU Whisper White, I used SU Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose markers scribbled onto a CD case to watercolor with my aquapainter.  My "tip" is to have the aquapainter tip mostly dry, that way you have more control over where the paint goes.  I squeeze out one drop of water, then use a rag to dry it off.  I pick up some color from the CD case, then do one or two quick strokes onto a scratch sheet of paper and then start painting.  I covered the whole thing with Pretty in Pink, then added some shadow with Regal Rose, then went and added some more Pretty in Pink.   Get out your favorite flower stamp and try it-you'll feel like such the artist!

I decided to use it on a corner bookmark, which was this week's tutorial on SCS.  I used some SU dp for the base, covered with PTI Ocean Tides card stock, stamped with PTI's Text Styles in Versamark.  I layered some white ribbon with PTI Sweet Blush and Ocean Tides, and punched the border using Martha Stewart's Cornice Edge border punch.
Due to the no-computer rule yesterday, I had to-gasp!-try to make a card without using a challenge!  I was updating my stamping index and realized I hadn't given Wplus9's Funky Foliage the true inking it deserves.  I started by brayer the sky with Memento Summer Sky (good name!), using torn post-its to mask the bottom.  Then I covered the sky and brayered the grass using Memento New Sprout.  I guess I didn't do a great job of lining up the post-its since I was left with that white line, but I decided it looked kind of funky (in a good way).  I stamped the trees using Memento Rich Cocoa and Bamboo Leaves, cut the image into 3 strips, and matted onto PTI Dark Chocolate.  For the bottom layer, I tore the edges of PTI Spring Rain and SU Certain Celery, and added a white strip between them.

Wishing everyone a safe and delightful Fourth of July!

6 comments:

karen h said...

I am in love with your 4th card! Taking the punchies from the border and putting them across the top is a perfect accent!

The funky tree card is so cool. I like the white line! My brayering never comes out so clean though - I'm impressed!

Crafty Math Chick said...

Happy Independence Day to you too my friend. Lovely cards.

~Meredith

Angela said...

Love the cards, of course! I think it might be time to get back to card making and challenge-participating for me. I feel like I've been on a card hiatus lately. Thanks for an extra boost of inspiration!
PS: way to go with a no-computer day! You must've had lots of blogs to catch up on :)

Emily Leiphart said...

Eeek, your July 4th card is fantastic! Wow, is that the cutest image ever or what?? I do love how you displaced the punched stars from the bottom row to the top of the card as embellishments!

Ok, and of course your corner bookmark is insanely gorgeous as I've told you in the last post. ;)

I love your 'accidental' white line in the trees scene. It adds and extra dimension without using pop-dots!

Joan Ervin said...

What fabulous work here...I love all your cards!!! Each one is really unique and full of gorgeous details!!! Your one layer card is sooo cute...such an adorable image and I love how you used the punched stars!!! Your flower is beautiful, too, and I'm lovin those cute little trees!!!

Susan Raihala said...

Your patriotic card stirred my love of parades! The kraft on kraft punched stars are truly inspired, too!

Your corner bookmark is beautiful...gonna have t make one for myself!

Your trees, though.... Your trees. Happy sigh. I love trees and your card is totally FAB!

BTW, your corgi butt picture is too, too cute. If we were ever to get a small dog, it'd be a corgi.