Friday, December 5, 2008

Challenges on Splitcoast

This week I took on several challenges and posted these two to Splitcoast, but didn't have a chance to give the full details here until now. Busy with kids and Friday appointments at Sick Kids--today was especially long.

First, MFTSC59: My other ride...
I ordered my first stamps from 'My Favorite Things' this week. I'm so excited to be back into stamping and inspired by my friend Karen. Make sure if you have an 'enabler' in your life who got you on to MFT that you let Kim know (see Refer a Friend in Forums on Splitcoast). My card doesn't actually use an MFT stamp but I loved their naughty sentiments, particularly "My other ride is a pole!" My minivanabella from Stamping Bella, which is a little too close to home with the three kids and minivan in constant motion, was perfect for this. I searched for patterned paper that had vertical lines (the pole) and found this kinky, 'amplified psychedelic' from American Crafts. The rest is quite simple. I cut the freehand curve on the reverse side of the patterned paper using Martha Stewart's straight blade (the one that inserts into the handle). The great sentiment is printed on my laser and the image is coloured with copics. I'm so looking forward to trying the Gina K pure luxury 120lb cardstock I ordered this week. I'm okay with the copics but have seen so much better!! ...a little sponging around the edges and some simple ribbon.

Stamps: minivanabella, Stamping Bella
Ink: Adirondack dye ink in espresso
Paper: SU whisper white textured, purely pomegranate, chocolate chip; American Crafts amplified psychedelic
Other: dimensionals; ribbon, unknown; Martha Stewart straight blade with handle
Copics:









The other one, WT195: Three Birds (for Karen)
Confession: I had already created this card days before even seeing this Splitcoast challenge, but I thought it would be perfect for an embellished envelope. I had just been to Scrapalicious in Oakville to drop in on Cathy for a long overdue but quick hello and spotted these Hero Arts birds (a set of 4). My square nestabilities arrived the same day from Scrappin Great Deals!! Cathy gave me some pointers on using copics, the most important tip being a reminder to pick up colour from the tip of one marker to transfer temporarily to another making a third colour. This was a breakthrough for me! Not only did this produce better blending but it was a relief to know that I didn't need all of the hundreds of colours available! Thank you, Cathy!

So basically, the design came from a great piece of patterned paper (SU) for colour inspiration: river rock; old olive; and real red, or in this case, riding hood red for a more muted contrast. I wanted to include three of the birds in the set and decided to use a long note in river rock. Time to part with my stash! I used the square nestabilities for clean cuts and embossing. No sponging, no stickles...just clean and simple. The envelope repeats the pattern from the paper with punched river rock, real red and old olive circles. The birds are stamped over the circles and envelope and coloured with copics too. Okay, copics don't work so well on envelopes, but no surprise. I touched up incomplete lines on the stamped bird images with my chocolate chip marker.

Stamps: birds, Hero Arts; sentiment, SU
Ink: Adirondack dye ink in espresso
Paper: SU designer paper, river rock, old olive, chocolate chip, real red, riding hood red
Other: copics, square nestabilities, chocolate chip grosgrain, SU long notes and envelope

1 comment:

Karen Motz said...

both cards are awesome, but I especially LOVE the birds card. :)
Great layouts and colouring on both!!!