Gatefold, Quiet Bird Sash, Kraft Card

I have a confession to make.  

It's not a big confession, but it will hopefully clear up a misconception that I know quite a few of you are under.  

You see, as well as disliking bright, bold colours I also dislike the colour black.  It's just way too stark for me.  So I use it very minimally and very, very occasionally.  Kind of only when I absolutely have to...

Now I know that quite a few of you are going to be confused now - which is kind of my own fault really as

A)  It never even occurred to me until reading through some of your comments

and

B)  I didn't have the heart to tell you.  Especially when you'd been so kind to stop by...

However...

What you see on your monitor as 'black' when looking at my 'makes' is more often than not a colour called Deep Cocoa.  It's a very, very dark brown that is my absolute favourite - which you can probably tell as I use it quite a lot!

So now you know...

But before I go on to show you my 'make' for today, let me just say that just because I don't like to use big, bold, bright colours doesn't mean that a lot of you aren't fantastic at making craft projects from these colours that I do enjoy and appreciate seeing.

I'm kind of weird like that!

My card for today has been made specifically for the latest Poppystamps Challenge...

...  and as it's a Gatefold Card you get to see more than one photo...

I thoroughly enjoyed making this card, and truth be told, it's so 'me' that I'm going to struggle to part with it!

(Now I know how sad that sounds...  but I also know that I'm not the only one).

Here's a quick run down of how this card was made:

Using a Circular Mask and a Bristle Brush, apply White Pigment Ink to Kraft Card.

Once dry, use another Bristle Brush to apply two shades of Blue Ink - one light and one dark. 

Leave to one side to dry.

Cut out Die Cuts and assemble where necessary, but DO NOT add to project as yet.

Using a piece of card slightly wider than the Kraft Card, cut out the 'Quiet Bird Sash' Die. 

Make two side panels to form the Gatefolds and attach from the back.

Make two thinner panels from Kraft Card and apply Sparkle Medium through Stencil.

Leave to dry...

Measure up and make another panel with the same dimensions as the Bird Sash Panel. 

(This will become your back panel).

Cut out a 'Distressed Rectangle' Die Cut and ink around edges with Brown Ink.

Attach to back panel and add three Die Cut Flowers.

Distress edges of all Kraft Card panels using a Distress Tool.

Slide largest Kraft Card panel carefully under Quiet Bird Sash panel and glue into place.

Add thinner Kraft Card panels and glue into place.

Apply Die Cuts and glue into place.

Ink Gatefold edges of card with Brown Ink.

Cut a thin strip of card just long enough to wrap around the Gatefold card.

Glue strip and leave to one side to dry.

Cut out a Die Cut Flower, and add Stickles Glitter Glue to the centre.

Once dry, attach Flower to thin strip of card.

Spray thin strip with Glitter Spray and leave to dry.

Now I'm sure many of you will have spotted that I could just as easily have used one large piece of card, cut out the Bird Sash from that and then added everything else accordingly.  

That is the other option IF you want to OR have a machine big enough to do that on.  

It's a matter of personal preference, I guess...  and what size machine you have to use.

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Poppystamps 'Quiet Bird Sash'

Poppystamps 'Stick Frames'

Memory Box 'Long Stem Lavender'

Memory Box 'Meadow Clover'

Poppystamps 'Fresh Petals'

Spellbinders (Nestabilities) Card Creator 'A2 Distressed Edges'

Inks:

ColorBox Pigment Ink 'Frost White'

Tim Holtz Distress 'Stormy Sky'

Tim Holtz Distress 'Broken China'

Tim Holtz Distress 'Walnut Stain'

Stencil:

Memory Box 'Shimmer' 

Other:

Tim Holtz Distress Tool

Crafter's Companion 'Spray and Sparkle'  (Pearl Diamond) 

(Ranger) Stickles Glitter Glue 'Frosted Lace'

Challenges I'm Entering...

Poppystamps

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge

(All die cuts from snippets - except Bird sash)

Simon Says/Monday

(Flora and/or Fauna)

That's Crafty

Feminine Challenge

Simon Says/Wednesday

Create A Scene

Craft Rocket Challenges

Challenge #19   'Anything Goes'

In reality, this card has a lovely soft shimmer on the side panels from the texture paste.  It just doesn't show up on these photo's at all.   

Not to worry...  

You'll just have to use your imagination!

Enjoy the rest of your week...

Donna. x

PS.  Special thanks to Olga for very kindly posting me some goodies - including the Sticks Frame die cuts that I used on my card today.  Mine are yet to arrive and are like gold dust here in the UK!

Thank you, Olga. x

Kraft Tag, Large Flower with Script, Ribbon

It's Tag You're It Friday again, everyone!

Please pop on over to the challenge site as there have been a few changes made.  

We think you're going to like them!

*

Our Guest DT for today is a lady by the name of Donna Mikasa.

(I'm guessing some of you have heard of her)!

 When I saw Donna's tag for this challenge I just knew it would be perfect for one of my 'new to me' stamps -

Personal Impressions Flower Words Silhouette.  

Now, this WAS a Stic On Cling Stamp...

Do you think I could find anything online to tell me exactly what Stic On meant?  (You guessed correctly if you said 'no').

So I bought it anyway - as you do...  and when it arrived it was obvious that peeling off the back piece would leave it far too sticky for repositioning.

(I'm guessing you are supposed to permanently mount it to a block).  Oh well...

As I really didn't want to permanently mount it and already had some EzMount in the house it was off to the microwave for me - to warm up the stamp well enough to peel off the backing.  Of course, this stamp took a while to pull apart.  It was VERY well glued together and left a horrible sticky black residue behind.  I ended up using my pokey tool to scratch most of the remainder off!
  Then I traced around the outline of the stamp onto EzMount, cut it out and then sandwiched it all together.

I've not used EzMount that way 'round before and for a tricky shape like this it was actually much easier.

So...  stamp sorted - eventually!  But what about the ink?

I tried lots of inks and lots of colours before settling on VersaMagic Aegean Blue - a beautiful chalk ink that makes the text legible, has a lovely subtle look to it and doesn't leave a splodgy mess behind.  (I found the Brilliance ink pads far too juicy and the Memento's were ok...  but like most other brands a bit 'flat' looking)!

  I guess I should probably show you my tag before I carry on explaining how I put it all together, right..?

As you can see, I've gone for a very basic look with no ink, paint or embossing to the background at all.

I was sorely tempted, but as I really didn't want anything to detract from the central focus (the flower) I held my ground and instead focused on adding depth and texture through the other elements on the tag.

If you look at Donna's tag (the other Donna - not me)..! 

...  you'll immediately see that your eye is drawn in to the centre of that flower.  That's why I used that big button.

So what else has Donna included that I've also included?

Stitched details...

Leaf sprig...

Water colouring...

Three outer embellishments...

A strip running across from left to right...

Script/Wording...

Ribbon... 

My tag may look very different, but all of Donna's elements are there.

My wording's on the flower, the stitching's on the ribbon running left to right, I've water coloured the leaves (instead of the background), added three embellishments and included the tied ribbon, too.

I wonder what she'll make of it?

Oh...  and before I forget, I should probably mention the Memento Rosebud and Brilliance Platinum Planet inks that I added to my ribbons.  Top tip...  leave to dry thoroughly before ironing to set.  Really thoroughly!

Unless you like very inky hands, of course...

Challenge I'm Entering...

Pixies Crafty Snippets Challenge
All of the ribbons are snippets that have been repurposed from packaging.  The leaf and flower are also from snippets of card.

If you have the time to pop on over to the Tag You're It challenge site you'll see that the rest of the Design Team all have their own unique versions of Donna's tag.
We would love to see your version.
Why don't you give it a try?

'Bye for now...

Donna

Lavender Stems, Camera Film, Kraft Card

Trying something different again today.

Different because this is not a colour scheme I would normally choose to use...  and I've tried out a slightly different layout.

Take a look...

If you read yesterday's post then yes, you've probably already guessed it.  This is indeed another make for the latest Poppystamps challenge.  But did you know that over at Memory Box their latest challenge is all about Water Colour?

As these are two of my all time favourite challenges that I like to play along with (not discounting my love of tags and the lovely Tag You're It! challenge, of course), it seemed only fitting to try and make a card fit for both. 

I am uneasy about the layout on this one though.  

It's difficult for me to judge when the colours are so not for me!

The theory behind this card is 'taking a snapshot of life/capturing a moment on camera' - hence the film strip portion that's been partially glued.

Does it work?

I leave that for you to tell me...

But if it doesn't work, please be kind when you tell me.  I am a delicate soul, you know.

I bruise easily inside and out!

Here's the Poppystamps Tic Tac Toe grid...

...  and here's a quick 'how to'...

Make a quick Yellow watercolour wash.  Leave to one side to dry.

Cut a piece of card slightly smaller than the water colour panel.  Splatter with Distress Ink.

Cut two film strips, glue together, leave to one side to dry.

Cut and assemble Lavender Die, then put in situ but don't glue down yet.

Use Stencils to add extra Flowers to picture, using the Lavender die cut for placement.

Spritz stencilled Flowers with water and leave to dry.

Attach Lavender die cut, then overlay with Meadow Clover die cut.

Tear a piece of White card and attach Twine, then glue to panel.

Attach panels to card as shown.

Cut Photo Strip to size and attach.

Add butterflies and sequins.

One final touch...  Add some Glitter Varnish spray.  (You may want to skip this step).

It has a very subtle finish to it and doesn't show in the photo - but it is there!

Supplies Used:

Dies:

Memory Box 'Long Stem Lavender'

Memory Box 'Butterfly Heart'

Poppystamps 'Meadow Clover'

Poppystamps 'Bijou Film Strip'

Stencils:

Memory Box 'Delphiniums'

Memory Box 'Stems'

Ink:

Memento 'Olive Grove'

Memento 'Elderberry'

Other:

Spectrum Noir 'AquaTint'  (Bright and Beautiful)

Tim Holtz Distress Paint 'Picket Fence'

Tim Holtz Distress 'Splatter Brush'

Twine 'Green'

Sequins

Crafter's Companion 'Spray and Sparkle'  (Pearl Diamond)

Challenges I'm Entering...

Memory Box

Poppystamps

Challenge #21   'Tic Tac Toe'

(I chose Flowers, Yellow and Twine)

Allsorts Challenge

Week #368  'How Does Your Garden Grow'

Cuttlebug Mania

'Midsummer'   Use Flowers and/or Wreaths

If I get it finished in time, I have one more entry for the latest Memory Box challenge.  Time will tell, I guess!

Have a lovely weekend...

Donna. x