Raising A Sketch

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a two-challenge card. It is Wednesday's sketch from 365 Cards and today's Raise the Bar challenge which was to use only a sentiment, no stamped images. I had some Decoart Glamour Dusted images stashed away so I decided it would be a great time to get creative and put together a wedding card.

I used DCWV textured Pastels cardstock for the base. The white element is a piece of Stampin' Up Shimmery White paper textured with the Spellbinders Impressabilities Flourish plate. The ribbon is part of a 'free gift with order' from Scrap 'N Stamp. The focal image is a piece of water colour paper that was coloured with Stampin' Up water colour crayons and spritzed with water. The paper was then covered with Grafix Double Tack mounting film and liberally coated with DecoArt Glamour Dust. A Peel Off's sticker was affixed and cut out. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Small Script.

I just love this card! The colours work beautifully and the ribbon is the perfect compliment to the fancy oval focal point. Most of my close friends are already married but I know that some of my husband's colleagues are getting married over the summer so I'll just put this card in my stash.

I hope you enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Caardvarks Challenge Card

Hello everyone,

I've a really special card for you tonight. The Caardvarks blog is sponsoring a publication challenge. The winner's card will be published in the July 2010 issue of Cards Magazine. The challenge was make a wedding card.

The card base is from Recollections. It was textured with Stampin' Up's Cornelli Lace Wheel in VersaMark and heat embossed with Close To My Heart Silver Pearl embossing powder. The focal element is a Spellbinders Shapeabilities Renaissance Hearts Pendant. The blue die-cut pendant was cut from a piece of glossy card stock which was smooched with Denim and Cloudy Blue Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink, then covered with a piece of Grafix Double Tack Mounting Film and liberally sprinkled with DecoArt Glamour Dust. The white die-cut element used the exact same technique except the glossy card stock was smooched with Pearl and Silver Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink Mixatives. The sentiment is Stampabilities Changes Everything stamped in Jet Black StazOn on a scrap of Stampin' Up Whisper White and mounted on another piece of smooched and glittered glossy card stock. The ribbon is Celebrate It Sheer Creations from Michaels. Square cut outs, leftover from the die-cut, were affixed to both the pendant and sentiment elements.

I decided that my best card would be one made from all my favourite things. I love using Ranger's Alcohol Inks as the effect is so beautiful and the paper never turns out the same way twice. I also love anything that is Glamour Dusted as that sparkle is just gorgeous. More favourites, the Cornelli Lace Wheel, Silver Pearl embossing powder, Spellbinders dies, the sentiment and the ribbon. All together, I think it makes a very beautiful wedding card.

I hope you enjoy, cross your fingers and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Glamour Dusted

Hello everyone,

I truly think that when making cards, there is no such thing as too much glitter so when I saw this demonstration at the Creativ Festival, I couldn't resist. This will be another technique that you'll probably get sick of because I love it so much I suspect I'll use it a ton.

The background is Stampin' Up Soft Sky that was textured with Sizzix Stampin' Up Flourish. The ribbon is Sopp Ribbons of Distinction from White Rose. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Warm Words which I embossed with Stampendous Detail Gold. To make the ornaments I first smeared watercolor pencil crayon on watercolor paper which I then spritzed with water until the colors ran. A tip that Heather (Heather's Stamping Haven - http://www.heathersstampin.com/) shared was to always start with the lighter color moving to the darkest color. Once the paper dried completely I covered it with Grafix Double Tack mounting film which I really burnished into the colored paper. I then removed the second backing paper layer and covered the sticky side with DecoArt Glamour Dust. After shaking off the excess, I burnished it well using the backing paper. I then used Peel-Off's Xmas Balls outline stickers which I cut out with scissors.

I'm still amazed by this result and I love, love, love, love it! I'm anxious to try the effect with proper watercolor markers (in the mail) because I think the final look will be much more vibrant. There are endless possibilities and I can't wait to explore them!

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle