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February 6, 2012

You’re On My Mind Greeting Card

My card for this week’s Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge (SQSC24) is fairly simple. I downloaded a few new sets in preparation for my trip to the Regional in Columbus later this month and decided to just play with the colors from two of them, The Write Stuff II and Travel Log.

Here’s this week’s original sketch:

SQSC21 Design

And here’s my version of the card:

You're on my mind Greeting Card

Here are the details on what went into the card:

  • Background Layer: Travel Log—Paper 2
  • Central Image (top to bottom):
    • Circle punch in Whisper White
    • Circle punch in Whisper White, set to 50% opacity
    • Circle punch in So Saffron, with 2 pt mat in Whisper White
    • Scalloped Circle punch in Real Rust, with default drop shadow
  • Center Band: Square punch in Old Olive Small Polka Dot
  • Embellishments: The Write Stuff II—flower 6, flower 2, and flower 3, all with default drop shadow
  • Sentiment: Upsy Daisy—sentiment 3, in Old Olive

Updated 2/8: Just occurred to me that you could easily use this as a Valentine’s card. On the inside, just write: “And in my heart.” What a nice sentiment that makes with the front: You’re on my mind….. And in my heart.

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January 16, 2012

Goth Valentine’s Day Card (SQSC21)

My card for this week’s Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge (SQSC21) came about because of the focal shape on the card. When I look at these sketches, I try to imagine what the layout reminds me of. That’s how I ended up with the mime trapped in the boxes for SQSC13, and the circle image on SQSC15 made me think of an embroidery hoop, which inspired a vintage look for the card.

Here’s this week’s original sketch:

SQSC21 Design

At first when I looked at it, I couldn’t think of anything, so I printed it out and laid it on my desk so that I could glance at it during the week. I jotted down that it reminded me of an ironing board, and I imagined a summer card where it was a diving board and the buttons were seashells (but I didn’t have the resources to make that). When I turned the image over, I thought about a hanging military ribbon or the felt tab that Girl Scout insignia are often attached to. In a week moment after watching the Maroon Five video for “Moves Like Jagger,” I imagined it as a tongue (and certainly not a card I wanted to make).

None of that really worked for me. I could make such cards, but none of them really grabbed me, and then I glanced at it one more time on Friday and suddenly realized that I had a tombstone and the perfect inspiration for a Halloween sort of card. Admittedly though, I was hardly in the Halloween mood and then my vicious brain whispered, “Make a dark Valentine’s Day card.” So that’s the story behind my twisted version of the card:

Goth Valentine's Day Card

Here are the details on what went into the card:

  • Background Layer: Basic Black
  • Curved Bottom Layer: Square Punch on top of Rounded Corner Square Punch, both in Basic Gray
  • Top Background Layer: Square Punch in Going Gray with Nite Owl—Pattern 6 (the criss-cross) across the bottom
  • Tombstone: Tag Punch in Perfectly Plum, with default drop shadow, with these decorations:
    • From the Crypt—Batty (twice) in Basic Black (top left and right)
    • From the Crypt—Web bat (top center)
    • Lace Ribbon Border Punch in Basic Black (bottom)
    • From the Crypt—Spidy (five times) above the Lace Ribbon
    • Grosgrain Ribbon and Bow in Basic Black, with default drop shadow
  • Skulls (where the buttons are on the original):
    • From the Crypt—Skull in Basic Black
    • Wide Oval Punch in default grayish color (RGB: 225, 225, 224) behind each Skull
    • Extreme Elements—Splatter in Basic Black on either side of each skull to add more shadows
  • Sentiment: Typed in Baskerville Old Face, 30 pt, in Basic Black, with default drop shadow

 

Posted in Greeting Card, Inappropriate, Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge | 1 Comment »

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January 8, 2012

You’re OWLways There For Me

My card for this week’s Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge (SQSC20) is a punny thank you card. Here’s the original sketch:

SQSC20 Design

Here’s my version of the card:

OWLways There For Me Thank You Card

Here are the details on what went into the card:

  • Background Layer: Soft Suede
  • Middle Layer: Delight in the Day—10 (from the top portion of the sheet)
  • Owl Punch: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Calypso Coral
  • Sentiment: Very Vanilla with Soft Suede mat, So Happy For You—Thanks, “You’re OWLways there for me!” typed in Arial, 13pt. Stamp and text in Soft Suede
  • Embellishment: Grosgrain Ribbon and Bow in Very Vanilla

 

Posted in Punches, Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge | 3 Comments »

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January 1, 2012

Happy New Year Card

My card for this week’s Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge (SQSC19) is a very simple card to celebrate the New Year. Here’s the original sketch:

SQSC19 Design

Here’s my version of the card:

Happy New Year

Here are the details on what went into the card:

  • Background Layer: Island Indigo
  • Middle Layer: Calypso Coral
  • Top Layer: Homemade paper* (of Whisper White with Arial, 12 pt., in Island Indigo)
  • Circles: Circle and Scalloped Circle Punches, layered in Island Indigo, Calypso Coral, and Whisper White, with drop shadows on bottom punch only
  • Numbers: Timeless Type Junior Numbers Punches in Island Indigo
  • Embellishment: Grosgrain Ribbon and Bow in Calypo Coral, with drop shadows

*You can download and use the happy new year! paper using the same basic instructions that I posted for the homemade glitter paper. Please do not sell it, but share freely as you like.

Posted in Greeting Card, Punches, Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge | 2 Comments »

December 24, 2011

Good Luck Surviving the Fruitcake!

My card for this week’s Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge (SQSC18) is the twenty-fourth card in my 25 Holiday Cards Challenge. Here’s the original sketch:

SQSC18 Design

Here’s my slightly irreverent version of the card:

Good Luck Surviving the Fruitcake

Here are the details on what went into the card:

  • Background: Crumb Cake
  • Center Background: Deck the Halls—Pattern 4
  • Center:
    • Back: Curly Label Punch in Always Artichoke with Chocolate Chip Mat
    • Top: Curly Label Punch in Chocolate Chip
    • Stamp: Bah Humbug—Good Luck in Crumb Cake
    • Pieced punches in Cherry Cobbler behind stamp to fill in center
  • Embellishments:
    • Chocolate Chip—Stitching Zigzag
    • Chocolate Chip—Stitching Straight
    • Cherry Cobbler Brads

Posted in 25 Holiday Cards, Greeting Card, Humor, Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge | 1 Comment »

December 11, 2011

Christmas Cookies

My card for this week’s Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge (SQSC16) is the eleventh card in my 25 Holiday Cards Challenge. Here’s the original sketch:

SQSC12 Design

I tried several focal points for this card from the Jolly Bingo Bits—flowers, candy canes, peppermint candy, and even penguins. Ultimately I settled on the Gingerbread. Here’s my version of the card, using various papers from the Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper:

Christmas Cookies

Here’s the breakdown on the elements:

  • Background: Letters to Santa—2 with an Old Olive mat
  • Rectangle: Letters to Santa—9 with a Riding Hood Red mat
  • Border: Christmas Cheer—Zigzag Border 1, converted to a stamp, and colored in Riding Hood Red
  • Tag: Tag Punch of Letters to Santa—6 with an Early Espresso mat, stamped with Jolly Bingo Bits—Gingerbread Man three times, and with Baker’s Twine – Early Espresso knot
  • Sentiment: Flag Punch in Marina Mist with a Riding Hood Red mat, stamped with Season of Cheer—Christmas Cookies. I placed ovals of Riding Hood Red behind the stamp to fill in the heart.

Posted in 25 Holiday Cards, Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge | Leave a Comment »

December 4, 2011

Certainly Celery & Old Olive Christmas Card

My card for this week’s Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge (SQSC15) is the fourth card in my 25 Holiday Cards Challenge. Here’s the original sketch:

SQSC12 Design

The scalloped circle focal point reminded me of fabric in an embroidery hoop, so I decided to try to go with an old-fashioned, vintage look. Here’s my version of the card, using various papers in either Certainly Celery or Old Olive:

Olive and Celery Christmas Card

Here’s the breakdown on the elements:

  • Background: Certainly Celery base with Holiday Harmony II—8
  • Back Rectangle: Certainly Celery with Vintage Overlay—11
  • Middle Rectangle: Brocade in Certainly Celery
  • Top Rectangle: Holiday Harmony II—11
  • Circle: Very Vanilla with Old Olive
  • Stamp Brush Sets: Something for Christnas—Ornaments 1, 2, 4, & 5 and Merry Christmas
  • Embellishments: Small Rhinestones and Certainly Celery Grosgain Bow

Posted in 25 Holiday Cards, Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge | 3 Comments »

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November 27, 2011

A Christmas Card for SQSC14

This week’s Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge (SQSC14) is another series of rectangles. Here’s the original sketch:

SQSC12 Design

I knew I would never come up with something as clever as my Mime card for SQSC13, so I just went for coordinated papers from the Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper. I tried to go with simple solids, as some of the example cards had, but it just looked too flat. That is one of the challenges of working exclusively with the My Digital Studio software. It’s nearly impossible to pull off something as elegant and lovely as Simply Sara Stampin’s all white anniversary card.

I found that I had to play with the papers a bit. If I didn’t use patterns, it just looked silly, but if I just used two patterns of Designer Series Paper in this sketch layout, it was far too busy. I ultimately settled on this design, a mix of three patterns and a solid:

Christmas Card for SQSC14

Here’s the breakdown on the elements:

  • Background: Letters to Santa—3
  • Large Square (pink): Letters to Santa—11
  • Borders and Long Rectangle: Letters to Santa—2
  • Solid: Very Vanilla
  • Stamp Brush Sets: Merry & Type—small post, and All Holidays—Christmas, both in Early Espresso
  • Embellishments: Grosgrain Ribbon and Bow, both in Old Olive

Posted in Greeting Card, Punches, Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge | 2 Comments »

November 23, 2011

Featured!

Thinking of You CardLast night, I learned that my “Feeling Stuck” Thinking of You Card was chosen as one of the feature cards for last week’s Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge (SQSC13). Yippee! Can’t wait for the next challenge!

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November 19, 2011

Feeling Trapped? Let Me Help You Out! (SQSC13)

This week’s Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge (SQSC13) puts the emphasis on a series of rectangles. Because it’s such a simple design, I decided that the inner-most rectangle was going to have to be a special image to make this card work. Here’s the original sketch:

SQSC12 Design

I looked at all the example cards for inspiration, but nothing struck me. I started thinking about the design itself, asking myself, “What goes in boxes? What can you do with the notion of boxes?” At first the answers weren’t all that helpful: the dog (we call his cage/crate, his box), presents, food (e.g., cake mix), and crayons. Nothing was quite right, and then I thought of a mime! A mime trapped in a box! Here’s my version of the card:

Possibly Inappropriate Thinking of You Card

The inside sentiment is “Let me help you out!” I’m thinking of it as a sort of “Thinking of You” card for someone who has been stuck at home for one reason or another—sick family member, bad weather, tending to children, and so forth. Inside the card, I’d tuck tickets to a movie or a local event and a voucher for free babysitting. Perfect!

My sisters and brother were all in the high school mime troupe, so I am well-schooled in the ways of mimes. They followed the practice of mimes like Marcel Marceau who wore black and white clothes (sometimes with gray) and with a touch of red. So that was the inspiration for my colors: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla (Whisper White looked too stark), and Sahara Sand with a Real Red ribbon.

I didn’t have a photo of a family member that worked, so I found my photo on Flickr. It’s cropped a bit to make it fit the card. The photo credit goes to trapped in a box! by Cryptonaut, on Flickr.

Posted in Humor, Inappropriate, Punches, Stampin’ Queens Sketch Challenge | 5 Comments »

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