Day 4-Three Ways

Day 4

This was an exciting day in the Clean and Simple class.  I have a lot of stamps and finding different ways to use them - or even just thinking of different ways to use them makes me feel justified in purchasing them!  I wanted to use a background stamp like our teachers used, but didn't want to completely copy them by using the text style background.  So, I pulled out a set that I love, but hardly use - Gingham.

One example used the stamp as a background, and it was heat embossed.  I tried that technique here:

I stamped the background on white cardstock and heat embossed it with clear embossing.  Then, I used a blending tool to go over the embossing and give the background its color. 

The second card uses the same gingham stamp, but I used it to give pattern to the die-cut flower. 

The grass die and sun die are two dies from My Favorite Things.  I've had them for awhile, but this is the first I have used them.  I ran the center of the sun through the Xyron and pressed it in prisma glitter to give it some sparkle. 

My third card uses the same gingham stamp, but I used it as a background stamp on a smaller die-cut, similar to the way Julie used the stamp on the back of embossed flowers.

I stamped the gingham on Kraft in Fresh Snow ink and let it dry.  I heat embossed the frame with white embossing powder and added the stems, flower and sentiment.  I used the same white ink to color in the flower. I doubled up some green and rustic twine to tie and bow, and  I was lucky to find that heart shaped button in my stash that it would be the perfect finish for this card!

Jennifer has a challenging lesson for Day 5.  I'm thinking about skipping class, but I may end up giving it a shot!  We'll see.

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Day 3-Tone on Tone

Day 3
I know.  I'm a bit behind, aren't I?  The class wrapped up yesterday and I'm just now posting for Day 3.  Jennifer hosted this challenge and had a great video.  She talked about the ease of using die cuts to create a tone on tone project.  Here's my contribution to this challenge:

Think Big Favorites, Leafy Vine border (Papertrey Ink)

As I've said before, I like to add as much detail as I can to the Clean and Simple design while still staying true to that philosophy.  I added the pearls to the smaller leaves to give a little sparkle to the card. 

Here's a detail shot:

My niece is here visiting this weekend.  She is quite the artist and crafter.  She sat next to me looking at the class PDFs and making notes in her sketchbook as I was making this.  I think just a little more nudging and I might have a partner in crime!

I'll be working on Day 4 now!  Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Day 2 - One Layer

Day 2

Today I'm bringing you cards inspired by last week's segment in the Clean and Simple card class.  Julie talked to us about visual triangles and creating layers without actually adding layers to the card.  After her video, I added a new tool to my shopping list and purchased the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I had seen this mentioned on several blogs before, but frankly, it scared me.  It seemed to difficult to use and had too many steps to follow.  After seeing the ease that Julie used the tool, I knew I needed it.

So, I got it.  And used it on this card:

Everything's Owlright (Wilson Designs)

I masked the Polaroid stamp and owl, then used a blending tool to create the sky.  Then I stamped the Polaroid image and owl.  After coloring him in, I added the sentiment.

While stepping back to look at the card, a string fell on it.  When I brushed it away, I discovered that it was part of some ink.  So the bottom of the card was ruined.  I trimmed it off and added the circle border from the set on the inside of the card.  Every mess up is a chance for embellishment, right?

The second card for this day uses the visual triangle that Julie talked about.  Here it is:

After stamping the butterflies I added little dots of my Sakura Stardust pen to the circles on the butterfly.  I wanted to give it just a little extra detail.

I'm loving the class so far, even though I'm behind.  There are a lot of wonderful teachers and great techniques being highlighted.  Tomorrow I'll be back with Day 3 - where Jennifer taught us about nifty ways to use die cuts.

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!

Clean and Simple Class

Day 1

Yes, I'm a week behind, and I'm going to be OK with that.  There were exactly 1,000,001 things I needed to do before attempting to sit down and create something for last Monday's beginning of the class in which I enrolled. 

I love sketches, so this was the perfect way to kick off the class.  Kristina gave us three to work with, and I challenged myself even more to make three cards using the same type of paper.

Here's what I came up with:

I like the Clean and Simple look and philosophy, but sometimes I like to take it one more step and add a little something extra to the card - IF I have time.  So on the first card, I added some stitching.  On the second, I added a layered button, and on the third card I heat embossed the sentiment and then ran the panel through with an impression plate. 

Here are a few close ups:

So, now I'll move on to Day 2 and 3 and see what I can come up with!

Thanks for visiting My Happy Place!