Thursday, 22 April 2010

Cute cards!

This is quite an unusual style for me - a cute, pink card! A work colleague asked me to make a first birthday card for a little girl. I am not that keen on cute images as a rule and have only a few such stamps in my collection for use on children's cards.


Anyway, not wishing to be churlish, I tried to approach the challenge with some enthusiasm!! When I went to the craft show at Alexandra Palace I spent some time looking at the incredibly skillful card samples made by Bev Rochester on The Hobby House stand. One of the images she used was this delightful creation from Mo Manning called Soaking Up The Joy. I love this image because it really captures the feeling of the pleasure of having the sun on your face after a long cold winter! I used the digital image available on the website - the first one I have ever used. I made a note of the layout Bev had used to try and ensure I recreated something respectable myself. Not that I am likely to ever reach her level of skill if I practised for 100 years!!

The card is my usual favourite 8 x 8 size. The main papers I have used are Papermania Rose Garden, including some of the die cut letters in the pack. I used markers to colour the image and some Distress Ink in Tattered Rose to shade the edges. I had hoped to use DIs as watercolours, but the water made my printing ink run, so the colouring is a bit more "in your face" than I had hoped for! I cut out some nestie shapes and used a couple of punches, including the gorgeous garden trellis punch from Martha Stewart to add some interest. I finished off with a Craftwork Cards sentiment, some paper flowers and little pearly green buttons.


I remembered another card I made about a year ago in a cuter style. This one uses a rather sweet Stamposaurus Fairy Princess stamp that I really like.

I have enjoyed crafting in my tidy shed this week and am still busy trying to organise my stash! I am having a major push to mount and index all my stamps, taking a theme a night to get organised and I must share an idea I have for ribbon storage. I found this trouser hanger in Poundland. Used with Ikea curtain clips I think it will be just what I need to keep my ribbons under control, but in sight so I used them more - so watch this space!


Elaine x

8 comments:

  1. Great card, Elaine, especially as it's not your comfort zone and the colouring seems pretty good to me too. I'll be interested to see your ribbon hanger in action. That sounds like a very practical solution.

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  2. 8x8 is my favourite size card base at the moment too Elaine and you've made a really nice job of this. Like Jo said the colouring looks good to me!

    The trouser hanger looks like a very good practical storage idea. Clever girl!

    Hugs
    Lesley Xx

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  3. wow 8x8 is a large size, but think youve done this style so well, I try to do this type of card but never quite get it...will have to get some tips from you!

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  4. Great card - I find it good to step outside the comfort zone now and again. Well done for the tidying too - mine is well overdue yet again. How do things get themselves into such a muddle (with no help from me you understand LOL!!).

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  5. www.themessycraftroom23 April 2010 at 21:35

    Cute card, you've made a great job of it. The colours are very nice.

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  6. For someone 'who don't do cute' these cards are very well done!

    Janet xx

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  7. Well, Elaine, I think this is brilliant for someone who does not do cute. Really well done. I have done a couple of classes with Bev, and have learnt a lot from her.
    Hugs
    Valxx

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  8. Elaine - I have just seen your cards on the Artylicious Blog, and I jusr wanted to say that I think they are just stunning. The use of the inks on the hare stamps really sets them off.
    Best wishes
    Valxx

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