Birthday Leaves--#tgifc436

My inspiration for my entry in this week's TGIF Challenges color challenge was, believe it or not, a message I got this weekend from a complete stranger.  She asked, "Are you the Sara Nell who made the winning card for TGIF Challenge #132?".  I said to myself "well, maybe".  Then she went on to describe the card and asked if I was the right Sara Nell, how did I do the background?  Then I knew immediately which card she was talking about because I have gotten this same question several times in the past.  I am sure the people who ask are amazed at what a simple technique it is.  Anyway, that got me thinking that it has been a long time since I have done a leaf card.  I pulled out my Season of Chic stamp set (#158810) and the coordinating Chic Dies (#158815), and created this card with this week's color challenge of Crumb Cake, Blackberry Bliss and Pool Party:

The background was created with the Exposed Brick 3D embossing folder (#161600).  Crumb Cake ink was sponged on the inside top (the side with the logo) of the embossing folder before I put the Pool Party card stock in and ran it through the Cut & Emboss Machine. This is the technique I was asked about--so easy but it gives the background a bit more depth.

On my original card I used the baby wipe technique to give my leaves a mottled look.  The background leaf image in the Season of Chic stamp set already has the mottled look, so I stamped it in first and second generation Crumb Cake ink on Crumb Cake card stock.  The second step leaf image was stamped in first and second generation Blackberry Bliss ink. the open work leaf was die cut in Pool Party.  The birthday greeting was stamped in Blackberry Bliss ink on Crumb Cake card stock and die cut using a Stylish Shapes die (#159183). 

A double bow of Linen Thread (#104199) and a smattering of Rustic Metallic Adhesive-Backed Dots (#159082) complete the card front.  The front is layered over Blackberry Bliss card stock and a Crumb Cake card base.

Have a great week!

--Sara Nell

 

Creation Station September Blog Hop--Monochromatic

It's the first Sunday of September and that means another Creation Station Blog Hop!  Welcome, I am so glad you have joined us today.  Our theme this month is Monochromatic projects using just one color or what I call "buddy colors"--the same color in different hues.  Be sure and click on the Next link at the end of each designer's post, so you can be inspired by each of our creations today.

For this hop, I thought long and hard about my color scheme.  I couldn't decide on a color and then thought, "How about Neutrals?"  One would be in browns--Gray Granite, Pebbled Path and Early Espresso--and the other would be in grays--Smoky Slate, Basic Gray and Basic Black.  As you can see in the photo, the browns made it and the grays got kicked off the line-up.  My gray project looked too much like one of last month's projects, so I pivoted to Lost Lagoon and it's buddy, Pretty Peacock, for a quick, fun and easy project using the Masterfully Made suite.

This brown project was fun and challenging to do (and even more challenging to photograph).  Each of the browns I chose has a gray rather than a yellow undertone.  I spent a bit of time trying different combinations with the daisy petals and colors before I liked the combination.  The background is Basic White embossed with the Timeworn Type 3D embossing folder (#156505), sponged lightly with Gray Granite ink before putting it through the Cut & Emboss Machine.  It is layered with a frame of Early Espresso die cut using two Deckled Rectangles dies (#159173).  The daisies were stamped and die cut using the Cheerful Daisies stamp set (#161290) and the Cheerful Daisies dies (#161296, or bundled with the stamp set at 10% off, #161297). I used the large die with the three daisies to die cut the image first in Early Espresso, then followed with parts of the same die cut in Pebbled Path, Gray Granite and Basic White.  I layered the Pebbled Path die cuts over the small daisies and the Gray Granite over the leaves, and cut out the centers of the Basic White to use with each daisy.  I stamped and die cut the single flower dies and layered them under each corresponding flower in the trio and die cut the overlay of each to layer over the daisies and daisy centers.  The bouquet was finished with the stems die cut in Gray Granite and some Pebbled Path 2023-2025 In Color Dots (#161620).  

The greeting is from the Cheerful Daisies stamp set.  It was stamped in Early Espresso on Basic White and die cut using the label die in the Gorgeously Made dies (#161202).  The card was finished with a Basic White Thick card base and a layer of Early Espresso.

I cannot emphasize enough how fun and easy it is to make beautiful cards with the Masterfully Made Suite.  I used the Gorgeously Made stamp set and die bundle (#161203) and the Masterfully Made designer series paper (#161192).  The background paper design in Lost Lagoon and Pretty Peacock was die cut with a Deckled Rectangle die and layered over a piece of Lost Lagoon card stock and a Basic White card base.  The paper design creates built-in texture on which to adhere the Basic White and Lost Lagoon die cut plants.  The greeting was stamped in Pretty Peacock on Basic White and die cut using the same label die as on my first card. The card is finished with a bow of Lost Lagoon Bordered Ribbon (#161171) and some white Classic Matte Dots (#158146).  

Head over to Vicki Boucher's Blog by clicking the link below.  I can't wait to see what she has created for us this month!

To Vicki's blog . . 

Have a great day!

--Sara Nell