Simply Pattern Play

Hello there!  Today was the last day for the "interactive" part of the Pattern Play class I had signed up for.  I only had the time to post one card during the class and I wanted to post at least one more card today.  Still fighting my cold and super busy with other projects this week; so I didn't get to do as much with Jennifer and Kristina's class as I wanted to.  But I really enjoyed everything I did get to do - so many great ideas from the instructors and even more from the other participants!  I'm really looking forward to checking out more from the class later.


So in any case, since today was the last interactive day; I was hoping to add a few projects related to the lessons / ideas presented.  This was the only one I had time to work up unfortunately.  I have at least three more on the "drawing board" that I really wanted to work up too.  But alas, there's only so many hours in a day!  Perhaps another time for those cards!


This card idea is based on taking a bold or busy patterned paper and breaking it up (or softening it up) by cutting it into strips and allowing stripes of the card base show through.  And it's quite effective at toning down the pattern just enough!  There's so many patterns out there that are really interesting; but can be "too much" and this really does the trick to make it much less overwhelming.  The idea is also to keep the card relatively simple when using a busy pattern.  So generally you only add one main sentiment or other element.  The sentiment I used is from Sparkle N Sprinkle's Nature - Set 467 .   I lightly shaded it with Old Paper Distress ink to soften it a bit & then it's framed with a Spellbinder Label Ten.


I took my card one more step further yet still maintained the simplicity of it by adding a strip of bakers twine between each panel. I really liked the little extra touch of interest that it added without being too much.  A very simple card, but it gave me a chance to actually test out some of the ideas discussed in the class.  I really like the overall effect.  You certainly get to appreciate a beautiful paper.  Sometimes simple really does give the best effect!  Hopefully I'll get a chance to try out some of the other ideas sometime soon!  Hope you enjoyed my take on the technique!

Until next time,

***Julie***

Experimenting with Patterned Paper

Hi everyone!  This needs to be a quick post (yes, yes, I know - almost impossible for me)!  But, I'm sure going to have to try.  Knowing me, it probably won't be short, but you might have to excuse some typos & formatting issues lol! 

I'm trying to finish up some things for Sparkle N Sprinkle and now I'm also trying to fend off a cold too.  It's been going through my house for a couple weeks and I've been really trying to avoid getting it.  Last night the aches and stuffiness set in - yay!  So what I'd really like to do is crawl back into bed and try to sleep it off.  But of course, how often do we get to do that?!

So in any case, things to do - so here we go.....Today's card is a very quick one. 

I'm trying to follow along with Kristina Werner and Jennifer McGuire's Pattern Play class.  Always good to expand your mind, learn new things, and see other peoples perspectives!!  So, This is a quick card I did to try out one of the many things demoed on the first day. 

This is basically a case of one of Kristina's cards (there were so many great ideas; I had a hard time deciding). For mine, I changed up the border giving mine more sharp lines using a Spellbinders Ric Rac edge.  I also made a subtle change to my sentiment piece - from a circle to an oval (also Spellbinders).  The saying is from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  It's from the Lolly Garden Set 397 - Love the fun sayings on that set!  I chose to use bakers twine (My Mind's Eye - Lime Twist) in place of the natural twine. 

I also chose to use four papers instead of three....since both of my grays were really subtle; I chose to add 2 different gray patterns just to make them stand out from each other a bit more.  The paper is Doodlebug Boys Only.  I picked it up specifically to make a card for my older nephew.  Really great paper pad - used it for his card about a week ago (will have to share that later) and have been continuing to use this pad for couple other projects too.  Card base is Bazzill.

I also decided to add the white stitching (in homage to Kristina lol) - seriously though, I didn't intend to add it (it's a whole other story); but the gray panel needed something.  Just don't look too close - it looked great on my test sample, but got a little wonky when I did it on the actual card.  No time for do-overs right now!

The overall feel of the card is very much the same as Kristina's.  And I followed her & Amber's tips for picking the papers. 

(I just thought I'd post this second view to show you that when it's closed, you can see the teal from the card back behind the gray ric rac border).

Hope you like today's card.  Be sure to leave a comment to let me know what you think.  I hope I get a chance to try out some of the other things they are showing in Pattern Play later in the week.  And maybe I'll be lucky enough for the yucky aches & cold to pass quickly too ;-)!

Until next time,

***Julie***

SNS March Blog Hop

Welcome to my page on the Sparkle N Sprinkle Favorite Techniques blog hop.  I hope you have been enjoying the hop and have arrived here from Jackie's blog.  If not, you may want to return to the starting point on the SNS Home Blog so you don't miss of the great projects (or details about prizes you can win!)

So....favorite technique.....hmmm.  Definitely not an easy answer.  First off, would that be favorite "to do" or favorite as in "do it most often".  Well, I have lots of favorites - but the one I'm going to showcase today is a bit of both types of favorites.  I do really like to do this one & it's definitely one that I do often - Glittered Stained Glass.  Normally when I do the glittered stained glass technique, I do something pretty fancy or a very elegant look.  So I thought for today, I'd do something completely different.  Today I wanted it to be just totally fun and bold.  And here's what I came up with.

At first glance at this project, you might not even realize that this is glittered Stained glass; which is why I chose this picture that shows a little bit of the stained glass "glare" on it.  Plus, on this card I chose a stained glass piece that didn't dominate the whole card (usually I make it the main focus).

So even though I did it completely differently this time; it still works great!

I often think of glittered stained glass as a lot like painting by numbers.  You stamp your design onto a piece of acetate and then one color at a time you paint in the glue and add your glitter colors.




And since we're sharing techniques, I thought it might be nice to share one of my favorite tips for doing Glittered Stained Glass.

And it's something I do all the time.....
When doing this technique, you can attach your acetate right to the front of your card using brads or another decorative element.  But more often than not, I prefer to put my acetate behind the top layer of my card using a frame or some type of cut out.  

One of the ways you can make a cut out is so simple I thought I'd demo it on this card.  Simply chose where you'd like your stained glass piece to be and then stamp the design in that position using a light colored ink.  Then just simply cut it out!  Then your window matches your stained glass piece perfectly!  (You might not even be able to tell that I actually cut out that window for this piece.  It almost looks like the stained glass is right on the top of the card!)

Obviously, this works best when you have a design with relatively simple outer edge lines.  But if you have something with a more complex outer edge; you can just chose one of the many dies out there to die cut a frame to place your stained glass piece behind.  However, you chose to do it - brads, matching hand cut frame, or die cut frame; give Glittered Stained Glass at try.  It's fun and full of sparkling goodness!

Do you remember these stained glass projects from past hops?  These are two of my favorite stained glass projects!  Definitely a lot more "elegant" than today's project.  But it's always nice to try new looks and stretch a bit from what is your "norm" too!

Up next is Shanna's blog - hop on over to see what technique she has to share with you!  Be sure to leave a comment before you hop on!  And I hope you have a great time on the rest of the hop!!

Until next time,

***Julie***

PS - When you're done with the hop, Don't forget to stop by the SNS Tips & Techniques page so you can find your favorite technique!!

A Taste of Spring

It was yet another cold, gray, and a bit rainy/sleety day around here today. (Yep, I've had enough of winter!!)  And unfortunately, the weather man is saying it's going to be in the 30's & 40's for most of the next couple weeks yet.  They're even still tossing around that nasty four letter word SNOW.  Sheesh - enough already lol!  But, over the weekend, we did get a WONDERFUL break for a couple days.  Exactly the spring pick up we really needed!  Hopefully this Easter card is just what you need to give you a little Spring lift whether you're lucky enough to have some beautiful spring weather around you or are just dreaming about some!  

 I love how this card turned out - bright, colorful, super sparkly - perfectly springy!!


The card started with that fun, glittery rainbow border.  There's several different ways you can make a border like this.  (Check out the SNS Tips & Techniques pages for a variety of ideas).  I chose to use 3/4" Tearific Tape & a border cut from sticker paper to make my borders.  I was so excited about the way they turned out; I couldn't wait to add some brightly colored eggs!





The eggs are from one of SNS's great new Easter sets - Set 487 Hippity Hoppity Easter.  And there's still plenty of time to pick up one of those great sets & make up some of your own Easter cards!  I chose to only use one of the three eggs to keep the focus of the card on the colors and the glitter.  And I even glittered these up for even more sparkle!

click any photo for better view

The really sweet saying is also from the same set and was embossed in an "easter-y" Amethyst embossing powder. 

The saying was cut out using a Spellbinders scalloped rectangle and two Spellbinder doily accents were added to either end.  Then the entire saying piece was accented with Sparkling Snow glitter to coordinate with all the sparkling goodness in the rest of the card.  A complete product list and full instructions for this card can be found here in my SNS gallery.



I hope you are feeling the warmth of this "happy and sunny" Easter card and I really appreciate your stopping by.  And don't forget to stop back on Thursday for this month's SNS Blog Hop - "My Favorite Technique".  Let me know what you think of today's card and I'll see you on Thursday!

Until next time,

***Julie***

March Creative Challenge at SNS

We've got a great new challenge for March over at Sparkle N Sprinkle!  This month we want to see you play with glitter - ultrafine glitter, velvet glitter, tinsel glitter, or even glittery embossing powder!  So many choices!!

This was a really hard challenge for me - ok, only in trying to decide which way I wanted to use it!  Soooo many different  ways I love to play with glitter - it was a hard decision!

What I decided to do was combine glitter with one of the most popular paper supplies right now - washi tape!  And here's the results:

Love how the washi and glitter look together!  





To start, I chose three coordinating washi tapes and glitters for my piece. Then I began laying down alternating rows of washi and 1/4" Tearific Tape. ( I chose to cover a piece of cardstock larger than I needed so I would have enough for more than one project after I was done with the glittered piece.)

(click any photo for a better view)

 










When the entire piece was covered; I trimmed all the tapes even with the edges and then burnished the washi & Tearific Tape down real well with a brayer (you could just use your finger to burnish it too).



 
Then I began adding the glitter by removing the paper backing off of every 3rd row of Tearific Tape and covering the tape with one of the glitters.  I burnished the glitter well with my finger and brushed off the excess before moving on to the next glitter color.





After all the colors were added, I burnished everything one more time and then cut the washi/glitter piece to the size I needed for my card.  Doesn't it look awesome!

I've got a bunch more washi/glitter combo's I want to try out now! (All I need is to find the time lol!)  Here's hoping I find the time - this was a lot of fun and there's so many great options to try!!

 The background for the card was created with a great new Pansy stamp from the stampette set by the same name.  And the wonderfully fun Robin Williams saying (love this saying!) is part of the Spring Swirl stamp set.  For extra glittery sparkle, the saying was done in Mulberry Star embossing powder; which is an EP with glitter in it.  And the whole ribbon banner was outlined with one of the same glitters as the washi piece. Look at all that sparkle in the saying and banner!


A supply list and full instructions for this card be found in the SNS Art Gallery here.


Hope you liked all the glittery goodness in this piece!  And we sure hope you join us for this month's Creative Challenge at Sparkle N Sprinkle!  Here's a link to the Creative Challenge blog to get all the details!   Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to leave a little comment so I know you were here - I read and appreciate every one!

Until next time,

***Julie***

Sparkle N Sprinkle Feb Monochromatic Blog Hop

Happy Valentine's Day!!

 

And welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's February Blog Hop!  If you've arrived here from Dawn's blog, you're in the right place!  If not, you may want to return to the SNS Home Blog to start from the beginning.  That way, you won't miss any of the great projects and you can catch all the detail on how to win some great prizes too!

Since so many people are stretching Valentine's Day into a long Valentine weekend this year (and why not?!) - I thought I'd do my monochromatic project in honor of Valentine's day!  So pop open that box of chocolates that you got and let's have a look at the project.

 

I decided to build interest into my monochromatic piece by combining a lot of different materials and textures.

The (dry) embossed piece was done with Mirror Red Cardstock and accented with Fire Engine Red Glitter. Using Brushable Glue, I accented half of the hearts by brushing the glue into the recessed hearts and then sprinkling them with the glitter.  The result is a really neat tone on tone (and sparkle on shine!) look.  Even though they're the same color; the smooth mirror cardstock and texture of the glitter offer a really nice contrast.  I LOVE how that piece turned out!!  And of course, it's even better in person! 

Take a look at all the shimmer and shine that bottom panel has!

(Remember, you can click any photo to see it better!)








The upper panel was created using the "XO" from Set 401 - Love is Sweet  This time the texture is created by embossing it with Firecracker Red  embossing powder to add just a little more texture.  The main saying was also done with Firecracker Red EP, but done on white to let the sparkle in the embossing powder come out more and give a little bit more pop to the greeting.  The greeting is from Stampette Set 453S - Happy Hearts. 

 

Flowers in varying shades of red and a felt heart were added to hightlight the saying.  And for a final touch of contrast, I added the matte look of the felt hearts and some bakers twine to the seam between to the two papers.
 

Well I hope you enjoyed my monochromatic magic!  Hopefully, you've still got some of your chocolates left for the rest of the hop lol!  Next up is Keri's blog; so hop on over to see what she has for you today!  (Don't forget to leave a comment to let me know what you think and qualify for the prizes).  Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the hop!!

Until next time,

***Julie***

SNS Monthly Challenge - New Challenges Await

Well Hello again!

 Wow, January has quickly slipped by already – hard to believe.  And February is already coming in like gangbusters around my place.  We had a busy & long first weekend in Feb. with the kids being off on Monday for a teacher in-service day this week.  So with them home an extra day; that meant a slow start to my week.  And it will be a busy week to boot.  It’s Valentine’s week around here!  Our school district always celebrates holidays on Fridays and they’ve decided that they want to celebrate before Valentine’s day instead of the day after.  So…..lots of Valentine preparations going on around here this week-  card’s, mailboxes, party games & treats are all the fare for us this week!  Busy times, but always special memories created for sure!

But here we are in February! And I don’t want you to forget about Sparkle N Sprinkle’s February Creative challenge going on all month; so I wanted to tell you a little about what I did for this month's challenge!

This month, SNS embarks on some new things with their monthly challenges; so you'll definitely want to be sure to go over to the Creative Challenge page to get all the details on what's new! 

One of the biggest changes though is that we will be hosting a wide variety of challenges instead of just sketches this year. How Fun!!

This month is the first non-sketch challenge and it focuses on a swatch from Design Seeds.

 

My take on the swatch was to take both the color (basically blues) and also the gradient in color that you see on the swatch.  Even though my gradient uses different hues; I wanted to build on having a gradient.  It's a little hard to see in my pic, but the glittery colors on the cross go from a rich dark navy in the center out to a soft pale blue near the edges.

Color swatch courtesy of Design Seeds®

For this design, I used one of my favorite SNS techniques - Glittered Stained Glass (video tutorial here March 2011) - it's also referred to as Glitter on Acetate and can be found in the SNS Tip & Technique section under that name. Or click the name to go right there!  Unfortunately, the pics don't do it justice - bad time of year for that up here in the north - I need more SUN lol!.  But I have to say, the sparkle with this technique in real life is just phenomenal! That's why I like it so much ;-)!  

 
Now I have to admit, I don't always design my cards with something specific in mind; but this card was one of those exceptions.  I had a baptism coming up and I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  And this card was exactly what I had in mind!  (Everyone loved the card too by the way!  It was so pretty and sparkly; I decided to put it in a clear envie and attach it right to the front of the gift bag instead of putting it inside the bag!)


The other thing I liked about this card is with the versatile saying on it, you could mix up the colors and use it for SO many different special occasions - baptism, 1st communion, confirmation, weddings, even Christmas and Easter.  The possibilities are endless!  (And if you wanted something more specific for a communion or confirmation; the same set that these stamps came from also has two great sayings specific for those events)!

Here's a look at the whole set!  Set 362 - Crosses Floral



Ok, I better get back to those school Valentine's projects I should be working on! Hope you enjoyed today's card!  And I truly hope you'll join us for this month's Creative Challenge at Sparkle N Sprinkle!  We love seeing your work as much as we love sharing ours with you! Thanks so much for visiting today & don't forget to leave a comment so I know you stopped by!

Until next time,

***Julie***