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***