Hues of Happiness

For this week's class, I used the Hues of Happiness paper and die cuts.  This card is my interpretation of the card on the front of the catalog.  I used the thick white cardstock for the card base and added a piece of the designer paper for the front.  I cut the edge of the white piece with the die cuts and ran it through the emboss machine using the Timeworn Type folder.  I cut out a couple of flowers from the beautiful papers and added some sprigs made from vellum that I punched out using the Bough punch.  

The saying is from Peaceful Moments and it is cut out with a die from Tasteful Labels.  I used Wink of Stella on the flowers to make them shine and added some rhinestone embellishments.  I could make this card all day!  LOL

For this next card, I used Highland Heather for the cardstock and added a white layer cut out using the die cut from this set.  I cut it out twice so that it filled the whole space.  The purple flower in the corner is just glued onto the front and the other two flowers are added with some dimension.  I used the Bough punch again with some vellum for the sprigs.  

I love the soft look of this card.  The Hues of Happiness papers are just so beautiful and easy to work with.  I got the idea from Leslie Jendra.

For the pink card, I used shiny white cardstock for the background and painted through a butterfly cut out with ink from the indpad.  I saw this technique from Christy Gridley.  You can watch her video here.  

I cut out the sprigs using Layering Layers printed vellum and added the pink strip that I cut out from the Palms die.  I love to make "get well" cards to send out to my friends.

Lastly I made this teal card using Coastal Cabana for the cardstock.  I cut the white layer diagonally and then added some Pool Party strips along the edges.  I used an older embossing folder and then added some flowers from the paper.  I got this idea from Barb Pheffer.  

To make these cards, I didn't use the stamp set.  They're made with the designer papers and the die cuts.  These are easy and beautiful cards that you can make with these pretty papers.  I cut out a bunch of the flowers and will keep them on hand for more cards!  

 

Landscape Cards - Like Taking a Trip to the Ocean

The closest ocean from where I live in upstate NY is about 3.5 or 4 hours away, depending on which direction you head, towards Boston or to Maine.  I usually try to make the trek at least once a year, but because of covid I haven't been to the ocean in close to three years.

However, this week I worked on these amazing ocean cards that I copied from another demonstrator, Gail Ellis.  Each of the three cards uses transparent sheets to add another layer to the ocean landscape and were so much fun to make.  Thank you, Gail for your creativity.

For the first card, the transparency is added onto the top layer, under the clouds.  The fence, rocks, palm tree and pebbles are on the clear sheet.  The stamping is done on a white layer, which is also attached to the top of the card and stands free.

In this photo, you can see the clear layer better.  Using the transparencies on these cards gives them more dimension and interest.  They take a bit longer to make, but the final result is awesome.  :)

Card #2 also attaches the clear sheet at the top of the page, hidden under the one inch flap.  Another cut off piece is at the bottom of the clear sheet, giving this card more of a "ground."  The palm tree is on the clear sheet of this card.  

This card opens vertically and here is what the inside looks like.  

For this card, the transparency is part of the front of the card.  It is attached on the inside of the front.  I added another white layer to the inside on top of the clear sheet to create a space to write the greeting.  If you look closely, you can see a layer of "sand" that extends to the end of the clear sheet on the front of the card.  

Here is the inside of the card (before I added the white layer).  I put a sailboat in the water and added some birds from another stamp set.  

For all three of my cards, I kept the basic stamping colors the same.  I used Pool Party for the sky, Misty Moonlight for the sea and Crumb Cake for the sand.  This gives the cards a more uniform look to them and makes it easier to keep the colors straight for the ladies in my stamping class.

Although I've used transparencies in my cards before, I love the creative use of the clear sheets on these cards.   I used Oceanfront and Paradise Palms stamp sets, Horizon and Palm dies and to really make them special, the Pebbles Enamel Shapes for the stones.