This month's theme for our Around the World on Wednesday Blog Hop is "Step it Up". Team member Cheryl Hamilton suggested it. Traditionally "step it up" means to plan a project that is simple, often requiring just the basic papercrafting supplies and then develop one or two more versions that involve more skills and, sometimes, more diverse craft stashes. Our leader, Angie McKenzie has encouraged us to think outside the box for this theme so who knows what you might discover as you hop around the world!
I'm going to share a few cards with you today. They aren't "step up" cards in the traditional sense. Rather one uses very basic papercrafting supplies and the second still uses rather simple techniques and design but takes advantage of more sophisticated supplies that the more experienced stamper might be able to take advantage of. Both are strong designs on there own, wanting for nothing.
This first card is just stamps ink and paper ... with a little doodling...
- This card starts with a bold Magenta Madness bloom, a Daffodil Delight center and some Granny Apple Green leaves all stamped on a card front (1/4 sheet or 5 1/2 x 4 1/4").
- Then I grabbed the somewhat long blob-like image and stamped it with Pool Party multiple times around the Magenta madness bloom. It gets lighter each time and lends a softly mottled background.
- I stamped the "Happy Birthday" greeting in black in the lower right corner.
- I thought it might be finished but I have this quirky little rule: if I use black anywhere on the card, often as a greeting, I need to use it one more time. You can't let black become lonely you know. So...
- ...I grabbed a black fine point marker and doodled around the bloom and its leaves, drawing lines wherever the depth of color changes. Don't worry about being too exact. You want to just relax and scribble. There is no wrong way to scribble!
- While I could have just stamped on the front of a full card, I had started with just the front so I trimmed it down to 5 1/4" x 4" and then mounted it onto a folded Basic White card. I really like it just the way it as with no other embellishments to detract from the bloom and its doodles.
Now it's time to move on to a "Step it Up" card. I'll keep the simple concept with some detail for interest using the same stamp set but we will take advantage of some more advanced papercrafting products:
- This time we use a 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" piece of the beautiful Expressions in Ink Specialty Designer Series Paper for the card's color. This is adhered to the front of a top fold Basic White card.
- Next I took a 5" x 4 1/4" sized piece of Thick Basic White cardstock and used the large detailed leaflet die to cut a leaflet that extends form the lower left corner to the upper right corner.
- Stamp "thanks" in the upper left portion of this piece.
- Adhere the 5" x 4 1/4" piece to the card leaving a 1/2" of the DSP showing at the bottom of the card.
- Clear the tiny put out pieces from the leaflet and adhere the leaflet onto the card in the space it was originally cut from. I like to use a sponge with Mulitpurpose adhesive to attach detailed die cuts like this. Another option would be the adhesive sheets meant for use with the Stampin Cut & Emboss. (page 153 of the Annual Catalog).
- Embellish with a Soft Succulent Open Weave Ribbon, Mint Macaron Genial Gems, and a 4 1/4" skinny strip of Shaded Spruce.
And now it's time to continue around the world...
...by way of Texas where you can see what my talented friend, Anne Marie Hile, has been up to:
Jan Clothier - NZ
Leonie Stuart - AU
Rochelle Laird-Smith - AU
Cazz Boylan - AU
Cheryll Miller - AU
Danielle Kassing - NL
Satomi Wellard
Pia Gephardt - DE
Ximena Morales - DE
Aurélie Fabre - FR
Emma Goddard - UK
Mikaela Titheridge - UK
Annette Ball - CA
Angie McKenzie - US
Wendy Lee - US
Shel Anderson - CA
Chris Smith - US you are here!
Anne Marie Hile - US
Brenda Nelson - CA
Tricia Butts - US
Elaine de Montmorency - CA
Sharon Hashimoto Burkert - US
Teri West - US
Cheryl Hamilton - US
Gallery Links
I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.
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