Inevitably there are occasions throughout the year when I find myself making cards for unexpected events. Unfortunately, these are not usually happy events. They are what I like to call 'Thinking of You' events. I'm not one for mushy sentiments, just some good old creativity in the form of an art card and a simple thought. I like to let my art do the speaking.
A friend of mine recently shared some disheartening news about her husband's health, and it was just the time for one of these cards.
I started this project with another pattern of the Color Me Resist paper from Paper Wishes ; they have so many beautiful options now. And since acquiring a whole lot of Spectrum Noir markers, also available from Paper Wishes , I was anxious to try them out on this paper and see if they were as magical as they seemed they might be. They worked like a charm! The markers blend so beautifully, and there are sets of colors in various shades and hues of the same color that really make blending a cinch! You need to work with the Spectrum Noir markers while they are still wet, otherwise they don't blend the same way, which is why the outline of the leaves is a bit pronounced and unblended. Of course, my friend didn't know that until now!
To finish off the front I added some simple ribbon stripes, the tag accented with dots of my favorite glaze markers and a bow.
On the inside I used peachy vellum, with more simple ribbon stripes. I printed the tag from an art program of mine and used a Martha Stewart border punch to create its decorative edge, and a few more dots with my favorite glaze markers. And by now you probably know that the butterfly is also a Martha Stewart punch accented with her glitter. Good guess!
And voila! Off in the mail it went.
I will now write this article for the second time! The first one disappeared, except for the title. Sooo, ya'll want to see how this card finished up and what techiniques and gizmos I used? Here we go!
The tag and butterflies were both made with Martha Stewart punches; her products are very high quality and I just love them. The tag was made using one of her Punch Around the Page sets. You get two punches, one for the corner and one for the side. She tells you the measurements for various tag sizes that will work with this set, which makes it very easy to use. I then inked the tag with colors to match and added the Happy Birthday vellum tag last. The glitter on the butterflies is also Martha Stewart, along with her glitter glue, which has a pinpoint tip making precise application so easy.
Next the inside. What to do?
First I added the strip of Color Me Resist paper to match the front. Then I sat and looked at it for a couple of weeks before I received the necessary inspiration to continue work! I added the butterflies from a stencil I had. I used oil pencils to color them because I really like the way you can blend their colors. They are softer than graphite-based colored pencils. In fact, I freeze them to sharpen them because they are so soft. (Doesn't everybody have colored pencils in their freezer?) Then I looked at things some more.
The butterflies seemed lonely and needed something.... And then I found another stencil, with swirls and leaves, and I thought silver might be a good color. So I began the process of carefully inking them into the background areas, using sticky-notes and painter's tape to avoid inking over top of the butterflies.
Then for an inside sentiment. I saw something similar in an art program I have, but I couldn't the change colors to suit myself. So I made the tag from scratch, layering text boxes over top of each other to get the desired result.
And voila! An art-style birthday card for my sister, who usually doesn't read my blog. Her birthday isn't until later this month, so I'm kind of counting on that fact!
Stay tuned for my next art card adventure. It will be a 'thinking of you' style card.
I love playing with paper, and it's really all my friend Christy's fault. She is the one that had a paper stash and then showed me what you could do with all of those lovely bits of paper. And I was instantly addicted.
I had already been doing homemade photo Christmas cards, but this was a whole new world. It's kind of like creating a quilt, which my mom happens to be most excellent at doing. I layer techiques and colors and bits and pieces, and eventually the piece tells me it's done. It just looks complete all of a sudden.
Sooo, I am going to try and chronicle my art card escapades for you, as much as photographically possible. Here is one I am working on right now.
The paper I used here is called Color Me Resist Paper and it is available at www.paperwishes.com. Now this paper is really fun to work with. The design is raised and resists all water-based inks. You can ink it and then you gently wipe any excess off the raised white part. You can color it with markers or pencils. And there are a multitude of other products out there I'd like to try, but I don't own them yet!
Here is what the paper looks like close-up as you get started.
And then I thought the front would need something more... And bless her soul, good old Martha Stewart has this fabulous butterfly punch that I have used and loved many times since I bought it. So I punched three butterflies out of heavy white paper and used Martha's glitter glue and glitter to jazz up the butterflies.
And here's the butterfly.
I'm working on the inside of the card now, and I will show you all how it finishes up, very soon. I have a deadline!
I also have more cards to show you, some complete, some still in process. Until then, happy crafting!
I have recently been spending a lot of time on Etsy, where I have my shop. Good thing huh? I'm part of a great team our fearless leader A'esha calls Madcap. We have our own Facebook pages, blog, and twitter account. And then one day she asked for suggestions, and I suggested, being a good team member, and she made me a team leader! So one of my favorite places to shop these days is on Etsy.
Which is where I found the following two photographers, on Etsy. Now, being a photographer myself, I'm pretty picky and exacting. And these two photographers can really create some beautiful images. So I want to spread the word, because as a fellow artist, sometimes you have to live on a lot of kudos between the pesos!
The first shop I found is Dave Dilli Photography at http://www.etsy.com/shop/DaveDilliPhotography?ref=pr_shop_more.
Above are just a few of the beautiful images Dave has created. Dave lives in the desert southwest, so the majority of his work is of the gorgeous scenics you find only in that part of the country. Beautiful, beautiful use of light and spectacular composition. You really must check out his shop!
The next amazing photograhper I found is Larry Lynch at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Larry727?ref=pr_shop_more.
I just really, really like the way Larry sees the world and the images that intrigue him. And his ability to capture that image and share it with all of us.... well it's just plain old excellent!
So everyone hop over to these shops. You won't be sorry!
