Saturday 19 January 2013

Inspired Card #1...and 2

Bonjour peoples!
We are enjoying a lovely cool day here today, after an absolute scorcher yesterday!
After dinner last night we took a drive into town (yes, our "town" is where the beach is...I only just realised how funny that sounds) intending to have a refreshing swim. It was already starting to get dark and stormy (a southerly was on it's way), and we'd only been in the water a few minutes when the wind whipped up, bringing sand with it and ouch - did it sting! Then the rain came, and that - combined with the sand and wind - created a...I don't know what...but we had to run run run to cover! Very bizarre, but quite fun!

Anyway, speaking of fun, I have a card to show you (as promised) that I created using my inspiration folder I discussed in my last post (found here ):

The card that I well, copied, is found in the top left hand corner of the next photo...can you see it?
(NB: all the images in the photo below are from Stampin' Up)

This was my first attempt at bunting (I know, it's everywhere isn't it?) and although it's not my bestest card I've ever made, I was still pretty happy with the end result, and the great part is that it was quick to make.
I was happy to find that I could make this card using product from my stash, all I needed to do was substitute a few things, like the sentiment and the ribbon.
(I would not enter this card into card challenges or submit it to a magazine because I have imitated everything about the card.)

Here's the next card for you to have a look at.
(Notice that it is the card from the top right hand corner of the above photo...)
I was super duper happy with the way this one turned out, even though the photo is not that crash hot :(
Instead of using die cut butterflies, I used my Tim Holtz "Tattered Florals" die, applied Broken China distress ink, then white heat embossed a Kaisercraft stamp (from "Flora and Fauna") onto the flower. The sentiment is a little Hero Arts stamp ( I love Hero Arts) from the "Friends" set stamped with brown ink.

Can you see the pattern behind the green panel?
I partially inked my "Woodgrain" stamp (Hero Arts again), stamped it on the lower half of the card base, and white heat-embossed it - I like the suggestion of texture it gives. 

The card base is kraft cardstock - I'm really into this at the moment, it goes with every colour and it's a nice change from white.

So, what do you think?
I'll be back soon with a couple more cards to show you, and in the meantime how about you go create something? I'd like to see it!

Come back soon,
Rebecca ;)

Saturday 12 January 2013

Happy 2013!

Hello!

For my first post of the new year I wanted to share with you an idea I have been implementing with my crafting.
Do you ever feel like you want to create, yet when you sit down at your desk the creative juices just aint flowing? That's so me, so often! It's so frustrating!
Thankfully I have found an answer to this debilitating illness (called "lostmojo-itis").
For me, the remedy for this ailment has been to put together an inspiration folder.

As you can see, all it is is a display folder with clear plastic sleeves. Easy to get from anywhere - the newsagent, supermarket, Kmart...anywhere.
I am in the process of filling the pages with pictures of cards and projects that represent my style, my favourite techniques etc, as well as card styles and techniques that I would like to attempt.

What I like about this idea is that when I sit down to craft, I can get straight into it, producing a stunning card in no time because all the fiddly time-consuming work of planning has been taken care of. I have been super happy with the results, and it is quickly building up my supply of cards.

Now, you could go from page to page, here and there but I have started from page one, and am systematically working my way through, card by card, by card. I don't copy the card examples to the letter, but I'll explain that more in later posts.

Over the next few posts I will be showing you cards that I have made using the card images in my folder as inspiration.
Why don't you try this idea, I bet it will give you the boost you need!

(Full credit for these card images to Jennifer McGuireKristina Werner, Stampin' Up!, Amy Tangerine, and Joy Taylor.)


Hope you can come back soon,
Rebecca ;)