CCEE1713 - Happy Birthday, Vincent Van Gogh!

Lynn finshed her month as hostess for the CCEE Stampers by telling us that today is Vincent Van Gogh's 164th birthday.  She asked us to let the lyrics of Don McLean's tribute to Vincent Van Gogh generate our inspiration.

Vincent
by Don McLean

Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer's day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They did not listen,
They did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now
Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand

I chose the first line of this song.  Whenever I see Van Gogh's painting Starry Night, I think of the Northern Lights.  So I used the Northern Lights technique to create my sky.

Check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see which part of the song inspired the rest of the team.

Get Well Scene

I've got another new-to-me CottageCutz die for you today -- the Tree of Nature die with lots of cute elements.  I've made a get-well card with the look of spring.

Supplies used on this card are:

Tan cardstock for the base, 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" folded in half at the 4 1/4" mark
Dark brown cardstock 4" x 5 1/4"
Light blue cardstock 3 7/8" x 5"
White cardstock for the die cuts
Copic markers
Ranger Distress Mowed Lawn ink
Foam pop dots
Googlie eyes
Tape runner
Xyron X sticker maker
CottageCutz dies:  Tree of Nature, Picket Fence Border, Spring Grass


Instructions for card:

To avoid having to make many passes through my Big Shot with different colored cardstock, I cut all my pieces from white -- and colored them afterward.

As you can see there are four blossoms and four sets of leaves already on the die.  I used a variety of Copic markers, as well as a fine black pen, to color my die-cut pieces.

As you construct a scene on your card, you could decide to cut more of them.  As you can see with my colored images, I decided I needed more leaves and blossoms.  While I was at it, I also cut two strips of grass using the Spring Grass die and sponged on some green ink for texture.

Next I cut the cardstock for my card base -- tan, dark brown, and pale blue.

I then constructed my scene.   I used my Xyron X sticker maker to put adhesive on the back of the smallest pieces.   I had cut two strips of grass because I wanted one strip behind the fence and one in front.   As it turned out, I actually cut four more blossoms for my tree.  Here is a close-up of the 3-D pieces (the butterfly, the bird and the owl).  I used tiny foam pop dots to create the 3-D look for the wings of the butterfly and bird -- and larger ones to adhere all three critters to the card.   I love using googlie eyes on owls, so I used them rather than the eye pieces from the die.

I then stamped the small sentiment at the top and I was finished.  Here again is my card.

Dies used on this card are:

CCEE1712 - National Puppy Week

Lynn asked the CCEE Stampers to help celebrate National Puppy Week by finding some of our cutest images of a puppy and feature it on our card this week.  I must confess that I don't have very many puppy stamps, but I did find a cute one.  How much is that doggy in the window????

Check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see some more puppy cuteness!

Hummingbird Thanks

I just got a few new-to-me CottageCutz dies and was anxious to play with them today.  I was intrigued by the Pierced Wide Frames and wanted to give them a try -- today I used the Ovals -- along with a sweet Hummingbird die.

Supplies used on this card are:

Heavyweight white cardstock 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", folded in half, and a piece 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" to cut the frame

Colored cardstock - Blue, Green, Pale Plum, Yellow, Pale Blue

Patterned paper - Shades of Plum

Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Distress Tumbled Glass, Mowed Lawn, Victorian Violet

Copic marker

Black ink pen

Liquid glue

Roll of foam adhesive tape

Sponge daubers

CottageCutz dies - Pierced Wide Oval Frame set, Hummingbird (4 x 4), Double-Stitched Ovals

To start my card I cut out the various pieces of cardstock for the hummingbird and frame.

I then added some depth to the pieces by sponging on some ink to the bird and flower pieces and added a bit of color to the bird's beak with a dark yellow marker.  Using the black ink pen I emphasized the eye of the hummingbird (not shown in photo).

I cut a strip of foam adhesive tape, cut it into two narrower strips, and adhered it in pieces to the back of the oval frame.

To make the background for my "picture," I cut an oval from the pale blue cardstock.  You could use any oval die which would fit -- I used the double-stitched oval because it was close at hand.  The stitches were not going to show, so it didn't really matter.

I then constructed my card using the die-cut pieces and stamped the sentiment.   Here it is again.

CottageCutz dies used on this card are:

STAMPlorations CAS Challenge

Today is my last post as guest designer for the STAMPlorations CAS challenge.  I have enjoyed my three-month stint on the team.   It's time for the mid-month reminder of this month's challenge -- Anything Goes with the optional color twist of Sky Blue.

My card uses the STAMPlorations set, Smile.  I stamped the calla lilies at an angle and then masked them with a post-it note.  After sponging some Ranger Distress Tumbled Glass around the lilies, I removed the mask and colored the flowers and leaves -- then added a few sequins.  I may eventually add a sentiment.

I hope you'll stop over at the STAMPlorations blog and maybe even enter a card in the CAS challenge.  There are prizes to be won!

CCEE1711 - National Button Week

Lynn told the CCEE Stampers that National Button Week is coming up, and she asked us to make use of buttons or faux buttons on our project or card.  Perhaps that might be a specially made box or jar in which to keep some of our favorite buttons.  I decided to make some button "flowers."  I even used a sentiment which included the word "button."

Check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see how the rest team used buttons on their cards.

Scor-Pal "More than One Score"

I've made another project for this month's Scor-Pal "More than One Score" Anything Goes challenge, a project which could be given as a gift -- a set of four cards and a matching box in which to store them.

Supplies used for the box are minimal:

Cardstock – 1 piece 8 ¾” x 7 ½” and 1 piece 7 7/8” x 6 5/8”

Coordinating designer paper

Scor-Pal

Scor-Tape

Scissors

To make your box, place the 7 7/8” x 6 5/8” cardstock at the top of the Scor-Pal, with the long edge along the top.  Score at the 1” groove.  Repeat on all four sides. 

 Box lid

Then place the 8 ¾” x 7 ½” piece of cardstock at the top of the Scor-Pal, with the long edge along the top.  Score at the 1 ½” groove.  Repeat on all four sides.

 Box bottom

Fold all the score lines on both pieces.

Using your scissors, cut notches at the corners of both the top and bottom pieces using the score lines as a guide, as shown.

Apply Scor-tape to the corner pieces, as shown.

Remove the protective paper from the Scor-tape and fold in the sides, as shown.

Decorate your box as desired.  I cut strips of patterned paper to fit the top and sides of the lid of the box and added some ribbon, which was adhered to the lid with Scor-tape.  No patterned paper would be necessary for the bottom of the box. 

Your box should hold four or five A2-sized cards with envelopes.

Be sure to check out the Scor-Pal blog for the challenge, complete a "more-than-one-score" project and upload it to the blog.  You could win a $20 gift certificate to the Scor-Pal store.

Ben and Chloe -- Good Friends

I've got another fun fold card to show you today -- a Z Box Fold.  Janja had a card on the CottageCutz blog a couple of weeks ago using both Ben and Chloe, and I knew I wanted to make a card using both of them. 

Supplies used on this card are:

White cardstock - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" plus some scraps for Ben and Chloe
Red cardstock - 4" x 9 3/4"
Black cardstock - 2 7/8" x 2 7/8", 2 7/8" x 4 3/8", 7/8" x 5 1/8", two pieces 7/8" x 2 1/8"
Patterned paper - 2 3/4" x 2 3/4", 2 3/4" x 4 1/4", 3/4" x 5", two pieces 3/4" x 2"
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Copic markers
White gel pen
Clear Wink of Stella brush
Scor-tape, adhesive runner, foam pop dots
CottageCutz stamp/die sets - Ben w/Wheelbarrow of Love, Chloe w/ Flowerpot, Wreath, Flowers

I stamped the images of Ben and Chloe onto a piece of white cardstock and colored them with Copic markers, adding some highlights on Chloe's hearts with a white gel pen.  I also brushed some clear Wink of Stella on the bees flitting around her flowers.  Then I cut them out with the matching dies.

To construct the card, after cutting the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" white piece of cardstock, I cut the red panel 4" x 9 3/4".    I placed the panel longways in my paper cutter, with the long end at the 1" mark; and, starting at the 3" mark, I cut a slit down to the 7 1/2" mark. 

Then I placed the panel on my scoring board; and, with the long edge along the top, I scored as follows:  I scored at the 5 1/4" mark;  at the 3" mark, I scored down from the top to the slit; at the 7 1/2" mark, I scored up from the bottom to the slit.

When folded, this is what the card looked like.

I placed some Scor-tape on the back of the right-hand side of the card, as shown below . . .

 . . . and then adhered it to the white panel.

I then cut the black cardstock and patterned paper to the measurements shown above . . .

. . . and adhered them to the card base.

All that was left now was to place Ben and Chloe on their respective panels and stamp the sentiment.

I hope you'd like to make a similar card.  It was lots of fun.

CottageCutz sets used on this card are:

CCEE1710 - National Bubble Week

Lynn continues as hostess for the CCEE Stampers this week.  She told us that it is National Bubble Week.  She gave some ideas for a card -- "This might include making use of a technique like painting with bubbles or bubble wrap on a brayer, or a bubble stamp or image of children blowing bubbles."  At the risk of being in a rut, I have another fish card this week; but I just had to use this cute little Impression Obsession bubble die set.

Check out the CCEE Stampers blog to see some more bubble fun.

Woodlands Scenery

Today I have used quite a few CottageCutz dies and stamp/die sets on my card.  If you know me at all, you probably know that I love making fun-fold cards -- so it will be no surprise to see that my card is a Side-Step Card.

Supplies used on this card are:

Green cardstock - 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"

Pale blue cardstock 1 3/4" x 3 7/8" and 1 3/4" x 3 1/4"

White cardstock for stamp/die sets

Scraps of brown and two shades of green for shrubbery

Copic markers

Liquid glue and tape runner

Fiskars paper trimmer

Scoring board

CottageCutz stamp/die sets - Woodland Animals, Woodlands, Garden Gnomes 1

CottageCutz dies - Spring Grass, Spring Greenery, Campfire Clothesline, Grass with Cattails

To make the card base, I placed the 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of green cardstock into the paper trimmer with the long edge at the 3 1/2" mark.  With the cutting blade at the 1" mark, I cut a line down to the 6 3/8" mark.  Placing the long edge of the card base at the top of the scoring board, I scored the wide section at 1", 2", 3 1/8", 4 1/4" (all the way across the center of the card), and 6 3/8" and folded on the score lines so that my card looked like this:

Using my Copic markers, I colored and cut the various stamps from both the Woodlands and Woodland Animals sets.

Then I cut the shrubbery from the scraps of green and brown, using the Spring Grass, Spring Greenery, and Campfire Clothesline dies.

I stamped the sentiment at the top of the tall pale blue panel and assembled my card.  Here is a close-up of the steps of the card.

And again . . . the finished card.

CottageCutz sets used on this card are: