Happy Birthday! 1 card 3 Ways,MOJO, and a QUICK TIP!

TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT!  Taking MORE UP and OVER THE TOP!

I have a Birthday card to share with you today!  Actually, it is the same card three ways.  Each one kicked up a notch.  This card is for Julee Tilman's Birthday, owner of Verve!  Happy Birthday, Julee!   Check out the Verve blog to see all the wonderful Birthday card creations designed by the Verve Divas to Celebrate Julee's special day!

For today's cards, I am using some SU designer papers from my stash.  I am using Verve's Thankful Accents and Birthday Bash stamp sets.  I combined the stamps with Verve's Cut Above Jotted Heart and Charming Oval dies.   I am using the sketch from this week's Mojo251.  I turned it.

All three cards use the same stamps and dies.  That did not change.  Check out what I changed/added between the three.  I do want to mention that I KNOW that this first card is in no way CAS.  It is a serious layered card.  Ten layers(more if you are counting where I layer some of my die cuts for added stiffness) if you are counting all the die cuts...etc.  See...NOT CAS!   I know many of you would like to know how to add MORE to an already MORE card.  What MORE can I do to kick it up?  In the end it is a matter of preference.  Some like MORE some like EVEN MORE,  and some like OVER the TOP!     

CARD 1  I started with a scrap bin card base that was done.   This was discarded due to the sewing machine stitches that got gnarled up in the bottom right hand corner.  I sort of covered it up with the watermark, but it is still there and looks bad.  I was TRYING to recycle.  Anyway, the card base is The Paper Company kraft.  I started using this paper for my card bases over a year ago to make my cards lighter as well as less expensive.  I layered a stitched piece of the designer paper over top.  The inside panels were not stitched.  I layered several die cut frames, stamped the frame image from the Thankful Accents set, added the glittered  die cut Jotted Hearts, layered die cut sentiment, and two tiny clear gems.  All the edges were ink distressed.  All frames and dies received varying thicknesses of foam tape or dimensionals to create height and depth. 

CARD 2   I had to start with an all new card base and background piece of paper.  The messed up stitching got to me.  Again, The Paper Company kraft base.  I added a piece of cream card stock to cover front.  Then layered another piece of cream with the coral rose color designer paper background.  I, again, stitched it.  The inner pieces are the same.  They just needed to be cut down slightly since the background is now smaller due to the layering.  I stitched all three  of these panels this time.  I took the very same center element as it was and popped it on the top.  I did add a seam binding bow with a star burst sparkle in center.  I am amazed at how differently these two cards look with no more changes than added layered background, stitching, and bow.

CARD 3 To put it nicely,this card is OVER THE TOP!  Technically, I only did a couple of things to this card to take it from card 2 status to card 3 status.  I removed the large decorative frame from behind the center piece and added an ivory accordion fold jumbo medallion.  Foam tape was use for securing pieces as well as adding dimension.  I also wanted more elements of sparkle so two crystal stick pins were added for drama. That is it!  


When working with making MORE cards MORE, it is important to always consider colors and patterns.  I could have gone with a bold pattern on the medallion, but I really thought that would have been too much.  For this card, I chose to add another ink distressed cream element.  I believe I still have impact just not too busy.

QUICK TIP!  Sewing Machine stitching.  I love to stitch either a basic stitch or zig zag stitch to my cards.  It saves me on adhesives plus adds a decorative touch.   Something I did to make my crafting easier for me is to write using a sharpie(I used green so it would show up) directly to my machine the numbers I needed for either the zig zag or regular stitch for distance and width.   I can vary these, but when crafting and in a crunch, I do not have time to think between stitches which width I know works.  These numbers are my basics and lifeline.  Just see it, set it, and stitch it!  Hope that helps.  I believe nail polish remover will wipe off the sharpie ink.  Just be sure not to touch machine writing as it may remove that too.  I just leave mine up there as is.  I think it has been like this for over two years.   Thought I'd share!  Hope this quick tip was helpful!

Let me know which card is your favorite of the three and why!  Also, would you like to see more  TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT posts like this?

Don't forget to check out the Verve blog to see all the wonderful Birthday card creations designed by the Verve Divas!

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Playing along with a few challenges.

Make it Monday: always Anything Goes 

Inspire Me Fridays: Anything Goes

Hiding in My Craft Room:  Layers 

Crafty Bloggers Network: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Hey Girl

Simply Create Too: Two or More of Something (3 cards or two hearts)

Supplies

Stamps Verve's Thankful Accents and Birthday Bash sets

Paper SU dp, PTI vintage cream, The Paper Company kraft

Ink Ranger Brushed Corduroy, PTI Berry Sorbet

Accessories Sewing Machine, MFT die-namics, seam binding, foam tape, dimensionals,  clear star burst, stick pins, clear gems, Spellbinder's  die, Verve's Cut Above Jotted Heart and Charming Oval dies.

Beauty of Dreams and a Quick Tip!

 Happy Friday!  I have a card to share with you today using the newly release set from ODBD called Dreams.  I am playing along with the ODBD Shining the Light Challenge ODBDSLC108 which is an inspiration challenge.  Still time to play along.

For my card I am using the sketch from Cardabilities #55.  I decided to go a bit vintage with this card.  I combined one of my favorite Prima paper pads.

For this card I decided to use some aida cloth. I die cut  two leafy stems with a sizzix die I have had for awhile.  I mounted the very fragile cut piece to some lightweight kraft card stock.  I then stitched the leaves a bit for added effect as well as to make sure it stayed attached to the card stock.  I ink distressed everything, stitched the edges, and added some colorful flower assortment, seam binding bow, and a few memory thread curly ques tucked in to further emphasize the floral arrangement in the inspiration piece.   Love how it turned out.  What do you think?  Ever use real aida cloth like this?

Quick Tip:   
The focal image quote was cut with a pinking shears die cut four times for each edge.  To give a more distressed quality as well as to make it look more like a fabric swatch I used a really OLD cutting plate with the paper side to show face down on the cut up plate so the little cut marks would show.  I inked up to make them stand out even more.  So....for added distressing do not throw out those cut marked plates.  Thought I would share!


As always thanks so much for stopping by!


Betty

Playing along with a few blog challenges

Hooked on Crafts   Flowers
Make it Monday always Anything Goes
Stamp and Create  One for the Ladies
Tammy Scrapin Corner Show us your Flowers
Love to Create Bingo  (Ribbon, Punches, Flowers)
Great Impressions  Anything goes
One Stitch At A Time  Favorites (memory thread, stitching, seam binding, premade flowers, dp)
2 Sisters Make it girly
Crafty Emma Anything Goes
Truly Scrumptious   anything goes
Simon Says Stamp and Show  Anything Goes

Supplies

Stamps  ODBD  Dreams

Paper PTI vintage cream and scarlet jewel, The Paper Co kraft, Prima Romantique dp

Ink PTI scarlet jewel, Ranger brushed corduroy

Accessories MS border punch, PTI pinking shears border, sewing machine, flowers, memory thread metallic gold and natural, PTI ripe avocado button, olive seam binding, foam tape, foam squares, glue pen, glue dots, gold pearl
 

Flourishes BBB22 Challenge and a QUICK TIP!

Welcome to another month of Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful Challenge!  (BBB22)!  As spring begins to sprout in many parts of the world, let's honour nature by showing off the beauty of what we find in the garden. Pick your favorite flower and make it the centerpiece of your card or creation!  For this challenge we will pick  from all the participants one true beauty favorite who will be asked to join the team for the next month's BBB Challenge, so play along and let's see all those beautiful Garden creations!


For my card today I chose the lovely Magnolias.   I have always been in awe of the magnolia flower.  It is so big and majestic yet flowery, feminine, and fragrant.    I also combined this flower set with the newly released Antique Lace background. 


For the background I inked up the Antique Lace background with Versa mark and clear embossed.  I love this look on any card stock, but really appreciate it on dark rich colors.  Here, I used expresso.  

For the magnolia, I really wanted to go with a sun-kissed color.  The golden sun shining from low in the late afternoon sky reflecting the rich tones from this beautifully crafted ivory flower.   I used Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock, Memento Tuxedo black, and Flourishes Copic Color Collections.  I inked one image and stamped to my Spellbinder's Romantic Rectangles die that I already cut out and ink distressed with Ranger Antique Linen ink.   I then stamped two more images and colored.  I cut out both.  For one layer I used the whole image cut out.  For the top layer I just used the larger magnolia flower and smaller flower to the right.  I used foam tape to add dimension between layers.  I finished with a sentiment die cut.  I stamped another one of the images from the set directly to the sentiment tag using Ranger Brushed Corduroy stamped off once for a lighter effect.  I then stamped the sentiment using Ranger Walnut Stain ink to mimic the rich tones from the expresso card stock background.

I finished the card with some touches of golden glitter on my magolia, a distressed inked wrinkled ribbon bow, gold metallic curly que memory thread, and pearlized button from my stash.  Love how it turned out!

I love seam binding and wrinkle ribbon.   These products are very similar.   I love the weight of it, the texture, and the versatility.  While I love to dye my own seam binding with inks and such, sometimes I really have to work in a pinch.  For those times, I have a quick tip to share.  I use Ranger Ink Blending tool, replacement foam, and Ranger inks to slightly ink distress it to alter it a bit.  It is fast and gives a rich vintage distressed feel to any color in a snap.  Dries fast and I can alter how much or how little with just the swipe of the blending tool.  Thought I'd share.  The picture up top shows a close up of the tag as well as my ink distressed seam binding.   

Flourishes Copic Color Collection

Flourishes Copic Color Collection

As always thanks so much for stopping by!  Make sure to check out all the other beautiful creations from the Bring Back Beautiful Designers!

Betty Wright  (you are here)!
Claudia Rosa
Iwona Palmountain
Kathy Jones
Linda Duke
Naomi Gong
Yvonne Hagane

Betty

I am playing along with a few other blog challenges!

Crazy 4 ChallengesC4C135:  Gardening/Great Outdoors

Simon Says Stamp and Show:  Your Favorite stamps (flowers)! 

The Stamp Man:  Favorite Technique (paper tole)

Just Keep on Creating:  Anything Goes

Make it Monday:  Always Anything Goes 

Simon Says Stamp:  Birthday