Virginia's View Challenge and My Shaker Card Attempt

I know the rage in card making right now is shaker cards but I want to start off by saying that these are my LEAST favorite cards to make. I browse online and see all these lovely creations, with fabulous frames and sparkly sequins that make me drool. "I can make that!" I think to myself. However, when I actually attempt to create one, I get adhesive on the acetate or my glitter falls out of my card at a slow, but sure, rate from the tiny hole that I missed with the adhesive, even though I cannot find that hole. I cannot tell you how many completed shaker cards I have thrown out that have literally taken HOURS to make, no matter what tried and true technique of someones I try.

I bit the bullet this weekend and tried to make yet another shaker card, just for Virginia's View February challenge. Yes, it is a Valentine, and no, it was NOT an epic fail. I think the reason it wasn't is because I kept it small. No covering an entire front of a card but big enough to be a main element. Here is what I came up with:

I will be honest, I did a lot of things on this card that made me uncomfortable. I used three different patterned papers, as well as used a border die at an angle and a banner that sticks up-no way!! That is not me. You know what? It was kind of fun. To have my shaker not leak was just icing on the cake.

To start with, this card is a bit bigger then an A2 card. I just figured if I was going to go all out, I might as well try a larger canvas too. The first thing I did on the white background is to round the corners. Then I die cut some patterned paper scraps into rectangles and adhered them at an angle.

Next, I adhered a xoxo border from Simon Says Stamp and then adhered the shaker box I created over them. I topped the shaker box with a red glitter die cut note.

I stamped a few pink hearts randomly over the card. I die cut, stamped and embossed the sentiment banner and adhered it under my shaker box. I didn't even make sure it was straight!

The last step was to adhere some die cut gold hearts. Simple and easy and so not my style. However, I had fun. Who could ask for more? Maybe next time I will even attempt to go a little bigger on the shaker!

I am entering this card in Virginia's View Shaker Challenge. Thank you Virginia for actually kicking me in the pants showing me I CAN make a shaker card if I really want to!!

I appreciate you stopping by. Have a fabulous day!!

Supplies:

InLinkz.com

Online Class Homework for Clean and Simple 4

It is Tuesday in blog land and I am FINALLY getting around to attempting to do some homework for the Clean and Simple 4 card making class that I am taking. I have to admit, I am earning an F in the homework department. As I said in my post yesterday, my mojo is so low that I have had a hard time motivating myself to do anything. However, I forced myself to sit down and attempt a card to complete my homework for Day 1 of the class.

Day 1 was all about different techniques of heat embossing. I chose to attempt to use Julie's "Faux Ceramic Tile" technique, which as you can see below, was an epic fail.

I tried to make this in a tile shape but I wound up messing everything up. First, it die cut all the way through no matter what I did. Then I figured I would just do the technique anyway, I messed up the embossing on FOUR different tiles. As I am attempting to do two cards every time I sit down, I had done the element in a circle as well and this was my last hope of even making a card for this homework. I was NOT going to attempt a 5th tile!!

As you can see from the photo, the circle also die cut through but I faked it. I chose to mount the circle "tile" (yes, I know it really is NOT a tile) onto a pinked circle to make it pop a little. I figured this element would be perfect for a Valentine and the rest of the card was just a matter of layering.

What I learned for Day 1:

• I am a failure at just "embossing" with my dies. I need to practice a bit more when I have more time but I am determined to figure it out. 
• I also attempted Jennifer's technique in using multiple embossing powders on a background but I kept smudging the stamped design. I think it was because I was pushing the tape down too hard. Again, when I have more time, I will be playing with this technique.
• Though I usually work well under pressure, I have been super busy trying to fit in so many things I HAVE to do in my day that I just having nothing left for my homework. I am glad I am not taking this class for a grade!!

I thank you for taking the time to browse. Have a great day!!

Supplies:

InLinkz.com

Casual Friday CASE Valentine

It is another snow day Monday in Connecticut so we have the day off. It is a good thing as I am feeling a little under the weather AGAIN. Not sure if it is how busy I have been lately OR if I have some sort of virus but if I did not know better, I would think I had mono again. I am SO TIRED!!
That said, I am making myself stay awake today is I AM NOT going to call in sick for work any time soon.

I did have time last week to play in my craft room. My mojo has been absent so I have been CASEing some cards that I have on my Valentine Pinterest board. My sister had said she was making Valentines and kind of "guilted" me in to making some too. I really was not going "to do" Valentine's Day this year. I was just not feeling the love. However, they say "fake it til' you make it" and that is what happened. Now I am excited to send my cards out!!

I used these cards from the "Touch of Creation" blog as my inspiration for my Valentines. (If you have never browsed this blog, please do. Piali Biswas cards are AMAZING!!) I have had this Casual Friday stamp set for a year and had never used it. I figured when I saw her cards that I needed to dig it out and give this stamp set some love.

I mixed the card up a bit form Piali's by making it a landscape card rather then vertical.

I copied most of the elements from her cards-the colors she used, the misting, but added my own elements as well. I chose to use a red glittered heart note instead of her gold and added a few gold heart die cuts as well.

I did get a little carried away with the misting too but I think it adds character.

For my second card, I mixed it up a little bit. Instead of white background, I used distress inks to shade a red background.

I then spritzed it with Shimmers mist, as well as red and gold. I also reversed the colors of the heart note and die cut hearts

It gives it a bit of a different look.

That is all for this stormy Monday. I appreciate you taking the time to browse my blog.

Supplies:

"Song in my Heart"

InLinkz.com
"Red Valentine"

InLinkz.com