Case this Sketch Challenge #83 and Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge

Happy Sunday!! It has been a beautiful weekend here in CT. The weather has been perfect for a long weekend.

I am warning you that this post will be long and is very picture laden.  I decided to take photos of most of the steps to complete this card.  I love to read about how others creatively process their ideas so I thought I would let you in on my process as I made my card for the Case this Sketch Challenge #83.

First, here is the sketch that we were given to work with:

The flowers had me a bit flummoxed. I have a lot of flower stamps but I really wanted to do something different. I loved the design teams cards and was consciously trying not to copy. (Sometimes that winds up happening to me!!) I also knew that I wanted my card to be a bit more "fun loving" then pretty. Here is what I came up with:

The first thing I chose was the colors. I am not sure why this was my starting point because this is not where I usually begin a project. Usually I always choose a stamp set first.

I decided to use this piece of patterned paper from American Crafts and Stampin Up!'s Calypso Coral card stock as the base. I know, I know, this might not be a conventional color scheme but I did say I wanted something different!

I die cut the patterned paper using an MFT Blueprints #4 die and mounted it on the coral card stock.

My next step was to choose the stamps I wanted to use. I knew I wanted it to be fun so I dug through everything and pulled out my Paper Smooches "Free Spirit" stamp set and dies. I die cut two cocktail glasses and two umbrellas. I then colored the glasses and umbrellas in with Copic markers.

I then tried to arrange the four elements on the card front but just could not find a way to place them any way I liked. It needed something more. I then pulled out a circle die cut scrap and decided that this would be perfect behind the glasses.

I decided that just a plain white circle just would not do so I used some distress inks and an ink blending tool to color it in.

I then adhered it onto my card front with adhesive foam.

My next step was to die cut a white banner and stamp the "Let's Celebrate" sentiment in black ink using the same Paper Smooches stamp set. I laid it on my card and didn't like the white. I could have die cut and stamped the sentiment on a different color but I was lazy. Instead, I pulled out my "Sour Apple" ink pad from MFT and an ink blender to ink the banner green.

I adhered the banner to the card using dot adhesive.

I then started playing around with the cocktails I had created. I decided almost immediately that I was only going to use one umbrella. Every way I tried to arrange the card using both just didn't look right. Once I decided on my placement, I adhered one glass flat onto the yellow circle and one glass using foam adhesive.

I then placed 3 enamel dots above the glass I didn't put an umbrella in.

I really could have been done here but that is not me. I chose to cover the glasses with glossy accents and brushed some sparkle onto the umbrella with a Wink of Stella clear pen.

It gave the card a little bit more finish by adding this small detail. I tried to show both in the above photo but I can only really see the glossy accents on the glasses.

So what is your process? Is it to pick stamps first and then find the embellishments? Is it to start with a sketch or other challenge? I would love to see a post on your creative process.

I am also going to enter this card into the Paper Smooches Sparks "Anything Goes" challenge.

Thank you for stopping by my blog. Have a great Sunday!!

Nora

Supplies:

InLinkz.com

Freshly Made Sketch #143

Happy Thursday everyone!! It is hot and muggy here. It was just the kind of day to stay in air conditioning to create something fun.

Today I am playing along with the Freshly Made Sketch Blog. I am kind of obsessed with sketch blogs as of late. I can use the products I want and I have a frame to work in. Here is the sketch I worked from:

I chose to make a Halloween card. I am not sure why. Perhaps because I like the fall weather best. I LOVE summer vacation but detest like hot, humid weather. I love the brisk feeling of fall, where a light jacket is needed.

The adorable kitten image is from Simon Says Stamp. It is one of those stamp sets that I bought because I saw an adorable card made from it but then I never used it. I do that all the time. I am actually trying to use what I already have this summer. So far I have been good but there is some fabulous new product that I really want.

First I die cut the white circle and then I stamped the image with black ink. I then used Copic markers to color him in. Then I went searching for just the right papers to layer him on.

I think my favorite part of this whole project was to dig through my pattern paper scraps to find just the right papers. I layered them over each other like the sketch, with the black banner being adhered with foam tape to give it a little dimension.

The enamel dots and Stickles on the cat and pumpkin were the finishing touches on the outside of the card.

While the Stickles dried, I created the inside. I often create an insert when I use black card base.

I die cut a white piece of card stock and then stamped the little kitty in black at the bottom. I wanted to leave room just in case I wanted to write a message.

I really enjoyed making this card and love the way it came out.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a Happy July 4th!!

Nora

Supplies:

Orange Paper-Echo Park

InLinkz.com