Congratulatory card...

... there is nothing like seeing my little sister (in law) accomplish her dreams of becoming a doctor. And touching to be able to be there to sit through her convocation ceremony. Didn't understand a word of it however, but that's ok.

It may have taken me six months to get all my stuff together and find her a pretty necklace as well as come up with a card.

Inspiration that triggered it: Case Study Challenge 148 : Iwona Palamountain's interpretation.

And I brought the roses inside along with a saying from Scrapbook Statements - Everyday Life. I learned so much from a Copic tutorial on blending that Iwona Palamountain posted a while back and it has made a world of difference - my colors blend better and I learned to work dark first as opposed to light first. I also realized through that post that sometimes you can use all sorts of combinations of colors - you don't necessarily have to stick to one set of shades.

I was so thrilled with  my blending technique... but I think pigment inks would be a better choice for not bleeding next time. I've picked up a set of these mini pigment pads - basic - and can't wait to play with them.

CTMH:
* Dreams Come True (retired)
* Scrapbook Statements - Everyday  Life
* Happy Valentine's - Jan 2013 SOTM
* La Belle Vie Level 2 Paper Pack
* Adhesive Pink Rhinestones
* Adhesive Opaque Pearls
* White Daisy Ink
* Outdoor Denim Ink
* Smokey Plum Ink

Others:
*... will post the Copic Marker #'s later!!
* Cream cardstock

Congratulations again to my little sis for becoming a doctor - she's gorgeous, smart and has a huge heart. I wish her all the success in her career.

Graduation...

... I noticed, quite quickly I didn't have a lot of stamp sets for anything resembling graduation! A coworker of mine graduated today from SAIT and I saw the most amazing card that I had to hijack for this very occasion.

Today's inspiration comes from the winner of Case Study Challenge #92, Arlene from Water Dots.

The numbers are cut out with the Art Philosophy cartridge, and I felt like making my own little "tag" to go on front. The sentiment, which is most appropriate comes from an old campaign set called Pair A Phrase. I love how the gold ribbon gives it a bit of color.

On the inside I continued the statement and thought a firework rocket was appropriate for the occasion. I colored this one with the same paintbrush technique, using ink directly from the pad and working the gradient inwards. I just hope he likes it.

Michaels, etc:
* Solid color cardstock
* Paintbrush
* Ribbon

CTMH:
* Pair a Phrase (retired campaign)
* Outdoor Denim Ink
* Dutch Blue Ink
* Cranberry Ink
* Grey Wool Ink
* Opaque Adhesive Pearls, Mocha


This weekend I am off to run 10K in support of cancers below the waist - the Underwear Affair!

I can never resist a neat tutorial...

I stumbled onto this tutorial while surfing the web for more card related items. Or rather, link hopping through various blogs. I also happen to have a love for origami that dates back to my teenage years. So, by mixing origami and card making you get... something I just absolutely had to try.

The Diamond Fold Card tutorial is brought to you by Splitcoaststampers

I also had the You & Me Stamp Set and a congraulations card to make. You see, the girl I did the card for is throwing the BBQ for two reasons! Her husband, another university friend of mine passed his Ph.D!

Here's the end result from mixing all that stuff together:



and of course, a side view to show off the folding:



The technique I used on the 'follow your' text is called 2nd generation stamping. It creates a neat shadowy-like effect, and it's achieved by simply stamping again without reloading the ink on your stamp.

Cardstock:
Local craft stores

CTMH:
You & Me Stamp (D1495) - May Promotion
Sorbet Ink (Z2164)
Chocolate Ink (Z2111)

Find Your Style Congratulations Card

A friend of mine has just finished her Masters degree, and I was invited to a celebratory BBQ. So I thought it fitting that I bring her a card, as well I decided to play for the very first time at Mojo Monday!

Today's inspiration is MOJO192

By the time I was done picking papers and colors, I realized this was going to be a girly rather than a more boy-style card.



As you can see, I decided to use a different stamping technique by first inking the entire stamp in Cranberry, then rolling the edges in Smokey Plum for a two-tone effect. Should you decide to try this, remember to pick the lighter ink first, then work with successively darker and darker inks.

Cardstock
* Local craft stores

Embellishments
* Dollar store finds

CTMH
* Find Your Style (Jan 2011 Stamp of the Month)
* Bohemian Alphabet
* Smokey Plum Ink
* Cranberry Ink
* Moonstruck Ink