JB2507: Flat Feliz Navidad (week 2)

It's the second week of "Flat Feliz Navidad" at Jingle Belles so we are still making one-layer Christmas Cards; a feat which is more challenging for some (like ME!) than it is for others (like Stephanie, who is great at it). Here's what I made this week:

I'm currently a little obsessed with had Simon Hurley's create Sketched Snowmen stamp set and Simon's Dye Inks from Ranger. Luckily these were perfect for watercoloring the images and background. I embossed the snowmen and sentiment in black; then embossed the snowflakes in white; colored everything in... et voila! I confess that while I love how it came out, my natural instinct is still to make this a panel on a layered card with machine-stitching and maybe some brads; but I'm resisting. (For now!)

Head on over to Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's card and link your own Single Layer Masterpiece. JB2507: Flat Feliz Navidad runs until next Wednesday evening, April 9th.

JB2507: Flat Feliz Navidad

This fortnight at Jingle Belles we're embarking upon that most challenging of challenges (at least for ME, lol!) that is generally called the One Layer Card; though some folks refer to it as the No Layer Card. What does that mean? It means your entire design is flat... your elements get stamped, drawn, embossed, etc directly onto the cardbase; so basically you're not taping or gluing ANY additional papers/diecuts/layers to that base. This is NOT my natural metier, but I'm always up for a challenge so here's what I made this time:

I started with a white 5.5" square card, taped off all four edges with some low-tack washi, then broke out the awesome Wendy Vecchi Build-a-Plaid Layered Stencil Set from Spellbinders and my MAKE ART Stay-tion to create a diagonal Christmassy plaid in Archival Inks of the red, green and gold variety. Then I added some of Hero Arts' Winter Foliage Rub-On Transfers, which are as wonderfully glitch-free as they are beautiful to look at. (I mention this because I know that some folks are nervous about rub-ons.) The sentiment is from another set of HA Rubs called Holiday Messages. I like the way you can very very faintly see the plaid inking underneath the transfers AND the fact that this baby is even flatter than the average credit card bill, which will be a great advantage when I hit the post office in December!

Head over to Jingle Belles to see Stephanie's fabulous card and to link your own One/Zero Layer card. Flat Feliz Navidad runs until the evening of Wednesday, April 9th. 

Queen of the One-Layer Card?!

Ok, technically, I've only done this twice, and the last time I sorta cheated by adding mats and stuff, but I do feel like I'm getting better at the dreaded OLC! Here's one I made for a fun FaceBook event that Paper Anthology is having, Paper Anthology's Creation Staycation. It's a week long event featuring challenges, trivia, prizes and... surprises! Anyone is welcome to join the fun, so be sure to CHECK IT OUT. Meanwhile, here's my card:

This is Challenge #7 (don't worry you have til NEXT Tuesday night to complete as many or as few challenges as you'd like in ANY order!) and it's hosted by Elisabeth. It's the aforementioned dreaded One Layer Card.

I used my largest oval label-shaped Nestie to make a mask, stamped The Ton's Peony Dreams right through it in black archival and outlined around the edges. Then I used ColorBursts to watercolor it in layers, so I'd get a nice gradation of shading!

Kinda psyched at how much progress I am making just by PRACTICING more with the coloring! :)

the dreaded...

...ONE LAYER CARD is the assignment this fortnight at shopping our stash. definitely definitely not my strongest suit, but i did my best.

i stamped the ink road bella flora flowers first with archival ink. they seemed like a good "stashy" choice as stephanie gave me this set last xmas and despite drooling over them on a regular basis, i still hadn't actually used them, lol. then i used a homemade circle stencil (just a large nestie die cut out of the center of a piece of glossy cardstock) to mask off around the flowers, and i stenciled the smalled segment of michelle ward's hash pattern stencil (exclusive to the ink pad) with soft grey ink. i filled in around the "paving stones" --i was thinking garden courtyard here-- and traced around the inside of the circle with a fine point pen. finally i colored in the flowers with some tombow dualbrush pens and a waterbrush for a softer look. et voila! 

there's lots more versions of one-layer goodness from the rest of the SOS team. why not hop over and enjoy those right now, darlings? ♥

two cards i half like

this week's shopping our stash is a doozie, you guys, we are assaying the dreaded* ONE LAYER CARD! i don't have all that many "nevers" in my crafty life. i try not to have any, actually, because i think it's really useful, creatively, to try everything at least once in a while. but i hardly ever make one layer cards, and i always need a push to do so. which is what's great about challenges, they get us out of our comfort zone, which is excellent. and sometimes, the very stretch of trying out unaccustomed ideas results in awesomely serendipitous surprises. alas, this is not one of those times.

both cards are made from strathmore watercolor paper and are colored with ranger distress inks, tombow markers and faber castell pitt artist pens. "happy birthday" also uses my favorite freckled fawn alphabet stamps, and a gorgeous indian-inspired flower cluster stamp by sheena douglass for crafter's companion. the mandala card uses a stencil from the same collection. both cards have my own doodles added in to the mix

the crazy thing is, that 99% of the work i do in my sketchbook is one layer, using stencils and doodles and handlettering. so i kind of thought that i'd be able to take some of those ideas and translate them into fabulous unique cards. ah well, i think i managed the "unique" part, anyway, lol. there's nothing really WRONG with either of these; they're colorful and fun and i will definitely send them. i just won't necessarily promise not to add a little bit of machine stitching and a few sticky-back gems before i do so. ;) but i did enjoy the challenge of this, and the fact that i don't feel like i really "cracked it" just spurs me on to try again soon.

some folks who've already got one layer cards down pretty danged impressively are my amazing SOS dt sisters. so i heartily suggest you give yourself the treat of checking out their cards as soon as possible, darlings! ♥

*dreaded if you are me, which, quite possibly, you are not. i realize quite a lot of people enjoy making one layer cards and all i can say is that i now admire their work EVEN MORE than previously! well-done, one layer cardmakers, i salute you!