Saturday, November 14, 2009

Virtual Stamp Night: Comedy & Tragedy Challenge III

I have one last set of sample cards to share from my VSN Comedy & Tragedy Challenge (you can read about the challenge here).

In this set of cards, the only thing I have changed is the color.



Do baby boys and baby girls suggest different moods to you? If yes, then there you go--one light blue card and one light pink card! If not, then how about a light green card? To me, that suggests a pretty big mood of SURPRISE is in someone's future :-)







Vital Stats: Stamps (Crib & Little Things, A Muse); Ink (Timber Brown StazOn, Tsukineko); Paper (Blue, Pink & Green Gingham CS, A Muse; Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery & Chocolate Chip CS, SU); Other (French Roast Sheer Ribbon, A Muse; Moon & Stars Edger Punch, EK Success; Prismacolor Pencils & Gamsol)

Friday, November 13, 2009

Virtual Stamp Night: Comedy & Tragedy Challenge II

I have another pair of Virtual Stamp Night challenge cards to share. If you need a refresher, you can read about the challenge in my previous post.

In the second pair of cards, the only thing that I have changed is the sentiment. Here, the difference in mood between the two cards is more subtle, but it's all about experimenting, right?



In one card, I've used a sentiment to be supportive of someone who is going through a rough time; to contribute to this mood, I grounded my card with some subdued blues and stayed away from any really flashy embellishments.



In the other card, I've used a sentiment to say thanks to someone who has really made my day; to contribute to this mood, I chose a more playful image and a brighter gingham pattern.



Vital Stats: Stamps (Milkshake, You Make Life Sweet & Dessert First, A Muse) Ink (Black StazOn, Tsukineko); Paper (Red Petite Gingham CS, A Muse; Bashful Blue & Whisper White CS, SU); Other (Swiss Red Sheer Ribbon, A Muse; Giga Merchandise Tag Punch & White Liquid Applique, Marvy Uchida; Light Blue Eyelet, Pinkhedgehog Papercrafts; Red Glaze Pen, Sakura; Prismacolor Pencils & Gamsol)

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Virtual Stamp Night: Comedy & Tragedy Challenge I

Splitcoast Stampers is hosting a Virtual Stamp Night this weekend. From tonight through Saturday, there will be a new challenge posted every hour; all challenges are based around a particular theme. This VSN's theme is Masquerade Ball and I got to host one of the challenges!

I called my challenge: Comedy & Tragedy...

Of all the masks we could choose from for our masquerade ball, some of the most iconic are the pairs of masks representing Comedy and Tragedy. In many ways, these two masks look much alike—except for one distinct difference: one mask is smiling and the other is frowning. This one small difference completely changes the mood of the mask. Your challenge here is to make a pair of cards that are identical except for one feature that in some ways changes the mood of the card. Can a change of color take a card from celebratory to caring or concerned? Can swapping one kind of embellishment for another change a card from whimsical to heartfelt? Experiment with your pair of cards and see what kind of a difference changing one feature can make…

I made three sets of cards as samples for my challenge. I'll post each of them over the next day or so...

In the first pair of cards, the only thing that I have changed is the medium used on the focal image.



One card uses pastels and versamark (you can see a tutorial for the poppin' pastels technique that I used here) and the other card uses glitter and a glue pad (if you don't have a glue pad, you can also use a product like A Muse's Simple Stick or Stampin' Up!'s Heat & Stick powder). To me, at least, one card feels much more mellow and the other feels much more perky! I've also chosen one sentiment for both cards that goes fairly well with either mood.





Vital Stats: Stamps (Modern Poppy & Thinking of You Hand, A Muse); Ink (Timber Brown StazOn, Versamark & Glue Pad, Tsukineko); Paper (Chocolate Kitchen CS, A Muse; Really Rust & Very Vanilla CS, SU); Other (Giga Scallop Oval Punch, Marvy Uchida; Coluzzle; Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Pastels & Supernova Glitter, SU)

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Run, Turkey, Run!

My mom recently bought this stamp and when I saw it, I just about died laughing. How hysterical is this guy? Running for his life! Ah, it's just not his day, is it?

I used all the same supplies but changed things up a bit with two different layouts--one portrait and one landscape. Which one do you prefer?





Vital Stats: Stamps (High Tailin' Turkey, DRS Designs); Ink (Black StazOn); Paper (Really Rust, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip & Whisper White CS, SU; Autumn Vine DSP, SU)'; Other (Scallop Edge Punch & More Mustard Grosgrain, SU; 1/4" Circle Punch; Prismacolor Pencils & Gamsol)

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Up a Tree with a Gift

I spotted a card similar to this one when I was visiting my mom's local stamp store. Since she had all the stamps, we figured it would be a perfect card to case. I couldn't remember exactly what the original designer had done, but just assume that anything you like about this card was her doing and anything you don't is all me :-)



Vital Stats: Stamps (Squirrel with Gift & Evergreen Branch, A Muse); Ink (Black StazOn); Paper (Woodgrain CS, A Muse; Kraft CS, SU); Other (White Liquid Applique, Marvy Uchida; Red Grosgrain, SU; Prismacolor Pencils & Gamsol)

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Ouch!

Every once in awhile, I find an older SU set that someone is trading away that jumps out at me and demands that I give it a good home. Just recently, I was able to pick up one such oldie-but-goodie, Happy Healing. Super, super cute... it sure seems like a keeper to me :-)

Since I just moved, I thought I should introduce myself to my new Senators and Representatives. And this set seemed perfect for letting them know how I felt about the current health care debate. Surely a handmade card will receive a little more attention than a generic email. How many of those must they receive every day?!? And how many handmade cards?!? Yep! That's my thought, too!



Vital Stats: Stamps (Happy Healing, SU); Ink (Creamy Caramel, SU); Paper (Blush Blossom, Creamy Caramel & Whisper White, SU); Other (White Grosgrain Ribbon, Paper Piercer & Mat, SU)