Tuesday 29 November 2011

Winter Wonders

I had almost forgotten about Lily Pad Card's CCC this month. After looking at the new themes, I had the exact card I wanted to submit.

This card is inspired by Stampendous! catalogue. I had earlier made a very similar card for my cardmaking classes. Since that card cannot be entered in the CCC - it cannot be given away, or what will I use for sample in my class? - I decided to make another to enter it in the CCC.



All stamps, except the sentiment (Penny Black) and the frame background (Hero Arts), are from Stampendous!. I actually struggled to find the words to match the bird images, until I saw one of the themes for the CCC - winter - and decided that this particular sentiment would be perfect.
I also followed the colour palette given, and gave my card a resemblance to the sketch too (upside down, of course).

Thanks for viewing!

Monday 21 November 2011

Quick Cards - It's Christmas (again) and Snowflakes

I managed 2 quick cards today!


The first one was made really quick, partly because it just involved stamping same image repeatedly, and partly because it is not my own original idea. In other words, I copied someone's design.
Unfortunately, I cannot remember where I got this design from. I had waited for some time for the Zinnia stamp set to come and in that time, I have lost the information on the original designer. I am terribly sorry that I cannot give credit where it's due.


This card uses the pattern stamp that comes with the Zinnia set, stamped repeatedly and embossed. Next comes the ribbon and lastly the tag.  Pearls were added to the pattern, and in this card, they form an essential part of the design because they balance and pull the card together by providing the match to the tag and ribbon. I kept the colour scheme simple, focusing on just red, black and white.




My second quick card is my own original design :)
In the Snowflake set, there are 3 snowflakes of different sizes. I used the largest one to stamp the background. Next I stamped and embossed the 3 snowflakes on white paper, cut and layer them. Finally, I topped it up with a lace ribbon and button, and added the sentiment at the bottom.




Thanks for viewing!


Supplies:
Stampendous
CRS5050 Zinnia 
CRS5014 Snowflakes
SSC1068 Christmas Wishes


Paper: DCWV Box of Cards - The Christmas Combo & The Winter Combo

My Card was Eye-Spied!

I was super excited when I received an email from Melanie from Basic Grey saying they wanted to use my card for their Eye-Spy feature in their blog.


Well it was the first time for me - being featured. I was practically jumping with joy!


On Saturday 19 November 2011, true enough, the post was launched and there was my card! 
It's a milestone for me.


Check out the blog - Basic Grey Eye-Spy.


Thanks for viewing!

Friday 18 November 2011

Holly Bunch

My 3rd quick card! This was inspired by Jillian Foster's blog.


This time I used more stamps. All the papers started in plain colours, with the patterns added in by stamping alone. The trick to get this is really to try out the different color inks. Using shades of the same color gives a subtle pattern, like the green on green pattern on the card base. For more dramatic pattern, try using contrasting colors, like the music score on the cream paper.




Thanks for viewing!


Supplies:
Stampendous!
CRS5021 Romantic Border
CRS5015 Holly Stocking
R103  Music Score
SSC1068 Christmas Wishes


Paper: DCWV Box of Cards The Christmas Combo

Thursday 17 November 2011

It's Christmas in Blue

So here is another quick card - I finished it in 1 hour! This one is inspired by Kim's layout.


Some of the images have been accentuated with dimensional glaze, eg the pattern surrounding the sentiment. I've also applied Frosted Lace (Stickles) on the snowflake swirls in the background.




Getting a hang on simple quick cards! Hopefully I will have a good run of it and have a stash of christmas cards by the time it comes around so I can send some off.


Thanks for viewing!


Supplies:
Stampendous!
SSC1068 Christmas Wishes
CRS5014 Snowflakes
CRS5018 Snowfall Pair Set


Paper: DCWV Box of Cards WinterCombo

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Christmas Bird

Everywhere, at every blog, photo stream/album, you will see christmas cards! 
Well, I might as well join in and make use of the colossal amount of inspiration out there.


This card was inspired by Taylor Usry's post. I used her layout idea and incorporated my new Stampendous! stamps. The colours are kinda christmasy but the card can actually be used for any occasion.




Supplies:
Stampendous!
CRS5016 Pine Drift Set
SSC031 Timeless Tags
CRV237 Lone Bird


Paper: BasicGrey Nordic Holiday


Thanks for viewing!

Sunday 13 November 2011

Birdcage

So I recently got my hands on some birdcage stamps. I have been avoiding getting them as I always felt they feel somewhat depressing - a bird trapped in a cage. However, after seeing a card made by Nina B for her sketch challenge, I decided it was time to explore birdcages.


Not surprisingly, my card turned out in dark muted earth colors, though I tried to keep the sentiment light. All in all, it's not too bad and I am rather pleased with the result.




Materials used:
Stampendous! 
SSC 1075 Birthday Cages
SSC 1097 Birthday Bouquet
CRR 116 Geo Bubbles

Sunday 9 October 2011

Lily Pad Cards October CCC

I was feeling good as I had completed the samples for my classes - felt relaxed for the first time in weeks!
Checked my email and behold! Lily Pad Cards Oct CCC is on!


Here is my card for the CCC. I think I only managed the layout/sketch option.
These cats (from Penny Black) had been sitting in my stash, all stamped and coloured, for years I think. I remembered I used to have some ready just in case I needed to make a fast card.






I had participated in Lily Pad Card's CCC 3 times now and this will be my 4th. So far I have received 3 international cards! It's very exciting to receive and see the creations from others. Feels good to know we all share the same passion!

Sunday 11 September 2011

Lily Pad's September CCC

It has been really hectic for me these past weeks and as a result, my creative juices have suffered. No surprise there for any crafter!
However, managed to squeeze sometime to make a card to submit for Lily Pad's CCC. If you are interested to know more about it, pls visit their blog by clicking here.

I could not manage the energy to include all the options (colour, sketch and theme), but got enough to follow 2 of them, the sketch and the theme (friendship).
Here is the card.



The deadline is 16 Sep 2011 so there is still time to submit your entry!

Tuesday 16 August 2011

The Cheater (or Smarter) Way to Matching Papers


I was browsing through Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft (Aust) magazine the other night, looking for inspiration, when I happen upon a beautiful card using layers of die cut frames.  I decided I would try the layout and set off looking for matching papers to do the layers.

After sorting through the box of leftover papers (I'm sure every paper crafter has one), I could not find any suitable matches. So I turned to my paper stacks and set about again, and discovered why buying papers in stacks are the easiest way to match papers, because stacks are made up of matching papers (that's why they are in stack - duh!)

So next time a need for matching papers arises, reach for the nearest paper stack and you won't go wrong!

Anyway, here is the card that I made. I used DCWV Baby Boy stack (updated), and the stamps are from Hero Arts (front), Stampendous (inside) and Penny Black (flower on the inside). For inks - Versacolor (pigment, black), Distress Ink (Vintage Photo, Frayed Burlap and Tumbled Glass).



 



Tuesday 9 August 2011

Sentimental


One of my favourite stamps of all time - Penny Black's "To You..." (2004). I think it just perfectly fits any birthday card. I love the writing style and the alignment of the stamp, in a square and not ordinarily in a straight line.

I submit this card for One Stop Craft Challenge - Sentimental, featuring sentiments as the main focus of the card.



Crafty Calendar Challenge (Aug 2011) - Hot Colours

So I decided to enter another blog challenge!  Here is my submission for The Crafty Calendar Challenge for Aug 2011 - Hot Colours.

I had initially wanted to make the Dahlia (Stampendous! Jumbo Cling Dahlia set) in layers, but somehow got deviated to layering it with Circle Doily (Hero Arts) and unexpectedly, an award ribbon (You're the Best set from Hero Arts). The sentiment is from Stampendous Friendship Assortment set (clear).

Saturday 6 August 2011

Lily Pad Cards - August CCC


Here is my submission for the Lily Pad Cards August CCC (Card Chain Challenge)

This time round, I tried to use all the options given - colour template (aqua, hot chocolate & lipstick red), the sketch, and the theme.

Unintentionally, I had used only HeroArts stamps! This is the new Carte Postale (clear) stamp set. What was most surprising to me was that for this simple card, I had used so many variety of inks, including Brilliance (Pearlescent Chocolate), Versacolor (Black), Versafine (Vintage Sepia & Crimson Red) and Distress Inks (Tea Dye & Frayed Burlap).

Looking forward to sending this card out!

From the Sweet

I just had a weekend of conducting Make n Take sessions, where one of the projects involved simple shaping of flower petals. Using a satay stick (a clean one of course!), I had simply bend the petals of the paper flowers backwards to create a slight curl for added dimension to the flower.

Soon afterwards was the birthday of a dear friend, so I set out to make her a card. Because I was still so 'affected' by shaping flower petals, the original idea of making 'lollipop' flowers became more curvy and dimensionalized.


The completed card turned out as a surprise for me. In my mind, I never imagined it would look like this. Nonetheless, I like the outcome and so adds it to my collection of 'outside my style' cards.


Inspired by Stampendous! (part 2)

So here is another project inspired by the Stampendous! catalogue. The inspiration came from page 7 of the 2011 30-Impressive-Stampendous!-Years catalogue.


I used the Jumbo Cling Hydrangea rubber stamp and embossed several copies. Cutting out the petals, I layered them on top of each other.


Instead of using photos as the project in the catologue did, I used the sentiment from the Jumbo Cling Thinking of You set. The set includes the sentiment, and that lovely pattern that decorates the beige base.


Other stamps I used are Jumbo Cling Happy Birthday set (the curvy swirls) and Princess Crown stamp, all from Stampendous!
The paper used is from DCWV Textured stack (beige) and Tradewinds stack (dark blue).


Find me on facebook or drop me a line at seriayu.cards@gmail.com

Sunday 24 July 2011

Card Chain Challenge

I recently joined a Card Chain Challenge (CCC) organised by Lily Pad Cards.
Card Chain Challenge consist of a group of crafters, who, upon joining the challenge, commit to making a card according to the theme(s) provided and sending this card to another member. They in turn will receive a card from another member.
This means that all members of the CCC will make and give away a card, and receive one in return.

I was super excited about this challenge which was the 1st I was participating.
This was the card I made, and it was sent to Betty Schaub of Texas.
I decided to try combining black, a serious kind of colour, with a fun, sweet colour - pink. I cut the circular card using Cricut Wild Card cartridge on the Expressions machine. The flowers are from Hero Arts and the sentiment from Penny Black Inc stamps.



I also, very excitingly, received a card from Kim Chong of Selangor!
Kim was so kind to also include some flowers for me to use. Thanks Kim!


The girl as the central image of Kim's card was so beautifully coloured and combined so well with the pattern papers that Kim used.


I am so looking forward to the next challenge!

Thursday 7 July 2011

Inspired by Stampendous! (part1)

I got my hands on the latest Stampendous catalogue (Merry & Magical) and found inspiration!
This card I made is inspired by a card on page 17.



The card base is white, and I layered it with red paper from DCWV Textured stack.



Instead of leaving the red paper as it is, I stamped with Versafine (from Tsukineko) and clear emboss it. The effect is gorgeous!



The next step is to cut the red paper to fit the panels of the multi folded card. As the card front and back can be seen, i had layered the red paper on both sides.
That done, the card is 75% complete.



The last bit is to add the cherry blossoms which I stamped, coloured and cut out. Then it's just left with arranging and pasting them onto the card.



Send me your comments or find me on facebook - seriayu.cards@gmail.com


Thursday 30 June 2011

Cover it Up!



It has been a while since I was creative, so embarking on this project was daunting. It was an album cover, which started white, and all that white was a little scary!

I started by stamping and rubbing colour onto the cover as a base. I had an idea to use scrap papers to decorate the album cover, so I began by cutting them into small rectangles and distressing the edges by scraping them and edging them with inks. Then I pasted them onto the cover.

I decided to add stamping on the rectangles and misting them with glimmer mist. Once dried, the cover had a lovely distressed look.


For the front cover, I decided on handmade flowers, made from Spellbinder's Rose Creations. I cut each flower size twice and for the small flowers, I simply removed a couple of the bottom layers.


Lace, glitter, and pearls completed the look. Here is the finished product.


Tell me your thoughts by sending me a message at seriayu.cards@gmail.com, or simply find me on facebook!

Thursday 28 April 2011

Layered Flower

Handmade paper flowers are all the rage now with so many techniques being introduced. Find some gorgeous ideas on YouTube.

I came across the idea for this layered flower in a magazine and decided to try it out.
The technique is simply to layer 2 flowers together but pasting only from the base of the petals to about halfway up. Separate the tips of the flowers by curling them upwards so that the bottom flower layer can be seen.

Sponging the edges of the petals accentuate the layers. Add a few more layers of different sizes and you're done!



For the flower center, try buttons (like I did), small flower buds, beads, filigree, etc - spoiled for choice!

Below are some more images of the finished card I made.


Find me on Facebook or leave me a message - seriayu.cards@gmail.com

Friday 22 April 2011

In the meantime: Some cards I made lately

Here they are:

The lace on the above card was coloured by Distress Ink (Crushed Olive). As the lace is cotton, I simply sprayed a bit of water on it and gently swipe the ink onto the lace. At first, the ink will be blotchy but give it 5 mins, and it will spread and even out. When it dries, the lace looks like it was made in that colour!




The normal way I make the paper flowers is to wet the petals and crush them. The crushing gives them a nice texture and natural looking lines. For the flower in the card above, I decided not to crush the flowers just to see the effect. It looks like a blooming rose. The lace is coloured again, using Distress Ink (Antique Linen).





The card above was made for a guy. I admit I hit a mental block for this one so I kept it safe with musculine colours with a dash of orange to brighten it up. The design is also simple, again safe, and because most guys dont go for clutter. For that matter, I dont think most guys go for handmade cards either!






Find me on facebook or contact me at seriayu.cards@gmail.com