Happy Birthday! 1 card 3 Ways,MOJO, and a QUICK TIP!

TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT!  Taking MORE UP and OVER THE TOP!

I have a Birthday card to share with you today!  Actually, it is the same card three ways.  Each one kicked up a notch.  This card is for Julee Tilman's Birthday, owner of Verve!  Happy Birthday, Julee!   Check out the Verve blog to see all the wonderful Birthday card creations designed by the Verve Divas to Celebrate Julee's special day!

For today's cards, I am using some SU designer papers from my stash.  I am using Verve's Thankful Accents and Birthday Bash stamp sets.  I combined the stamps with Verve's Cut Above Jotted Heart and Charming Oval dies.   I am using the sketch from this week's Mojo251.  I turned it.

All three cards use the same stamps and dies.  That did not change.  Check out what I changed/added between the three.  I do want to mention that I KNOW that this first card is in no way CAS.  It is a serious layered card.  Ten layers(more if you are counting where I layer some of my die cuts for added stiffness) if you are counting all the die cuts...etc.  See...NOT CAS!   I know many of you would like to know how to add MORE to an already MORE card.  What MORE can I do to kick it up?  In the end it is a matter of preference.  Some like MORE some like EVEN MORE,  and some like OVER the TOP!     

CARD 1  I started with a scrap bin card base that was done.   This was discarded due to the sewing machine stitches that got gnarled up in the bottom right hand corner.  I sort of covered it up with the watermark, but it is still there and looks bad.  I was TRYING to recycle.  Anyway, the card base is The Paper Company kraft.  I started using this paper for my card bases over a year ago to make my cards lighter as well as less expensive.  I layered a stitched piece of the designer paper over top.  The inside panels were not stitched.  I layered several die cut frames, stamped the frame image from the Thankful Accents set, added the glittered  die cut Jotted Hearts, layered die cut sentiment, and two tiny clear gems.  All the edges were ink distressed.  All frames and dies received varying thicknesses of foam tape or dimensionals to create height and depth. 

CARD 2   I had to start with an all new card base and background piece of paper.  The messed up stitching got to me.  Again, The Paper Company kraft base.  I added a piece of cream card stock to cover front.  Then layered another piece of cream with the coral rose color designer paper background.  I, again, stitched it.  The inner pieces are the same.  They just needed to be cut down slightly since the background is now smaller due to the layering.  I stitched all three  of these panels this time.  I took the very same center element as it was and popped it on the top.  I did add a seam binding bow with a star burst sparkle in center.  I am amazed at how differently these two cards look with no more changes than added layered background, stitching, and bow.

CARD 3 To put it nicely,this card is OVER THE TOP!  Technically, I only did a couple of things to this card to take it from card 2 status to card 3 status.  I removed the large decorative frame from behind the center piece and added an ivory accordion fold jumbo medallion.  Foam tape was use for securing pieces as well as adding dimension.  I also wanted more elements of sparkle so two crystal stick pins were added for drama. That is it!  


When working with making MORE cards MORE, it is important to always consider colors and patterns.  I could have gone with a bold pattern on the medallion, but I really thought that would have been too much.  For this card, I chose to add another ink distressed cream element.  I believe I still have impact just not too busy.

QUICK TIP!  Sewing Machine stitching.  I love to stitch either a basic stitch or zig zag stitch to my cards.  It saves me on adhesives plus adds a decorative touch.   Something I did to make my crafting easier for me is to write using a sharpie(I used green so it would show up) directly to my machine the numbers I needed for either the zig zag or regular stitch for distance and width.   I can vary these, but when crafting and in a crunch, I do not have time to think between stitches which width I know works.  These numbers are my basics and lifeline.  Just see it, set it, and stitch it!  Hope that helps.  I believe nail polish remover will wipe off the sharpie ink.  Just be sure not to touch machine writing as it may remove that too.  I just leave mine up there as is.  I think it has been like this for over two years.   Thought I'd share!  Hope this quick tip was helpful!

Let me know which card is your favorite of the three and why!  Also, would you like to see more  TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT posts like this?

Don't forget to check out the Verve blog to see all the wonderful Birthday card creations designed by the Verve Divas!

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Playing along with a few challenges.

Make it Monday: always Anything Goes 

Inspire Me Fridays: Anything Goes

Hiding in My Craft Room:  Layers 

Crafty Bloggers Network: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Hey Girl

Simply Create Too: Two or More of Something (3 cards or two hearts)

Supplies

Stamps Verve's Thankful Accents and Birthday Bash sets

Paper SU dp, PTI vintage cream, The Paper Company kraft

Ink Ranger Brushed Corduroy, PTI Berry Sorbet

Accessories Sewing Machine, MFT die-namics, seam binding, foam tape, dimensionals,  clear star burst, stick pins, clear gems, Spellbinder's  die, Verve's Cut Above Jotted Heart and Charming Oval dies.

Stamptacular Sunday, SFYTT, Throwdown, and MORE!

Happy Sunday, everyone!  It is time for Stamptacular Sunday Challenge!  The challenge this wee is "S.O.S."  We are making cards for "someone special."  Check out the link and play along with us! 

For my card I am using ODBD The Lord Has Risen and Cross of Christ stamp sets.  I decided to play again with ODBD Stamping In Time Challenge.  The challenge is "Distress Call."   I stamped the flower image and colored with copics.  I colored and cut out and adhered with some foam dimensionals.  I added some clear, blue, and green glitter for a wee bit of sparke accenting.  I finished the flowers with some gold pearls.  I layered SU vintage springtime paper collection and chose to color my flowers to coordinate with the paper.  I added some lace, ribbon, two different stitches with sewing machine, decorative pin accents, and a sentiment tag tied with twine.  I love how the card turned out.  I distressed all the edges with some distressing ink in camomile.  

I am using the colors from the Color Throwdown and the sketch from SFYTT(February2011)!  I am also playing in a few other blog challenges!  Charisma Cardz:  Spring, Dutch Dare:  glitter, ABC Challenge:  "O" is for ocean blue,  Creative Cottage:  fabulous florals,  The Pixie Cottage:  Embossing (folder), AllSorts:  Inspired by Nature, Crazy4Challenges(C4C75):  diecuts





Betty

Stamping In Time: On Assignment Challenge(SNTODBD17) and MORE!

It is time for Our Daily Bread Designs  Stamping In Time Challenge(SNTODBD17)!  The assignment is ODBD stamps.   The challenge this time is a technique. I am challenging you to the Emboss Resist Technique! Any of the ODBD images can work for this technique. We would love to see you come up with creative ways to incorporate ODBD frames, sentiments, and scriptures into the technique design. We would love to see what you create using Our Daily Bread Design stamps!

I am using  ODBD  Path of Life and Happy Birthday stamp sets.  I am mixing some of the older and newer spellbinders nestabilities.  I layered two patterns from the Memory Box Enchanted paper pack which coordinated with the color cardstocks I used beautifully. I stamped the scene from Path of Life using versamark.  I used black embossing powder to emboss the scene image.  I then used coordinating inks to create my sponged emboss resist sunset.  I finished with some silver pearls and satin bow.   

Check out what  Angie and Connie  created using ODBD stamps with the emboss resist technique.

I told you all I am have been enjoying playing in blog challenges lately!  I am playing in a few first challenges for me with this card.  Stacey's Curtain Call Color Challenge 45   Anything that involves concord crush is just lush and I am not really a purple lover.  I think this is my first ever Mojo Monday(MOJO154) sketch card.  I cannot believe it myself.  Belli Challenge 99 "old stamps and old stuff" ; Incy Wincy Designs Challenge 56 buttons and bows ; Stamping Vacation Challenge is to pick three from the list.  I chose a frame, string(tie my tags on with), and yellow sun! ; Simon Says Stamp and Show your Layers! This is a new challenge for me, too.  I hope I have enough layers! ; The Creative Cottage Challenge 22 Celebrations! ; and Really Reasonable Ramblings(RRR6)!  Flowers and Ribbons!  I have a flower border, flowers in the focal image, and a floral background dp.   I even added a little flower punch over my button.  Of course, I have some ribbon!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by!

Simple Pleasures!

I had a bit of time to stamp for fun today! WooHoo! Of course, there are things around the house that I could have done, but I really needed to stamp!

This card is for Verve's VLVSep2010 Home Inspiration Sketch Challenge.

This is the room I chose as my inspiration!

I am also doing The Corrosive Blog Challenge for the GUYS! This week we are make a card for the guys! Goodness that is so hard for me. I still added my fou fou bow and a butterfly. The butterfly is marine mist and only sports one gold pearl so I am thinking it can be a manly butterfly. The bow is brown? This is about as manly as I can get I am thinking.  This card is also for Speedy the Cats Friend Challenge #18!

I like to cheat the nesties from time to time to get more bang for my buck.  I am using the new lacey squares, but I needed a rectangle.  So, I cut out two and pieced together.  You really cannot tell and I think it looks great!  Thrilled about this look!

Stamps
Verve Floral Whimsy and Serenity sets
Paper
soft suede, marine mist, ivory, marine mist dp, retired soft suede dp
Ink
soft suede, Tim Holtz stormy skies
Accessories
ribbon, button, gold pearls, MS butterfly punch, Ranger distressing tool, spellbinders, nestabilities, sizzix embossing plate, lacey squares(made it a rectangle)

Thinking of You! VERVE VLVSEP01

This card is for today's SCS Inspiration Challenge(IC195)! Thanks, Anne for hosting!!! Our inspiration site is "Creative Wall Coverings. " As soon as I saw wallcoverings, I thought background stamping. I used two inspiration pics for the backgrounds and one for the focal image.

Here are the three links to my inspiration pictures.
ONE, TWO, THREE.

Also, want to give a shout out to Julie(juliemlacey)for the wonderful color combo she used on her card here.

This card is also for Verve (VLVSEP01) sketch challenge. I am using Verve Bountiful Backgrounds, Budding Blossoms, and Enjoy stamp sets.

For the background panel, I stamped the fleur de lis from the bountiful backgrounds set. using soft suede. I stamped off so the image was lighter. I sponged ranger antique linen over the whole piece and used soft suede on the edges.

For the MS border punch lower panel, I sponged scarlet jewel onto this after punching.

The soft suede section, I used an EK border punch and sponged the soft suede panel. In keeping with the round theme, I used my cuttlebug swiss dots folder on the reverse side.

The next panel is the vertical lines with dots image from the Bountiful backgrounds set. I stamped in scarlet jewel, sponged with ranger antique linen, and soft suede on the edges. I added the same EK Success border punch, but did not allow the dots to show this time just the tiny scallop.

I stamped my focal image stem using ripe avocado and rocked and rolled a touch of soft suede. I stamped the flowers twice. I colored both with copics, but cut out and added one over the top of the others for some added dimension. I stenciled antique linen and some soft suede around border. I added a circle punch sentiment which I sponged with some ranger antique linen.

I finished my card with scarlet jewel satin ribbon and gold pearls.

Stamps
Verve Bountiful backgrounds, Budding Blossoms, Enjoy
Ink
Soft suede, scarlet jewel, Ranger antique linen, ripe avocado
Paper
PTI scarlet jewel and vintage cream, SU soft suede
Accessories,
Nestabilities, cuttlebug ef, MS and EK success border punches, circle punch, photo corner punch, foam squares, glue dots, gold pearls, sponges, copics, scarlet jewel satin ribbon, gold cording, CAD