The Brown Series Three

Hello again. This is card number three in the series. One more to go and then we can move on to some other creative ideas. I wanted to show how you can take the same basic design and put a twist on it. This is a great way to maximize that left over paper. Or you can start with a 12x12 sheet and cut it down. Done properly you can get at least 16-20 cards completed without skimping on the materials. Hmmm. That gives me ideas for my next few posts.




Still using the invitation remnants I again stamped the Fiskars quote onto the orange cardstock and inked the edges. This time I carried the background swirl stamp onto the quote. It was then adhered to the brown paper--all Bazzill. On this photo you can see where I used a fantastic swirl stamp from Little Yellow Bicycle. I applied three different shades of ink to the stamp and did primary and secondary generation stamping to achieve this effect. I absoloutely adore this stamp set. You will see more of these images on cards and scrapbook pages I create.


To add more creativity I ran the three tabs through a Cuttlebug folder. Then I used the tourquoise/blue ink and swiped it over the raised portions. This really made the images POP.


I was excited to use some new Petaloo flowers I received. I layered an orange and soft blue felt flower over the polka dot to tone it down a bit and adhered the entire ensemble together with a brown brad. The polkas mimic the dots found on the three squares cardstock at the bottom of the card.

I had so much fun testing my creativity with this series. I really like the randomness and the free form of this card. This also gives me designs for my arsenal. They are simple enough to be mass produced in a short amount of time. They can easily be turned into anniversary, sympathy, get well or whatever card with a simple switch of the quotes.


The final card in the series is cute if not totally unique. Look to find it here in a few days. Maybe over the weekend if I get ambitious.

Of course it is inked with lots of love. Why bother to ink, if it is not Inked in the Name of Love.

Until then.

The Brown Series One

Hello again.

Wow, do I have a treat for you. While cleaning in my studio, I came across some papers I had used for designing some wedding invitation samples. Then I remembered the Little Yellow Bicycle stamps that I had recently received and the creative juices began flowing.

I recalled that I had cut the sample paper to specific measurements. Then I thought how can I test my new stamps and use up all of my paper to create a variety of cards by simply changing the greeting/journaling?

This is the first result of my efforts. I had so much fun working on this card. I did hit a lull when I could not decide how to or if I should use the medallions. Yes, you read correctly. I stamped with Tim Holtz Marmalade Distress Ink and cut out three of them. I finally settled on the one in the left hand corner. You will probably see the other two show up on another card.

The Thank You is from Imaginisce, stamped with Anna Griffin Chocolate ink and trimmed using the Deckle edge scissors. All other paper used on the card is from Bazzill texture. I love the Bling paper, especially the String of Pearls which is what I used for the medallion and the Thank You. The handwriting stamp is from Paper Wishes Hot off the Press. I absolutely adore their rubber stamps. The detail is incredible.

And now for the focal part of the card. That breathtaking butterfly and the stem of flowers. I could not decide how to approach the butterfly. I finally decided to use a variety of the Tim Holtz Distress inks with my stipple brush. Once I had coverage in about three different shades, I pounced using the Chocolate ink. The outline of the insect was meant to be left open, but I closed it off by using a Marvy Uchida brown fine tip marker.

For the flowers I used a variety of Marvy markers. Lt green and dark green was used on the leaves. That same brown was used for the stem and the flower were a mixture of orange and scarlet. I tried to go deeper on the edges of the flowers to give them some depth. I was pleased with the overall presence of the card. The small dots leading to the butterfly are also from a LYB stamp set. The ribbon is American Crafts, brad from PaperWishes and flowers are Prima. Of couse I could not leave well enough alone. Once I had finished stamping the handwriting pattern, I used that same brown ink to pounce the edges of the card. A bit of orange was mixed in for the top and bottom of the card.

My aim is to see how much I can maximize this color combination. Of course each one will be happily Inked in the Name of Love.

Until then.