Wild Card Class Inspired me!

I am taking another Online Card Class, my third, and the theme is Wild Cards. Each day we will see videos showing how to make cards that are different in that they move or slide or pop, and I thought, "You need to be inspired to makes something different!" Day 1 the cards were a gatefold with a different sort of opening, a shape card, and a 3D box card. I have made similar cards in the past, but usually with such difficulty that I thought, "I will never make this again!" But these instructors' videos are filled with tips and hints that I had not heard before (or maybe did and forgot...I have been doing this for almost 20 years, after all!) So after watching the first two videos and skimming the info about the box card, I figured I probably would NOT make the box card, just more cutting and gluing than I am into. But then the next day I remembered I needed to make a birthday card for a special friend who turns 65 today, and decided something like that is really special. She also makes cards with me and will appreciate the time I put into this one.

Recent cards I have made

Inside of above card

White embossing paste colored with copic markers after it dries.

"herringbone" technique with paper strips

Used distress inks on top of torn masking paper, then stamped image in black

inside of above card, same technique with masking

Louise Lascola taught this one using punches

embossed image in black then applied distress inks on watercolor paper

Unity Stamps

I have a new favorite stamp company: Unity Stamps. Check out their blog while you are there or the stamp challenges on their Facebook page(search for Unity show & tell). One of my favorite designers is Phyllis Harris. This card is made with the set FACE THE SUNSHINE.

Used watercolor technique with a water brush pen and Tombows, added Copic colors to skin and sun, added texture with a piece of towel picking up the darker green and dabbing it on, then tore designer paper to back it up, with additional pieces along the right edge of the inside. The main image was die cut and popped up with dimensional tape, too.

Helpful Hints for Mailing Handmade Cards

I subscribe to the Mad Stamper on youtube and she recently added two videos that have very helpful tips for mailing handmade cards. Also she has a link to a pdf file that is a handy chart for figuring out the US postage for your cards. You can watch the video here, or you can click on the link for YOUTUBE above to see more info like her blog page address.

Here is the follow up video, part 2:

Thank goodness for Side by Side Stampers...

...or I wouldn't get any stamping done!

Here is the card I made a couple of weeks ago under the guidance of Louise L. It is a great design to use up small pieces of designer paper.

Finally finished this card:

I had started this in Angie's class months ago, but brought it home to finish the coloring, stamping the sentiment, and adding the butterflies. Can you tell that the middle butterfly on top is floating on acetate? The card is a step fold design I think. Very cool, don't you think?

Liane and Sam are getting married!

and this is the card I made for them. I asked Liane what Sam would be wearing and she said blue tie, grey vest and pants, so this is what I designed. I also asked Liane if her gown had a bow in the front or back...

Inspiration for this card came from this pinterest post by a Splitcoast Stamper. And she got the idea from another stamper who posted a template on her blog. Aren't we just a nice group when it comes to sharing? I drew out the dress free hand as well as the groom's clothes. I used Dazzling Diamonds on the  embossed swirls and added the seed pearls. the card is glued to an easel stand and the sentiment is on the back.