Back at Camp!

   I can hardly believe that we are starting our third week at Summer Card Camp.  I have totally enjoyed every day in camp and I'm looking forward to another fun week!   

    Today, I have two new cards to share and both were created for Camp and also were inspired by the new color combo we were given today.   These colors I have to admit are not my favorites, but this is part of the fun and what makes it a true challenge.  It makes me have to move out of my comfort zone, but that is how we learn.  This is a swatch of the colors we'll be working with this week -- through Thursday.  Friday is the day we are provided with several new options and those we use for our weekend cards.

 

    This is my first card and this is a card shape I have always loved and never quite figured out it's done.  After reading Jennifer's blog yesterday and seeing a card with that exactly shape, I finally realized that they use the Tim Holtz - Brackets die to create the edges.   I still am not sure, if I did it correctly, but I took my die and a card base and placed the die on top - and ran it through my Cuttlebug twice (once on each side).   If anyone knows of a better way --- Please share!!  You can see that card that inspired me on Jennifer's blog HERE - It's her 'Thinking of You' Card and it's lovely!

    For my card, I started with a sheet of Kraft Cardstock that I cut down to 5 1/2" X 12".  I then scored it at 6" the long way, (portrait) and the place the Bracket die on top on the right side and ran it through my Cuttlebug.   I repeated that on the left side and then put the entire front in a Cuttlebug embossing folder for more texture.  I then used a combination of Distress Inks to create a brown/tan/golden background and stamped my image on top with Coffee Bean Pigment ink.  I used my heat tool to dry it and then added Barn Door Red Distress Stick;es to a few areas on the image.  I also used the same color Distress ink to edge the card.  The image was then adhered to the card base and I bordered it with two /4" strips of cream cardstock on each side.  I finished off my card with a dark brown bow, which I glued on with Glossy Accents.


   For my second card, I started by creating a fun background with one of the new Hero Art Background Stamps (Out of Print).  I stamped it onto Kraft Cardstock using a Creamy Brown Chalk by Colorbox.    I then took another new HA Stamp (from the Ornaments set), and stamped it in Versamark onto cream cardstock and embossed it with clear.  I then used a combination of Alcohol Inks to create a distressed background and then cut out the image and layered it onto another piece of cardstock.   I used a border punch to make the top edge and then adhered that onto the base, along with the image, added a bow and a little die cut and was done.

   I have to admit, these have NOT turned out to be my 'favorite' cards, but they are also not my worst.  I really will need to focus and work hard this week to get used to these colors.   I also realized that I do NOT have much in patterned paper that goes all that well with this color combo.  And considered how much 'paper' I have, that was a bit of a surprise.  But...with Alcohol Inks, Copics, Distress Inks and so much more, I have a lot of ways I can create my own backgrounds and that's good practice for me .

   My next project today is to sort out more cards and start a new pile for Operation Write Home.  I also am totally behind on playing along with many of my favorite challenges, so that's something else, I may do today!  Who knows.....maybe I just rest and relax!!

   Update:   After sorting through all my recent cards, and organizing my craft room a bit more -- I decided to create one more card today! My inspiration came from today's Greeting Challenge over at  The Outlawz.   If you want to play along, all you need to do is sign into the group - It's OPEN and FREE to all, and then look for the Monday - Greeting Card Challenge, which you'll find HERE!!   Our theme today is 'Things in the Garden' and for me (along with many weeds), I have oodles of wonderful flowers including a lot of Wildflowers that I planted by seed this year.   I actually chose this stamp because of the name, and it's also a new favorite from my every growing Hero Arts Collection.   This one is called Wildflower Garden and it's a really nice Cling Set.

  As you can see, I also went back to my comfort zone and used my favorite colors -- Purple and Pinks, of course.  This time I used a combination of Alcohol Inks with Perfect Pearls mist and stamped my image onto Watercolor paper.  This technique make the image almost look more like a water-colored design and it's fun and easy to do!  I promise I'll be a good student and will be sure to use our new Color Combo for more cards again tomorrow!    I am really enjoying these classes and the students in this group are truly AMAZING.  I wish I could share the Gallery with you, because you would LOVE the wonderful inspiration and I'm telling you, these are some serious crafters who are fantastic!   Every day when I look at the Gallery, I am blown away by the wonderful creations!   I try to stop in a few times each day and check out the newest additions -- they are really awesome.    I hope Jennifer and Kristina will continue to offer more of these online card camps in the future - if so, you can bet I'll be there!!  Summer Card Camp ROCKS!!

  Have a wonderful Summer evening and as always -- Happy Crafting!!