MUSE2

The theme for my card in the Altenew Muse class is to use home decor as the jumping off point for a card design.  I think what appeals to me the most about this class as it focuses on design, balance, use of space, color combos and most of all the element of organizing your design.

 

I used Altenew's Spring Daisy embossed on vellum for my focal point to reflect the wall hanging.  By looking at my planning sheet you can easily see how I designed my card.

Now to get more homework done - I'm only 3 days behind!!  Life interferes with my card making sometimes!!  Take care.

 

MUSE

I am taking the Altenew Academy's newest class (Muse) taught by Carissa Wiley and what a fresh way of designing cards - these classes are all taught by well-known designers and are so reasonably priced - highly recommend!!  Whenever I take these online classes tho, I'm horrible about doing the homework.  This time I decided to be a good student and get something done.

The first day of class had the theme of using fashion as inspiration.  Carissa gave many tips on ways to look at fashion photo and pull out elements that could be used in designing a card.  Here's my inspiration photo:

Love the soft colors in the flowers and the black on the bottom edge of the dress along with all the white space.

I first tried doing the composition with the flowers and black on the bottom right, but it was too heavy.  So just inverted the design and liked it much better.  I colored the flowers with Altenew markers and fussy cut.  The centers of the flowers have black seed beads for a little texture and dimension.  Rounded the two corners to reflect the slope of the model's shoulders.

I've started my own "muse" board on Pinterest to use as starting points for colors and design - after I add the photo to my board, I take a pic of it with my IPhone to keep on my desk.

So the homework is finished and I'm handing it in!!!  Am entering this in LaVon's summer celebrations challenge and Virginia's summer blog party.

Thanks for stopping by and love to read your kind comments!

WHITE ON WHITE

Addicted to CAS has chosen "white on white" for the their current challenge.  Have always loved this look, but find it difficult to execute to my liking.  Just bought the Altenew "Bamboo Rose" stamps and so decided to give them a try for this challenge.

For my background piece, I used some striped vellum on which I stamped the roses in Versamark and embossed with HA white satin pearl powder.  Added the sentiment and a few clear dots - done and dusted!  Since I moved the craft room to my main floor, I don't have the good window with natural light anymore - also my leg in the brace doesn't like to stand for very long - anyway you can see the pretty shine from the embossing powder on part of the card.  As for white on white, I'm happy with the results.

Thanks for stopping by today and love to read your kind comments.

HERO ARTS SCRAMBLE #155

Arlene is hosting a 24 hour scramble today - started at 11 am CST and will end tomorrow (Sunday) at 11 am CST.  We are asked to create and post a card in 90 minutes with the challenge to use a die cut and pop it up - also use Hero Arts products. 

While I was in rehab, I had lots of time to wander through blogs and gather ideas for future cards.  One that I loved for it's simplicity was this one by Yana Smakula. The brayered background was so fun to make - I just pulled out various HA inks (pale tomato, and several other pinks that were in the monthly kits) and brayered them on.  Used the same colors for stamping my hibiscus flowers,  The sentiment was stamped in HA black and clear embossed for some shine.  Added a soft grey mat and popped it up with fun foam.  The larger flower is also popped up.  Some black dots were added - and done!  Think it would be fun to create a set of these for a gift!  I am adding this card to LaVon's LOVE challenge (summer celebrations theme).

Thanks for visiting today and also for your kind comments.

FLAMINGO SLIDER

The challenge theme this month at A Blog Named Hero is "interactive".  Since I usually just make regular A2 cards, this was a real challenge for me.  Was going to make a shaker card, but then saw this video by Dawn and this one by Erica on how to make a slider card and it quite intrigued me.  The idea by Erica used an MFT die (which I didn't have) but I did have the zipper die from Essentials by Ellen which looked like it might do and so my card began.

The base of my card is a piece of watercolor paper on which I used distress oxide inks in worn lipstick, fossilized amber and a little water.  Next I added the greenery around the bottom of the piece and then die cut with the zipper die.  Had to use my exacto knife to slice through the perforations on the die.  The little notch where the ribbon is attached was made with the second smallest HA circle die.  Colored the flamingo, did the scoring according to the flamingo proportions (I didn't use the scoring that Dawn or Erica used) and added the sentiments on the inner piece.  Put it all together with scor-tape, stapled on the little ribbon (colored with worn lipstick), added a few sequins - and an interactive card was created.  A first for me!!

Be sure to follow the challenge rules and enter your card here for a chance at a lovely prize from A Blog Named Hero!!

On another note - I have been home from rehab for two weeks - it's going ok, but have 8-10 more weeks of the full leg brace.  My physical therapist says I should be great by Christmas!!! Not only does the quad muscle have to heal before I can exercise that left leg, but then I have to have p.t. for the new left knee - right now I can only bend it to 45 degrees (doctor's orders!!). I was at 125 degrees bend when I fell on 2 May.

Cards will be sporadic as it's rather difficult sitting at a desk with my leg propped up.  It really felt good tho to get the creative juices going again with this card. 

Since Erica's card inspired me to create a slider card I am entering it in MFT's Camp Create challenge.

 

Thanks for stopping by and for all your kind comments.

OUT OF COMMISSION - UPDATE!!!!!

UPDATE!!!  I get to go home on Tuesday.  Tomorrow the OT and I will go to my house for a "home safety" check - make sure i can do everything by myself when I'm home.  Then Tuesday morning my son will pick me up and take me home.  I will have home health services for a few weeks (PT, bath aide and nurse).  Don't know how long i will have full leg brace on - Dr. is being super cautious and that's OK.

I have managed to keep busy coloring with watercolor pencils and a few copics.  A friend gave me some SU papers - called "inside the lines" which are really cool for coloring - so I have some good card starters going - plus several others of my wonderful stamping friends sent me stuff to color and make a few cards as I sit here with my leg up in a recliner - not the ideal position but it works!!  Have also managed to read about six books.

Finally, I want to thank all of you who have sent cards - the staff here is amazed at the number of cards I've received this past month - you all have been so fantastic and it certainly has kept my spirits up the past 5 weeks!!  I am truly blessed!!

I am going back to my house today for a fun project - my two sons and granddaughter are going to work on my new craft room which is being moved from the lower level of my townhouse to my second bedroom on the first floor.  New desk, chair, plastic pad under my chair (we think the chair was part of the cause for my fall) - so when it is still neat and tidy I will take some pictures to share. 

Again, thank you all for your thoughts and prayers as I have recovered from this "big bump in the road" of my life!!  I have always liked this little saying "Man plans and God laughs" - I will still plan and hope God doesn't play any more jokes on me!

Hugs, Betty