Holiday Cards

Hi everyone!

I have been busy making my Christmas Cards for this year and having a BLAST! I looked through a lot of magazines for inspiration--and boy did I find it.

I used scrapbook paper from last year, this year and just plain old scraps to create my cards.

Using my color wheel helped me keep balance with the colors. Of course you have your old stand by's: red, green, gold. I used varying shades of each color to give the cards some unity.

The papers I used were from:

SEI Alpine Forest

Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly

Solid colored card stock

I also used some BLING and my computer to write the saying for the cards. I did print on scrapbook paper this year which made it more interesting.

I hope I given you some ideas for your cards. Have a great rest of the week. Keep Scrapin'

Busy Month!

HI everyone!

I have had a really busy month--sorry I haven't been online much. There was a trip to Port St. Joe, FL for a family reunion, then we headed to Disney for Mickey's Halloween Party and the best thing my 1st grandbaby was born Oct. 30---Max. He is so precious!!! I can't wait to make scrapbook pages for him. This week I will be looking at some new techniques for Holiday cards and scrapbook pages. Check back for some great ideas for all your holiday cards and pages.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Looking At Color

This time we are going to be looking at how to use colors to enrich our cards and layouts.

Color is an element of are with three properties:
HUE : the name of the color

INTENSITY: or the purity and strength of the color such as brightness or dullness

VALUE : the lightness or darkness of the color

Sir Isaac Newton laid the foundation for today's color wheel with his experiments that began in 1666. A color wheel is essentially a diagram that represents the colors of the visible solar spectrum.

Primary colors : red/yellow/blue

Secondary Colors: when you mix two primary colors orange/green/violet

Complimentary Colors : are the colors opposite from one another


Using your color wheel you can place a triangle on see what 3 colors are pointed out with the points of the triangle. Next, try a rectangle to create 4 colors. One last way is by looking at 3 colors right next to each other on the color wheel. There are many combinations you can try. Click on this link and watch the video about how to use the color wheel.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVsRo1aLsbs

Your Challenge this time is so make a fall card using the triangle of 3 colors for you color scheme.

I will post my cards and layouts later on in the week. Good Luck~ Keep Scrappin'

Recycling Old Cards

HI guys!

Hope you had a great weekend. I tried something new this week. I decided that I would recycle some old cards into new ones. I went through my old cards and picked out pieces that I want to use mostly for embellishments. I did save a few card fronts and use them as the new card and just update them. It was fun trying to figure out what colors to use, where I was going to place the pieces and what embellishments I needed to complete the card. I also was trying to use my paper scrap box which is so full!!! Here is what I came up with--I hope I have inspired you to recycle!

Have a good week---next topic "Using the Color Wheel"

Cutting Matisse Style using Shape & Rhythm

Hi guys! Hope everyone is having a good week. This time we are going to be learning about Matisse's cutting style of art---cutting freehand shapes(an enclosed space defined by other elements)with scissors. As I researched Matisse's technique I was really excited about the possibilities. He uses rich colors and shapes, cutting it out and pasting it into the painting (rhythm - a type of movement in drawing and painting, repeating shapes & colors). When Matisse developed cancer he had to be in a wheelchair and was not able to stand for long periods of time. He began creating paper cuttings and collages because this was one of the things he could do while in his wheelchair. Making these paper cutouts is something Matisse is best known for. So get your scissors and start cutting either geometric shapes or whatever shape you would like to try. Make sure you use all the scraps you have left over --you will be creating a collage. Check out the video bar for some examples of Matisse's work. You will be inspired.
One other technique I will be using is 'tearing paper'. Look on the sidebar for the 'Tip of the Week' to get some examples of tearing paper.

Materials:
Scissors (regular or decorative) Scenic Route 'Garden Route' Letters
adhesive Martha Stewart - Clear Pattern Stamps
card stock - multicolors Color Box Pigment Ink - Copper
5 1/2 - 4 3/4 card Recollections 'Autumn' Design Mat Pack
12x12 scrapbook paper (solid or patterned)

Step 1: Decide what geometric shapes you would like to use and cut out freehand (just let yourself go!). Then decide what shape you would like to cut out; fruit, animal, flower, free shape (any shape).

Remember! Use the negative shape you have left over when you begin pasting.

Step 2: Arrange your shapes how you would like them, then begin pasting.

Step 3: Add embellishments, write words around the edges of the card, or scrapbook page

Using pictures to make a card

HI guys!
I was trying something a little different with making a card today. I had some great pictures of mushrooms that my husband and I took on our hike this weekend. I printed them out 3 1/2 by 51/2 photo size and cut each mushroom out. Then I took some scrap pattern paper I had and green card stock cut the edges with my zigzag decorative scissors. The extra picture print outs I cut freehand some grass to put along the bottom of the card. It turned out pretty cool. I was sending them to some special friends of mine that I am an Angel too. I think it turned out pretty good!
Have a great rest of the week! Keep Scrappin'!

Bleaching as a Color Tool--using lines and patterns

What a week I have had! I was trying to be really cool and savvy and have a video of my next project to show you---BUT noooo! My son tried to help me, I made a Power Point--it didn't work and then I tried just doing a simple slide show. OHH my! You would have thought it was an act of Congress! Well, needless to say, technology can be both a blessing and a CURSE! I will try again in coming weeks--this will not get my down!!! Now for the project of the week.

On 'YouTube' I saw this great technique I would like for you to try. You use a little bit of bleach to give your card a different effect and color by bleaching the color out. I thought it would be fun to use lines and see how creative I could get.

Materials:
small jar or bowl of bleach
q-tip or foam brush
card stock (any color)
embellishments (whatever your theme will be)


Step 1:
On a separate sheet of paper--get an idea of what kind of lines you would like to have or choose a stencil for your card. Place it next to your work area for a reference.
Step 2:
Dip your q-tip or brush into the bleach and begin drawing. If using a stencil, just color in the area.
Step 3:
Take your heating tool and dry the area you have just bleached and watch the magic begin.
Step 4:
Use embellishments, stamps or ribbon to complete your card.


I decided that I would make my own chipboard embellishment using the flower stencil and gluing it to the chipboard and applying it to my card.





Hope I gave you some new inspiration! KEEP SCRAPPIN'!