Happy Thoughts

This card is going out to a friend who needs some TLC after a really long week. I hope she enjoys it! It's SO dang cute, even more so in real life I think. Let me tell you my thoughts about this card. It goes against a LOT of proper design *rules* but I think that's why I like it so much...it's quirky and whimsical and those types of cards usually end up being some of my very favorites.

1. The layout.....now I like the layout. It just came about while plopping down elements of the card. It enables me to use three colors of solid cardstock plus the neutral white. Again, I cut the patterned paper so that I can get the most out of one sheet of 12 x 12 paper. That's a good thing!

2. The colors......first off, the colors are probably not usual ones you'd reach for first out of paper stash. But I selected my color scheme from the patterned paper and went with pink, apricot, brown and green. I love how they all look but they sound horrifying together, don't they? I think it's an eclectic little mix that is fun and fresh. Secondly, did you notice that I used a white focal image cardstock but my patterned paper is a creamy vanilla color? Again, against your normal rules but I think the main image really stands out since it's white. Works for me!

3. Decorative patterns........I have the scallop edges of the square going on and then added a zig zag velvet ribbon. I really loved the color of this green ribbon and how it matched my flower stems so I went with it! Too much? I dunno but I like it!!

So, what's my point? Wellllll, my message for today is this: Don't get your undies all in a bunch worrying about your card designs. Loosen up, get a little funky, try something new, get WILD! You'll be surprised at how much you love those creations that a little wonky, eclectic and have funky color combinations. Don't worry about everything being so *matchy matchy*. Create a fun card and then a really funky ribbon to tie around it. Combine colors of the same tone but that are a little off......try grabbing three colors of green and just go for it. Don't worry if they aren't all the same, it adds a lot of interest to your cards. I think we put way too much pressure on ourselves about what our cards *should* look like. There ARE NO rules ladies......and if there were, rules were meant to be broken! Just don't tell my high school students I said that!! LOL. Anyway, have fun with your creations.....isn't that why you started stamping in the first place?

The supplies:

Cardstock is Apricot, Rose Romance, and Chocolate Chip from SU! Patterned paper also from SU! White is from Papertrey Ink. Pink sequins from AMuse(Ellen's store). Velvet ribbon by May Arts from my good friend Cindy at Star Lit Studio (I got all 15 colors!!), Spellbinder's Nestabilities Die Templates(Ellen's store), Stamp Set from Rubber Soul. Copic markers and Air Brush System(Ellen's store).

Card design: A couple things worth mentioning......for the main image, I snipped the corners with my SU! ticket corner punch then adhered it to the scallop square. This really shows off the rounded scallop corners and allowed me a place to put those cute, blingy sequins. And for the stamped images I used an adorable set from Rubber Soul called Everyday Whimsy (see, the name of the set is even whimsical!). The little flowers are so simple and cute and the sentiments and font are just as adorable! It's a fun little set to own. And my favorite part about the card is the airbrushed oval. I took an oval punch, punched a scrap piece of cardstock then placed that over my stamped sentiment. Then I used my Copic Airbrush System and a Copic marker to lightly mist the oval opening. Don't you love it? It added just a little more color to my main image plus helped to take up a little bit of some white space. I'll be using this technique LOTS more. So fun!

Q and A: A reader asked what the Copic Spica Glitter Pens are? They are glitter markers that add a wonderful, glittery sheen to your projects. There are 12 colors plus 1 clear pen, water based pigment ink, acid free, non toxic, archival safe, twice the writing length of other pens and get this.....they have micro glass flakes in them for maximum sparkles. You don't feel any texture but think of those glass rocks your kids buy while on vacation in Colorado........that same mega glittery look is what you get! You definitely need them and you can get them all at Ellen's store right HERE. Get sparkleeeeeeeeeee!

Announcement!!!!!!!!! Ellen's got Dew Drops, go check em out HERE!