Sunday, July 5, 2009

Challenge Cards

This top card is my first-ever attempt at a card for the Unscripted Sketch challenge. I was inspired to give it a whirl by my friend Sarah of Sarah's Paper Tray, who is a member of the design team. Take a look at her box. It's so cute!

As for my card, it is very straightforward. In the mood for something Asian, I combined a couple of Verve Stamps sets. The vase is paper-pieced. The symbols on the side were attached to the card with foam mounting tape. I grounded my image with a colored pencil and Gamsol.

Materials & Tools: Colonial White and Desert Sand cardstock; 7Gypsies Sushi Journey 6x6-inch variety pack; Black, Desert Sand, and Olive ink pads; Verve Stamps Asian Flair and Floral Whimsy stamp sets; CTMH Say it in Style stamp set; Prismacolor colored pencils; Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits; Blending stump; 3M foam mounting tape.

My second card is my take on this week's A Sketch for You to Try on the i{heart}2stamp blog. I colored my image with a blending pen, using ink from my Hollyhock and Blush stamp pads. After the flowers were colored, I went around the outside of the entire image with the blending pen and Heavenly blue ink. As to add without distracting, I kept the black matting to a minimum. I also used Black Distressing Ink to lightly go around the little tag - just enough to make it stand out. Finally, what you can't see are the Stardust Stickles I added to the centers of the three large flowers.

I think this card might qualify for another challenge, too. In her post today, my blogging buddy Alanna at Alanna's Spot in the World mentioned a new challenge blog, Pile it on! , and this week's challenge is to use three different types of embellishments. As simple as my cards usually are, it's not often I'd qualify for that one.

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Black cardstock; Retired CTMH Winter Cozy B&T paper; Black, Hollyhock, Blush, Chocolate, and Heavenly Blue ink pads; CTMH Black Distressing ink pad; Clear Dollar Stamps Little Blossoms and Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages stamp sets; White Daisy Edge Anchors, Pink acrylic disks from Michael's; Stampin' Up Whisper White taffeta ribbon; Stardust Stickles; McGill Multi-tag punch; Dove blending pen.

Well, with all that, I'd better keep the rest of it short. I spent the day doing chores and then "rewarding" myself every so often with a little stamping session in my corner. Thus, it was a good day. I hope yours was, too! I suppose after the short workweek, the coming week will seem long - the price we pay for a day off! LOL. Until tomorrow night, take care, and thanks for stopping by!

26 comments:

Unknown said...

These cards are beautiful! Love your take on this weeks Unscripted sketch. So glad you joined us this week! Hope you'll play along again soon!

Sparkplug17 said...

What pretty cards! Great job on the challenges!

Leslie said...

Your cards are so pretty.

Keri Lee Sereika said...

These are both GREAT cards! The Asian one is wonderfully colored! Thanks for playing along with US this week!

Anonymous said...

hi kathi!
Thanks for visiting Pile It On! I hope you decide to play with us! Love the simple, elegant look of your cards!

-- dalis Owner of PIO

Lisa said...

These are beautiful! I love your work

Anonymous said...

oh silly me, didn't noticed that you already did our challenge! I swear today is not a good day... LOL!!!

off to check out your other cards.

Thanks for Playing with us at Pile It On!

-- dalis Owner of PIO

Sarah said...

Kathi my friend!!! not only did you do an Unscripted card..you did one with an Asian theme!! You know that I LOVE this style of card. I just showed this to Allison ( my oldest) who ohhhed and ahhed at it. That paper pieced vase is just perfect.
I love your card and I appreciate your mentioning me on your blog!!!!
Thanks for playing with US
Your second card is just too perfect. I LOVE the understated black element in this.
I for one am glad my weekend is over :-), and yet again I survived , and so did my patients LOL always a good thing!
Have a great evening Kathi!

Alanna said...

Wow Kathi. Both of these are phenomenal. I love the look of the first one but your 2nd card with the pink and black really got me. Great job on all the challenges and I'm glad that I could introduce you to another challenge site.

Deborah Young said...

So pretty. I love the Asian style, have the Asian papers and have yet to make anything Asian style! Thanks for the inspiration ;-)

Stephanie said...

Asian! the reason I got into CTMH and scrapbooking was a trip to Japan! CONSIDER LIFTED.. AGAIN!
( one thing leads to another and another and another... )

http://cuttingedgestudio.blogspot.com/2009/07/of-note-6-cute-cards.html

thanks for sharing Kathi ! they are wonderful.

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Ooo, Kathi, I love them both! The one with the Asian accents is really striking! I did some paper piecing over the weekend - I think that could be addictive!

Nice work! I hope you have a good week!

Jeanne said...

Two fantastic cards here! Boy, you sure were on a roll this weekend. I really like your Asian style cards. They always have such a soothing feel. And the pink and black? I love me some pink cards & yours is perfect in every way.

Hope you have a wonderful start to your week!

Laurel said...

Great job with the challenges! You are such a master of all sketches! Both of these had me stumped, you always seem to come through!

Gamma said...

I love your cards! Especially the pink one! I wish you could send me just a tiny bit of your talent as an attachment to an email!! LOL Great job!

I hope you will stop by my blog and pick up an award I have for you there!
www.scrappingamma.blogspot.com
Leanne

~Denise Lynn~ said...

2 beautiful cards! Love the clean lines and pretty image. Thanks for joining in at Pile It On! ~ Denise :)

Bamabel said...

Beautiful cards! Thanks for playing with US this week! :)

Aymee

Anonymous said...

These are beautiful! I love how the paper matches the Asian card so well. Thanks for playing along with US.

craftypagan said...

Love your creation Kathi-so elegant! The details are perfect! Hugs Rowena-Pile It On DT

Timi O. Mercado said...

Lovely cards! Greatjob on these.

Timi, Pile it on DT

Beth aka BR-T said...

Amazing work Sarah is the bomb for getting you involved with an Unscripted Sketch! What an inspiration you are, BR-T

raindropecho said...

These are fantastic! Love the patterned papers that you've used. Thanks for joining us this week :D
- Ann @ Pile It On!

by. Amy Schultz said...

love how you used your embellishments on this card!

Amy -- Pile It On DT

Maricar said...

Kathi,

This Asian gal loves your Asian themed card :)

Maureen said...

Love your cards - both are gorgeous! Thanks for joining us this week at Pile It On!

Vickilyn said...

Love your creations!

Thanks for playing with us at Pile It On! this week! Can't wait to see more from you in the weeks ahead!

~Vicki
Owner