Friday, October 9, 2015

World Card Making Day and Giveaway Reminder


Every year on World Card Making Day (and National Scrapbooking Day) I'm a little frustrated by my inability to get anything created.  This is partly because I get a little overwhelmed by the number of challenges out there and because with two small girls and a husband who is usually coaching on Saturday I'm doing a lot of running around as opposed to sitting down and creating.

This year I decided to just focus my efforts on one thing as opposed to trying to sift through all the many challenges occurring and trying to do all of them or combine them, etc.

I opted to complete the Studio Calico challenges.  There were six of them, and what I loved about them this year was how doable they were.  No find 10 random things to put on your card or use a digi element or some other more difficult/complicated thing.

So here they are for your perusal.  The first challenge was to use a journaling card.  This took no time at all, and I might try and recreate it with patterned paper.  The journaling card is SC as is the small stamped sentiment and the congrats die is Ellen Hutson.


The next challenge was to create a fall card.  I pulled out the Maple Leaves Journaling Card Die which I die cut from regular cardstock and watercolored with Kuretake Gansai watercolors.  Because I used regular cardstock the warping gives the die cut extra dimension.  I love this die more every time I use it!  The patterned paper is BG Persimmon.



Next we needed to create a card using alpha stamps or stickers.  I needed a birthday card for this weekend, so I used this cute critter from Mama Elephant with some thickers.  So quick and easy!


The next challenge was to use a stamp/die in your stash that you haven't had a chance to use yet.  I pulled out this Terrarium set from SC.  I stamped the terrarium on a piece of scrap cardstock and then cut out the middle so I could use it to ink the inside of the bottle.  I also added some embossing powder to some of the stones at the bottom and used a gold Wink of Stella pen to add highlights to the plants.




The penultimate challenge was to use two or more die cuts.  I've had these Maggie Holmes flower dies forever and this was a great chance to put them to use.  They're paired with an SC sentiment die. I used Copics to add some color/shading to the flower/leaf die cuts.





The last challenge was to create a Christmas card that was relatively easy to mass produce and mail.  I pulled out the Winter Trees set I designed for Neat & Tangled last year.  It's stamped on Kraft cardstock.  Then I colored the entire image in (dry) with Inktense pencils.  Once that was done I used a wet (not very wet) brush to activate and blend the coloring.  Super easy.  I finished it with some white splatters and then stamped the sentiment.





And there you have it.  None of these was particularly time consuming to make and I really love that I was able to get out some things that had been languishing in my pile of stamps/dies to use.  I also love that I was able to knock out another Christmas card.

OK, just a reminder that the giveaway of the exclusive Neat & Tangled stamp set from this month's Scrapbook Circle kit ends tonight.  If you haven't yet entered to win, you can do that here.  Good luck, I'll pop in this weekend to announce the winner.

22 comments:

  1. These are all gorgeous! WOW!! And I don't get to make ANYTHING ever on WCMD ... lol ... it's always on the day we do Brookie's birthday party!! HA!!!!!!

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  2. Miriam I didn't have the chance to make one WCMD card ... I sure love seeing yours! Each one a charmer ... of course, being a lover of all things neutral ... I adore your first card! Ranunculus in grey? Oh - if only!
    =] Michele

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  3. Fantastic cards, Miriam! Each and every one of them!!

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  4. I love how you focused your efforts to make it doable! Not only doable, but beautiful! Each card is a classic! I get overwhelmed and miss the boat when it comes to WCMD. I will take your advice next year!

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  5. These are all so beautiful, Miriam! I kind of just do my own thing on WCMD. Don't follow any challenges, just make cards. :)

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  6. gorgeous cards.. I am loving all this inspiration. your amazing

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  7. These cards are all so very gorgeous, Miriam! I, too have been a little overwhelmed in years past with all of the challenges...and my kids are grown! You did an awesome job on completing the challenges with truly beautiful cards!

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  8. What a gorgeous collection of amazing and beautiful cards! Love them all Miriam.

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  9. Congrats on your focus - the results are fantastic!

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  10. Miriam, these are ALL gorgeous! I especially LOVE the first one but they are all beautiful.

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  11. A gorgeous collection of cards! I always find WCMD challenges a challenge itself because there are just TOO many & like you said "overwhelming"!! Glad you found your focus though. :)

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  12. Very pretty and
    the tree card is
    fantastic!
    Carla from Utah

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  13. All of them are beautiful!! I especially love the first one! So sophisticated and gorgeous!

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  14. Delightful Miriam!!
    You are such an INSPIRATION!!

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  15. Now that sounds like a manageable set of challenges. You've risen to each of them- I do love the simplicity of the first and the beautiful fall card too! x

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  16. For not having much time to participate, you sure got it all done! You slightly colored behind the HB2U, right? LOVE that detail!!

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  17. These are all fantastic !...WOW !!!...

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  18. You always do such amazing work!! Your creations are all really incredible here!! I have enjoyed this post! Thanks for sharing these!! :)

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  19. What an inspirational lineup, love! Each one beautiful in their own right, but that little critter on your birthday card steals the show ;).

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  20. Good gracious you have some talent Miriam. I think each of these have their own flavor and I love that about the things you make. So. Well. Done. Very cool! The Hello card with the flowers is especially lovely and that Congrats card is dynamite. Phew, good stuff! :)

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