Monday, July 19, 2010

Shabbycat

I tried my hand at the "shabby chic" style tonight. It is a bit of a stretch for me, but I think I am happy with the result.



One thing I enjoy about card making is that I can spend some time thinking of my friends while I design and create cards for them. Anyone who has had a pet knows how important they are as companions, entertainers and comforters. I'll send this card to a friend whose cat had surgery a little while ago.

The card layout is from the Clean and Simple Challenge 76 over on splitcoaststampers.com. Toni (ravengirl) provided the original, and we were to make a card following her sketch. This, my second submission, is far more complex than my original version, but it still was fairly quick to make.

The card base (Creamy Caramel) is 4 1/4" square. Close to Cocoa mat is 4 1/8", and Naturals Ivory image panel is 4" square.

I used the Rock and Roll technique with Crumb Cake and then Close to Cocoa inks to stamp the cat. The "C" stamp is also in Crumb Cake. Both those images are from SU!'s "C is for Cat" stamp set. I returned to Rock and Roll--this time with Bashful Blue and Close to Cocoa--to stamp the heart image (from a long-retired SU! set, Mon Ami).

The heart was trimmed using my Paper Snips, which also works great on ribbon (such as this Bashful Blue grosgrain). I created the paper lace from a strip of Creamy Caramel card stock punched along one edge with the Scallop Trim Border Punch. I used the scoring blade on my paper cutter to make the folds.

I distressed the edges of the image panel, the cut out heart and the paper lace, and then sponged with Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa inks.

I stuck the whole thing together using SNAIL and Mini Glue Dots. I wished I knew how to sew, because I think some stitching along the top edge of the paper lace would have been the perfect touch.

I love playing with different styles, and here is my original card for this sketch challenge. Very different results from the same starting point, as you can see.



I designed this card to use up some more of my surplus retired card stock colors. The Gable Green, Apricot Appeal and Pale Plum have all been put out to pasture by Stampin' Up!.

Can you see what's missing from this card? Not clean, crisp lines and a fabulously easy flower accent, that's for sure!

1 comment:

  1. I love your shabby chic kitty card! You may have stepped out of your comfort zone, but you did a great job when you did it!

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