Smooth Sailing

I bought a refill of a Paper Pumpkin kit called "Pinwheel Party," to make these cute sailboat cards.  (Refills of past kits are available for purchase to Paper Pumpkin subscribers. To try a kit, click here) 

I was thinking about variations to make on this card, like adding a little sponging to bring out the layers of waves, or doing a daytime/nighttime card, when Mojo Monday came out with a really great, very simple sketch for their 400th weekly Mojo sketch challenge.  By the way, Julee, if you're reading this, 


I already played this week's challenge, but I find that often the simplest assignments lead to the biggest explosion of creative juices.  It's so easy to come up with a with ideas for this sketch--I think I'm going to return to it frequently in the future.

It was perfect for my day/night sailboat card with the sponged waves.  It may be a little hard to see here, but I also used a paint brush and white pigment ink and a very little Night of Navy ink to add a little bit of cloud mist. I used little scraps of Irresistibly Yours DSP for the sails, and a 4-1/16 x 5-5/16 piece for the starry panel.  It is sponged in Night of Navy.  The sail is sponged in Daffodil Delight and Real Red.  The daytime sky is Soft Sky, and the water is Marina Mist with Night of Navy sponging, and just a little white pigment ink on the lowest wave to highlight the crest. The sailboat is Calypso Coral. 

This card took a bit of paper-piecing and fussy cutting.  The ball of the sun, the circle cut-out for the daytime scene and the ball at the end of the mast are all punched.  The waves were cut with a Colluzle knife and template. Everything else was fussy-cut free hand.  The banner was drawn and written freehand as well.

It is hard to see in this photo, but the daytime circle is actually flat to the card base, and the night sky panel is popped up on dimensionals.  The waves are sponged the way the ocean looks:  darker towards the horizon, lighter towards the shore.  The banner is further popped up, adding to the card's depth.

Some of the best times of my life as a kid were spent on a little lake at Varsity Day Camp in Pinkney, Michigan, sailing little sunfishes back and forth across calm water. Swimming, archery, and of course, arts and crafts were all on the agenda.  The Wisniewski family made a lot of kids very happy, year after year.  Here's to you, Mr. & Mrs. Wiz!



Julee--are you still reading?  Pick Me!

Something Old, Something New

What is is about June that makes it so perfect for weddings?  This week's Monday Mojo sketch had me running to my lacy wedding stuff:  something old is the Something Lacy background stamp which, sadly, is retired now, but still so pretty.  Something new is the new Mint Macaron 1" Dotted Lace Trim 138424,  which I believe has quickly become my favorite of the new in-color ribbons.  I also used new and old colors of the Stampin' Write markers.  Here is my card from this week's extra special sketch:

What do you think?  Monday Mojo is looking for two new designers.  I would love to be on the Mojo team.  Leave me a comment if you would like sketching with me!






                  (The sketch)












If you would like to make this card but do not have this or another floral/lacy background stamp, try a soft Designer Paper such as the beautiful new
Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper 138444 
The Sahara Sand color looks great with the Blushing Bride and the Mint Macaron. 

Supplies:  

Card Stock:                                                      Stamp Set:
Blushing Bride 131198                                      For the New Two 137147 (wood,) 138562 (clear)
Sahara Sand 121043                                                           
Whisper White 100730                                    Embellishments:
Vellum  101856                                                  Pearl Basic Jewels 119247                                      
                                                                              Mint Macaron 1" Dotted Lace trim 138424
Ink:                                    
Mint Macaron 138326                                       Embossing:
Versamark 102283                                             White Stampin' Emboss Powder 109132
                                                                               Heat Tool 129053
Markers:                                                
Watermelon Wonder, Mint Macaron, Cucumber Crush, Blushing Bride, Old Olive, Pool Party
And don't forget: Sticky Strip,  Snail Tape 104331, Dimensionals 104430 and Tombo 110755,

Happiness, Bohemian Style

  The new Bohemian Borders photopolymer stamp set features several fun border stamps, plus this great trio of interlocking diamond shapes that you can color the way you like.


Card Stock:
  So Saffron,
  Bermuda Bay,
  Very Vanilla
Ink:
  Delighful Dijon,
  So Saffron,
  Bermuda Bay


Stamps:
  Bohemian Borders,
  Guy Greetings,
  So Very Happy 
  Accessories:  Snail Tape


   















I love the way these diamond look like the god's eyes they taught us to make in elementary school, in art class.  It just brings back memories of choosing colorful yarns, winding them around and around two popsicle sticks arranged cross-wise, until I had a beautiful craft to present to my grandmother after school.  The whole Bohemian DSP and stamp collection seems to be evocative of beautiful, rough woven carpets and tapestries, bright raw-silk scarves, and colorful wool ponchos that speak of warmth and comfort.

Happy Stamping!
Gosia

Curvy Keepsake Wedding Favor

 I really like the new in-color ribbons for 2015-17.  They are wide and lacy, scalloped on one side, and have a really great feel.  They tie a nice fluffy bow, and make a great little fan.



It was when I was playing with a bit of extra and pleating and fanning it, that I came up with this idea for a sweet little wedding party favor. 

The box was made with the Curvy Keepsake Box Thinlits die , out of Something Borrowed DSP . Cut two pieces, PLUS an extra handle loop.  Trim the handle, so that the bottom is straight.

Assemble the box first, as shown in the directions for the die.  CLOSE the box before attaching the fan.  To attach the fan, and yet still allow the box to open, attach the ribbon to the outside of only one of the paper handles: first, put sticky-strip along the upper loop part of the paper handle.  Press one end of your ribbon to the end of the loop.  Make a pleat, and press onto the tape. Make another pleat and press it next to the first.  Repeat until the fan is finished.  Now take the extra loop that you made, and use snail tape or sticky strip to tape it on top of the pleats, to give a nice clean finish.  You will not be able to open this flap, but the other flap of the box will still open. 

Here is how to make the little tag.  I used the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp that says "For the Newlyweds."  However, I only wanted "Newlyweds," so only inked that part, and covered the "For the" part with scotch tape before stamping to ensure that I would get a clean image. Stamp, then cut with the oval die from the Curvy Keepsakes Box die set. 

I tied the tag on with white baker's twine.  *Be sure to loop the twine ONLY on the front handle loop.  If you thread the twine through both the front and back loop, you will not be able to open the box.

In order to glue on those tiny little hearts (made with the Hearts Border Punch,) use the following steps:
first, put a little blob of Tombo or other white glue onto a scrap of paper.
Using your paper piercing tool, pick up a tiny dab of glue and roll it onto one of your hearts.

 
Next, simply pick up the heart with your paper piercing tool, turn it over so that the sticky side is down, and place on the paper tag.  Put your finger on top of the heart, and pull the paper piercing tool out.  If you have used a tiny enough dab of glue, your fingers should remain clean enough to do the second heart without running to the sink to wash your hands!

 Somehow, I liked a silver bow with this instead of the white, which I expected to like better.  Whichever you like better, attach with a single glue dot to the same side on which you attached the fan.  The other side must remain clear of embellishments so that the box can be opened without tearing.

Happy Stamping!