GinaK had her release party last night for the fantastic new line of stamps that just came out. Her forum over at SCS was hopping all night long and there were amazing samples shared by the girls on the Design Team. I really look forward to these release parties.....lots of fun chatter, great company, tons of laughs....and of course, all the sneak peeks and challenges.
Speaking of challenges....one of the other things I love about the release parties is being able to put together a sketch challenge for everyone that visits! I was actually supposed to be somewhere else last night and that ended up being canceled, which meant that I was able to make the party after all! As soon as I knew I could make the release party, I asked Gina if I could take on one of the challenges. These challenges really make me think outside the box. This particular challenge ESPECIALLY made me think outside the box.
My friend, Jen (who also happens to be my muse), has been telling me for a while now that I need to create a shaped card. So....here it is! An oval shaped card.
If you'd like to take part in the challenge....you still have time! You have until tomorrow night, Thursday, the 22nd. The winners will be announced in a winner's thread on Friday morning. You can check out all the details here at this thread ---> Erika's release challenge!
I folded my Real Red cardstock in half like I would with a normal card. Then, I laid my oval cutter template over the top, while hanging the template over the folded edge a little, and cut out the oval shape. I cut a couple smaller ovals (from white and black cardstock) and adhered them along the fold, trimming the edges off to be flush with the fold of the card.
I used the new Many Happy Returns set for this card. Both the typewrite and the greeting come from this set. I stamped the typewriter with Palette Hybrid Noir ink and then colored it in with Copic markers and used my Copic blender. I'm still trying to learn how to use these markers and learn something new every time I use them.
The greeting is actually one long stamp, but I needed to make it all fit in the white space on the oval so I used my Basic Black marker to do one word at a time. A little more work, but it didn't take me long at all.
I used up some ribbon scraps by folding them in half and stapling them to my layers of white and black cardstock before mount it on on the red card.
The little pink heart on the typing paper is one of the little Rain Dots hearts. It adds such a cute touch to the card and I was quite pleased with myself for thinking to use it here. haha!
You can see along the edge of the red card that I added some black stitch lines with my Basic Black Stampin' Write marker. The edge just seemed so bare, but I didn't want to go overboard with it, so the stitch lines were just enough to give it that "something extra" that it needed, but didn't overdo it.
This picture shows a little bit more detail of the stitch lines.
I also added another embellishment along the bottom right side of the card. Just WAIT till you see these!
GinaK just started carrying these amazing Rain Dots Eyelets. Aren't they awesome??? I love the eyelet dots, but I also love the little tiny dots in the package because they fit just about ANYWHERE!
Well, it's off to bed for me. It's an early night for me. I think I've come down with the illness that my daughter had earlier in the week and missed a day of school for. I'd better get a good night's sleep.
Happy Creating!
-Stampin' Mama
I LOVE this sketch. I always want to make cards that are not "normal" size and shape, but I don't often get there. It is easy to fall into a trap of what is easy an comfortable. Thanks for pushing me past that.
My card is on my blog (http://tamarastamps.blogspot.com/2008/05/gina-k-sketches.html)
Posted by: Tamara | May 22, 2008 at 12:37 AM
I love the oval card idea. Awesome stamped image, too!
Posted by: Danyelle | May 22, 2008 at 03:38 AM
Hi Erika...
I did get to see this at the SCS
release party...
Totally Fabulous Card!!
The card shape is Stunning!!
My favorite color too!
I love that stamp set (it's a must have)!
Dee
Posted by: Dee | May 22, 2008 at 10:34 PM
HI Erika! Fun card shape! I noticed you said you used Copics?! I thought you didn't know what those were?! lol Maybe I'm not remembering correctly - but anywho, I'm looking forward to seeing what your fabulous artistic talent does with them! I just recently gave into temptation and got some myself! THANKS for sharing! I love to see all your projects.
Love & friendship, Juli
Posted by: Juli Smith | May 23, 2008 at 11:33 AM