SAF: Farewell

After two days of inspirational activities, videos and just plain fun, I made 17 cards! I learned about artists, masterpieces, and new techniques to bring to card making. Definitely got my mojo back!

Thanks so much to everyone at PTI for the hard work putting this all together! It was more than just card making, I really could not wait to get to the next activity. The organization was just incredible and I know I will watch these videos again. I love how you took each project lesson and gave background as well as a new lens to look at each masterpiece. Great teaching!

Here's a picture of me with all seventeen (yes- seventeen!) cards that I made!

Now I am thinking ahead to some new inks... Maybe in time for next year's Stamp A Faire???

SAF: Watercolor Like A Master

This last challenge is the Watercolor challenge with Kay. Hard to believe this was her first video because it was wonderful... step by step with her thinking and process.

I chose PTI Year of Flowers- November. Here's my first card...

I love how this card came out! Using watercolor paper, I stamped and colored just as Kay did with her example. My colors are SU Tangerine Tango, Daffodil Delight, Gumball Green and PTI Ripe Avocado. 

I did try the splatter, but could almost have used a darker color. The watercolor paper is attached to PTI Ripe Avocado paper with fun foam, and the PTI paper is attached to the White card base with Scor-tape.

I was so impressed with this technique that I also did another...

This time using a Pennyblack Tiger Lily stamp. Using pretty much the same colors, except that for the last step, I used a multi-liner to draw in the black stamen and the black specks on the petals.The colored paper under the watercolor paper is PTI SMokey Charcoal. Again I used fun foam as an added dimension between those two layers.

This was a favorite for me of all the techniques I worked with over Stamp A Faire and one that I will definitely use again.

SAF: Color Blocking

Wow! This was tricky... and not what I was expecting when I started. I've never been drawn to Andy Warhol's artistic style but I recognize it. Here's my take...

Using PTI's Flipping Out, I made this block to add on a card base. I do not have a Misti stamper which is probably why this was a bit more difficult.

Using Post It notes and a straight edge, this was quite a challenge. The inks are a variety of SU and then I masked and colored the block in with Copics that were a close match to the stamped inks. This large block was then attached with fun foam.

The sentiment is on a green paper and white embossed, added with adhesive. Thanks, Lexi, I do like the result and I learned something new!

My last project to do is watercoloring. I've saved my favorite for last!

SAF: Pointillism Play

The next project is with Heather and it features pointillism, which was a new concept to me. I wasn't quite sure how to make this work, but here's what I did...

Thanksgiving is a time when I always seem to need a card for family that's far away. I could just envision that turkey's feathers in lines that could be duplicated with points.

But to be honest, I had to check online to see what the colors were when that tail was spread out! So here's my little guy from PTI's Gobble, Gobble stamp and die set. I added the washi tape on the top because it felt like I needed something there!

The sentiment is embossed, the body of the turkey is added with fun foam so he's standing out from the card as is the second dialog box. The paper is PTI Fine Linen.

SAF: Mastering Drip and Splatters

Now that's a great title! As much as I love the splatters and drips on everyone else's cards, I am so hesitant to do them on my own cards. After all the effort, it's so hard to think about making a mistake...

So this is a perfect activity for me to try. It makes me realize that I am more of a control freak than I ever think I am. Here's my try...

As you can see, I never tried the string! I did feel better about the drips when they were contained in the butterfly stencil! It was fun to get the splatters going from high and low... Lizzie was such a great teacher and looked at it all so scientifically I thought!

In hindsight darker colors would have worked better than the yellow, maybe red or red orange. The card base is watercolor paper, and it is one layer. The sentiment is attached with fun foam for some dimension. I used watercolors for the splatters and drips, the body of the butterfly is Black Wink of Stella.

SAF: Masterpiece Inspirations

There were so many great examples and the Design Team really outdid themselves! It was difficult to choose which one I was after, but I love Georgia OKeeffe, bold and bright... but those sunflowers...

So here's my take...

One of my very favorite PTI purchases is this sunflower coverplate! There are so many ways to use it and these are two new ones for me!

This is a one layer card. I made a stencil with the coverplate. Taping the stencil down on my watercolor card base and masking a border, I sponged Distress inks to color. Then I removed the stencil and using a watercolor brush, blended the colors leaving the white stencil lines, except at the center of the flower.

Love the result!

Then I wondered what would happen if I watercolored the white spaces. This is the result...

Couldn't put on a sentiment, it was like ruining a piece of art... So I'll have to make it a note card or add a sentiment when I need one!

Now I need to try this with the oak tree coverplate....

SAF: Floral Impressionism

Next project is with Melissa, and it's floral impressionism. I will never forget visiting Giverny and Claude Monet's studio or the Waterlillies in the museum in Paris. The whole gallery is just breathtaking!

So thinking about this task was a bit daunting. It took on a life of its own. Of all the projects for these two days, this one was the most difficult for me. And my results showed it!

Here's my project...

The white was overwhelming on my flowers, not subtle and light! Looking over the final project, I think if I had chosen lighter colors it may have helped. The paper is PTI Summer Sunrise, the die cut PTI Swoosh is in Soft Stone.

Oh well, the card works as a hello card, but I'm not sure I think it's impressionistic...

SAF: Gilded in Gold

Stamp A Faire's next project was with Danielle, Gilded in Gold. I did not have the gold leaf product that she used (although it's on my wish list!) so first I tried embossing with gold powder. It was quite a process for the project I took on! I quickly turned to another alternative...

Next I remembered that I had some Deluxe adhesive gold paper from an earlier PTI order! Woo-hoo! Made my whole day!

My granddaughter Emma loves to get cards in the mail and is quite a penpal with me. She is ten years old and loves everything crafty! So my task was to make her some stationery for her writing. Here are some examples...

Using the new PTI Art With A Heart stamp set, this project was fun! Love the results... The scalloped edge was die cut and then using the adhesive gold paper I also die cut it to add above the scallop. Emma will love the gold!

The "E" is cut with PTI Alpha die, the stamped flowers are using a variety of inks that I have on hand. I love this set!

The envelope was a quick addition to finish off the stationery set. I made four different cards with envelopes. Then I became concerned that her brothers would feel left out, so I made them each one card, just in case they want to write to Grammy :)

Here they are...

William just got a fish for his birthday and Thomas has a new love of baseball! So I htink they might try a note to me...

Thanks Danielle, such a fun presentation and a great product to be looking for!

SAF: Starry Night

Stamp-A-Faire Project Two is Starry Night with Amy. Love this painting and the video that went along with the biography of Van Gogh was so interesting. I love this technique and did three examples, each one so different from the others!

This example clearly copies Amy's card, loving the tree silhouettes! I am loving the new PTI Big Hugs stamp and dies set, also PTI Soft Stone paper which I used for the die cut. I did the black painting with my watercolors... 

The night sky was done with Distress inks, and water. The stars are splattered white and silver paint. The card base is PTI Smokey Shadow... 

This example is so different, almost like the universe from space- So I didn't use the shadow effect, instead went to another stamp set for the space theme! The third example was much like this one and I felt like I might need to save it for another project...

What a great technique!

SAF: Master Color Recipe Challenge

Starting off with the first project, I was reminded of a card that I was once made for an online class. I was not happy with the result so I never sent it, but the idea was so similar to this...

... that I chose to redo it! (Kind of the idea that if someone says you can't paint- by all means paint!)

Here's the redo...

Much happier with the result starting with the fact that I used PTI Soft Stone paper, instead of white.  It is a one layer card; masking the borders, sponging and masking each color layer.

Using Wplus9 Guiding Light stamp set, I stamped the shadowed scene with Stazon Black ink. The sentiment is from SU So Happy For You.

This project makes me realize how my card making has changed over a few years, with techniques and stamp choices. Good way for me to begin, dusting off the old... making it fresh... giving it a new look!

Stamp-a-Faire Eve...

Tomorrow is the day... I can't wait to take part in this fun event! My mojo for card making has been off and I'm hoping this will get me back on track. John is away on a golfing trip and I'm here enjoying no schedule except my own! So tomorrow is just stamping... stamping... stamping! Well - maybe some painting too ...

Tonight I chose a project that I'm most proud of to share before we begin. I chose Stephanie's birthday card, because I love the clean lines and it got me started after all the Christmas cards were completed. I was having a hard time getting going then too!

Here's the card...

The write up is on my blog for January birthdays. Stephanie told me how much she enjoyed the card and it made it even better! I almost chose the last Christmas card example which was also a favorite...

I loved how the silver embossing came out on the edges for this card, matching it to the embossing on the greeting. The Copics coloring came out really well, but I felt like the picture was blurry...

And I'm off to a great start!