Creativity is a central source of meaning in our lives---when we are involved in it, we feel that we are living more fully than during the rest of life.

Monday, October 22, 2012

October CSS Alumni Blog Hop

It's time for the October CSS Alumni Blog Hop! Hope you didn't get thrown off by the change in day and time; just trying to keep everyone on their toes! You should have arrived here from Joy's blog (I'm sure she had something spectacular for you!). If you didn't come from Joy's blog and would like to get in on the hop from the beginning, please jump back to Stamp TV where you will find the whole list for the hop.

We are doing a sketch challenge this time based on this sketch from Melissa C. I had fun playing with this sketch and created two very different cards using it.


The first card I made is a sympathy card and I flipped the sketch the other direction for this one.


I used some of the gorgeous Pure Luxury Blue Raspberry card stock from Gina K Designs as the base. The second layer is Pure Luxury White. I stamped the butterfly border from Gina K Designs A Year of Borders three times with Versamark ink. I embossed the butterflies with Stampendous Winter Wonderland EP, which is sparkly in real life, but I couldn't capture it in the photo. I then sponged that layer with Memento Bahama Blue. I stamped the flower from the Gina K Designs set Stately Flowers 1 and the greeting from Heartfelt (also GKD). I cut that out using the Spellbinders long ovals and I sponged the edges with Bahama Blue.  The flower was colored with Copics. The extra butterfly is from the GKD stamp set A Beautiful Life and was also embossed and then sponged. All of the Gina K Designs items for both cards can be found by clicking here.

The second card I made follows the sketch a bit more literally. Here is the Christmas card I made.

I started with Pure Luxury White base weight card stock and layered this fabulous patterned paper from the Gina K Designs Blizzard pack. Isn't it just perfect for making holiday cards? I stamped the ornaments from the GKD set Joyful Holiday onto PL White paper. I used Memento markers direct to the stamps to color the details on the ornaments and stamped the ribbons in silver ink. I cut that out with a Spellbinders oval and layered it onto a scalloped oval of PL Red Hot and then onto another white oval. The poinsettia was made using the Spellbinders Shapeabilities Layered Poinsettia and I added a glittery gold brad to the center. I think the ribbon I used is some old Stampin' Up stuff I had in my stash.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my cards. Be sure to leave a comment at each of the blogs you visit because on Tuesday morning (October 30), we will randomly choose one of the comments from all the blogs and that person will receive a huge grab bag of fabulous Gina K. Designs Stamps! Hop on over to Linda's blog now to see what she has waiting for you.

60 comments:

Miesje said...

Kay these are so pretty! I really like how different they are - love the butterfly rows.

Melissa said...

Gorgeous cards Kay! I love how subtle the butterflies are on the first one. They are the perfect accent to the flower.

Lagene said...

Gorgeous cards! Wowzers on the Bluebonnets card!

Brenda said...

I have to agree Kay your card are gorgeous!!!!

joy said...

Both of your cards are so lovely - I really like the colors and vibrancy of the sympathy card. Being from Texas, I'm a little partial to the Bluebonnets!

meemee48 said...

Love how you used the bluebonnet for a sympathy card. Also like your Christmas card, too.

stampqueen said...

Awesome cards!!!!

redwasher1 said...

Kay, both cards are gorgeous!! Love the Bluebonnets!!

Payne Holler Cards said...

Wow, both are gorgeous! Your first one is stunning and love the Christmas image with this sketch (-:

Rosy Newlun said...

So gorgeous! That's one of my favorite butterfly stamps and I can't find mine :( oh, well, need to buy the whole stamp set again LOL!!! Lovely examples!!!

Cheryl Wright said...

Oh Kay, these are gorgeous!! I'm particularly taken with the first one, but I think that's only because blue is one of my most favorite colors, pluse I adore butterflies!!!

Sue VanDeVusse said...

Beautiful, Kay! Love your coloring and the stamped butterfly borders on your first card. And the ornament card is so wonderfully festive!

elizabeth said...

Both are so pretty. Love the rows of butterflies on the first one. Such vibrant colors too.

Theresa's Studio said...

Great take on the sketch. Love the rows of butterflies and lovely Christmas card. Both are fab designs!

Sonya van Stee said...

Fantastic work on both cards! You've inspired me to do a few of my own! I especially love the soft blue tones on the butterfly card. What a stunner!

Sharon said...

Both cards are so pretty!

Colleen said...

WOW. Such beautiful cards and that sympathy card......well, it's absolutely gorgeous. Love the embossed butterflies as well as the color of the card
ColleenB.

Irene said...

These are both beautiful cards--I love the soft blues and the butterfly on the sympathy card.

Marsha said...

Both are beautiful. Very clever making the stripes with embossed butterflies.

Lynne said...

both cards are lovely. An interesting way to use the butterfly stamps. Always looking fr new ideas to use these border stamps.

bridget22868 said...

AWESOME CARDS!!! Thanks so much for sharing your ideas with us.

crotnem said...

These are 2 very pretty cards. TFS

Sharri said...

Beautiful cards Kay!

Unknown said...

Kay your cards are so vibrant, and beautiful.. Just beautiful.

Judy Inukai said...

Great cards. I love how you used the butterfly boder.

bcapen said...

My very first post ever.Just had to say my favorite cards to make are botanical,butterfly and christmas cards,you covered them all for me. They are beautiful. Thank you

Lea said...

Both cards are beautiful! I love the rows of butterflies on the first card. You're right, that particular ep from Stampendous is awesome and, like you, I can never capture the sparkly goodness of it! Love them both!

Unknown said...

Beautiful and creative. You did a wonderful job. Thanks

Christine Macneil said...

Lovely cards. I like the butterfly border stripes on the Sympathy card. Thanks for sharing.

Barbara said...

Kay, I am loving this sketch and your cards showcase it so creatively. Love that Christmas card and the DP used. Gorgeous little Poinsettia flower as the embellishment.

Unknown said...

Your cards are really lovely. Particularly the heartfelt one. I love everything about that card.

Kike' said...

These are both admirable. Great job!

Judy Scott said...

Look good

Dee said...

Gorgeous cards, but my favorite is the red Christmas card--so cheerful and colorful, very Christmasy!

Unknown said...

So very pretty!

chris wilson said...

Beautiful cards, I especially loved the christmas card

jean w. said...

Such a beautiful use of the butterflies! The red and white Christmas card is beautiful too!

MyAuntKath said...

I adore both of your cards!

CindyRomanDaversa said...

Absolutely beautiful! So inspiring!

Sharon said...

Awesome cards! I just love the new winter papers and you used them to their max potential

Unknown said...

Lovely cards my dear. Great use of the DP and love your images.

Robin said...

I just love these!

Barb B said...

You've made a sympathy card look almost cheerful. Beautiful job!

Cheri said...

Oh, Kay, your cards are always so stunning and these are no exception. Stunning! Just Stunning!!!

Unknown said...

2 different cards, 2 BEAUTIFUL cards!!!

Karen Hightower said...

Both cards are beautiful. Love them both.

TammieLien said...

Love both your cards very pretty and thanks for sharing:)

Ina G said...

I am loving looking through all the fabulous cards and how different they are. Both your cards are beautiful. Such lovely crisp colours.

Unknown said...

Beautiful cards. Nice embossing with the butterflies. Nice use of ribbon blending in with background on the second card.

Sharon Underwood said...

Love that Blue Rasberry cs! You also chose my fav ornaments, which look great with the red & white background. Very beautiful cards!

Verna Angerhofer said...

Your sympathy and Christmas cards are so beautiful. Great color choices as well. Thanks for sharing.

Cat Tidwell said...

How awesome! Love the butterfly bg you created!

ajax said...

What great cards. The coloring on both cards really fit in and stand out. Thanks

Pat Jandacek said...

Love the butterfly 'stripes.' ...perfect . And the Christmas card is beautiful, too!

BeverlyBL said...

Both cards are so pretty. Love the Christmas card. Also appreciate that you give directions and the supplies you used. Thanks so much.

Betty Neville said...

These are beautiful, Kay! Love how you used the butterfly border!

Gayle said...

Awesome cards, gorgeous colors/

Angelica Schmidt said...

Such gorgeous cards! Love the butterfly background very clever idea!

Melanie said...

Kay, i love the bluebonnet with the butterfly border!!

Theresa Momber said...

Kay, both cards are so beautiful! Love that gorgeous blue background and fabulous job with the ornament card!