About Me

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I'm a retired primary school teacher, who started paper crafting in 2008, when I had a fancy to make my own Christmas cards. Since then, I have tried all sorts of techniques and styles - and I kind of like them all. I have been lucky enough to be on blog teams and large design teams and to do a bit of freelance demonstrating - and I love the challenge of working with different products. My crafting style is very varied - from junk journaling and art journaling, bookbinding and journal making, to quilting and patchwork - and of course I still make cards. This variety keeps me interested - and my crafty stash growing!! I'm always seeking inspiration for new projects.

Monday 6 February 2012

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #61 - Monochrome

This week's challenge is hosted by Beth and she would like you to come up with a Monochrome creation this time. You can use any colour you choose, it doesn't have to be black, but she would like to see your creations made using only shades of one colour. You can have highlights of one different colour but it must not be a major player in your project. You can use colour for hair and skin tone too, but otherwise please stick to the one colour.

We are sponsored for this challenge by Indigo Blu who are offering an amazing prize of a Flitterglu starter kit AND the gorgeous 'Love Is' Stamp.

       


and by the Digi Doodle Shop who are offering a great $10 gift certificate for their shop.


I decided to use green for my 8" square monochromatic creation. Everything green on the card, apart from the stitching and gems, was created using only white card, Bundled Sage Distress Ink and Cosmic Shimmer Golden Pear Mica Powder.

The image is a favourite of mine from Kanban, stamped onto Neenah card. I had to touch it up with a paintbrush, as the ink didn't want to sit properly on the stamp, but that wasn't too much of a problem. I then watered the ink down for the shading underneath the tree. It was cut out with a nestie, and then inked while the card was still in the die.


I rubbed the ink pad over another piece of Neenah card and dusted it with mica powder, before cutting out the dark green scalloped circle. I sealed the mica by spraying with Spray and Shine. Now, being a bit of a cheapskate, I didn't want to use another large piece of Neenah card for the big mat at the back, so I just pulled out a random piece of white card from my box. It had a slightly glossy finish so rubbing the ink pad over this gave a completely different finish - much lighter in colour, and a more mottled, almost streaky finish. I brushed mica powder over this too, and again sealed it with Spray and Shine.



The edge detail was cut with the Spellbinders Classic Scallop Edgeability and one of the inserts from the Classic Ric Rac set. And then I decided to give my new sewing machine a bit of a workout, using the scallop decorative stitch to edge 3 sides of the larger square, and all the way down the strip. I was really pleased at how this turned out!! The finishing touches include a length of white organza wrapped around the white strip, with white flat backed pearls and green gems.

Don't forget to check out the Crafty Cardmakers Blog for more inspiration from the Design Team. They are all absolute stunners!! And we look forward to seeing what you all come up with.

I would also like to enter this into the following challenges:

Allsorts - Free and Easy 

Catch the Bug - Anything Goes

Challenge Up Your Life - Monochrome

Craft Your Days Away - Get Stitchy With It

Stamp, Scrap and Doodle Saturdays - Die Cuts/Punches

Cxxx

14 comments:

  1. Beautiful card, love the green mono tones, its a lovely stamp.
    Yvonne x

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  2. This is such a beautiful and elegant card. Very classy xx

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  3. Love your beautiful card and the gorgeous green tones, a perfectly elegant card and just love that tree !!

    Marie

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  4. Stunning use of green! LOVE the pearly accents on your tree image--this is gorgeous! :)

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  5. Beautiful card and sush lovely stitching!

    Thanks for joining us at Craft Your Days Away.

    Mari

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  6. A beautiful card, a great design and wonderful colors....
    thanks for joining us this week at Challenge up your life….
    Hugs Michaela

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  7. This is beautiful
    Thank you so much for entering our FREE & EASY challenge at ALLSORTS this week, good luck & hope you’ll join us again!
    Hugz Fleur xXx

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  8. What a great project!! Your work is adorable!
    Thanks for joining this week on SSDS!
    Can't wait for you to join us again!
    Tammy, SSDS DT

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  9. Wow, this tree is gorgeous! Like the colours and the bling! Fantastic :)
    Thanks for playing with us at Challenge up your life!

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  10. I love your take on this challenge, I also love the stamp and have used it several times but i will need to look it out again now you have reminded me of it thanks :)

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  11. Beautiful Card, Carole.
    Hugs
    Doreen xx

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  12. What a great card! Thanks so much for playing along with our Anything Goes challenge this week at CTB. I hope you will join us again very soon!

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  13. This is beautiful Carole, love the greens.
    I'm with you over being a cheap skate when it comes to using my good quality card stock.
    hugs Kimx

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  14. This is one of my favourite DI colours and you've used it beautifully to create a stunning card. Love this - so peaceful and serene x

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Thank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving a comment!! I really appreciate it!! Cxx