Thursday, October 27, 2011

JOY Ornament Card & SVG: Bracket Element

If you've popped over from the "Card A Day Blog",
Welcome!
I hope you look around and see what else I have for you.
(If you love to make cards and are looking for inspiration,
be sure to checked out the Card A Day Blog
A variety of talented designers put up a new card each and every day)

Tomorrow (October 28th) I am the featured designer over at CADB and I have a Christmas card that features a paper pieced ornament.  If you have never tried paper piecing, it's an easy way to get a beautiful, one-of-a-kind element.  If you have an electronic cutter, it's even easier!  For this card I used Sure Cuts A Lot (electronic cutter program) and this SVG file (available from Cut and Create):
Because SCAL features "what you see is what you cut" on your computer screen, it's very easy to use up your scraps.  You simply place your papers on the mat and make one pass at cutting.
TIP:  The other thing I like to do when paper piecing is make each layer "pop" by shading and/or highlighting.  Lately I've been doing that using Distress Inks and a water pen.  I simply press the DIs onto my craft mat and pick up colors with the water pen.  Then I shade onto the paper.  So, how do I choose what ink colors to use?  Having all your Distress Inks placed onto a swatch sheet (which you can get from Ranger HERE) makes it easy.  I simply hold up the paper I'm going to use to the swatch sheet and make the best match.  If there isn't a close match, Vintage Photo is my "go to" ink for shading.
Here's how I created the card: 
1.  I cut the SVG file using a white base, scrap Christmas Paper for ornament,  scrap green for oval, scrap red for bow and letters and scrap gray for cap.  (If you're not able to use SVGs, use a comparable diecut.)
2.  Shaded around edges of ornament shape and oval frame with Distress Ink (Peeled Paint).  Shaded around bow with DI (Walnut Stain) and shaded bottom of cap with (Black Soot) DI.
3.  Adhered all pieces of the ornament together.  Used Stickles to add sparkle to letters (Fired Brick), cap (Silver) and ribbon (Rock Candy).
4.  Cut piece of ivory CS and stamped background using Shadow ink. 
5.  With scrap strip of the same red CS used on bow and letters, I punched the border the width of the ivory CS.  Adhered to ivory CS and then attached ornament element.
6.  Cut bracket element out of patterned paper using this SVG file, (available free HERE.   Again, if you are unable to use SVGs, use a comparable diecut or hand cut)  Attached the top two layers to this element and then adhered to green cardstock that had been folded into a card.
7.  Added gems.
Supplies:
Cardstock: green, ivory, red, scraps for ornament
Patterned Paper: DCWV "Cream & Green Holly"
Stamps: Hero Arts Flourish Background
Ink: Hero Arts Shadow Ink "Soft Sand", Distress Inks--"Walnut Stain", "Black Soot" & "Peeled Paint"
Die cuts: "JOY Ornament" and "Bracket Element" SVG s, both from The Creative Pointe
Punches: Martha Stewart border punch
Stickles:  Distress "Fired Brick" & "Rock Candy", "Silver"
Adhesive: ATG
Misc:  Gems
Electronic cutter: Cricut and SCAL software

Entered into the following Challenges:

13 comments:

Black Cat Antiques said...

Very pretty Christmas card! Thanks for all the tips on shading too!
Sue

CARLA PREDIGER said...

Well done! Thanks for joining us at Christmas Inspirations challenges this fortnight. I hope you will play again next time too.

Tamara Morton said...

Loving the Christmas card. Thank you for joining us at Anything Goes Challenge blog this time. If you are interested I have some blog candy up for grabs Click Here to enter
Hugs
Tamara
Anything goes DT

Lisa Minckler said...

Gorgeous distressing ink colors and that ornament is fantastic. Nicely done. :)

Thank you for playing along with us at Make It Monday!
Remember, for a chance to win the prize from our sponsor, leave a comment for another entry and mention that you saw them on Make It Monday.
Lisa xx

Anonymous said...

Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave in the Cutting category today [28 Oct 02:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria

Paper Squirrel said...

Love this! Great job on the shading...that bow almost looks real!

Tina Campbell said...

Cindy this is such a cute card. The colors are so bright. Love all the layers. TFS

Unknown said...

beautiful card! Love the shading with the inks. I usually use the blender tool around my edges but your idea sounds much better and easier especially for small areas.

Márcia Mattos said...

Beautiful card!
Thanks for joining us at Christmas Inspirations challenges!
Hugs

Gail said...

Beautiful card. thank you for sharing the idea and file :)

Inkypinkycraft said...

A great card, thanks for playing at anything goes this week trace x

Christine said...

I love your card and you gave a wonderful explanation of your process. I use my Tim Holtz chart in the same way. Love the use of the die cuts too.
Thank you for joining us on the Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog.
xoxo, Christine

Moments by Marla said...

Your card is fabulous! Thank you for the freebie!