Sunday, June 20, 2010

Finding a calling...

Have you ever felt that you haven't quite found your niche? As the art of papercrafting has become a part of my life, I have often felt like I have tried many different styles. There's the oooohhh I have to have that and I wish I could do that. But once I was introduced to the internet (by Lizzie) and the world of blogging, a whole new set of options became available to me. Over the past year, the biggest influences have been the layout design of Amy Sheffer, Copic coloring by Linda Heavens and pencil coloring by Paula Williamson. I finally feel like I have found me! I now put all three of them into my cards and I am sooo happy with the results. It's like the feeling of coming home after a vacation and pulling down the sheets to spend a night in your own bed. Ahhh! Yeah, it's like that!

I spent lots of time this weekend in my haven! Which means that I have lots to show you this week. But with all the crafting, I struggled with the photos. Now I just wish that I had a superstar to help me take better pictures...Anne hope you can make time for me next weekend so I can finally learn how to use LightRoom.

On to the card, A Birthday Hi!




The stamp set is from Not So Short Notes, a 1997 Stampin Up! collection. I bought it on EBay ages ago when I first started to stamp. I didn't know a thing about Copics or pencils and gamsol at the time though. I was rummaging through my old stuff to see if I still wanted anything and came across these. Now that I have my passion to color, I set about bringing this to life.

I started with Neenah Classic Crest cardstock and inked with Memento Tuxedo Black (recently rejuevenated with the re-inkers that Mary Maxim now stocks - yeah!) I colored with my copics and shaded with prismacolor pencils blended with gamsol. I added clouds using Paula's technique here and grass which can be found on Splitcoast stampers. The sentiment is computer generated and cut out on one of the Nestabilities Tags 5. The flowers are also die cuts from Nestabilites called Flower Creations. I used Bazzil cardstock and layered them with a Zot. The brad is not really a brad but an upholstery tack that I had the DH clip the post off. I then attach them with Zots. You might ask why not just use a brad? Well, I get these real cheap with my employee discount at good 'ol LumberJack. There's also the bonus of having the DH feel needed too!

The design paper is from a Making Memories 6x6 pack called Poolside and Greenhouse. It's a collection of blues and greens. Yum. I also added some Stampin Up! Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the roses at the bottom. Click the picture to get a better looksy. The ribbon is single sinded satin so it took some manipulating to get it to lay right but Voila - it's done.

So what do you think?

Happy Father's Day everyone! Hope that means that you have places to go and people to see. The DH and I will be spending the day by ourselves since all the kidlets are scattered North and South.

Enjoy your day!

Cath

6 comments:

Mary Frances said...

Cath, this card is STUNNING!! You certainly did find your niche. I Love your coloring and boy you got Paula's clouds down to a tee!! I still have yet to master them. I feel the exact same way you do. It really does feel like coming home...I love this little world we are a part of!! Can't wait to see more..hugs, xx

Anonymous said...

Cath,
I absolutely LOVE the card. The sun and the clouds ... oh my gosh; they just make the card "pop". I'm so glad that you've found your niche with paper crafting ... after all, you always were the crafty one in the family. Now, the torch is being passed on to our mimi-bella's. Yeah!

Anonymous said...

Oops. I meant to say "mini-bella's".
Michele

Julie said...

Such a fab card! I know what you mean about changing styles,I've had my blog for around 4 months now,I've found myself trying out sketches with far more layers than I ever thought I could possible manage,way out of my comfort zone.It's good to try out new things even if you do discover that maybe less is more! x

Amy Sheffer said...

Cath, I have to tell you this little story. I can't remember how or when I was introduced to your blog (somewhat recently), but after only a handful of visits I put you in my Google Reader on a *very* short list (six, in fact) of bloggers who I look to for coloring inspiration. (Linda and Paula are there, too, of course!) Imagine my surprise when I scanned through your post today and saw my name! I got that jelly feeling in my legs and choked up a little. I'm truly flattered that you've enjoyed my layout designs, but mostly, I wanted to let you know how much YOU have inspired ME! I need to come out of lurker mode and comment more, but even when I don't, you should know that each of your posts is a gift! I can't wait to untie the ribbons and have a look! You have definitely found your niche - welcome "home"!

p.s. I don't know if this will help you or not, but I did a tutorial last year on photographing and editing papercrafting projects. If you want to check it out, you can find it here:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448961

ScrappyLin said...

Cath, I hope that you are soaring high right now. You should be if you aren't and you should be enjoying every minute of it. You are truly a talented and gifted designer and an inspiration to us all. Your card is stunning, as always. I love what you have done with the clouds and the grass.