Thursday, January 9, 2014

Fusion #1

It seems that challenges have really been jump starting my creativity lately.  Today's card is for the Fusion Card Challenge. You can either use the sketch, the photo, or both. I chose to use the photo. That red and blue pillow in the inspiration photo below was really calling my name. Here's the inspiration:

And here's my card:

I began by cutting and scoring a standard-sized card with a top fold. I don't know why, but I seem to gravitate towards top-fold cards.  I embossed the card base with a Papertrey Ink embossing plate. (See below for a close-up look.) After cutting the blue pattern paper (from the Studio Calico Blue Note kit) down to size, I stamped the image using Versamark ink and heat set Zing embossing powder in Rouge. Using the red embossing powder on the blue pattern paper is something I never would have done if it wasn't for the challenge. Next, I rounded the corners on the stamped piece, matted it on a piece of cardstock cut slightly larger, adhered it to the card base using foam dimensionals and tied a double bow using a trick I found on Melissa Phillip's Make It Monday video at about 12:50.

Using the other throw pillows as inspiration, I added brown accents in the form of pearl gems, a wood veneer heart colored with a Spetrum Noir marker, and the stamped image. The sentiment is part of a two-line image. I masked the phrase I didn't want. 

Thanks to the double bow and the wood veneer, this card required a padded envelope to mail to my niece for her birthday today. I am making some progress on my goal to FOCUS on mailing cards on time. At least this one got in the mail on her actual birthday. Baby steps!  

Supplies
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink
Pattern Paper: Studio Calico Blue Note Card Kit
Stamps: Hero Arts (Classic Fabric Design); Mama Elephant for Studio Calico Blue Note kit (sentiment)
Ink: Versamark, Ranger Archival Ink (Coffee)
Misc.: Zing embossing powder (Rouge); Studio Calico wood veneer; Hug Snug washable seam binding (chalk white); Recollections gems


9 comments:

SmilynStef said...

I'm a *top-fold* gal too ... love your gorgeous card design ... so glad you joined our very first Fusion Card Challenge of 2014.

Susan (rainy) said...

Linda, its such a beautiful card that I'm sure your niece will love it... even if it is a smidgen late! It really is gorgeous!

Julia Aston said...

What a gorgeous backgound you created Linda! love the little touches of bling, bow and heart! Thanks for playing with Fusion this week!

Jingle said...

Your card is really pretty!

Katie Ann Brooks said...

Gorgeous, elegant and perfect for the Fusion Challenge! Thank you for joining us this week!

Cathy Weber said...

LOL. Love your baby steps comment...totally know what you mean! Beautiful, elegant card, fabulous bow...you did Melissa proud!

Lisa Rukin Swift said...

This is so pretty!

Deepti said...

Wow what a terrific inspiration :) lovely card. So glad to see u join in the fun at Fusion!!

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, Linda, how beautiful! I love the zing! I must go watch the video because your bow is so perfect!