Double "D" Challenges

Today I came across a new challenge website called Double D Challenges and decided to add it to my list of card challenges.

The theme of this challenge is 'shapes', so a square, rectangle, circle or oval could be used. I chose to use a square shape for my card and layers. I started with a 5-1/2" square brown base card. At the center I added a square layer of foil flowers and added a gold layer to the back to form a border. I stamped a sentiment (one of my favorites) on white using black ink. I backed the sentiment with a gold layer and a brown layer then attached it to the center. I added one of my favorite bird images (stamped in black and die cut) to the right top corner. Lastly I cut out a flower from some more of the decorative card stock and attached it (using foam tape) to the lower left corner. Love it!

Foil Flower Card Stock - The Paper Studio 'Pretty as a Poppy'
Nature Sentiment - Impression Obsession Art of God
Bird Image - Gina K Designs Spring Blessings

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #651

Autumn will be here before I know it, so I thought today I would make a Summer card before starting on my Autumn cards. The card sketch idea came from the current challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches.

I decided to turn the image and make a landscape designed card using the sketch. I started with a blue A-6 base card. I cut a floral (with gold leaves) layer and a gold & pink diagonal strip and added it to the base card. On a piece of white I stamped the sentiment in black and layered it on a gold piece of card stock to give it a border. I attached the sentiment to the center of the card. Lastly I added a stamped bird image at the top right corner.

Floral Foil Layers - The Paper Studio 'Pretty as a Poppy'
God's Love Sentiment - My Sentiments Exactly
Bird Image -Gina K Designs Spring Blessings

Busy Birthday Month

Where did my mind go this month? I just looked at my calander and noticed that I missed two birthdays. On the bright side, I did remember three birthdays...a busy birthday month for sure! So this morning I made two belated birthday cards. Since I have been doing so much calligraphy lately, I decided to write out 'Belated' and 'wishes' and add a stamped and die cut 'Birthday' sentiment between the wording. I attached the 'Birthday' die cut with foam mounting to raise it slightly off the card. I made a frame out of some metallic flower design card stock and placed the wording at the center. I then placed it on a wine-colored card and added a die cut bird and butterfly image (which I also raised off the card with foam mount). I love the way it turned out.

Small Bird Die Cut - Gina K. Designs Spring Blessings
Butterfly Die Cut - Infunly Clear Stamps
Birthday Die Cut - The Greetery

The Love of Lettering

I enjoy sitting at my desk with pen in hand and creating a piece of letter art. My interest and love of lettering began when I went into the first grade. I remember how excited I was when I got my new pencils, my little globe pencil sharpener and my Big Chief tablet and began to learn to print letterforms. That was until I found out that in the second grade we would have bright white ink tablets and would be using a pen to learn cursive. I could not wait to be promoted to the second grade.

Fast forward to my adult years when I learned about calligraphy. It all began with a PBS series on calligraphy. I watched all the episodes, bought the needed supplies and then started on a lifelong lettering journey. Two years later I joined the Houston Calligraphy Guild and the journey took on a new life with exceptional studies and workshops (including a workshop on making greeting cards that started me on that journey).

The last couple of months I decided to take some time to work on lettering studies and projects. I dedicated myself to the study of a new alphabet style, Fraktur. Lots of swirls and flourishes in this letterform was just what I needed to renew my deep love of letterforms. Today I do lettering for personal and business projects, and plan to use more hand lettered quotes and sentiments on my cards.