So, This is How Dorothy Felt!

Hi, everyone! Hope you're in a safe, warm place.

So, I felt a little like Dorothy at Stamp Club... watching black and white images turn to color right before my eyes. But, before I get to that, I just have to talk about a pencil sharpener. Yep, that's right, a pencil sharpener.

A Great Find!

I want to tell you about a fabulous paper sharpener I found yesterday at Paper Source. I've just recently started coloring with some pencils, so I was wondering what sharpener I should get. I couldn't be happier with this Faber Castell sharpener. So, if  you're looking for a good sharpener, you might want to check this one out.

Now, on to the cards.   :)

The Technique

On Wednesday, we learned the coolest technique at Stamp Club.  Coloring magic can be created by layering a stamped piece of acetate, a blank piece of cardstock, and a stamped and colored piece of cardstock can :)

Card #1

I took advantage of Mary Anne's offer to borrow an adorable stamp set and Bernadette's stamping technique to make a cute little critter birthday card for Send a Smile 4 Kids.  :)

Stampin' Up! party basics dp; Recollections white cardstock; acetate
SU Cheerful Critters image in StazOn jet black
image colored with Prismacolor pencils
SU Cheerful Critters sentiment, heat embossed in Distress Ink black soot
Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbon
Creative Memories oval cutting system; Lawn Fawn mini snowflake dies; EK hole punch
adhesives: Scotch ATG; Zig 2-way pen



Voila! Using this technique, color appears like magic!

And, here are a few steps in the process...

I cut a 5.25" by 9.25" strip of cardstock, scoring at 2.25" at either end to form the image base.
Then, I cut out an oval from the center of the image base and a piece of coordinating paper.

On the reverse side, I taped in the paper that is the trick to making the magic happen.
The paper is taped in along its bottom edge.

 

I folded over the two side panels, checking the image base before proceeding.

I used the oval's position, to eyeball the stamp's position.

I used my MISTI to stamp both the acetate and cardstock. Both were stamped in StazOn jet black.
The cardstock image was colored with Prismacolor pencils -- only my second attempt at coloring!

I checked the position of the layered images and had to trim a little from the bottom of each layer.

I used a strip to connect the two layers.
To create a tag look, I used a wider piece, punched a hole, and adhered ribbon.
This tag was inserted into the trifold base to complete the card front.

Yes, I realized I needed a traditional card base for this SAS4Kid card. (There needs to be a place to write a message to the little one, right?!) So, I adhered my trifold piece, with the inserted tag, onto a traditional card base to create the card shown in the first photo.

I'm thinking about adding a few more decorations to the front of the card before I send it to Nationwide Children's. But, regardless, I just love the magical interaction of this technique. Thanks so much, Bernadette, for sharing it with us!

In addition to sharing this at Birthday Fun 4 Kids, I'm going to link it up at Simon Says Stamp's Create with Critters Wednesday Blog Challenge.

Card #2

I applied the technique shown above to make a card for the Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree Challenge at Jingle Belles. Gonna try to be more proactive about making holiday cards this year.  :)

Paper Studio gifts of gold dp' Bazzill black; Recollections black and white; acetate
SU Festival of Trees tree image in StazOn jet black
Really Reasonable Ribbon ribbon; stash sequins; EK hole punch
adhesives: Scotch ATG; Ranger multi medium matte

SU Festival of Trees accents, heat embossed with Versamark and Inkadinkado gold powder
 

The gold accents appear when the tag is pulled up. The strip at the bottom of the card was used to cover up the bottom edge of that middle layer of cardstock that separates the acetate and cardstock with the gold accents.

I played with several types of embellishments, including a pretty white ribbon along the left edge of the card. Eventually, I decided to make a tag out of the layered image -- adding a ribbon to emphasize the tag element. At that point, I chose to center the tag and embellish with a few gold
sequins.

Have to say, I love this white, black, and gold palette. I initially gave some thought to adding some silver and/or red accents... but thought better of it. And Bonnie's RRR ribbons are always so yummy.   :)

Parting Thoughts

We gals at W2CB posted our first challenge of the New Year and would love for you to play along with us. There are chances to win MFT gift certificates, and our challenge winner will be invited to join us as a Guest I-Teamer for a future challenge. And, a huge welcome to W2CB's newest followers: Marsha, Kat, Kathy, Deanne, and Linda.  :)

There's a White on White Challenge going on at Cards in Envy. Boy, talk about a perfect challenge with all the snow that's falling across the  country this weekend! Hope you'll stop by and join us at CIE.

Looks like tomorrow's going to be another crafty day. Hope you have a chance to play with paper this weekend. As always, thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!