One Card: Two Ways - Sketch It!

Time for a new One Card: Two Ways! I stole some time over the weekend and threw together a couple of cards, getting a couple of sets inky for the first time! I wanted to show how the same layout or sketch for a card can result in a funky or elegant look, depending on your colours and stamps.
So here's my sketch. Pretty ain't it?! I'm no artist...but I'll often make a quick plan of a layout I think will be fun. I rarely plan colours or stamps as I create in a very organic way (choosing paper or a stamp set then letting ideas "grow" from there) but I love working with a sketch. Onto the cards....
I knew I wanted to use Big Bold Birthday for this post. I haven't shared many birthday cards with you so this was overdue! This is also one of the dozen or so sets sitting in my stash unloved and uninked - so many stamps, so little time!

I started with the cupcake element and the colours I wanted to use. For the icing on the cupcake I used Heat & Stick powder and dazzling diamonds glitter. You can see a tutorial on this here. I thought the icing looked cute on an angle like this, but because it's a separate stamp you can put your cupcake together however you like!

I created the paper for the second layer using the small flower stamp and a polka dot stamp from the set. I love that you can create your own paper like this in whatever colours you like!

Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set: Big Bold Birthday
Ink: Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise,Versamark
Card stock: Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Whisper White
Paper: Petals and Paisleys Designer Paper
Punches: Slit, 1/16" Handheld, 1/4" Circle and Word Window punches
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Dazzling Diamonds, Heat & Stick powder, Tempting Turquoise ribbon, Soft Subtles brads, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive.
All supplies available from Stampin' Up

For the second card I wanted a really elegant look. You just can't go past Bloomin' with Beauty for elegance....I think it's a must-have set in any collection! I also used Wonderful Words....I've had this set since last year, but I think I'd only inked it once! I love it, will be using it more often from now on.

For this card I've used the Out of the Box technique. This is super simple...just stamp your image, then cut a square around it, making sure parts of the image go outside of the square. I do the cutting using a metal ruler, craft knife and cutting mat, then finish off around the image using my paper snips.

I coloured the image using my inkpads and aqua painter. Rather than stamp my own patterned paper this time, I just used the same paper twice. This is a really quick and easy way to achieve an elegant look - by popping up the second layer of paper you create a subtle interest point.

I've used a pearl from the Pretties kit instead of a brad this time, I love these pearls, they attach so easily using a mini glue dot!

So, which card is your favourite this time? I can't choose, they are so different! I do love that cupcake - but then, Bloomin' with Beauty is such a gorgeous set! Hmmm, maybe this is why I have a room jammed packed with Stampin' Up! goodies?!

Have a great day!



Stampin Supplies:
Stamp Set: Bloomin' with Beauty, Wonderful Words
Ink: Stazon, Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Mellow Moss, So Saffron
Card stock: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla
Paper: Le Jardin Designer Paper
Punches: Slit and Word Window punches
Accessories: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Very Vanilla Wide Grosgrain, Pretties Kit, Mini Glue Dots, Aquapainter, Paper Snips, Stampin’ Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive.
All supplies available from Stampin' Up!