Oscars-inspired! {CSS group project}

Today, some of the CSS designers are rolling out the red carpet to bring you cards inspired by oscar-nominated movies.

It is beyond embarrassing to admit that I have only watched a handful of these movies, and that handful includes "Brave."  Because, I have kids.  And also: I loved it.

But that isn't the movie that inspired my card today.  I was inspired by "life of Pi."



In the trailer, when he is alone, on the still waters after the storm, the colors of the sky were incredible.  I took my cue from there and created this card:

I stamped and masked a trio of clouds, and sponged inks in yellow, orange, red, and had it fade to a blue ocean at the bottom.  I also die-cut a few of the clouds and stamped a soft grid pattern (from "airmail") behind for some added texture.  

I thought the sentiment, (from "across the miles") was the perfect fit to represent the movie and Pi's amazing and fantastical journey... (I may not have seen the movie, but I have read the novel.)

And, more fringe fun:  I used the same Martha Stewart scissors that I did *here* to create yet another fringe, but this one is a double!  I worked the cardstock with my hands to break down its fibers and to make it more pliable, and then created a ruffle.  Once the ruffle was secured with a row of stitches, I used the MS scissors to create a fringe on either side.  They underline the sentiment, and also stand for a whimsical ocean.  I love it.

The little liquid pearls were created based on a different inspiration point:  I love collaborating with my friend Marlyn, from "montreal confections" and she was inspired to create cookies based on the same movie.  I love that we can inspire each other, across different mediums!

Aren't they just the most beautiful works of art??  I squealed when I saw them.

There are other oscars-inspired cards waiting for you here: Tracy ♥ Audrey ♥ Laura ♥ Jennifer ♥ JJ (guest designer) ♥ CSS blog

CSS: new simple cuts + WCMD

***** if you are looking for my lawnscaping blog hop post, please scroll down to the next entry ******




It's World Card Making Day (WCMD) and Clear and Simple Stamps is celebrating with a mini-release! 

Today, I'm helping to show off the new dies for the classic set, "across the miles."

I used the hot air balloon images, with the matching dies, to create this cute "hello" card (and hello, hello, hello, hello, hello, hello.  hee hee)

I love the new dies!  I'm not opposed to fussy-cutting, but let's face it - the dies give that perfect edge that I just can't achieve with scissors...



Visit the Clear and Simple Stamps blog to see more inspiration with the newly released dies in celebration of today's World Card Making Day…

AND, be sure to stay tuned next week for the official Collection 5 Release kicking-off on October 10th!  I absolutely cannot wait to show off what I've been working on!

playdate café challenge #148

Hi all!

What's peach and navy and grey all over?

(since you're here to see a card, the answer may be a little redundant...*wink*)

I'm loving the color combo for the current Play date Cafe Challenge!  Apart from the fact that my argyle didn't turn out *perfectly* I love this card.  I started out stamping a piece of white cardstock with a peachy-pink and grey argyle pattern (from CSS' "designer lines.")  Next, I cut a 2.5 inch circle opening into that mat, and stamped a little hot air balloon scene (from CSS' "across the miles") inside, all in grey ink.  The main hot air balloon was stamped, colored, and cut out separately.  I propped it up on foam squares.

The card has a lot of dimension.  The sentiment banner was also adhered with foam squares, as was the entire argyle piece.  I adhered everything to a navy blue card-base (I can't remember the last time I used a card-base that wasn't white, cream, or kraft!  yay me!)

One final note: I don't want to seem crass, or belittle the memory of 9/11 with words that seem trite.  My thoughts today are with the families and survivors of the tragedy... it seems impossible that 11 years have passed.  I remember being at work, listening to the news on my radio, and then being invited to watch the news on the tv in the test area (I worked in a pharmaceutical company pre-babies, and the subjects enjoyed a big-screen tv while they were injecting test medications...)  My heart stayed in my throat for many days... but what I remember, almost as vividly as the horror of the attacks, is the coverage of the many rescue workers and first responders who flocked from all over to help recover bodies... I remember reading that church attendance was higher in the aftermath, and that people were focusing on their home life... The patriotism, the unity - it was brutal and beautiful to watch, all at once.  I will be praying for those still affected by the 9/11 attacks today, and taking the time to think on what's important in life: my God, my family, and my fellow man.

"Peace I leave with you.  My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you.  Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." John 14: 27