Monday, June 11, 2012

Gallery Idol, round 3.

I am so thrilled to be able to compete again - and this week's theme was right up my alley.  As soon as I read the masculine/feminine card set theme, my mommy-mind wandered towards creating a baby boy and a baby girl card set.


In my mind, what I've created are 2 nursery walls - one for a boy's room, and the other fit for a new little princess.  I love a baby room painted in soft stripes (where else in your home could you get away with that bubble-gum pink?!) and little lacquered white frames with alphabet art inside.  

When I say lacquered, I mean that I added some glossy accents to the scallop portion of the frames - in real life, it's such a pretty detail.  You may be able to pick up some of that detail in the close-up shot below:


I hope you can also see that I only swiped a bit of blue or pink onto the images, but left them mostly white, and colored around them with a light grey copic marker (T1.)  It gave them the vintage meets pop art feel that I was after.  Oh, and the sentiment?  It's an Elena-original :)  Sooooo, if any stamp makers need help with theirs... hahaha.  

In case it's not super obvious, let me list the products that match up on both cards:

1) the little Denami scallop frame (stamped and hand cut many, many times this past weekend)
2) the PTI stripes, for the backgrounds
3) the lawn fawn alphabet letters, above each frame
4) the grey polka-dotted diy faux washi tape (made using this tutorial)

The only things that differ between the cards are the images inside the frames, and the color schemes.  

And, because I do so much masking on this blog, I thought it was high time for a little step-by-step:


First, I stamped the scallop frame onto white cardstock.  (Hilarious, that you can see my notes and stamped images on the scrap paper underneath.)


Next, create your mask (sorry, this one is used, but you get the idea, right?)  I use Eclipsys masking paper - it's like a post-it note, but with removable sticky everywhere.  I stamped the scallop frame again onto the masking paper and then used scissors to cut out the circle in the middle.  After that, I aligned the mask with the original stamped image.


Then, I inked up one of the images - a crab (from lawn fawn's "critters of the sea.")  When I removed my stamp, I had to laugh for a moment at the funny crab-lady I'd just created for myself (note to self: make a new mask for tutorial purposes next time!)


And, when I finally peeled back the masking paper - voila!  A crab image, perfectly contained within the circle part of the frame.  Now, repeat with all the rest of the images :)

I had such a fun time creating this card set!  And now, to find a mom pregnant with a set of boy/girl twins, and be invited to that baby shower *wink*

Thank you so much for your encouragement and support!  I could not have made it past the first round without your votes - so bear with me while I ask you to do it all over again!  Click *here* to access the top 15 gallery, or click on the picture of my card set on the right sidebar (it will be up all week for your voting convenience.)  I would love to continue on for another round!







Supplies
Stamps: Denami: scallop frame, PTI: distressed stripes, tiny treats: birthday, SU: greeting card kids, under the big top, every little bit, lawn fawn: critters of the sea, smitty's abcs, silly valentine, blissful botanicals, american crafts amy tangerine: lovestruck
Ink: SU: basic grey, pink pirouette, going grey, PTI: aqua mist, Memento black
Paper: PTI white cardstock
Misc: white tissue paper, glossy accents, computer fonts: Ld glorious and scrap casual (both from dafont.com)

29 comments:

  1. So precious, Elena! Beautiful set!

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  2. These cards are so sweet! Love them both, great details. You did an amazing job!

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  3. Absolutely adorable, love the different images you masked!

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  4. Elena, these are beautiful! Such pretty, soft colors! I love the images you chose, too!

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  5. So sweet I'm getting a cavity over here (lol)! Your cards are just the most adorable things!

    Glad to be in it with you Elena!

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  6. Voted for you! Adorable card Elena!^_^

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  7. Love these. They are so very sweet. Good luck!

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  8. You has a great blog. I'm very interesting to stopping here and leaves you a comment. Good work.

    Lets keep writing and blogging

    Nb: Dont forget to leave your comment back for us.

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  9. Brilliant! I love masking and use this technique a lot myself! I will definitely vote for you!

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  10. These are just the sweetest, Elena! I love the idea of nursery wall decor, such great cards!

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  11. *So* cute Elena! Just love the little 'wall décor' and the special sentiments!

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  12. OH MY WORD. I simply adore these cards, Elena! LOVE that you pulled out that Scallop Circle- you do amazing things with that stamp! :) I placed my vote for you!

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  13. Love how you changed the images for boy and girl! Adorable! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

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  14. Love this! I can see that you put A LOT of work into it! :> Such a cute idea! I can so picture the baby's room!

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  15. If I didn't vote for me, I would vote for you! it is a stunningly beautiful should be in a boutique card set! say that 3 times

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  16. These are so adorable! Wow! I honestly think these are a work of art. That sentiment -- did you just print it out? Or how did you do it? Love your masking tutorial. I voted for you!

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  17. These are so sweet, Elena! I love the whole concept and both cards are perfection!

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  18. Your cards are so so so fun!!!! I love the stripes and the amazing stamping!!!!

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  19. These are so sweet, Elena :) I love that you pictured yourself making two nursery walls. And that sentiment is awesome! Good luck this round!

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  20. so sweet!! love the little images inside the circles!

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  21. Elena, congratulations on moving to Round 3! I think you addressed the challenge beautifully! Your cards are ah-dorable (can't even imagine the endless hours of fussy-cutting those little frames -- you deserve a medal just for that, IMHO! :) But the fact that you even changed up your alphabet for boy vs. girl is so great! Genius, really... At first glance, I thought you had just changed the color scheme.... But, as usual, you cards only get better and better as you examine the details. Pure perfection! (and I love your sentiment! :)

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  22. I love your pair of cards! My favorites are the airplane in the boy card, and the cupcake in the girl card....cute!

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  23. I'm a bit late getting into all the gallery idol stuff but CONGRATULATIONS!!!
    Your cards are fabulous. These baby ones are amazing. I can't imagine how uch time it took you to make them.
    Wishing you best of luck!!

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  24. Absolutely darling and outstanding, Elena! Good luck on moving to the next round!

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  25. Beautiful cards! I love this idea! Good luck!

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  26. Elena, I know we've already talked about your cards but I had to visit and just say that you are an amazing designer. I love your cards and had no idea you did all this masking for this! Wow! And one more thing.....I need photography tips please! hehe......So glad to be in this with you! Hugs!

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