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

You're my silver lining {CSS release-in-review}

You are my silver lining.

 Is there anything more romantic to tell your significant other?  Or, more loving to imprint on your child?

You could easily adapt this grouping for a baby shower, or a couple's engagement party... 

In my "homespun-meets-chic" ensemble, I mixed cream felt with silvery clouds and fluffy buttercream icing to tell my daughter that she's "my silver lining."

 The silver clouds (dies, found *here*) are so obviously perfect for my computer-generated sentiment.

 I cut all of the raindrops using the apple-seeds from *this* die.  Fantastic, no?  The felt cloud is hand-crafted by yours truly :)  I only temporarily adhered the raindrops to the back, so that the cloud could later decorate her room.

 What's not to love about this shot? hee.  I stuck another silver cloud onto a white lollipop stick, and into the buttercream it went...  the cupcake wrapper matches the card for another fun touch.

I hope you like what you've seen!  If you have a few more minutes with a cup of warm coffee, click over to the other designer's blogs to see what they've created:

Laurie ♥ Lori ♥ Dana ♥ Debby (guest designer) ♥ CSS blog

Another day, another challenge.

What a blast it was to join the gals over at CAS-ual Fridays yesterday.  I got the sweetest comments on my card and got to blog-surf while watching "So you think you can dance" last night... FUN!

In case you were wondering:  I can't dance.  At all.  I mean, I've got the rhythm inside of me, but it doesn't translate to bodily movement.  Best kept in snapping/clapping form. And maybe a little head-bopping...maybe...hee.

Today, I used the sketch over at the sweetest thing - I hope I haven't massacred it too much... I admit I used it loosely, but be gentle - it's my first time using a set sketch to build a design on.

The base layer is SU kraft card-stock, to which I added a red mat with a pretty, scalloped edge.  The strip of SU bashful blue, along with the white die-cut clouds, was embossed using a PTI impression plate.  The main image is from Lawn Fawn's "admit one".  I stamped the merry-go-round first, did some beyond basic coloring and then masked the image before repeatedly stamping a ticket background.  Here's closer look: 

I added stitching to each individual element to add some whimsy (with stitching like mine, it's got to be "whimsical" - it can't be "elegant", lol!)  I added some stitching for the balloon string to finish things off.

Thanks for looking!