February 2015 Designer Challenge

Good morning friends

Today is the first day of Karen Burniston's February Designer Challenge. This month, Karen challenged us to do either Artsy or Cutsey ... or both! My card today leans towards the Artsy side. I chose that challenge, because I usually lean the other way.

I like to make cards with someone specific in mind, so today's masculine, artsy card is for our Son-In-Law's upcoming birthday.

The front has patterned paper, jute, some acetate embellishments and the Barn Star from Karen Burniston's new Star Accordion.

Inside I used several new Pop it Ups dies, as well as the Happy Birthday Pop Up.

These tags are from the new Tags Pivot die, and the postage edge comes with the new Paris Edges. The tags were inked and stamped with a custom background stamp, and I added Glossy Accents to the Sand Dollar embellishment.

I cut the Happy Birthday layer from Kraft card stock, and added colour with chalks. Once it was glued onto the pop up base, I outlined the letters with a black pen to make it stand out a little more.

The layered stars below the Happy Birthday were inked and I added Glossy Accents to those too, then hand cut the fish tail banner from a scrap of corrugated cardboard.  The new Alphabet 1 - Caps die by Elizabeth Craft Designs is getting a real work-out in my craft room. I used it to cut the letters for his name, which were inked and then I added a fine point marker line in the centre of each letter.

This beautiful ship was already printed on the paper, so I used the new Beach Edges to cut the waves, inked them and added them to the bottom of the card with foam tape.

This is a large card, since it will be hand delivered - and I have a nice square envelope to put it in.  Here are a few more pictures ...

Because we are giving Phil a Gift Card for his birthday, I also made a coordinating Gift Card Holder.

Rocky decorates the front, and I added black Glitter Dots where the holes are in his white eyes. The lower flap was cut with another two of the beach edges with colour being added with chalks, inks and a custom background stamp.

For the Gift Card Holder,  I cut a 4-1/4 x 12" strip of Kraft card stock, scoring it at 4-1/4 and 9".  Then I just cut one end with the Palm Tree Edge, and started adding layers etc until I was happy with it. The sand layer was cut separately and adhered over the palm tree edge.

(The Gift Card in the photo is just a sample card I got in the mail, not his actual Gift Card.)

It's been a l-o-n-g time since I made an artsy card, and when I was trying to think of what to make I was a little stumped. But as I was flipping this lovely patterned paper stack (it was a Christmas gift) it all clicked.  I'm really happy with how it turned out!

Be sure to check out what the rest of the Designer Challenge team has come up with - they are linked on the right side of my blog.  Karen Burnsiton will have have her post on Wednedsay.  You can check out her cool background technique for the Artsy Bathtub Pop Stand card right away though, on her BLOG.

Supplies:
947 Happy Birthday Pop Up, Pop it Ups - Karen Burniston (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
981 Beach Edges, Pop it Ups - Karen Burniston (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
979 Paris Edges (Postage Edge), Pop it Ups - Karen Burniston (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
973 Tags Pivot (Tags), Pop it Ups - Karen Burniston (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
971 Accordion Star (Barn Star), Pop it Ups - Karen Burniston (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
985 Rocky the Crab, Pop it Ups - Karen Burniston (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
967 Alphabet 1 - Caps - Elizabeth Craft Designs
507 Elizabeth Craft Designs Transparent Double Sided Tape, 10mm
7018 Glitter Dots in Black - Elizabeth Craft Designs
Patterned paper - K & Company
Kraft card stock
Cream card stock
Beige Astroparche card stock
Brown card stock
White card stock
Corrugated Cardboard - scrap
Chalks - Craft T
Black pen - Zig
Embellishments - K & Co
Custom texture stamp
Word stamp on Gift Card Holder - My Favorite Things

Thanks for stopping by today