Saturday, July 12, 2008

Fashion in Fifteen: More is More

Here's the souped up version of my single layer card I promised. Had to make a red bag for ya! ;) I wanted to create a background with the shelf of purses, and then spotlight just one bag with color and punches, a tribute to that golden shopping moment when the perfect purse just pops out at you!


For tips on lining up your image for the background, see this post. I moved the shelf over a few purses as I worked up the card. Next ink up just the purse you plan to color or piece and punch out from white cardstock in a circle or other shape. Punch a mat for it with a larger punch. Stamp your purse again on DP or colored CS and mount on top with dimensionals (I stamped a third time to cut out the closure strap and mounted that on top of the cut purse). I added one of the metallic colored dots from the Gina K Bling and Dazzle Raindot Eyelet stickers for the snap, then outlined the purse with my Prismacolor warm gray 20% marker.
I found that the long greeting just fits on the longest Spellbinders Tag Trio die if you don't emboss it. TIP: Tags almost always look that much better with a mat! To make a perfect mat for this one (the Tag Trio dies don't nest together, they are three different shapes), trace the outside of the die with a pencil or embossing tool and cut. I didn't make holes in the black mat, just threaded my ribbon through the die cut tag.

Now go back and look at the finished card if you will: the trick to making the card really sharp I think is having all the elements "line up". See how the top of the matted tag meets the edge of the shelf and is centered between the curled shelf ends? And how the top of the circle tag just meets the curled shelves above it? The purse tag and the tied ribbon knot also follow the rule of thirds. Designing with these things in mind pulls everything together for a really eye-catching project.

Have a great day! :)

oh! You probably want to hear who won? If you've been counting, you already know, Cathy Tidwell aka Catdidit won the masses over with her showstopping zebra card!!! Congrats, Cathy, guess what?? The free stamps you won are going to be my next set, coming out July 24th! YOU ARE MY NEXT GUEST DESIGNER!!! (applause!!!!!!)

Kim Marie won my random drawing, she said "Cathy's is my favorite! Zach is so at home in his little jungle there and the "texture" of the card is phenomenal! The brads top it all off!! Great prize!!" Kim Marie, please email me if you want the OMS and stumps bundle or "Jumping for Joy" Thank you everyone who voted!!!

11 comments:

  1. Very cute card spotlighting that FABOO purse!! LOL And congrats to CATHY!!!!!!!!!! You are amazing!!!!!!

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  2. way cute spotlighting Melanie - just love it!! Congrats to the two winners - whoohoo for you!!!!! That is so awesome! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

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  3. OMG! I cannot begin to tell you how overwhelmed I am at the comments about my Zack card...Thank you sooo much everyone that loved it and your comments have made my day, week, month...etc...lol. I wish I could give everyone of you hugsss and I would be the first to let go!

    I'm a bit speechless...lol. Very unusual for me!

    This card is awesome mel! Its lined up perfect and how you spotlighted the one purse...I know what you mean about finding that 'one'!

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  4. Love that card. You spotlighting is great!

    Congrats Cathy!!! You card was fantastic.

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  5. love the spotlight. Congratulations to Cathy! woohoo!! I'm SO thrilled for her-she is definitely one of your loyalists so very deserving!

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  6. Great card, love the purses. Congrats Cathy your card was amazing.

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  7. Great purse card Melanie! I love that you explain the steps to your creations, I always learn something.

    BIG HUGE CONGRATS to CATHY!!! What a fabulous prize, you deserve it, I can't wait to see what you create with your new set!

    Congrats to Kim Marie too! so what are you going to pick?

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  8. Congrats Cathy on being the next designer!! :-)

    And Melanie, I just love red bags and shoes so your card just talks to me! Hehe ;-D

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  9. Great job with your spotlighting, and I love the sentiment tag!

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  10. I LOVE this card!! Can't wait to meet you next week at CHA!

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  11. Gorgeous card Melanie!!! Congrats Cathy, your card was amazing and I can't wait to see what you do as designer!!

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