Let's Craft and Create Challenge #171: No Patterned Paper (with the option of Anything Goes)...

 

Can you believe it is already May? I'm excited for the warm, summer days ahead. When you live in a state that borders Canada, winters can seem to last forever. 

The first week of the month means the start of another month-long challenge at Let's Craft and Create. I loved this month's challenge of using NO patterned paper. We crafters have so many tools at our disposal--stencils, stamps, ink blending, embossing folders--that it isn't hard to make a card that features no patterned paper.

Here's what I came up with:

This card front was created with an embossing folder from In Love Art Shop. It's called Flower Square, and it is so beautiful! It embosses perfectly with a deep, even impression. If you are interested in purchasing it, you can use this discount code for some extra dollars off: G-40248 

The embossing folder is 5" X 7", but since this is an A2 card, I cut it down to 4 3/16" X 5 5/16".

My Happy Birthday was cut from some heavy pink cardstock and glued in place.

After I had embossed my piece of white cardstock, I used a water brush and some watercolor pencils to paint the floral design. I didn't do any fancy shading, but I did give the pink and blue flowers two coats of color. I also added a little brown to the leaves.

The inside of my card has a simple, stamped sentiment.

Since the embossing folder is 5" X 7", I decided I had to make a card that size, too. This time I embossed a blue piece of cardstock and then swiped the raised parts of the embossed pattern with a white ink pad. I also used a brush to add another layer of white ink to the flowers.

Finally, I added a sentiment that was die-cut from some glitter cardstock.

Since this is a large card, I searched through my birthday stamps and found one that would fill the most space on the inside of my card. I wish it would have been in a little larger font, but I decided to use it anyway.

This embossing folder is really going to be a valuable tool for my cardmaking. I know that I will turn to it often when I need a quick, but impressive, card.

I hope you'll join us at Let's Craft and Create with a card or other project using no patterned paper (or the  anything goes option). There's always a prize up for grabs and the Design Team has some fantastic projects that will get your creative juices flowing.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl