This is a day I look forward to every month because it's the day my friends at Concord & 9th do their releases, and my checkbook approaches endangered. I am the reason they have a "buy it all" button on their releases, because I'm that lazy.
I was not lazy this weekend though. This weekend I had my July stamping class with 24 of my closest friends, and I also made 60 billion cards, which you are about to see.
I wanted to reassure you about "days like these" though. Saturday was one of those days for me and making cards. Here's a hint about how it was going - HEY DUMMY - THE MISTI CAN'T HELP YOU IF YOU DON'T PUT YOUR PAPER IN THE CORNER! That is me, speaking to me. Everything I did I felt like I was fighting, and I finally realized - I was just tired. I had stayed up late prepping for class, then got up early because CATS, and I just didn't have enough sleep to execute anything well, other than filling my trash can.
As creative people, we often forget the basics, like sleep, food, water and sunshine. I just want to encourage you if you are frustrated, just walk away and try one of those four. I can almost guarantee you that one or all of them will fix your mojo.
So this morning when the cats woke me up at 5 - apparently they, like Maggie Smith on Downtown Abbey, are all "WHAT, exactly, is a WEEKEND?" - I started by cleaning my desk. Rested, fed and in a clean workspace, I was reunited with my mojo. So I hope you like what I have for you today!
First up - their incredibly elegant Laurel Frame Bundle. This is classic C&9, with bold graphics and a builder element that is oh-so nice with the flowers fitting into that leafy frame. For the frame, I used Fresh Asparagus, followed by Amalgam Ink for the second layer. For the flower, I used Innocent Pink and Red Velvet, which I've decided is the perfect rose combo.
The sentiment is from the Turnabout Bundle in this release and it's cut from their no-shed glitter paper. Other than that, this is a one layer card, which I love!
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So speaking of the Turnabout Bundle - SQUEE! It's such a cute floral, and makes such adorable Scandinavian style backgrounds! I used Red Hot, Sea Glass, Fog and Nocturne Inks to create my background, and I pretty much squealed the whole time. I die cut the Yay! and the circle sentiment from Red Hot and white cardstock with the Semicircle Turnabout bundle. I needed that little strip of white cardstock so the Yay! didn't get lost in the background, but I also didn't want to cover too much up, because it makes my eyeballs happy. And I'm generally happier when my eyeballs are happy!
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You don't have to do the Turnabouts in multiple colors though - because of the tight patterning, they are great for just making your own black & white background paper. So I stamped another panel in Nocturne, cut it into 2" strips, and then made a set of birthday cards, with the help of some adorable furry friends from this bundle. (The frame is in that bundle too.) Ink colors here are Passionate Pink, Wild Dandelion, Key Lime and Blue Raspberry. The sentiment is from Furry Friends.
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I had some leftover Lovely Blossoms strips too, so I used one on this card featuring the new Stripes & Sayings stamp set and the All About You dies. I set the striped background up on my MISTI, and then inked it in Bubblegum Pink and stamped on white cardstock. Then I moved the paper up and stamped with Sweet Mango. Then I filled in the remaining open space with Wild Dandelion - it's just dreamy in three colors, I think. The sentiment is from the Triple Step Thank you you'll see below, stamped in Nocturne. I die cut the "you" twice - once from my stripey paper, and once from Key Lime cardstock and pieced them together.
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Then, I die cut some circles from that same stamped background with the Circle Infinity Dies and used that as a backdrop for my aqua Hi There Bear. The "smile" is from the Dahlia Bundle, and the sequins are Like Magic. I colored him with Copics: BG32 and YG07, as well as N5.
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Now you know when you cut out a word with a frame and two different papers like I used above, that it's like a sourdough starter, right? You can just endlessly make cards with those combinations, so I reversed the one above with another scrap of the striped paper, The All About You die and the Key Lime cardstock. The sentiment is from the Love You So bundle.
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I thought the stripes would give me sort of a 70's vibe with the Lucky bundle, and it did! I used the glitter paper again for the outline, so I have sourdough starter from this card too, because I know have a glittery silver Lucky with a stripey outline left over. The card base is Slate.
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Finally - they have something cool & different this month - the Dip Dyed cards & envelopes! There are several colors and patterns that you can make quick cards with, like this one. I used the free with purchase set for this month and some turquoise glitter with Crystalline Drops for a five second notecard.
Finally - I LOVE this set! Again it has sort of a retro feel, but it's a brilliant Triple Step Thank You bundle - THINK OF ALL THE COLOR COMBOS! I went with one of my fave triads - yellow, grey and black for mine, and I used the free with purchase set and a dip dye envelope to send a little love to two of the loveliest people I know.
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See what I mean about the buy it all button?? They are insanely talented and give me the wantmonster every. single. month.
Speaking of wantmonster - I have my Gina K ink winners!! I need the following people to email me. I will give the colors out in first come first served on email, so please rank them 1-8 in your email to me. There's a contact form on the right side of my blog.
Rufus
C and G mom
Geri Stuart
Angela Bode
Kathy H
Conil
Kelli Hull
Nan G
Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a great week!
Loveyameanitbye.
These cards are all gorgeous! You're amazing girlfriend! XO And I love the new Concord & 9th release! Beautiful products!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a fabulous release and set of cards!!! <3
ReplyDeleteCongrats to all the lucky winners!!!
Great cards! I just love Concord and 9th! Combine their products with Gina K inks, and Lydia Fiedler, and you can't lose!
ReplyDeleteEEEEEEK!!!!!!! Fabulous cards AND I’M A WINNER!!!!!!! Yaaay
ReplyDeleteI love the new Concord & 9th.... Everything! Your cards show off everything there is to love about them, and now I’m going to be broke, too. Love you!
ReplyDeleteLove the new turnabout and the color combo you used with it. I feel like my cat must have been conspiring with your cats. I even had a pep talk with her: "It's the weekend, Penelope. That means no one has to go to work. That means we get to sleep in!" Nope. 6 am meowing. But of course she was sleeping all throughout the day. Oh to be a cat.
ReplyDeleteWhen you find your mojo, there ain't no stopping you!!! Each one is a work of art! PS 5 a.m. is about 4 hours later than when our cats wake me up and 3 hours later than Bruce wakes me up. I am permanently running on fumes :D Is that vaping?
ReplyDeletelove em...love em all...thanks for inspiring.
ReplyDeletexx Karen
Beautiful cards Lydia! I ordered the Turn-about bundle and the Thank You bundle. Can't wait to play with them. just got a shipping notice. Can you tell me what you use the Mudder white buffer sanding blocks for please. I notice them in all your posts and I don't have a clue to their use.
ReplyDeleteLydia, you never cease to knock my socks off with your card designs. Always amazing.
ReplyDeleteI love their turnabout stamps and the newest one is no exception, those little flowers have so much possibility.
ReplyDeleteThese cards are fantastic! I love C9 Turnabout stamps and the Dip Dyed cards and envelopes on on my wish list!
ReplyDeleteLove the Furry Friends with the black and white.
ReplyDeleteFabulous set of cards!!!! The Turnabout cards are really jumping out at me. They are absolutely stunning in black and white but also fun with colors. I clicked on the link so I could understand exactly how you did the one in multiple colors Good pricepoint for that stamp set. I tried laying some flowers out and making my own, it was time consuming and didn't look right to me. I don't think I had enough stamp sets to make it work. It's really appealing to me to have it all in one stamp but still 4 ways to use it! So cool. YES, as artsy people we must remember to sleep and eat and go outside! I find when I spend way too much time on a card and it ends up in the trash I probably only slept about 4 hours the night before. I am really working on the sleep thing!!!
ReplyDelete