Friday, January 19, 2007

Windows of My Mind

Rhi challenged the DCM team this week, in good BBC Playschool tradition to:

"Look through the round window, or the square window, or the arched window, or any shape window you like!"
"I dare you to make a card with an aperture in it, it can be any shape you like and can be see through or have something covering behind it. It could be a ready made aperture card or lots of small windows punched out, diecut or handcut or one large window. It could be a shaker card and can be for any occasion. ...."


I received a couple of packs of 6x6 papers by 7 Gypsies from A Trip Down Memory Lane on Monday and they are so lovely that I couldn't resist using them straight away for my cards this week - fancy, cutting into new paper the very day it arrives - are you impressed?
I've got some ready-made aperture cards in the bottom of a box somewhere which I've never been inspired to use, so I didn't even bother trying to find them.
Instead for my first card I used a giant flower punch to make the aperture, then used the cut out shape as the basis for the flower behind it, which is then stuck on the inside of the card.
The Stuff: Paper from the Capri paper pack. Various mulberry paper flowers. Various Ribbons and ric-rac, plus paper loops made from the same paper. Brads and eyelets.
Lots of inking, plus gold pen "stitches" around all the edges.

The second card is basically a 12cm square, but cut from the long side of a piece of A4 card and creased to make all the sides different - only the back is 12cms wide. That's probably as clear as mud, sorry! The 2nd photo of the card might help explain better.
The aperture is hand-cut (funny how I never seem to have the right sized punch....) . Again lots of inking, and also a bit of Krylon gold pen for highlighting, some punched hearts and some chiffon ribbon.
The heart inside the aperture I made from wire threaded with gold and red beads.
This time the paper is all from the "Classic" paper pack, with the addition of some scraps of gold card

PS
Well my SA Kit has just this minute arrived so I'm off to open it. Still waiting for two more goodie boxes though.........

10 comments:

Susan Hurley-Luke said...

What beautiful cards! Using apertures sure does seem to make a card more special - and I love all the embellishments you used - everything looks so rich!

Em said...

Fab cards Kathy - just love, love, love the top one - gorgeous colours and paper....

My SA kit arrived today - just picked it up from the PO - it is fab - I REALLY love it - not sure I can bring myself to use it though LOL!

xx

Paula J Atkinson said...

Beautiful. I love the text papered cards & I actually like the range one. I really don't go for orange but you have made it a really pleasing, exciting colour!!!
I've got a page LO to do in orange over on bumbleberry cafe photo swop! My team mates have been great & thrown some my direction, I don't own a single sheet!!!

*Jeanne* said...

Kathy I have been admiring your work for awhile.. I just have to say WOW! Your card designs are so stunning!

*Beatriz Jennings* said...

Beautiful cards! I ove the first one!!!! AWESOME!

Bety.

Rhi said...

Gorgeous Kathy, I love the papers and the flowers on the first one, really bright and summery, and its great to see the second one opened out, what a clever and stunning design.

Rhi x

Andrea C (Frog) said...

Great cards Kathy all gorgeous colours, my SA kit has not arrived yet.

Andrea xx

Anonymous said...

I saw your new avatar and thought I might find the 'whole' on your blog..........both cards are gorgeous

Gillian said...

Kathy both of these cards are amazing..they really highlight your skill as a craftswomen.. Just Beautiful..

Pearl said...

Love how you used the 7 Gypsies papers on both your cards , Kathy !

I can't decide which is my fave ! Both have such clever details !
Very inspiring !
ttfn, Pearl