Seeing Black and White and Red all over!

Today I'm continuing the Black and White trend, but with a twist...RED!!!  As you know from my last post I'm crazy for black and white, but add in another strong color and its the bomb 💣.  My favorites are bright colors...especially turquoise, fuchsia, or yellow...the contrast is spectacular!

The first card mixes a technique I've been wanting to try for a while....creating a background with washi tape and a strong color palette.  I love washi tape almost as much as I love patterned paper (they come in so many color and print combinations). I just can't resist them and my collection of both continues to grow.  Is that a problem? if so...I'm thinkin it's a good problem😊.  Am I right?

So...I created my background using different widths of black and white and red and white washi tape on a red note card.  I used a criss-cross pattern and randomly added layers until I was satisfied with the overall look.  I also cut out some shapes from patterned papers and a few little critters that I previously colored with Copic markers. They were wearing red accessories...so of course they needed to jump on these cards!

For the Washi background, I decided on a red and white polka dotted hexagon using the Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Hexagons Die set.  Then I cut a circle out of it with the MFT Inside and Out Circle Stax.  I used the same die to cut out a black and white polka dot circle which I inset into the hexagon.

Finally, I added Birch the bunny from Purple Onion Designs with foam tape for dimension and a cute sentiment from the Koalifications stamp set from Neat and Tangled.  The finished product (although a little busy 😎) makes me smile.

I was having so much fun with this color scheme, I decide to make a second card using Blizzard the husky from Purple Onion designs.  Since the first card was a little busy🙈 I went for a more simplistic approach this time.

I began with the same red note card and added a stitched rectangle from MFT cut from black cardstock with a really subtle print on it.  I topped that with a red and white polka dot square with a pinked edged...and finally Blizzard!  Then I heat embossed a fun sentiment from the Essentials by Ellen set All Inside by Julie Ebersole and my second card was complete!

I encourage you to use a color palette as your inspiration and see where it takes you.  You might be surprised and delighted by your final destination...I know I was.  HUGS!!

Mad for Plaid!

Happy first day of spring...or is it?  Sure doesn't feel like spring to me.  Maybe this card will remind you that spring is just around the corner...or is it?  Wait...yes, it is!!!

I started with a cute little bunny named Birch from Purple Onion Designs stamped on Neenah Solar White Cardstock in Hero Arts Black ink.  I colored him with Copic markers and then cut him out with my small sharp craft scissors.  Next I chose a Lawn Fawn patterned paper from the Perfectly Plaid Spring collection.  I die cut a circle from the plaid paper with the Inside & Out Stitched Circle Stax and a rectangle from Inside & Out Stitched Rectangle Stax.

I adhered the rectangle to the bright blue note card which picked up the blue in the plaid.  Next I cut pieces of double sided foam tape and added them to the back of the circle die cut to give it some dimension.  ( And it's going to stay where I put it!  I may have been a little heavy handed with the tape😉)

This particular plaid paper is two sided, which allowed me to flip the circle to the plaid set on the diagonal (you'll see that in the final card).  I then added the sentiment Sending Hugs on pink cardstock that coordinated with another stripe in the plaid and my card was complete.  I love the way it turned out...it made me smile immediately.  I hope it does the same for the person who receives it!

Wishing you a HOPPY SPRING!!!