As we go about making cards we sometimes get stuck in a rut. Being that many come to me for guidance in coloring most of my creations incorporate coloring to some degree, but I also enjoy stamping without doing any coloring at all. When I need a really quick card I go back to some very basic stamping techniques. The Lockhart Stamp Company images are ideal for coloring in, BUT they are also adorable just simply stamped on colored cardstock or patterned paper.
I thought about stamping each bug in black on the circles I had cut out using the smallest Nestability circle die. The more I thought about it the more I realized I wanted them to just be a subtle part of the card and not jump off of the paper as a black image would. The final destination I wanted your eye to settle on is the floral piece. Monochromatic stamping is subtle - select an ink color that is slightly darker than the color of cardstock you have selected and stamp your image in this tone on tone format.
It was quite easy to eyeball and stamp each bug in the coordinating ink color, but if you are afraid of missing and having to start over you can always pull out your Stamp-a-ma-jig. It is a tool I use often, but found unnecessary in creating this card. I then placed the circles back in the Nestability die and embossed the images. I find it easiest to cut, stamp, and then emboss.
I am loving my new CHF backgrounders! They are allowing me the freedom to be a "Stampy Stamper". This is a phrase that Mona Lisa coined and it describes me to a "T" - I love stamping and to have the freedom to create distinctive papers that coordinate has given me much pleasure Ü The scale of the Large Polka Dot backgrounder was perfect for this card.
One other design element that I thought about as I created this card was the repetitiion of the circles - it's a LOT of circles I used, but it was this repetition that I felt would bring a strong statement to this card! If I could nudge my focal line of circles over to the right about 1/8"-1/4" then my layout would make me much happier - yes, it's the perfectionist in me. I should have laid my circles down before applying adhesive - LOL!
To finish this card off I felt that the sentiment "It's the little things in life that matter most" would be perfect with all these little bugs. Try creating one of these tone on tone, circle cards and link me up girls - I'm still waiting to see what you are all creating!
So PRETTY and HAPPY!!! You have creativity of thousands of people in you head, I love the card, TFS.
Posted by: Juanita | February 21, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Such a cute card, I love the little bugs. I can always count on you to enable me. Thank you. Stacy
Posted by: Stacy | February 20, 2008 at 06:18 AM
Love this card - love the colors, love the bitty bugs, love the backgrounder, and love the flower. I hope you'll share the how-to or the source for this awesome blossom. Thank you so much for sharing your great ideas and wonderful talent.
Hugs, -mary
Posted by: -mary | February 20, 2008 at 01:21 AM
I love your cheerful colors and cute bugs!! What a fun card!! Love it!!
Posted by: Rose Ann | February 19, 2008 at 08:28 PM
I love the bright colors on this card. One bug in each circle with the circle bg is adorable! Thanks!
Posted by: Danielle | February 18, 2008 at 08:50 AM
What a fun, bright & cheery design, Ellen -- just perfect for those Itty Bittys!
Posted by: Sharon Harnist | February 18, 2008 at 07:50 AM
What an eye-catcher! Love your design, and those colors are perfect together! You truly ARE the master! :-)
Posted by: Michelle R | February 17, 2008 at 05:11 PM
Oh!! Such a cute card.
Posted by: Elizabeth S. | February 17, 2008 at 09:46 AM
oh, what a lovely card!
Posted by: liannallama | February 17, 2008 at 09:16 AM
Ellen,
Couldn't you use versamark for the bugs? If you didn't have the colors to match would that work? Thank oyu for the tips. Always look forward to your creations.
Linda
Posted by: Linda Collins | February 17, 2008 at 06:31 AM
Hi Ellen!
Thanks for posting this one. I love to stamp, but I don't like to color. This type of card is just what I needed to see :)
Posted by: Pat S. | February 17, 2008 at 05:39 AM
Wonderful Card - love the bugs...but how did you create the flower? It's beautiful!
Posted by: Glenda | February 16, 2008 at 10:56 PM
This is so cute! I hope I have time to give this a try tomorrow! 2 questions- one, did you make the adorable flower? two, is the sentiment inside the card? Sorry, if this is a "duh" quesiton. It's been a long day!
Posted by: Beth | February 16, 2008 at 08:49 PM