TAC Savvy Projects for People on the Go

Tune in Tuesday with Angela Kelley

I love paper piecing, it is a quick and easy way to add to your focal image and tie your whole card together. But sometimes it can also look just a little flat. So today I am going to share with you how you can add a little depth and movement, just by shading your paper piecing with a grey Copic marker!

Start by stamping your image twice. Once on white card stock of your choice, I used Copic Xpress it, and once on a piece of patterned paper that will complement your project. ( I used Maggie SWIC)

Now just as if I were going to color the image, I add shading to the area that I will be using to paper piece, in this case the dress. I used a Warm Grey #3, (actually in the picture I used WG#5 so that it would really show up for you, but it is a little darker than I really like!) this paper has a subtle taupe in the background and I wanted to complement that. I find that most times the Warm Greys work best for this, but if you don't have any of the warm greys, then try this with what you do have. But start with a #3, you can always add a little darker shade if you like, but it is harder to remove if you don't like it!! Ask me how I know!! :)

 
Now I blend my WG-3 out with a WG-1. As soon as it is completely dry I go back over the entire shaded area with my colorless blender to smooth it all out get rid of any "hard lines".

Now trim out the pieces that you need for your focal image. Normally I color the image before adhering  the paper pieces.

 There you have it a quick and simple way to add some depth and movement to your paper piecing! I have not tried it, but I am sure that this would work with with colored pencils and OMS too, or even chalks! I hope that you will give it a try yourself!!

I hope that you will come visit me on my blog Artistic Detours. Have a really great day!! :)

Kick Up Your Cards! featuring cardmaker Debra Miller

So guess what ... I didn't ask Deb if I could use her for my Kick Up Your Cards! post today BECAUSE ... she has all of this GORGEOUS work on her blog ... so ... I thought I'd just borrow it and share!  {smiles}

I was delighted when I found this treasury on Deb's blog and blown away at the same time.  Let's go on a stroll through some of Deb's cards ... shall we!

As you can see ... Deb is no stranger to being published!  This is from 2007:

2006:

2005:

2008:

Ok ... these are all DROP DEAD FABULOUS!  Now let's look at some of the cards that Deb added just a bit more embellishment to:

Check out the blue and green gingham ribbons ... they totally Kick this Card UP!

This next card doesn't really have an 'embellishment' like a typical accessory, however, the torn cardstock totally Kicks this UP!

Circles on pop dots and cut out images!  WOW!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the V'd areas added to the cardstock ... almost like little shirt collars!  That little detail adds a ton of interest to this card and dimension!

And this is why you NEED a paper corrugator!  That little PUNCH Kicked this card UP!

A little scrappers floss really Kicked this Card UP!

Eyelets!  What a wonderful touch these added to this card!

Scor-Pal and Scor-Bug!  Must have's to Kick up Your Cards!  That's how Deb achieved the fabulous dimension on the purple cardstock!

And we'll end with one of my favorites ~ isn't it amazing what cutting out the image can do!  LOVE it!

Okay ... so Deb doesn't really need to Kick Up her cards we all know!  What I hope you see is how her work has progressed over the years and how effective tiny little touches and details can make to a final piece!  You can SEE exactly how this girl has Kicked Up her Cards and taken her cardmaking to another level!

Thanks Deb and if you'd like to see more of her work and some cards I didn't share then you can check them out here on her blog 

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

Kick Up Your Cards!

 
At The Angel Company we often receive questions from our Angels asking what they can do to improve their cardmaking skills.  I think most of us appreciate honest feedback and knowing what those little tips and tricks are that will Kick Up Your Cards and transform us from amateur to professional cardmakers almost instantaneously!

Kick Up Your Cards will give examples, tips, tricks and more that will show you how to avoid card-tastrophe's, and at the same time, show you how to Kick Up Your Cards!

So let's get started with my very own card-tastrophe!  I made the cards above for a Birthday Card Swap I was participating in.  The card below highlights my card-tastrophe!

 

You see that TAPE sticking out from the corner ... I do!  In fact ... it's ALL I see! 

This is a Kick Up Your Cards 101 RULE ~ adhesive should NEVER be seen!

Card-tastrophe #2 is also mine!

I used our Premium Cardstock for my cardbase ('twas all I had on hand) and even though I scored the fold with my Scor-Pal you can see here that the fold still 'cracks'.  You can click on the image to see it full size.  My cardstock cracked because it is incredibly thick and heavy ... great cardstock ... not so great for a card base.

 
This is a Kick Up Your Cards 101 RULE ~ use the correct cardstock for the job!

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle