TAC Savvy Projects for People on the Go

My Retiform Cards for the Retiform Blog Hop

 

So this is my first RETIFORM card in YEARS!  It took me a LONG time to finish ~ I started it months ago and wrapped it up months later.  {smiles}  I knew there wasn't a hurry so it got set on the back-burner for quite some time.

I wanted to use this set (when I started this card it was football season) and make a card with our school colors which are Texas Orange and Black!  YUM!  I decided to add in some gray because it goes with everything right!

I hadn't intended on stamping in every box around my image but I forgot what I was doing and before I knew it ~ almost every inch of this card had 'KICK OFF' stamped on it somewhere.  Oh well.  I don't think it's terribly awful!

 

I really like adding layers on top of the RETIFORM.  I don't know why but I need a more distinct focal point.  So I added one and applied it to my card with pop dots.

 

Here are the inks I used ~ Tangelo, Potters Clay, London Fog and Tuxedo Black Memento Inks.  I also used these foam make-up sponges to get a smoother finish.

 

So ~ I TOTALLY forgot I had already made a RETIFORM card and prepared this blog post ... and it was only like 2 days ago I did this!  Oh my!  LOL!

So ~ I thought I needed to get a RETIFORM card made because I hadn't crossed if off my list yet.  I have 2 more cards that I was going to feature but you can't see the RETIFORM in them so I'm posting them later.  Here is the card I created and following is how I got to this point!

 

So ~ time to get started.  I wanted my card to look as good as this one by Heather Scott.  So I placed it on an easel in front of my workspace.  My inspiration piece:

 

Then I decided to try something I've NEVER done before.  I pulled out my cardstock and looked at palette's that I wanted to work with.  Then I looked for ink to match.

 

 

 
I cleaned up my work area and surrounded myself with the supplies I was using.  I opened up my Inspiration Book so that my main stamp set was in front of me.  WOW!  Look at me go!

 

 

I gathered up some scratch paper, ripped it up and put some glue marker on the back of it to try and hold it in place while I worked.

 
I am using these makeup sponges because all of my hydra sponges are designated for other colors and I don't have any others on hand. 

 

 

 

My paper slipped off so I stopped and called the pink good!

 

 
Yep.  It's about now that I realize I've done it wrong.  Oh well.  As tempted as I am to start over I'm not going to.  I can make this work! 

Notice on Heather's card that she has TWO really crisp lines for the ripped cardstock.  I don't.  Saddums.

 

 

 
I wanted to show you which adhesive I use for this tiny frame.  I LOVE this Tombow Mono Glue!  LOVE IT!

 
I used Copic Markers R11 and R20 to color in my bird.  And then added more color and stamping.

NOTE:  The flat tone of my bird.  Look specifically at its eye ...

 

I later took a brown marker and started to add some dimension myself.

 

I think this card may have looked better had I left off the 'hope perches in my soul' HOWEVER that was one of the parts I just COULDN'T leave off!  This girls soul needs HOPE perched in it!

 
So here's my card next to the masterpiece.  You notice I placed my watermark signature under the masterpiece!  Ok ~ it really did look best there.  It is funny though!

Heather's card is certainly more striking and one of the reasons is because of her color palette.  She is working with two strong colors and next to each other they are BAM!  PERFECT colors for her card and her images.  The entire package Heather selected works well together! 

I choose two colors that to me read more feminine, soft, delicate and worked sweetly with the images I had chosen.  These are all details that set the tone for the final result.

 

Guess what ... I didn't use ... Glossy Accents ... even though Heather did!

 

Here you can really see the brown I added to the image.

 

I also decided to emboss on a couple of layers because the card seemed so one dimensional to me.  Now it's busier than I'll get out!  LOL!

 

This is a technique that just requires you to go for it!  If you just can't seem to get started then find a card you like that is done with this technique and recreate it using your own palette and images. 

Additional Supplies for Hope card:  Pixie Dust and Spanish Olive VersaMagic Ink, Transcendence Emboss Powder, Nesties Dies, brown marker

Happy Paper Crafting!

Mischelle

.... now let's go make another card!

Guest Designer Holly Mays and Watercolor Plants

 

I had SO much fun creating this card! My goal was to create a collage. I started out using stamps from Fanciful Vintage and Vintage Backgrounds. I inked up the stamps and then stamped off some of the ink on scratch paper. I did this so that when I stamped on my card the image would be lighter~ creating depth and dimension. I stamped one of the images with VersaMagic Oasis Green to add some color! {smiles}

The Watercolor Plants, Running Stitches, and greeting were all stamped with the first generation of ink. I layered the "I Love You" onto black cardstock to make it pop out a little more. The last thing I did was add buttons. The card needed a little something~ and the buttons did the trick!  I LOVE creating collage cards!

Supplies: Watercolor Plants, Running Stitches, Trendy Greetings, Fanciful Vintage, Vintage Backgrounds, Pemberley Bay Matchbook Kit, VersaMagic Oasis Green, Noir Black Palette Ink Pad

 

I started this card by placing a strip of Amberley Grace cardstock on the side~ then I added matching ribbon. I punched a circle out of kraft cardstock using a 2 1/2" punch and I punched a 3" scalloped circle from Amberley Grace. The VersaMark gave the Watercolor Plants a soft look. I stamped "many thanks" with Burnt Umber. The bow and the buttons gave the card the "POP" that it needed. ;)

I like this card because Amberley Grace does all the work! The biggest challenge for me on this card was tying the BOW! I am not the best at tying bows! ha!

Supplies: Watercolor Plants, Tag Tidbits, Amberley Grace Cardstock and Ribbon, Burnt Umber Palette Ink Pad, VersaMark Pad

 

This card was FUN for me because I usually work with darker colors! I'm trying to expand my comfort zone! I started with my Speckle stamp~ using Belle Rose and Orangerine~ to create my background. I used the same two colors of ink to stamp the Watercolor Plants. I stamped the Watercolor Plants with the first and second generation of ink to create some depth. I layered my image onto orange cardstock and used pop dots to attach it to the card. Finally, I added a saying.

I LOVE my Speckle stamp, but I wanted some "bigger" speckles...so I went back and added a few random larger speckles with my orange marker.

Supplies: Watercolor Plants, Speckle, Tag Tidbits, Belle Rose Palette Ink Pad, Orangerine Palette Ink Pad, Pop Dots

 

An old book I found inspired me to do this card! The pages were falling out and I almost threw the book in the trash.  What was I thinking?! {smiles} I took a page from the book and started stamping Watercolor Plants~ stamping several different generations of ink to create depth. I used Edge Designs on two sides.

Supplies: Watercolor Plants, With Sympathy, Edge Designs, Noir Black Palette Ink Pad

 

This was a simple and fast card to make...just a few layers and black ink! 

 

I used my Scor-Bug Embosser on the left side of the card and added a photo turn and brad.

Supplies: Watercolor Plants, Happily Grateful, Noir Black Palette Ink Pad, Scor-Pal, Scor-Bug Embosser

 

Aquacolors are SO fun to play with! I used 3 colors~orange, yellow, green. I sprayed my stamp with water and colored directly on the stamp with aquacolors. I stamped my image on white cardstock. Pop dots were used to give the main image some height.

I purchased some doilies at a local dollar store and I was determined to use one on this card! I stamped the doily using my Script stamp and Orangerine ink pad.

Supplies: Watercolor Plants, Script, Trendy Greetings, Aquacolors, Orangerine Palette Ink Pad, Noir Black Ink Pad, Pop Dots

***There are links above so that you can purchase the product I have used, but PLEASE purchase from your ANGEL demonstrator if you have one! I hope you have enjoyed my cards, but most of all, I hope you are inspired to stamp and create! I have thoroughly enjoyed being a Guest Designer! Thank you!

Click here to visit my blog: Holly Mays