Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator - Coldwater, Michigan - KatheD@gmail.com

Monday, February 12, 2018

current challenge adventures

If you've been following along, you will have noticed that I've had some "issues" with the cards I've posted recently.  My theory is that it's because I've been pushing myself a bit to keep up with the challenges I've accepted.  I'm grateful today that I'm current on all of them!  Here are cards 37 through 43, five of which went together without issue:
I'm hoping you noticed the Christmas card in the back row center - here it is again, as part of Twofer Card Challenge #2, where the prompt is Hearts:
Of course, I've convinced myself that I was particularly clever in using not just the EXACT same die for both hearts, but actually it's just one heart; I've used both the die cut and the negative from one pass through my Big Shot ;)  

The Christmas card was inspired by the Jingle Belles' prompt of A-Coloring We Will Go.  I colored the bird last month, and cut him out as well, but couldn't decide what to do with him.  When the new Twofer Challenge posted, I searched Christmas, Cardinal and Heart on Pinterest and found this felt ornament - wow!  Unfortunately the link no longer works, but it gave me the inspiration I needed.  I was still dealing with issues, though.  I attempted to cut the heart through the front of a card base - it was both crooked and off-center, necessitating some serious trimming.  Then I was a little rough with the bird and broke off the leg on the right - it's been mended, but doesn't he look a bit spraddle-legged?  Maybe it's just me...
stamp sets - Best Birds, Christmas Pines; ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, Smoky Slate; Stampin' Blends; Stampin' Write marker - Basic Black; card stock - Whisper White, Soft Sky, Smoky Slate; Big Shot with Sweet & Sassy framelits and Woodland textured impression folder

And, making use of a NBUS stamp set that has so many options I temporarily had a bit of creativity paralysis, the companion card, a bit more Clean And Simple:
stamp set - Waterfront; ink - Marina Mist, Soft Sky, Peekaboo Peach, Fresh Fig, Always Artichoke; Big Shot with Sweet & Sassy framelit

11 comments:

lauren bergold said...

oh my gosh, what an awesome two-fer! love both of the hearts-- positive and negative-- and that robin is so beautifully colored! (and of course the rest of this week's cards are also super-cool too!) so happy you could join our coloring fun at JINGLE BELLES! ♥

Susanne Vargas said...

Your cards are fabulous! Love cardinal sitting in the heart window with the birch trees looking through! And that pretty landscape on the cut out heart is gorgeous! Two great designs!
Thanks for joining in the Twofer!

Lucille K said...

Both twofer cards are wonderful. I especially like the heart with the scene, great idea :)

Loll said...

Fantastic Twofer Cards Kathe!! And great way to use all your pieces by using the heart aperture for one card and the cut-out for the other! Love the two very distinct and beautiful designs. Thanks for joining us at Twofer Card Challenge!

Verna Angerhofer said...

Great use of the positive and negative of the heart die. Lovely cards.

SmilynStef said...

The double-heart use was indeed quite clever ... and kudos to you for keeping up with your card-making goals ... so glad you went *a-coloring* with us at jingle belles.

Darnell said...

Great job using your positive and negative heart for your two different and fantastic designs, Kathe! I love the birch trees behind the pretty spraddled-legged bird. (I'm thinking she's prolly had several clutches [hatches?] and, you know, enough of those eggs coming through and anyone would be spraddle-legged!) And I love the scene so artistically painted on the heart on your second card! Thank you so much for playing in Twofer Card Challenge #2!! Hugs, Darnell

MaryH said...

Saw these wonderful cards at Feb 2fer challenge, and loved the scenes you've created in the heart negative space. Certainly a unique use of the same heart motif to create something so different & beautiful. Enjoyed reading your profile, and looked for a place to join as a follower. Bravo you for seeing the USA, and starting a blog. It's a super way to meet fun people. TFS

Brenda in IN said...

Wow, I love your creativity! Great idea to add a scene inside the heart. The Christmas card is just lovely too. Great cards for the twofer.

Terri Trotter Earley said...

Loving your twofer cards. So creative! They jumped off the page of entries. Great job!

Marianne said...

What a fabulous twofer! I love your pretty heart scene and the subtle but beautiful background behind your wonderful cardinal. Thanks for playing along with my prompt at Jingle Belles.