Light The Candles

I've combined images from two digital sets to create this card - the fire engine and sentiment are from the new Wheels set and the candles at the bottom are from Make A Wish. For those who are computer savvy, you could layer the sentiment and images together before printing so you end up with a single image. I decided to print my candles separately, coloured them to match the fire engine, then fussy cut around them before securing them to my card.

Stamps:

Kathy's Cakes

Today we're headed over to the lovely Kathy Asper's place to see her latest creations using the Make A Wish digital stamp set. She has two card projects to share today and has even included a colour chart for those interested in her design.

The candle "flames" have been created with transparent materials - vellum or plastic - to create a wonderful, glowing effect. Kathy regularly uses inexpensive plastic folders that can be purchased from local newsagents and stationery shops for transparent films. They are easy to work with and give wonderful results, as you can see!

The colour chart:

Click the link below to head over to Kathy's blog:

Kathy's Blog

Tutorial: Pop-Art Colouring

I want to share a simple colouring technique with you today that will give your image a wonderful pop-art look. You can use whatever colouring medium you like, but you'll also need a black, fine line pen and a good, white gel pen.

Start by colouring the image as desired. We're only using a single colour for each section... no highlights, no shadows, just flat colour. I chose to use all the primary and secondary colours, making sure the tones were about the same, which means I didn't mix pastels with neons or muted colours with brights.

Now, try to think of each element in the image as having four sides - top, bottom, left and right. With the black fine line pen, outline all the different elements in the image on the left and bottom sides. Don't add an outline on the right hand side or on the top.

Take a good look at the image below. You can see that I've added black outlines here and there around the image, but if you look closely you'll notice that the lines are actually on the bottom and left side of each area. Look at the green icing at the very bottom of the cake. You can see black lines on each swirl but only on the bottom and left hand side. That's the look you're going for.

Now we're going to do the same process with the white pen, except we'll be focusing on the top and right hand side of each of the elements. The only difference this time is that we're not going to add the line around the edge of each element. Instead, we're going to come inside just a little bit. Again, look at that green icing at the bottom of the cake. You can see that the white lines are at the top, right hand side, but they are a couple of millimetres in from the actual edge of the icing.

What we've basically done with the black and white pens - even though I said we wouldn't - is add a shadow and highlight, but in an extremely stylised way. The effect is still basically the same, but without the longer process.

I hope you'll give this tutorial a go, and if you do, don't forget to share a link with me.

Stamps:

Tutorial - Twist & Pop Card

Twist and Pop cards are fabulous, interactive cards with a central panel that twists and pops outward to reveal a message, image or combination of embellishments that is sure to impress the lucky receiver.

TEMPLATE

1. Place the 11" x 41/4" piece of card stock horizontally on your score board and score at 51/2". Fold along the score line to form  your card base.

2. Use some patterned paper and an assortment of embellishments to decorate the front of the card as desired. I used one of the images and sentiments from the new Make A Wish digital stamp set.

3. Place the 11" x 33/4" piece of card stock horizontally on your score board and score at 23/4", 51/2" and 81/4". Fold along each of the score lines starting with a valley fold, then a mountain fold and then another valley fold.

4. Decorate your image panel as desired. This is the section of the card that "twists and pops" as the card is open so you will probably want to display your main message or image here.

5. To create the mechanism, place the 8" x 3" piece of card stock horizontally on the desk in front of you. Use a pencil and ruler to measure and mark 21/2" from either end of the card stock, on both the top and bottom edge. See the template above for correct placement.

6. Place the 8" x 3" piece of card stock horizontally on your score board and score at 4".

7. Rotate the card stock so that it is now vertical on your score board. Score at 11/2" intersecting the first score line.

8. Now we're going to score between the pencil marks you made in step five. Start at the top, left hand mark and score down to the bottom, right hand mark. Now score from the bottom, left hand mark up to the top, right hand mark. The four score lines should intersect in the middle of the card stock. Refer to the template above.

9. Fold and burnish all score lines with a bone folder.

10. Use your index fingers to fold the long sections inward as shown in the photos below.

11. Use a bone folder to burnish all the folds.

12. Now we're ready to construct our twist and pop card. You should have an image panel, the inner mechanism and the card base.

13. Apply some glue to the triangle shaped area on the card mechanism. Lay a ruler along the centre of the card base to find the mid point and line up the mechanism, directly below the fold, making sure the card still closes easily. Apply the mechanism, glue side down, and allow to dry for a couple of minutes.

14. Apply more glue to the second triangle section, then close the card to adhere in place. Allow the card to dry for a few minutes to ensure the mechanism is securely attached.

15. Open the card. The mechanism should unfold and lay almost flat on top of the card. Place the image panel on top of the mechanism, matching the centre score lines and keeping the edges flush.

16. Fold the right hand panel over to reveal the mechanism. Use a pencil to mark the position of the image panel.

17. Repeat on the left hand side, so that you have two clear pencil lines on the mechanism.

18. Apply glue on the top, right hand section of the mechanism. Keep the glue between the pencil line and the edge of the card stock as seen in the photo below.

19. Move the image panel so that it's flush with the pencil line and centred over the mechanism (see below). Unfold the image panel and press against the glue. Allow to dry for a minute.

20. Apply glue on the bottom, left hand section of the mechanism, keeping the glue between the pencil line and the edge of the card stock as seen in the photo below.

21. Unfold the image panel and press against the glue. Allow to dry completely.

Your card is now complete!

(You may have to open and close the card a few times to limber up the mechanism)

Stamps: