Scrap pile challenge: Using digital images

I have a confession to make. I am a clip-art junkie!  I have thousands of images but do I use them? Rarely! 

The third rule in my scrap pile challenge is to use things I already have and that includes digital images. Thanks to my inability to turn down anything free I have a lifetime supply of 4 x 6 photo paper so that's what I use to print clip art.  The colors are so much more vibrant than when I print on cardstock. 

Here are three of the cards I made using clipart I bought from PcCrafter over 10 years ago (that's how long ago they closed up shop). 

I love the bright red and deep purple in this image and I repeated them in my cardstock selection.

Both the bouquet and the panel that holds the bouquet are popped up on foam tape to give the card dimension.

How can you NOT smile with this little guy staring back at you?

So stinkin' cute!

Here's another card were I used vellum to soften the background.  This little squirrel was lost in the leaves until I added the torn vellum layer. I wrapped the vellum around the edges of the patterned paper and adhered it to the back so there's no adhesive showing through.

Next, I popped the squirrel and three leaves up on foam squares.

It's fall, Let's dance!

Now it's your turn. Dig into your collection of clip art and create something!

Scrap Pile Challenge: Of Scraps, Fairies and Vellum

 A couple weeks ago, when I was looking for something in my craft closet, I came across a box of coordinated scraps that I had set aside for who-knows-what.  Rather than toss them or add them to my growing stash of "I'll use this someday" scraps, I decided to set a little challenge for myself:

The rules:

• The card base is the only "new" cardstock I can cut into. Everything else has to come from existing scraps.
• Use images I've already stamped and colored.
• If I use printed images, they have to come from what I already own (I'm a bit of an addict)
• All the patterned paper must come from the box.

Here's what I started with:

So far, I've made 14 cards and I still have enough scraps for more.  For the first five cards I chose images from the Fairy Days digital stamp set from RG Studio 360.

Aren't they adorable?

The background was a little overpowering so I cut some pierced ovals from vellum and hand stitched them over the patterned paper.  This softened the background and highlighted the fairies.

I used up a couple of the large labels on the next two cards as well as a strip of flocked pink paper.

Butterfly dazzles add a little sparkle.

A ladybug at the bottom left balances out the red of the apple and the fairy's shirt on the upper right.

I added a lace border and dragonfly dazzles to the final card

I had a lot of fun with this challenge.  Being restricted to a small set of papers helped me focus more on the creative process since my color pallet was already decided for me.

I will be sharing the rest of the cards I made in another post.  In the meantime, Take a look at your pile of scraps. What can you make with what you already have?

A Great Way To Showcase Your Photos On Your Cards

 Last week on the PaperWishers forum a friend posted some bay window cards. I had never seen the technique before so I had to give it a try.  I thought they looked like they might be a perfect match for my photos and I was right!

After the first one, I was hooked.  I have lots and lots of pictures of  birds so I'll be reusing this sentiment. The feathers are from a download from 88 and Clear.

Part of the fun is coming up with sentiments to go with the pictures.

This one is from our trip to Hawaii

These cards were super easy to make and are A2 size (4.25" x 5.5").  I got measurements that work perfectly for 4x6 photos from Rachel Tessmans' YouTube tutorial here: (5) Bay Window Fold Card - YouTube

In Rachel's instructions the panels are 4 1/8" tall but 4" works just as well.

Watch Rachel's tutorial for the instructions but here are the measurements.

• Score a 4 1/4" x 11" card on the long edge at:
• 3/8"
• 1 7/8"
• 3"
• 5 1/8"
• 5 1/2"
• Cut your 4" x 6" photo into panels from left to right as follows:
• Panel 1: 1 3/8" 
• Panel 2: 1 5/8"
• Panel 3: 1 3/8"
• Panel 4: 1 5/8"