Friday, November 4, 2011

Inspired by Amber Damien

Amber Damien published a spread of cards in the fall issue of Take Ten...and here's a sample of her technique.




Cool, eh? Corrugated cardboard gives a card such wonderful texture. I love how Amber used squares in a grid (grids, YES!) and raffia. It had been my plan to stick more to her layout, but I wasn't paying attention to what I was doing (just keepin' it real) and punched squares out of the kraft card stock I'd crimped in my Fiskar's paper crimper instead of the Indian Summer paper I'd planned to use.

You know, it takes pretty phenomenal lack of situational awareness to put crimped card stock in a punch and not notice that something is wrong.

Since I had some punched leaves (wow, this maple leaf punch has gotten a huge workout lately!), I played around with them on the crimped squares. A 3 x 3 grid looked too busy, so as I moved just three squares around on a cream card, I thought the blessings sentiment might break up the predictability of the layout.

Bingo!




Version two pulls everything to the center rather than left justified. I honestly can't decide which layout I like best.




I hope you all are having a lovely weekend, full of fun, loved ones, and inky stamps!

17 comments:

  1. Both cards are lovely, Susan. My favorite would be the centered version. Those leaves are beautiful, as well. I actually stamped leaves today...great minds? Have a good weekend :)

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  2. Perfect cards for me :D Love both versions and not sure I can pick between them either! Need that punch LOL!

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  3. Beautiful cards - for some reason, I like the centered one best. I really must use my crimper.

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  4. The first one is my favourite, Susan...it is very pleasing to my eyes. I just love it!

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  5. You have taught me off center -- so, I love the off centered card! You are so good at spinning cards to CAS! Love this blog mf!!

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  6. Yes, crimped cardstock meets punch and it's a no-go! Glad your punch didn't break!

    I adore your simple but stunning Blessings cards! If I had to pick a fav style, I'd pick the off-center card. I found your blog through SCS and I'm so glad I clicked your link because I love it. In fact, I am so inspired by this card that I hope you don't mind if I case it, altering it a bit based on my supplies?!? Here is a link to a fall card w/leaves that I made ... if you would like to take a peek. :)

    http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2079074?&cat=500&ppuser=214947

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  7. Fabby design work. Like them both but I prefer the one off to the side.

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  8. Lovely cards, Susan! I prefer the
    one with the elements off to the side.

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  9. Me, I prefer the centred one, but then I've always loved symmetry. But had you only shown the off-centre one, I would never have thought "oh that should be centred", so I guess I love them both!

    No inky stamps for me this weekend - in fact, I'm having ink withdrawal symptoms as I've been away for the past three weeks. But I am getting to spend this last weekend away with my sisters so that is great. I"m heading home tomorrow so really look forward to getting into the craft room.

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  10. love the "faux corrugated" look! And I like that first one, with the senitment breaking in between like that ;)

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  11. Who'd have thought some something so lovely came from not paying attention. I just love the corrugated paper (gotta' get a crimper!) as a base for the leaves. I guess I've also gotta' get that leave punch. Is it MS? "Blessings" broke up the pattern nicely in both cards. I like the first one better, although both are lovely fall/Thanksgiving cards. Lots of lovely white space, too!

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  12. I really like both cards but I truly am drawn to the left sided one. I must find my crimper!

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  13. Lovely! I really do like the neat effect of the ripples! I should use corrugated pieces more often!

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  14. I like both of your cards as well as the inspiration card. I bought some raffia last year and never used it and haven't been able to find it this fall... I've really been wanting to use it! And I still have never used my crimper! LOL!! Thanks for all the inspiration to get on the ball!

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  15. You take things to a new level! I love the blocks on the left! Maybe I'm a bit off-centre too!

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  16. I especially like the first, left-justified version. And all too often, I can be thinking ahead to next steps and do something like punch the wrong piece of cardstock! :P

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!