A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

April 2, 2013

Well, Hello There Homemade Designer Paper!

Morning, it's Tuesday and that's pretty noteworthy.  I hope you had fun yesterday fooling and being fooled!

After making my own designer paper here  with a potato, I was ready to move on to the next video from the Online Card Classes "Pattern Play."  As it happens, the guest designer was one of my card heroines, Laura Bassen of Doublestick Heaven.  If you don't have her in your subscriptions, you are missing out on a lot of bruises from falling out of your chair when you open her post emails.
 
It was Laura's technique from the class video that I used as my inspiration.  Here is her card:
 
January DT Blog Hop
 
I'll wait a minute while you get back up into your chair.  U'kay?  Oh, good.  Have a sip.  I know you are excited, but I'd love it if you could finish up here before you go visit her.  Ask me how I know you'll be over there for a very la-ong and wonderful visit!
 
Here is my CASE:

 
 
This is not my first take.  I tried to use as many stamps and colors as Laura did, but it was just a hot mess.  So I brought the bar back down to a more realistic and manageable level for my skill set and I'm happy with this one. 
 
I started with a subtle polka dot pattern paper and I masked a square area by using a post-it note.  My list of inks and stamps is at the end of this post.
 
Nostalgia
 
Making my own designer paper ala Laura Fadora reminded me that I still refer to a magazine article I saved, written by Debra Emmrich, and first published almost a DECADE (gasp!) ago in "Scrap and Stamp Arts."  At that time, the technique was called "Double-time Magic."  With card artists like Laura, there are now modern online (and prolly YouTube) videos about this type of technique.  I believe there are new names, like Masterboarding. 

Anywilly, I thought you might get a kick out of seeing the original old-fashioned magazine format!  Even today, with a little modern updating, the prince apple is still a good one.  You can, for instance, mask off areas (I think you might need to do some math, sorry) before you stamp your paper.





 
 
Some things are truly tried and true.  I'm not sure how difficult this will be to read or print, so if you would like me to send you a color copy of the article, either by email or snail mail, let me know.  My email address is clickable from my profile page.
 
~~~
 
I am bubbling over with delightment to introduce you to four new friends who have come to the Playhouse to join in the fun!
 
Nessa from The Crafty Laydee
 
Susie from Planet Susie
 
 
Annette from My Clever Creations

Okay, off you go to be inspired by this incredible windfall of creativity, but, please, take your time!  There is so much pretty inspiration for everyone!  I know we live in an insane time where you feel as though you are only allowed a half second per screen shot, but whoa, Nelly, not true here!  Leave your hurry on the doorstep!  Besides, I don't want your clicking arm to fall off.  It will, you know.
 
~~~
 
Enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy!  LITS*!  

I am working for the next week doing a vacation fill-in, so I will miss tomorrow's WOYWW hop.  I still hope to continue in the evening catching up on my class and my homework, which I will share when I can.

Thank you so much for stopping by the Playhouse. Special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment or join as a follower.



*Life Is Too Short!

Paper:  PTI white; unknown polka dot from stash
Stamps:  PTI "Rosie Posie";  SU! "Mixed Bunch" and
  "Reason to Smile"; Paper Smooches, "Vogue Abode"; 
  Verve "Great Friend"; Hero Arts "Heydey Sentiments"
Inks:  Versafine onyx black; SU! old olive, gumball
  green, melon mambo, and Bermuda bay
Bling:  SU! Basic Pearls

40 comments:

Hannelie said...

Thanks for the inspiration Darnell!

Unknown said...

Wow Dippy - AWESOME! Love what you have done, it's so effective. I'm going to try to download the article as it looks fascinating and I prefer to sit and have the paper ín my sweaty paws so I can drool a bit!!! lol If I have probs will email you. Don't work too hard......

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Unknown said...

I love your take on the class card - really, really pretty background you have created.

Ardyth said...

Love your take on Laura's technique - I love how the dp dots fit in with those flowers.

Happy Dance said...

How do you do it?! The pings must have bounced right over to your little crafty house!!! Seriously amazing card. Love it. Truly. And how do you always have the just rightly said posts?! Your words are fun, cheerful and always encouraging. Thanks for that, my friend. Bev

jimlynn said...

Darnell, this is SO PRETTY! I can't seem to get caught up on all my "homework" from this card class so thanks for the motivation and inspiration now!
Love all the flowers stamped in the background and the focus on the sentiment panel is fabulous!
VERY nice!
Lynn

Aileen said...

This is so cool! I'm sure I'd have ended up with a mess of splodges. x

xiumaiyuki said...

Your card is so pretty! Love your homemade patterned paper... you've inspired me to pull out my floral stamps and try it out, too.

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Thanks for inspiration, your cards are amazing,
hugs Tamara

Annette Allen said...

aww thanks for the shout-out.. you are filled with awesome inspiration.. here's to new friendships..

Happy Crafting..

Wida said...

that background stamping is gorgeous. It looks easy till you sit down and actually do it!

Carol L said...

Lots of info today, and a very pretty card to boot! Thanks!

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell what a great take on Laura's technique taught in PP. Your cards is fantastic!

Redanne said...

Hello my friend! It is definitely worth taking these classes because you learn so much - old and new techniques. I really, really love your card, the colours and stamping are gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.... A totally brilliant card (can you tell I love it...). Hugs, Annie x

PS - will have a go at this - and - don't work too hard. A x

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

LOVE your card & background, very beautiful combination of colours & images. Have fun working! Shirleyx

Susan said...

I love that you've taken to heart the teachings of that online card class...those of us who sat in the back of the class were passing notes and whispering secrets and missed some of the good stuff! Maybe I should go back and "revisit" some of the videos! Beautiful take on Laura's card!

Sue said...

WOW! Such a wonderful technique and so effective. I love the colours and great mix of images.
Sue xx

Kristie Goulet said...

Great card Darnell! Love what you did, the colors, the masking, everything!

scrappymo! said...

What a marvelous idea...Thanks for the inspiration. I should go through my "ugly bin"...It is a bin of 12x12 paper...mostly leftovers from the paper packs...mostly sort of wishy washy pale coloured dots or tiny patterns which just might work for this! A little stamping might be just what they need.

Sonia Y said...

I love how you did the background of your card Darnell! It's fabulous,great choice of colours and stamps. And I agree with you when you say 'life is too short' ...we have to really never forget to enjoy every minute of our day : ) Hugs

Geri said...

The colors are beautiful! It would appear to me (one who has never tried this technique) that you stamped the images in the right order as in the darkest or most vibrant color last (yes or no?). Fabulous result. Another A+ from the teacher for sure!

Thanks for the tutorial too :)

Joyce said...

Terrific card. Your background stamping is fantastic. I remember seeing projects done like your tutorial on SCS, when I first started stamping and going on line. It seemed like magic, then. Now, I make so many cards I don't know what to do with them all--I couldn't imagine making that many of the same type.

Unknown said...

You are too funny and so sweet! Love your card with the square masking and bold stamping! Looks fabulous! Thanks for such kind words❤

Anonymous said...

I love your stamped paper background Darnell-it's fabby !
Thank you for the mention on your Blog-i am sooo happy to be back !
Don't you work too hard now.
Love and hugs,Nessa :) xx

laurie said...

What a great post, I'm off to check it out!

Mrs Harry said...

Lovely card Darnell. I remember that exact article, I ran a workshop on it when I used to run classes for a local craft shop. In fact I think I still have some of the cards, never used them all!

JD/ Jill said...

Great card, and a great technique!

shirley-bee said...

Those were the days, tearing out articles from magazines!
I went over to Laura's blog yesterday and I've only just got back. Hope you weren't waiting too long ;)
Excellent job of CASing Laura's card. I like the contrast of the open flowers and solid leaves, with the dots from the DP showing through.

Craftychris said...

Both your and Laura's cards are stunning! xx

Anonymous said...

Stunning, Darnell, it feels as though I can sweep these gorgeous leaves and flowers to one side to see more delights behind! Off to check out Laura's blog ... Anita :)

Bobby said...

Your card turned out great. I couldn't do that homework because I don't own any large stamps.

maria f. said...

Still in awe of your potato... let me say kudos for giving this Laura B. beauty a go. She makes it look so darn easy, doesn't she. But there's so much to consider before plopping that stamp down. The article you shared - haven't really tried to digest it, yet, too much for my on-spring-break brain!

Anonymous said...

Gosh how wonderful, I love your paper so bright and cheery but classy too, thanks for all of the info and the great links am off in search of inspiration !

Marie

Harriet Skelly said...

Great case of Laura's card Darnell! I LOVE Laura's blog and so since I am familiar with it I didn't take a detour before reading until the end of your post!! Please keep up your writing as we discussed at lunch - your blog is really a great read - and I say it with all sincerity!

Bonnie said...

You've done a wonderful job of stamping all these images, Darnell! I know (don't ask me how) what a mess that can make! There's a real knack to getting it this pretty! It makes me think of a lush greenhouse of flowering plants!

carol (krillsister) said...

Love the interpretation of your card. Your background is fantastic. The article seems very interesting. The take ten was an eye opener for me.

Jocelyn Olson said...

I think your take is GORGEOUS! I really struggle with layered stamping, but your layers are very well balanced.

Kim Heggins said...

Darnell, fabulous post and amazing cards...I love your backgrounds, they really look like printed paper. Had fun visiting with you and Harriet today. Don't work too hard.

Karren said...

Oh my gosh! That exact magazine article is what started me on my quest for Stampin' Up products, which weren't available in New Zealand at that time. I saw that article and wanted desperately to re-create it. The cool thing is that the stamper I bought the Botanicals set off on Ebay is still my online friend today - 9 years later! Seeing that article again has brought all that back so thank you for posting it! BTW, love your card and the colors you've showcased too!

Jean said...

WOW, WOW, WOW ~ fantastic take on Lauren's card ~ love the brightly colors flowers!