Two-for-One Saturday: Mojo Monday and Freshly Made Sketches

It’s rare that I combine online card challenges – it’s easy to mix a sketch challenge from one site with a color challenge from another, but I rarely do it because I like to let each challenge inspire its very own card. This week, though, I am presenting TWO cards made with sketches from two different sites – Mojo Monday and Freshly Made Sketches.  It’s a rare occurrence, but the sketches from these two sites were close enough that I could present [essentially] the same card, modified slightly to fit each sketch. At the end, I have a beautiful pair of complementary cards.  This is a risk, but let’s see how this goes…

First, my card inspired by Mojo Monday’s sketch challenge:Express Yourself (hostess), Stampin' Up!, Brian King, MOJO310

And next the card inspired by the Freshly Made Sketches challenge:Express Yourself (hostess), Stampin' Up!, Brian King, FMS103

While they are different sketches, I found enough similarities to make a small collection of cards with the same paper, stamps and embellishments.  Here are the sketches from each of the challenge blogs:

And here are the two cards together:Express Yourself (hostess), Stampin' Up!, Brian King

Tips, Tricks and Reminders:

  • That Paper!  I know I’ve said this before about other papers, but this piece of Designer Series Paper is one of those pages from the Annual Catalog that I just had to set aside for a special project.  Almost every time I sit down to design something, I go to this paper and think, “Later, Brian…This isn’t the way to use it.  You’ll know when it’s right”  OK, maybe I don’t speak the words, but I knew this paper needed a special home.  I’m a CAS designer, but I’m attracted to the shapes, the script, the water spots and the colors in this paper.  Those colors…together, they are like a warm cup of tea on a cold morning.
  • Don’t be afraid of the “white” space.  Both of these cards have a large piece of Very Vanilla cardstock smack dab in the middle.  Don’t be afraid of it.  For me, that’s part of my intentional design.  I have a busy, busy (but beautiful) background, so I decided to set that off with some clean vanilla.  I even tucked the sentiment into the corner to give me more white space.  I added vanilla candy dots to accent the vanilla panel.  I kept going back and thinking “should I add something else?”  In the end, I’m happy I restrained myself.
  • Make a collection.  You see that these layouts complement each other, right?  I love to make little collections of cards as gifts for friends and family.  I’ve generally made cards that are exactly the same or completely different from one another.  I really like the idea of making a collection of cards like this – different layouts with the same products and colors.  A variety of sentiments, and you’ve got a perfect gift.

Stamp sets:  Express Yourself (hostess)  Papers:  Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla, Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper  Inks:  Soft Suede  Accessories:  Stampin’ Dimensionals, Neutrals Candy Dots, 3/16″ Corner punch 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Brian

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While you are loading up your card with Clearance Rack goodies, go ahead and pick up your Big Shot Magnetic Platform.  You really want this, too.   CLICK HERE.

25 Comments

  1. I really Love these two cards! They diffidently make an statement!!!
    Very nice, Brian!!!!

  2. Simply gorgeous! You are right, the blank space fits perfectly with that beautiful background paper, I’m glad you showed restraint, otherwise I think it would have looked to busy, this way it just looks amazing.

  3. You’re right! It IS like a warm cup of tea on a cold morning!! So elegant! Beautifully made Brian!

  4. Laurie Burns Gachewicz

    Warm from the inside out on both counts!! The ultimate in CAS Brian!! Crisp & elegant!!! The Vanilla combined with all the elements you chose makes it happen and adds to the warmth. 🙂

  5. Beautiful! The colours are awesome!

  6. Love, love, love theses Brian. Different but similar. I have to learn to use more white space. I’m always left feeling it needs something more. These have shown me how beautiful the white space is.

  7. WOW! Love these cards Brian!!!!

  8. Pretty cards…and love that paper ! What a nice assortment to give someone . And btw ….congratulations Grace on winning the goodies … I know you will enjoy using those . Love your picture…you are quite mysterious looking . 😀

  9. Very well done! That DSP is so gorgeous it’s great you allowed it to take center stage. Also love that you left plenty of white space. Really beautiful cards.

  10. Oh…..I love these! I don’t have the DSP, but I’ve been saving a piece of Eastern Elegance – maybe it’s time to use it! And speaking of cold mornings – it’ 42 degrees here in Ohio! Brrr

  11. Any recipient would be thrilled to get either of these cards. They are simply beautiful! I’m going to CASE both of these. Thank you for sharing your versions of the sketch challenges Brian! You continue to inspire me (us) 🙂

  12. That DSP is my all time favorite of all the offerings this year, and you have paired it beautifully! L

  13. Beautiful cards! I LOVE that particular piece of DSP. I used it to make a “shabby chic” card which is outside my comfort zone and, although pretty, was too busy for me. You’ve inspired me to use it in the CAS way.

  14. I love a good two for one sale! 🙂 You certainly know how to tame busy designer paper……these are lovely!

  15. GOR-G-OUS Brian- You have outdone yourself once again. Since fall is my favorite season I truly do love those colors and since CAS is my type design these two cards really blew my socks off!

  16. Brian, you may think I am a nut case, but I can’t tell you how many times I look at your cards and start to actually tear up! I am not kidding! These are absolutely beautiful; so beautiful in fact, that my eyes can hardly see to type this. I just don’t know what to say………. (sigh)

  17. Love this, Brian! I don’t have this paper, but I know that I have some DSP in my stash that could fit these cards for an excellent CASE – thanks!!

  18. Wowza! Great choice in papers and color combos, Brian!

  19. Great cards and love the idea of making collections to give away as gifts. I may still have one teeny weeny piece of this DSP left, not sure, as it was one of my favourites also!

  20. You saved that delicious designer paper for the right projects, Brian. These are gorgeous cards!

  21. I love both of your cards Brian! That DSP is gorgeous and I love the clean layers! Thanks for joining us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

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