Three Things I Like: Brenda Sprenger

Another One-for-One card swap has come and gone – well, I received all the wonderful swap cards and mailed them back out.  By now, folks across the U.S. should be receiving their swap cards in the mail.  Yippee!  Since I’ll be sharing these cards in posts over the next week, I guess the swap hasn’t really gone – in some ways it’s just getting started.  🙂

This is the first day I’ll be sharing cards from the swap – and I’m sharing one of my favorites from the collection of cards.  I gasped as I opened several of the cards that arrived in my mailbox – this is one of them.  I opened this beauty several times just to take another peek – and gasped every time.

Brenda Sprenger, card swap, Stampin' Up!How beautiful is this card by Brenda Sprenger?  Now’s the fun part.  I’m going to share three things I really love about Brenda’s card – tough to narrow it down to three, but I’ll try.  Even as I narrow down my choices, it’s difficult for me to stop looking at this card.   I’ll stop delaying and get right to it:

Three Things I Like About Brenda’s Card

  • Chalkboard Paper.  That’s not just Basic Black card stock that serves as the front panel for this card – it’s Chalkboard Paper.  When Chalkboard Paper debuted in the Occasions Catalog, I was intrigued.  I only used it once (it didn’t get filed away with my other papers, so I kinda forgot about it).  That said, I was excited to see the Chalkboard Paper used here.  What a wonderful way to create a dramatic effect that’s still soft and beautiful.
  • Daubered Butterflies.  I am enamored with the butterflies Brenda daubered in the background with the Rose Coral and Yellow Citrus ColorBox Chalk Ink Pads.  Brenda cropped a butterfly with the Butterflies Thinlits and used that cutout to ink the negative image of the butterfly on the background of the card.  What a wonderful idea for a truly incredible effect.  Love this!
  • Wrapped Banner.  I love how Brenda’s vellum banner is presented on the face of this card.  Velum can be tricky to work with, but her vellum banner extends perfectly from underneath this butterfly.  She COULD have started the banner at the edge of the card, but she chose to ground it along the edge of the bottom wing.  Sweet perfection.
  • Softer Base.  I know I said I would limit my list to three things, but I run things around here, so I changed my rule midstream.  I just wanted to point out one more thing – I LOVE that Brenda designed her card with a So Saffron base – I usually go with a darker base on my cards.  The So Saffron butterfly on the card front causes this card base to really pop.  Beautiful!

Stamp Sets:  Hello Life  Papers:  Chalkboard Paper, So Saffron, Velum Cardstock  Inks:  Rose Coral ColorBox Chalk Ink, Yellow Citrus ColorBox Chalk Ink,  Jet Black StazOn  Accessories:  Butterflies Thinlits, Stampin’ Dimensionals

I am sure you love Brenda’s card as much as I do.  Please leave a comment below to let her know what you think of her card.  Only one card swap participant will receive her card in the mail – and I’m already regretting letting go of this one.  🙂

I’ll be sharing more of the swap cards over the next week.  I’m excited to share them, so please come back.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Brian

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43 Comments

  1. I agree with you, it is gorgeous……:)

  2. OMG!!!! I adore this card! Brenda, if you read this please know that this is a pinnable, CASEable work of art!!! Thanks for sharing.

  3. Brenda–your card is stunning! What creativity!

  4. What a beautiful card, I love the way she created the butterfly background using the die cut as a stencil, sponging all of this lovely colors. And you are so right Brian, the use of the So Saffron for her card base and the butterfly really makes it pop beautifully.
    Thank you for showcasing her card today and thank you also for hosting another Spring One for One card swap, I love to see all of the different styles and techniques we use to make our cards.

  5. This beautiful card certainly makes we want to try the chalkboard supplies. Great job.

  6. WOW! I sure hope I gets card in the swap! Love the daubed butterflies in the background. Well, like Brian, I love lots of things about this card. Great job!

  7. Stunning! This would be gorgeous as fabric. Thank You Brenda!

  8. And I’m “case ing” awesome card!!

  9. What an ingenious idea to use the chalkboard paper that way! This is a stunning card. Love it!

  10. Brenda ! How creative you are ….this is lovely and so different ! Using the butterfly as a stencil is a great idea . So glad Brian showcased it because I would not have known that was chalkboard paper and ink . Great card !

  11. Beautiful card! Brian, are you going to make the DSP swatchbooks for the new catalog? Your’s are always the best!

  12. Brenda, your card is fabulous! I looked past the chalkboard paper in the catalog thinking I would not use it. Your card is making me reconsider. Thanks for sharing!

  13. Very pretty. Definitely caseable.

  14. Beautiful card with a very interesting, creative way of using the butterfly dies. Love it.

  15. The butterflies on your card look so soft and delicate! I have some chalkboard paper tucked away — can’t wait to try this technique! Thanks so much for sharing your creativity with us!

  16. This card is absolutely stunning. Awesome job Brenda. Brian thank you for sharing it.

  17. So beautiful! What a fabulous idea!

  18. Not a huge fan of butterflies (in the minority I know) but this is a lovely card.

  19. What a fabulous card and technique!

  20. What a gorgeous card! And, I thought the chalk inks were going to be the ONE THING I could resist buying! Darn you, Brenda! (just kidding)

  21. She not only presented a new technique but showed a lovely color combination. And that card on a dark background–uh-uh. Light background only. She has quite an artistic eye,. Got to try the chalkboard paper.Thank you for sharing a teachable moment, Brenda.

  22. Stunning card!

  23. carol christopher

    lovely, lovely card!

  24. I’ve kind of avoided the chalkboard paper – that is until now that I see what Brenda has done and how beautiful it is. Fabulous job Brenda!

  25. That is such a lovely effect and wonderful card 🙂

  26. Magnificent Brenda! Thanks for sharing such a beautiful card! 🙂

  27. Beautiful and soothing!

  28. This is so gorgeous! Thanks for sharing! I bought the chalkboard paper and ink pads and forgot all about them. Time to get them out and CASE this card!!! Great job Brenda!

  29. I just sat and stared for a long time at it’s loveliness. Wishing now I had bought the chalkboard paper and inks, because I am dying to recreate your card. Simply lovely.

  30. as Brian said, this card is truly breathtaking. Beautiful work, Brenda!

  31. What a magical card Brenda! I think the background is pensive and mysterious while the So Saffron butterfly stands proudly in the foreground with the little velum banner ‘s promise of support. This card could be given for many reasons – to a most fortunate recipient. I think that Brian gave you a Four Out of Three but I’d give you gold with Five Out of Three!!! Thanks for sharing.

  32. Absolutely GORGEOUS!

  33. Beautiful! My favorite part is the butterfly background. Can’t wait to get my butterfly dies and try that technique out. So simple and such a marvelous effect!

  34. What a fantastic card, Brenda.
    I love how you used the chalkboard paper in a different way by daubering the inks onto your background.
    Your use of a die-cut butterfly was also another interesting way of using these dies (wish I’d thought of that!!)
    Love your choice of colors too!

  35. Beautiful card! I never think to use a cut image as a stencil. Awesome!!!

  36. WOW! Subtle but still strong. A lovely, soothing use of all elements. Thank you for your share. Will love casing this card.

  37. Can’t wait to case this card. Love the use of chalkboard paper.

  38. Beautiful as usual Brenda. I just love having you as a friend and as my upline.

  39. ROZENA VAN LENT

    BEAUTIFUL!!! SUCH A LOVELY WAY TO USE THE BUTTERFLY FRAMELITS. I AM SO HAPPY THEY ARE IN THE NEW CATALOG…..

  40. Pingback: Stenciled Backgrounds -Part 2 | StampinU

  41. I couldn’t have said any better if I tried. The chalkboard card stock give it such a dramatic effect, but doesn’t come off that way. Brenda, you ROCK!

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