Quick "plaid" background with markers

Today started off badly and never improved... ever have days like that? I couldn't seem to do anything right! I am always a little afraid to go into the stamp room when I'm feeling like that, for fear I'll break something or waste a lot of cardstock. But it's my happy place, and I swear the air in there is imbued with happy juice or something. Vivid Vases makes me smile anyway, so I pulled that out this afternoon and set to work!

This first card I made the plaid background to match the colors in the flowers by swiping three colors of markers across in one direction, then doing the same in the opposite direction. The key here is to just quickly swipe--don't even try to get it perfectly straight. It wouldn't be half as cute if you got out a ruler, I think! I used Melon Mambo, Summer Starfruit and Wild Wasabi as a color combo.

This little Whisper White notecard & envelope were so simple to do--one stamp dead center, color the flowers and vases, and then DO grab that ruler and make a little border frame around it. I'm not that great at doodling, though, so don't look too close!! But even if you left the border off, it would be a cute and quick set of notecards to give as a gift sometime.

Next I had to try the paper-pieced look so many have been doing with these vases. That's where you stamp an extra of the main image on your card, color and then use your paper snips to hand-cut it out to layer on top of the focal point. It's a little hard to see from this angle, but I popped out two of the vases and the tulip on the left with Stampin' Dimensionals. I don't tend to do a lot of "fussy-cutting," but the vases look so cute that way, it makes it fun. I used the new In Colors markers for this one.

There we go--papercrafting is the ultimate mood improver! Bad day consigned to the trash can, three cute new cards in the file box, and a smile back on Lyssa's face. Not a bad day's work, after all.

Comments

[Kristine John]

Thank you for taking the time to share paper crafting inspiration with us despite having a bad day. I think it speaks to who you are…and your willingness to serve/help others. I hope tomorrow dawns a little brighter and stays that way for the whole day!