MOJO Monday Sketch 154 - August 30, 2010

It took me a while to decide whether I wanted to do a round or a square card for this week's challenge, and I may actually do both as it was such a fun sketch. The round sketch was just screaming for the "Scallop Circle" treatment, and so I set about making this Sympathy card using that format.

I used Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray, Basic Black and Whisper White cardstocks, and my ribbons were 5/8" Basic Black Satin and 1/2" White Taffeta. I embossed the Basic Gray circle cut with the Finial Press (115963 pg 214) Embossing Folder. The Sentiment was embossed on Whisper White card stock by stamping the image from Friends Never Fade (118750 pg 99) in Versa Mark Ink and then embossing with Basic Black embossing powder. I then cut the embossed stamped image so that just the sentiment part was used. I stamped the flower from the Friends Never Fade stamp set twice in Cherry Cobbler and mounted the first image to Basic Black, Basic Grey, and Cherry Cobbler circle cuts then layered it with just the center portion of the stamped image mounted on dimensionals to the center of the flower. I removed the prongs from a Clear Rhinestone brad (113144 pg 187) and glued it with Tom Bow glue to the center of the flower.

Inside View - Sincere Salutations sentiment "Thinking of You".  Flower motiff from Elements of Style Set stamped in Cherry Cobbler on Whisper White Card Stock.

I used the Extra Large Scallop Square Punch 119884 pg. 200 to make the background white and black scallop pieces.  See tip below.  The corner piece was punched in Cherry Cobbler using the Extra Large Photo Corner punch 119878 pg. 202, but I used the smallest corner frame and embellished it with non SU rhinestones for some bling. 

Tip on Creating Scallop Border Outlines Without a Scallop Edge Border:

I have no idea whether this is my original idea or I ran across it somewhere, but I've used it several times to help me out in a pinch, so I'm going to claim ownership (correct me if I'm wrong).  Anyway if you don't have a scallop edge border punch you can punch out a few of the Extra Large Scallop Squares, as many as you need for width and depth and you can weave them together.  See these images:

Using the Punch cut out as many scallop squares as you need to make the width and depth of the framework.  Here I've cut 2 white squares that will be mounted on the 3 black squares.  Since the bottom will be hidden by ribbon I did not need to punch more squares.  If the bottom is to show you would need to punch 6 black squares.  Hope that's clear.

To join simple weave the sides of the scallops together and put a small piece of tape across the join to hold them in place.   Heres a sample of two different scallop squares that I've put together.  Just make sure everything is in alignment before you add the layer with the sentiment and glue down the joined scallops so they are flat.  I see mine is sticking up in this photo (go figure?).

Anyways I hope this helps somebody out at some stage in their stamping life.  It worked for me, and no one has ever mentioned anything about my cards being piece work.  LOL!  Enjoy. 

Scallop Circle Card

I had a little time on my hands today, so I thought I would play with one of my new stamp sets from Stampin' Up! called "Sense of Time" (pg. 127 IB&C #113804.)  This beautiful set of 4 stamps (2 sentiment an 2 image) is perfect for vintage style retirement cards and that was what I had on my mind today when I sat down to create.

Once again I've used the scallop circle template that Jenn Picard designed for UStamp's Early Edition Summer 2010 session. 

View of the inside of the card.  I repeated the circle layering.

This is such a fun and easy card to make that "time just flew by".  My version uses one of the new InColors, Concord Crush, combined with Basic Black, Basic Gray and Whisper White.  I've embossed with clear embossing powder and used basic grey taffeta ribbon and some clear rhinestones for embellishments.

Here's a view of the outside of the card.  It almost looks blue in this picture, but trust me it is Basic Grey with Concord Crush.  I used the Square Lattice textured impressions folder to give it some added appeal.  I really love that texture plate and my Big Shot.  How can you tell! 

I used clear rhinestones on the cog design to give it some pizazz and mounted it on dimensionals.

If you are interested in viewing the 40 other projects and challenges on UStamp Early Summer Edition 2010 or getting a PDF copy of the tutorial used for the Scallop Circle card,  there is still time to join up. Just click on this link for more information. http://www.ustampwithdawn.blogspot.com/.