Monday, July 18, 2011

Batty for You

Whoa. Am I allowed to say that about one of my own cards? :) Well, you all know that I don't have a strong relationship with patterned paper. I try but my usage of it has been sparse, some strips here and there or small bits of paper piecing. This card is covered in patterned paper. Plus it's kind of Halloween-y and I don't usually make Halloween cards unless it's for a design team requirement. Here's how this card came to be:

I only have three Paper Smooches stamp sets. After all the cards I've made, it gets so much harder to come up with something unique and unusual. I decided that I needed to use the bat from Falling for You because (a) I hadn't used it yet and (b) I'm extremely excited about Halloween this year because we'll be in our new house! So all that excitement made me pull out Basic Grey's Wander paper pad. I flipped through it and found the retro print pattern for the bat's wings. I knew it would be too much for the entire bat so I used the etched orange for the rest of its body. I picked a dark etched blue for the nighttime sky and die cut a scary tree to use as a branch. Originally, I didn't think to put in the buildings but after flipping through the pad one more time, I thought they'd look pretty cool, especially since I live in the city. Since the paper pads are only 6" x 6", I had to trim off a quarter of my card size but I compensated for it by overhanging part of the tree branch by one quarter of an inch. So this card is kind of Halloween-y but not entirely. It has a lot of patterned paper, die cutting and heat embossing and I'm pretty sure I've never done all three of those things on a card before.

It was fun to push my own limits and create this card! What are your limits? What would you love to be able to do more of in paper crafting or life in general?

Sources: Gina K Designs pure luxury kraft cardstock & 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Bazzill Basics textured black cardstock; Basic Grey Wander paper pad; Paper Smooches Falling for You; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; SU Whisper White ink; PSX Snowflake embossing tinsel; Hobby Hot Boss; QuicKutz house & tree die; QuicKutz Epic Six; Stampin' Dimensionals

38 comments:

Kristie W. said...

I love your card!! How cool to use the Wander paper on a halloween card, I'll have to try that. The bat is so cute!

Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin) said...

Love this, you should enter it in the new Lawnscaping create a scene challenge, b/c this is great!

Laurel said...

Oh wow, this is so cute, love how you have used that paper!

Karen B. said...

Yeah, this is fantastic!

Lynn said...

This is fabulous Emily...my limit is too many layers...and shabby/chic...just can't do it. I try with layers a little too often!

Annette Allen said...

wonderful card....
you are an amazing card maker...
I really enjoy your creativity..

Saskia said...

Wow... This card is GREAT!!!! So beautiful, so cute!!!!

Jay Gee said...

Amazing card Emily - it just all works so well together.

Jen W. said...

This is awesome! You rocked that patterned paper and the bat stamp! :)
I'd like to make more attempts at masking with stamps. I love the effect but haven't had huge success with it so far. Must persevere!

Brenda said...

What a cool card Emily! You really did outstanding work with patterned paper! I just love the great scene you created! Having the bat hang over the buildings is perfect and the colours were made for this scene! What would I like to do more in life???? Eat less junk food! In crafting - be more creative with stamps, you know, like you!

G Peplow said...

Excellent, love the batty owl and the cityscape's awesome, hugs Gay xxx

Anonymous said...

Whoa! Yip, I think you can say that about your own card! This is FANTASTIC!!!!

lisa a.

Jenny said...

It feels good to step outside your comfort zone sometimes isn't it...I need to try getting inky to step outside mine:)
Love your card Emily, halloween in the city...very atmospheric background :)
Jenny x

Lindsey said...

Oh! That cityscape is beyond awesome! What an outstanding card.

Erin said...

Great card! (I rarely make Halloween cards) My comfort zone is all about straight lines, I need to do more circles and actually use my punches!

Unknown said...

cool card!!

~amy~ said...

soooooooooo cute!!!!

Emily Keaton said...

Whoa, indeed, Emily!! That is one totally awesome card! I love the city-at-night backdrop. Your paper piecing is excellent. Kudos to you for this unique and creative card! I love it. :)

Shauna K said...

totally lovin that skyline! so neat :D you should use patterened paper more often- it suits you ;) hehe

Meg said...

Yes, you are definitely allowed to love your own card if it is this AWESOME. What a perfect scene you set with the paper and the tree branch and I'm glad you showed restraint on the bat's wing paper so we could see his cute little face! You knocked it out of the park and I hope it results in a guest DT spot for you!

BabyBokChoy said...

This is just so so so so cute and really entirely TOO CLEVER!!!!! very imaginative!

farmhouse-story said...

emily, i LOVE this! the bkgd scene is awesome with your cute bat!

Isha Gupta said...

Superb card yet again Emily. Love the BG paper too;))

Brandi said...

This is adorable and the background image is perfect! Great job!!!

Chunyuan said...

Fantanstic card.

Vicky Hayes said...

Just perfect Emily - the bat is perfect against the city scape.

Savannah O'Gwynn said...

OH MY GOOOODNESS! Are you kidding me?? This is super fab! You only have 3 sets--and you STILL come up with so many unique things! LOOOOOOOVE it:)

Lisa Lara said...

Wow this is so fantastic and creative Emily.

Jocelyn Olson said...

Whoa is right! This is so out-of-the-box for you, but I LOVE it! The skyline just makes the card and the paper piecing on the wings is perfect. Woo hoo!

kasia c. said...

:O

Ok these 2 cards are my favourite Paper Smooches cards ever!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this card, the patterned wings, the overhanging branch, the use of the most perfect patterned paper!

Lisa said...

Yes, you CAN say that about your own card!! Amazing job with the pp- LOVE the city scene sort of in the distance and that bat is just another "smooch" that must be mine :)
Fab card, Emily!

Lorraine said...

Ooh, I love your card! Love the colors, design and all of the detailing you did! Perfect!

Julie said...

This is just adorable! Love the paper piecing and the city scape you created! I'd like to do a tutorial. It's not exactly paper crafting but I don't always have the time to show how I did something.

Anita Rex said...

I am always totally impressed when you use patterned paper. And I hear you on the pp I fall in love with it, buy it and than struggle to use it. And yes you can say woah about one of your own cards when it's this nice! :> It's a total showstopper! And I get so excited for you whenever I read about your new house!

Jessi Fogan said...

I love the detail trimming around the background paper - what a fab idea! And great idea for the wings - that pattern is pretty intimidating in large doses, and this amount is *just right*.
Hah, what would I like to do more of? I guess 'everything' isn't really an answer...tell you what. I would like to learn how to drive, and get my license, so that it would be easier for me to get out & visit friends. Growing up in Vancouver I didn't need to drive, and now living in teeny-tiny Amherst (pop. 10,000) most of my pals live at least half an hour's drive away, and it sucks to always depend on them coming here. Wow, that's a long comment, but you asked ;)

Scrapcollectr said...

Love the whole scene. Really love the depth and perspective. And paper piecing! *smile*

donna mikasa said...

Such a spooky cute scene! Love how you used the papers and the white embossed sentiment is perfect!

Angela said...

Oh, I luuuuurrve this city-dwelling bat! His tree branch is perfect, too!