The musings and offerings of a burgeoning greetings master

Friday, March 31, 2017

Mr Cardmaker is in Orbit with 12 Kits of Occasions

Well, I am going to try to avoid space-y puns for this WHOOOOOOOLE post. We'll see how that goes...(Titles don't count, right?)

I am so happy to share the cards that I designed with the BEAUTIFUL kit that Jeanne Jachna created for 12 Kits of Occasions. March is sort of a weird month to do a kit for, especially when Easter is in April this year. St. Patrick's day comes and goes so quickly, so you're left with....SPACE! I love it!

Anyway, I just loved all the stamped images and die cuts, the papers and embellishments. Jeanne really leaves you wanting for nothing with her kits!

I made five cards with this kit, and I kept every little thing that was left over for a DEFINITE return for more.

So, on with the cards!
I made this--

These rockets are so awesome. Clean, tight, totally representative of everything that says ROCKET. Love the flames. Aren't the swirls in the background cool? That Jeanne. She finds the best stuff for us...
I love that this makes a great masculine card. I think adding stripes into the design helps to strengthen that idea, but there's no reason a woman wouldn't dig it, too.

Next, I came up with this--

GOOGLY EYES!!!!  These aliens cracked me up, especially once the eyes got attached! Coloring them with my copics was really fun, because there's really no way to pick a wrong color.
I went for a sort of theatrical feel with this card, thinking of the stars die cut as a curtain. Some serious flying skills are happening there with those space ships; they manage to maneuver that thing with ease.

Next, more space ships--

This one started with the blue diecut panel. I went crazy trying to figure out how to break up the navy. I knew I didn't want to stamp on it, because I didn't want to compete with the stars. I finally decided to break out my scoring board and add some score lines. This worked out perfectly for me-The stars are in a strong linear formation, so more lines just add to the strength. The super stylized space ships are a great foil to all the lines, and the two circles help balance things.
The brightly colored space ships really pop off the dark navy, too.
Uh, note the sneaky googly eye...

This next one--

We're a bit closer to home here, but I just LOVE the way this worked out. I love Seattle's Space Needle, and when I saw these super billowy cloud diecuts, I was INSPIRED! The yellow paper was actually the reverse of a more space-y theme, but it was just so strong, I had to use it.
I was a bit nervous doing such a simple card, which is why I went for the stars, and I'm really glad I did.
You'll notice that I didn't reach for any bling on my cards, and all shine comes from the papers themselves, or my Spectrum Noir shimmer pen, which doesn't really show up in photos.

My final card--

There were quite a few space themed stamp sets released this year, and IMHO this is the BEST.
My Favorite Things came out with these CUTE kids in spacesuits, with some really sharp vehicles and planets. I just love this set.
The upside-down guy is on an action wobble! This thing is wonderful! It makes him shake around, yet it compresses down super flat, so postage is easy!
I do believe it's time to break down and invest in those skin toned copic markers. I'm going to have to go back and dig out my gamsol to make my face coloring work just a bit better. Hey, and how about some glossy accents over them? They're wearing face shields, right? 
I clearly have some work to do.

So, I now have five cards that can easily be sent to either a man or a woman of almost any age.

This kit was a blast to play with. (rats, I was so close. Missed it by THAT much...PUNS!!!)
Seriously, though, Jeanne supplied SO much to spark a ton of creative energy. I was able to just lay everything out on my work surface, move things around a bit, and GO!
The only (ONLY!) downside to these kits is the fact that now I have to go BUY so many of these things I was so happy to play with. Cry, beloved wallet!

PLEASE go and see all the wonderful creations linked up at the 12 Kits of Occasions blog. Worlds to see! (argh!) Go! Take off! (oh, come on...)

PUNS!!! (insert shaking fist here.)

Thanks so much for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard





19 comments:

  1. What a fun experience to visit your amazing blog Mr. Cardmaker! I love each and every one of the cards you made using Jeanne's kit and puns included! I love the sharp, CAS style of the first card and the second card using the dangling stars is genius! The dangling stars had me stumped and now I know what to do with them. ;0) A great use of linear design on the third card and the space needle card is fabulous too! Love the floating space boys on the last card. Using one with an action wobble is such a fun idea. I haven't tried those yet but am inspired to. I'm so happy to have visited your blog today!

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  2. Richard, so glad to see you using your fabulous design skills with this set. Each card is a mini masterpiece! Couldn't choose a favorite if I tried, but particularly loved the space needle (one that I struggled with). Just perfect pairings everywhere. Love how each card tells it's own story. 'A blast' to play with, right?

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  3. You are so witty, funny and talented! I love what you've done with every single one of these...if I absolutely had to pick a fav it would probably be either #3 or #5! I just love how you used the rockets and the "space kids"! Plus, you've got some mad coloring skilz!

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  4. Super fun and fantastic card designs. Good to hear from you.

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  5. I love ALL of these! Each one is so colorful and fun!

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  6. Wow....such a fabulous array of cards!! Love what you did with all these awesome pieces and elements. Trying to choose a fave, but sooooooo difficult. I'm kind of partial to the colorful rockets in the first one, since I used one of them also. Love them with that swirly background. Very inspired by how you used the navy star die cut background panel. The rockets going every which way really break it up as do the scoring and other panels. Totally love the graphic simplicity of your Space Needle card. I went very minimal with the card I posted, too, but love how you added the stars. Perfect touch!! Thanks for sharing your amazing cards and thank you for your kind comment on my blog!
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

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  7. Oh Richard! I love seeing all the cool projects you made.. so many clever ideas that I didn't even think of.. I love the scene with all the google eyed characters - the stars draped over them (and your description) brings them to life. Glossy accents for the space shields BRILLIANT. And you used the tricky ingredient.. the space needle! I want to case them all! Thanks so much for your inspiration and advice. Id be lost (in space) without you!

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  8. Fantastic card collection you've created from the kit. Wonderful designs and eye for color.

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  9. Welome Richard! Wow, you have giving me so many ideas I didn't even think of or know how to use,( like the layered rockets) So many bright and detailed cards! Jeanne sends out the best kit!

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  10. These kits are super. Great job! Love the action wobble. What a blast.

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  11. Wow...so many breathtaking cards! I love them all. Welcome to our 12 Kits group this month, what an honor to have such a talented card maker with us.

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  12. Wow, you did such a fabulous job with all the kit elements...love the googly eyes too! This space theme is wonderful and I always love a design that can be for a guy or boy.

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  13. You crack me up, Richard! I love your cards and can see that you had a lot of fun making them! Perhaps I should try card kits, too! Hugs!

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  14. Richard, you are totally awesome! I adore each and every one of these! I was totally blown away by your googley eyed aliens scene. Just brilliant! Love everything about your trio of tickets and your floating astronauts, and your space needle card is a CASEing must.

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  15. Richard way to rocket out Jeanne's space kit! You created so many fun designs, some I can still CASE with my leftovers and some I missed the ship on (you do puns way better than me--lol) the way you wove the images through the star background in your out of this world card and the way you coloured the sentiment--thumbs up. Always love seeing how you put your 12 Kits cards together through the eyes of a guy.

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  16. Welcome, Richard! Love all your super cool designs! You did an awesome job with Jeanne's kit! Your coloring is wonderful and you've done such a great job of combining papers and elements. I really like your space needle rising out of a bank of clouds. And your last card with the space boys in their weightless environment is a particular favorite. Thanks for all the fabulous ideas!!

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  17. Hi Richard, so happy to have you joining us this month at 12 Kits! You have provided us with an abundance of fun with your cards, holy smokes!! I didn't use the space needle yet but I sure love what you've done with it. Having it rise out of the clouds in a clean design really lets it stand out!

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Your comments mean so much. Thanks for taking the time!