I've been given a card request

[jfugina]

You all know by now that I often make cards and just bring them in to work to sell for the United Way efforts. And there are several people in our department now who specifically come to "shop" the UW card stash instead of buying from a store. Well, I've actually had a request for a specific card now. One of our long-time employees is moving to the coast, and a beach-themed going away card, large enough for many to sign, has been commissioned.

I'm kinda excited, and honored. But the pressure! I've got the "Life's a Beach" Cricut cartridge, so I'm going to work with that. Aside from swaps though, I've never really made anything specifically by request. And it's why I don't do a lot of swaps any more - I'm not that creative under pressure.

Anyway, I'm going to make a full-out project of this card. I'll be sure to post it when it's done.

[Paula]

KEWL!!!

[azemigh]

oh, how fun! my favorite kind of card to make too, just beachy!

[Monica]

How fun, Julie! I know you'll make an outstanding card!

Monica

[bethrich]

It's so sweet to be asked. You'll do great, Julie.

[jfugina]

Here it is - not at all what I intended when I started out, but I remembered that I kinda knew how to do water with the brayer, so I changed gears. The shells and the word enjoy were cut from the cricut. The tiny bit of texture in the cardstock really showed up in the scan, but the color IRL doesn't really look that choppy.

[Debbie J]

I really like it! Great job.

[pugmom]

That turned out great. They'll love it.

[troublesmom]

[bethrich]

Julie, how do you get the curves in the brayering?

[Paula]

Nice!! I still have to try brayering............

[jfugina]

Thanks everyone! Beth - that's just kind of a natural thing. It's actually unavoidable, depending on the size of your cardstock. If you start off the edge of the cardstock, you'll run some of the ink off, and the empty parts are where the brayer had less ink. Does that make sense? If you were working with a narrower piece, you wouldn't have nearly as much variation. But this piece was over 4.5" wide, so I knew I wouldn't get a very consistent sky, but it turned out OK.

I haven't had as much practice as I'd like, and it turns out I really don't have the right cardstock. Anything with any texture at all just doesn't work well. And the only completely smooth stuff I have is the thin inserts that come in page protectors, and those are so thin that they warp. I'm starting to run up a Michaels list, and plain smooth white cardstock is at the top of that list right now. I'm considering another order from Michelle though - I might just get the Stampin Up Whisper White, since that worked so well.

[Monica]

Beautiful card, Julie!!

Monica

[mpizzazz]

That really turned out nicely, Julie! I'm so glad to see you using that brayering technique.

[pamcook]

Great card!

The brayering is really nice. Yes, it's a technique that you need a lot of practice with but you did a fantastic job with it on this card.