Red cards

I just spent a little time uploading some cards to my Flickr account, which holds pretty much my portfolio of art. Thought I would catch up here as well, sharing some cards I've done recently and haven't posted. No main theme of this card walk should be You Know There Are Scraps Involved! hehehehehe

This card was made for a girlfriend. It began with the idea of the flag strips. Added almost the last of that twill tape, and some orphaned stickers. The 3 patterned papers are all part of Basic Grey's Lime Rickey collection, tho. And the candles are Quickutz diecuts.

This was a card for another girlfriend. First thing that caught my eye in my scraps stash was the vintage calling card paper scrap, so that became the base design-wise. Then, I was looking for a vintage collage sheet image that suggested partying or a party, because the inside sentiment plays off of that theme. So, I pulled out my collage sheet binder and the first thing I ran across was that very old BMuse image of a performer in the Paris Follies, a showgirl. Yeah, okay. I distress edged both in red ink and adhered to a red mat. I am finding that I'm growing tired...real tired of feeling like I must find perfect combinations, no matter how long it takes. It sometimes takes the time that makin another card would take. That's just wrong, so first 'it works' rules these days, lol.

Here's my dad's birthday card. The photo is one of him with his childhood gang, all on their hobby horses, lol. Circa 1932 or so. I combine it with 3 patterned papers from the Flair Designs western collection (also old, but not as old as the photo). Letters are Cosmo Cricket.

Red is a funny color when it comes to matching shades, hues, tones. I have a particularly hard time with it myself, but I think anyone is hampered by their materials. Just seems to me that so many other colors are easier to combine and match. And believe it or not, I think that black is hard as well.

On the other hand, I think that green, brown, and orange is easy to work with. Colors are funny, which is why if you are completely lost when trying to combine them, paper collections may be a necessity. I'm enjoying them, because I run to them more and more when I need to have some colors match 100%. This is usually when I've loaded orphaned scrap elements on the piece.