Monday, October 20, 2014

Washi Tape and Thank You Notes

One thing my collection always seems to be lacking are thank you cards. Whenever I'm feeling down, I make a thank you note and think about who I can mail it to. This accomplishes two things: 1) I get to have crafting therapy and 2) I get to reflect on all the good things that have happened so I can figure out who to send my card to. By the end of my taping and cutting frenzy, my smile has been restored. 

After being gone from the office for a conference for 3 days last week, today was particularly draining to play catch-up. Consequently TWO thank you notes will be mailed off tomorrow! Hooray!


The first will be going to the conference coordinator, who helped make my travel plans and took care of logistics - that job must be very stressful with all the little details to manage! Most likely much more stressful than mine.

These are the sketch challenges that gave me some much needed inspiration. The first is Mojo Monday and the second is Retro Sketches




I wanted to play along with the Mixed Media Card Challenge's theme  "Vintage". To me, there is a certain shade of pink that just screams vintage. Add a little pearl embellishment and you get the feeling of "Breakfast At Tiffany's" on a card. To create the polka dots near the sentiment, I sponged Distress Inks (Tattered Rose and Milled Lavender) through a stencil and then shaded the edges with Old Paper. I embossed the sentiment and flower in Pirate Gold.


This card is also going over to the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge - "Anything Goes" 

The second card will be going to one of the foundations that helped to fund my presentation at the conference. For this card, I wanted to play along with Craft Hoarders Anonymous Challenge "Layer It". 

One thing I have been hoarding is washi tape - mostly because I just don't know how to use it very well. I was at an estate sale a couple months and scored an entire bag of it for $10 (which is a steal!) I haven't played around with it yet, and the Retro Sketches sketch inspired me to try to create a background with it. 


I began by splattering my card with shades of pink Distress Inks and then used a bunch of light and dark pink washi tape over that. I left the edges ragged because I liked the look of that best. For my next layer, I cut a couple of dies using my Cricut and then stamped over the center with a background stamp. I put the Thanks die over a piece of vellum, because otherwise it just faded into the background. Lastly, I added some enamel dots. 


I've only used a fraction of the washi tapes in my bag. Since they were purchased at an estate sale, I'm going to enter this into A Blog Named Hero's challenge - Recycle It.  Here are some of the pinks! I just can't wait to use more. 

And my smile is exactly where it should be.

If you'd like to give me another smile, leave a comment below! They make my day and then I can visit your blog, too!

21 comments:

  1. I really should do more Thank You cards myself. I'm always scurrying around to get a card finished to mail. Love all the great layers and your use of the Wasi tape. Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  2. Love these cards! I know the pink you mean regarding a vintage look, almost a dusty rose. Moonriver is going through my head right now:) The layered card is beautiful and I never heard of washi tape but, to me, you did a great job:) The people who receive these cards will be pleased

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  3. Wonderful collection of cards! Both are beautiful! Thanks so much for joining along with the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

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  4. Great cards, Becca! Love how you used the Washi--mine sit in the drawer or hold down dies--LOL!

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  5. Hi, Becca! Both cards are beautiful, but I really love your washi tape card! I have so much of this stuff - I can't resist when I see it at the store - I'm always looking for new ways to use it - fabulous design!

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  6. Great cards, love all the details on each one. Thanks for joining Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  7. Very pretty, love the layers and soft colors! Thanks for joining us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  8. I love stripes and polka dots! Such happy cards! Thanks for sharing this with us at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  9. My goodness, those are gorgeous cards! I am always in awe of people who have an eye for that kind of stuff. Not me. Maybe I've been too focused on raising kids or writing, but man do I hear you! Every now and again I totally need a creative outlet where I can just vent into a project.

    Unleashing the Dreamworld

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  10. Fabulous creations Becca, I really love the use of washi tape on ur second card :)

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  11. Beautiful card! I love all of the layers with the window peaking to the washi tape background. Thanks for joining us at CHACB!

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  12. Love your tape layers. Very pretty card.
    Thanks for sharing with us at Craft Hoarders Anon :)

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  13. My god these are both fabulous in totally different ways. I craft for therapy ALL THE TIME :) Love that washi background, and being grateful is an incredible way to perk yourself up. I love that!

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  14. Lovely cards! The reds are sweet in the second card. The first card is a lovely design and will be appreciated by the recipient. Thanks for playing along with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

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  15. Fabulous Card, love all the layers... thanks for joining us on the Craft Hoarders Anonymous Craft Blog.

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  16. Fab cards Becca
    I really love the second one with much Washi Tape..
    great idea my dear friend..hugs,
    Monika

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  17. Becca one question why dont you try to put a BUTTON named FOLLOW BY EMAIL
    I love your style..Vintage also my fav style..
    I have difficulty to follow on feed at Blogspot.com
    If you dont mind here I have learned from Sandie how to put a button Follow by Email on your blog..if you put it I will follow you I mean subscribe...it is also on Blogspot.com
    Here is the step by step


    -click on 'design' on your blog (top right hand corner)
    -click on layout (left hand sidebar)
    -click on 'add a gadget (right hand side bar)
    -scroll down until you see 'follow by email-click on this and it will add this to your blog. You can then move it to where you want by dragging it to that position.

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  18. Great way of using washi tapes! Love rhe windowcand banner :)

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  19. Both cards are wonderful. I love all the soft colors! Nice job! Thanks for playing along at Craft Hoarders Anonymous!

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  20. I bought my first washi tape to pack containers because I really find them adorable. I never knew that you could use them for more creative things other than packaging. Hahaha! I love the card, Becca! Thanks for sharing that with us! All the best to you! :)

    Clay Delgado @ World Packaging Co., Inc.

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    1. Thanks, Clay! I had a ton of fun making this card.

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