Just For Fun: For Carter

If you like mystery and suspense, then the card I’m posting this morning is just for you. Actually, it’s Just For Fun.  Every month, my JiFFy girlfriends rotate responsibility for picking the paper and the main image stamp (set) that we’ll all use on one card and post. You never know what’s going to show up in your mailbox, hence the intrigue. You can see inspiration for how 5 other crazy gals all use the same card and stamps to come up with totally different looks with this set and paper by visiting the JiFFy girls: Alli Miles, Carole Burrage, Julie Campbell, cutie Kim Hughes and Michele Boyer. (Alli may be a little late with her post. She’s had some move related issues over the last few weeks, but even if there’s not a Carter card up top, you’ll love the inspiration you find on her blog – she amazes me.) 

This month, sweet Kim Hughes picked Slate paper from the Crate Little Sprout collection. Isn’t this fun for a little boy card?

Then, unbeknownst to Kim, Carole picked Cuddle Up Carter from My Favorite Things to work with. Isn’t that a perfect match?  For those of you who aren’t aware, the Cuddle Up Carter set (released in March) is a special set for several reasons. First, Carter in the set is actually an image of Carole’s sweet, bright and funny little boy Carter. Carter, the delight of his family, has Cerebral Palsy. You can read a beautiful blog entry from Carole that discusses Carter and his diagnosis here. It’s informative and encouraging. Second, Kim Van der Sandin, the MFT lady, is graciously donating $2 from the sale of each Cuddle Up Carter set to a wonderful organization called Europeds thru September, 2009. I know this is an organization close to Carole’s heart, and I was so glad when she selected this image for us to work with this month.

Not too much out of the ordinary here. I love this layout. I usually don’t discuss ‘design’ too much – because I don’t really know what I’m talking about. LOL. But, I do have a few things I try to keep in mind: the rule of 3’s and balance.  I often try to have a visual triangle on my card fronts. Something I heard from someone, somewhere along the way. In this case, the triangle is created by the button, the hanging sentiment and the frog in the bottom right corner. So you can draw an imaginary triangle with these 3 items, notice the focal point is in the middle of them, not part of. Secondly, balance – I love that big ole button on the left and the striped paper on the right helps ‘balance’ out the card. That’s it – all I know about art in the previous short sentences.

I wanted to mention the slippers. I was trying to match the green in the patterned paper, and didn’t have the right color of Copic to do it. So, I colored the frog with YG23 and colored over with YR24. Don’t be afraid to work with Copics to create your own special colors.

I’ve got the kiddos home from school today. We’ve got a full day of fun planned and a swim meet tonight. I think we’re all getting pedicures today. . . YES! I’ll be back tomorrow with pretty toes and something, something to share.

Have a fabulous day! Thanks for stopping by.

• Stamps: Cuddle Up Carter – My Favorite Things 
• Cardstock/Paper: Little Sprout collection – Crate Paper, Pure Luxury Chocolate – Gina K, Vanilla Prism
• Ink: Cocoa Memento 
• Accs: Copic Marker (E02, E25, YR24 and YG23), leaf punch – Martha Stewart, copper hardware – SU!, ribbon – May Arts, button – foo-fa-la!