A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

July 28, 2024

Kaleidoscoping With Group of Seven Cardmakers

Hello Stamplings!

Top/Bottom of the day to you!

It's not a Monday, but it is the 28th, so the ladies from Group of Seven Cardmakers are posting today. Plus, I'm including my I.D.E.A.S. (S = Stencils) at the end, so I will get right toit.

For July, the Go7 were inspired by the talented Jenny Martin of My Paper Epiphany. She stamped and gold-embossed a large stamp, sponged on some inks, and then cut the panel into strips and rearranged them. If you pop over to Jenny's blog, you will see her card as you scroll down. 

The effect is dramatic and this is my first take on the technique:
I also used a large stamp for my design ("Floral Fantasy Background" from MFT), only I colored the panel with my Ziggies, rather than sponging on the ink. The sediment is from PTI, stamped and heat-embossed in black on vellum.

Jenny didn't have a name for this technique, so I dubbed it the "Kalidoscope Technique" because the result reminded me of looking through my grandpa's old Kalidoscope. 

I tried the technique again, this time for Christmas:
For this card, I used an assortment of poinsettia and pine stamps. If I'm honest, I like the first card better. This one turned out to be a bit of a hot mess to my eyes! But, hey, look at me trying new styles and branching out from the mostly-one-image-uber-clean-and-simple-one-layer card style I made when I started twenty-three years ago and still love today. It's fun being well-rounded, she says, reaching in her candy drawer!
Jenny is joining us as a Guest Designer this month with another striking version of this technique. In addition, you will find incredible examples to inspire you by the other Group of Seven Cardmakers. You will also find a linky at the end of the post. If you give this technique a try, we would love to have you link up in the gallery!

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So as not to overwhelm your inbox, I am including my Monday I.D.E.A.S. card here. Tomorrow is the hen's tooth fifth Monday of July and the brief is stencils.
I've made a Christmas card using another one of the Memory Box corner dies I used recently, backing the cut-outs with a scrap of pp. The tree stencil is from Tim Holtz and the lads added the snow and schparkle!

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Enjoy your week! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! 

*Life is too short!

34 comments:

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

What a fabulous result, love the gold and the rich colours. The Christmas trees are a wonderful mix of stencil and dies. x

Julia Aston said...

Love, love the fine gold embossing and beautiful colors on your first card sis! The Christmas card is lovely as well with your mix of green and red - but I too favor the first. What a fun way to create an interesting background. I love your beautiful stenciled pines too! Julia xx

Aquarius said...

Well this technique is something different and - for me at least - it's going to take a bit of getting used to. I prefer your first floral card but not so keen on the Christmas one - sorry. Just love your last stencilled Christmas card - very classy.

Lisa Elton said...

I do like the name you've given this technique, it fits it perfectly! Your cards turned out great. All marvelous makes, Darnell!

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

Just love your "kaleidoscope" cards especially the first one!
Do like the stencilled trees!

Birgit said...

I do love your first one better but I still like the Christmas card which is more modern impressionism. I have to try this.
I've been trying to connect to Darnell's blog but it states it's unsecure and I can't get on it! If she visits you or you visit her please let her know.

Cheryl W. said...

This looks like a lot of fun. I really love the first one. I'll have to give it a try. As always, thanks for the inspiration!

Cat Craig said...

It looks like a cool technique to try. Love both of your technique cards and your ideas card. Stay cool.

Liz said...

Gorgeous card, Darnell. I love the effect of the Kalidoscope Technique and the colours on the first card are stunning.
Liz xx

TK said...

These designs are quite unique, and easy to see why it's such a fun technique!

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Your colorful kaleidoscope on card is fantastic, Darnell - love the gold embossing and the bright colors!! The poinsettia background looks amazing too & I love your stenciled snowy trees! Thanks for the inspiration with Go7 & with IDEAS!!

kiwimeskreations said...

Oh Darnell, what wonderful cards - like you I favour the first 'kaleidoscopic' card, but both look great. I can see this technique could be quite addicting!
The boys are really getting clever, the way they have added the snow as well as the schparkle on the Christmas card
Blessings
Maxine

Em Louise Fairley said...

More beautiful cards, Darnell xoxo

Jeanne said...

That first card is gorgeous, Darnell. I'm happy for you to have had such fun with this neat technique. I might have to try it myself. ;) Thanks so very much for sharing!

Brenda in IN said...

Love the colors together you used on the first card. It is a happy card. Fun Christmas card using this technique and the stenciled card is great. Cute tiny trees you added!

Bonnie said...

I like your first kaleidoscope card the best too, Dolly! The gold makes it so elegant! Love the stenciled trees! The boys did a great job of schparkifiying on them!

Gerrina said...

Great technique and you made two beauties with it! Love the 3th card; it's a beautiful CAS one! Hugs, Gerrina

designbydonna said...

OOOH! I love this technique. I too like the first one best. Great selection of colors. This is going on my long list of "to try" techniques.

Carol L said...

You've been busy making these amazing cards and each one is just stunning! That looks like such a fun technique with all the embossed colors and I like those different sized trees on the Christmas card too. Have a great week ahead.

HilaryJane said...

I like the first one best too and you have reminded me that I have that MFT background stamp. It looks great with this clever technique. Without trying it you would think it would just look terrible, but it doesn't, it looks quite cool. Thanks for the examples. Love how you have used that corner die on your stencilled Xmas card too xx

Karen said...

Dramatic is a great adjective for these cards. I especially like the first one--the colors are so beautiful. Love your Christmas card, too!

I Card Everyone said...

D, I ADORE kaleidoscopes! Even the cheapest ones from the five and dime could keep me happy for hours when I was a kid. Have I told you about the one I wanted that was $1500? I don't have it. Such a fun name for this fab technique - and two cute cards to boot!
=]

Christine Alexander said...

Two gorgeous cards Darnell, such pretty colours in the first and I love the bolder colours in your Christmas card, this was a fun technique xx

Gail L said...

I think that is such a cool technique!
Looks great!
Like the stenciled card too!

Linby said...

Great results and I want to try this now too! Love the Christmas tree card also with the little cut out trees.

Bobby said...

The name fits the technique perfectly, Darnell, and I'm loving all the cards I see made with it. Your gold embossed one is gorgeous with all the beautiful color.

Loll said...

Beautiful Kaleidoscope cards Dolly! The first is a gorgeous floral image with a beautiful mix of colours. I hadn't thought about using Ziggies to colouring ... what a great idea. I love it cut up and added randomly over your card base. So pretty and artsy. The vellum sentiment is a lovely finishing touch. The Christmas card is beautiful with this same technique. LOVE the traditional red and green with the large sentiment banner. Thanks again for your IDEAS challenge ... I've played along again this week. Your stenciled trees are so lovely and sparkly. xx

Robyn Oliver said...

Beautiful cards Darnell --- the kaleidoscope technique worked wonderfully with your stamped coloured images. And you stenciled snowy trees go perfectly with the die cut corner - well done, and have a happy day, hugs Robyn

Bonnie Lynn said...

Oh wow!! What an awesome technique. One I've never done before. Will have to keep it in mind.

Vicky Hayes said...

Oh, I am completely inspired by this kalidoscope technique Darnell! Now I just need some spare time to play! Your cards are all beautiful but I must say the first one is absolutely stunning. The jewel tones work so well in the gold embossing. Vicky x

PS. Have been searching your post for 'ball corpses' and am a little diappointed... ;)

Tina Z. said...

wow, great cards and great technique!
crafty hugs xx

Sandra H said...

Oh wow as a child l love looking through my kaleidoscope and your two cards are just stunning gorgeous colours on both and the Christmas card the trees are stunning xx

Pat said...

Sorry to be late with a comment Darnell, but always wait until I have put my post up which I did last night, but ran out of steam with the comment..lol. I will try to speed up a bit and get the next one going, having this each week makes me get on with getting cards done for the family instead of leaving it to the last minute, and I love this fun challenge with a different technique/medium for each week. I love your kaleidoscope cards, so bright and beautiful, and the tree themed Christmas card is so pretty using the corner tree cut out die with some wonderful green pp, and then the added stencilled trees too..a fabulous card. x

My Paper Epiphany said...

Your cards are so beautifully colourful and you've perfected this technique, which you've cleverly dubbed 'kaeidoscope'! I also love your gorgeous Christmas card - a fun design! Hugs x