Black and white

Goodness time flies - well and truly time to update!  There has been a crop and a weekend away in between my last post and this one, but heaven only knows what else has kept me so busy I haven't posted ....

I know black and white is so popular .. but sometimes I find it hard to use!  The contrast is so harsh, and sometimes I am aiming for a softer look.  I had accumulated a deal of black and white patterned paper scraps after making my mother in law a black and white birthday book for Christmas, so I wanted to use them up ....

Scraps of the black and white patterned paper are from a paper pad by Imaginisce - a lot of geometric patterns in this paper pad.  I felt the card above was desperate for a touch of colour.  The journalling spot is American Crafts - my friend gave me this pack the Christmas before, and I haven't been able to use it in my scrapbooking, so I started to break into it for cards.  Black stickles and a glittery peel off added a touch of bling ....

With this handmade paper, I just glossy-accented the silver stitching on the cut edges of the paper to stop it fraying.  Another American Crafts journalling spot, and a glittery doodlebug button tied the silver in to the black and white. 

I think the card above was less successful, but it demonstrates that you can use scraps relatively effectively by keeping to a colour theme.  This time, I used the leftover frame from one of those journalling spots, a couple of peeloffs, scraps of handmade paper and a wee bit of lace. 

I would find the paper above very hard to use, but in a small area with the pattern broken up, this is one of my favourites!  Just some flowery black and white peel-offs complete it, with a bit of organza ribbon down the side. 

I think the above card looks quite Victorian!  Maybe it's the vertical stripe which reminds me of wallpaper.  I stamped the frame with white stazon and the swirl was cut from the Cricut machine.  Very suitable for a masculine birthday. 

Last card for this evening - same paper, slightly different treatment. 

                                                

A different frame, together with a flower, give a less formal feel.  Well, all those cards went off for charity a while ago - so hopefully by now, they've all sold! 

I am in the process of making more, but my next post will be about scrapbooking, I promise!