Sunday, September 29, 2013

Contour Cards - Punctuation

I have continued exploring the concept of layered designs using my Silhouette. After the first series which I shared here, I continued and started experimenting with punctuation shapes.  I love certain punctuation marks, most notably the ampersand. (I have a complete collection of ampersands in my Pinterest board here.)



This card is part of my all-occassion set. It would be a perfect contemporary Me & You card for an anniversary, or team work appreciation. 

Take a moment and study other punctuation marks. But combine them with colored paper......


Continuing with the punctuation and card theme, how about the classic money card? Here is a card you can make to go along with a cash gift.

I am not sure how to use this next card but the Question Mark is also a wonderful shape. How about as a "Wondering how you are" inquiry for a long lost friend? Check over on the Silhouette site to see how the chosen color combination can effect the impact. I did it in purples there.




Just look at a keyboard for more ideas!
Hashtag works for anything. Just add the #thinking of you, or #congratulations inside.

 The @ sign would be a great invite card..... Dinner @my house

And the exclamation point, well that works for any surprise.


These cards have all been designed to be cut on the Silhouette cutting machine. I have created cutting files for all and they are available here. (More will become available as Silhouette uploads them so check back.) Additionally I have uploaded a tutorial on making the cards here.

©2013 Marji Roy, Ashbee Design


Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Contour Cards- A New All-Occassion card Design

I spend way too much time exploring possibilities with my Silhouette cutting machine. I recently completed a series of all-occassion cards made by stacking brightly colored paper together.


The concept comes from the contour lines on a topographical map (another passion of mine!).
My first design was based on a geometric sun pattern I created, and then re-sized and cut. It is cut in multiple layers using paper in gradated colors.




But I cut it out many times and create a whole series of cards with in using different color combinations. And then I tried other shapes.....





What I especially like about this project is that the cut provides both a positive and negative shape and both pieces can be used creating two cards.

I'll be uploading these files to the Silhouette online store in groups. The first three files are for the sunburst, triple-star, and arrow and the cutting files are available through the links below.
  • Cutting File for Geometric Sun here.
  • Cutting File for Arrow here.
  • Cutting file for Triple Star here.




I also have created an extensive tutorial on making these cards here at my sister site, Ashbee Design Silhouette Projects. I plan on making groups of cards to give a Christmas gifts. They have been sized to fit perfectly in a standard invitation envelop.

So have you started making your Christmas gifts yet? Here is an idea for you!

©2013 Marji Roy, Ashbee Design


Friday, September 13, 2013

Wanderings • Classic Cars = Beautiful Photos

Happened to be passing through Norwich, NY one day last week and noticed a Classic Car Museum there. We stopped and what a treasure. I loved it because of the photo possibilities. Looking at the world from a different perspective, through the lens of a camera, is very inspiring for me. Here are a few of the many photographs I took that day.





















There is a photo of an airplane engine thrown in just to see if you are paying attention!  I f you happen to be in or near Norwich, NY. Stop in to the Northeast Classic Car Museum. It is beautifully put together and you don't even need to be in love with cars to appreciate the beauty.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Recycled Chop Sticks

When I visit museums I love to spend time in their gift shops. They have some of the most interesting designs for home decor. Yesterday, I visited the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History in Pittsburgh, PA (wonderful museum!) and saw the foldable basket made from recycled chop sticks.



Ingenious!


And available online! Here.




Thursday, September 5, 2013

Wanderings - Burlington, VT

We spent the day visiting a niece in Burlington, Vermont. I am always drawn to a good craft gallery and there is a branch of Frog Hollow Vermont State Crafts Center here in town.  I saw the work of John Brickles, a ceramic sculptor. He creates work in several categories but I fell in love with his ceramic buildings.  Here are some samples of work he shares on his website. There were a variety of his barns on display at the gallery and they were full of personality.