I thought that I would start off Novell’s Guest Designer series with some cards to get you into the summer spirit! I hope that wherever you are (in the Northern Hemisphere!) that summer weather is finally well under way and that you are enjoying all that the good weather has to offer.
This first card reminds me that I forgot to pack our hammock for our trip to the cottage (again!) this summer. I think that I might have to get creative though and concoct something because this card looks way too inviting.
I have seen a few different variations of this card design but I really like Novell’s version. Do you see how she stamped the “island” over on the left side of the card? This makes our Hammock in the tree seem well balanced and very tropical.
I also really like how she added the tiny Crab stamp to the island… it gives one the sense that if you were swinging on that hammock that it would be just you and the little beach critters. So relaxing!
The other great thing about this card is that it has unilateral appeal – good for gals & guys.
This next card also features the A Muse Hammock stamp. This time, she inked only the hammock portion of the stamp (this can be done by either coloring just the hammock with makers, by “masking” off the rest of the stamp or careful inking with a Clearsnap cateye inkpad) and stamped it between our Leafy tree. I’m sure this took a few tries to figure out how far apart to stamp the trees. J
I like the "shadow" she created under the hammock using an oval stamp. As part of our new holiday release, we have TWO brand new ovals available (micro oval & mini oval).
This is the last card that I will share with you today. This card uses five A Muse stamps and a punch but Novell’s execution makes it look so sweet and simple! In fact, it is really easy to create simple scenes with A Muse stamps.
One trick that Novell introduced to me is using our skinny ovals multiple times to create “mounds” or different landscapes. I *love* this trick! If you look carefully, you will see how Novell stamped our large skinny oval (masking the blue band on the card) once and then stamped our smaller skinny oval (again masking the blue band) to the right. This gives the landscape so much detail and depth. What a great trick!
BTW, I have been told that the little fishy punch by EK Success is no longer available so if you have one to sell or trade, go dig it out and make someone’s day!
The next post will feature Novell's birthday cards - these are super fun so be sure to check back again soon!
Cute cards!! Makes me wish I was laying in that hammock on vacation right now!!
Posted by: Dotty | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 09:55 AM
great cards!
Posted by: s.patel | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 10:08 AM
very cute ... love them all!
Posted by: mj | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 11:43 AM
great cards novell--love the hammock between the trees! :) lexi
Posted by: lexi | Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 02:14 PM
The perfect cards for summer!! So cute!
Posted by: Julie Masse | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 06:02 AM
Such cute cards and I love the fishy it looks just like the edible goldfish-yum!
Posted by: Christine | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 06:10 AM
Nice. Really like how I'm swept away as an imaginary participant in each card just by the simple way you staged each scene.
Posted by: Janice | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 06:28 AM
Novell, these all rock!!! Super, super cute cards!!!
Posted by: Andrea Bentz | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 06:50 AM
Great summer cards...the hammock on the beach is calling my name!!
Posted by: Doreen | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:02 AM
I love the seaweed detail on the first card! All your cards are great and just scream SUMMER!
Posted by: Kristin Z. | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:03 AM
Great work Novell! I love the little goldfish!
Posted by: Melissa Norris | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:10 AM
These cards are all so "relaxing"!! That is really cool had you made the hammock hang between the 2 trees. I love had they all make up a summer scene. Thanks so much for sharing. Your designs are awesome!
Posted by: N.Yvette P. | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:14 AM
nice cards, thanks for the ideas.
Posted by: jennifer | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:18 AM
Novell, I love your stuff. Your style is very clean and fun! TFS!
Posted by: Geeta / TexasLonghorns/Craftyengineer | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:19 AM
I am so inspired! I LOVE the hammock inbetween the two trees! Everytime I am at my local stamp store I keep looking for the little crab. My mom is turning sixty this month and her astrological sign is Cancer (the crab), I have been toying with the idea of stamping sixty crabs! Beautiful cards Novell! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Bryn | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:30 AM
That hammock looks so comfy!
Posted by: dawn | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:36 AM
Super cute cards. I love the bottom fishing one. You are one talented gal!!
Posted by: jodene | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:46 AM
Cute cards!
Posted by: Katie | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:47 AM
I didn't realize that one of the girl in the class I took at Monkey Love Rubber Stamp was you. You seem so familiar and now I see you as the guest designer! Great cards! I'm looking forward to seeing more!
Posted by: Riza Almanza | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:48 AM
Your work is so incredibly good. Thanks for picking Novel as a guest designer and thanks to Novel for creating such beauties!!
Posted by: Ericka | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 07:55 AM
Novell's use of the hammock between so trees is so creative and clever!
Posted by: Louise | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:03 AM
I enjoy all of the cards shared by all of your designers! They provide such great inspiration!
Posted by: michele | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:10 AM
I love the hammock between the two trees! Novell is amazing!
Posted by: KristinaaLewis | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:15 AM
Love the hammock in the two trees! Makes me sleepy :D
Posted by: Rachel Hope | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:24 AM
Novell, that hammock-between-two-trees concept is super-cute. Go you!
Posted by: Teresa | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:35 AM
Wonderful cards! Makes me feel inspired! I think that I'll have to get that hammock!
Posted by: Cindy Vernon | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:35 AM
Novell, that hammock-between-two-trees concept is super-cute. Go you!
Posted by: Teresa | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:35 AM
Love these summer scenes. Perfect little vignettes of what it summer should be!
Posted by: pegg | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:42 AM
I have to get that "dropping you a line" stamp now.
Posted by: ~liz | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:46 AM
I have to have that dropping you a line stamp now.
Posted by: ~liz | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:47 AM
I LOVE the Paml Tree with the Hammock card. This would have to be my all time favorite A Muse stamp right now. it is so beautiful! These cards turned out great!
Posted by: Trisha | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:47 AM
Now I have to buy the tree - that card is so cute!
Posted by: Whitney | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:53 AM
oh i LOVE the one with the hammock between the two palm trees! it's ADORABLE and it makes me want to jump right in that card and relax! :)
Posted by: lilian | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 09:21 AM
Thanks for the idea using the skinny oval to create landscapes. What a handy stamp! I also love the hammock because it can be used for guys or gals. These are great cards; thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Kathy W | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 09:23 AM
These cards are great. Love the one with the boy fishing. Reminds me of my son!
Posted by: Anouk Martin | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 09:38 AM
hee hee, love the sea weed, very clever!
Posted by: tammy b | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Love the hammock stamp. Love the crab stamp.
Such cute summery images!
Posted by: Lynne | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 09:41 AM
These card themes are "pure summer"!
Posted by: Cindy B | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 10:08 AM
Love the layering of the ovals - what a great idea and adds so much to the card!
Posted by: Kerry J | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Those are too cute - I love the hammock ones!
Posted by: Jackie | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 10:27 AM
Oh my gosh, Novell, your cards are great. I especially love the added touch of seaweed at the bottom of the ocean on your first card.
Posted by: Regina D. | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 11:26 AM
love the cards they are so cute thanks for the inspiration.
Posted by: Tina L | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 11:27 AM
I love the card with the hammock between two trees. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Aura Flora | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 11:29 AM
my summer spirit is coming thanks to you novel
Posted by: yvonne versloot | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 11:41 AM
I love your summertime cards Novell. Great inspiration. Thank you!!
Posted by: Debbie Neverkovec | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 11:51 AM
I love the hammock on the tree! Super cute!
Posted by: Cheryl Kelly-Van Domelen | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 11:54 AM
I love the little boy fishing! So cute!!
Posted by: Cookie | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 11:58 AM
The hammock card is super cute.
Posted by: Katie | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 12:50 PM
I'm loving these new cards. The temptation is getting to be too much.
Posted by: amy | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 01:29 PM
What cute cards!!! I love the fishing boy.
Posted by: Michelle | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 01:30 PM
The 2nd Hammock in the Tree is my fav. :)
Posted by: TraceyB | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 01:43 PM
very clever cards! i love our color selection.
Posted by: june g | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 02:48 PM
I love the fish! It makes me want to eat those Goldfish snacks... yum. Super cute, creativeness!
Posted by: Denny | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 04:50 PM
These are really relaxing cards! thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Melanie aka Batgirl | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 05:35 PM
I love love love the scenes you've made for these cards Novell! They're perfect! Oh, so cute!
Tara
Posted by: Tara | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 05:43 PM
I love the seaweed in the water and that tiny crab. How cute!
Posted by: Bethany Paull | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 05:52 PM
Love the fishing card --- the little fish reminds me of the ones my kids eat --- too cute!
Posted by: Heather C | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 06:14 PM
Love the cards - especially the hammock between the trees. TFS!
Posted by: Suzanne | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:28 PM
Love the hammock between the two trees! Very cleaver!!
Posted by: Amanda B. | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 08:57 PM
These are FAN-Freakin'-Tastic!!!
Posted by: Dorinda | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 10:36 PM
Love these, Novell!! They make me want to go someplace tropical, kick back and go fishing!
Posted by: Joyce | Thursday, July 19, 2007 at 11:35 PM
Love these cards...very happy designs!
Posted by: Angel | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 05:42 AM
I love the "relax it's your day", the 2nd one - I think a day off from work swinging in a hammock would be a good way to go today. Great cards, Novell!
Posted by: Selina | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 07:21 AM
Gorgeous cards Novell I just love your work!
Suzy in Halifax
Posted by: Suzy | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Great way to use the hammocks. Really nice cards.
Posted by: Connie | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 12:11 PM
So cute! Love the hammock. Makes me want to lie down and take a nap!
Posted by: Anne Marie | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 05:09 PM
These are gret! Novell is so good at making the scenes! This is something I need practice with! Have you picked me for the grand prize yet?
Posted by: Lezlye | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 05:56 PM
The one with the two trees! Such a great guy card. REally love the plaid! Great job, Novell! Does this mean you'll have an Amuse card for our swap?
Posted by: Stamps&Cars (Ann) | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 06:22 PM
I love this hammock stamp and the island.
Heather B
Posted by: Heather B | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 06:36 PM
I love A*Muse stamps and adore all the cards that Novell has created. She makes me want to grab a pair of sunglasses, sunscreen, & take a tropical vacation:)
Posted by: Linda SS | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 07:35 PM
The hut in the fishing card looks three dimensional. Pretty cool.
Posted by: Jennifer Moore | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 07:46 PM
Wonderful cards makes me want to sit back and enjoy the summertime.
Fran Heupel
Posted by: fran heupel | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 08:05 PM
What fun cards - gotta love those stamps - bought some at the local amuse card making event here last week!
Posted by: Mary-Jane Downey | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 09:12 PM
Relaxing day at the beach..... ahhh makes me just want to be there. Beautiful work
Posted by: Claire Bzdega | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 09:29 PM
I love the hammock in between the 2 trees!! Very cute cards! Thanks for sharing with us!
Posted by: Jennie | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 10:18 PM
Novell...what great cards! congrats on being guest designer! I love the different looks you achieved with the hammock stamp.
Posted by: Alana | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 10:22 PM
Yah, Im thinkin' the Hammock on the little island is where Id like to be....
LOVE the underwater "seaweed"!!! Too cute!!
Posted by: Tandra Boyer | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 10:25 PM
Cute cards, love them all
Posted by: EJ | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 10:26 PM
Oh! That hammock makes me wish I had one set-up in my backyard!
Posted by: Joella Jarvi | Friday, July 20, 2007 at 11:32 PM
great cards, AWESOME techniques!
Posted by: Lia | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 02:07 AM
Great cards. I wish I was sitting in the hammock!
Posted by: Pia | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 03:55 AM
Cute Cute Cute cards. I really need a vacation!
Posted by: Toni K | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 04:26 AM
These are just so cute. I have the palm tree with hammock stamp and have never considered stamping just the hammock without the palm tree. Very clever! Thanks for sharing!
Chris Hauck
Posted by: Chris Hauck | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 05:24 AM
Love, love LOVE the "relax" cards - I've gotta have that hammock. I'm SO in trouble :) Beautiful Novell!
Posted by: Cat | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 05:36 AM
these hammock cards are just the cutest!! :D they make me smile and want to grab a nice big glass of cool lemonade and head outside! thanks for the inspiration! the one with the droopy palm tree looks as if I had just gotten up from it - maybe should have the DIET lemonade instead!! ;)
Posted by: Jennifer S | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 05:42 AM
A hammock at the beach - what could be more relaxing! Thanks for sharing these cards with us.
Posted by: Jo Ann | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 06:20 AM
Great summer cards! Puts me in a relaxed, "lazy days of summer" kind of feeling!!
Posted by: Regina | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 06:45 AM
Super cute card! I like the little details, like the crab! Great job, Novell!
Posted by: BR | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 07:23 AM
I love the crab on the little island! He looks so happy. I also like how you perched the hammock between the two trees, very fun!
Posted by: Stacy | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 08:32 AM
Amazing work hanging the hammock between two trees. That is my favorite place to be - in the hammock!
Posted by: Ingrid | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 09:28 AM
So love the "relax it's your day" card..it's just adorable and my daily motto!!LOL
Posted by: Julia S | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 10:35 AM
I so enjoy seeing fresh ideas using amuse stamps! Especially love the seaweed detail on the first card.
Posted by: Pat J | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 12:22 PM
I love the 'relax it's your day' card! It's great. So pleased to meet you Novell.
Posted by: Linda Deline | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 05:23 PM
I love the little extra's that Norvell adds to her cards. It's the detail that makes her's a notch above so many others. That little hutch next to the fisherman is so cute.
Posted by: Melissa Roth | Saturday, July 21, 2007 at 09:08 PM
What fun cards. I love the doodle waves & that hammock looks so inviting.. Thanks, Norvell, for sharing your talent with us.
Posted by: Janet Allen | Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 08:15 AM
The hammock between the two trees offers one of the more relaxing (and therefore wonderful!) cards I have seen recently. I just love it and wish I had the outdoor setting at my house to match!
Posted by: HeatherP | Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 05:08 PM
Love these! Such great talent!
Posted by: Liz N | Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 06:55 PM
really cute cards!! Really like the summer one.
Posted by: Tina Mayo | Sunday, July 22, 2007 at 08:56 PM
Oh, the perfect pasttime for the dogdays of summer!
Posted by: Donna Degen | Monday, July 23, 2007 at 12:21 PM
These cute cards have had me dreaming about lying around in a hammock. I went to Wally's to check them out and found one for $5. I didn't think it would be much of a hammock since it was so inexpensive, but I was pleasantly surprised. I have Norvell to thank because my dream has now become a reality:)
Posted by: Michaela | Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 08:34 AM