Happy Birthday Eh!

Hello everyone,

Tomorrow is Canada Day so why not be inspired by the Maple Leaf!

I've put together three cards based on three different challenges. Creative Belli Blog provided a wonderful sketch and asked for some patriotism. Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday was also looking for patriotism. Finally, this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch offered up another very interesting sketch.

This card is the Creative Belli sketch card. The card base is from Recollections. The maple leaves are cut with a Spellbinders Nestability in Stampin' Up Real Red. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings.

I apologize for the photo. No matter what I tried, I couldn't get the full card photographed as there was just too much white space.


This is the One Layer Wednesday card. The card base is from Recollections. The image is Sweet 'n Sassy Autumn Blessings. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages.

This is the Sweet Sunday Sketch card. The card base is from Recollections. The maple leaves are cut with a Spellbinders Nestabilities in Stampin' Up Real Red and Whisper White. The sentiment, Penny Black Happy, Happy, is stamped on a piece of Whisper White and mounted on a piece of Real Red. The brad is of unknown origin from the stash.

I don't know if I'll ever use these cards. Unless you celebrate your birthday on July 1st, I can't imagine this card would have any other appeal. Still, I really like these cards. They are each unique though following the same Canadiana theme.

Happy Canada Day! Please enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Robots

Hello everyone,

Today's card came about very weirdly. Over the weekend I came across the Waltzingmouse Sketch and it scared the heck out of me. Then on Sunday, the Stamptacular Challenge was to use stars and stripes which just smacks of July 4th and that's not something I'm into. I was just going to pass when a new blogging friend, Erin T of Homemade Cards by Erin, inspired me with her Waltzingmouse sketch and since we enjoy a lot of the same challenges I thought, why not. I'm really glad I did.

The paper for this card is My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus and Magnolia. The chipboard elements are My Mind's Eye Lil' Robots. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Vintage Labels.

I decided if I was going to attempt a sketch that scared me, I may as well go totally outside my comfort zone and craft a boy's card. I had picked up these chipboard elements at the Multicrafts garage sale a few weeks ago because it was a really great deal. This type of embellishment is not something I'd generally pick up but these robots are darn cute and I wanted elements that could be used for boy cards instead of stamps. I think this card turned out beautifully. The sketch was the perfect inspiration and the chipboard was perfect. I love that I could add the sentiment to the large star. About the only thing I would add, if I could, would be stamping some background stars on the orange elements. Too bad I didn't think of that before applying the chipboard.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Birthday Special

Hello everyone,

This second card today is one I've had lying around for a while, all it needed was a sentiment. I made it to play with some new Sakura markers I picked up a while back.

The card base is Recollections vanilla. The images are Stampin' Up Asian Artistry, coloured with Sakura Gelly Roll Gold Shadow pens. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well Scripted.

This is a really clean and simple card. I find the pens really phenomenal and that comes from someone who has no confidence colouring. I think this is a great Birthday card!

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Three Challenge Card

Hello everyone,

There have just been so many awesome challenges out there the last few days that I just couldn't resist putting multiple challenges together. I'm using Friday's Just Add Ink challenge to use patterned paper. Saturday's Allsorts challenge was to use embossing. Sunday's Card Positioning Systems sketch was just to appealing to resist.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Dusty Durango textured with Sizzix Damask. The Impression Obsession Flowers image and Stampin' Up Short & Sweet sentiment is stamped on a piece of Stampin' Up Whisper White. The remaining paper is BasicGrey Ambrosia. The embellishments are Hero Arts Metallic Decor.

I have never been into oranges and yellows but there is something about this BasicGrey paper that I just can't resist. When combined with Dusty Durango and it is, in my opinion, over the top.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

365 Favourites

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by Friday's 365 Cards challenge which was to use five favourites. This is always really difficult for me because my favourites often depend upon the card I'm making. I have favourites for Birthday cards, Christmas cards, Wedding cards, and the list goes on. We have a couple of weddings this fall so I decided I would craft a favourites wedding card.

My favourite colour is blue. My favourite wedding sentiment is Penny Black Full of Life. My favourite card shape is a 5" x 6 1/2" rectangle. My favourite tool is my Big Shot. My favourite embellishment is Hero Arts Pearls.

The navy background paper is Recollections which is layered with a piece of BasicGrey Marrakesh textured with Sizzix Pattern 1. The pattern strip is also BasicGrey Marrakesh. The sentiment, on Stampin' Up Whisper White, is layered on another piece of navy Recollections which has been textured with Moroccan Screen.

This is not a traditional wedding card but the couple for which it has been made, has a pretty spectacular collection of elephants so I felt it was emminently suitable. I love this sentiment because it is very heartfelt without being super mushy. I think this couple will love the card!

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Rock Star II

Hello everyone,

Here is my second card for you today. This is a consignment card for a colleague's brother. He is the up and coming DeeJay whom my colleague is trying to encourage. I didn't use a sketch or challenge for this card. I used one of the flubbed cards from last week's seven attempt card. Of course, the stickers were inspiration enough.

The card base is from Recollections. The silver strips are of unknown origin from my stash which have been textured with Sizzix Circle Circus. The stickers are either Jolene's Boutique or EK Success - I've misplaced the packaging.

This was one of those super easy cards that is totally reliant on a phenomenal sticker. How can you go wrong with a sticker that incredible. I've decided that I'm going to take a close look at stickers because I think they're great!

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Two For One

Hello everyone,

You would think, having taken yesterday off, I would have managed to make a card. Things rather got away from me. I'll make up for it today. I love sketch challenges that inspire me to make multiple cards and yesterday's Clean & Simple Stamping sketch challenge was just such a sketch.

The card base is Recollections in vanilla. The background paper is Martha Stewart Heirloom. The focal layer is BasicGrey Wisteria. Both of which are textured with Sizzix Flourish and highlighted with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Dazzzling Diamonds. The sentiment is Stampabilities Changes Everything. The embellishments are Hero Arts Pearls.


The card base is Recollections in white. The background layer is Close To My Heart Hollyhock. The focal layer is BasicGrey Porcelain which is textured with Sizzix Pattern 1. The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages embellished with Hero Arts Pearls.
I just love both of these cards. I know I could probably make another dozen cards with the same sketch and different themes. We'll see how the rest of my weekend goes.
This sketch just cried out for BasicGrey paper of which I'm such a huge fan. It also suits Hero Arts pearl embellishments perfectly. I've used the pearls on the Hero Arts sentiment and you'd think they were made for one another.
I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle

Good Luck, Good Luck, Good Luck

Hello everyone,

Today's card is another goodbye. One of my colleagues is transferring to another section. He has been absolutely wonderful to work with and I hope I will be fortunate enough to have another opportunity to do so in the future.

This card is inspired by two challenges, Pals Paper Arts provided the sketch while Terrifically Thrilling Thursday Challenges offered up a theme of three.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Bordering Blue that has been textured with Sizzix Circle Circus. The patterned paper is three different sheets of BasicGrey Granola. The sentiment is Waltzingmouse Say It With Style stamped on Stampin' Up Whisper White. The embellishments are Peggy's Pretties.

Have I said how much I love BasicGrey Paper? How great is this paper for a male colleague? I know male cards can be tough but it is even worse for a male colleague. I'm actually pretty excited about this card because I'm pretty sure Phil will be touched knowing that I made it especially for him - he won't show it though...

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Scrumptious Sketch

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a goodbye card for a friend who is following her hubby on an overseas posting. I'll miss her dearly but I know that she'll make the most of her time away and I'll see her when she comes home. I used today's Truly Scrumptious sketch as inspiration for this card.


The background paper is from my scrap bin and I believe it is Recollections. It has been dry embossed with Sizzix Flourish texture plate. The printed paper is BasicGrey Marrakesh layered on top of Stampin' Up Ruby Red. The image is Close To My Heart You Are Beautiful stamped on a piece of Stampin' Up Whisper White and layered on a piece of Ruby Red. The embellishments are Peggy's Pretties.

I like this card. The colours are not traditional and neither is my friend so I know she'll love it. Have I said how much I like the BasicGrey paper. It really is wonderful.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Coppered Friend

Hello everyone,

I know I've said this before, but every now and again I craft a card that blows my mind. This is one of those cards. It all started with Friday's Everything Old is New Again Challenge which asked for a technique that we'd not used in a while. That got me thinking to the copper foil technique that I'd last done in the fall. Today's Tuesday Throwdown was dry embossing so I got to wondering how the copper foil would look after going through the Big Shot in a Cuttlebug folder. I then decided that Mercy Kerin's Tuesday Sketch Challenge would be the perfect sketch to showcase the copper.

The background papers are Stampin' Up Ruby Red and BasicGrey Porcelain. There is no brand name on the copper craft foil which has been smooched with Ranger Alcohol Ink and dry embossed with Cuttlebug's Stylized Flowers. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Pocket Silhouette. The embellishments are Rust Oregon Raindrops.

I love this card. When I first saw Heather's Stamping Haven showcase this technique at last October's Creativ Festival in Toronto, I knew I had to try it and bought all the supplies on site. I've not played with it as much as I would have liked so I really did have to experiment somewhat. This means, of course, there will be other cards with inked copper. The foil worked wonderfully in the Cuttlebug folder. I have to say I had a heck of a time photographing this card. The light is the biggest issue and I'm not all that thrilled with the final photo. That doesn't take away from my love of this card. I can't wait to try more.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

New Challenges, New Card

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by two new challenges. Operation Write Home's Stars and Stamps provided a wonderful sketch and The Shabby Tea Room provided a photo for inspiration.

I just love finding new challenges, the only problem, there is no way on earth I can do them all.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Night of Navy textured with Sizzix Bead Strings. The patterned paper is BasicGrey Marrakesh layered on Stampin' Up Ruby Red. The sentiment, Penny Black Dance, Sing, Love, is stamped on a scrap of Stampin' Up Whisper White and layered on a piece of Ruby Red.

This card may be a little to 'blue' for the photo inspiration but I found it really makes the Marrakesh paper pop. I did love the sentiment because the bedroom in the image struck me as 'heaven on earth' so it was emminently suitable.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Sweeter Birthday

Hello everyone,

Another commissioned card today. The friend of a colleague is turning 50 and she wanted a special card. I used Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch as inspiration.

The card base is from Recollections. The blue strip is DCWV Brights Textured Cardstock while the green piece is from the Neutral pad. The patterned paper is BasicGrey Wisteria layered on a piece of Close To My Heart Pansy Purple. The sentiment is Penny Black Happy, Happy.

I love this card. The BasicGrey paper is so beautiful with all the wonderful colours. BasicGrey is fast becoming my favourite paper. I also love this sketch. It was perfect for using up some of my goofed cards from Thursday's Simple Colour Challenge card. Maybe I'll repeat this sketch a couple of times as I've still got five other goofed cards to use up.

Please enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Unscripted Good Luck

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a commissioned card for a colleague who has a friend that is being posted to the US. Her friend isn't into frou frou so I was inspired to make something with a more Americana feel to it. I like the results.

The layout is based on today's Unscripted Sketches. The background paper is Stampin' Up Mellow Moss textured with Sizzix Pattern 2 embossing plate and highlighted with Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist Dazzling Diamonds. The rectangles are mounted on Stampin' Up Whisper White and are comprised of pieces of Night of Navy textured with Sizzix Small Dots, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip textured with Cuttlebug Moroccan Screen. The patterned paper is BasicGrey Marrakesh. The sentiment is Waltzingmouse Say It With Style.
I think this is a wonderful card. The sketch does have a quilty feel to it that is quite Americana. I love the BasicGrey paper and it was ideal for choosing the remaining colours. This is the first time I've used the Glimmer Mist and I love how subtle an effect it made on the background. Just a tiny bit of shimmer.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle

Asian Congratulations Sketch

Hello everyone,

Today's card is for a colleague who is retiring this summer - lucky lady! We wish her all the best.

This card is base upon two challenges. The Sisterhood of Crafters was looking for Japanese inspired cards while No Time To Stamp provided the sketch. This card is likely more Chinese as opposed to Japanese but, the overall Asian feel is quite suitable for the recipient.

The background paper is DCWV Far East Stack. The middle layer is Stampin' Up Sage Shadow textured with Cuttlebug's Leafy Branch dry embossing folder under which is a piece of DCWV Brights textured cardstock. The ribbon is Dollarama Crafts. The brad are from Multicrafts. The sentiment is Gina K Tag Lines which is stamped on a scrap of Stampin' Up Whisper White.

I really like this card. It is not necessarily traditionally Asian but it is certainly has an Asian feel to it. The melding of blues and greens is a favourite of mine. I picked up the ribbon on a whim because I liked the hues but really, it doesn't suit that many cards though is perfect for this one. I'm pretty sure this card will be well-received.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Simple Colour Challenge

Hello everyone,

Today's card frustrated me to no end! I almost gave up. Simplicity's One Layer Wednesday asked for flourishes - I have lots of flourish stamps so it was really hard to choose something suitable. Wednesday's Play Date Cafe offered up a blue colour splash challenge, something I've never done before.

The card base is from Recollections. The images / border is a Stampin' Up wheel, Illuminated which is full of swirls and flourishes. The sentiment is Gina K Tag Lines. Both the image and the sentiment were stamped in VersaFine Onyx Black. The blue embellishments are Crafts Gem Chic from the dollar store.

Believe it or not, this is my seventh attempt and, even with the blue background, I had a really tough time getting a decent photo. I hope I'll be able to use the goofed card bases otherwise I'll be royally p.o.'d. I wouldn't even have attempted this card without my stamp-a-ma-jig and my wheel guide and it still took me seven tries.

I just love the concept of this card. The blue really pops next to the black and white and it is such a classic combination. It is a very clean and simple card but not plain nor boring. I hoping by tomorrow, I just love the card all together.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

What If, It's A Boy!

Hello everyone,

I found out today that the wife of one of my colleagues had a baby boy today! How wonderful!

The sketch was provided by Repeat Impressions What If? Wednesday ~ Sketch Challenge.

The paper is all Stampin' Up - Brocade Blue, Whisper White and Patterns Pack II. The background layer is embossed with the Sizzix Harlequin texture plate. The images are Heidi Grace Baby.

This was an irresistable sketch and one I'm likely to repeat. My colleague is not into anything fussy or fancy and this is, if I heard correctly, baby number 5, so I wanted to keep it all pretty simple. It turned out better than I anticipated. The Patterns Pack II papers were exactly the right touch.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Sincere Sympathy

Hello everyone,

I found out yesterday that the father of a close colleague passed away on the weekend. That in itself is sad but, what makes it even more wrenching, is that her mother passed away in early May. I made her a card when her mother passed and knew I wanted to make another for her father's passing.

The background and printed paper are BasicGrey Ambrosia layered with Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White. The bottom layer is textured with the Sizzix Flourish embossing plate. The image is Impression Obsession Flowers. The sentiment is Verve Forever In Our Hearts. The embellishments are Hero Arts Pearls.

This card fulfills three challenges. Technostampers Monday Lunchtime Sketch provided the sketch. Monday's Ooh La La Creations Challenge Blog was looking for pearls and swirls. Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge asked for any type of embossing.

I know I've said before that you shouldn't love a sympathy card but I do so love this card. I really like the warmth of these colours and chose them because my colleague often wears similar colours. As I said yesterday, I also love these Hero Arts pearls which add a wonderful touch elegance. I can't imagine how difficult it must be to lose both your parents within months of one another but I do hope that this card will provide some small comfort.

Please come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Embellished Label

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on the most recent Embellish Magazine challenge which is to use the colours yellow, brown and coral as well as a label on your card. Now, this is not a colour combination I would normally gravitate towards but, I was inspired by a BasicGrey paper pad that recently arrived.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, textured with the Sizzix Flourish plate and highlighted with Candle Light Shimmerz. The middle layer is Stampin' Up Cameo Coral and BasicGrey Porcelain. The BasicGrey layer is also textured with the Sizzix Flourish plate and highlighted with Candle Light Shimmerz. The focal layer is Waltzingmouse Vintage Labels No. 1 and Say It With Style, stamped on Barely Banana, cut with the Spellbinders Label 1 die and layered on a piece of Chocolate Chip. The embellishments are Hero Arts Pearls.

I really love this card. Once I found that piece of BasicGrey Porcelain paper, the card came together easily. I don't think I've come across a piece of BasicGrey paper that I don't love. I also love the subtlety of the Shimmerz as it adds some depth and sophistication to a card that could easily have been rather flat. I will admit that I may have gone a tad overboard on the pearls but they are so wonderful and easy to use that once I started, it was hard to stop.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Darling Dad

Hello everyone,

I really should be taking care of some housecleaning but am procrastinating with card making. Ha! I'll feel guilty later. This card is for my darling hubby. I think he is an awesome dad! I found another new sketch from Creative Clear Stamps. Check out the Creative Vision Sketch Challenge if you're looking for inspiration.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Sweet Pea. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Certainly Celery and Whisper White. The image is by Inkadinkado. The sentiment is Loopy Letters by Image Tree. The embellishments are Peggy's Pretties.

I really like this card. It is very clean. I used Stampin' Up Soft Suede for the image and sentiment and like how it comes out much softer than black. I know that hubby will keep this one in his sentimental stash.

I hope you enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Dear Father-In-Law

Hello everyone,

I have more Father cards on my to-do list including this one. It is for my father-in-law, who, along with his son, is an avid golfer. I took one quick look at today's Card Positioning Systems sketch and knew it was the inspiration for today's card. I suspect I will use it more than once.

The background paper is BasicGrey Eva. The stickers are Sandylion Essentials Golf. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well-Scripted stamped on a scrap of Very Vanilla.

This was a ridiculously easy card. The sketch was just perfect for this clean and simple card. I really like being able to highlight the sticker without a lot of fuss. My father-in-law is one of the least fussy people I know.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Happy Father's Day!

Hello everyone,

Father's Day is coming really quick but for my father, it's tomorrow. We're celebrating a titch early as my brother is visiting. A card is simply a must have.

I used a new sketch challenge for this card - What if Wednesday from Repeat Impressions Blog.

The paper is all Stampin' Up - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Sweet Pea, Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla. The Chocolate Chip stripes are textured with Sizzix Small Dots. The focal images are Sizzix Birds & Blooms and Little Leaves. The brads are Making Memories. The sentiment is Waltzingmouse Say It With Style.

My father has a real affinity for birdwatching and I thought he would enjoy the dimensional aspect of the focal bird. I also liked using a different sentiment instead of the traditional 'Happy Father's Day'. This works because Father's Day is - just for him.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Clean & Simple Congratulations

Hello everyone,

Today's card is for our neighbor's eldest son who just finished university. Where does the time go? I used today's Clean & Simple Stamping Sketch because I thought I could easily adapt it to a male-oriented congratulations card.

The patterned paper is Chatter Box Fabulous Buttons. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Certainly Celery, Tempting Turquoise and Whisper White. The Certainly Celery strip is textured with Sizzix Circle Circus. There is also a small piece of Close To My Heart Chocolate. The sentiment is Gina K Tag Lines.

This card turned out great. It wasn't a really fussy sketch which is why I liked it for Adam's card. I love the colours in the Chatter Box paper. It was so easy to pull all the remaining colours from this great sheet of circles.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Rock Star

Hello everyone,

First off, apologies for not posting yesterday. Life just got completely away from me and I couldn't swing either a card nor a post.

Second, I'm playing with some new templates for my blog as I'm finding the green a little distracting. I am looking for something more neutral and professional that will better highlight my cards. Opinions and feedback (Cynthia) are most welcome.

Today's card is for the brother of a colleague. He is a deejay, working hard to establish himself, and she is trying to encourage him as much as possible. This has given me a chance to try some new things and in this case, I think it really worked. I used Technostamper's Monday Lunchtime Sketch to highlight the focal image.


The background paper is DCWV Retro Prints. The two vertical layers are Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip and Ruby Red. The Ruby Red strips are textured with Cuttlebug's Spots & Dots. The focal image is an EK Success Jolee's Boutique sticker, Rock Star.

I just love this card. I think everything works together beautifully. The colours are great and the sticker is awesome! I've only recently started looking at stickers as an option for my cards. I've discovered that stickers provide a very reasonably priced alternative to purchasing dedicated stamps. The theme of this card will certainly not be for everyone (it doesn't really appeal to me either) but I really wanted to share the idea of this card. Using stickers and a great sketch helped me craft a really personal card that I'm sure my colleague will love.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Mercy's Medallion

Hello everyone,

I needed something really quick and easy tonight as I've stamp club and needed to shake a leg. I used today's Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge as a jumping-off point.

The paper is Autumn Leaves Emily and Stampin' Up Whisper White. The focal image is Stampin' Up Medallion and is highlighted with Star Dust Stickles.

Easy, easy, easy. I knew I wanted to use the Medallion image and the Autumn Leaves paper just suits it beautifully. I didn't add a sentiment, I don't think it needs one though I may put something on the inside (not my usual practise) when I decide how I'll use the card.

I hope you enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Another Clean & Simple Father's Day

Hello everyone,

Today's card was requested by one of my colleagues. Her husband dreams of his very own tractor and this is as close as he'll get for the moment. Once, I got my hands on the sticker set, I used Friday's Clean & Simple Stamping sketch to bring everything together.

The two background layers are Chatter Box Big Rec Blocks. The horizontal blue strip is from the scrap bin and went through the crimper before being attached to the card. The sticker, applied to a scrap of Stampin' Up Very Vanilla, is from EK Success. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well Scripted. The embellishments are Oregon Raindrops.

I think this is a wonderful card. It took me forever to find the perfect tractor sticker and I'm glad I was so patient. This is similar to this card that I crafted at the 12-hour crop a month back.

I don't have much in my stash when it comes to 'boy' stamps. I've hesitated to invest in them because I really don't know how often they'll be used. I've found that some really nice stickers will go a long, long way. I've recently picked up truck, airplanes, dinosaurs and now tractors stickers. That is an awful lot of boy cards which are very impactful and whose costs are extremely reasonable.

I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Fun Sketched Birthday

Hello everyone,

I've made another niece's Birthday card today. I, of course, want girly, girly, girly so I decided to use Friday's Just For Fun monochromatic colour challenge and today's Card Positioning Systems sketch as jumping off points.

The purple papers are all part of an unknown stash that I've had for years. The image is Stampin' Up Happy Moments and is stamped in a scrap of Very Vanilla. The ribbon is Crafts from the dollar store. The solid purple horizontal strip is punched with Martha Stewart's Rain Drop edge punch. The entire card is highlighted with Lavender Stickles.

Next to clean and simple cards, I love monochromatic cards. I like the results from blending multiple shades of the same colour. I think this surely is a girly enough card for my niece now I only hope she likes purple.

Please enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Just Us Girls Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's card just didn't want to be made. Every element was difficult. Some elements took multiple attempts before I got it right. I hate it when this happens.

It all started with today's Just Us Girls Saturday Challenge which is a sketch I found interesting.

The background is Stampin' Up Rose Red textured with Sizzix Eyelet and highlighted with Fruit Punch Stickles. The patterned layer is BasicGrey Sugar Rush. The focal image is layered on a scrap of Rose Red and Close To My Heart Colonial White. The image is Stampin' Up Pretty Amazing. The metal flowers are of unknown origin from my crafting stash. I bought them years ago to enhance some framing. The ribbon is Michael's Special Value. The buttons are Karen Foster Riviera Button Brads. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings.

I'm still working on Birthday cards for my nieces. I wanted this to be exceptionally girly so I used the BasicGrey paper as a jumping off point. I think where I went wrong is that I used too many elements and got caught up in trying to bring it all together in a cohesive fashion. Still, I do finally like this card. Once I pulled out the metal flowers, it came together beautifully. I know my niece will like it.

I hope you enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Sketched Birthday

Hello everyone,

Within the next couple of weeks three of my four nieces will celebrate birthdays as will my brother. My daughter's and my father-in-law's birthdays have just passed. It is birthday cards all around at I SPI. Believe it or not, a similar thing happens at the end of September and beginning of October.

I've been looking at a number of new challenges over the past couple of weeks and today's card is inspired by one of these finds. Friday Sketchers provided a really interesting sketch that I thought I could use for my niece's card.

The card base is from Recollections. The purple layer is Quickutz Tropical. The yellow layer is Stampin' Up Barely Banana which is textured with Cuttlebug's Happy Birthday folder. The printed paper is DCWV Birthday as is the green scalloped circle and the letters. The image is from Inkadinkado stamped on a scrap of white Recollections card stock.

I like this card. It is so very sweet for a young girl. I love all the different shapes and colours. It makes this a fun card as it should be. I know Bailey will love it.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Five Challenge Card II

Hello everyone,

Nothing thrills me more than to be able to make more than one card in a single day especially when it happens on a weekday. Against my norm, I decided I would craft a card that fulfills multiple challenges and by that I mean more than three. I don't do this all that often because I find that it can become more about fulfilling the challenges than crafting the card and then I'm not all that happy with the final card. Unfortunately, or fortunately, there are so many really wonderful challenges out there so it can be really hard to limit myself and I do end up missing some really great challenges. It's such a tough life.

The challenges which inspired this card are:

Diva Coffee Break Designs - sketch

Crafty Creations - black and white with a pop of red

Quixotic Challenges - an animal or a gift for an animal

My Time To Craft - a wild animal

Tuesday Taggers - texture

The card base is Recollections. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Basic Black, Real Red and glossy. The background layer is textured with Sizzix Retro Squares. The ribbon in Michael's special value. The image is Local King Rubber Stamp Panda Bear 4. The sentiment is Waltzingmouse Say It With Style.

I'm quite pleased with this card. I love black and white and red together. I also think that the simplicity of the sketch is what makes it all pop. I don't think I would have attempted to use so many challenges on one card if pandas didn't suit the colour scheme so well.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Simply Celebrate

Hello everyone,

I so loved yesterday's card that I just had to try another. I did change things up just a tad however it is still inspired by a couple of challenges, Simplicity's (repetition) and CAS-tastic (sentiment focused). This card also fits Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge which was for a one-layer card.

The card base is Recollections. The sentiment, Stampin' Up Warm Words, is stamped in Elegant Eggplant. The image is Verve Thankful Accents. Both the sentiment and images are highlighted with Close To My Heart Bitty Sparkles.

The same, yet different. This is one of those designs that I could keep doing over and over and over. I'm not going to though or, if I do, I promise not to post them.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Simply Forever

Hello everyone,

Clean and Simple does not mean quick and easy! Today's card took four attempts before it actually worked. I wanted to use both the One-Layer Wednesday challenge (repetition) from Simplicity and today's CAS-tastic Challenge (sentiment focussed) for this card. It wasn't an issue of combining the two challenges, they worked wonderfully together, more it was getting everything straight and even, without any additional smudge marks.


The card base is from Recollections. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Wonderful Words II. The image is Waltzingmouse Say It With Style. The ink is Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay. The embellishments are Crafts Gem Chic from the dollar store.

This is, to me, the epitome of a clean and simple card. I just love it! I could probably repeat it in a dozen different colours and be just as pleased with each card. It was not an easy card though. You cannot eye-ball this layout. It really does require the patience of something like a Stamp-a-ma-jig. I can't describe this card without mentioning the pearls. Until I thought to add them, this card was really very ho-hum but the pearls turned this card into something I can wow about. Though I made this card with a wedding in mind, imagine it as a set of thank you cards. It would be awesome!

I would be remiss if I didn't mention today's photo. I've always had major problems photographing clean and simple cards. My camera just doesn't like white space. As I was surfing, I came across a blog (sorry I don't remember which one) in which the card maker photographed against a coloured background as per Susan Raihala's Simplicity blog. I decided to give that a try tonight and it worked perfectly. It is a great tip that I will endeavor to share with every clean and simple card I post.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Beautiful Butterflies

Hello everyone,

Today's card was made for the most recent Embellish Magazine Color Challenge to make a card using Kraft, Green and Black as well as butterflies. I had some fun and put together this card.

I made the card with Stampin' Up Kraft cardstock. The green background layer is DCWV textured jewel cardstock. The black layer is Stampin' Up Basic Black which was punched with the Martha Stewart Optic Drop edge punch. The butterflies were stamped in VersaMark on vellum then heat embossed with Close To My Heart black embossing powder. The image is Technique Tuesday BoHo Buzz and was coloured with Faber-Castell PITT artist pens. The embellishments are Kiwi Oregon Raindrops.

I really love this card. The butterflies turned out so much better than I anticipated. The hardest part was cutting them out. I don't know if you can tell from the photo but the butterfly wings are not adhered so it is quite three-dimensional.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle