Bright Birthday Layers

Hello everyone,

Today's card is for the wife of one of my husband's colleagues.  Both of them are really wonderful and I loved crafting a card he could give her.

The printed paper is BoBunny A Gift of Love layered on Stampin' Up Lavender Lace, Taken With Teal and Lucky Limeade.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart For Every Occasion stamped in Lavender Lace on Whisper White.  The card was highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The embellishments are Crafts Gem Chic and Recollections Adhesive Rhinestones.

This is one of my most favourite papers.  The colour combination and design are so very appealing.  I've used it before but try not to use really large pieces because I want it to last as long as possible.  I seem to have a thing going for layered squares at the moment.  Not sure why but it is working for me for the time being.

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

Gisèle

Guys Goodbye

Hello everyone,

While I'm on a role with commissioned cards, I may as well keep plowing ahead.  Today's card is for a colleague whose boss is moving on and he wanted a card for the office to sign.

The printed papers are BasicGrey Oliver layered on Stampin' Up Basic Black.  The sentiment is Gina K Pleasant Plurals stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper White and layered on more BasicGrey Oliver.  The brads are of unknown origin.

The recipient of this card works on computers and I thought the design on this paper reflected that in a somewhat abstract fashion.  I don't know the recipient at all though the colleague who commissioned this cards always comes to see me for this kind of thing.  I think this is a perfect 'guy' card, especially for a boss.

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

Gisèle

Terrifically Thankful

Hello everyone,

This is the final card in my latest thank you card series that a girlfriend commissioned for her son's daycare.

The printed papers are DCWV The Green Stack layered on Stampin' Up Dusty Durango and Crumb Cake.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Thank You Messages stamped in Dusty Durango on Very Vanilla.  The embellishments are Oregon Raindrops.

I love this perky little beaver.  He and his cast of characters show up throughout this paper pack and are really irresistible.  I know this cartoon-like images are not to everyone's taste but I find them great for all the thank you cards I've crafted for the daycare.

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

Gisèle

Skunked Special

Hello everyone,

This is the second last card in my latest thank you card series.

The printed paper is DCWV The Green Stack layered on Stampin' Up Basic Black and DCWV Textured Brights.  The sentiment is Purple Sky Limited stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper White.  The card is highlighted with White Opal Liquid Pearls.  The embellishments are Crafts which I jazzed up with more White Opal Liquid Pearls.

Obviously I've raided my DCWV Green Stack of paper for these cards.  This set of papers are just wonderful and so great for youthful cards.  This skunk is a case in point - it is too cute!  I never thought I'd be crafting a card with a skunk focal point.

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

Gisèle

Many Thankful Birdies

Hello everyone,

Today's card is just so sweet and happy!

The printed papers are DCWV The Green Stack layered on Stampin' Up Certainly Celery.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Wacky Wishes stamped in Early Espresso on Whisper White and layered on more Certainly Celery.  The embellishments are Oregon Raindrops.

I think these birds are just to darn cute!  This is another really cheerful card in this series.  It is just right for a daycare worker.  I really didn't embellish as much as I could have as with paper this 'strong', there was no need.

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

Gisèle

Cute and Easy

Hello everyone,

Only a few cards left in the thank you card series a girlfriend commissioned.

The printed paper is DCWV The Green Stack layered on Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery, and DCWV textured pastels.  The sentiment is Verve stamped in Nick Bantock Charcoal Grey on Whisper White and layered on Stampin' Up Certainly Celery.  The embellishments are My Mind's Eye Collectable "Handsome" enamel dots.

This card was so quick and easy it was silly.  As I came across this sheet in the paper pad, I just knew it would be great for one of these cards.  It was just a matter of cutting it in such a way that these little critters became the focus.  It is so great when such a cute card comes together so easily.

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

Gisèle

Boys, Boys, Boys

Hello everyone,

Today's card is another in this latest thank you card series.

The printed paper is My Mind's Eye Boy Crazy layered on Stampin' Up textured Real Red and Crushed Curry.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Thank You Messages stamped in Tangerine Tango on Very Vanilla.  The embellishments are My Mind's Eye Collectable "Cute" enamel dots.

I think this is some of the most awesome boy paper I've come across in a long time.  It is everything great about boys.  I love the somewhat wonky images and the colours are fantastic.  I didn't add much extra to this card so it wouldn't take anything away from this great paper!

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

Gisèle

Veggie Thanks

Hello everyone,

This is the next card in the thank you card series commissioned by a girlfriend.

The printed paper is Jillibean Soup Fresh Vegetable Soup "Baby Carrots" layered on Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade and Ruby Red.  The sentiment is Serendipity stamped in Ruby Red on Very Vanilla and layered on more Ruby Red and Lucky Limeade.  The embellishments is Crafts.

The little guy on whose behalf these cards have been crafted tells the chef at his daycare each morning that he loves peppers.  When I found this paper, how could I not make the chef's thank you card with it.  I picked up these brads at the dollar store years ago but they have these horrible epoxy stickers that I removed and replaced it with a piece of the printed paper!  It turned out great!  I think the chef and the little guy will just love this card.

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

Gisèle

Senators Sparkle

Hello everyone,

Today's commissioned thank you card is for an Ottawa Senators hockey fan.

The printed paper is atd Holiday Cheer layered on Stampin' Up Basic Black.  The butterflies are Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White and Basic Black glittered with Crystal Glitter Ritz cool highlight microfine glitter.  The butterflies are affixed to a strip of Bazzill that was run through a crimper.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Thank You Messages stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are TPC Studio Class Act mini jewels and Queen & Co Boy Rhinestone Trios.

This is a card in which the photo just doesn't do it justice.  A Christmas paper pack is a strange place to find a printed paper for a thank you card but this subtle red paper is just the right 'Sens' red.  As soon as my girlfriend mentioned that this card was going to an Ottawa Senators hockey fan who lead the 'butterfly' group, I knew I'd craft this card.  I can't wait to find out how she likes it.

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

Gisèle

Cheery Thanks

Hello everyone,

Today's post is for one of seven thank you cards commissioned by one of my girlfriends.

The printed and yellow papers are of unknown origin.  The blue layer is Stampin' Up Bordering Blue.  The sentiment is Verve Celebration of Thanks stamped in Bordering Blue on Whisper White.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Green Epoxy Bubbles.

This series of thank you cards is for my girlfriends day care.  I've done a number of series for her in the past and have always favoured child-like themes.  I don't have any really appropriate paper on hand so I decided to stick with some colourful and cheery paper.  This is such a happy card it works perfectly and I know it will be perfect for my girlfriend.

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

Gisèle

Special Day

Hello everyone,

One of my girlfriends has commissioned a number of cards.  Today's wedding card is the first.

The printed paper is Autumn Leaves Emily layered on Stampin' Up Elegant Eggplant.  The image is Stampin' Up Always Elegant stamped in Elegant Eggplant on Whisper White and layered on more Elegant Eggplant.  The sentiment is Stampendous Special Messages also stamped in Elegant Eggplant on Whisper White and layered on Elegant Eggplant.  The embellishments are Jolee's All That Bling Pearls and Close To My Heart Bitty Pearl Opaques.

My girlfriend said the wedding colours were purple and yellow.  I could get my head around one colour or the other but not both together.  I decided to stick with purple as I think it is a wonderful colour for a wedding card.  I love how the image compliments the printed paper so beautifully.  And what about all those pearls!!!!

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

Gisèle

You Will Be Missed

Hello everyone,

A very, very dear friend is retiring.  I will miss her tremendously.

The printed paper is BasicGrey Wisteria layered on Stampin' Up Soft Suede.  The image is Close To My Heart Adore stamped in Bording Blue on Very Vanilla and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The image is layered on Soft Suede.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped in Early Espresso on Very Vanilla.  The ribbon is Crafts.  The embellishments are Jolees All That Bling.

I love this card.  It is perfect for my girlfriend, who is also a cardmaker.  We have some wonderful times talking and sharing about this marvelous hobby.  I know that, even though I won't see her at the office, we'll always find ways to share our love of cardmaking.

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

Gisèle

Where's The Goof?

Hello everyone,

Today's card uses one of the card bases that I messed up yesterday.

The card base is Recollections.  The images are Impression Obsession Large Flourishes stamped in Close To My Heart Twilight and highlighted with Platinum Liquid Pearls.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado also stamped in Twilight on Stampin' Up Very Vanilla and layered on Twilight.  The border is punched from Twilight paper with Martha Stewart's Infinite Loop punch.

As much as I wasn't too fussy about yesterday's card, I just love this card.  I smooshed one of the image impressions.  It was right at the edge of the card base and couldn't be covered up so I cut it off.  I actually used the cut off for yesterday's sentiment.  To ensure the card will actually stand, I added the punched element.  This all worked so wonderfully, I wish every goofed card worked out this well.

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

Gisèle

Paisley Blues

Hello everyone,

I was just going to make a quick and easy card tonight.  I've been home sick and today was my first day back at the office so I'm rather drained.  This card took an hour and a half and three card bases.  I shouldn't have thought about it quite so much!

The printed paper is BasicGrey Two Scoops Spumoni layered on Close To My Heart Heavenly Blue and Twilight.  The images are Impression Obsession Large Flourishes stamped in Twilight ink and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Twilight ink on Recollections and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

I was really in the mood for some paisley tonight.  I've crafted a similar card before and was really pleased with the results.  This card is not as light and airy as the earlier card but it is still pretty.  Tomorrow's card will be crafted from one of the card bases that I goofed!

Happy Father's Day

Hello everyone,

A bunch of cardmaking friends got together for a mini crop yesterday and I was so tired by the end of the day, I couldn't manage a post.

I have my husband's Father's Day card today.

The paper is Stampin' Up Basic Black, Ruby Red, Basic Grey, and Bazzill Basics.  The sentiment is Kaisercraft Occasions stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Bazzill Basics.  The images are Sandylion Golfing stickers.

As I've said many times before, my husband is a true golf fanatic.  I love crafting these 'golf' cards for him.  This card I find particularly appealing with the grey, red and black.  The epoxy golf ball stickers add that little extra without that make this card fun.  One of these days I'll have to actually buy some golf stamps to use.

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

Gisèle

Father's Feathered Friend

Hello everyone,

I couldn't resist a little sponging for my own father's card.

The image is Stampin' Up Asian Artistry heat embossed on glossy paper and layered on Whisper White, River Rock and another sponged layer.  The inks are Mellow Moss, Baja Breeze, Bermuda Bay, Bordering Blue, Crumb Cake, Taken With Teal, and Tempting Turquoise.  The bird was coloured with Tombow 373.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped in Early Espresso.

I love this card.  The sponged ink technique in the two different colours are fantastic!  I can't wait to try it with different colours.  I love how the little bird really pops.

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

Gisèle

Father's Day Green

Hello everyone,

The next few cards are for the special fathers in our family.  Today's is for my father-in-law.

The printed paper is Generations Primary Color Collection layered on Recollections.  The images are Karen Foster Men's Tee time cardstock stickers.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up All Holidays stamped in Glorious Green on Whisper White.

These particular stickers are a real challenge.  I don't know what I was thinking when I bought them.  The scale is rather large for cards and the bright green and yellow are tough to match.  I think this card worked out pretty well.  Not a favourite card by any means but it will work.

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

Gisèle

Doubled Pinwheel

Hello everyone,

One of my cardmaking friends sent me a link for this double pinwheel card and I just had to give it a try.

The printed paper is K&Company Jubilee and another of unknown origin affixed to Gina K Pure Luxury white cardstock.  The pinwheel is layered on Stampin' Up Certainly Celery and Pink Pirouette.  The Certainly Celery layer is textured with Sizzix Small Dots texture pad.  The ribbon is Celebrate It Sheer Creations.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Say It All stamped in Wild Wasabi ink on Whisper White.  The embellishment is My Mind's Eye Remarkable "Handsome" enamel dots.

I've crafted a number of single pinwheel cards but was just so amazed by this double pinwheel I had to figure it out.  I love, love, love the results.  This is not a new idea as the post from which I cased this element is from 2010 but my girlfriend just sent it to me yesterday.  The original actually has double layers which I'll need to figure out next because it is incredible!  Oh the possibilities!

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

Gisèle

Heartfelt Blooms

Hello everyone,

I've decided I had one more sympathy card left.

The card base is Bazzill.  The image is Hero Arts Exotic Blooms, coloured in Tombow N57, 098 and 837 markers, stamped on Stampin' Up Whisper White, and layered on Bravo Burgundy.  The sentiment is Gina K Block Greetings stamped in Early Espresso ink.

I don't think I've ever gone so long without using a stitch of printed paper.  I intended to use this image on one of the sponged cards but didn't get around to it before I decided you'd probably have had enough of the series.  I had this card base sitting on my desk because there is glaring blue ink smooshed under the image.  Putting it all together seemed like the right thing to do.

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

Gisèle

Wonderful Wings

Hello everyone,

I saved the absolute best sponged card in this series for last!

The card base is Recollections.  The sponged stripe is Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Orchid Opulence, Pale Plum and Pink Pirouette.  The image is Heartfelt Creations Butterfly Medley stamped in Soft Suede and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The sentiment is Hero Arts also stamped in Soft Suede.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Bitty Sparkles.

This is the stamp that I inadvertently stamped upside down on yesterday's card.  I just had to do try again because even upside down it was amazing!  These are pretty new stamps in my stash.  I'm glad I couldn't resist.  There is a coordinating butterfly die but I didn't want to cover up this thing of beauty. 

I could have easily kept going with this technique but a week's worth is plenty for the moment.  I do have a few ideas that I'd like to try so stay tuned!

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

Gisèle

Gorgeously Glittering

Hello everyone,

This card is actually a cover-up.  The image underneath the square element is upside down.  I hate it when that happens!

The card base is Recollections.  The sponged stripe is Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Orchid Opulence, Pale Plum and Pink Pirouette.  The square element is BasicGrey June Bug layered on Pink Pirouette.  The butterfly is a Spellbinders Wings of Hope die cut from Apricot Appeal and glittered with Glitter Ritz Warm Highlight Microfine Transparent glitter.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado Expressions stamped in Soft Suede.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Pearl Opaques.

For such a stupid error, the cover-up turned out wonderfully!  This photo, as with many of my photos, really doesn't do this beautiful butterfly justice.  The glitter is fantastic!  The pearls could have easily been sparkle but I didn't want to overdo it!

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

Gisèle

Dreamy Dandelion

Hello everyone,

I've decided I've enough sponged sympathy cards so I've crafted a few birthday cards.

The card base is Bazzill.  The sponged stripe is Stampin' Up Baja Breeze and River Rock.  The image is Hero Arts Dandelion stamped in Early Espresso.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 10 also stamped in Early Espresso.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Pearl Opaques.

I wanted to try this technique on a textured card base.  I love the results though I should have been more patient with the sponging as the sponge marks are more visible than I'd like.  I thought the light font of the sentiment worked really well with the image.  The few pearls added just the right amount of balance.

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

Gisèle

Perfect Poppies

Hello everyone,

I think this is one of my favourite so far.

The card base is Recollections.  The stripe is Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, River Rock and Soft Suede, and Vintage Photo Ranger Distress Ink.  The image is Stampendous Poppy Stems stamped in Early Espresso and painted with LuminArte Poppy Red Twinkling H2Os.  The sentiment is Gina K Garden Silhouettes also stamped in Early Espresso.

I love this card.  The earthy background and these beautiful bright poppies are just awesome together!  I know I shouldn't be excited about sympathy cards but these are just turning out beautifully.

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

Gisèle

Autumn Leaf

Hello everyone,

Today's post is all about the Fall colours.

The card base is Recollections.  The sponged stripe is Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Really Rust, River Rock and Tangerine Tango, and Vintage Photo Ranger Distress Ink.  The image is Hero Arts Leaf Flourish stamped in Vintage Photo Ranger Distress Ink and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll ink.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Everyday Sayings.

This is a wonderfully clean and simple card.  I just had to see how this sponging technique worked with autumnal colours.  I wasn't disappointed.  It has so much depth and is really rich looking.  This technique does take a lot of patience as the sponging has to be layered slowly otherwise it's really blotchy - I learned that by trial and error.

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

Gisèle

All Natural

Hello everyone,

Today I'm posting another sponged sympathy card.

The card base is Recollections.  The sponged stripe is Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Marina Mist and Soft Suede.  The image is Penny Black Inclinations stamped in Early Espresso.  The sentiment is Gina K Fanciful Tags also stamped in Early Espresso.  The embellishments are Martha Stewart Pastel Mini Pearls.

I love the naturalness of this card.  This is a great corner stamp and works perfectly with this sponged effect.  I hadn't intended to use any embellishments on this series of cards because I want them to be really clean and simple but this card just cried out for these pearls.

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

Gisèle

Sweet Sympathy

Hello everyone,

I'm still posting the wonderful sponged cards I did last week.

The card base is Recollections.  The inked stripe is Stampin' Up Bashful Blue and Pale Plum.  The image is Memory Box Leaf Print Butterfly stamped in Color Box ink on Whisper White and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The sentiment is Verve Forever In Our Hearts stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

The background may be a little harsher than I intended but it contrasts really well against the butterfly.  You can't tell by the photo but the sentiment is just a titch crooked.  I used my stamp-a-ma-jig too and that just irritates the heck out me.

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

Gisèle

Quick and Easy

Hello everyone,

I'm away on holidays for the next week and put together these quick and easy series to feed the blog.

The card base is Recollections.  The band was inked with Stampin' Up Baja Breeze and River Rock.  The image is Memory Box Cattail Birds.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado.  Both the image and sentiment were stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

I receive blog updates from a dozen or so card markers each day.  Whenever I find a card particularly inspiring, I save it.  Unfortunately, I can't remember from whose blog I saved the card that I've cased here.  I really love the sponged effect and have made a series of sympathy cards using this type of bold strip.  As much as I love using printed paper, this simple technique is awesome!

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

Gisèle

Glittered Goodness

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the last of my niece's birthday cards.  I was glittered inspired.

The printed paper is DCWV Glitter Stack layered on Stampin' Up Barely Banana.  The sentiment is Stampendous Graceful Birthday stamped in Lavender Lace on Whisper White and layered on Lavender Lace and Barely Banana.  The flower was punched from Barely Banana then glittered with Stickles Yellow Dry Fine Glitter.  The embellishments are ZVA Self Adhesive Jewels and TPC Studio So Delish mini jewels.  The ribbon is Sheer Creations affixed to a strip of Whisper White and Barely Banana.

I was completely inspired by the wonderful flowers on this great paper.  I used some more ribbon because it balance the flower and sentiment so well.  This is actually one of my favourite ribbons, a rainbow colour that doesn't photograph as well as it shows in reality.  The white underneath helps the subtle colours in the ribbon match the printed paper really well.

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

Gisèle

Perfectly Purple

Hello everyone,

This is the birthday card for one of my nieces.

The printed paper is DCWV Birthday layered on Stampin' Up Whisper White and more DCWV Birthday.  The butterfly is a Sizzix Beautiful Butterflies die cut from Stampin' Up Lovely Lilac that was glittered with Martha Stewart Charoite glitter.  The ribbon is Offray.  The sentiment is Stampendous Retro Happy Birthday stamped in Elegant Eggplant on Whisper White.  The embellishments are Stampin' Up Basic Jewel Rhinestones.

I've always loved this butterfly and when glittered, it's even more spectacular.  I've used more ribbon in my last few cards than I have in months and months.  I don't know why I don't use it more often because it really does add something wonderful to a card.  This particular ribbon glitters a lot more than the photo shows and works great with the butterfly.

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

Gisèle