Indian Inspired

Hello everyone,

Today's card is for one of my bosses.  He's wonderful to work with and I wanted to show him some appreciation on his birthday.

The printed papers are layers of BasicGrey Ambrosia.  The sentiment is Denami Design Upright Happy Birthday stamped in Close To My Heart Sunset on more Ambrosia.  The embellishments are Black Licorice Oregon Raindrops.

My boss heritage is Indian so I decided to craft something in those warm tones.  It was a bit of challenge to keep it from becoming too frou frou but my boss is a pretty confident man so I'm fairly certain he can handle it.  I also figured with the grey card base and the hints of black, there is some balance that tones it all down a little bit.  I think this is better than I envisioned and I'm pretty certain it will be well received.

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

Gisèle

The Blues

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a way of telling someone they'll saying you'll pull through even if life's a mess.

The images are Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge stamped in Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Bordering Blue and Brocade Blue, and Close To My Heart Twilight.  The sentiment is Avery Elle Brushed stamped in Midnight Muse.  The embellishments are Denim Oregon Raindrops.

I've done a similar card in the past but not on a single layer.  It's a rather messy card but the strong, bold sentiment rises above the mess just as the sentiment rises above the 'grunge'.  I wanted to change up the colours from all the green I've been stamping this past week so turned to the multitude of blue inks my stash.  This card is so out of my comfort zone but I also find it quite appealing.  I'm at a loss to explain why.

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

Gisèle

A Masculine Bent

Hello everyone,

I've really enjoyed crafting the last few over stamped cards.  They are not always as easy as they look!

The background image is Stampin' Up You've Got This stamped in Close To My Heart Slate of Very Vanilla and layered on Recollections Kraft.  The top image is Hero Arts Pop Stems stamped in Mossy Meadow.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Say It All stamped in Early Espresso.  The embellishments are Moss Oregon Raindrops.

The whole purpose behind this series of cards what to craft some that are a little more on the masculine side.  I think this one worked particularly well.  I'm particularly fond of the Slate ink.  I love it's grey tone.  In this particular case though, I wish I'd pre-stamped because the impression is a little darker than I'd envisioned.  It's not at all bad as the top stamp, in Mossy Meadow, shows up just fine.  This still took a couple of tries to get right but I've got some more ideas for other cards.

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

Gisèle

Bloomin' Beautiful

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a CASE (Copy And Share Everything) of the card I crafted yesterday.  There was much less angst in today's creative effort!

The background image is Stampin' Up You've Got This stamped in Pear Pizzazz.  The focal images are Stampin' Up Summer Silhouettes stamped in Always Artichoke and Wild Wasabi, and Close To My Heart Ponderosa Pine, Topiary, Pomegranate and Ruby.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Too Kind stamped in Ruby.  The embellishment is Martha Stewart.

I'm much more happy with this card given it took but a single attempt.  Some of the stamp impressions are a little off and a titch smooshed but I can absolutely live with it.  I do love the different shades of green and the red really pops!  The metal butterfly works wonderfully with the vanilla background.  This is one card I could craft over and over again and frankly, I just might!

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

Gisèle

Shades of Green

Hello everyone,

After taking a bit of a weekend break, I thought it would be smooth sailing as I crafted today.  Not so much really!

The background image is Stampin' Up Watercolor Wash stamped in Pearl Pizzazz.  The focal image is Stampin' Up Just Believe stamped in Mossy Meadow on Very Vanilla and layered on more Very Vanilla.  The sentiment is Sweet Essentials stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are Doodlebug Mini Pearls.

My original plan was to use a kraft card base and over stamp the image over the background then heat emboss in white.  After two attempts, I had to change my plan.  This is the fourth attempt because the image panel is actually a cover-up because I totally smooshed the sentiment.  I loved the concept but my executive was way off.  I think it has been salvaged fairly well.  I love the idea and I'm going to try again - I just have to figure out how to make it work.

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

Gisèle

Five Shapes

Hello everyone,

This week's posts have all been about replenishing my card stash and I think I managed to craft some pretty decent masculine cards.

The printed papers are We R Memory Keepers Precious Metal Coppered Out Argyle and Tiles layered on Close To My Heart Chocolate and Grey Wool.  The sentiment is Bonnidee French Wording #1 stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso on Very Vanilla and layered on more Chocolate.  The embellishments are Fabricland.

I know that you're not necessarily supposed to layer patterns but I quite liked this exception.  Both papers are from the same company and collection and I think that's one of the reasons this works.  Also, one of the patterns is quite a bit smaller than the other.  I think the colours are utterly perfect for masculine cards and I've used these papers many times for this exact purpose.  I particularly like that there are rectangle, square, diamond and circle elements and they all work so very well together.

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

Gisèle

On The Diagonal

Hello everyone,

I turned to my leftover papers for inspiration and got more than I bargained for with this particular piece.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin' Up Whisper White and Real Red.  The triangle element is layers of Real Red and Basic Black.  The sentiment is Avery Elle Oh Happy Day stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

I recently crafted a music inspired retirement card so this scrap of black and white guitar paper caught my attention.  It was already cut in a triangle and I thought it would make for an interesting layout.  I had to do a bit of trimming and though I couldn't figure out how to keep the triangle shape, I don't mind the straight edge.  I love how the red pops with the black and white.  I think the sentiment on the diagonal is pretty sharp and I've already been thinking about how I can repeat it.

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

Gisèle

Dots, Dots And More Dots

Hello everyone,

Today's masculine congratulations card is all about the dots.

The printed paper is BoBunny Detour Dots layered on Close To My Heart printed papers papers of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Bonnidee French Wording #1 stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso on Very Vanilla and layered on more Close To My Heart.  The banners are stamped from Recollections Red.  The embellishments are from Fabricland.

I didn't buy this paper for the dots but for the map images on the reverse however, now that I've used it on a card, I'm loving it!  These dots are great!  I could use it for a variety of cards.  I stuck to a favourite layout because I didn't want to cover up too many of the dots.  I found this scrap of red in my stash and it coordinates absolutely perfectly with the red in the printed paper.  I also could have chosen blues or creams - next time.

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

Gisèle

Botanical Happiness

Hello everyone,

As I was choosing yesterday's paper, I saw this piece with a butterfly and was inspired.

The printed paper is Momenta Denise Urban layered on Close To My Heart Chocolate.  The image is Stampin' Up Both Way Blossoms stamped in StazOn Timber Brown on Recollections Vanilla and painted with LuminArte Bolivian Blue, Carribean Mist and Olive Vine.  The image is layered on more Chocolate.  The sentiment is Avery Elle So Happy stamped in StazOn Timber Brown and layered on more Chocolate.  The card is highlighted with Wink of Stella Clear 999 and Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

Even though I don't stamp this image all that often, I really like it.  The clean lines and height are really appealing.  It took me a while to find paint colours to coordinate with the butterfly and they're still much brighter than I'd hoped.  I like the sentiment placement over the flower but could have easily placed a ribbon here instead.  Notwithstanding my 'criticisms', it's a great card.

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

Gisèle

Botanical Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a sympathy card to augment my stash.

The printed paper is Momenta Denise Urban layered on Recollections Kraft.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Thanks For Caring stamped in Early Espresso on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Kraft.  The ribbon is Crafts.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Mocha Opaques.

I tend to go through more sympathy cards than any other type of card.  My crafting mojo is still lagging somewhat so I turned to this great Momenta paper for inspiration.  I love these botanical styled lilacs and thought it would work well with this particular sentiment.  This is a very feminine card with all the elements coming together beautifully.

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

Gisèle

Gone Golfing

Hello everyone,

Father's Day is just around the corner and I'm actually quite pleased I didn't leave my husband's card until the last minute.

The background papers are Stampin' Up Bashful Blue and Glorious Green.  The images are Me & My Big Ideas Soft Spoken stickers.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Delightful Dozen stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

The most complicated aspect of this card was actually basket weaving the paper strips straight!  Who knew! And there is just so much more which could be said...  With my husband being such as avid golfer, I have a pretty decent stash of golf stickers on hand.  In fact, I actually had two packages of these, one I started using previously.  I decided to use up the rest of one of the packages to ease my guilty conscience.  In fact, all the background strips are leftovers too.  Hubby won't have a clue!

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

Gisèle

Doodled Garden

Hello everyone,

Today's post is my brother's birthday card.

The printed paper is Momenta Amylee Weeks layered on Recollections Black.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well Scripted stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper White and layered on more Recollections Black and Whisper White.  The ribbon is Hobby Lobby.  The brad is of unknown origin.

This is one of my most favourite colour combinations.  The paper may be a little on the feminine side but I'm obsessed with my brother's gardening interest and I thought this paper was quite apt.  Another appeal of this paper is that the images are doodled and my brother is a champion doodler.  I'm pretty sure he'll like his card.

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

Gisèle

Sympathy Blooms

Hello everyone,

I'm using up another image that has been in my stash for eons.

The image is Magenta stamped with a variety of Stampin' Up watercolour crayons on watercolour paper and layered on Rich Razzleberry and Blackberry Bliss.  The sentiment is Gina Marie All Seasons stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on more watercolour paper.  The embellishments are Kaisercraft black pearl strips.

I so liked the Rich Razzleberry and Blackberry Bliss colour combination that I decided to repeat it for today's card, even though the flowers are more on the pink side.  I debated being more liberal with the embellishments but, even though the pearls are black, this is a sympathy card.  I'm particularly fond of this set of Gina Marie sentiments.  They are all wonderful and were totally worth the very reasonable cost.

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

Gisèle

Birthday Rose Buds

Hello everyone,

I decided as I get back into the creative and blogging swing of things, I'll try using up some more of previous stamped, painted, coloured or experimental images.

The image is Hero Arts Delicate Rose Stems stamped in StazOn Olive Green on watercolour paper and painted with a variety of LuminArte Twinkling H2Os.  The focal image is layered on Stampin' Up Rich Razzleberry and Blackberry Bliss.  The sentiment is Bonnidee French Wording #1 stamped in Blackberry Bliss.  The embellishments are Marianne Design Butterflies.

I've probably had this painted image in my stash for a couple of years now.  I'm pretty sure that I stamped and painted it when I first got into Twinkling H2Os.  Why I didn't use it back then, I've no idea.  I really like this image because it's very simple and for someone whose painting and colouring skills can be somewhat sketchy, it is perfect!  I shaded it very well and the colour didn't bleed outside the lines.  What more could a crafter ask for.

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

Gisèle

Hello Sweet Baby Boy

Hello everyone,

My girlfriend had a beautiful baby boy in April and we are finally going to meet the little fella!  Of course, he deserves a special card.

The printed is Karen Foster Stuffed With Love layered on Bazzill Bitter Chocolate.  The images are Inkadinkado Baby Animals stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso on Very Vanilla and layered on more Bitter Chocolate.  The colouring is Tombow 452.  The sticker is Recollections.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes stamped in Close To My Heart Peacock.

Today's card wasn't quite as laborious as my daughter's card but I can tell I'm out of practise.  I am utterly encouraged however and hope to ensconce myself in my studio this afternoon.  I love this stuffed animal paper.  It's perfect for a baby boy card.  I don't regret for a single second picking up this set of baby animal stamps.  I just love them!  I don't think there is card that I've crafted with this set that hasn't turned out lovely.

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

Gisèle

My Darling Daughter

Hello everyone,

I'm still here!  I've been sick since before Easter and am only now getting my feet back under me.  I'll probably be a pretty sporadic blogger over the next while as I'm determined not to put any extra pressure on myself.

Today's card was crafted for my darling daughter's 19th birthday.  I don't know quite where all the time has gone.

The printed paper is an origami paper of unknown origin layered on Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow.  The images are Stamp Magik Mini Pandas stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper White.  The ribbon is Hobby Lobby Decorative Trim.

This card was the first I'd done in a couple of weeks and it took me forever even though I had simple at the front on my mind.  Talk about lagging mojo!  I wanted something special for my daughter's 19th and for her, I can never go wrong with pandas.  This trio is particularly cute.  I thought the origami paper and black ribbon added a measure of sophistication that a young lady would appreciate.

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

Gisèle