All Vertical

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another masculine inspired card.

The printed papers are of unknown origin layered on Bazzill grey.  The images are Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge, Work of Art and Timeless Textures stamped in Stampin' Up Brocade Blue, Bordering Blue and Smoky Slate, and Altenew Caribbean Sky on a white of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Rubbernecker Happy Birthday stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on more white of unknown origin.  The silver strip on the image panel is Close To My Heart Silver Foil Tape.  The image panel also includes five dots of Silver Pearl Liquid Pearls.

This donated printed paper was particularly inspiring as I loved the colours and the pattern.  It seemed obvious to me that it was perfect for a masculine birthday card.  The elements all went vertical (although they could easily have been horizontal) because I chose this simple vertical Rubbernecker sentiment.  A great result.

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

Gisèle

Patterned Thanks

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another card crafted for our annual charity card sale.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Bazzill Bitter Chocolate.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up So Very Much stamped in Early Espresso and Close To My Heart Sunset on a vanilla of unknown origin.  The embellishments are Michael's Yellow Pop Metal Studs.

This is a super simple card with three layers, a fabulous sentiment and a few embellishments.  My girlfriends and I make a lot of cards (I mean dozens upon dozens) for this sale so keeping them quick and easy to craft is key.  I love using a strong sentiment such as this because it packs a lot of punch.  Any time I go through the donated supplies I am so inspired by many of the gems I find.  This particular printed paper is certainly not one which I would have purchased but it worked perfectly for this rather masculine card.

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

Gisèle

Vintage Anniversary

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a card crafted for an annual charity card sale at work.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on a vanilla also of unknown origin and a Bazzill green.  The image is Stampin' Up Creative Elements stamped in Close To My Heart Slate on more vanilla of unknown origin and highlighted with Diamond Stickles.  The sentiment is Verve Love Story stamped in Altenew Grapevine.

One of our fantastic local scrapbooking stores, Crop A While, puts aside boxes of leftover supplies which I sort through for bits and pieces that I can use for these cards.  Anything I can't make use of, I donate to a number of local charities and children's groups.  These donated supplies make a huge difference and their generosity leaves me speechless.  All the paper elements of this card were found among the treasures they passed along.  I thought the vintage elegance of this printed paper would make a lovely, if pretty simple, anniversary card.

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

Gisèle

Much Love

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the valentine I crafted for my daughter.

The printed papers are BoBunny Crush layered on Recollections Black and Bazzill red.  The image is Inkadinkado Stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well Scripted stamped in Close To My Heart Tulip on Recollections White.  The embellishment is Kaisercraft Heart Sparkles.

There is something about this little panda that I can't resist.  My daughter is a huge panda fan and it was a lot of fun to incorporate this little guy into her valentine.  I thought it was particularly inspiring to affix the sparkly heart embellishment in just the perfect spot.  I really love the mix of patterned paper.  It's busy and fun!  I think though, without the solid paper reveals, it just wouldn't work very well.

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

Gisèle

True Love

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the valentine I crafted for my own wonderful husband.

The printed paper is BoBunny Crush layered on Recollections Black.  The image/sentiments are TPC Studio Hugs & Kisses stamped in Close To My Heart Tulip on Recollections White.  The embellishments are Multicrafts.

Hubby isn't a muss or fuss type of guy at the best of times and I usually try to keep this in mind whenever I craft him a card.  In this case, I fussed it up a little more than usual.  I had hoped the silver heart studs would manly up this card but the pink and love birds couldn't really be offset.  He'll still love and appreciate his valentine but he'll be thinking, 'what the heck'?  He won't say it, but he'll think it. Ah true love!

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

Gisèle

An Asian Flair

Hello everyone,

Today's card was specially crafted for a colleague who is retiring.

The printed paper is an origami paper of unknown origin layered on Multicrafts gold, Recollections Black and Bazzill red.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Wild About Flowers stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on Bazzill red and Recollections Black.  The embellishments are Kaisercraft Black Pearls.

Crafting retirement cards always sets off mixed emotions.  Sometimes, it's really hard because you're saying goodbye but it can also be a real pleasure when you know you're crafting a card that is so utterly suited to the recipient that it will speak volumes of the esteem by which the he or she is regarded.  This is one of those cards.  This colleague will be missed, terribly missed.

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

Gisèle

Classic Hearts

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the last commissioned valentine crafted for a colleague.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Recollections White and Black.  The image is Inkadinkado Hearts stamped in Close To My Heart Tulip on Recollections White and cut with Stampin' Up's Heart punch.  The sentiment is Gina Marie All Seasons stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White.  The brad is Keepsakes Memories.

Sometimes, simple and straightforward can say so much more than one would think.  That's how I approached this particular card.  I don't know this colleague particularly well and I certainly am not aware of the type of relationship she has with her husband.  By choosing some great but subtly patterned paper in a red/white/black colour combination, I thought this card was neither too feminine or masculine.  It struck me as a classic valentine.

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

Gisèle

Sweet Hearts

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a valentine commissioned by a colleague for her daughter.

The printed paper is Kaisercraft Brenda Walton Sweet Talk Pattern Hearts layered on Recollections White and a pink Bazzill Basics.  The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs & Kisses stamped in Close To My Heart Tulip on Recollections White and layered on more pink Bazzill Basics.  The ribbon is American Crafts.

A teenage girl's valentine just screams for glitter and sparkle, and this Kaisercraft paper is all that and more.  I kept the layout simple because I didn't want to cover any of these great heart images.  I spent some time finding the right sentiment, not because of the saying, but because of the font.  I thought this one worked particularly well because the hearts have a little bit of a wonky shape.  The ribbon, well I had it in my stash and it seemed ridiculous not to use it.

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

Gisèle

Grunge Love

Hello everyone,

Today's post is one of three valentines commissioned by a colleague for her family.

The images are Stampin' Up Tie Dyed stamped in Smoky Slate and Close To My Heart Cranberry and Ruby and Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and Close To My Heart Cranberry.  The images are stamped on Recollections White and layered on Recollections Black and Close To My Heart Cranberry.  The sentiment is Avery Elle Oh Happy Day stamped in Cranberry on Recollections White and layered on Recollections Black and more Cranberry.  The embellishments are American Crafts Elements.

This card was crafted for my colleague's teenage son.  I figured he wouldn't want mushy or sweet so I went with grunge and tie dye.  It was the perfect excuse to try out the newly acquire Tie Dyed stamp set which I've decided to love.  There are a ton of possibilities that I just can't wait to try.  I decided not to use a traditional valentine sentiment on the card front, keeping in mind this card is for a teenage boy, but I did stamp a small and simple 'Happy Valentines Day' on the inside.

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

Gisèle

All Watercoloured

Hello everyone,

Today's card uses the last of the purple Altenew Watercolor Wonders elements that I've crafted over the past few weeks.

The images are Altenew Watercolor Wonders stamped in Deep Iris, Forest Glades, Frayed Leaf, Lavender Fields, Mango Smoothie, Soft Lilac, and Close To My Heart Topiary on Recollections White, cut with the coordinating die, and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The images are layered on LuminArte Twinkling H2Os painted watercolour paper, a mirrored silver of unknown origin and purple Bazzill.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages stamped in Altenew Deep Iris.

This is my least favourite of these purple Watercolor Wonders cards.  The sentiment used is too small in scale for the size of the flowers and it's too far down on the card.  I would have been better off using a sentiment with a stronger font in black ink.  I debated covering it up with a new sentiment on a separate panel but I didn't like how it worked with the die cut images.  This still isn't a bad card and sometimes, you just have to live with things.

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

Gisèle