I SPI on the Move

Hello everyone,

I SPI is moving! I SPI is moving!  I SPI is moving!

For whatever reason, later this month the Blogger platform is no longer going to support email subscriptions for blog followers.

This change caused me quite a bit of angst because though I don't have a lot of followers, I know from experience that it's much easier to have content pushed to you as opposed to having to search out new posts.  Even though I'm a pretty consistent blogger, I don't know that my followers would search out new posts.

I debated just shutting down I SPI because I've been blogging for a long time now and there are times when I'm less than enthusiastic about creating content.  I've also got some major life changes coming in the next year that will, no doubt, impact my card crafting.  That said, I really enjoy sharing my cards, my friends look forward to seeing my posts and frankly, my mother, who loves seeing my posts every day, would worry! 

I decided that my best option was to switch blogging platforms so, starting today, I SPI is now using the WordPress blogging platform.  I will attempt to migrate my active followers to the new platform but I've no idea if that will actually work.  If you want to keep following I SPI, the best thing to do is re-subscribe here or visit https://istamppaperink.wordpress.com/

I think I've selected a pretty good template for I SPI but I would appreciate any feedback you'd like to share.

Thank you so much for enjoying I SPI for all these years!  I look forward to having you I SPI at it's new home!

Gisèle

Beautiful Bicycles

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a wonderfully whimsical 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections White.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on a white and a yellow Bazzill.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more yellow Bazzill. The embellishments are Recollections epoxy stickers.

Like grey and brown, I'm not a huge fan of using yellow because it can be hard to find just the right shade.  In this case, I drew on the yellow from the bicycle baskets and was so happy with the shade that I left a larger than usual reveal.  I also decided on simple yellow dots for embellishments because I just couldn't get enough of the colour.  I could have easily coloured the banner yellow but I think it would have been just a little over the top!

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

Gisèle

Colourful Hexagons

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another great neutral 'birthday' card.

The card base is Stampin’ Up Smoky Slate.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Recollections White.  The sentiment is Rubbernecker Happy Birthday stamped in Altenew Pure Graphite on Recollections White.  The embellishments are Jolee’s All That Bling Blue Studs.

This is another great piece of printed paper! I consider it a neutral but leaning more to the masculine side.  I absolutely love the different subtle colours of the hexagons.  Grey is a colour that can be tricky but it was a pretty easy choice for this card.  I have used vertical sentiments all that frequently in this commission (don't know why) but I just love it here, sandwiched between simple silver embellishments.

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

Gisèle

Perfect Plaid Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is an awesome plaid 'birthday' card.

The card base is Stampin’ Up Early Espresso.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on a tan and white Recollections.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Hero Greetings stamped in Early Espresso on Recollections White.  The embellishments are BasicGrey Metal Studs.

I'm generally not a big fan of browns but this predominantly brown plaid paper is fabulous and makes for a great, more masculine, 'birthday' card.  I think the different shades of brown just work really well together.  The square copper embellishments placed on an angle couldn't be a better finishing touch.  It's a fantastic result!

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

Gisèle

Fabulously Feathered

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a great 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is Kaisercraft “Elegance Collection” Boho layered on Stampin’ Up Tranquil Tide.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Tranquil Tide.  The card is highlighted with Star Dust Stickles.

This is a piece of printed paper I've had in my stash for a long time.  I just couldn't resist these beautiful feathers!  I love the images against the gold background.  I've used this sentiment many panel and have often coloured the banner but in this case, I liked it well enough without any colour.  The feathers are so beautiful that I just had to use it with the 'beautiful' birthday sentiment.

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

Gisèle

Pretty Pink Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a very pretty pink 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections Vanilla Linen Texture.  The printed paper is g.c.d. Studios “Rose Colored Glasses” Tinted Flowers layered on Stampin’ Up Powder Pink.  The sentiment is Altenew Tulip stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Powder Pink.  The ribbon is Close To My Heart Cranberry Organza.  The flower embellishment is of unknown origin and is highlighted with Fruit Punch Stickles.

I think this is such a lovely 'birthday' card.  All that pink is so very feminine.  It's always fun to craft a monochromatic card!  I think the font of the sentiment works really well with the images and the black ink really makes it stand out.  The ribbon and gem flower are the perfect anchor for the sentiment panel.  It's a wonderful result!

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

Gisèle

In Pink, Grey and Black

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a wonderfully feminine 'birthday' card.

The card base is Stampin’ Up Smoky Slate.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on a pink also of unknown origin and Recollections Black.  The sentiment is Penny Black Special Wishes stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Smoky Slate and Recollections Black.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.

I've crafted a version of this card many times because I just love this printed paper.  It's allows me to use a favourite pink/grey/black colour combination that always works.  This collage style of paper is also quite appealing.  The card doesn't need a lot of extras but I do really like the flat bow that anchors the sentiment panel.  It's another wonderful result!

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

Gisèle

Oh Canada!

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a patriotic birthday card.

The card base is of unknown origin.  The printed paper is also of unknown origin layered on a red, black and white Recollections.  The sentiment is Gina K Follow Your Dreams stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more red and black.  The embellishments are TPC Studio Heartfelt Travel jewels.

I just had to craft a birthday card with this paper.  I'm hoping that at least one resident has a July 1st birthday!  With just two colours in the printed paper, choosing a card base and layering colours was limited.  I love how the black layers make everything else pop!  I wanted a bit of a more bold sentiment and this one from Gina K really suits.  It's a great result!

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

Gisèle

Fabulously Fun

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another really fun 'birthday' card.

The card base is of unknown origin.  The printed paper is also of unknown origin layered on a blue Recollections.  The sentiment is Stampendous Graceful Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more blue Recollections.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Stickers.

This was such fun paper I just had to use it for a card.  I think it's more a vacation or travel paper but the images are so fun I thought it would make a rather jolly birthday card.  There were lots of choices for coordinating colours and I love the light blue layers.  Another angled sentiment but this was purposefully placed to have the flamingo looking over the sentiment panel which just adds to the whimsy.

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

Gisèle

All A Shimmer

Hello everyone,

Today's post is very pretty 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections Vanilla Linen Texture.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on a pearlized pink and a shimmery copper both also of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Altenew Industrial Diamond on an ivory of unknown origin and layered on more pearlized pink and shimmery copper.  The sentiment is highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

Every now and again I come across a piece of paper that turns into the most beautiful card and this is one of those.  There are hints of shimmer throughout this paper.  I love all the images and the colours are so soft and pretty.  The shimmery pink and copper layers coordinate wonderfully.  I didn't add any embellishments because the different elements are lovely all on their own.  I had a hard time not keeping this card for myself.

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

Gisèle

Funky Floral Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a great funky floral 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is PhotoPlay Be Loyal layered on a green Bazzill and Close To My Heart Blush.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Altenew Industrial Diamond on an ivory of unknown origin and layered on more green Bazzill and Blush.  The embellishments are The Paper Company Flowers and Frills Jewels and Queen & Company Snowflake Rhinestones.

This is not the type of floral paper to which I'm normally drawn but it is such a fun piece of paper I just couldn't resist using it for a card.  It was pretty easy to find coordinating solid colours and I didn't have to worry about trimming.  The flowers were great for adding a variety of gems, allowing me to use up some leftover packages of embellishments.

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

Gisèle

Birthday Balloons

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a really fun 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is Paper Adventures Rainbow Balloons layered on Stampin’ Up Lemon Lime Twist.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Lemon Lime Twist.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Stickers.

Birthday's and balloons automatically go together so when I came across this glittery paper I knew I'd use it to make a couple of cards.  The colours are wonderful and it was pretty easy to trim the paper to work for a card.  I love the angled sentiment!  I chose pink gems for embellishments but really could have used any colour.

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

Gisèle

Another Simple Floral

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another lovely floral 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Soft Suede.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Soft Suede.  The embellishments are pearls of unknown origin.

This is another great piece of printed paper with great colours and perfect scale.  I love the Soft Suede with the pink and the row of pearls is lovely.  This is one of those papers which remind me of a vintage apron. The layout is very straightforward and one I've used often.

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

Gisèle

A Simple Floral

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a great floral 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Mossy Meadow.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Mossy Meadow.  The embellishments are Recollections Rhinestones.

This is another lovely piece of printed paper.  The images are the perfect scale for a card and the colours were easy to coordinated.  I love the angled sentiment but wish I was more consistent with the centering.  A great result none-the-less.

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

Gisèle

Through the Grapevine

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another great neutral 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Recollections Black.  The sentiment is Serendipity stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are Pebbles Black Candy Dots.

This was the perfect piece of paper on which to stamp the sentiment.   Not only do I always love the results but it makes for a really quick and easy card.  I'm even quite happy with the placement of the embellishments!

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

Gisèle

Sweet Birdie Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another rather fun 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections Black.  The printed paper is Trinity Paper Arts Sincerely layered on a white and a deep red both of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more deep red.  The embellishments are Queen & Company Marble Rox.

I'm dating myself but these birds remind me of the 'Partridge Family'!  I love how there are smaller birds nestled into the tails of the larger birds!  This paper was actually a sheet of 12X12 but I trimmed it to showcase the birds.  I love the colours which are perfect for this neutral card and really pop against the black card base.  Whenever I use a dark card base, I add a white panel on the inside for writing space because I don't assume the residence will have a white or silver pen.  I think it also make it easier for the residents to read.  It's a fantastic result!

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

Gisèle

In Black and Grey

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a pretty and neutral 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections Black.  The printed paper is Momenta layered on a white of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up It’s Your Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Stickers.

I know many will think a black/white/grey 'birthday' card is not necessarily appropriate but I do love the sophistication of this colour combination.  Obviously the angled sentiment was placed so as not to hide any more of the images than necessary.  It is wonderfully balanced.  The flowers have the perfect centers for placing gems which adds just a hint of sparkle.  It's a fantastic result!

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

Gisèle

Dotted Wishes

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is a fun, floral 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections White.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on a green Bazzill and Stampin’ Up Wisteria Wonder.  The green layer was textured with Cuttlebug’s Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The sentiment is Hero Arts – Small Greetings stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more green Bazzill and Wisteria Wonder.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Stickers.

This is another scrap where I only had enough for a layered strip.  The flowers are in a rather funky style and have great colours for coordinating.  I chose Wisteria Wonder because it's not a solid I use all that often because I'm not a huge fan.  I prefer a deep, rich purple!  The white dots inspired using the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  It coordinates wonderfully with the printed paper.  The sentiment has a simple font which I think works great with the style of the images.

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

Gisèle

Fall Tree Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a very neutral 'birthday' card.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up River Rock and Soft Suede.  The sentiment is Hero Arts Happy Birthday stamped in Soft Suede on an ivory of unknown origin and layered on more River Rock and Soft Suede.

I had just a little strip of this paper but managed to make is work for this great, neutral card.  I just love the subtle colours and think the River Rock and Soft Suede layers work perfectly to highlight the printed paper.  I'm really loving adhering the sentiment on an angle!  I think by not layering the sentiment panel it just adds to the simplicity of the overall effect.  This card could easily be turned into a 'sympathy' or 'thinking of you' card with a simple change of sentiment.

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

Gisèle

By the Numbers

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a really fun 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Crushed Curry and Ridinghood Red.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Tin of Cards stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on and ivory of unknown origin and layered on more Crushed Curry and Ridinghood Red.

Normally I'd leave this printed paper for a kid's birthday card but I figured some of the seniors are probably 'kids at heart' so it is completely appropriate.  This paper was just too fun to not use.  I love all the different colours which, as always, makes coordination a lot easier.  I was inspired to use different colour gem embellishments.  This is a layout I've used in the past and just love the results.  

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

Gisèle

A Happy Plaid

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a fun plaid 'birthday' card.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Powder Pink.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Stylized Birthday stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Powder Pink.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Glitter Gems.

Doesn't matter the occasion, I can't resist a pretty plaid.  This plaid paper is a great backdrop for this sentiment.  It is a fun and happy font!  I'm taking advantage of this large commission to use up some of my embellishment stash and I've had these pink glitter gems for ages and I love how they bump up this card.

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

Gisèle

Fabulously Feminine

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another very pretty 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections Vanilla Linen Texture.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Close To My Heart Grey Wool and more Recollections Vanilla.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Altenew Industrial Diamond on an ivory of unknown origin and layered on more Grey Wool.  The embellishments are Forever In Time Pearl Accents.

I've used this paper for many, many cards and the results are always fantastic.  It is such pretty and feminine paper with delicate and appealing images.  I love the grey and ivory layers but have also used blue and pink in the past and the cards were equally beautiful.  The font, in grey, is lovely and though not as 'formal' as the images, works really well here.  The grey pearl brad is a little on the larger size so wouldn't mail all that well but that's not an issue with this commission.

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

Gisèle

Bold Butterflies

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another great 'birthday' card.

The card base is Stampin’ Up Lucky Limeade.  The printed paper is BoBunny “Shabby Princess” Butterfly Wishes layered on Stampin’ Up Berry Burst.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White, coloured with Prismacolor pencil crayon and layered on more Berry Burst.  The embellishment is a Twin Sven Sticker.

This is a rather fun card.  I actually couldn't believe I had a butterfly sticker in my stash that coordinated so well with the printed paper.  I don't want to think about what that says about my stash!  The images on this printed paper are a little large for a card but I trimmed the paper carefully and took care with the layout to maximize the visibility of the butterflies.  I love the pop of colour on the sentiment.  That banner is perfect for colouring.  It's a great result.

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

Gisèle

Blossoms and Butterflies

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another fantastic 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Wisteria Wonder textured with Craft Concepts Wings embossing folder.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White, coloured with Prisma Color pencil crayon, and layered on more Wisteria Wonder.  The embellishments are Recollections Rhinestones.

I love this card!  I have not crafted any really complex cards for this commission so it was fun to pull out an embossing folder and play a little bit!  I just had one little strip of gorgeous this paper so I wanted to make the most of it.  I think the results are just wonderful!  The embossed background layer adds some interest and is, of course, perfect for adding a few rhinestones.  Almost every time I've used this sentiment, I've coloured the banner.  Like the embossed background, the colouring adds just another little something to catch your eye.

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

Gisèle

Bitty Birdie Birthday

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another wonderful 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Early Espresso.  The sentiment is Penny Black Happy, Happy stamped in Stampin’ Up Early Espresso on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Early Espresso.  The embellishments are Recollections Wooden Dots.

I think these little birds are just irresistible!  I'm pretty sure I've used this paper and sentiment combination before because the two work together perfectly! I'm not sure about the brown and mustard colour combination.  It works great together but maybe not as wonderfully with the printed paper.  I could have chosen a deep coral because I've done that before, I wanted to try something a little different.  It's not a horrible result, just not a favourite.

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

Gisèle

Fabulous Floral Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a great floral 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is Pink Fresh Studio “Indigo Hills 2” Glen layered on Stampin’ Up Lemon Lime Twist.  The sentiment is Rubbernecker Best Wishes stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on Recollections White and layered on a navy Bazzill.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Stickers.

It's rare that I can resist a piece of navy printed paper.  This piece is particularly appealing because the images are wonderful and the different hits of colour are wonderful.  I love the Lemon Lime Twist elements.  It's not a green anyone should like but it really works with navy.  I love the sentiment element with the crisp colours and interesting layers.  This is a card that I could repeat often!

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

Gisèle

Fancy Feathers

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a really sparkly 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Worldwin Silver Ore.  The sentiment is Flonz stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on a purple Bazzill.  The card is highlighted with Lime Green Stickles.

This is an awesome card! The pattern is wonderful with the rows of feathers being the perfect scale for a card.  There are tons of sparkly bits to catch your eye and send you to a happy place!  The purple/green colour combination is just wonderful.  I decided to layer with some burnished silver which was a great choice with the white of the feathers.  It's a great result.

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

Gisèle

A Teacup Birthday

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another lovely 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Hello Honey.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Stampin’ Up Early Espresso on an ivory of unknown origin and layered on more Hello Honey and Close To My Heart Garnet.  The ribbon is American Crafts.

This is another piece of printed paper that I'm not all that sure about.  It's all teacups with different patterns.  I think it may be just a little too avant-garde when all is said and done because it can be rather difficult to figure out that it's teacups.  I do however love the colours and the different floral patterns. I placed the sentiment right in the center as I wasn't too worried about hiding the printed paper.  I'd hoped to like the final result but it's not a favourite.

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

Gisèle

Lovely Worn Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another fantastic 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Close To My Heart Vineyard Berry and a vanilla of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Creative Expressions Amazing Sentiment stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on a vanilla of unknown origin and layered on more Vineyard Berry.  The metal embellishment is of unknown origin.

Aren't the colours in this card beautiful!  I wasn't too fussy on the printed paper at first but the end result is just lovely!  I've had this metal square (and a few others) in my stash for ages but it's not all that practical for mailing.  I had to dig for the brad to find just the right colour and the right size to fit in the hole.  This is a real tried and true layout that just never disappoints.

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

Gisèle

Vintage Floral Wishes

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is a really pretty 'birthday' card.

The card base is Stampin’ Up Rose Red.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Lucky Limeade and Pink Pirouette.  The sentiment is Gina K Framed Greetings stamped in Altenew Industrial Diamond on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Lucky Limeade and Pink Pirouette.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.

This piece of paper reminds me of an old worn apron and there is something comforting in that.  I love the green bow as it mimics the leaves of the flowers.  The pink/green colour combination is just lovely and works every single time.  Outside the bow, I didn't feel the need to add other embellishments.  Vintage and simple just works!

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

Gisèle

Vegetable Wishes

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is a really fun 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is Jillibean Soup “Fresh Vegetable Soup” Baby Carrots layered on Stampin’ Up More Mustard and Lucky Limeade.  The sentiment is Frantic Stamper stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on More Mustard and Lucky Limeade.  The embellishments are Forever In Time Rhinestone Medley.

I had just enough of this fun paper to craft one more card.  I hope the recipient gets a real hoot out of it.  I love all the colours which, as usual, makes choosing a coordinating solid pretty easy.  I chose mustard and green because they were the predominate colours.  The layout it one I've used often as I just love using banners.  It's a great result.

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

Gisèle

Beautiful Blue Floral Wishes

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another great floral 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Pale Plum and a blue Bazzill.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Pale Plum and blue Bazzill.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Stickers.

This is another favourite card!  I love this printed floral paper.  The watercolour style of the images and the colours are so very appealing.  This piece, layered and vertical, was perfect for placing the sentiment on the angle and I love how it turned out.  The rhinestones fit perfectly on some of the flowers and add just the right amount of sparkle.

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

Gisèle

Spring Tulips

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a great spring 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections White Linen Texture.  The printed paper is Echo Park “Hello Spring” layered on Stampin’ Up Pool Party.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Pool Party.  The embellishments are Forever In Time Diamond Gems.

There isn't anything about this card that I don't love!  The colours are awesome! The angled sentiment is pretty much centered and the bling placement just makes me happy!  I wish that every card turned out so wonderfully!

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

Gisèle

Fun Floral Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a rather fun 'birthday' card.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Lucky Limeade.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Lucky Limeade.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Stickers.

I think this is a great card!  I believe I used this paper in the previous Seniors' residence commission.  It's really fun paper with a ton of options for colour coordination.  The rhinestone embellishments really sparkle and there were tons of images just perfect for adding some bling.  Once the elements were selected, this card came together quickly and easily.  It's a great result.

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

Gisèle

Beautiful Birthday Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another pretty 'birthday' card.

The card base is Stampin’ Up Crushed Curry.  The printed paper is Stampin’ Up layered on Dusty Durango.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry.  The embellishments are Recollections Rhinestone Stickers.

This is another piece of scrap paper that I've used before in a layout that I've also used before.  This is also one of the mass stamped sentiments that I made which really helped in finishing this large commission.  I had fun experimenting with different colours and appreciate that all of these cards have given me an opportunity to try things that are, perhaps, more outside my comfort zone. The embellishments, like many that I used, are quite bulky and couldn't be mailed without using extra postage.  It's a beautiful result!

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

Gisèle

More Floral Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a very pretty blue and white 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections White.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Bordering Blue and a navy Bazzill.  The sentiment is Creative Expressions Butterfly Field Collection stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on Recollections White and layered on more Bordering Blue and navy Bazzill.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Floral Accents.

The Bordering Blue and metal flower embellishment on this card are supplies that I dole out carefully because once gone, there is no re-ordering and I absolutely love both!  I think Bordering Blue is one of the best blues every put out by Stampin' Up!  Ditto for the metal flower from Close To My Heart.  I took advantage of using this flower because I know this card won't have to go in the mail.  I love this colour combination because it's always clean and crisp.  It's a great result!

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

Gisèle

Big Floral Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a very pretty 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections White Linen Texture.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Hello Honey and Primrose Petals.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Birthday Blossoms stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Hello Honey and Primrose Petals.  The flower embellishment is of unknown origin.

This card is all about that great big flower!  I've had it in my stash forever and because of it's size, it's a little hard to use.  It's big and bulky so can't be mailed without extra postage.  It's also a bit of a funky deep rose colour which isn't easy for coordinating.  This small piece of scrap with the mottled yellow and pink flowers works wonderfully.  I'm not a big fan of this paper as it always leaves ragged edges after cutting, even with a new blade in my trimmer.  The sentiment is another that I mass stamped with my MISTI.  I just love that tool!

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

Gisèle

Fantastic Floral Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another great 'birthday' card.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The printed paper is Graphic 45 layered on Stampin’ Up Dusty Durango.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Stampin’ Up Early Espresso on an ivory of unknown origin and layered on more Dusty Durango.  The ribbon is Michael’s Celebrate It.

This is another great piece of printed paper!  The images are perfect for a smaller card and the colours are just wonderful.  Normally I would have paired this paper with a green drawn from the leave but I found this deep rust colour is beautiful.  I used my MISTI to stamp a bunch of sentiments at once and was happy I had because it really does save a lot of time.  I love the ribbon to the left of the sentiment, again, the darker rust looks great.

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

Gisèle

More Paisley Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another very pretty paisley 'birthday' card.

The card base is Stampin’ Up Lucky Limeade.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on a vanilla of unknown origin and more Lucky Limeade.  The sentiment is Creative Expressions Amazing Sentiment stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on a vanilla of unknown origin and layered on more Lucky Limeade.  The metal flower and gold brad embellishments are also of unknown origins.

I just can't resist a bit of paisley!  This is a great piece of printed paper.  The scale is a little on the large size but I trimmed is carefully to have the pattern show to its best.  I've had a bunch of these metal flowers in my stash for eons and though I love them, they're not the best for mailing but as these birthday cards are hand delivered, that isn't an issue.  It's a wonderful result.

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

Gisèle

The Gift of You V

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the last gift of you 'birthday' card in this mini series in the 'birthday' card commission I've been posting.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is Graphic 45 “Bird Song” Enlightenment layered on Recollections Black.  The sentiment is Verses Gift of You stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Recollections Black.  The gold mesh ribbon is of unknown origin.

This is an awesome piece of Asian-inspired paper.  These paper lanterns are the perfect scale for a card and the variety of colours is wonderful.  I chose black for layering as it makes everything else just pop!  I think the font of this sentiment works great with the overall Asian style.  The gold mesh ribbon has been in the scrap bin for ages but it is the perfect embellishment in this case.

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

Gisèle

The Gift of You IV

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another wonderful 'birthday' card.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The printed origami paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Certainly Celery and Joy Crafts mirrored dark pink.  The sentiment is Verses Gift of You stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Certainly Celery.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Green Triangles.

A number of years back I was gifted some beautiful scraps of origami paper.  I so loved the paper I bought a few packs at a local paper store.  It is great paper to work with but the designs can be somewhat limiting in terms of theme.  I thought the font of the 'Celebrate' in the sentiment had a bit of an Asian calligraphy style so I chose to use this beautiful fan-themed paper.  I love the colours and had just the enough Certainly Celery (a perfect colour match for the background of the origami paper) left for layering.  It's another great result.

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

Gisèle

The Gift of You III

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the third 'birthday' card with this fantastic Verses sentiment.

The card base is Recollections Black.  The printed paper is DCWV Black Music Notes layered on Stampin’ Up Real Red.  The sentiment is Verses Gift of You stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Real Red.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.

This is another piece of printed paper I just couldn't resist using.  Rather the opposite of Monday's card, this is black and white with accents of red, which I pretty much think is a no-fail colour combination.  I thought the font of this great sentiment worked really well with the music notes.  I only used ribbon to embellish but I did think of adding a few red pearls or gems to the sentiment panel.  Not really needed because this result is great as is.

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

Gisèle

The Gift of You II

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the second 'Gift of You' 'birthday' card in this series.

The card base is Recollections White Linen Texture.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Rich Razzleberry.  The sentiment is Verses Gift of You stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Rich Razzleberry.  The flower embellishment is of unknown origin and is highlighted with Sequins Stickles.

This is another sheet of printed paper with images that are the perfect scale for cards.  It pairs perfectly with Stampin' Up's Rich Razzleberry!  The blank space in the bottom left of the sentiment was perfect for adding this rhinestone flower! It's a great result!

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

Gisèle

The Gift of You I

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the first of a half dozen cards using this awesome sentiment. 

The card base is Recollections White Linen Texture.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Recollections Black.  The sentiment is Verses Gift of You stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Black.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Licorice Opaques.

I'm really trying not to buy new stamps because I have more than I'll ever, every need but I just couldn't resist this one from Verses.  I just love the 'sentiment' and it is perfect for this commission!  This paper has image that are the perfect scale for cards but with just two colours, coordinating solids is pretty limited.  I chose black because it just pops!  I think it was a wise choice because this is a fantastic result!

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

Gisèle

Pretty Floral Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another lovely 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Pool Party and More Mustard and an ivory of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Stampin’ Up Early Espresso on more ivory of unknown origin.  The ribbon is of unknown origin and the embellishments are Doodlebug Mini Pearls.

This is another simple floral birthday card.  I love the paper because it reminds me of vintage floral fabric.  The layout again is one I've used often though angling the sentiment is a little different and I really like it!  The ribbon is maybe a little more stark than I'd like the but the blue works with the background and the brown matches the ink colour.  It's a great result!

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

Gisèle

Soft and Simple

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another lovely floral 'birthday' card.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The printed paper is Close To My Heart Miracle layered on Bamboo and Crystal Blue.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart Happy Birthday stamped in Altenew Industrial Diamond on an ivory of unknown origin and layered on more Bamboo and Crystal Blue.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.

I think this is some of the first Close To My Heart paper I ever purchased and it's the last piece in my stash.  I love it as much now as I did when I first bought it.  This layout should be getting pretty familiar at this point as I've used it multiple times now for this commission.  I think the green ribbon is wonderful, adding just that little bit more interest but still keeping to the soft pastel colours.  It's a great result!

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

Gisèle

Simple Floral

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another very pretty 'birthday' card.

The card base is Recollections Vanilla Linen Texture.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Real Red.  The sentiment is Creative Expression Mini Expressions Happy Birthday die, cut from more Real Red.  The pearl embellishments are of unknown origin.

This is such a pretty card.  I just love the red!  This was another really quick and easy card.  I debated the sentiment placement but I quite like it on an angle.  I didn't fuss too much on pearl placement as it seems to be hit or miss whether the final result is pleasing.  In this case, it was too bad.

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

Gisèle

Floral Fabric

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another great 'birthday' card.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The printed paper (fabric) is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Real Red and a white of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Creative Expressions Amazing Sentiments stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Real Red.  The embellishments are Recollections Rhinestone Stickers.

I found this piece of fabric paper in the donation bin and just couldn't help but use it for a card.  I've never used fabric paper before and thought it would be a pain but it wasn't.  I just love all the colours and the design of the images.  I chose big, textured embellishments because I thought they worked well with the fabric.  This would be an awesome card for someone with limited sight because it feels great!

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

Gisèle

Vintage Fashion Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another great 'birthday' card.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Crumbcake and Baja Breeze.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up It’s Your Birthday stamped in Soft Suede on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Crumbcake and Baja Breeze.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Mocha Opaques.

I've crafted a number of variations of this card with this great printed paper.  I just love this paper!  There are a ton of coordinating colour options and I chose blue and beige in this case though I was tempted to use some dark pinks.  The paper looks great either horizontal or vertical because the scale of the images are perfect for a card.  This is another great result!

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

Gisèle

Lots of Prezzies

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another fun 'birthday' card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Bermuda Bay.  The sentiment is Papercrafts General Sentiments stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Bermuda Bay.  The flower embellishments are of unknown origin and are highlighted with Raspberry Tart Stickles.

This is another no-brainer printed paper for birthday cards but like the party hat paper, I'm not entirely fussy about it.  The colours are rather muted and the various shapes are kind of boring.  There were lots of coordinating colour options. All that said, the images are a good scale for a card and because they're not perfectly aligned, the trimming wasn't so vital for the overall results.  I used a sentiment with a fun font and once I added the shiny flowers with a bit of Stickle, I was very pleased with the results.

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

Gisèle