A Touch of Glitter

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a very pretty grey and coral 'birthday' card.

The card base is Stampin’ Up Smoky Slate.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin’ Up Calypso Coral.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Here’s a card stamped in Altenew Pure Graphite on Recollections Vanilla.  The embellishments are Carta Bella Flora enamel dots.

Another great thing about a large commission is that it gives me the chance to explore colour combinations that I wouldn't normally use.  I love this grey/coral combination!  The printed paper is so beautiful with hints of glitter on some of the abstract flowers that I found especially appealing.  I know I've used this paper before but I think this is my favourite final result so far.

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

Gisèle

Out Of This World

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is a fun birthday card I crafted for my daughter's boyfriend's father.

The card base is Recollections White.  The printed paper is Carta Bella Space Academy layered on Stampin' Up Ruby Red and Close To My Heart Charcoal.  The sentiment is Altenew Birthday Builder stamped in Stampin' Up Ruby Red on Recollections White and layered on more Ruby Red.  The mini square silver brads are of unknown origin.

Thanks to the pandemic we've yet to meet our daughter's boyfriend's parents so I was a little worried about crafting him a birthday card however once I heard 'space' I knew I had the perfect paper for his card.  The elements all came together quickly.  I love how the font of the sentiment is computer-like and I think it works great for the overall space theme.  Placement of the font was dictated by the paper as I couldn't use the design 'sweet spot' without hiding too much of the space ship.  It's a great result and was very well received.

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

Gisèle

Ikat Thanks

 Hello everyone,

Today's post is another great 'thank you' card.

The card base is Recollections White.  The printed paper is Carta Bella Wildflower Ikat layered on Stampin' Up Mint Macaron and Basic Grey.  The sentiment is Close To My Heart For Every Occasion stamped in Altenew Industrial Diamond on Recollections White.  The embellishments are of unknown origin.

Ikat is another pattern that I really love.  I first came across it through a home design show on television.  This is a great neutral coloured ikat, making colour coordination pretty easy.  I love this larger sentiment with its great font.  Placing the sentiment on an angle made me happy and I love that there was space for these two square silver brads.  It's a great result.

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

Gisèle

Christmas Snowmen

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a fun snowman Christmas card.

The card base is Recollections Vanilla.  The printed paper is Carta Bella Snow Fun layered on Stampin' Up Pool Party and Recollections Black.  The sentiment is Woodware Merry & Bright stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Pool Party.  The sentiment is highlighted with Xmas Red Stickles.

These snowmen are wonderful and this sheet of scrap was perfect for a card.  I covered a good portion of the card base with the paper because after careful trimming, I could reveal quite a few of these happy characters.  I thought the font of this sentiment worked particularly well with the style of the images and the banner layout is a favourite.  The two dots of red Stickles adds the perfect finishing touch.

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

Gisèle

A Bird's Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another great birthday card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is Autumn Leaves Rhonna Farrer layered on Recollections White.  The sentiment is Stampendous stamped in Altenew Crimson on Recollections White.  The embellishments are Carta Bella Flora enamel dots.

I wasn't sure about this paper when I came across it but decided to give it a go.  I actually ended up keeping this card for myself I was so happy with the results.  It's another really simple card because the paper is just wonderful.  I used a simple sentiment, using the banner to echo the wings of the bird (sort of).  It's a great result and I can't wait to send it to someone.

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

Gisèle

Christmas Goodies

Hello everyone,

Today’s post is the last of the colleague Christmas cards I crafted last fall.

The card base is a green Recollections.  The printed paper is Carta Bella Santa’s Workshop layered on a white of unknown origin and a red Recollections.  The sentiment is Magenta stamped in Altenew Ruby Red on a white of unknown origin and layered on more green Recollections.  The cookie cutter embellishments are of unknown origin, highlighted with Xmas Red, Cinnamon and Green Stickles.

This colleague has two young daughters, so I was really drawn to the playfulness of the printed paper.  I also thought the cookie cutter embellishments were inspired.  The is a fantastic French Christmas sentiment because it works vertically or horizontally.  The mix of two fonts also makes it a pretty versatile stamp.

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

Gisèle

From Outer Space

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another card from the commissioned series I recently crafted.

The card base is Stampin' Up Night of Navy.  The printed paper is Carta Bella layered on a red and a yellow Bazzill.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Delightful Dozen stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on a vanilla of unknown origin and layered on more Night of Navy.  The embellishment is a Twin Seven sticker.

This is another fun custom card.  It's will be given to a grandson.  I wanted it to be somewhat fun and I just love all the retro toys on the printed paper.  It was a great piece of paper with which to work because it has all kinds of colours for coordinating.  The images are also the perfect scale for a card.  A great result.

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

Gisèle

Golden Luck

Hello everyone,

It's moving season at the office so I'm working on a series of 'good bye' / 'good luck' cards which I'll be posting over the next few days.

The printed papers are Carta Bella Beautiful Moments.  The sentiment is Gina K Pleasant Plurals stamped in Stampin' Up Bravo Burgundy on Recollections White and layered on more Carta Bella Beautiful Moments.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.

I need a lot of these types of cards in my stash at this time of year and I didn't really know where to start.  I was pretty tired when I had problems making design decisions.  It's not that I don't like this card I just don't think it's my best result.  I love this ribbon application and was inspired by this Simplicity card.  I like how the knot is flat.  I finally decided upon this gold ribbon after trying every colour ribbon in my stash.  It was really hard to craft this card.

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

Gisèle

Robots And Phasers

Hello everyone,

Today's birthday card is another fun boy-themed card.

The printed paper is Carta Bella Toy Box layered on blue of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Delightful Dozen stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more blue.  The images are atd Boys Will Be Boys stickers.

This card is for the eight year old brother of yesterday's card and I just love it!  I found this Carta Bella pad in the sale bin and it found my way into my basket because it was just too perfect for boys cards.  I think the 'phasers' are the perfect background for this robot and gear embellishments.  The sentiment is a lot of fun too!  I really hope he likes it!

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

Gisèle

All Italian

Hello everyone,

For the next couple of weeks I'll be posting a series of Italian cards that I'm crafting as a hostess gift.

The printed paper is Carta Bella layered on a light blue of unknown origin and Bazzill black.  The light blue layer was textured with Cuttlebug Winter Wonderland embossing folder.  The sentiment is a printed Microsoft Word font layered on more Bazzill black.  The brads are of unknown origin.

I couldn't craft a series of card without including some Christmas cards.  I thought this vintage style printed paper was really awesome and I just had to see what I could do with it.  Notwithstanding the great printed paper, I decided to texture the light blue layer to add even more interest.  The little reveals of black add a great pop!

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

Gisèle

Banners And Butterfly

Hello everyone,

I still had one more watercolour butterfly that I just had to use.

The printed papers are Carta Bella Beautiful Moments. The sentiment is Sweet & Sassy Stamps Scripted Birthdays stamped in Stampin' Up Soft Suede on Whisper White.  The butterfly is die cut with Sizzix Bold Butterfly Framelits from watercolour paper washed with Stampin' Up watercolor crayons.  The embellishments are Forever In Time Pearl Diamond Gem Strips.

I chose these particular papers (which are from my scrap bin) because they worked so well with the colours in the butterfly.  I didn't originally plan to use banners but I'm loving them and, though they're not rounded like the those in the paper, I thought they still worked pretty well together.  I like it when everything works together.

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

Gisèle

Holiday Post

Hello everyone,

With my mojo cleansed and my mind on Monday's spectacular card and being so pleased with yesterday's card, I was inspired to CASE myself.

The printed paper is Carta Bella So This Is Christmas layered on a brushed silver of unknown origin.  The image is Impression Obsession stamped in Stampin' Up Lost Lagoon on Whisper White, smudged with Illuminate ink and layered on Lost Lagoon.  The banners were die cut with Sizzix Banners Framelits in a silver of unknown origin and more Lost Lagoon.  The embellishments are Recollections rhinestone stickers.

I think I cased my last couple of card quite well in this instance.  The colours and the image recall the last two cards wonderfully.  I first attempted to age the image by pouncing with colour but it just looked terrible. This is my second attempt and using the Illuminate ink was the right call.  It's watermark properties adds the age I was looking for with the added bonus of some very subtle shimmer.  I love the banners and am kicking myself for waiting so long to add them to my stash.

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

Gisèle

A Birdie Told Me

Hello everyone,

Today's charity card uses the second dusty rose card base.

The textured card base is DCWV.  The printed paper is Carta Bella Beautiful Moments layered on Stampin' Up Going Grey.  The images are Stampin' Up Four Feathers stamped in Close To My Heart Ruby and Blush, and Stampin' Up Smokey Slate on Recollections White.  The feather were die cut with Sizzix Feathers Framelits.  The sentiment is Serendipity stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishment is American Crafts glitter brad.

I so loved this little birdie on the printed paper that I thought the design would be a breeze!  Not so much really.  I decided it would be cool to have the feathers (which speak to the bird) hang from the banner.  Cool doesn't mean easy!  It took me forever to find a way to place the feathers without looking awkward for covering up the worded banner.  I think it was so hard because the feathers don't work with the scale of the printed paper all that well.  By the time I was ready to add the sentiment, I wasn't going to muck around so just used that blank space on the printed paper.  Live and learn!

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

Gisèle

Eclectic Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's charity card is one of two using the dusty pink card bases I've had in my stash for ages.

The textured card base is DCWV.  The printed paper is Carta Bella Beautiful Moments layered on Stampin' Up Basic Grey.  The images are Stampin' Up Faith In Nature stamped in Smoky Slate on Recollections White and layered on more Basic Grey.  The sentiment is Avery Elle So Happy stamped in Close To My Heart Ruby.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Licorice Opaques.

At first blush this card is all disparate elements but the elements do 'whisper' to one another.  The half circles have writing, though faint. so I used these flowers that also have writing.  The banners of the printed paper go off the page so I had the sentiment flow off the page.  The background of the printed paper is dotted so I dotted the flowers with pearls.  This is a different card but it is also very familiar and I'm very happy with the results.

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

Gisèle

Heart Song

Hello everyone,

Today is our 24th wedding anniversary and this is the card I crafted for my better half.

The printed papers are Carta Bella Beautiful Moments.  The images is Stampin' Up Creative Elements stamped in Early Espresso on Recollections Vanilla, highlighted with Sakura Red Gelly Roll pen and layered on more Carta Bella Beautiful Moments.  The sentiment is Gina K Because of You stamped in Close To My Heart Hollyhock and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The embellishment is Recollections.

In hindsight this card may be just a titch to feminine for my husband but he'll survive.  I really liked all the words on the background layer.  I don't necessarily think its strictly anniversary paper but I didn't really care because it just speaks to our marriage.  I debated adding more Sakura Clear Star to the image but I think that kind of sparkly would have just been too much for hubby!

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

Gisèle

From This Day Forward

Hello everyone,

Today I posting a card that I crafted for my cousin who is getting married.  She has a real 'green thumb' so I had a great excuse to go totally floral.

The printed paper is Carta Bella Beautiful Moment layered on Stampin' Up Always Artichoke.  The image is Stampin' Up Stippled Blossoms stamped in Ruby Red, Close To My Heart Whisper and Slate and StazOn Black Cherry, on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Always Artichoke.  The sentiment is Fiskars Just Married in Early Espresso.  The embellishment is of unknown origin.

I was going for a natural and really spectacular card.  I believe I succeeded!  I love how the stamped images work so well with the printed paper.  I think I tested every red ink I own to find something that worked.  This is a metal butterfly that I found in a bin on the counter of my local scrapbooking store, Crop A While.  My cousin likes butterflies as much as I do so I thought I'd add this special embellishment to her card.

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

Gisèle

Horsey Thanks

Hello everyone,

On our recent vacation to Calgary to visit my cousins and go to the Stampede, we took an afternoon and went on a fabulous trail ride in Alberta's Kananaskis Provincial Park.  I decided to craft this special thank you card for the folks at the Rafter Six Ranch who showed us some wonderful Alberta hospitality and provided us an amazing experience!

The printed paper is Carta Bella Giddy Up! Bandana layered on Stampin' Up Bravo Burgundy.  The photos are layered on Recollections Vanilla and more Stampin' Up Bravo Burgundy.  The sentiment is Verve Celebration of Thanks stamped in Bravo Burgundy.  The ribbon is White Rose.  The embellishment is of unknown origin.

This will be the last western-inspired card for a while.  I really have to get back to some commissions and charity sale cards.  I love the bandana paper and I found this scrap of old, old, old White Rose ribbon with the lacy edges that worked beautifully together.  I have a ton of photos from this spectacular afternoon and it was hard to choose which to use.  I couldn't resist using the flags with the mountain in the background, it really spoke to me about the beauty of this country.

I hope you enjoy this card and the entire western vacation inspired series, and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

MOOOOO

Hello everyone,

Today I'm posting the last western card in the series I've crafted as a gift for my cousins.

The printed paper is Carta Bella Giddy Up! Bandana layered on Stampin' Up Early Espresso.  The photos are layered on Recollections Vanilla.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Just Believe stamped in Early Espresso on Recollections Vanilla.  The embellishments are Fabricland.

I couldn't resist this piece of cowhide paper!  I'm not even sure what to write about it because I just love it!  Needless to say, I love the results and almost wish I could keep this card.  I have some left, maybe I should see what I can come up with...

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

Gisèle

Calico Birthday

Hello everyone,

I'm still working on western themed cards for my cousins.

The printed paper is Carta Bella Giddy Up! Calico layered on Recollections Pink.  The horizontal strip Carta Bella Giddy Up! Bandana.  The photos are layered on Recollections Vanilla.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Express Yourself stamped in Early Espresso on Recollections Vanilla.  The embellishment is from Multicrafts.

I really wanted to craft a super pretty card but still keep it western and this pretty Calico paper fit the bill perfectly.  This is a lovely card!  The pink and brown work as beautifully as blue and brown in terms of combination..  Again I had to find a way to balance the two different sized photos.  I offset the embellishment (a great metal flower) and the sentiment in the visual 'sweet spot' and it couldn't have worked better.

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

Gisèle

Rodeo Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's card uses a couple more dog photos.

The printed paper is Carta Bella Giddy Up Rodeo Kid layered on textured Bazzill.  The image was layered on Recollections Vanilla and Best Creation Inc Cowboy Up!  The sentiment is Inkadinkado Happy Days stamped in Stampin' Up Ruby Red and Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on Very Vanilla and layered on more Best Creation Inc.  The ribbon is Multicrafts.

I picked up a number of western/cowboy related papers when I was on a supply hunt for these cards.  This is not my favourite but I thought it would look great as a background layer.  The card turned out so much better than I expected.  This particular ribbon was bought with this paper in mind as it has all the same colours.

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

Gisèle