Birthday Dominos

Hello everyone,

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

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is Fancy Pants “Collecting Moments” Domino layered on Stampin’ Up More Mustard and Lucky Limeade.  The sentiment is Stampin’ Up Here’s a card stamped in Altenew Pure Graphite on Recollections Vanilla.  The embellishments are Kaisercraft Dec 25^th pearls.

My family loves playing dominos so when I came across this printed paper I just couldn't resist using it for a birthday card.  There were a ton of colours with which to coordinate but I wanted to keep the card fairly neutral.  The pearl embellishments were not my first choice but I couldn't find small white dots to mimic the dots on the paper.  This sentiment is one of a few that I mass stamped using my MISTI which worked really well.  It's a great result and I really hope someone at the seniors' residence is a domino player!

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

Gisèle

More Green Paisley Thanks

 Hello everyone,

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

The card base is Recollections Vanilla.  The printed paper is Fancy Pants "Happy Together" Always layered on a dark green Bazzill.  The sentiment is Avery Elle stamped in Close To My Heart Ponderosa Pine on Recollections Vanilla.  The embellishments are from Fabricland.

This was another necktie inspired paper well worthy of a card.  Paisley just works wonderfully for neckties.  This great light olive green colour was also perfect for my friend who commissioned these cards as it's his favourite colour.  The angled sentiment is great and of course, inspired the placement of these square metal embellishments which could be considered cuff links.  Once I got on the 'suit' theme, it just kept my mojo going.

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

Gisèle

Yet More Painted Holly

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the second painted Penny Black card.

The images are Penny Black Christmas Wishes stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and painted with LuminArte Mango Mamba, Olive Vine and Ruby Red Twinkling H2Os.  The image panel is layered on Fancy Pants Gold Foil.  The sentiment is also Penny Black Christmas Wishes stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are ZVA Creative.

I'm much more pleased with this image.  I really love this trio of holly.  I think, because of the smaller images, the painted elements are not so much of a focus.  I really love the balance provided by all the threes.  For a set that I wasn't to fussy about, I think it's rather growing on me.

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

Gisèle

McGill Graduation

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a congratulations card for a recent McGill University graduate.

The image is McGill's coat of arms layered on Bazzill red and black.  The gold strips are Fancy Pants gold foil.  The sentiment is Creative Expressions Scribbled Sentiments stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections white.  The embellishments are Mark Richards 3mm gold metal.

This is the second custom McGill University graduation card I've done over the past few months which I find somewhat bizarre.  The two cards couldn't have been more different with this one being quite formal and the earlier card just fun.  I thought the gold diagonal strips were reminiscent of a diploma and they prompted me to place the sentiment on the diagonal.  I was inspired to have the tails of the sentiment flow off the diagonal strip.  A great overall result.

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

Gisèle

Flourished Foil Holly

Hello everyone,

Finally, the last card in the holly paper one sheet wonder.  I'm still amazed by the number of cards wrought from this one sheet of 12 X 12 paper.

The printed paper is Stampin' Up Home For Christmas layered on Bazzill Cardinal red, Very Vanilla and Mossy Meadow.  The images are Creative Expression Filigree Holly die cut from Fancy Pants Red Foiled paper and DCWV Foiled cardstock.  The berries are highlighted with a red Sakura Gelly Roll pen.  The sentiment is Recollections Christmas stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Very Vanilla and layered on more Bazzill Cardinal red.

Another square piece of printed paper and another challenge to, interestingly, craft it into a card.  I decided to add some interest by sandwiching a piece of Very Vanilla in the layers.  It adds another bit of interest and I can't believe I waited until the final card to do it.  I had so much success with yesterday's filigree bell that I wanted to try another die.  It took me three tries to actually get these holly leaves to work.  As the foiled cardstock is quite thick, it needed a shim, the precision plate, and a couple of passes through the Big Shot to fully cut.  I didn't do that the first time.  The second time, I placed the paper the wrong way down and the leaves came out weird looking.  It was worth the effort and frustration.

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

Gisèle

Terrific Tree

Hello everyone,

A wonderful Christmas tree card for you today.

The textured card base is DCWV.  The printed paper is Fancy Pants Merry Little Christmas layered on Bazzill white.  The tree is die cut from Elizabeth Craft Designs Ribbon Tree from Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Old Olive and Real Red, and a shimmery white and shimmery blue of unknown origin.  The tree is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

Trees are not my forte so I really debated buying this die however I found the branches just too appealing to resist.  It's a great die for using up little bits of scrap paper.  There are option for large trees like this or a smaller version along the same lines.  I didn't get the Early Espresso piece aligned properly so it looks a little wonky but that only adds character.  I offset the tree as well as the layered element because I thought it would work better for a sentiment-less card.  It did but I'm at a loss to explain exactly why.  I hadn't intended to use Stickles but it was already on my desk and the circles are perfect for Stickles.

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

Gisèle

Bits for Baby

Hello everyone,

I looked over my list and decided it was time for a couple of really neutral baby cards.  My scrap bin yielded some really wonderful leftover baby paper.

The printed paper is Fancy Pants Baby Mine layered on Stampin' Up textured Crushed Curry and Soft Suede.  The sentiment is Inkadinkado Baby Animals stamped in Soft Suede on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Crushed Curry and Soft Suede.  The Baby Mine paper and sentiment are highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The brads are American Crafts Elements.

I didn't realize until I was writing this post just how well the sentiment and printed paper speak to each other.  The wonkiness of the letters works really well with the wonkiness of the images on the printed paper.  The hearts in the 'A' are very much like the hearts in the bibs.  I was going to add another baby animal stamped image but decided against it.  I thought this card would be great to give to a guy or from a guy so no extra fuss required.

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

Gisèle

Christmas In July Once Again

Hello everyone,

This is the second last Christmas In July card.  Where has this month gone.  Today and tomorrow's card are the last ones for my sister.  This is by no means the end of Christmas cards.  I love crafting them so much I couldn't image stopping in July!

The printed paper is Fancy Pants On The Tree, layered on Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler.  The image is Annabelle Stamps Ornamental Christmas also stamped in Cherry Cobbler.  The sentiment is from Serendipity, stamped in Cherry Cobbler on Very Vanilla.  The entire card is highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

I went back to my scrap bin for this card.  I love the vintage feel of this paper as well as the many different colours that coordinate with it.  I went traditional with this Cherry Cobbler paper.  I hadn't intended to do an entire row of this stamped image but somehow I just couldn't stop at one impression.  The Clear Star pen made the ink run so I had to be very careful but I love how it turned out.  It just came together!

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

Gisèle

Vellum Love

Hello everyone,

I've got all my commissions finished so it's time for Gisèle to play!

The background paper is Fancy Pants Happy Together Always Paper.  The solid layer is a piece of glossy paper smooched with Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink.  The vellum was stamped with Inkadinkado Delicate Branches in Olive Green StazOn.  The brads are of unknown origin.  The image is Harmonie stamped in Timbre Brown StazOn on Stampin' Up Whisper White then highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

I love absolutely everything about this card - the paisley background paper, the alcohol inked layer, the vellum and that cute little bird on a branch.  I could use this bird stamp dozens of times over and never tire of it.  I decided against adding a sentiment.  I wasn't sure what type of sentiment to use and frankly, couldn't figure out a good place to put it.  I'm fine with that.

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

Gisèle

I Interrupt This Marathon

Hello everyone,

I've had a few card orders from a colleague so I'm taking a break from the thank you marathon to post some of my latest cards. I'll be back to thank yous in a few days.

The patterned paper is Fancy Pants Baby Mine Peek-A-Boo layered on Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip and So Saffron. The sentiment is American Crafts Baby, Baby, Baby stamped in Chocolate Chip on Whisper White and layered on more Chocolate Chip. The brads are of unknown origin.

These little monkeys are so darn cute, how could you not love them? My colleague said the baby shower was all yellows and greens so this paper works really well. This is a favourite layout, rectangles and some brads and it works so well. I think this is perfect for my colleague.

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

Gisèle

Pearly Christmas

Hello everyone,

I wanted to go a little less traditional with this Christmas card. I thought I had, but in the end, I really didn't!

The background paper is Stampin' Up Pool Party. The printed paper is Fancy Pants On The Tree layered on Early Espresso. The Recollections Pearlized Gold border is Sizzix Tree Christmas With Flourish layered on Early Espresso. The sentiment is Penny Black Christmas Flourish stamped in Very Vanilla with Early Espresso and layered on more Early Espresso. The embellishments are Recollections Rhinestone Stickers.

I love, love, love this card. The colours are not at all traditional but the elements are quite traditional. The pearlized gold paper has to be one of my favourite papers. It is actually a card base that I've broken down. All the papers are leftovers except for the Pool Party which is one of this year's 'In Colours' from Stampin' Up. I don't always buy the 'In Colours' because I don't wanted to end up with a bunch of leftovers that I'm not crazy about but every once in a while I love the colours so much I just can't resist. The sentiment is borrowed from a girlfriend whose just recently gotten into card making. I fell in love with it from the moment I saw the first card she made with it. I think I'll have to put it on my wish list.

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

Gisèle

Scrappy Christmas

Hello everyone,

Today's card not only uses more paper scraps but is a preview of my upcoming Christmas in July projects.

The card base is Recollections Pearlized Gold. The bottom layer is Stampin' Up Brushed Gold textured with Sizzix Retro Circles. The red layers are Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler. The patterned paper is Fancy Pants Christmas Magic - On The Tree. The image is Delta Santa Collage heat embossed with Close To My Heart Silver Pearl. The sentiment is Expressions In Ink 4-In-1 Holidays. The embellishments are Pebbles Brown Pearl Candy Dots.

For a cards crafted completely of leftovers, this one turned out really well. The card elements seem really vintage but the layout is totally modern. I love how this works. The image is one I found through a card class last year. I fell in love with it even though it is not my usual style. It embosses fantastically so I'd expect to see it often.

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

Gisèle

In The Mood For Christmas

Hello everyone,

I've no commissions on my plate at the moment and my stash is looking reasonably healthy so I decided that a Christmas card was in order.

The solid papers are Stampin' Up Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler. The Cherry Cobbler is dry embossed with Sizzix Merry Christmas Phrases. The patterned paper is Fancy Pants On The Tree - Christmas Magic. The sentiment is Gina K Fanciful Tags. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Mocha Opaques.

I love everything about this card; the colours, the texture, the layout. It has somewhat of a vintage vibe due to the patterned paper. I also have to say that I just love Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler together.

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

Gisèle

Celebrate The Season

Hello everyone,

Today's card uses Techno Stampers Monday Lunchtime Sketch Challenge. It was one of those very appealing sketches that I just had to do.



The background paper is Fancy Pants Christmas Magic. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Whisper White and Baja Breeze. The Baja Breeze layer is textured with Cuttlebug's Winter Wonderland dry embossing folder. The snowflakes are cut with the Sizzix Northern Frost decorative strip from glossy paper that was smooched with Ranger alcohol ink and glittered with DecoArt Glamour Dust. The sentiment is Impression Obsession Christmas Sentiments. The images are Stampin' Up Serene Snowflakes highlighted with diamond Stickles.
This is the type of card I just love! The colours, the sparkle, the texture - what more could a girl want in a card. The only thing that could make is better would be holly or paisley but snowflakes are still a great option.
I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle
PS - I'm off for a week of sun and sand in the Dominican Republic. See you when I return.

Vintage Ornament

Hello everyone,

Today's card, another attempt at 'vintage', is inspired by the background paper. It also fits Friday's Winter Wonderland vintage challenge.

The background paper is Fancy Pants Christmas Magic On The Tree. The ornament, cut with Spellbinders 2010 Heirloom Ornament Nestability, is BoBunny Snowy Serenade Concerto and Anna Griffin Christmas Cardstock. The top layer of the ornament was glittered with Glitter Ritz Cool Micro Fine glitter. The sentiment is Cornish Heritage Farms Vintage Christmas Expressions in Stampin' Up Early Espresso on a scrap of Very Vanilla. The ribbon is Michael's Special Value. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Mocha Opaques.

This is one of the cards I crafted at the pyjama crop last night. I just love the ornament and the glitter is wonderful. It all came together so beautifully.

The crop was just great! I managed to get six cards done before I petered out. I love being around such creative women as they are incredibly inspiring. Thanks ladies!

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

Gisèle