Inspired Valentine

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on two challenges. Creative Inspirations wanted us to use our scrap bins and ColourQ was looking for a card with Stampin' Up Regal Rose, Blush Blossom, Close To Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and White. Thank goodnes I've a big scrap box.

I used a Halcraft card base. Each strip of Regal Rose, Blush Blossom, Close To Cocoa and Chocolate Chip was stamped with Stampin' Up I {Love} Love wheel. The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses. Peggy's Pretties add just a bit of bling.

I have to say I wasn't sure about this colour combination but I love how my card turned out. I was looking to do something simple yet impactful and this fits the bill. It is amazing how elements that may not thrill you, can come together and make a really great card. I also love using the Stampin' Around Wheel and I don't use it often enough. It is always very impactful. I also have to mention Peggy's Pretties (I get them at Scrap 'n Stamp) which are just half rounds that have been painted beautiful colours and I just love how they look on cards.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Clean & Simple Throwdown

Hello everyone,

It is club night tonight so I'm pushed for time in a big way. I decided to take up the Tuesday Throwdown and make a clean and simple congratulations card.

I used a Halcraft card base. The image is Stampin' Up Asian Artistry. The sentiment is Gina K. Tags Lines.

I am very pleased with this card. When I fist saw this set I knew it would be perfect for clean and simple cards. I know I'll get a lot of use from these stamps.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Boys Valentine Challenge

Hello everyone,

My card today is based on today's "Love Is In The Air" challenge from Stamptacular Sunday Challenge . They've asked for a card which demonstrated love without using a heart. Now this particular card is not for my love, but it is a commissioned card for the young son of a colleague (her older son will get the blue Valentine).

I used a Halcraft card base. The airplane is from Visuation Design and is a stamp that was once in my daughter's craft box when she was just a tot. I coloured it with a red Tombow and embossed with Stampin' Up clear embossing powder. The sentiment was stamped with letters, again, found in my daughter's craft box. I suspect they were part of an Inkadinkado set that I found years and years ago at Costco. I sponged the sky and sun and I drew in the OX string with a Staedtler pen.

This is most definitely not the type of card I usually create but then it is rare for me to make kids cards, let alone little boy cards. I'm quite happy with the playfulness of this card. I like how it is not a really mushy Valentine which I believe could be much more appealing to a young boy.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Unorthodox Valentine

Hello everyone,

Today's Valentine is utterly and completely out of the box. This is a commissioned card from a colleague at the office who asked for a Valentine for her older son who is a huge Toronto Maple Leaf fan. I think this really fits the bill. I used today's i{heart}2stamp sketch to help me keep this design focused.


I used a Halcraft card base on which I rolled Stampin' Up's I {Love} Love jumbo wheel. The leaves were cut with a Spellbinders die in Stampin' Up Whisper White. The heart strip was made with a piece of Whisper White and Brilliant Blue and stamped with TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses and Inkadinkado Hearts. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well Scripted mounted on a piece of Whisper White, Brilliant Blue and Basic Black scraps.

When all is said and done, I think I actually like this card. It is certainly different. I hope that my colleague and her son love it!

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Clean & Simple Doodled Valentine

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by the sketch at Clean & Simple Stamping. I really think I'm getting the hang of clean and simple, I'm sure enjoying the results.

I used a Halcraft card base. The patterned paper is Making Memories Valentine Paisley Love Struck. The ribbon is American Crafts. The image is Stampin' Up Doodle This highlighted with Fruit Punch Stickles. The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses.

I really like how I managed to coordinate the different elements of this card. I thought the image related well to the paper and the ribbon related well to the image. It is so nice when it comes together like this.

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

Gisèle

Diva Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on yesterday's Diva Coffee Break Designs sketch challenge which was awesome. It is one of those sketches that gets my inspiration flowing and I know I could easily make a ton of cards using this design!

The card base is from Halcraft. The paper is Stampin' Up Sending Love Specialty paper. The ribbon is Sheer Creations organdy from Michaels. The pearl brad is from Multicrafts. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings.
I went all-out feminine for this card. I just couldn't help mysel once I pulled out the pink flowered paper. It is my favourite in that paper series. Of course, if I'm using favourites, I'm going to use that organdy ribbon. If you're inclined, check out the Diva's cards, they are truly inspiring. I stuck pretty closely to the original sketch with this card but I see so very many possibilities.
Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle

Four Challenge Valentine

Hello everyone,

I used four different challenges to help build today's card. The challenge at 365 Cards was to include the word 'love' in a sentiment, Creative Card Crew asked for a Valentine, Jacksonbelle Embellishments was looking for any combination of buttons, bows or brads and Lord Have Mercy! provided the sketch.

The card base is from Halcraft. The heart paper is BW Sweet Talk Pattern Hearts. The textured square is Quickutz while the base of that element is some scrap Stampin' Up Rose Red. The brads are Recollections. The sentiment is TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses.

I'm really pleased with this card. I couldn't resist picking up a sheet of the heart paper, it was just too appealing as were the brads.

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

Gisèle

Valentine Pattern

Hello everyone,

Today's Valentine is inspired by the sketch from the Card Patterns blog. Like many challenges I come across, this one was particularly appealing.


I used a Halcraft card base. The paisley paper is Making Memories Love Struck Valentine Paisley. The darker strip is Stampin' Up Rose Red textured with a Sizzix Flourish plate. The lighter pink strip is piece of textured Tropical QuickStripz from QuicKutz. The hearts were cut with the Sizzix Hearts and Paisley die in a scrap of the QuickStripz. The sentiment is from TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses. Everything is highlighted with Star Dust Stickles.

I'm very pleased with this card. Paisely is one of my favourite shapes so I couldn't resist this paper. I also love the row of Stickles on the lighter pink strip as the card just sparkles. The sketch just came together beautifully.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Irresistable Clean and Simple Valentine

Hello everyone,

I just couldn't resist today's Clean & Simple sketch. It was just too appealing not to get creative. This card also fits today's No Time To Stamp? challenge for red and heart. Though they were not necessarily looking for a Valentine, why wouldn't you do one at this time of year.

I used a Halcraft card base. The fours squares are Stampin' Up Whisper White attached to Making Memories Love Struck Be Mine Stripe. The images are Inkadinkado Hearts. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Well Scripted. The ribbon is an old dollar store find.

This is a lovely clean and simple Valentine. I just love this type of card. It has all the elements that I just love, except for Stickles.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Two More Clean & Simple Valentines

Hello everyone,

I'm really dragging today so looked to clean and simple cards for today's post. Today's Belli Challenge called for hearts while yesterday's Spoon Full of Sugar challenge was a freestyle card so I combined the two for a couple of really clean and simple valentines.

The card bases are from Halcraft. The images and sentiments are TPC Studio Hugs and Kisses. Though hard to discern in these photos, there are also two horizontal score lines on the hugs + kisses card. It is a very impactful element on such clean and simple cards.

I quite love the simplicity of these cards. I have to apologize for the terrible photo. My camera doesn't like all the white space on these cards so it is very difficult to get decent photos.

I hope you enjoy these cards and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Valentine Sketch

Hello everyone,

I've not totally lost my mojo but it is rather tired. I used yesterday's Card Positioning Systems (CPS) sketch as inspiration because I just love the clean and simple aspect of the sketch.

I used a Halcraft card base. The background paper is Making Memories Love Struck Valentine Paisley. There is also a scrap of Stampin' Up Rose Red that was textured with Sizzix small dots. The image and sentiment is from Waltzingmouse. The brads are from Recollections.

I love this card. It was a great sketch to work with and I love how all the bits and pieces came together.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Inspirational Sympathy

Hello everyone,

I never imagined that when I started taking my cards to the office I would need so many sympathy cards. I seem to run out regularly. It's not like you can enjoy making a sympathy card but I certainly hope those who receive them feel better. I used today's Inspirational Card Sketch as a starting point for this card.

The card base is from Halcraft. The background papers are My Mind's Eye Magnolia. The image is Stampin' Up Medallion which stampin on a scrap of Very Vanilla and highlighted with Cinnamon Stickles. The sentiment is also Stampin' Up Warmest Regards.

I've used this combination of papers and stamp for other sympathy cards as I find it quite soothing without being somber.

Please come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Caroline's Bar

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a double challenge card. One of the challenges comes from my darling daughter, Caroline. About a month ago, the 365 Cards challenge was to make a card with five items picked by someone else. My daughter picked a tough five items but loved the card I had made. She was so taken with being involved in a challenge she created another challenge for me. She called it Caroline's Rainbow Challenge which involved an assortment of rainbow coloured items and a list of instructions. The other challenge is a new challenge blog called Raise The Bar which asked for us to make a card using something we had not used before.



I used a Halcraft card base. The focal image is glossy paper smooched with Caroline-designated Stampin' Up Bold Brights ink spots. I used a new Hampton Art Glue Pad to stamp Stampin' Up Itty Bitty Buds which were glittered with colour co-ordinated Martha Stewart glitter. I broke open my new Stampin' Up Mat Pack to punch the corner detail. The rainbow paper is mounted on a piece of Stampin' Up Basic Black. The sentiment is Stampin' Up It's Your Birthday.

I just love this card! Between the intricate directions and numerous options, this turned out to be a pretty clean and simple card. More to the point, Caroline loved the card too!

I'm looking forward to trying more challenges from Raise The Bar. If you're game, check it out and give it a try.

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

Gisèle

Blue Congratulations

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a color challenge from the Stamp Something blog which called for a card in blue and white. It has been a really busy week and I needed something clean and simple.

The card base is my usual Halcraft. The bottom squares are solid blue all from my scrap box so could be anything from Stampin' Up to Michaels bulk paper. The top squares are vellum coloured with different shades of alcohol ink. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Congrats.
My favourite colour is blue so this was an easy colour challenge for me. I've been looking for an excuse to use alcohol ink on vellum and the effect was as wonderful as I had hoped. This will be a perfect card for the office stash.
Enjoy the card and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle

Stamptacular Valentine

Hello everyone,


Today's card is based on the sketch from the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge. It was a great layout for something clean and simple.





This is the usual Halcraft card base. The Stampin' Up Rose Red strip was textured with Sizzix Small Dots. The smaller strip is g.c.d. Tinted Flowers designer paper. The image is Inkadinkado Hearts highlighted with Crystal Ice Stickles on a scrap of Whisper White and My Mind's Eye Magnolia. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Short & Sweet.

I really like this Valentine. The sketch made it quite easy. I can't wait for my new Stampin' Up order though, I need a little more variety in my Valentine paper.

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

Gisèle

Another Clean and Simple Valentine

Hello everyone,

It is late for posting - I was distracted by a Harry Potter movie - but I still have a card for you. It is a really quick card à la clean and simple. It is also representative of the colour garnet which is yesterday's challenge from Daring Cardmakers.

I used the usual Halcraft card base. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Wonderful Words. The image is from Waltzingmouse. The ribbon is So-Facile.

Again, a very simple Valentine but, quite effective. I love it!

Enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Clean & Simple Valentine

Hello everyone,

T.G.I.F. I'm rather done in tonight but couldn't go without making a card. I'm addicted! I chose to stick to something clean and simple and looked to the No Time To Stamp? blog which asked simply for a heart. I'd actually been thinking of this card all day.

I used a Halcraft card base. The images are all Inkadinkado Hearts stamped in various shades of red. The sentiment is from Waltzingmouse.

Super quick, super easy and a lovely clean and simple Valentine. I love this card! It turned out exactly as I imagined.

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

Gisèle

Five Challenge Card

Hello everyone,

I didn't plan to one-up yesterday's four challenge card, it just happened that I came across five challenges today that fit together beautifully on one card. Today's 365 Cards wanted to see metal. The ABC challenge was looking for layers. Crafty Creations called for black and white with a splash of color. Flutter By Wednesdays, in addition to angels, fairies or butterflies, wanted us to use something new. The Diva Coffee Break Design Team provided the overall sketch.

I started with a Halcraft card base on which I layered Stampin' Up Basic Black and Shimmery White. The white layer was textured with the Spellbinder Impressabilities Butterfly plate. I used a new piece of paper, gcd Studios Tinted Flowers designer paper. The metal flower brads are from Multicrafts. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Short & Sweet.

I really love this card. Considering how many challenges have been used on this one card, it should be busy, but it isn't. I did add a sentiment to the sketch because I felt it was needed. I also used dimensionals on everything and it certainly provided great depth. Maybe that's why it appeals to me so much. I figure this card will easily pass for a Valentine even with nary a heart in sight.

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

Gisèle

Sympathy

Hello everyone,

I finally got the better part of my craft area organized and I'm exhausted. I still have some organizing to do but I have enough space to put a card together. I've prepared another sympathy card which feels rather proper as we repatriate five Canadians back from Afghanistan.

I used a Halcraft card base. The Spellbinder Lattice pendant and corner pieces were cut from a piece of Stampin' Up glossy paper to which the Ranger Adirondack alcohol ink technique was applied. The center medallion was cut from Whisper White and was highlighted with Shimmerz Pixie Dust. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Warmest Regards.
This is another clean and simple sympathy card and is, I think, very suitable.
Please come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle

Clean & Simple Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Today's card is a challenge card from the Our Creative Corner blog which asked for a clean and simple card. I needed clean and simple more than ever today as I'm cleaning and re-organizing the craft corner. We've all been there and it is never an easy task but it is totally worth it in the end - or so I keep telling myself.

I used a Halcraft card base. The image is Stampin' Up Pocket Silhouettes which I coloured with Tombows. The sentiment is also Stampin' Up Warmest Regards.

There always seems to be a need for sympathy cards at the office so I like to have a stash on hand. A colleague father-in-law passed away a few days ago so I know a few extra cards will come in handy.

I don't want you to enjoy this card all that much but please come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle