Butterfly Birthday

Hello everyone,

I'm breaking into more of my recently acquired Close To My Heart papers. Tuesday's Inspirational Card Sketches had a great sketch that I just had to try.

The paper is all Close To My Heart - Black, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf and Wings. The blue layer is dry embossed with Sizzix Flourish texture plate. The butterflies, Sizzix Beautiful Wings embosslits, are more Sweet Leaf paper glittered with Crystal Glitter Ritz Warm Highlight Transparent Micro Fine Glitter. The sentiment is from Magenta. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Licorice Opaques.

I absolutely love this card. Every element I thought of, just worked with one another as I pulled the pieces together. It really is wonderful when cards virtually craft themselves. The colours works, the texture works, the images work and the sentiment works. How awesome!

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

Gisèle

Love You Valentine

Hello everyone,

I'm well ensconced at Neeje's Crop Til You Drop so I've pre-posted today's card. It is a commissioned card for an unconventional colleague. I used this week's Inspirational Card Sketch challenge to get started and will take advantage of the Stampin' Royalty Hearts, Hearts and More Hearts challenge as well as Crafty Catz Valentines/Love challenge.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Rose Red, textured with Sizzix Ivy Flourishes and layered on a piece of gold of unknown origin. The three tiers are Stampin' Up Basic Black and more of the gold which were textured with Sizzix Birthday Surprise dry embossing folder. The top tier and the heart are DCWV Rock Star Stack. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Short & Sweet.

First up, this card is not quite as pink as the photo suggests. Saying my colleague is unconventional is putting it mildly but she is a really great woman. When I asked if she wanted a valentine with gold skulls and hearts she got pretty excited. She is a gold skulls and hearts kind of woman and I know she'll love this card.

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

Gisèle

Thinking of You

Hello everyone,

I found out today that one of my nieces, who has a compromised immune system, is in the local children's hospital battling the flu. I just had to make her a card that I hope will cheer her up, if only a little. I used today's Inspirational Card Sketches challenge as a starting point and combined it with My Time To Craft's 'spots and dots' challenge.

The background paper is BasicGrey Lemonade layered on Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight. The sticker is Bazzill Basics Little Girl Chip Toppers. The two rectangular elements are scraps of Certainly Celery and Rose Red which have been textured with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots dry embossing folder. The sentiment is of unknown origin but probably Studio G. The embellishments are also of unknown origin but possibly Making Memories which are attached to a scrap of Shimmery White. The entire card is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

I really like this card. It is bright and cheerful and perfect for a really ill little girl. I really like how well elements from so many different companies combined so wonderfully. This is why I love cardmaking!

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

Gisèle

Thanks Coach

Hello everyone,

It's been so long since I've made a card I actually had a hard time focusing today. Tomorrow is my daughter's last soccer game and I picked up a little thank you for her coach. I, of course, just had to make him a card to go with it.

The background paper is atd Story of Us. The white paper is Stampin' Up Whisper White. The yellow and red layers are DCWV Jewel Coloured and Brights respectively. The image is of unknown origin from the stamp stash. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Lots of Thoughts.

I used Tuesday's Inspirational Card Sketches as a starting point. This year, the league's team names were based on the World Cup teams and their team was Spain thus the red and gold.

I think this is a great thank you card and I know her coach will love it.

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

Gisèle

Three Challenge Love

Hello everyone,

Today's card is the engagement card commissioned by my good friend Eleanor whose niece is going to be adding a third Dan to the family. We have Pauls in my family. I used last Tuesday's Inspirational Card Sketches (ICS) as a jumping off point. I was also inspired by Friday's Just Add Ink challenge to use embossing.

The background strip is Stampin' Up Bashful Blue embossed with Sizzix Ivy Flourishes. The patterned paper is BasicGrey Sugar Rush. The image is Stampin' Up Polka Dot Punches heat embossed with Cranberry embossing powder from Close To My Heart. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Itty Bitty Sparkles. The sentiment is American Crafts Wedding.

I didn't want to be make too serious an engagement card, that will be for the wedding. This BasicGrey paper is really fun and I think, perfect for this card. I love all the different colours with the Sugar Rush collection which like the fun design, are fun colours. Though this card is really different, I'm hoping Eleanor and her niece will love it!

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

Gisèle

Inspirational Thank You

Hello everyone,

Tonight's card is inspired by yesterday's Inspirational Card Sketches blog.


The card base is from Recollections. The background paper is Close To My Heart You Rock. The image is Hero Arts Three Ferns stamped on Stampin' Up Whisper White and mounted on Quickutz Tropical. The sentiment is is Stampin' Up Four Square.

I quite like this card. I bought this stamp because Susan Raihala used it on a card that she posted on her Simplicity blog. I couldn't resist it and I can't wait to explore all it's possibilities.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Inspirational Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by three challenges. Inspirational Card Sketches provided the sketch, Cards For Men wants a Birthday card and Jacksonbelle wanted us to use something new.

The patterned paper (which is new) is We R Memory Keeprs Coppered Out - Argyle and Coppered Out - Tiles. The solid papers are Stampin' Up scraps of Close To Cocoa, Bordering Blue and Very Vanilla. The green strip is a piece of unknown textured scrap. The Close To Cocoa strip was textured with Sizzix Harlequin texture plate. The sentiment is Studio G. The focal element was cut with a new Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Twelve.

I really like this birthday card. It is certainly a man card. I love the colours, textures and patterns.

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