Birthday Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's card uses one of the flubs from my weekend of card making frustration. I've used Sunday's Card Positioning Systems sketch and today's My Time To Craft 'jewels' challenge when crafting this card.

The patterned paper is DCWV Pocket Full of Posies. The green layer is Stampin' Up Certainly Celery which was dry embossed with Sizzix Floral Expression texture plate. The lavender layer is Bazzill Bling. The image, Cuttlebug's With Love, was dry embossed on a Recollections card base and painted with Shimmerz Angel Wings. The sentiment is Lizzie Anne Say It In Script. The embellishments are Kiwi Oregon Raindrops.

This was one of my test pieces for last week's One Layer Wednesday shimmer challenge. I didn't want to just through it out so I repurposed it into, what I think is, a really beautiful card. I love pink and green together. It was also great to find paper and texture to match the image.

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

Gisèle

Thanks In A Row

Hello everyone,

I've a really fun thank you card today which has taken advantage of a number of different challenges. Sunday's Card Positioning System sketch was the starting off point. There is an 'Anything Goes' challenge at The Paper Players this week. Tuesday's My Time To Craft challenge is to use either dry or heat embossing. Finally, Friday's Res-Q Challenge is to 'Get In Line'.

The background paper is Stampin' Up More Mustard textured with the Cuttlebug Oriental Weave dry embossing folder. The patterned paper is BasicGrey Pyrus. The sentiment, Stampin' Up Warmest Regards, is stamped in Early Espresso on Very Vanilla and layered on a piece of Not Quite Navy. The embellishments are rust Oregon Raindrops.

I love this card. I wanted to do a thank you that was a little more masculine. I'm not sure if it has worked but I'll be able to use this card regardless. I love the Oregon Raindrops on the rows of pears. I think it looks really cool.

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

Fall Colours

Hello everyone,

As much as I'm enjoying crafting Christmas cards, I'm really in need of replenishing my 'thinking of you' card stash. My husband and I drove out to the nursery on Sunday and on a perfect fall day in Canada's capital, the fall scenery was absolutely resplendent. It was much too inspiring not to use in a card.

The card base is from Recollections. The images and sentiment are Sweet 'n Sassy Autumn Blessings stamped with Stampin' Up More Mustard, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust and Ruby Red. The sentiment is stamped on a scrap of Whisper White layered on a scrap of Old Olive. The embellishments are Peggy's Pretties.

The card is based on Saturday's Waltzingmouse sketch. It also meets last Tuesday's My Time To Craft challenge which was autumn themes and colours. Last week's Tuesday Taggers challenge was anything autumny so this card all fits that bill.

I just love this card. The colours and images are as striking as the scenery on Sunday. There is just something about fall colours that is so very appealing. It makes me glad that I live somewhere where the fall colours are so blatantly striking.

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

Gisèle

Five Challenge Card II

Hello everyone,

Nothing thrills me more than to be able to make more than one card in a single day especially when it happens on a weekday. Against my norm, I decided I would craft a card that fulfills multiple challenges and by that I mean more than three. I don't do this all that often because I find that it can become more about fulfilling the challenges than crafting the card and then I'm not all that happy with the final card. Unfortunately, or fortunately, there are so many really wonderful challenges out there so it can be really hard to limit myself and I do end up missing some really great challenges. It's such a tough life.

The challenges which inspired this card are:

Diva Coffee Break Designs - sketch

Crafty Creations - black and white with a pop of red

Quixotic Challenges - an animal or a gift for an animal

My Time To Craft - a wild animal

Tuesday Taggers - texture

The card base is Recollections. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Basic Black, Real Red and glossy. The background layer is textured with Sizzix Retro Squares. The ribbon in Michael's special value. The image is Local King Rubber Stamp Panda Bear 4. The sentiment is Waltzingmouse Say It With Style.

I'm quite pleased with this card. I love black and white and red together. I also think that the simplicity of the sketch is what makes it all pop. I don't think I would have attempted to use so many challenges on one card if pandas didn't suit the colour scheme so well.

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

Gisèle

Three Challenge Birthday

Hello everyone,

Today's card is based on three challenges. The Play Date Cafe wanted to see blue; My Time To Craft wanted spots; and Papertake Weekly provided the sketch.

Notwithstanding the sentiment, which is Lizzie Anne Little Bits, this is a Stampin' Up card. The background paper is brocade blue textured with Sizzix Small Dots. The patterned paper is Patterns Pack II, some of which is highlighted with Diamond Stickles. The image is Medallion and is also highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

Blue is my favourite colour. I love this card. It was fun to combine all the papers into a very workable card. I also have to say that spots scream for Stickles. I think I use Stickles on the Medallion stamp every time I use it. Oh well, it works for me.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

My Take On Manly

Hello everyone,

I love, love, love today's card. It is inspired by Tuesday's My Time To Craft Make It Manly challenge, while the Papertake Weekly Challenge provided the sketch.

The card base is Stampin' Up Kraft paper. The image, Stampin' Up Lovely As a Tree, is stamped with watercolour crayons on a piece of watercolour paper. It is mounted on a piece of Stampin' Up Always Artichoke and a piece of Ranger alcohol ink (browns and copper mixative) smooshed glossy paper. The sentiment is Sweet 'n Sassy Birthday Greetings. The ribbon is Home & More Classic Collections from Michaels which is mounted on a strip of Always Artichoke.
I'm so excited about this card. The kraft paper wasn't disappointing. It looked terrible before I put all the elements together but is just spectacular finished. I just love how well the watercolour technique and the alcohol ink technique came together so fantastically. I simply love the ribbon, it was one of those purchases that I just couldn't resist. This, to me, is a quintissential manly card.
Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.
Gisèle