Funky Floral

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a great funky floral birthday card.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The printed paper is Momenta layered on pink Core'dinations and a dark grey Bazzill.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01 stamped in Altenew Pure Graphite on an ivory of unknown origin and layered on more dark grey Bazzill.  The ribbon is also of unknown origin.

I've used this paper a number of times in the past.  I love a pink and grey colour combination!  I thought the font of this sentiment worked great with the folk art style images.  I had a great time finding a ribbon.  I actually think this piece is from the old and long-closed White Rose company.  I actually made this bow on my first try which rather shocked me!  It's a great result.

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

Gisèle

Once in a Lifetime

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the anniversary card I crafted for my husband.

The card base is Core'dination red.  The image is Penny Black The Look of Love stamped in Tombow 177, 847 and 856 on Recollections White.  The image is layered on a shimmery black and a white of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Changes Everything stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White.  The embellishments are Pebbles black candy dots.

I don't usually go with a floral for my husband's anniversary card but there was something about this rose that I found very appealing.  It's a stamp I borrowed from a girlfriend.  I think I'll stamp a number of impressions before I return it.  The image is quite simple and is perfect for applying marker.  I used my favourite anniversary sentiment, though it could be used for other types of cards as well.  I angled the sentiment because the card base is a little on the larger size due to the envelop size and I needed to balance the elements with generosity.

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

Gisèle

O Canada

Hello everyone,

Today's post is part of a series of cards I'm crafting for my brother and his girlfriend as part of their Christmas gift.

The card base is Craft Smith.  The printed paper is Photoplay "O Canada" EH! layered on Bazzill Red Devil.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01 stamped in Close To My Heart Twilight on Recollections White with Altenew Lava Rock and layered on Close To My Heart Twilight and more Red Devil.  The embellishments are Recollections Cord Dots.

I found this Oh Canada paper at my local scrapbooking store Crop A While.  I didn't have any particular plans for it but just knew it needed to be in my stash.  When I decided to craft a few cards for my brother's Christmas package, I knew this paper would be perfect!  He spent a number of years living in the states and overseas which gives him a real appreciation for all things Canadian.  This paper is particularly well suited to cards because the images are a great scale and are randomly printed.  I'm so happy with the final result.

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

Gisèle

Terrific Tucans

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a super fun and fairly neutral birthday card.

The card base is The Paper Studio.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on a white and a navy also of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01 stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on Recollections White and layered on more navy.  The card is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

Aren't these tucans awesome!  I love this paper!  Not only are the images absolutely perfectly scaled for card but the variety of colours allows for easy colour coordination.  I love the simple flowers interspersed with the tucans.  The layout couldn't be more straightforward.  Notwithstanding the pinks and flowers, I actually would consider this card pretty neutral.

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

Gisèle

Simply Sophisticated

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a beautiful flourished Christmas card.

The card base is Recollections White.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on a glittered white, also of unknown origin, and Recollections Black.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Merry Christmas 06 stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections White and layered on more Recollections Black.  The ribbon is of unknown origin.  The card is highlighted with Star Dust Stickles.

You can't go wrong with a red/white/black colour scheme.  I love the 'worn' aspect of this printed holly paper and black seemed the best colour with which to coordinate as I was pretty sure I wouldn't find just the right red in my stash.  This is a great scale sentiment for a horizontal card.  The black ribbon really brings it all together.  A great result!

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

Gisèle

Birthday Robots

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another birthday card in the commissioned series I've been posting for the past couple of weeks.

The card base is Recollections white.  The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Recollections black.  The images are Twin Seven stickers.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01 stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on a white of unknown origin and layered on more Recollections black.

This is really fun kid card.  While argyle isn't necessarily a kid paper, the colours in the stickers work perfectly with the paper.  It's a really simple layout and I offset the sentiment to fit the larger robot on the left side of the card.  I love the results!

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

Gisèle

Birthday Birdies

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a really cute birthday card.

The printed paper is DCWV Green Stack layered on Close To My Heart Sweet Leaf and a scrap of blue of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01 stamped in Stampin' Up Ridinghood Red on Recollections White.  The yellow ribbon is of unknown origin.

I think these little birds are just the cutest!  I love all the different colours which, like yesterday's card, make color coordination so easy.  I wish I'd had a sentiment stamp that said 'a little birdie told me ...' as it would have been just perfect for this card.  Again, a simple layout highlighted with a cheerful yellow ribbon.

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

Gisèle

Surefire Simple

Hello everyone,

Today's birthday card was ridiculously simple.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin' Up Soft Suede.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01 stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on Recollections Vanilla.  The embellishment is Close To My Heart Round Durables.

I love everything about this amazing printed paper!  The colours and pattern were so appealing that I just added a solid layer, stamped a sentiment with a strong font in a coordinating colour and added a solid embellishment.  It probably took me more time to find an embellishment than to actually craft this super easy card.  Again, while I was originally thinking masculine, this card is pretty neutral overall.

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

Gisèle

A Christmas Tag

Hello everyone,

Today's post uses more of the surplus card bases from my stash.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Stampin' Up Bravo Burgundy.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Merry Christmas 06 stamped in Bravo Burgundy.  The embellishment is K & Company Susan Winget Glad Tidings Word Adhesive Chipboard.

I have a bunch of coloured card bases that have coordinating tags but this vanilla one is the only one suitable for Christmas cards.  I've no idea where they came from.  It's a pretty yellow vanilla so I chose this somewhat vintage paper (donated from Crop A While) and think it works wonderfully.  I went outside my box by placing the tag on an angle.  It all works really well and was very quick and easy.  The hardest part was finding a suitable embellishment.

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

Gisèle

Cheerful Tulip Trio

Hello everyone,

Today's tulip card is just something bright and cheerful for mid-January.

The images are Altenew Tulip stamped in Altenew Mango Smoothie, Warm Sunshine and Green Fields on Recollections White.  The images were cut with the coordinating Altenew Tulip die. The images were layered on a textured Bazzill green.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01 stamped in Evergreen on Recollections white and layered on a Bazzill yellow.  The ribbon is Multicrafts.  The embellishment is Keepsakes Memories.

This card just puts me in a very, very happy place.  There is nothing like sunny flowers during the middle of a cold and dreary winter.  The masking exercise used on yesterday's card gave me the idea to cut out part of the leaf on the right side tulip so it would overhang the green layer.  I thought it added interest as did the combination of glued and raised, and stamped and die cut pieces.  Overall, for just a second attempt, this card turned out beautifully.

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

Gisèle

Beautifully Bold

Hello everyone,

Today's birthday card is not necessarily for everyone.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Close To My Heart Clover Meadow and Honey.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 10 stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Honey.  The butterfly embellishment was punched from a piece of watercolour paper smooshed with LuminArte Coral Berry, Deep Coral, Dreamsicle and Ginger Peach Twinkling H2Os.  The embellishment is EK Success Harvest Dots.

This commission didn't specify anything more than birthday cards so I've just given my creativity free reign.  It's been rather liberating.  I find a piece of paper that I like and just run with it.  This is one of those cards that I didn't think about all that much but just let is come.  This paper is bold and loud and, for some reason, I find it really appealing.  I chose this simply scripted sentiment because I liked the contrast against the busy background.  I found this watercolour paper in my stash and couldn't believe that it actually worked so perfectly with the background paper.  It was probably done years ago so that it works is very much a happy accident.

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

Gisèle

Petals In Paisley

Hello everyone,

A few years ago I crafted a set of cards for my sister to send to her nieces and nephew overseas.  She has used up all the cards for her nieces and asked for another half dozen which I'll be posting over the next few days.

The printed paper is DCWV Girl's Stack layered on Stampin' Up Summer Sun.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 10 stamped in Melon Mambo on Whisper White and layered on more Summer Sun.  The card is highlighted with Star Dust Stickles.

Something I've kept in mind for these cards is that they cannot have any bulk otherwise mailing overseas can be costly.  I love Stickles for this exact reason.  It adds marvelous sparkles with no extra bulk.  The age-range for the girls is 13 to 17 so I had a wonderful time going girlie - flowers and butterflies.  I think this will be a great card for one of them.

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

Gisèle

Extra Special Wedding Wishes

Hello everyone,

Today's post couldn't be more special.

The photo on the left was layered on a shimmery navy of unknown origin, Worldwin Autumn Hay Petallics and Worldwin Copper Pearlescent Swirl.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Changes Everything stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more navy and Autumn Hay.  The embellishments are My Mind's Eye Heirloom Enamel Dots.

The photo on on the right was layered on a textured, shimmery blue of unknown origin, Worldwin Silver Ore Petallics, Joy! Crafts Spiegelkarton Winter Assortment and Recollections Christmas Mercury Glass.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Changes Everything stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on Bazzill white and layered on more Joy! Crafts Spiegelkarton Winter Assortment.  The embellishment is Stampin' Up Frosted Finishes embellishments.

My Aunt and Uncle will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in March.  How utterly amazing!  My mom asked me to craft them a special card.  Very sneakily, I asked my cousins if they had a wedding photo, which was quickly dispatched via email.  I printed a couple of variations and just got creative!  I ended up crafting two cards because I just couldn't choose one.  They are both so wonderful!  One so very vintage, the other fresh and shiny.  I'm so excited by these cards.

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

Gisèle

PS - Mom chose the card on the right.  I'll send the card on the left.

Playing Nice

Hello everyone,

Today's charity card uses the last of the bright green textured card bases.

The textured card base is DCWV. The printed paper is Cosmo Cricket DeLovely layered on Stampin' Up Whisper White.  The butterfly is a Cottage Cutz Ornate Butterfly dies from Close To My Heart Juniper and highlighted with Wink of Stella Clear 999.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01 stamped in Juniper on Whisper White and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The embellishments are ZVA crystals.

In addition to making sure colours speak nicely to one another, image and font also need to play nice.  I have a couple of dozen butterfly die cuts and punches.  Some are quite simple, while others are very detailed and precise.  Against this particular printed paper, a detailed and precise butterfly would look awkward but the butterfly used here, though quite intricate, uses flowing lines and edges that speak well to the flowered background.  I painted the butterfly with the clear Wink of Stella to add just that little extra pop.  The crystals, are intended to work with the numerous circles in the printed paper and on the butterfly.  So very, very different from yesterday's card yet another great result!

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

Gisèle

Remarkable Redos

Hello everyone,

I wasn't exactly pleased with the Grunged and Glittered and Sincerely Spring cards from earlier this week so decided to undertake some redoing.  It was absolutely worth the effort!

The butterfly die cut, sentiment and embellishments were reapplied to a piece of Recollections White and Marina Mist.  The sentiment, still Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01, was stamped in Stampin' Up Marina Mist.

The butterfly, sentiment and embellishments now pop without any loss to the great grunge background.  The butterfly is also wonderfully visible.

The butterfly die cut and sentiment were reapplied to a piece of Recollections White that was stamped with Stampin' Up Blooming With Kindness stamped in Daffodil Delight, layered on more Pear Pizzazz and White, and highlighted with Wink of Stella GL Clear 999.

The only change to this card was re-stamping the flowers in Daffodil Delight.  The butterfly no longer blends in quite so much.  It still doesn't pop as much as I'd hoped but at least it is so much more visible than my earlier effort.

I'm really pleased that I took the time to re-work these two card.  I really wasn't happy with the original results and these two cards are so much better.

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

Gisèle

Grunged And Glittered

Hello everyone,

Another glittered butterfly card today.

The background is Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge stamped in Daffodil Delight, Marina Mist and Pear Pizzazz.  The butterfly is die cut from a piece of glossy paper that was inked with a variety of Ranger alcohol inks and die cut with Joy Crafts Vintage Flourishes 6003/0023.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01 stamped in Midnight Muse.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestones.

Like yesterday's card, the background I stamped on this card camouflages the butterfly as opposed to highlighting it.  Also, despite using a dark ink for the sentiment, the busy background rather swallows it up.  The embellishments add that necessary sparkle which doesn't come across in this photo.  This is another card that may well have to be reconstructed for it to work the way I'd like.  Again, not a bad card but it could be better.

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

Gisèle

Holly Swirls

Hello everyone,

Today's card is one of the more traditional is this series.

The printed paper is Authentique Festive layered on Stampin' Up Ridinghood Red and Mossy Meadow.  The Ridinghood Red layer was textured with Sizzix Holly Swirls.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Merry Christmas 07 stamped in Mossy Meadow on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Ridinghood Red and Mossy Meadow.  The embellishments are Eye Outlet Enamel Dots.

I couldn't design a Christmas card without using some holly paper, my most favourite Christmas image.  This is one of those cards that looks much more complicated than it really is.  There are multiple elements and layers as well as some wonderful holly texture.  Everything was pre-prepared for the ladies so I think they'll be surprised by how all these pieces will come together.

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

Gisèle

Snoopy Says

Hello everyone,

Today's card uses another stamped image that I found in the leftover bin.

The printed paper is of unknown origin.  The image is Stampabilities At The Beach stamped in StazOn Jet Black on Stampin' Up Whisper White and layered on My Mind's Eye.  The image is coloured with Tombow markers and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Express Yourself stamped in Close To My Heart Indian Corn Blue on Whisper White and layered on Recollections.

I love Snoopy and I wish I was chillin' on a beach somewhere south just about now!

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

Gisèle

Fanciful Holly Swirls

Hello everyone,

It is impossible for me not to use some of the many holly stamps in my arsenal for my own Christmas cards.

The image is Heartfelt Creations Holly Berry which was inked with Tombow 177 and 847 before being stamped.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Merry Christmas 06 coloured with Tombow 177 and stamped on Stampin' Up Very Vanilla and layered on Real Red.  The embellishments are Want 2 Scrap Say It With Baby Bling Red.  The holly berries and sentiment were highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

This is a pretty fanciful holly stamp but I just love it!  It is perfect for this semi- one layer card.  I can't wait to try some other uses with this lovely stamp set.

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

Gisèle

The More The Merrier

Hello everyone,

I've finished the Christmas cards for my siblings and am now starting on cards for my colleagues.

The printed paper is Martha Stewart Snowflace mat pad layered on Worldwin shimmery white and Stampin' Up Real Red.  The ornament is a Cottage Cutz die cut from glossy paper that was smooshed with Ranger alcohol ink and affixed to a piece of white that was covered with Martha Stewart coarse crystal glitter.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Merry Christmas 06 stamped in Real Red on Recollections white.  The embellishment is a TPC Studio Holly Jolly brad.

I wish the photo did justice to the shimmery white layer as it plays beautifully with the glittered layer of the ornament.  I love the basic red and white color combination of this card.  Very Christmasy.

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

Gisèle