Happy Birthday

Hello everyone,

There are just so many creative options with my latest Close To My Heart order that I just had to keep on crafting. Sunday's Stars and Stamps sketch was right up my ally so there was little doubt I would use it for a card this week.

The paper is all Close To My Heart - Magnifique, Pacifica, Chocolate and Colonial White. The image is Stampin' Up Flower Factory. The sentiment is Hero Arts Small Greetings. All the flowers are highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

This is exactly the card I pictured when I first saw the sketch. It took me a while to find the right flower stamp (does that mean too many stamps???) but this one works perfectly. I have to say I'm absolutely in love with the Sakura pen. It is so easy to use and is really impactful, though it doesn't show as well when photographed.

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

Gisèle

Love You

Hello everyone,

Today my husband and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary. I'm absolutely up for at least another twenty more.

The jumping-off point was Sunday's Stars & Stamps sketch. The paper is atd Story of Us and Stampin' Up Very Vanilla. The background layer was textured with Sizzix Pattern 1 as was the layer under the sentiment. The ribbon is Offray. The sentiment is Penny Black.

I'm very happy with this card. I was going for something romantic but not feminine. I'm not crazy about the font of the sentiment but it really does say what I feel.

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

Gisèle

Merrily Blue

Hello everyone,

I knew I wanted to make a blue card today. I used today's Stars and Stamps sketch challenge as my jumping-off point.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Ski Slope designer series paper. The remaining paper is Stampin' Up Baja Breeze and Whisper White. The Baja Breeze layer is textured with Cuttlebug Winter Wonderland highlighted with Star Dust Stickles. The ribbon is from Offray. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Short & Sweet.

This card is exactly what I pictured. The sketch was just wonderful and really lent itself to the paper I wanted to use. The Stickles add just the right amount of glitter and go wonderfully with the ribbon. It's great when it turns out as I imagined.

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

Gisèle

More Sympathy

Hello everyone,

Another quick sympathy card today. This is a commissioned card for my colleague's whose husband passed away. She is an avid gardener and I rather ran with that theme. I have to say, it has been rather soothing to make these cards for friends to give her. I used Sunday's Stars and Stamps sketch challenge as my starting point.

The card base is from Recollections. The vertical strip is Stampin' Up Rose Red textured with Sizzix Pattern 1. The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye Wild Asparagus. The image is Stampin' Up Asia Artistry coloured with watercolour crayons and spritzed with water before being applied to watercolour paper. It is layered on a piece of Chocolate Chip. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Warmest Regards also stamped on a piece of watercolour paper.

I love this sympathy card. It really speaks of my colleague and her love of gardening and her classic style. I hope it brings even the smallest measure of comfort. I love the Asian Artistry set. All of the stamps lend very, very well to the watercolour technique which is one of my favourites.

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

Gisèle

Pink & Peaceful

Hello everyone,

When I first came across Friday's Stamp Something pink challenge, I started thinking about how I could incorporate pink into a Christmas card. I think I managed it. I used Sunday's Stars and Stamps sketch to get started. This card also fits Sunday's Paper Players anything goes challenge.

The card base is from Recollections and is stamped with Stampin' Up Serene Snowflakes. The layers are Canford Silver and Stampin' Up Pink Pirouette. The pink layer was textured with Cuttlebug's Winter Wonderland dry embossing folder. The image is Heartfelt Creations Elegant Snowflake Medallions, heat embossed with Close To My Heart silver pearl and cut with Spellbinders Holly Ornamentn Die Cut. The sentiment is Gina K Vintage Borders. The entire card is highlighted with Diamond Stickles.

I really love this card. It is so soft and elegant and peaceful. I don't usually see pink as a Christmas colour but I think it really works with this card. I love the hints of silver as it lends that little bit of sheen that adds to the elegance.

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

Gisèle

Jolly Reindeer

Hello everyone,

When I first saw this reindeer paper I just had to get a sheet. It is so cheerful and different, I just couldn't resist. I used today's Stars & Stamps sketch challenge as a jumping off point.

The card base is from Recollections and is stamped with Inkadinkado Warm Holiday Wishes and Holiday Silhouettes in Stampin' Up Gable Green. The bottom layer of the focal point is Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip. The middle layer is a freebie of unknown origin. The top layer is K & Company Peppermint Twist Tiny Reindeer. The sentiment is Cornish Heritage Farms Christmas Expressions. The entire card is highlighted with Mermaid Stickles.

I think this is a really fun and nontraditional card. As much as I love the reindeer paper, it is not as easy to work with as I would have thought. I still this it is really fun and I'll enjoy playing with it.

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

Gisèle

Merry Christmas

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by the papers. I found these monochromatic patterns very appealing and thought everything worked so beautifully together. I used Sunday's Stars and Stamps sketch as a starting point.

The background papers are Anna Griffin Christmas cardstock. The focal element paper is Close To My Heart Vanilla Cream layered on Stampin' Up Soft Suede. The image is Inkadinkado Holiday Silhouettes stamped in Soft Suede and heat embossed with Close To My Heart Silver Pearl. The sentiment is Impression Obsession Christmas Sentiments. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Mocha Opaques Gems.

I think this card came together beautifully. It is soft, subtle and beautiful. While it is not a traditionally coloured card it still has a classic feeling about it. It rather reminds me of the old movies of the 1940s and 1950s. Marily Munro and all that.

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

Gisèle

Asian Thanks

Hello everyone,

Nothing like a good night's sleep to get the card making mojo back. This card is based on today's Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps sketch challenge and yesterday's One Stop Craft Challenge which is an Oriental Delights challenge.

The background paper is DCWV Far East Stack. The red strip is Stampin' Up Ruby Red. The image, from Inkadinkado, is stamped on a scrap of Very Vanilla and layered on a piece of textured Soft Suede card stock. The sentiment is Craft Lounge Friendly Flowers.

I think this is a great card. I love the colours. The entire Far East stack is just wonderful to work with and very inspiring.

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

Gisèle

New Challenges, New Card

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by two new challenges. Operation Write Home's Stars and Stamps provided a wonderful sketch and The Shabby Tea Room provided a photo for inspiration.

I just love finding new challenges, the only problem, there is no way on earth I can do them all.

The background paper is Stampin' Up Night of Navy textured with Sizzix Bead Strings. The patterned paper is BasicGrey Marrakesh layered on Stampin' Up Ruby Red. The sentiment, Penny Black Dance, Sing, Love, is stamped on a scrap of Stampin' Up Whisper White and layered on a piece of Ruby Red.

This card may be a little to 'blue' for the photo inspiration but I found it really makes the Marrakesh paper pop. I did love the sentiment because the bedroom in the image struck me as 'heaven on earth' so it was emminently suitable.

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

Gisèle