Clean & Simple Joy

Hello everyone,

Today's card is inspired by Friday's Clean and Simple Stamping sketch which was just too lovely not to try. This card also fits this week's Tuesday Taggers challenge to use either 'peace', 'hope' or 'joy' on a card.

The background layer is Close To My Heart Ponderosa Pine. The printed papers are K & Company SW Glad Tidings. The ornaments are cut with an ornament punch from a shimmery gold paper of unknown origin. The embellishments are Recollections Adhesive Rhinestones. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Small Script.

I could do this sketch over and over, a million different ways. The K & Company paper, that I found at Michaels this past weekend is fabulous. The pre-cut aspect is wonderful. I'm not certain about the embellishments as they could have been just a little bit better arranged.

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