Frosty

Hello everyone,

Today's card fulfills a multitude of great challenges. I had only planned to use three challenges but when I looked over my list, it worked for a bunch of challenges. The latest ABC Christmas Challenge is 'V' for vertical with a great sketch to follow. Today's Artful Inkables is a blue, silver and white card. Today's Cards for Men is an anything goes challenge as long as it is for a man. The Flourish Timeless Tuesday Challenge was to embellish with anything but buttons or bows. Papertake Weekly is looking for sparkly and bright. Finally, this week's Tuesday Throwdown was to focus on a sentiment. Whew! I'm glad I didn't plan for all of these otherwise a card likely wouldn't have happened.

The background paper is DCWV Pastels card stock. The navy layer is of unknown origin from the stash, likely Recollections. The silver paper is Recollections and is textured with the Sizzix Ornaments plate. The white strips are Stampin' Up Whisper White textured with Sizzix Small Dots. The ribbons are from Michaels, Celebrate It Holiday and Home & More Classic Collection. The sentiment is Close To My Heart Magical Season stamped in Nick Bantock Charcoal Grey and heat embossed with Silver Pearl. The sentiment was cut and layered with the Spellbinders Labels Three die. The embellishments are Close To My Heart Licorice Opaques.

I love, love, love this card. The blue, silver and white is a favourite colour combination and perfect for a man-card. I was tempted to add some silver Stickles but I figured that would move the card away from manly and I really wanted to craft a card that I could pass along to a male colleague. There is enough sparkle in the ribbon.

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

Gisèle

Coppered Friend

Hello everyone,

I know I've said this before, but every now and again I craft a card that blows my mind. This is one of those cards. It all started with Friday's Everything Old is New Again Challenge which asked for a technique that we'd not used in a while. That got me thinking to the copper foil technique that I'd last done in the fall. Today's Tuesday Throwdown was dry embossing so I got to wondering how the copper foil would look after going through the Big Shot in a Cuttlebug folder. I then decided that Mercy Kerin's Tuesday Sketch Challenge would be the perfect sketch to showcase the copper.

The background papers are Stampin' Up Ruby Red and BasicGrey Porcelain. There is no brand name on the copper craft foil which has been smooched with Ranger Alcohol Ink and dry embossed with Cuttlebug's Stylized Flowers. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Pocket Silhouette. The embellishments are Rust Oregon Raindrops.

I love this card. When I first saw Heather's Stamping Haven showcase this technique at last October's Creativ Festival in Toronto, I knew I had to try it and bought all the supplies on site. I've not played with it as much as I would have liked so I really did have to experiment somewhat. This means, of course, there will be other cards with inked copper. The foil worked wonderfully in the Cuttlebug folder. I have to say I had a heck of a time photographing this card. The light is the biggest issue and I'm not all that thrilled with the final photo. That doesn't take away from my love of this card. I can't wait to try more.

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

Gisèle

Clean & Simple Throwdown

Hello everyone,

It is club night tonight so I'm pushed for time in a big way. I decided to take up the Tuesday Throwdown and make a clean and simple congratulations card.

I used a Halcraft card base. The image is Stampin' Up Asian Artistry. The sentiment is Gina K. Tags Lines.

I am very pleased with this card. When I fist saw this set I knew it would be perfect for clean and simple cards. I know I'll get a lot of use from these stamps.

Please enjoy and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle