A Couple of Birthday Cards

Hi everyone - I'm sharing a couple birthday cards today! First up, a card for Darnell (djkardkreations) who had the anniversary of her 29th birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday, Darnell!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar white; Poptone black; 

Park Lane A2 card; Spellbinders Betterpress Porcelain

Stamps - Altenew Dynamic Blossoms

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; Hero Arts gems; foam tape;

I made a previous bellflower card using the color combo pink & aqua. Loved it so much that I wanted to color it in purples - Darnell loved it too. I die cut the purple one with a larger rectangle than the pink/aqua so more of the image shows. Added to an A2 card without a mat layer. 

The sentiment was letterpressed using a hot foil plate - turned out so gorgeous; I couldn't stop staring at it! Die cut it along with a black shadow layer. Added it to the card with foam tape, then popped some gems around.

Next up, a card for my niece that I neglected to share in her January birthday month.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar white; Hero Arts Bermuda;

My Favorite Things Colorful Canvas; scrap of beige

Stamps with Dies - Hero Arts Flowers in Vase Bundle

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

I stamped, colored and die cut the bouquet in vase - it's one large image. Added to an A2 card along with a canvas background, white mat and a beige "tabletop" where I'd stamped a sentiment from the same set. Quick and easy! The Flowers in Vase set got first play on this card (and I haven't used it since...) so I'll add to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #64 - hope that's ok; I haven't shared the card b4. Will add the card I made for Darnell to the July Seize the Birthday Challenge #286 using Anything Goes.

Thats it for today friends. Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July tomorrow if you're in the USA - so glad we have freedom to live as we chose, including crafting!!

Thanks for visiting!!

June 2024 Card Chain Reveal

Hi crafty friends - summer is speeding by, isn't it?! It's already time to reveal cards we sent around the world for the June Card Chain Challenge. Twenty-six people participated this month. My card went to dear Mia (Craftartista) in Greece; you can see the full reveal HERE.

Supplies: Paper - Ms Sparkle A2 cards - sand & turquoise; 

Neenah white; Poptone kraft; unk navy; Authentique

Stamps - Waffle Flower Sweet Plates Sentiments

Hero Arts Oceans of Joy (c2010 retired) 

Dies - Spellbinders Essential Floral Reflection;

Hero Arts Sea Creatures Fancy Dies;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - foam tape; Ranger Seafoam embossing powder;

Papercraft gems; Darice googly eye

We had the following options when creating our cards:

Color Palette Option:

Sketch Option:

Theme Options: Summer / Maritime / Friendship

Product / Technique Options:  Foil / Weaving

I used the colors & sketch, plus themes of Maritime & friendship. I started with a sand A2 card, then die cut both white & turquoise rectangles. I tore the turquoise into pieces, stamped shells on three of them, then added to the white rectangle. Added the panel to the A2 card along with a Spellbinder label cut in half. I die cut two smaller labels and layered them for the sentiment (stamped and white embossed). Added the sentiment & a die cut seahorse to the card with foam tape. Embellished the seahorse with sparkle lacquer, gave him a googly eye & added turquoise gems to finish the card.

The post is notoriously slow to Greece so as soon as I signed up & made the card, I popped it into the mail. I was delighted that it reached Mia timely!!

I'm expecting a card by Daja (Zur Beruhigung "For Calming" in English) from Germany. Looking forward to receiving it!!

I will insert a photo when it arrives....

Thanks for stopping by! If you'd like to join the July Chain, go HERE for details and to link up.

Many Thanks Lemons

Happy Monday everyone! Time to play with Darnell (djkardkreations) and her IDEAS program; see her fabulous inspiration HERE. This week I=inks but, since last month didn't have an S week, I also pulled out a stencil and blended away. Here's my card:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Solar White:

Paper Studio pastel A2 card; Poptone Black

Stamps - Momenta Lemons (retired)

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stencil - Frantic Stamper Old Brick Wall

Other - Copic Markers; Park Lane gems; black gel pen

Hero Arts Sand Stone & Key Lime Fizz inks

I die cut a piece of Neenah with a stitched rectangle & stamped the lemon branch. Rotated the panel and stamped a second one, then a sentiment from the same set. Colored the lemon branches with Copics. Stenciled some partial brick in opposite corners (I was inspired by someone's card from a while back but can't find it - sorry). Matted the panel in black and added to a yellow A2 card. Some lemon yellow gems finished the card. My sentiment looked blah just stamped; tried shading it with a grey Copic - still blah. Then I added some black dots and lines, echoing the dots on the lemons - much better (in my mind). What do you think?

On Saturday my former quartet lead singer Heidi had a birthday. She and her boyfriend hosted a small dinner party to celebrate; I was delighted to attend. For dessert Heidi (we call her "Martha Stewart") served a luscious lemon triffle. That inspired my thank you card. I got the lemon stamp set on clearance at Hobby Lobby ages ago - only $2.24!! Crazy!! It got first play with this card so I'll add it to Darnell's July NBUS Challenge #64. I'll also link my card to Just Us Girls Challenge #733 where Anything Goes with Stencils & to Inkspirational Challenge #319 where they're using stencils too (with option of paste).

Thanks for stopping by!