A Crate Full of Flowers Birthday Card

I have been a little under the weather this holiday season; which is also a significant birthday season in my family and I needed to make some birthday cards.  So, I decided to look in my stash of extra pieces from past card projects and found some Concord & 9th Petals and Palette pieces!

The flowers are not really a color pallet I would normally use, and I can't remember what ink I used to stamp them.  However, I feel like they work.

I wanted to add some interest to the background so I used a piece of woodgrain volume over a decorative cardboard and the card is done.  I am so glad I saved these extra pieces!

A Flowery Birthday Card

I'm still working my way through the card bases I stamped using my Studio Katia Blooming Bunch stamp set.  I didn't vary the card layout much - keeping with the birthday greetings on some vellum and using the Studio Katia crystals to decorate the card front.  I did use three different Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers to color the flowers.  I think I did a better job getting some depth to the flowers, though I'm not sure my pictures show this off very well.









On the inside, a simple sentiment, keeping it simple so that this card can be used for a variety of different birthday occasions.  I think both Brandy and I would have to say that the simple, but effective design of this stamp makes card fronts a quick, simple and delightfully beautiful result.

Happy Birthday Card Using Studio Katia Blooming Bunch

OK - so I've been a little obsessed with my Studio Katia Blooming Bunch stamp set.  Maybe it is a measure of the stress/intensity at work or maybe I just love coloring this image.  Either way, I'm back today with another card colored with my Zig Clean Color Brush markers onto Bristol cardstock and finishing with a white embossed sentiment on vellum.  The accents are using Nuovo drps and fit the color scheme fantastically.

So fun!

Pink Blooming Bunch Birthday Card

I'm back to share a pink version of the card I made earlier this week using my Studio Katia Blooming Bunch stamp set.  Same basic design - so I can add this card to the stash and use it in the weeks to come.  Colored with Zig Clean Color Brush markers on Bristol cardstock and finished with some Studio Katia crystals this time.  There is no way to show off the shine these delicate little crystals add.  My photography just isn't that good!

Hope your week is ending on a strong and satisfying note.  This card sure fit the bill for me.

Blooming Bunch Birthday Card

I decided to splurge a bit and picked up the Studio Katia Blooming Bunch stamp set.  This floral cluster stamp is a large size stamp that dominates an A7 size card, something that I've wanted for a long time, but couldn't take the plunge.

I'm sharing my first attempt at coloring this stamp.  I stamped with Archival black ink onto Bristol cardstock with the intention of using my Zig Clean Color Brush markers.  There are flaws in my coloring performance here, but overall the result is stunning.  I kept the rest of the card simple to allow the flowers center stage.

I so enjoyed this foray that I've stamped a few more and left them in my working stack to pull out and color on a night after work where I simply need the relaxation that can come from a bit of crafting without the stress of needing a card designed and sent.  So, I'm sure there will be more of these to come in the following weeks.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday's Week 320/321 Anything Goes challenge

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge:  Anything Goes

Mermaids and Birthdays

Who doesn't exactly love mermaids?  Especially with all the adorable stamp sets out there.  I'm sharing this card that Brandy made for her niece's birthday.  The amount of care and love thrown into all the intricate little details. Each of these pieces were fussy cut, ensuring a black edge and a seamless look.  That shading is all ink effects using a grey Copic marker - stunning!

Whoo hoo! A die cut card stand gives this little girl a method for displaying her card for weeks to come.  Those mermaids are definitely happy little girls and we'd have to agree that Brandy's niece must know how very much her auntie cares, making her one happy little girl as well.

We're both on a crafty roll starting the new year.  There's some fun we've planned for the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more cards and a little something extra.

Andie for 

Watercoloring Peonies Buds

I had previously stamped some of these Peony buds onto Bristol cardstock and kept them in the stash for a fun coloring day.  No masking, just strategic stamping.

Ultimately, I decided to play with my Mission Gold watercolors.  I layered up the colors, eliminating blooms as I went (not all, but some) and intensifying the color.  That means that I spent several hours coloring this image as I let the paint dry between layers.

I'm not as happy with this yellow as I think it ended up being very flat in color and appearance.  Still, I enjoyed the process and learned as I went.

I also am not fully content with the chunky glitter frames on either card - I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and in the end I think they take away from the delicate nature of the flowers and the watercoloring of the image.

Live and learn - I need to take more chances creatively than I usually do.  For that, I'm pleased with how these both turned out.

Happiest of Birthdays - A Card

I decided to use some of the supplies that Brandy graced me with on National Scrapbook Day.  This card is a result of that effort.  I used an Our Daily Bread Designs set of dies to make the stacking, lacy frame for my stamped sentiment focal point.  The gold foil over green is washi tape - so chic!

On the inside, a simple sentiment with some more matching washi tape for accent.  A fun, quick card that makes me enjoy my gifts all the more.

Birthday Wishes

So, Brandy's birthday is in March.  I'm such a bad friend - or we're so busy with trips out of town for work, etc. - that we just recently got together to celebrate her birthday.  I had saved this card and the post showing the card off because Brandy checks in on my projects and I didn't want her to see this ahead of time.

Here's the details on the card:

• The frames were die cut using my Our Daily Bread Designs Vintage Borders dies.  I used coordinating patterned paper so that all the papers go together.
• The flowers were mad from white cardstock stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and edged with pink ink only at the tips.  I wet the cardstock before shaping and used the stylus to get this cool shape - love it!
• The leaves were stamped with Chartreuse Papertrey Ink onto white cardstock and then I sponged more green onto the leaves after.  They were shaped with dry paper.  
• Various white and pink cardstock die cuts fill in the background - most from my Our Daily Bread Designs Leaves and Branches dies.
• Patterned paper butterfly die cut using my Prickly Pear Mini Butterflies die.  

On the inside - a simple sentiment and a pretty little butterfly cut from coordinating patterned paper.  I'm over the moon how this turned out for my bestie.  Along with a small token of my esteem and though we were late to celebrate, I'm hoping she knows how very special she is.

We're right in the middle of celebrating and anticipating the graduation ceremony Wednesday this week.  My crafting time is now focused on packing for our vacation.  I intend to take some leisure watercolor projects with me on the trip - something to keep my hands busy in the early morning when I'm awake before anyone else.  I've a few photos of cards made that need to post, so I'm going to fill blank spaces this week with trying to post those and prepare to leave.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

SSS Little Critters because my card contains butterflies

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge 284/285: Anything Goes

and the new to me Creative Stamp Challenge Challenge 14: Flowers

A Very Special Birthday Card

I had a lot of fun making this card for a dear friend's birthday.  She's received a fair bit of my crafty stuff and so I was looking for a special card design.  My mom gave me a store bought mother's day card this year with a huge die cut butterfly 3'd out of the center of the inside.  After thinking how thoughtful the card was, my second thought was - I'm totally scraplifting that idea.  Thus, this card was born.

I stamped the butterfly on white cardstock with black Archival Ink.  I then used my Faded Jeans Distress Marker and a water pen to watercolor the butterfly centers.  A little Wink of Stella glitter brush was used, but the pictures don't do it justice.  This matched the front of the card where I used a larger waterbrush to brush ink before stamping the sentiment in black Archival Ink.

I die cut the butterfly out of the layered portion of the inside to give the impression that the butterfly "emerged" from the card.  I ran the butterfly die through the die cut twice- cutting only half of the image.  This allows the die cut to be visible around the raised die cut.  The centerpiece that pops the butterfly off the card is a 2 in. x 1 1/8 in. rectangle.  I scored the piece 1/4 inch from each end and then again a 1/2 in. from each end.  This created the 1/8in. flat section that the butterfly is adhered to.  I glued the 1/4 in. ends together to create a slightly triangular piece.  The card doesn't lay completely flat- but she didn't mind.

The sentiments are stamped in black Archival ink and then accented with gems.  I'm really pleased how this card turned out. It will be one of my favorites for a long time.

I hope your Saturday is going well.  I'm off to redo the bathroom cabinets.  More of the home reno that started earlier this year. I'm really stretching things out...

I've linked this card up with Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Blog: Simon Says Anything Goes and Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #194:Anything Goes Family.  Come join the fun or be inspired.

So Sweet

I received this picture from Brandy for a birthday card she recently made.  I'm just so impressed with the sweet simplicity of this card, that stamp and the intricate details Brandy added to the card.  I'm going to try to summarize the details:

• The young lady is Simply Gorjuss The Black Star stamp stamped in black Archival Ink onto watercolor paper and colored with Distress Markers, Distress inks and a watercolor pen.She was fussy cut out with scissors.
• The ivy is cut with Cottage Cutz Ivy Made Easy die which she then colored with Distress Inks and a watercolor pen.
• The balloons were stamped onto watercolor paper and colored with Distress Inks as well.  The stamp is from Hobby Lobby
• The white lattice was die cut using Spellbinders Fancy Lattice die and the grass was cut with IO's Grass Border die.
• The remainder are fence pieces cut using the Cricut and embossed with woodgrain embossing folder. 

She's just such a sweetly adorable image, I think that face makes the card, don't you?  I hope you have occasion to use your supplies to make someone a beautiful birthday card this week.  Join me in a round of applause for Brandy's hard work.

She's so sweet I'm entering this card in Simon Says Stamp's Challenge: H is for....  Holtz since she was colored with Distress Markers.

Happy Birthday Card

Just a quick post to share a birthday card I made using some scraps from a paper pack.  The card base is simply a piece of cream cardstock that has been enhanced with Scattered Straw, Peeled Paint and Vintage Photo Distress Inks using my ink blending tool.  The base is finished by stamping some swirls using brown Archival Ink.  The brown woodgrain is some washi-type tape I won at the last crop I attended with Brandy at our LSS.   I believe the Happy Birthday stamp comes from a Fiskars set, but I'm not completely sure and the background was treated in a manner similar to the card base, I just pushed the colors a little darker to make the sentiment stand out.  The flower was made following Tim Holtz's tissue tape flower  video.  After I hot glued the flower I applied some magenta chalk ink to the tape to create the vivid color and plopped a pearl bead smack in the center.  I really like how this turned out.  I was able to sort of mass product a few of these that I could use in the coming weeks.

My daughter turns 14 years old today.  There's a reason to celebrate!  Happy Birthday, Katie, my darling dear.

Thanks again for looking.

Andie

Another Happy Birthday Card

Just a quick post to share a Happy Birthday card I made for one of my ex-coworkers, Jan.  You might remember her lovely and thoughtful gift to me when I was still working- Isn't she clever?

Well, I couldn't let her birthday go by earlier this month, so this is my creation.  I used the twisted card tutorial that I first heard of from Lori over at Papercrafts by SaintsRule!.  Lori is prolific in her crafting and always a pleasure to check in and see what she's been up to.

This card creates pockets that you can hide (like I did on the inside) or make useful.  I can see me tucking a gift card right behind that flower cluster (can you see the dimension?).  The Happy Birthday sentiment was printed using the computer, including the frame.  The image was fussy cut out and adhered with some foam tape to the inside of the card.

Jan is one of those special people that you hope you know the rest of your life.  I am certain she enjoyed her big day and I tried to make certain she knows how precious she is to me.  Nothing says precious like spending your time creating a beautiful card for a loved one.  Happy Birthday, Jan!

Andie

Birthday Girl

This is another of Brandy's creations.  This birthday card was made for her sweet niece, Izzy.  I may not have everything right, but I believe the Birthday Girl is cut from Cricut's Storybook cart and the presents come from Cricut's Christmas Cheer cart.  Brandy has a Gypsy that she uses with her Expression.  This makes stringing the presents into a border a simple click and drag process.  I know because she's said as much that her Gypsy is one of her favorite parts of using her Cricut.  We're both really hoping that ProvoCraft doesn't make a huge mistake and obsolete this wonderful product.  At the least, we will hope they continue to support and resolve the many problems with the Gypsy. 

Don't you just love those epoxy balloons?  They came from a prepackaged set.  I think Izzy thought this was a happy celebration for her seventh birthday.  What a good job, don't you think?

Brandy (through Andie)

Just a Note Happy Birthday Card

Quick post of this cute little Birthday card Brandy made some time ago.  This is a simple card with the stamped bird image fussy cut after stamping and coloring with markers.  The sentiment and musical embellishments come from a stamp set, but I'm  not sure which one. The paper set is from Brandy's stash- coordinating opposite sides.  So simple, yet so cute.

Brandy (by Andie)

Basic Grey's Sweet Threads Cards

I had cause during June to need to make an anniversary card and a birthday card.  I just love my Basic Grey Sweet Threads collection.  I haven't (obviously) used it enough because I still have whole 12 x 12 sheets of this beautiful patterned paper.  I actually scraplifted a good portion of the design and like a git I didn't mark down the reference so I can't share with you the wonderful original inspiration.  Either way, I am soooo pleased with how these cards turned out.  All cuts except the swirl and flowers are cut from Cricut's Accent Essentials.  The swirly flower stamp set is a Inkadinkado set stamped using my coffee Archival Ink.  The anniversary sentiment comes from a wood stamp I've had for ages and the flower on this card comes from those made for my May Day baskets. 

I realized that the Birthday card was photographed before I stamped the sentiment from my Glitzy stamp set (a French phrase I'm not sure exactly what it means).  The flower in this card was embossed and die cut from Heartfelt Creations Posy stamp and dies.  In this second photo, you should be able to see the pearls added using my Viva Decor Pearl Pen.  You might be able to detect them at the end of the flower swirls.  Very nice finish to a card I am very pleased with the result.  I'd make this one again and again using different paper combinations from the Sweet Threads collection.  Great paper makes designing easy!

Andie

Flowers and Butterflies

A quick post to display one of Brandy's beautiful cards.  You can quickly see that Brandy's style is much more intricate, layered and carefully crafted than my cards.  I think it is what makes her works such an inspiration to me. 

 

The butterflies are glittered using green glitter and layered to pop right off the card.  The flowers are Prima flowers and the brads come from a Basic Grey collection.  Such a beautiful card, I couldn't keep it off the blog.

Brandy (through Andie)