Shaking Another Happy Birthday

I'm really enjoying the shaker card and trying something different.  Today, I'm sharing a card inspired by this Pinterest pin.  I used my Stitched Rectangles dies to create the frames and Jennifer McQuire's shaker card tutorial.  I am, once again, pleased with how the card turned out.  Very simple and effective.  This card could be for either a man or a woman.

Have you tried a shaker card yet?  They are more simple than you think.  Give it a try!

More Manly Fun - All Occasion Cards

I picked up the mosiac punch from Stampin' Up to match the stamp set I bought several years ago.  I just had to give it a try and considering I'm always looking for a solid man card, I planned to use muted tones and some of that paper sitting in the stash.  I liked it so much that I made a set.

The cool part with these stamps is that there are three different patterns.  I ended up stamping a bunch and punching them out.  The striped pattern paper has been in the stash over a decade.  I remember the "flash sale" where I bought a whole pack of them (along with a bunch of other paper sets).  You'd think I'd just give this stuff away, but no, it's still there and I think works great on these cards.

I can't decide which one is my favorite, can you?

I am linking this up over at Simon Says Stamp's Monday Challenge: Make a Plan since I made a plan to use up my stash paper and my new punch.  I'm  also joining Word Art Wednesday's Challeng #195: Anything Goes.  Come join the fun or just be inspired.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Wishing you all much crafty goodness this weekend.

Another Girly Birthday Card

I needed a card for a coworker and found myself returning to the butterfly.  I used my Heartfelt Creations Botantical Wings stamp and die.  I stamped the butterfly on white cardstock with black Archival Ink.  I used Squeezed Lemonade and Spiced Marmalade Distress Markers to color the butterfly and then a bit of Wink of Stella brush to make it glitter  The glitter isn't really captured in these pictures.


The branch was stamped with brown Archival In and die cut using my Heartfelt Creations Leafy Branch stamp and die.  I used a Q-tip to color the center of the branch with brown ink as well.  The flowers were die cut using my Heartfelt Creations Posy dies and a little October Tango prills used in the center of each.

  

On the inside- a lot of white space and a simple black Archival Ink sentiment.  So much fun. I think I could always work with butterflies in my projects.  How about you?

Our Beautiful World - Week 108 Stitch(es)

Our Beautiful World's word prompt for this week is Stitch(es).  I immediately thought- I need to snap a few photos of my wall hanging and post them.  I even squeezed it in this morning.

This is actually for my sister.  She purchased the muslin pre-printed top and batting over a decade ago.  Yes- that is right- 10 years ago.  I've been working on it off and on since then.  The problem is that life happens- kids get sick, holidays, birthdays, work.  They all pile up and I fold the project up and put it away in a bag.  Or I take it on a vacation and work while I'm there but somehow never unpack the project upon return.

I took it with me to Hawaii in June and since then have tried to keep it out.  I work for a little while at a time- the ink is fading so my clock is winding down.  I'm hoping to put the last few hours into this projects and hand it over soon.  I'm guessing because I haven't kept track, but I think there is over 600 hours of quilting.  That's more a testament to how slow I am as the project measures just over 3 feet square.  Lots of tiny little stitches.

Don't miss the opportunity to stop by Our Beautiful World and check out what the other participants have posted.  They never disappoint and are always worth the time.

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.