Dragonfly (Metallic), Happy Birthday, Male/Female

Hello.  

I wonder how you are doing today?  

Do you get the balance right between working hard and playing hard?  I wish I did...

When I saw the latest challenge by House of Cards with the cue word 'Metallics', I was very happy.  You see, I've been working on several projects at once recently as I'm trying to finish some designs, so I already had some metallic die cut leaves ready to go.  It was simply a case of coming up with an idea that worked...

Why am I working on so many projects at once?

Because there's this theory that I have a craft table somewhere...  but right now that's sounding more like an urban legend as it's buried away, hidden somewhere underneath too many half finished designs!  Come on...  confess.  I can't be the only one!

Here's my card...

I had a lot of fun with this design as I used some 'upcycled' elements - packaging from an embossing folder and from a disposable shower cap (of all things).  I don't know who came up with the idea but I've never seen something in a hotel packaged so beautifully!

Here's a quick rundown of the dies used:

Marianne Design Creatables 'Maple Leaves'

Elizabeth Craft Designs 'Dragonfly Silhouette'

Tattered Lace 'Retro Alphabet'

This is a simple card to put together, but I love the effect of the different textures combined with my trusty Walnut Stain Distress Ink and Paper Distresser Tool.  Giving the whole design some added dimension by targeting areas to glue and lifting edges just adds something 'extra' to this, I think.

As Seize the Birthday have an Embossing challenge 'Topper' to go with their 'Anything Goes' challenge this month, I did a two for one design special.  (In other words, I purposefully designed this card around both challenges).  Doesn't always work...  but I'm glad when it does :)

Other challenge being entered into:
Simply Create Too  (Challenge #91)  Anything Goes

I originally thought that this design might be suitable for men as well as women, but looking at it now I'm not so sure.  What do you think? 

If you have the time, I always value your comments.

Take care...

Donna

Cherries on Branch, Aperture, Female

Poppystamps have a challenge running right now that's just coming to an end...  and I've chosen to take a little 'artistic license' with my design this time around :)

Can you see the elements I've used to put this card together that all tie in with 'A Day In The Park'?

The bird, flowers and tree bark 'look' are obvious choices, I know...  but I've also included a brick wall stamp and some cherries. 

Why?  

Because in my head I had this idea of one of those gorgeous, stately park gardens that you can walk around from time to time...  and I pictured cherries growing in the trees, architectural brick work...  Get the idea?

Here's a quick peek at the inside...

This is a teeny, tiny 'mini make' that would make for a lovely Notelet or Thank You card.

How did I do it?

Cut four 8cm x 8cm squares out of white cardstock.  Place two to one side.

Cut an aperture out of the two remaining squares using the Memory Box 'Snow Globe' circle, then emboss one square using the Crafter's Companion 'Textures' Woodgrain embossing folder.

Distress the edges of the embossed square with a Paper Distressing Tool, then use Memento (Tsukineko) 'Rich Cocoa' to ink up the edges.

Take a 9cm x 9cm card blank and cut a hole slightly larger than the aperture out of the front panel.

Glue the embossed aperture square to the front of the card and attach the other aperture square to the back of the front panel.

Using the Bo Bunny Wall To Wall Textures Clear Stamp with Memento (Tsukineko) Rich Cocoa, print a partial brick wall image onto the third 8cm x 8cm square.  

(To print a partial image, use a piece of scrap card to cover the section of stamp you don't want to see printed before inking up).  

Once dry, glue to the inside of the card. 

Then glue the fourth blank square to the back.  (This is just to add a little extra stability to the card as well as it being the space to write your short message on).

Once the card base is all set, arrange the dies as shown in the pictures above.  (For the list of dies used, see below)...

Poppystamps - A Cherry on Top

Memory Box - Woodland Branch

Marianne Design Collectables - Birds

Elizabeth Crafts - Bunch of Flowers

Add jewel embellishments to the centres of the flowers and you are all done :)

I don't normally make cards where you are supposed to write on the back of them, but in this case I made an exception...  and snuck on an extra jewelled flower and bird :)

Other challenges I'm entering this card into...

House of Cards
July Challenge...  Food &/or Colour Inspiration

As always, if you have the time, I would love to know what you think of it.

Take care...

Donna

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PS...  I've FINALLY got my Google Friend Connect site up and running.  (You would not believe the aggravation this has caused me).

 BIG APOLOGIES to those of you I've only just been able to add my name to.  

Panda with Branches, Baby, Female

Good morning.  

I'm sharing a baby card with you today, but as you can see it's not your traditional pale pink or pale blue!

I've had this design in my head for a very long time, but it's still nothing like I expected it to be...  Funny how it works out like that.

Here's a quick 'how to' guide...

Stamp edges of Kraft card with Kaisercraft Film Edges Texture Clear Stamp in black ink.

Cut a piece of white card a little smaller in size than the card base, distress around the edges with a Paper Distresser Tool and glue into place.

Cut a green piece of card smaller than the white one and emboss using a Darice Bamboo Embossing Folder.  Glue at an angle.

Cut the largest tag from the PaperSmooches Gift Tag 2 set, using Watercolour Card.

Stamp on 'Baby Bamboo' from the Crafter's Companion rubber stamp set using Stazon ink.  Once dry, use Distress Inks to watercolour.

Mount tag at an angle using Foam Pads.

Cut out two branches using the Memory Box 'Grove Branch' die and glue into place.

Cut three flowers from the Elizabeth Crafts 'Bunch of Flowers' set, mold into shape and glue into place.

Cut three stamens from the Memory Box 'Fabulous Phlox' die , shape and glue into place.

Add the sentiment, three Morning Dew Drops and one black peg...


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I love the slightly grunge feel to this card.  When I have the time I plan on making a blue version - I wonder how that one will turn out?

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Cuttlebug Mania, who are doing a Tic Tac Toe challenge...
(I've gone for Baby Theme, Emboss, Lots of Layers)

Simply Create Too (Challenge #90) 'For A Precious Child'...

 Time Out challenges (Challenge #35) 'Nature with the Optional Twist of Animals'

... and CAS-UAL chic

Hope you have a good week :)

Donna...

Happy Birthday, 40th, Butterflies + Flowers

My husband asked me to make a birthday card for one of his work colleagues.  I've never actually met her, so I asked him what colour she likes or wears most often.  Can you guess what he said?  'I don't know'.  Helpful, right?  When pushed I did manage to at least get this piece of useful information...  'She did have a teal cardigan that she used to wear quite often'.

So...  That's my reasoning for this colour scheme.  Just hope she likes it!

I've used the Impression Obsession/Cover a Card (Wooden Plank) with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate as my card base, mounted on foam pads for added dimension.

The 'Happy Birthday' letters are from my Spellbinders Font One alphabet set, cut from brown Centura card for some extra subtle sparkle.  The Little Numbers are by My Favourite Things (Die-Namics). 

I used vellum to cut the Peaceful Butterfly Border (Memory Box) butterflies, then edged and lightly coloured using Walnut Stain Distress Ink.   The tiny butterflies are from my Martha Stewart, Pop Up Butterfly Punch.

The teal flowers (Elizabeth Crafts/Bunch of Flowers) have been edged and inked up a little using Tsukineko (Memento) Teal Zeal.  Some jewel embellishments, a coordinating paper insert with a plain white square at the centre (decorated with 3 more tiny brown butterflies as a finishing touch)... and then all I had to do was make a coordinating envelope to match  :)

Luckily for me, Seize the Birthday are having an 'Anything Goes' challenge right now, so I'm off to link it up.  

Hope you have a good week...

Donna

Oriental Theme, Bamboo, CAS

I really didn't think I was going to get this card finished in time...  but I did, so here's my second post for today  :)

It's very different to my other card, isn't it?

I chose to stamp the Brushed Bamboo (Impression Obsession) stamp onto Hammer card as I wanted to add some extra texture CAS style.  I HAD to use Memento Bamboo Leaves to ink it up.  How could I not?! 

There are two layers to the Blissful Butterfly Border (Memory Box) butterfly - a Centura card base with a vellum topper just glued at the centre to make it 3D.  I chose the Centura card as I wanted to use it for the shaped flowers (Elizabeth Crafts, Bunch of Flowers 2), adding centres from my Flower Mound die (Memory Box). 

The oriental looking pieces are chopped up portions from Lattice 2 (Dee's Distinctively Dies), the single leaf is a Meadow Leaf that's had some pruning (Poppystamps) and the tiny red butterflies are from Peaceful Butterfly Wings (Memory Box).

I tried to make this more CAS, but it just didn't look finished without the extra elements...

This card's being entered into three different challenges...

Poppystamps, House of Cards and AAA Cards...

I'm off to make a start on my next card.  It's unusual for me, but this time I know exactly what I'm planning to do.  That'll probably change!

'Bye for now...

Garden Flowers, Textured Brickwork, Kraft Card

Do you ever have one of those days when you try out an idea that REALLY doesn't work?

That's how this card began.  Some of my best work is a 'happy accident', you know!

Anyhow, I wanted to make a card that was less 'girly' but still pretty.  I think I've managed to achieve what I set out to do...  But if you have the time I would value your opinion.  Positive or negative - as long as it's constructive, please :)

Here's the card...

I've used embossing paste and a Tim Holtz stencil (Bricked) to give some texture to the Kraft card base.  Once dry, several layers of sponged distress ink (Walnut stain) were added.

The layered front panel has my favourite flowers on it.  Elizabeth Crafts, Bunch of Flowers 2.  The centres are tiny flowers from Memory Box (Flower Mound).

I've kept the Fresh Foliage (Memory Box) ink free as I didn't want to have too much going on.  This is a card designed for a CAS challenge, after all!

As for the butterflies...  I don't know if you can tell from the photograph but they are, in fact, embossed vellum rubbed with just a smidge of silver gilding wax.  The large butterfly is from Memory Box (Blissful Butterfly Border) and the smaller one's are from Martha Stewart, Pop Up Butterfly punch.

One piece of very dark brown twine tied to the side...  Finished :)

I made this card for the CAS-ual Friday's Clean and Simple Challenge...

...  and for Country View Challenges...

Have a great weekend :)

Flowers on Branch, Kraft Tag, CAS

I love the simplicity of this card...  and it's really quick and easy to make.

Instructions...

Take one Kraft tag, add a Branch die (Memory Box, Woodland Branch), shape three white flowers from Centura Pearl card (Elizabeth Crafts, Bunch of Flowers 2) and glue centres to the middle of each flower using tiny brown flowers (Memory Box, Flower Mound).  Add some red twine, mount with foam pads onto green backing card that has 'cut outs' in the corners (Joanna Sheen/Signature Die, Rose Leaves), glue to a card front...  Finished.

It's like a quick and easy recipe :)

I'm entering this card into the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge (use Kraft, Flowers and Twine)...

It's also being entered into Country View Challenges (use Kraft card) and Tag You're It...

As you can see from the Tag You're It...  design shown above, I've kept to very little of the original design this time.  The central flourish has been replaced by a branch and I've kept three of the flowers.  Other than that this design is quite different.

Hope the bank holiday weekend is treating you well...

Floating Butterflies, Kraft Card, Flowers

There are a few challenges focusing on Kraft card this month, so I've taken the plunge and had a go at a few designs.

With that in mind, here's the first of today's 2 posts...

I'm linking this to Country View Challenges...  and the latest Poppystamps Challenge...

I've cut the Floating Butterflies die (Memory Box) from some gorgeous red shimmer card that's been sponged using Brilliance Moonlight White Pigment Ink and a Tim Holtz Blossom stencil.  Once dry, this was backed onto Centura Pearl card that's been cut slightly larger, then mounted at an angle using foam pads.  

If you look closely you'll see that I've kept the inner 'cut out' outline of the Floating Butterflies die, gluing a small piece of card behind the centre of the middle butterfly to hold it all into place.  You can't see the strip of card as the folded Darla Butterfly die (Memory Box) hides it.

I then attached a piece of brown twine to the edge of the card before adding pieces of the Massa Leaf Frame (Poppysatmps) that I roughly edged using a Mememto Olive Grove Pen.

Three Dew Drops and some white flowers (Elizabeth Crafts, Bunch of Flowers 2), centered with tiny flowers (Memory Box, Flower Mound) and the card was finished.  

I'm keeping this one to use at the end of the Summer term.  It will be a 'Thank You' card for my daughter's one-to-one.  

Thanks for stopping by :)