Telescoping Circles Snowman Card - 52 {C}CT July Embellishment Challenge

This week at the 52 {C}CT blog we have an embellishment challenge for you and the embellishment is brads.

 I chose to make a telescoping circles card because brads are important to the 'mechanics' of this style of card - plus a snowman telescoping snowman card is just so much fun to make!  I also incorporated a decorative brad - the snowflake on his hat is a ribbon brad.

Barb Mullikin has a video tutorial for a telescoping circles card on this post if you'd like to check that out.  The fab snowman idea came from Becky Roberts at her Inking Idaho blog and her written tutorial can be found here on this post.  I made this card for my hubby last Christmas and I've kept to the same design more or less - although I haven't bothered with the twiggy arms this time, they're a tad too spindly and delicate!

I've used plain and scalloped Nestability dies for the snowman circles.  The hat was made using a square Nestie die shape (I trimmed it to a rectangle and rounded the top corners) plus a Spellbinder's Labels Trio die for the brim.  The nose was snipped from an SU! Petite Pennants punched shape.  The eyes are 1/4" circles and the smile was made with a handheld 1/16" circle punch.  The buttons (from the SU! Button, Button set) were punched with an 1/2" circle punch. I sponged each white circle with Bashful Blue ink and sponged rosy cheeks on the face.  I used turquoise gingham ribbon threaded through a ribbon brad to dress up his hat and to make a ribbon pull.  I added a knot of ribbon to the snowflake brad, popped up the nose and stamped the snowflakes and sentiment on the bottom circle to finish off the front.

Here he is telescoped.

  
And here he is opened out.

I covered the brad prongs up at the back to make things neater - and it's also safer if the card is to be given to a little one!  I glued a white scalloped circle to the back of the black one and that's where I will write my message.  I stamped snowflakes and then the sentiment over the top and sponged the edges.

More snowflakes were stamped on the envelope flap, I added the charming 'Snowmen fall from heaven unassembled'  saying and sponged the edges of the flap to finish off.  I hope you'll play along with our brad challenge this week - don't forget to check out the fab cards from the other DT members!

 

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts 'Think of Christmas',  PSX 'Snowflake Medley', Stampendous 'Heavenly Snowmen', SU! 'Button, Button' set, Hero Arts 'Very Merry Christmas' clear set
CS: SU! Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie & Tempting Turquoise
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, & Cajun Craze, white gel pen
Tools: Plain & scalloped circle Nestabilities dies, square Nestability die, Spellbinder's Labels Trio die, SU! Petite Pennants punch, corner rounder punch, 1/16", 1/4" & 1/2" circle punches, paper piercer, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories: silver brads, turquoise gingham ribbon, Woodware snowflake ribbon brad, 3d foam pads

Daisies Happiest Wishes card - Simply Stampin Challenge #70

We have this wonderful sketch to tempt you with at the Simply Stampin' challenge blog this week.  I hope you'll enjoy working with it as much as I did and that you'll share your creations with us!  Please check out the inspiration on offer from the other DT members - oh, and yours truly is the featured DT member today!

After last week's soft vintage card I've gone for a cleaner, bold, colourful look this time - not a sponge dauber in sight!  I wanted to try a new colour combo rather than using a tried and tested fave.  I've made my own swatch of SU! CS colours and I got it out and just played about, putting various colours together to see what took my fancy.  I ended up with Certainly Celery, Melon Mambo, Night of Navy with Whisper White as my neutral.

I've rotated the sketch for my card and the card measures 5 1/4" square.  My circle measures 4 3/8" and I stamped the flourish from Baroque Motifs a few times on it as a background.  I used the scalloped Edgelits die for my scalloped border and I added Night of Navy ribbon tied in a knot before gluing the white circle in place.  I then die cut the daisies and punched the smaller flowers out using the Boho Blossoms punch.  I shaped the flowers and added rhinestone jewels to the centres.  I inked just the 'Happiest Wishes' words on the stamp with the Night of Navy marker and stamped onto white CS.  I used the 1 3/8" circle punch to cut out the white circle, matted onto a Melon Mambo scalloped circle and popped it up.

I cut a square white panel for inside the card, stamped the flourish and added a scalloped border.  I inked the 'on your Birthday' words with a Melon Mambo marker and used plain and scalloped oval punches to mat and layer the sentiment.  I stamped the flourish a few times on the envelope flap to finish.

Now, I know the Olympic games have started which is very exciting - but that's no excuse not to get inky!  I really hope you can play along with us this week, I'd love to come and see what you make!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Baroque Motifs & Happiest Birthday Wishes sets
CS: SU! Certainly Celery, Melon Mambo, Night of Navy & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Certainly Celery, Melon Mambo & Night of Navy
Tools: SU! Adorning Accents Edgelits die, Blossom Party die, Boho Blossoms punch, plain & scalloped circle punches, Stamp-a-ma-jig, circle cutter
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon, Rhinestone Jewels, Dimensionals

It's Your Birthday Tag Card

This is a birthday card I made at a Stampin' Up! Make and Take evening.  Oooh, that curve on the patterned paper was a trial for me, I think I nearly wore my eraser out I had to rub out my pencil lines so many times!  In the end I asked my demo Joanne to take pity on me and she very kindly drew the curve for me!  After cutting the curve I glued the paper to the Limeade panel, attached the strip of ribbon and glued the panel to the Concord Crush card base.  I then die cut the swirl and glued pieces from the die cut to the bottom of the card.  I used markers to ink just the frame and wording on the birthday tag stamp, punched it out and matted it onto a larger Limeade punched tag.  After punching a hole I slid the clip over the ribbon and tied on the tag with baker's twine.  I then added the leaves - pieces left over from the swirls die cut - and Melon Mambo flowers to the tag.  I placed rhinestone jewels in the flower centres to finish off the front.

I didn't waste the curved piece of patterned paper I had left over from making the card front - I glued it to a Bashful Blue CS panel for inside the card.  I added the sentiment square and decorated the envelope flap with a strips of patterned paper and Concord Crush CS.  Lucky Limeade and Melon Mambo are firm favourites of mine but I've not been that keen on Concord Crush.  I must say though it does go really well with those colours and the pretty patterned paper!  I really like the look of curved shapes on cards but I'm just not confident or good at drawing good curves myself - I will have to practise methinks!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Happiest Birthday Wishes
CS: SU! Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Cheerful Treat DSP
Ink: SU! Concord Crush, Lucky Limeade & Melon Mambo
Tools: SU! Tag punches, 1/16" circle punch, Swirls Scribbles Sizzlits die
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Concord Crush Stitched-Poly ribbon, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, silver clip, Rhinestone Jewels

Gold Flaked Flower With Best Wishes Card

I've had my gilding flakes out again to CASE a card I saw on display at the Glitter Pot.  The card is larger than I usually make, it measures 7" x 5".   I've used Lancashire Rose gilding flakes on the harlequin background stamp and the Penny Black 'Dreamy' flower stamp.  I love how the delicate flower image contrasts with the grungy, distressed background panel!  I've matted my white panels onto gold mirri card, added brads to the flower panel and popped the flower panel up.  After stamping the sentiment I added gold ribbon and gold nailheads to finish off the card front.

Here's the inside and the envelope with just some simple stamping and punching.  Short and sweet from me today, I'm going to enjoy some sunshine in the garden with a good book!

Supplies:
Stamps: IndigoBlu 'Harlequin', Penny Black 'Dreamy', Hobby Art 'Sentiments' clear set
CS: PaperMania 7" x 5" white card blank, SU! Whisper White, gold mirri card
Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle, Encore metallic gold
Tools: Circle punches, Perfect Layers
Embellishments & accessories: IndigoBlu FlitterGlu, Lancashire Rose gilding flakes & scoochy, gold brads, gold nailheads, gold ribbon, 3d foam pads

Piano Birthday Wishes Card For Alan

This is the birthday card I made for our friend Alan - he is a pianist but now he lives in a small house he's restricted to using a keyboard!  I saw this fabulous piano card on Pinterest months ago and immediately thought of Alan and I decided I'd make one for his birthday.  Hmmm, I didn't take into account the freehand drawing and cutting of the curve shape and I'm not confident or good at doing things like that!  I went to a SU! Make and Take evening last Tuesday and one of the cards required a curve to be cut and I made such a hash of it that I had to ask my demo Joanne to take pity on me and do it for me!  So when I sat down to make this card I wondered just how many tries it would take and how much black CS would end up in the bin - surprisingly, I got the curve drawn after only a few attempts and at least I could rub out any mistakes with an eraser and start again!

I cut a black A6 size card, drew the curve with a pencil and then carefully did the cutting.  I went over the cut line with an emery board just to tidy it up.  I stamped the music background onto Whisper White CS and attached it to the inside of the card.  Something else I'm  not confident or good at is maths so trying to work out an equal width for the white piano keys to fit across the A6 card was headache inducing!  In the end I hit upon a measurement which left a tad over at the right side of the card so I just trimmed that bit off after drawing in the lines with a ruler and a black pen!  I then cut the black keys and popped those up with 3d foam pads.  As the card was for a man I didn't want to use ribbon so I just added a simple white sentiment strip and some black gems.

Inside I added a simple white sentiment panel where I could write my message.  I enjoy a pun now and then and I couldn't resist wishing Alan a 'grand' birthday!  

I used the music background stamp again for the envelope and added a black CS strip.  To finish off I added a frame where I could write Alan's name.  I spoke to Alan and Jan on the phone earlier today and they both told me they were thrilled to bits with this card - awwww, how nice!

Supplies:
Stamps:  SU! Happiest Birthday Wishes & Four Frames sets, Hero Arts Music Background, Hobby Art Best Wishes
CS: SU! Basic Black & Whisper White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: SU! Decorative label punch
Embellishments & accessories: black gems, 3d foam pads

Vintage Thanks So Much Card - Simply Stampin' Challenge #69

It's a lovely theme - Vintage - this week at the Simply Stampin' challenge blog.  Aged, shabby and distressed - but that's enough about me, let me tell you about the card I made LOL!

I've used one of my all time favourite stamp sets, Vintage Vogue, and the elegant Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder for my card.  I started off with an A6 size Crumb Cake card base and I then inked the folder with Soft Suede ink before embossing a piece of Pink Pirouette CS.  I tore the corner off the pink piece, stamped the sentiment on a piece of Very Vanilla CS which I then crumpled up.  I stamped the flourish a few times on Crumb Cake CS with Soft Suede ink, inked the edges and layered onto a Soft Suede mat.  My flowers were stamped in Pretty in Pink ink and rock 'n rolled in Crumb Cake, edged with Soft Suede ink, cut out and shaped.   I added pearls to the flower centres.  I shabbied up the pink, vanilla and Soft Suede pieces by distressing the edges with the blade of my scissors and I inked the edges with Soft Suede ink.  Before gluing the panel to the front of the card I attached a strip of Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon and a bow.  I distressed those by heating the ribbon with my heat tool so it went crinkly and added some Soft Suede ink on the edges.  I popped up the Soft Suede panel at an angle over the ribbon. 

Here's the inside and the back of the envelope.  I used the Very Vintage wheel for the strip at the bottom, added a line with my Soft Suede marker and stamped three small flowers.  I decided I wanted to make an envelope for my card with CS rather than patterned paper.  The instructions I have to make a C6 size envelope say to use a piece of paper 8 1/2" square and to make A scores at 4 1/2" and B scores at 3 1/4".  Hmmm, I only had A4 size Pink Pirouette CS which is not 8 1/2" wide.  I used an 8 1/4" square piece instead and scored the A and B lines at the same measurements and the card fit inside just fine! I used circle punches, brads and linen thread to make an office envelope style closure.  I added the bradded circles before assembling the envelope.

I stamped the Very Vintage wheel on the front and added Soft Suede marker lines.  I made this card for Owen to give to Jan and Alan to say thank you for his birthday gifts - I hope they liked it!

I also hope you'll play along with us at Simply Stampin' and take part in our Vintage theme challenge, I look forward to popping along to see what you've made!  There will be more great inspiration from the other DT members so please make sure you check their creations out!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Vintage Vogue & Sincere Salutations sets, Very Vintage wheel
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, Soft Suede & Very Vanilla
 Ink: SU! Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake & Soft Suede
Tools: SU! Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder, Simply Scored & Diagonal Plate, 1/2" & 3/4" circle punches, Stamp-a-ma-jig, heat tool, paper piercer, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon, Pearl Jewels, Pretty in Pink brads, glue dots & Dimensionals

Holly Wreath Z Fold Card - 52 {C}CT July Theme Challenge Card

This week at the 52 {C}CT challenge blog we have a wreaths theme challenge for you.

I've gone for a traditional red and green colour combo for my Z fold card and I've added a little touch of luxury in the form of some velvet.  I made the 5 3/4" square card from Riding Hood Red CS and I glued the velvet flocked holly paper to the inside panel of the card.  I stamped the holly wreath twice onto white CS, coloured using inks and a blender pen and I cut out the larger berries and popped them up.  I stamped the bow separately onto a piece of deep red velvet paper, cut it out and popped that up also.  I edged the white panel with Old Olive ink before layering onto Riding Hood Red and Old Olive mats.  I attached the main image panel to the card front and made the holly berries raised and glossy with Crystal Effects.

I stamped a sentiment and some holly on a white panel for inside the card and sponged the edges.  I simply punched a circle of the holly paper and matted onto a larger red circle to go on the envelope flap to finish the card.  Please play along with us at 52 {C}CT this week, I'd love to come and see your wreath cards! Don't forget to check out the cards the other DT members have made, there's some fab inspiration from them!

Supplies:
Stamps: Woodware 'Holly Wreath' clear stamp, Stampendous 'Christmas Wishes' clear set
CS: SU! Riding Hood Red, Old Olive & Whisper White
Patterned paper: Making Memories flocked holly paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Riding Hood Red & Old Olive, blender pen
Tools: SU! Simply Scored, 1 3/4" & 2" circle punches, Perfect Layers, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Crystal Effects, 3d foam pads

Chair-ish Friendship Thank You Card For Debs & Mike

This is one of the cards I made for Owen to give to friends to say thank you for his birthday gifts.  This one is for Debs and Mike who will get a chuckle from the play on words - well, they probably will groan as well LOL!  Mynnette, the co-author of the 52 {C}CT challenge blog, very kindly sent this digi sentiment to me - what a sweetheart! 

After I received the sentiment I went on the hunt for a suitable chair digi image and I found a fab freebie at Bird's Cards.  I adjusted the chair to the size I wanted and printed it out twice - once on Crumb Cake CS and again on patterned paper.  The lines didn't show up very well on the patterned paper image so I went over them with a black permanent pen.  After I'd cut out and pieced the chair together I sponged Wild Wasabi ink on the upholstery and Soft Suede ink on the woodwork.    I've popped the chair up on a simple black mat.  I tied Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon around the patterned paper panel after I'd sponged the edges with wasabi ink.  I re-sized the sentiment, printed it onto Crumb Cake CS,  cut it out with a ticket die, layered it onto a black mat and popped it up.  I placed gems in the corners of the sentiment panel to finish off the card front.

I added patterned paper and a stamped, die cut sentiment to a white panel for inside the card and I sponged the edges with wasabi ink.

I made an envelope from the patterned paper using the fab Simply Scored Diagonal Plate and I sponged all the edges.  I really love how a matching patterned paper envelope ties everything together, I think it adds such a special touch!  I stamped and die cut the frame, added a black mat piece at the top and bottom of the frame and then used an alphabet set to stamp the names.  We're seeing Debs and Mike today so they will be given the card then - hopefully, they will like it!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts Sending You Love clear set, Hero Arts/Sizzix Frames with Sprigs stamp & die combo set, Hero Arts Cute Uppercase Letters clear set
Digi images:  sentiment from Mynnette Kitchen, armchair from Bird's Cards
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Basic Black & Whisper White
Patterned paper: Kaisercraft 'Encourage' from Chapter One collection
Ink: SU! Wild Wasabi & Soft Suede, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: SU! Simply Scored & Diagonal Plate, Sizzix Ticket Framelits die, Hero Arts Small Tag Frame Framelits die, label die from Hero Arts/Sizzix Frames with Sprigs stamp & die combo set, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon, gems, 3d foam pads

Snowman Wonderful Christmas Card - 52 CCT Colour Challenge

This week at the 52 CCT challenge blog we have this  fab colour combo for you.  For my blue I've used Pool Party - LOVE that colour - and I think it looks fabulous with black and white!

 Oh look - a new snowman stamp set!  What's better than a new snowman stamp set?  A half price one!  What's better than a new half price snowman stamp set?  Well, that would be a new half price snowman stamp set that matches a set you already have in your collection!   The snowflakes I stamped on the white panel background - also a half price stamp - I do love a bargain!

After stamping the snowman I cut him out, used Pool Party ink and a blender pen to colour the scarf and I coloured in the dots with a black marker.  I've added tiny black gems as eyes, sprinkled on some Dazzling Diamonds so my snowman has some sparkle and I've popped him up.  I die cut two snowflakes, one Pool Party and one black and I've offset them before attaching a black glimmer brad in the centre.

For the inside and the envelope I've used the snowflake background again and the smaller snowman that matches the big snowman on the front of the card.  The smaller snowman is from a stamp and die combo set so I die cut him after stamping and I've popped him up inside the card and glued him flat to the envelope flap.

OK, so you already know I love a half price bargain.  See those snowflakes and lovely sentiment?  They're from a Hero Arts clear set with an RRP of £13.95 - I got that set from an online sale recently for £3.95!  Yep, sporting a rather smug grin right now!  Hmmmm, there is that saying 'pride goes before a fall'  - I just noticed I forgot to sponge the edges of my white panel inside the card - serves me right, smugness is not an attractive quality LOL! 

This is a fab colour combo for Christmas cards so I really hope you'll play along with us at 52 CCT this week, I'm looking forward to seeing your creations!  Benefits to playing along with us?  You can get to feel a tad smug - not too much though - at adding another Christmas card to your stash!  Also - if you enter every challenge for the month and end up as our overall winner you will win a digi sentiment designed by the marvellous Mynnette!

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts Wonderful Christmas cling set, Hero Arts Snowman stamp & die combo set, Hero Arts Falling Snowflakes background stamp, Hero Arts Holiday Cheer clear set
CS: SU! Basic Black, Pool Party & Whisper White
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Pool Party, SU! Basic Black marker pen, blender pen
Tools: Snowman die from Hero Arts Snowman stamp & die combo set, Sizzix Snowflake #23 Sizzlits die, Perfect Layers
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Dazzling Diamonds glitter, SU! Glimmer Brad, black rhinestone jewels, 3d foam pads

Birdhouse Just For You Card - Simply Stampin' Challenge #68

This week it's colour combo time at the Simply Stampin' blog and the colours are Rose Red, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla - what a nice combo!

 I  decided to make a birdhouse shaped card as it's been a long time since I made one. I started off with a 4" square Crumb Cake card base and I covered the entire front with woodgrain paper from the Well Worn DSP pack.  For the roof I cut a 3 3/4" square of Soft Suede CS, cut it in half diagonally, embossed it with the Square Lattice folder and added the vanilla punched trim.  I had to cut the point of the roof off  so the card will fit into a 6" square envelope.  I love those posh wooden birdhouses that have a finial on the roof top so I added one to my card version!  I punched 1" circles from CS and the woodgrain paper, stacked a few together and glued it on.  I then got busy punching using the Bird Builder and Itty Bitty flower punches.  I stamped the vine stamp from Vintage Vogue a couple of times on the bird, sponged the edges with Soft Suede ink added the wing and a  jewel eye.  I used the 1 3/8" circle punch for the hole, added my leafy sprigs and the flowers and popped the birdie up.  More leafy sprigs and flowers went on the roof and each flower centre got a jewel.  For the sentiment I thought it would be fun to hang a sign on the birdhouse!  I punched the 'Just For You' out with the plain oval punch, punched a tiny hole and tied the oval to the trim by threading linen thread through the holes and tying a knot.

Just some simple sponging and stamping on a Very Vanilla panel inside the card.

I used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to position my row of Vintage Vogue vines across the bottom of the envelope and added a label with a Rose Red mat to finish off.  I do hope you'll play along with us at Simply Stampin' this week and create something with this lovely colour combo!  Don't worry if you don't have the exact colours as we allow you to substitute - plus we accept email entries if you don't have a blog.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you make!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Vintage Vogue, Four Frames & Ovals All sets
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Rose Red & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! Well Worn DSP
Ink: SU! Crumb Cake, Soft Suede & Rose Red
Tools: SU! Bird Builder, Eyelet Border, Decorative Label, Itty Bitty flower, plain oval & various size circle punches, SU! Square Lattice embossing folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Linen Thread, Jewel Rhinestones & Dimensionals

Blue Birthday Blooms Shaped Edge Card

I really like cards with shaped edges and the SU! Edgelit dies are fab for that - using the matching embossing folder to add the embossed detail is such a lovely finishing touch too!  I made the A6 base card with Night of Navy CS, die cut and embossed the edge and glued a strip of Pool Party CS to the back panel of the inside of the card.  I stamped a flower from the Mixed Bunch set three times - twice with Night of Navy ink onto Pool Party CS and once with Pool Party ink on white CS.  I punched the blooms out and popped them up on the card.  I made my own dimensional embellies for the flower centres by punching 3/4" CS circles.  I glued three circles together to form a stack and then applied Crystal Effects to get a raised glossy look.  I then added sparkly jewels to the centre.  I stamped the sentiment, cut it in half, glued it to the card and added more jewels around the words to finish off the front.

 

Here's the inside and the envelope decorated with stamped and punched shapes.  What a lovely combo Pool Party and Night of Navy makes together with crisp white!

We had a day out in London yesterday soaking up some culture - and getting soaking wet in the rain!  We saw the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Art and then saw the BP Portrait Award 2012 exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.  We were absolutely blown away by some works we saw and, quite frankly bemused beyond belief, at some others!  It made for a very interesting and amusing time anyway! Our tickets to the RA show included afternoon tea in the restaurant - it was delicious and included a glass of Pimms - lovely!  The Royal Academy is directly opposite to Fortnum and Mason so we popped in there for a spot of light shopping - couldn't afford more than that LOL!  We looked at some greetings cards while we were in there - £12.95 each - thud!  The portrait exhibition was brilliant, unbelievable talent on display and entry is free - couldn't be better!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Mixed Bunch & Curly Cute sets
CS: SU! Night of Navy, Pool Party & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Night of Navy & Pool Party
Tools: SU! Blossom, 3/4" & 1" circle punches, SU! Adorning Accents Edgelit die & matching embossing folder
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Crystal Effects, jewel rhinestones, 3d foam pads

Gingko Leaves To My Husband Card

Yesterday was my hubby Owen's birthday.  He loves black on cards and I decided to pair it with vanilla for his birthday card.  I stamped the wood grain, layered onto black and vanilla mats and added the sentiment.  I got the sentiment set recently, it's a Tinchies clear set made by Personal Impressions and includes 'To my', 'husband', 'boyfriend' and 'brother' wording stamps.  Now I definitely won't be using the 'brother' and 'boyfriend' words but I still bought the set for the 'husband' 'cos the set was only £1.19, what a bargain! I used Memory Box label die shapes to mat and layer the sentiment and added copper brads. I used the gorgeous PaperTrey Ink Harvest Berries stamp set and matching dies for the leaves.  I die cut the leaf sprigs first, stamped the images on the die cut shapes using VersaMark ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder so the leaf detail is raised and shiny.   It gives a very subtle effect, but it's lovely when the light catches it and you see the shine.

I stamped a sentiment and more leaves inside. 

Yet more leaves and a label on the envelope finished everything off.  It did occur to me after I'd finished that maybe the card was a tad gloomy and was perhaps more suited to a sympathy card rather than a birthday card.  Anyway, I am pleased to report that Owen loved the card - and it also got the thumbs up from our friends Debbie and Mike, phew!

Supplies:
Stamps: PTI Harvest Berries clear set, Tinchies 'To my' clear set, Woodware Special Wishes clear set, SU! Four Frames set
CS: SU! Basic Black & Very Vanilla
Ink: VersaMark, Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: PTI Harvest Berries die set, Memory Box Bistro Label & Chadwick Label dies, SU! Decorative Label punch
Embellishments & accessories: clear embossing powder, copper brads, 3d foam pads

The cat in this signature picture looks a lot like Tucker, our older cat - Tucker had the same white tippy tail but he also had a black smudge on his pink nose.  Sadly, our Tucker boy is no longer with us as he passed away last week. He was a very affectionate cat and I will certainly miss his head bumps on the chin and his lovely, deep, rhythmic purr.  He's now at rest in a warm, sunny spot in our garden.

Flower Panel Thinking Of You Card - Simply Stampin' Challenge #67

It's sketch layout time again at the Simply Stampin' challenge blog - and it's another winner!

I used the SU! Bordering on Romance set and a fave eggplant and olive colour combo - with some plum and white thrown in.  I made my 5 3/4" card base with Elegant Eggplant CS, punched a white lace strip for the centre and added two strips of Old Olive dotted scallop ribbon.  I cut a white Label Framelit shape and I used markers to colour the 'Thinking of You' with olive and eggplant inks.  I stamped the floral images onto watercolour paper, coloured with inks and a blender pen, added some white gel pen highlights and fussy cut all the images.  I stamped and coloured the three flowers from the largest image separately and popped them up after cutting them out.  I matted the label shape onto Perfect Plum and Old Olive layers and added rhinestone jewels to the label and the flower centres.

For the panel inside the card I punched an eggplant lace strip, placed 1"punched olive circles behind and added punched white Itty Bitty flowers with jewel centres on top.   For the envelope flap I stamped and coloured the floral sprig and used Label Framelits dies to mat and layer.  Now it's over to you, go and check what the other DT members have made and then go and get inky and join in with our sketch, I'd love to come and see what you create!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Bordering on Romance & Sincere Salutations sets
CS: SU! Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Perfect Plum & Whisper White
Ink: Black StazOn, SU! Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum & Old Olive, blender pen, white gel pen
Tools: SU! Labels Framelits dies, SU! Lace Ribbon Border, 1" circle & Itty Bitty Shapes flower punches
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Old Olive Scallop Dots ribbon, rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals