birthday fishes

It's Friday!!  It's FRIDAY!!!  I finally got around to posting my card for this month's "window card" challenge.  Well, I did but I couldn't resist lining the window with a piece of acetate to give my card an authentic underwater feel.  I am so happy with how it turned out.  This card was a definite labor of love.  All the paper piecing, copic-ing and fussy cutting took forever.  But, it was so worth it.  

Details:  All PTI unless otherwise noted.

Stamps - Critters in the Sea (LawnFawn), Birthday Bash Sentiments

Paper - Crumb Cake (SU), Spring Rain, Fine Linen, Spring Moss, Solar White (Neenah)

Patterned Paper - plaid (Marjolaine: BasicGrey), turtle shell (BoBunny), fish (Making Memories)

Other - coaster, circle die (Spellbinders), banner die, acetate transparency, polka dot impression plate, Copics

Hope you have a happy Friday and find time this weekend to get crafty & creative. 

TTFN

Monkeyin' Around

I thought that I would try my hand at this week's Curtain Call Colour Challenge.  Aren't these colours delicious?  I didn't have all of the newer SU colours, so I improvised a bit.  So, here's my take on the challenge.   Hope you like it.

The details: 

Paper - Chocolate Chip (SU), Solar White (Neenah)

Stamps - Fox & Friends (SU), Sophie's Sentiment (LF), Woodgrain (Hero Arts)

Ink - Apricot Appeal (SU)

Other - Vine trim (PTI), Top Note die (SU), Ribbon (unknown), clear EP

Robot Birthday

A few weeks ago, I was in Michael's and saw the cutest set of robot stamps which I thought were perfect for boy cards. I just HAD to have them. So, they came home with me. Along with a few sheets of patterned paper to match. So, that's the real reason I made two cards for the same nephew so far in advance. I just wanted to try out my new goodies. Is that so wrong?

This one starts with PTI's Ripe Avocado for the base. I layered a mat of patterned paper on to it to brighten it up a bit. It is after all for a kid. The robot was stamped on white and coloured in with my trusty Prisma pencils and blended with Gamsol.



The avocado and yellow edges were all inked in black to match the sentiment, but the card still needed a little kick in the pants. A few mini jewels and a cheery red border later and I was done.

Creating this was the easy part. Deciding is not easy. HELP!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: green (PTI), red & yellow (Bazzill), solar white (Neenah)
Paper: Rockets'n'Sprockets collection (Recollections)
Stamps: Robots (Recollections)
Colouring Mediums: Black (Staz-On), PrismaColor Pencils, Gamsol, blending stumps
Punch: Threading Waters (Fiskars)
Embellies: brads (MM), bling (from my stash)

Wanna Get Digital?

The truth is, the mojo just ain't flowing today. I sat down. Pulled out my stamp babies. Grabbed my PTI cardstock and ... nothing. Zip. Nada. So, I went to "the stash." Let's admit it. We all have one for the days we want (or need) to blog, and the creative juices just aren't flowing. Thankfully, I do make cards for specific people in advance.

My littlest nephew is turning 11 in a few weeks and I was inspired to do a couple of kids cards. For his card, I used a digital stamp by Dustin Pike for the focal image. I absolutely love this little dinosaur. I printed him out on a laser printer on to Neenah Solar White cardstock. I'm not a Copic chick (I rather spend the cash on stamps and patterned paper). But, I will splurge for some Prismas. Their colours are so vivid and they are a dream to colour with. After a quick intro to Gamsol, my prehistoric friend was ready to be cut out.



I stamped and embossed the balloon instead of using a traditional sentiment. The clouds were handdrawn, trimmed, and glued onto textured cardstock. I just love how the subtle texture and faux stitching gives the card a little more oomph. Before putting it all together, I punched a border out of a rich yellow textured cardstock that has an amazing sheen to it in real life.

This really was a labour intensive card. But, it was a labour of love. My nephew is the sweetest boy and always appreciates any little thing I do for him. The fact that I will be rewarded with a big smile and an even bigger hug makes the effort worthwhile. Aren't kids great?

Thanks for spending some time with me today. And try to stop by tomorrow to see the other card I created for my nephew. I'll need your help deciding which one to use. Cheers!

Supplies:
Cardstock: all Bazzill
Ink: Tangelo (Memento), Cloud White (VersaMagic)
Stamps: Wonderful Birthday (Hero Arts)
Punch: Threading Waters (Fiskars)
Other: DMC Floss, Embossing Powder (Stampendous), white Gelly Roll (Sakura)