Inkspirational Challenge #315 - Seasonal

Spring...the season of flowers blooming, changing weather patterns, birds revisiting and so much more. As I sit looking out my studio window, I can observe it all. This morning I decided to participate in the latest challenge over at Inkspirational Challenges.

The theme is seasonal, so my first thought was spring flowers. As usual, I was looking at YouTube videos for fun fold cards and came across one I really liked. Click HERE for a link to the video I found.

I started with a tan base card and folded it according to the measurements. For the two front panels I used a dark tan and white card stock. I embossed the two white panels with one of my newest embossing folders and backed them with the darker tan. I stamped the flowers and leaves, fussy cut them out, then attached them to the two embossed panels. Inside the folded card I added a sentiment panel with a flower at the top. Lastly I stamped a sentiment quote for the front and made it into a banner tag.

Flower & Leaf Images - Stampin' Up! Fabulous Florets
Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug Oriental Weave
Sentiment - Stampin' Up! Fabulous Florets
Green Ink - Stampin' Up! Garden Green
Pink Ink - Stampin' Up! Pink Passion

Inkspirational Challenge #313 - Word Prompt FOLD

I'm in a black and white card-making mood. I decided to make a double gate-fold card using only black and white for the current Inkspirational Challenge.

I started with a 5-1/2" x 11" black card. I scored it to make the basic gate-fold card. I cut black and white designer paper (then backed the paper with white) to fit the folds and glued them on. With the card folded, I made a belly-band to go around the card to help keep it closed. On the center of the belly band I attached a black and white die cut that I stamped with 'hello my friend'. I then stamped and die cut a bee image and attached it at the right of the sentiment.

I decided on making a folded black card to hold the inside greeting. I added some black and white floral designer paper to the center and backed the card with a white layer. I attached it to the inside of the card. On a smaller piece of white card stock I stamped my inside message and attached it inside the folded black card.

'hello my friend' sentiment - Gina K. Dazzling Dahlia Stamp Set
Bee Image - Stampin' Up! Honey Bee Stamp Set
Black Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Spring Flowers & Hummingbird

It all started when I was searching for a wreath die to make a few spring/summer cards. I searched the Internet and the wreaths I found didn't seem to be what I was looking for. I wanted a simple but pretty leaf wreath and finally found one on eBay. It was just what I wanted but I wasn't familiar with the company that made it. As it turns out, the die comes from Spain but was being sold by someone here in the US, so I purchased it.

I received it yesterday and today cut a few wreaths to make cards. You can't tell by the package photo, but this is a large wreath die, cutting 5-1/4" wreaths. Since I enjoy making 6" square cards I thought it would be a perfect size for making a wreath frame so I could add flowers, birds, butterflies, large sentiments, etc. I began with a 6" green base card. I cut a 5-1/2" white layer and attached the wreath die cut. I stamped (and die cut) three flowers and attached it to the right side (raising it off the card using foam mounts). I then added a digital hummingbird die cut to the left. I love how it turned out.

Wreath Die - Mintopia Floral Wreath Crown
Dalhia Flowers - Gina K. Dazzling Dalhias
Hummingbird - Digital Die Cut
Stamp Dye Ink - Melon Mambo

Seize the Birthday Spring Floral

I am delighted to have been chosen for a winning design for the Seize the Birthday challenge #278. I'm a guest designer for challenge #280 where the birthday card topping is Spring Floral.

For this challenge I started with a 6" x 6" square pink card. I cut a 5-1/2" square white layer and stamped vines and leaves in green using a large cover-a-card rubber stamp. I cut a rectangle white piece of card stock and stamped Happiest Birthday at the bottom, backed it with gold card stock, added three gold brads, and attached it to the bottom of the card. I cut a piece of pink card stock (same as the base card) and scored lines down it to give it a little texture. I attached it to the left side of the card. For the floral part, I stamped flowers on white card stock and colored them in. I cut it to size and backed it with a piece of gold card stock then added a white ribbon and bow. I attached it to the card using foam mounts to lift it off the card a bit.

Lastly I die cut a foil pink hummingbird and attached to the flower.

Pink Card Stock - Bazzill Bling "In the Pink"
Leaves and Vine Stamp - Impression Obsession
Floral Stamp Image - Stampin' Up! Elements of Style
Foil Pink Hummingbird - Hero Arts Hummingbird Die
Stamp Pads - Stampin' Up! Glorious Green and Pixie Pink

Inkspirational Challenge #312 - White on White

It's a cold morning here in south Texas, so after grabbing a hot cup of coffee, I decided to make another card for a challenge. Today I'm making a white on white card for challenge #312 over at Inkspirational Challenges.

I started with a 5" x 7" white base card. I die cut a 5" x 7" white layer using my newest swirl die (leaving 1-1/4" uncut at the bottom for the sentiment). I stamped the sentiment at the bottom in black then attached it to the base card. I die cut a golden bee and added it to the swirly die cut then die cut a leaf branch and attached it at the top.

Sentiment - Close To My Heart Icons and Sentiments
Swirl Die - Crafter's Companion Grande Swirls
Leaf Die Cuts - Memory Box Fresh Foliage
Golden Bee Diecut - Stampin' Up!

Color Hues Challenge #83 - Cream and Blue

Whenever I decide to join a card challenge I get so many ideas. The colors for the current challenge at Color Hues is cream and blue.

I had recently purchased a designer paper tablet that has all light blue designs, so chose a sheet from that for the blue. As usual, I wanted to have a little sparkle to the card, so used a blue floral paper with a little silver (an allowed neutral) in the flower designs. I started with a 5-1/2" square cream color base card. I cut my designer paper to 5" x 5" then backed it with a layer of black to make a border. I attached this layer to the base card. On a piece of cream colored card stock I stamped 'just a note' and die cut it out. I attached it to the bottom right using foam mount tape to lift it off the card a bit. I die cut a fountain pen out of black and silver and attached it on the left side of the card.

Just a Note Stamp and Die - The Greetery
Fountain Pen Die - The Greetery

Easter 2024

I thought Easter Sunday always came in April. I was surprised to see it falls on March 31st this year, so I needed to get started on my Easter cards. I recently purchased a set of hexagon nesting dies and then I saw a card I just had to case. It uses hexagon shapes in three different paper designs across the card with a few accents.

I started with a 5" x 7" white base card. I cut a smaller white layer and backed it with a color layer. I attached the designer hexagon shape papers first then did the stamping. On a seperate white hexagon shape I stamped "sending Springtime smiles" and attached it to the card. I put a small pink bow under the sentiment. At the top I stamped "HAPPY Easter" then added a small white butterfly and three gems to the card.

Easter Sentiments - Stampin' Up! Easter Blossoms Set
Butterfly Punch - Martha Stewart
Teal Solid Cardstock - Bazzill
Pink Bow - The Paper Studio