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

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge # 634

I'm 'last-minute' again. Today I thought I'd participate in the latest Freshly Made Sketchs Challenge.

I needed a birthday card for an upcoming birthday, so made a card using the sketch. I started with a 6-3/4" x 4-3/4" black base card. I had some gray and white diagonal striped card stock so stamped a Happy Birthday sentiment across the center. I added a couple of gold gems on each side for a little bling. Above and below the sentiment I added some pink and gold diagonal striped card stock. I die cut a pen out of black and gold and attached it above the sentiment. I cut out a clip art inkwell and attached it below the sentiment. I backed the decorative layer with gold then added the layer to the black base card.

Happy Birthday Sentiment - Close To My Heart Birthday Script
Die Cut Pen Image - The Greetery
Inkwell - Clip Art

Inkspirational Challenge #314 - Bright Cheery Colors

I took three colors from the Mood Board for the card I decided to make today for Inkspirational Challenges #314.

I started with a 5-1/2" x 6" light blue base card. I die cut a feather-edge piece from purple and attached it to the left side of the card. I stamped a fancy script 'hello' in purple onto pink card stock, die-cut it out and attached it to the bottom right. Lastly I added some pink gems for a little bling.

Blue Card Stock - Bazzell Bling
Purple Card Stock - American Crafts
Feather Die - Crafter's Companion
Hello Stamp and Die - The Greetery
Bling Gems - Recollections

Diamond Point Card

I am always looking for new ideas for handmade cards. I saw a card this week that I had never seen before and just had to make one. I searched YouTube for a video showing how to make the card and found out that this type of card has been around for at least two years. It's called a Diamond Point Card. The card not only has an interesting shape to the front, but is very easy to make.

I began with a 5-1/2" square lilac card base. Once the front panels were cut, I glued on the designer paper and arranged the pieces of the card front. For the center I die cut three round pieces in the colors of the designer paper then stamped the sentiment on the top layer. I attached it to the center of the card with foam mount tape to raise it off the card. I then added three lilac adhesive mini-beads and a small bow. Lastly I added a piece of designer paper inside the card.

Friendship Sentiment - Stampin' Up! Rare Blessings
Designer Paper - Crafter's Companion

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