Son's Birthday Card

There is a story to this card which I made especially in time for my son's birthday which was on Thursday.  Card was duly put into the post early on Tuesday morning with a first class large stamp ~ it only had to travel a few miles within the county.  I was annoyed and disappointed that it hadn't arrived on the correct day and in fact he only received it this morning (Saturday) - four days to travel a short distance from one town to the next!!  It appears that postage charges keep rising and service diminishes - sorry rant over but it does make me cross.  I was beginning to think I'd have to text him a photo of it instead.

Anyway to the card - image came from a Just Inklined CD - you might guess he is a keen photographer.  Other details are below.

Background - paper from a Papermania pad from a few years back
Embossed panel - Tim Holtz folder on scrap of card
Sentiment - from computer on stamped and punched label (Stampin' Up)
Image- Just Inklined cut out with Spellbinders die

Pastel

I seem to have made quite a few cards recently using pastel colour ways and this is one of them.  Again I  have used mainly bits and pieces from my oddments boxes and sometimes it is a real challenge finding matching or toning pieces.  Details are underneath the image.  At the moment it isn't as sunny as it has been but maybe it will brighten up later on, at least it is dry after a short spell of gentle rain yesterday morning.

Background - remnant from a 12" sheet of paper (Stampin' Up I think)
Shaped layers - Sizzix Thinlits dies  for SU, one embossed using X-cut folder
Flower - D-lights Dandylion (their spelling) from Spellbinders
Sentiment - computer generated on Cuttlebug die cut shapes

Something New - to Me Anyway

In a recent post Di was wondering if she needed to get out more - read all about it HERE.  I had heard about these bracelets made from rubber bands using a fancy sort of loom but wasn't sure if I should start yet another craft. However curiosity got the better of me so I had a look around Tesco while topping up with a few food items and spotted packets of the bands but no kits or looms.  I bought a couple of colours thinking that maybe I could look online and find out how to do this and happily there are designs which can be done without using a loom.  The fishtail pattern I've done here can be worked on the fingers but apparently one drawback to that is being unable to put it down until it is finished so I resorted to using two pencils instead.  My little bracelet was finished so quickly and I can quite see that this is something else which could become addictive so maybe, like Di, I also need to get out more!!  I'm sure the bands are available in more subtle colours but all Tesco had to offer were mainly fluorescent ones.  I have a more serious beaded necklace to finish off so should really apply myself to getting that done before I get sidetracked into any more odd pursuits.

Pixie Snippets Take Two

In an effort to use up a few odd bits and pieces I decided to make my second card for the Pixie Snippets challenge (three in two weeks for a chance to win a pretty butterfly stamp).  Again the only item which wasn't lying around on my desk is the embossed background - a piece of Centura Pearl embossed and sponged with ink.  The corners were ones which I'd die cut  specifically for a card recently and then realised that my topper had been stamped onto cream card and of course the corners are white pearl - senior moment I reckon! The swirl, flowers and their background were all cut from scraps.  Well that's  two posts in one day but now I must get on with something else so no more from me today.

Background - Centura Pearl card embossed with Crafter's Companion Rose Vine folder
Corners - Marianne die, also Centura Pearl card
Mat - die cut using Stampin' Up Apothecary Accents die, embossed with Swiss Dots
Flowers - Marianne die and Stampin' Up punches
Swirl - Sue Wilson Grand Vinery die set

Pixie Snippets Week 133

I've used up a few more of my snippets of card by stamping and punching some flowers, a bow and other bits to make this card for the Pixie Snippets challenge this week. Everything on this card was made from various snippets of card apart from the pale plum background piece   There is the chance of an extra prize as well this time around for entering three cards within two weeks, worth I try I think.

Edges of dark panel - cut using Spellbinders border die
Square shapes - cut using Spellbinders Decorative Labels 22
Sentiment - computer generated on stamped Label Love with matching punch (Stampin' Up)
Bow - Die-namics die cut, embossed with Cuttlebug Swiss dots folder
Flowers - Stampin' Up stamps with matching punches

Inspiration from a Friend

When my friend Anne posted two projects on her blog recently I was reminded that I'd not used my alcohol inks for absolutely ages so I was inspired to dig them out and have a play, ending up with two interesting pieces of coloured card.  I decided to try embossing one of them  and then rubbing  with Treasure Gold gilding wax (copper), although I wasn't sure if it might react with the alcohol ink.  I think it has turned out OK so then I had to hunt around for bits and pieces of card to match up so that I could make a card.  I've yet to try the shaving foam background technique which Anne also showed but watch this space!!

Background - actually the cover from a very old pad of papers
Punched layer - EK Success border punch
Embossed panel - coloured with alcohol inks, embossed with Cuttlebug folder and rubbed with Treasure       Gold copper colour
Image - Fine Feathers stamp by Stampin' Up embossed with copper powder
Circles - Spellbinder dies
Sentiment - Stampin' Up Bitty Banners with matching die

Games

When searching for an image suitable for the current challenge at the Male Room I realised that I should look through my digital CDs much more frequently because as well as finding something suitable for their 'Games' theme I also found just the thing for my son's birthday card which I'd been struggling with.  His will be the next male card I make in time for his birthday mid month.  Obviously this card had to be male themed and could include anything related to any game - I've chosen golf which I know is played by women too but then so are most games.  Their design team have chosen a selection of games and I expect there will be a great variety amongst the submissions.

Image - from Just Inklined CD
Background paper from my stash
Embossed panel - letterpress technique Sizzix folder
Greeting - Computer generated on labels from Stampin' Up stamp and punch