Birthday Balloons

.... Good afternoon! It's been a lovely day here in Northop Hall. Bright, sunny, and cold! Jonathan has had a photoshoot at home, Mum's been to church and has been enjoying an afternoon movie, and I've been in my craft room working on more birthday cards and listening to music. Here's the card I made:

Stamps: Gina K - Birthday Sparkle, Big Birthday, So Many Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Tangerine Twist, Wild Dandelion, Lucky Clover, Turquoise Sea, Blue Denim, Wild Lilac; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - Dienamics - Stitched Fishtail Flag Stax #4, Fishtail Flags Layers Stax1 #5

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Stencil - Bold Balloons

I'm submitting this card to Just Us Girls - JUGS#724 where it's anything goes with a stencil, and to Seize the Birthday - STB#282 where the topping of 'off the edge'.

I love rainbow birthday cards - they are so bright and cheerful and work for everyone. I cut a piece of white card and masked an area to create a column of balloons. I started at the top with red and finished at the bottom with purple. I used a stitched edge die to cut the fishtail flag (it was a bit longer than I wanted so I moved the die down to make it shorter). I cut a fishtail in black card for the mat layer. I adhered this to the front of an A2 white note card. The tag is very slightly bigger than the card, so it's off the edge and meets the STB challenge requirement. I added some rainbow and black stars/sparkles directly to the white card and finished the front with a simple birthday greeting.

For the inside, I stamped a bold and fun birthday greeting in black, added some stars/sparkles and finished with a few balloons stencilled at the top going off the edge.

Before I go, I have to thank everyone who has stopped by to leave a comment. I appreciate the time you take and your lovely words. Thanks. And that's it for today.

Happy Birthday Photographer

... Good afternoon! I'm here to share another birthday card for my hubby, Jonathan. This is the one that I've made for my mum to give him. Jonathan's main hobby is photography and I have a few photography stamp sets which always come out to play for Jonathan's card. Here it is:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Oh, Snap!; Uniko - Simply Said, Simply Said Birthday; There She Goes - Oh Snap; Gina K - Birthday Cheer Mini

Inks: Versamark; Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Fresh Asparagus, Ocean Mist, Moonlit Fog

Dies: Concord & 9th - Oh, Snap!; Memory Box - Distressed Windham Collage

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Costal Cabana; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to The Male Room - TMR#185 where they want to see embossing, Color Throwdown - CTD#790, and to Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#633.

This is a US A6 card which measures 4½" x 6¼". I cut a piece of aqua card to be slightly smaller than the note card and used a Memory Box die to cut the patterned corners (it's been ages since I used this die). I coloured some scraps of white card with a bright yellow Copic marker and glued them behind the die cut corners. I used Versamark ink to randomly stamp cameras, film, and pins on the card to create a subtle background. I used my MISTI to stamp the Polaroid camera and photo on white card, removed them from the MISTI and coloured with Copic markers. I used the matching dies to cut out the images. I stamped a greeting on the photo along with instructions to 'pull here'. I put the photo through the slot on the camera, and used dimensional pads to adhere it to the card.

For the inside, I cut a mat layer of aqua card. On the white panel I stamped a row of polaroid photos and stamped the word 'click' inside each one. I finished the panel with a bold, black birthday greeting.

That's it for today. See you soon.

60th Birthday Card

.... Hello again! This is a very special card - it's for my wonderful husband, Jonathan. He'll be 60 years young on 30 April. Jonathan is a huge Dr Who fan, so I decided to make a postage stamp style card with Dr Who style 'stamps'. Here's his card:

Stamps: Viva Las Vegas - Plate 925 (Dr Who); Kindred Stamps - Dr Who; Gina K - Birthday Sparkle, Post Cards and More; Waffle Flower - Postage Collage Fall; MFT - Vanity License Plate

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Blue Raspberry, Soft Stone; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - A7 Postage Stamp Collage; Gina K - Birthday Sparkle

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Pear Pizzazz; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers; Primacolor Pencils; Visible Image Stencils - Ripples, Off the Grid; Waffle Flower - A7 Postage Collage Block Stencil; Stampendous - Tim Holtz THS115 (stars)

I'm submitting this card to Seize the Birthday - STB#281 - I gone with 'any colour and green', Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#466, and The Male Room - TMR#185 where they want to see embossing.

I think if you've seen my blog recently, you'll be aware that I just love the postage collage style cards. Waffle Flower have produced dies for all size cards - this card is 5" x 7" and uses the A7 die and stencil. It's great because I can use larger images in the 'stamps'. I die cut the stamp collage from white card, placed the block stencil over the top and used grey, blue and green brush to lightly ink the stamps. I then used three different stencil to create background patterns and inking with a heavier hand. I didn't reink any of the brushes - it was just what was left on the brush. I have two stamp sets that have a Dr Who theme. I used my MISTI to stamp the images. The Statue of Liberty and fish fingers and custard images were stamped with Versafine ink, embossed with clear powder, coloured with Prismacolour pencils and then fussy cut out and adhered to the stamps. The Tardis, Dalek, and Adipose babies were stamped in the MISTI, removed and coloured with Copic markers, restamped with Versafine ink, embossed with clear powder and fussy cut out. I then used various postage stamps to add detail stamping. I found a 60c stamp in Gina's Post Card & More set - so appropriate! I finished the front with a happy birthday sentiment stamped in black ink, die cut and adhered to the card.

Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of green card. On the white panel I stamped a greeting using words from the Kindred Stamps set, and added a cute (!!) Weeping Angel in the corner.

For those who don't know (and why not?) the Weeping Angels are statues that, if they catch you, transport you back in time. There is a catch with them, they can't move if you're looking at them - so 'don't blink'. The Statue of Liberty angel appears in The Angels take Manhattan. This episode always makes me cry. The Daleks have been the Doctor's adversaries since the series started in the 1960s. Google Daleks and you'll find loads of clips. The Adipose babies appear in Partners in Crime (David Tennant and Catherine Tate), one of my favourite episodes. Finally, the bowl of fish fingers and custard come from The Eleventh Hour where the newly regenerated Doctor (Matt Smith) meets Amy for the first time - it's a wonderful scene.

That really is all for today - I had so much fun making this card and I know that Jonathan will love it. See you soon.

Birthday Hot Air Balloon

... Morning! I hope you've all had an enjoyable weekend. We've had fun - see below, and I've made cards. Today I'm sharing a card that I've made for my brother-in-law, Tim, who has his birthday at the beginning of May. Here's the card:

Stamps: Dare 2B Artzy - Balloon Tangle; Gina K - Birthday Sparkle, So Many Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Sea Glass, Turquoise Sea, Tranquil Teal, Tomato Soup; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: D2BA - Hot Air Balloons; Gina K - Birthday Sparkle

Accessories: White Card; Blue Vellum; Simon Hurley Stencil - Polka Dot Assortment; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#632, and Just Us Girls - JUGS#723 where they have a super moodboard.

I started by cutting a piece of card 5" square and stencilled a pattern using the colours from JUGS. I love this type of stencil - there are almost endless possibilities for patterns. I trimmed the panel to size and adhered it to an A2 note card. I used my MISTI to stamp the hot air balloon, removed it from the MISTI, coloured with Copic markers, replaced it and stamped the image again in Versafine Clair black ink. I used the matching die to cut out the balloon.  I stamped the birthday greeting in black ink and cut it out with the matching die. I found some vellum in my stash, cut a mat layer, adhered the stamped images and then added the whole lot to the card.

Inside, I cut the remaining vellum into a mat layer. On the white card I stamped a fun greeting and added a balloon flying off the edge of the card.

As I mentioned above, we had a good time over the weekend. We went for a drive on Saturday; we live in such a pretty area. Then in the evening Jonathan and I watched Oppenheimer - it's an excellent film. I can see why it won so many Oscars. Then on Sunday afternoon, I listened to Taylor Swift's latest album. It's good. My daughter, Kat, will be delighted that we've caught up with it!! Bye for now.

Happy Birthday

.... Morning! I'm still working on building up my birthday card stash, but this one is a special for my wonderful sister-in-law, Charlotte. She and my hubby, Jonathan, have their birthday on the same day! Only she's seven years younger than Jonathan. I got inspiration for this card from the brilliant, Gina K, it's a fun video to watch. Here's my card:

Stamps: Gina K - Birthday Sparkle, On the Inside Birthday

Inks: Gina K - Dusty Rose, Passionate Pink, Blue Raspberry, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango, Tangerine Twist, Ocean Mist, Blue Lagoon; Memento - Summer Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 8, Birthday Sparkle

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Stencils - Perfect Poppies, Create Friendship, Summer Bouquet, Layered Carnation; Gina K - Masking Magic Strips

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#466 - the theme is to make a mark.

Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#61 

Seize the Birthday - STB#281 - Anything Birthday Goes

This is a large 5" x 7" note card. I used a stitched edge die to cut a panel of white card and masked the edges with ¼" wide Masking Magic. I used four different floral stencils to create the background. Once I finished inking the flowers, I lightly inked around the edge of the masking strips with whatever ink was left on the teal brush and then I removed the tape revealing a clean, crisp white border. I layered the panel onto a black mat layer. I adhered the whole piece to the front of the note card. I stamped the greeting on white card and used the matching die to cut it out, along with three white pieces. I layered them together for dimension and stability and added it to the card. To complete the front, I used on of the little sparkle stamps to add tiny black, star accents.

On the inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I stamped a birthday greeting in black. I used the carnation stencil to add a flower at the bottom of the panel. 

I'm enjoying making larger cards, especially with floral stencils - it's so pretty. That's all for today. I've got a card to make for Jonathan and then one for Tim, their brother who has his birthday at the beginning of May. See you soon.

You Complete Me

... Hi! I was looking at my calendar this morning and realised that it's our 23rd wedding anniversary next week. So, I've made a card for my wonderful husband, Jonathan. This is it:

Stamps: Lil' Inkers - It's Today, Right?, Pieces of Me

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Passionate Pink, Blue Raspberry, Lucky Clover; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Lil' Inkers - Puzzle Pieces

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; I-Stencil - Inverse Square

I'm submitting this card to AAA Cards - AAA#263 Anything CAS goes with the option of Wedding/Anniversary, The Paper Players - PP#685 bold, bright colours, and to Cardz 4 Guyz - C4G#345 where they want CAS.

I went through my stash and came across the fun puzzle die and matching sentiments. I used a square stencil with the wonky design and added ink - it was whatever was left on the brush. I die cut the puzzle pieces from white card and then decided to colour them with Copic markers. I layered the pieces together and adhered them to the centre of the stencilled pattern. I finished the front with the sentiment - which is perfect, as Jonathan does complete me!!

I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the base. I stamped the bold anniversary greeting (my all time favourite) and added a fun sentiment below. I also stamped some outline puzzle pieces to match the colours on the front of the card. I'm not sure what we're doing for our anniversary yet, but we might go out for dinner!!

That's all for today. Bye for now.

Birthday Flowers

... Hello, good afternoon! I'm getting on well making cards for my birthday stash. This is the one I made today:

Stamps: Gina K - Modern Floral, Sweet Sentiments, On the Inside Birthday

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Light Lilac, Medium Lilac, Sea Glass, Blue Lagoon, Applemint, Key Lime; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 8, Modern Floral

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gems from stash; Gina K Stencil - Modern Floral

I'm submitting this card to The Flower Challenge - TFC#90 to add layers, to AAA Colourful - AAAC#03 - love this colour palette, and to Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#592 where the theme is flowers.

This is a large 5" x 7" card. I stamped the little floral cluster in yellow ink around the edge of the note card and used the matching stencil to colour the flowers. I die cut a mat layer in black card and a white panel with stitched edge. I stamped the birthday greeting on white card and cut it out with a flag die. I had the large flower die cuts on my desk, left over from yesterday's session. I stamped more yellow flowers on the white panel. I glued the greeting, the lilac and the green flowers flat to the card. I used dimensional pads to adhered the teal flower. I finished the front with a few crystal gems from my stash.

On the inside, I cut a mat of black card. On the white panel I stamped a bold birthday greeting in black ink and added more of the yellow flowers.

I do like these flowers, they are so pretty. As I type this post, the sun is shining and we have bright blue skies, but oh my, it is still so cold!! That's it for now. I'm off to make lunch for us all. See you soon.

Floral Birthday

.... Good afternoon! It's been a crazy day here today - we've had just about every kind of weather possible. Rain, hail, sunshine, cold wind, and more rain!! Hard to believe it's spring!! Anyway, I've made a birthday card for my stash - a pretty, clean simple card:

Stamps: Gina K - Modern Floral, On the Inside - Birthday

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Sweet Corn, Innocent Pink, Applemint; Memento - Rhubarb Stalk; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Modern Floral

Accessories: White Card, Applemint Card; Gina K Stencil - Modern Floral

I'm submitting this card to Color Throwdown - CTD#788 - such pretty colours, to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#61 - first time I've used Modern Floral, and to CAS on Friday - CASOF#281 where the theme is Spring.

I used my MISTI to stamp for floral image onto white card - I did several flowers, only two were used here. I removed the images from the MISTI and used the matching stencil to add colour to the stamped images. There are two stencils for the flower and they are easy to line up. Once coloured, I put the image back in the MISTI and restamped with Nocturne ink - it gives a lovely dark black line. I then used the matching die to cut out the flowers. I stamped smaller flowers in directly onto the card using pale green ink. I finished the front with a birthday greeting in a fun font.

For the inside, I cut a mat layer of applemint card and on the white panel stamped a fun greeting and added some more of the small green flowers.

As I said above, I still have several of these flowers on my desk. You'll see more cards soon. As well as building up my stash of birthday cards, I'm making a number of cards to send to our son, Ben, so that he has cards on hand! That's all for now. See you soon.