Gardening Fan - Birthday Card

....  Good morning. I hope everyone is well. The high temperature broke yesterday and we were able to sleep well last night. In fact, it was so much cooler yesterday that I was able to work in my craft room (too hot most of last week). I made a birthday card for my mother-in-law, Madeline. Madeline absolutely loves her garden, and so she should, it's amazing. So, this is the card I made for her:

Stamps: Waffle Flower - Elegant Sentiments, Postage Collage Garden Silhouettes, Plant Marker Words, Postage Collage, Green Thumb Sentiments; Aall & Create - Postal Bits, Stamped Horizons

Inks: Gina K - Powder Blue, Peach Bellini, Soft Stone, Sweetcorn, Stormy Sky, Lt Orchid, Med Orchid, Warm Cocoa, Lucky Clover, Lipstick, Dark Chocolate, Kelly Green, Sweet Mango, Petunia, Key Lime, Cadet Blue; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Stencils: Waffle Flower - Postage Collage Gardening, Postage Collage Colouring

Dies: Waffle Flower - Postage Collage, Elegant Sentiments

Accessories: White & Black Card; Black Marker Pen

I loved the last release from Waffle Flower - the gardening theme is fab and perfect for so many of my family and friends - not me though!!

I die cut the A2 stamp block from white card. I used the PC Gardening stencil to create the images on the 'stamps'. The stencils have suggested colours marked on them, and while I followed most of the time. I added some detail to the images with a fine black marker, and then added postage marks. For the postage marks I used a couple of sets from Aall & Create - they have several more 'UK' style stamps. I used the PC Colouring Stencil to create the airmail frame on the A2 white notecard. I layered the stamp panel onto black card and adhered it to the front of the card. I finished the front with an elegant birthday greeting in black ink - I die cut it with the matching die (layered it on 3 blank layers for depth). On the inside I cut a matt layer of black card and on the white panel I stamped a fun greeting, and added a black gardening silhouette image.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#638 where the theme is Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#520 to use diecuts and/or stencils - both!

Just Us Girls - JUGS#829 - to use stencils

Seize the Birthday - STB#329 - I've skipped the topping, and gone for Anything birthday goes

I'm safe to share Madeline's card today and she doesn't use the Internet! It's cooler today too, in fact, the sky is rather grey. I think there may be some rain - I'd be very happy to see rain, as the garden needs it.

That's all for today. See you all soon.

TMR - The Outdoors

... Good morning!! I've been keeping a secret and I can finally tell you, I am thrilled and delighted to be re-joining the Design Team at The Male Room. I love making masculine cards and this challenge has a special place in my heart. Now, moving onto this month's challenge at The Male Room - TMR#211. Our theme for the next month is THE OUTDOORS. I've made a birthday card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Way Out West, Back in the Saddle, Sheriff; Happy Little Stampers - Born to be Wild; Waffle Flowers - Postage Collage Dad Silhouette; Gina K - Find Peace

Inks: Gina K - Sea Glass, Turquoise Sea, Blue Sky, Powder Blue, Kraft, Warm Cocoa, Dark Chocolate, Charcoal Brown, Stormy Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Stencils: WF - Postage Collage A6 Blocks Stencil

Dies: WF - Postage Collage A6 Die

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; Copic Markers

Do you ever dream about the cards you plan to make? Well, I dreamt about this one. I know it's strange. It's an A6 US size card - that's 4½" x 6¼". I used kraft card to make the card base. I wiped various ink pads over the note card to create a kind of wood grain texture. I used the A6 postage die to cut out a panel of white 'stamps'. I inked the background to make a soft, early evening sky. Then I stamped silhouette images of a desert background with various cacti. I added some birds flying in the sky, a crescent moon, and lightly added some stars. I cut the panel into individual 'stamps'. I stamped some additional cacti, and a horseman on white card and cut them out. I stamped the sheriff star on white card, cut it out, and then added the birthday greeting. I adhered the two middle stamps flat to the card, and used dimensional tape to add the bottom stamp and the sheriff star. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the main card. I stamped a fun birthday greeting, added a small sheriff badge, horseshoe, and star, added a line of blue stars along the bottom of the panel, and edged with a blue marker.

I'm submitting this card to Inkspirational - INK#368 where they have a word prompt - For the Guys. I'm also playing along with The Neglected Stuff Challenge - NSC#0626, they have no theme, just use old products - done!

One of the things I like to do is mix products from different companies. This card mixes new - the waffle flower die, some of the stamps, and the inks. It also has a lot from older, and sadly, closed companies; in this case the wild west silhouettes from Waltzingmouse Stamps and the birthday greeting in the star from Happy Little Stampers. While the companies have gone, I have the products and it's great giving them a new lease of life!!

I had such fun making this card. The theme gives so much scope - do visit The Male Room to see more inspiration cards from the rest of the Design Team. Bye for now.