Versatility in Design

A few years ago I attended an online craft retreat called Maker Mania 8. The kit for the retreat was autumnal with papers and stamps and dies great for this time of year. My last post's sunflower came from the dies in that kit. One of the instructors was Tricia Crosland Roy from Ladybug Scrapbook (sadly she has closed her shop) and she designed the layout for these cards. It is a versatile design that can be changed up by featuring different sentiments.

The photos on an angle show the subtle use of metallic cardstock. There is a vellum circle behind the white sentiment circle. This birthday card will be entered in the Seize the Birthday #336 challenge for Anything Goes.

 

I varied the gemstones with each card, colours and numbers, playing off the gold paper.

The beautiful 3D embossed background does most of the work here. I used Spellbinders dies for the leaves and Distress Ink to provide a little shading around the edges. Thanks for visiting!

Autumnal Wishes

I made a card that I think would be perfect for someone celebrating their birthday in autumn. It features a stately sunflower with three layers of petals, lots of dimension from a Spellbinders 3D embossing folder of leaves, and some gold highlights to evoke the changing of the colours. I chose this blue as we have had some wonderful sunny days here, and although the temperature is dropping., the sky has been cloudless. I thought the flower would pop against it.

The theme at Seize the Birthday Challenge is to use fall colours so I will enter this there.

Snoopy Birthday Love

I have joined the Peanut(s) Gallery! In the spring I got a magazine with a large set of Peanuts Gang stamps and finally got the set out today to make a card.

I love how these images work so well with vibrant primary colours. I pieced the background together using  a Pinkfresh Diagonal Stripes die and many different colours of cardstock. 

True story - I produced a Peanuts play in my senior high school drama class many decades ago. These characters are still wildly popular. In this case, my aunt is a Snoopy fan and while she will get this card late, I am hoping it makes her smile.

I have entered this in the Seize the Birthday Anything Goes Challenge, but there are two more days to enter the Funny/Punny Theme and I will try and come back to do that!.

 

Balloon Banner

 At Seize the Birthday the challenge is:

This Clean and Simple card fits the bill. I used Taylored Expressions stamps and dies and a Sizzix stars embossing folder. Popped up a few balloons with foam tape.

I was also inspired by the Monday CAS challenge at Splitcoaststampers to use a balloon.

Beach Babes- update!

Here is a fun birthday card using Art Impressions Beach Babes stamps. And UPDATE: It was chosen as a winner in this challenge:

 

I used Copic markers and it is hard to tell, but the glassware and eyeglasses were clear-coated to make them shine. Here is the inside:

I am entering this in the Seize the Birthday Anything Goes category and Splitcoaststampers challenge called Chillin'.

Doggone Birthday Card

Here is a sweet and simple dog-themed birthday card, perfect for a fellow who likes dogs. I fussy-cut the dog out of white cardstock, and the cake. Coloured with Copic markers.

 

I am entering this in the Seize the Birthday blog challenge for Anything Goes.

Tagged Birthday

 

The current challenge at Seize the Birthday is a birthday card (as usual) with the optional topping to add a tag. This 5X7 inch card relies on pretty 49th & Market Viken Rub-on Transfers for the imagery.

Some sheer purple ribbon and string provided a great place to put this wee tag with a gold-foiled birthday cake.

I used some selective embossing to get a border of Swiss Dots to ground the collage.

Leftover rub-on transfers tie the inside to the outside.

Check out the other tagged birthday card ideas at Seize the Birthday.

Best Fishes

Over at Seize the Birthday the current challenge #322 asks for the topping of:

This card is a standing card that has an accordion fold in the base to insert clear acetate layers. I added fronds of seaweed and stamped fish to compliment the die cut aperture. The back panel is a watercoliured background I created with smooshed Distress Inks and Lindy's Magicals powdered pigments.

The back of the tentfold card was embossed with waves and I added this sentiment:

 

Doxy Birthday

 

After I snapped this photo I applied clear packaging tape over the sunglass lenses and that really made them reflective and added to the fun.

Seize the Birthday: Embossed

 

Testing 1...2...3... - is this thing on? I cannot believe it has been almost a year since I posted on my blog. 2023 was a bit of a blur and crafting time was hit and miss. One challenge I always like to play in is Seize the Birthday as birthday cards are what I make the most.

This card features a dry embossed rattan background. The Lisa Horton tulips are also dry embossed and die cut. They are meant for a slimline card, but this is 5X7 inches.

Stitched Blooms Happy Birthday

 

Here's a card for a birthday that uses Spellbinders dies and a stencil (from the Let's Stamp Together subscription package) and a little stitching. Banner die also Spellbinders.

I used some Pearlescent stencil paste through the stencil to get a background with a bit of texture. Envelope embellished with a stencilled die cut.

I am entering this in Seize the Birthday #254 (Anything Goes).

Sweet Stitching Birthday Blooms

 

Over the past year my sister and I have been subscribed to Let's Stamp Together, a kit service put out by Scrapbook & Cards Today. There is a kit every second month and they have been great. They include stamps, stencils and dies. This month was a flower and leaf stamp set with matching dies from Spellbinders that feature piercings to allow stitching enhancement.

I sent this card to my sister for her birthday, hoping to inspire her to use this kit. I used some blue metallic thread for the stitching. The My Favorite Things Happy Birthday Background is stamped in white pigment ink on black cardstock. The Sweet Birthday Wishes script sentiment is part of the kit.

I used a Jennifer McGuire technique of tracing with a ball point stylus around the die and then going over that with a Sakura Gelly Roll glitter pen to create a tight frame around the bouquet. Subtle but effective. I am entering this in the Anything Goes category over at Seize the Birthday.

Sarcasti-chick Birthday

Here's a colourful birthday card. I liked pairing the My Favorite Things Sassy Birthday Sentiment with the Taylored Expressions Sarcasti-chick image.

The festive garlands are a Taylored Expressions background stamp that I heat embossed in white and then blended Distress Inks overtop. The chick is mounted on a wobble action spring so she jiggles around. A lot of fun!

I am entering my chick in the Seize the Birthday Challenge for All Creatures Great and Small.