Circular Thanks

Here' s a card where an embossing folder provided a textural background without competing with the main sentiment. I don't usually do Clean and Simple style cards, but I think this hits the mark.

I even made a matching envelope!

Stamps: Inkadinkado

Ink: Versamagic Thatched Straw, Encore Metallic Purple

Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder, yarn

Cardstock: Purple and yellow from my stash

Hearts for Christmas

Sylvia has a Christmas Card Challenge on her blog, and for the month of March, the challenge is to use a heart on our Christmas cards. Do click on the link and see her gorgeous, elegant pieced and embossed heart card. Stunning!

I am behind on my goal of pre-making Christmas cards this year, and coincidentally, the February Waltzingmouse Stamps Christmas Card Challenge was *also* to use hearts. I was very inspired by Sylvia's heart, and decided to try my hand at that piecing and embossing technique. I die cut four Memory Box hearts out of four different printed papers, then sliced them all the exact same way and shuffled the pieces around. Once I taped them together, I added a bit of faux stitching with a marker and ran them through my Cuttlebug in an embossing folder, then hit the raised areas with some Distress Inks. I am sharing three cards from this slicing and dicing. The jury is still out on the fourth one I made - something to do with a new glitter glue and I not seeing eye to eye!

I recently acquired some Pink Paislee City Sidewalks Collection papers and love their retro feel so used them for all the cards. The "Keep Christmas in your heart" is a Waltzingmouse Stamp. The red and white baker's twine-accented button is actually die cut from cardstock using a My Favorite Things die.

The branch and holly berries are created with a Memory Box die for this second card. I am entering this one in the weekly Christmas Card Challenge. The strips of cardstock are there, if you look closely.

I tried creating my own banner instead of using a die cut banner. None of my dies were exactly the size I needed, and I wanted a striped border. I was surprised I still knew how to use scissors!

And last, but not least, I hearkened way back to Grade One in Lord Nelson Elementary School, where the teacher let us play with chunky silver glitter to create Christmas crafts. Whenever I use this Martha Stewart silver glitter I am transported back to that classroom.

Again, I created my own banner and the pennants with scissors. My Grade One teacher would be beaming with pride now!

Flapper Girl Birthday

Another Seize the Birthday post here. This time I used a free stamp that came with the January 2013 issue of Craft Stamper magazine. It is from Rogue Redhead Designs. Here's the sketch:

And here's my card for STB #7:

I used a Couture Creations Satine embossing folder on cream cardstock. The flapper girl is done with the Triple Time Stamping Technique using Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels One in plain and scalloped edges. I followed the instructions provided here. I stamped the Waltzingmouse Stamps sentiment 'Birthday Wishes' on satin ribbon. And that's a wrap!

WMS Blog Party: Doily Love

It's the 17th of the month, and that means it's the

Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Party.

The theme this month is doilies. Still in vogue in the papercrafting world, doilies are found on all sorts of cards. Those more clever than I can even manage to make something quite modern looking with them. My card, however, uses the real thing (a paper doily) and numerous WMS doily stamps to create a homespun look.

Buzz on over to the WMS blog to see the rest of the doily cards.

Quietfire Queen of Hearts

Happy Valentine's Day! Today is also the day to upload projects to the Quietfire Design blog for the annual Queen of Hearts Challenge. I had every intention of making a card, but time got away from me. You have until midnight today to upload something.

So instead I will upload photos of the wee gifties I made for my staff this year. These are small "fast-food joint sour cream container" shaped vessels. I filled them with sewn tulle sacks that hold chocolates and cinnamon hearts. The outside of the humble cardboard containers (shhh, originally toilet paper rolls) are covered with coloured aluminum that I embossed and sanded. I used Spellbinder dies to create a little heart tag greeting. Hope it tickles!

Gents and Gems

The second week of the Seize the Birthday's current sketch calls for a birthday card for a fellow.

I quite like this dashing pirate from Kraftin' Kimmie and the 7 Gypsies striped paper served as inspiration for the colours.

I coloured him in with Copics. The label is a Spellbinders die cut. The red gems were inspired by the Gents and Gems challenge on now over at the Stamptacular Sunday Challenge Blog. Thanks for visiting today, matey!

Wishy Washy on Washi

The Waltzingmouse Makes blog challenge last Monday morning was to make your own washi tape. Claire's post with step-by-step photos was so inspiring, but I found the process challenging nonetheless.

I recently bought the cute spring themed stamp set L'il Buddies and was itching to use it. Those little bees are adorable! I have never used washi tape (the real thing) so I am not sure how my DIY version compares, but I find it a bit fussy. It was very delicate and tore easily. I decided that was part of its natural charm, though, and tried to embrace it. I think I will use better quality double-sided tape next time and see if that helps.

In the end I really like this bright and sassy card, ragged edges and all! I also used the colours from this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge to guide me- Fuchsia, Sprout and Canary:

Thanks for checking in with me. Let's see if Claire springs a new challenge on us tomorrow morning!