Pretty Pastels Birthday

My Card A Day Blog inspiration for this week is just so sweet and pretty.  EASY, too!

Hi, everyone!  I hope you're having a fantastic day.  It's a great one in the sunny Midwest, U.S.A.  It might get a little hotter than I prefer, but, oh well, it IS almost SUMMER!  And my card has a very light, summery, sun-shiney feel to it.  Naturally, I used mostly scraps, but all the colored pieces came from the same mat pad, and I needed to cut only one new piece.

I started by choosing some edge punches to play with.  Two of them got badly stuck when I was testing, so I had to do a little repair before continuing.  TIP:  If you haven't used your punches in awhile, get out the old waxed paper, and punch through that first to lube them up a bit.  If the punches seem dull, you can sharpen them by punching some aluminum foil.

Once I had chosen my punches (and reconditioned them) I started looking for my paper.  I wanted a sweet look for the card, so the K&Company Brenda Walton 'Small Wonders Girl' was the perfect choice.  I had used this 4x6 mat pad before and had several scraps that were just the right size (with a little trimming here and there).  Here is a nice close pic where you can see the detail of the punches:

I used a peachy plaid mat layer for the base (3 1/2 x 5 1/2).  I had a perfectly sized strip with multi-colored diagonal stripes to use for the lacy edges.  I punched both long sides of the strip, cut it in half, and affixed the pieces to the back of the base letting just the lacy border peek out.  I also used the lacy punch for the bottom edge of the centerpiece.  I don't have a photo, but I cleaned up the back with a plain white piece of card stock, again letting the lacy border show.  This also gives a nice space for a message and signature.

                                     

I punched the side edges of the white layer with a scalloped lattice border punch, and affixed it on top of the base allowing the base to show through the lattice.  I wanted just a little something else to cut some of the white, so I added the layered strips.  Then I needed the sentiment.

I had cut and punched a small card for the front, and stamped 'Happy Birthday' inside using one of my favorite little sets from PAPERTREYink, 'Communique Curves Sentiments.'  The ink is 'Onyx Black' from Versafine.

So, you can see this card was really quite simple, but I think it's a very sweet card for summertime or just anytime!

This was such a fun and quick card to put together.  Change up the colors and the sentiment and it can be made for many different occasions.  I'm thinking fun multiples for Christmas.

The Card A Day Blog will be going on hiatus for awhile at the end of this month, but I'll be sure to let you know when we are planning to return (probably in September) with more daily inspiration and more challenges.  I'll still be right here, though, with more goodies from Beccy's Place coming soon.

'Til then.....I'll be counting down to that blog milestone and some blog candy.  So stay tuned, and thanks so much for visiting.

BIG Hugs!!!
CHRISTINE

For DAD

With one month remaining of what, until now, has been a lovely spring season, summer is definitely pushing its way in.  The temperatures are quickly rising, and this is the last week of school in many areas.  For the Card A Day Blog this week is for 'Father's Day' inspiration, and I decided to go with what is always a challenge for me - CAS - or, as most of you know, Clean and Simple.  My card is the base layer only, with just a bit of dimension.  So this will be a very quick post.

I started with a basic design in mind, but while I was pulling supplies I remembered some inch-square matboard pieces I had purchased a couple of years ago and not yet used.  Knowing I had LOTS of inchie-type stamps I decided exactly how to design my card.

I chose three coordinating inchie stamps as well as a frame stamp for the center.  I played around with several blue inks before selecting the three that I would use, going from light to dark.  I used the lightest ink for the frame as a background for the center image, which I stamped with the darkest ink.  The two side images were stamped with the mid-range tone.  All three images were stamped on the inchie squares, and I used the mid-tone ink on the edges of all the squares to give them more of a framed look.

I liked the tropical feel of the stamps I used, and gave the card a simple sentiment.  Looking closely at all the stamping on the card front, you may notice a kind of water-color effect.  This was not intentional, but I quite like it.  It was merely the result of how the ink reacted on the particular stamps I used, which were all clear polymer from two different companies.

I used a simple "Happy Father's Day" stamp on the inside.  This one was rubber, and gave a nice smooth impression which I really liked for the sentiment.

Here is an angled shot where you can see the dimension of the inchie squares.

Just for fun, I took one photo of my card using a different background color.  I prefer the blue, but the new color gave an interesting contrast.  Which do you like?

That's it!  Here are your details:

     Stamps:  Inkadinkado (EK Success) 'Nautical Inchie' and 'Thoughts for the Day' sets, Stampin' Up 'Best Dad Ever' and Fiskars 'Squarely Sentimental'
     Squares:  Inchie Arts
     Inks:  Stampin' Up 'Bashful Blue,' 'Marina Mist' and 'Island Indigo'
     Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (I think)
     Adhesive:  Scotch ATG

Sooooo simple!!  Thanks for visiting today.  I'm approaching a milestone in number of hits --- I'm really quite amazed and grateful.  It's so lovely having all of you stopping by to see what I'm doing.  When I get just a bit closer there could very well be some blog candy to celebrate.  Keep watching; I'll let you know when it's coming.

'Til next time.....

BIG Hugs!!!
CHRISTINE

Happy Anniversary

Hi!  My card for today was a special request from my church choir to be given to our pastor who is soon to celebrate his 40th anniversary in the priesthood.  I think it is a very classy masculine card, whose focal point can be changed to suit many occasions.  This card also fits in with our Card A Day Blog theme of 'Use a Sketch.'

I went a little out of my comfort zone with this one by using a 5" x 5" card base rather than my more typical A2 size.  After choosing a sketch, I decided the square shape would be the better choice.  Here is my chosen sketch from Card Positioning Systems:

I wanted a religious image for my card, so I chose a Spellbinders Cross die and cut my focal image from a scrap of a really pretty textured slightly silvery paper.  The paper has a very subtle embossed design.  The same paper was used for the cross strips in the layering.

As soon as I chose the sketch I knew what my embellishments would be, 'Designer Brads' from the Paper Studio.

The card base, as well as two of the smaller layers, was cut from Stampin' Up 'Very Vanilla" stock, and the black layering pieces came from Recollections.

                 

I needed to keep the inside very simple to accommodate lots of well-wishes and signatures.  I decided to use a large stamp, 'Baroque Cross' from Stampendous inked with VersaMark Dazzle Watermark pad in 'Frost.'  It's another very subtle effect, leaving a light shimmery image on top of which I stamped the 'Happy Anniversary' from Hero Arts.

     

Just for fun I added  'Uniquely Handmade' (from Stampabilities) to the back using Tim Holtz Distress Ink in 'Antique Linen.'

All I have left to do is make an envelope.  Now you know why I usually create the A2-sized cards - I don't need to make the envelopes!  (tee-hee)

That's it for today, my lovely friends.  Thanks for visiting!

'Til next time.....
BIG Hugs!!!
CHRISTINE

Thinking of You

Hello, out there!  I have a new card for you today for the theme of "Thinking of You" at the Card A Day Blog .  This card has some layering, but I wanted to keep it nice and flat for mailing.  So, there's no foam tape and no fancy shaping on the flowers.  All of which makes it nice and simple.  Also, I used ALL leftovers - again.

I started out with a butterfly stamp.  I had two from which to choose, so I stamped and colored both of them before deciding which one to use.  My choice of colors on the butterfly determined what my card base and all the other elements would be.

I stamped the butterfly with Memento 'Tuxedo Black' on an old scrap of some kind of art paper.  My daughter had a painting, done by the mom of a friend, that had a huge border which I cut 'for future use.'  After testing the paper, I determined that it wouldn't work too well for watercoloring (which is what I thought I was going to do), so I used some Memento and Tombow markers to make my butterfly bright and cheery.

I knew I wanted to use flowers with my butterfly, so once my coloring was done, I went into my stash of flowers and chose some that I had punched quite some time ago for another project which just happened to be in the right colors.  (I just love when that happens - don't you?)  I also wanted something to layer behind my focal piece, and I found a punched border that was just right.  I used Tim Holtz 'Antique Linen' Distress Ink to give the piece a similar aged look.

I layered the flowers, and added glitter glue for their centers.  I also used the Stickles 'Cotton Candy' to add a little sparkle to parts of the butterfly.  Unfortunately, the sparkle isn't showing up much in the photos, but it is a nice touch.

I chose - well, actually my daughter chose the sentiment from a selection I showed her.  I used a piece of Stampin' Up 'Very Vanilla' to line the inside of the card, and stamped the greeting with the same Memento ink.

I thought it would be a nice touch to bring some color inside with a couple of the tiny flowers.

And that's it!  I hope you've enjoyed your visit today.  I also hope you're enjoying a truly wonderful day.  Come back SOON!!

Other details:
     Stamps: 'Dot Butterfly' from Sweet Stamps and sentiment from Pink by Design
     Also used studio G glitter glue in yellow.
     Various flower punches.  You can use whatever fits the size for your project.
     Card base:  PapertreyInk (I think)

'Til next time...
BIG Hugs!!!
CHRISTINE

Beccy's Place Giveaway Winner!!

Hi everyone!  If you haven't been over to Beccy's Blog to see the full list of winners in the 'Follower Contest' you should go check it out to see if you've won.  The winner chosen here, at Creative Genie-ous, is:

GRANMARGARET

Congratulations!!!  Be sure to let Beccy know which of her sets you would like to have as your prize.

Thanks, everyone, for playing along.

'Til next time.....

BIG Hugs!!!

CHRISTINE