Christmas Card with Moose and Trees

I seldom use green colors on my cards - it's a color I find so hard to work with. But sitting down to make my third Christmas card so far this year, using this Panduro stamp of a moose, I wanted to create an outdoor scene and the green color scheme seemed to be the right choice.
The two trees at the bottom left corner are part of a stamp. I stamped them directly onto a green DP and fussy cut them. The tree on the right has been die cut using a Marianne die, and I used a black pen for outlining to make it match better with my stamped ones.
The image has been heat embossed. I used "old paper" distressing powder on white paper before I stamped the image and heat embossed it using brown embossing powder.
I made layers of green and brown papers and texture. I machine stitched around the edges of some of the layers with golden thread.
For embellishments I added a button with a bow of jute, as well as three die cut birds, made using a Memory Box die - I've placed them in the trees. I didn't add a sentiment as the stamped image includes one, saying Merry Christmas (God Jul) in Norwegian.  There's no snow, no red, no Santa - but I think this card still has a Christmas feel to it and I'm planning to give it to a man.


This card is for these challenges:
1) Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - #13 Anything Goes
2) A Gem of a Challenge - #77 Going Green
3) Cut it Up - #17 Arbor Day
4) Cards For Men - Animals
5) Rhedd & Rosie's Challenge Blog - #5 Stitching
6) Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Lots of Layers
7) Pause, Dream, Enjoy - Outdoor Critters
8) Sweet Stampin - Anything but Birthday
9) My Heart Pieces Digital Stamps Challenge - Embossing
10) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

With Sympathy

This card's layout is inspired by the Inkspirational sketch - I've flipped and rotated the sketch since I think that works better with my choice of image. The flower image is part of a Bugaboo set. I colored the image with Promarkers in shades of grey, green and black and fussy cut it.
The sentiment is in Norwegian, meaning "our deepest sympathy and warm thoughts". I often use English sentiments as well, but for such an occasion I think it's more personal somehow to have the sentiment in my own language. I heat embossed it with black embossing powder on silver background. The silver paper is also used as card base and to make the frame around the card. I added a lattice die cut of a white paper with pearlescent shimmer to make the background. I don't know if the use of the lattice is OK for a CAS card, but having used no embellishments and leaving lots of empty space I think the card has a CAS feel to it.

Inkspirational - #17 Sketch (2nd entry)
Addicted to CAS - #11 Flower
Addicted to Stamps and More - #42 Markers
Creative Corner - #16 - Clean & Simple
Shelly's Images - Flowers
Make it Monday - Anything Goes #138

Circle Shaped Card with Paper Pieced Image

My favorite image at the moment is this digi from A Day for Daisies. I just had to have her because I like to paper piece, and she's so perfect for this technique!

I started my card by choosing the paper for her dress, then I planned the design and what other papers and colors to use.
It's been a while since I made a circle shaped card, and I do like circle shaped cards - I don't know why I don't make them more often. I chose the size of the circle die with care as I wanted the die cut square (made with a Spellbinders die) to go over the edge of the card base.

I chose to mount the girl on foam to a glitter paper die cut clock (made with a Marianne Designs die).
For the background I've used a cream colored paper with golden spots from Panduro.
For embellishments I've used some punched butterflies and a flower.






This card is for these challenges:
1) QKR Stampede - #36 Favorite Things (digi and paper piecing)
2) Stampin' for the Weekend - Die cuts and/or punches
3) Party Time Tuesdays - #117 Tic Tac Toe (Glitter+Flower+Die Cuts)
4) Penny's Paper-Crafty - #124 Anything Goes
5) Marianne's Design Divas - Going Girly
6) Love to Scrap - Die Cuts and/or Punches
7) Whoopsi Daisy - Use Circles (2nd entry)
8) Card and Scrap - Use dies
9) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Confirmation Card for a Boy - Card No 1

I need to make several confirmation cards for a boy - this is the first one I've finished so far. I've been trying to make these for quite some time, but sitting down in my craft room, my mind has taken another direction. So I decided that I would make a confirmation card with whatever sketch would be provided by the Inkspirational team this week. I flipped the sketch, and the postmark shape inspired me to make a frame of layered papers. I decided to go for a clean look, with platinum embossing powder against a  white background. The image is made with a North Star Stamp. Each corner of the card has been decorated with a Spellbinder corner die cut.
 
This card is for these challenges:
1) Inkspirational - #17 Sketch
2) Celebrate the Occasion - #109 Clean & Simple
3) Stamping Sensations - Special Occasions
4) Paper Shelter Challenge - #109 For the boys
5) The Corrosive Challenges - Life`s Special Occasions
6) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Male Vintage Birthday Card

I love making cards for men and I love the vintage style, so I made a card combining male and vintage. The image is from a sheet that I bought some months ago. I stitched around the edges, not too straight, to get a "rougher" look.
The background DP and the one used for the banner are from Maja Designs. I used a Die Namics die to make the banner, and I cut out the fence of kraft using a Marianne Creatables die. The fishtail banner is hand cut, the paper is from Panduro. The word "happy" is stamped and heat embossed, and I've used letter stickers for "birthday". The button I believe has been on one of my aunt's old cardigans - she gave me a bag full of buttons last year, containing buttons from hers and my late grand mother's old clothes. I tied a bow with some jute I got from a wrapped Christmas gift last year.

This card is for these challenges:
1) Craft Room Challenge - So Sentimental
2) Crafty Sentiments - Monochromatic
3) Cards For Men - Anything Goes
4) Crafty Boots - Recycle
5) Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet - Recycle or Re-Use
6) Crafty Catz - One for the Boys
7) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

CASE and Paper Pieced Girl

This is my second card for the Inkspirational CASE challenge - I just love this layout. For this card I've chosen blue and silver as my main colors. The girl is a digi from A Day for Daisies - I think she's perfect for paper piecing. I used a DP from Maja designs for her dress and the rose in her hair, and the rose is mounted on foam. I've used a DP with script for the border and the background is embossed with my cherry blossom embossing folder.
The birthday sentiment in Norwegian is made with pale blue letter stickers. I also added some light blue pearls above the image.

This card is for these challenges:
1) Inkspirational - #16 CASE
2) Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Use Circles
3) Tammy's Scrapin Corner - #59 Bling it up
4) Addicted to Stamps Challenge - Birthday card with Birthday Sentiment
5) Digi Galore - One for the Girls
6) Totally Gorjuss - #180 Embossing
7) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

CASE & Vintage Christmas

I've only made one Christmas card so far this year, so to avoid being too far behind when the season's here I thought I'd make a Christmas card for the Inkspirational CASE challenge.
I took inspiration from the CASE layout and several challenges to make up my card, using a vintage image, a snowflake embossing folder, kraft and two die cut pine branches. The branches have been covered with glitter and decorated with a red brad, pearls and bling. I added a rub-on to the image, saying "Christmas Greetings" in Norwegian.

I enter this card into these challenges:
1) Inkspirational - #16 CASE
2) Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - #12 Celebrating Snow
3) Crimbo Crackers - #39 Vintage
4) Christmas at Sweet Stampin' - Kraft
5) Crafting for all Seasons - #50 No Stamps Allowed
6) LEJ Designs - #49 Emboss It
7) Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet - Clean & Simple
8) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Paper Pieced Elephants

For this card I was inspired by the sketch over at Feeling Sketchy and wanted to go with a clean look.
I used a digi from A Day for Daisies and chose to paper piece the elephants with a DP with script.
The DPs in blue color tones are from My Mind's Eye. I mounted both the silver background panel and the one with the elephants on foam pads. I machine stitched around the edges, added 2 Spellbinder die cuts, 2 bling and a rub on with a "thank you" sentiment.

This card is for these challenges:
1) Feeling Sketchy - Sketch
2) A Day for Daisies - #67 Your Favorite Technique (paper piecing and stitching)
3) Shopping Our Stash - #97 Text Or Letters
4) Desert Island Crafters - Itinerary (1+3+4)
5) Forever Friends - Paper Piecing
6) Addicted to Stamps and More - #41 Anything Goes
7) The Pink Elephant Monday Card Challenge - Paper Piecing
8) Cutie Pie Challenge - Clean & Simple
9) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Pink Card with Pearls and Birds

Two pink cards in a row! For this one I've used an image from A Day for Daisies. This woman with birds is one of my favorite images. I colored it with Promarkers, then added Old Paper Distress ink on top. For the pearls in her hair I used glossy accent.

The pink background is embossed  with a cherry blossom embossing folder, and the border of kraft with a folder with script. The pink paper with spots came free with a magazine.

I've used quite a few dies too. The corners, decorative leaves and scalloped circle are made with Spellbinder dies, the birds with a Memory Box die and the tag with a Go Kreate die. I've also used some flowers, pearls, jute and pink ribbon as well as 2 punched butterflies.
The sentiment says "Thank You" in Norwegian and is heat embossed with white embossing powder.


This card is for these challenges:
1) Inkspirational - #15 Photo (2nd entry)
2) Eclectic Ellapu - Put a Tag on it
3) Great Impressions - Pastel Colours and/or Polka Dots
4) Sentimental Sundays - Tag you are It
5) The Squirrel & the Fox - Inspired by a Song/Movie (Movie "The Birds")
6) Allsorts - #202 Letter of Your Name (Pink and Pearls)
7) ABC Challenges - 1-2-3 (1 image+2 punched butterflies+3 die cut birds)
8) Digi Makeover Challenge - Girly
9) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Teddy Bea with Wings

After 4 male cards I thought I'd compensate with a pink and girlie one, inspired by the Inkspirational photo. The layout is also inspired by a previous Inkspirational sketch .
This cards's taken me so long to make, I've been moving all bits and pieces around for hours! Always when I make pink cards I've got mixed feelings about the result. I guess we all experience that, especially when stepping out of our comfort zones...
I've used silver and brown colors in addition to all the pink. The flower patterned paper came free with a magazine. I used an embossing folder for the half circle. The flowers are stamped, I heat embossed them using holographic embossing powder, fussy cut them and added a pink pearl to each center. I wanted to use my silver glitter paper for my punched butterflies but couldn't find it, so I added the holographic embossing powder to scraps of silver and white paper instead - I think it works just as fine as with the real thing. I've used MB dies for the clouds, I added a rub on with a birthday sentiment to the largest one.
I used cork paper for the Marianne Creatables fence. Teddy Bea has been colored with Promarkers, and she's got a touch of glitter glue on her wings. I fussy cut her as well. I've machine stitched with glitter thread around the edges of the top layer.

This card is for these challenges:
1) Inkspirational - #15 Photo
2) Card Crafter's Circle - Die Cuts and/or Dry Embossing
3) Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge - Wings
4) Pattie's Creations - Make It Sparkle
5) Creative Moments - #14 Things with Wings
6) Flutterby Wednesdays - #235 Open
7) Whimsy Inspiration - #58 Pretty In Pink
8) Passion For Promarkers Challenge - #193 Cut Out Your Images
9) Stamp and Create - Use at least 1 Die Cut
10) Glitter n Sparkle Challenge Blog - Stitching - Real or faux  

Male Birthday Card with Dogs

I've used part of a DP as focal image for this card. I like how the "daddy dog" wears his crown, it was my inspiration for adding the heat embossed stamped crown as embellishment and using a dark bronze colored paper as background. For the background paper I used an embossing folder with script. I chose a layout inspired by the "Seize The Birthday" sketch. I heat embossed the sentiment (meaning "Wishing you a day filled with smiles and laughter" in Norwegian) with brown embossing powder. I used 2 different DPs for the panels. All edges have been inked with Walnut Distress Ink. I finished off my card adding a bronze colored metal charm.

This card is for these challenges:
1) Seize The Birthday - Sketch #13 Masculine Birthday
2) Sisterhood of Crafters - Animal
3) Whimsical Designs - Embossing
4) Anything Goes Challenge - #90 Heavy Metal
5) Cupcake Craft - Cats and/or Dogs
6) Gingerloft - For The Guys
7) Aud Sentiments Challenge - For A Guy
8) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Boy with Kite

For this card I've used an image from Mo's Digital Image. I've colored it with Promarkers in different shades of blues, greys and browns. All patterned papers came free with some magazines. I've used a Memory Box die for the cloud and a Marianne Creatable die for the fence. I've used a Darice embossing folder for the grey cardstock.
The edges of the panels have been machine stitched with my beloved glitter thread, and I've used 3 glitter  flower stickers as embellishments. I've heat embossed a birthday sentiment in Norwegian with white embossing powder.

This card is for these challenges:
1) Here Come the Boys - Sketch
2) I love Promarkers - #163 Embossing
3) Digital Tuesday - #205 Boys
4) Papertake Weekly - Bingo (Glitter+Die Cuts+Blooms)
5) Sparkle N Sprinkle - Use a Digital Image
6) Tammy's Scrapin Corner - 1 image, 2 Die Cuts (fence and cloud), 3 Embellishments (flowers)
7) Stempelsonnen Challenge - Human &/or Animal Kids
8) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Card for a Boy

I've got half a dozen cards started that I can't seem to be able to finish in a satisfactory way. But then I saw the sketch over at Come and Get it Challenges and felt the inspiration coming back to me.
The background paper with spots came free with a magazine. The panels with script are made with washi tape, and for the blue and white striped one I've used a scrap of a Graphic45 DP. All squares have been mounted to kraft paper.
I die cut two stars from another scrap of  Graphic45 DP, with a pattern of music notes. I added a brown button with twine to each star.
I've used KaiserCraft stamps for the rocking horse and boy silhouette and a Viva Decor stamp for the crown. The sentiment is also stamped, and the great thing about it is that "Gratulerer" in Norwegian means both "Happy Birthday" and "Congratulations", so this card can be given to a young birthday boy or to a newborn baby. All images have been heat embossed using brown embossing powder. I added a bronze metal clock charm to the last square. I don't remember where the scalloped border's from, but the heart is die cut with a Spellbinders die and I added a blue bow to it.
All edges are inked using walnut and old paper distress inks. No stitching this time!


This card is for these challenges:
1) Come and Get it Challenges - Sketch
2) Southern Girls - Make like a Zebra
3) 2 Sisters - #138 Anything Goes
4) Sweet Stampin - Look at the Scallops
5) Shelly's Images - Use Scallops
6) Inky Impressions - #104 For a child
7) Desert Island Crafters - Itinerary 4+7+10
8) 4 Crafty Chicks - #136 Charms (2nd entry)
9) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Vintage Boy's Card

It's been a little while since I made a vintage card. I chose to go with a boy's theme this time, so it's a  combination of two of my favorite styles - vintage and male. I wanted to try out a style not too "clean" - which isn't one of my strengths, I must admit.
I was inspired by the picture over at The Play Date Cafe, which to me said neutral colors and nature. So I finally took out a DP I've held on to for some while to make the background - I just love the wooden look of it.
I also knew what image to use, as well as I wanted to use some leftovers: a strip of a lattice die cut, part of a fence die cut, and a die cut circle frame I didn't use for another project. 
The circle I covered with gesso.  I also used 2 different washi tapes. The one with script is untouched, but to give the black and white one with the diamond pattern an aged look I used sandpaper on it, then added walnut distress ink on top - and that's also my tip for Top Tip Tuesday. 
For texture I used cheesecloth and jute onto which I attached a clock metal charm. I also added a ticket with sentiment, a button and 2 flowers. I don't think I've ever used flowers on a male card before, but I've seen others make it work, so I thought I'd give it a go too.



This card is for these challenges:
1) The Play Date Cafe - PDCC176 Picture
2) Rhedd & Rosie's Challenge Blog - #3 Vintage/Shabby
3) LEJ Designs - #47 Your Favourite Style
4) Paper Minutes - #263 Washi Tape
5) Top Tip Tuesday - #98 Girls & Boys Come Out To Play
6) Shopping Our Stash - #96 Not Your Normal Paper
7) ABC Challenge - K for Kraft
8) By the Cute & Girly - Vintage
9) Live & Love Crafts Challenge - BINGO (Cheesecloth+Vintage+Flowers)
10) Make it Monday - Anything Goes

Pink, Banana and Slate

This week's color combination over at Inkspirational is one I've never tried before - it certainly was something different to me! I've used what I believe to be pink, banana and slate, and I've just added a little bit of kraft and a neutral colored vellum paper with music notes print - hope that's OK. I rarely use flowers and not so often a sentiment only  - this one says something like "sending you hugs" in Norwegian.
The yellow and pink DPs came free with a magazine, the other papers are from my stash. I used a Spellbinder die for the sentiment, added 4 pink pearls to it, and the fishtail banner is hand cut. The ribbon was part of a candy I won. I added a key metal charm to it as well as two punched butterflies. The edges are machine stitched with a glitter thread - it changes colors in different lights so maybe it's more fair to say it's "holographic". Anyway, I found it in one of my mother's drawers - apparently it was something she purchased back in the 80s. Once it's all used up I hope to find something similar.
Hope you've all had a nice Easter and/or weekend. I spent 4 lovely days in the Czech capital, Prague, a wonderful city with lots of history and the most beautiful buildings! Good to back though as I've missed crafting and all that comes with it.


My card is for these challenges:
1) Inkspirational - #14 Colors (Pink, Banana and Slate)
2) Happy Campers Craft Collective - #14 Flower Power
3) 4 Crafty Chicks - #136 Charms
4) Crafting for all Seasons - #49 Floral Delight
5) Cupcake Craftroom - Summer blooms
6) Party Time Tuesdays - PTT #114 Ribbons & Blooms
7) Sandy's Crafty Creations - Anything goes with stitching
8) The Crazy Challenge - Add a Charm
9) Quirky Crafts - Bingo (Ribbon+Embossing+Die cut)
10) Make it Monday - Anything Goes