More birthdays.

Hi there,

So much for my good intentions of blogging (or in fact of doing anything) whilst on holidays. I have one week left, it is flying by way too fast, sob.

Anyway, it is a rainy, coldish Sunday morning so is a good time to be inside on the computer. My good friends, the Wilson family, have 4 b'days in 3 days. The gorgeous Netty is over in Greece so I was slack and just sent her a Facebook greeting. I did, however, make cards for her wonderful twin, Wes, and his two lovely kids. (I took the pics in a hurry so they are not fab.)

First off, Wes' card.  I had seen this fab set of cards made by Shelley and knew I would have to CASE them, LOL. I have really come to love the French Foliage stamp set, especially as the French Script and 'Splodges' are so versatile.

As it was Autumn, and just to change it up a bit from Shelley's cards, I used oranges and browns. These are not usually my fav colours but I do like them for these leaves. The sentiment was from 'Afterthoughts' inked with markers. Wes was quite impressed with it I think (he is a keen gardener).

Next was picking a card for 4 y.o Ethan. I used this, then current, Inkspirations sketch. It was only once I'd finished my card that I realised the brads were one too many & going the wrong way. Oh well, I didn't get it posted in time for the challenge anyway.

I had thought about using a robot stamp but then realised i'd done that for him last year (the advantage of blogging kid's cards, also helps you go back and see how old they were last year, and thus knowing how old they are this year LOL). I then remembered this rocket from 'Pun Fun', which he was quite happy with. (Sorry, just realised that this pic is rather crooked).

Good old faithful Celebrations DSP (don't what I'll do for boy cards after August when this will retire), Star wheel, Timeless Type die, Star Punch and Crystal Effects. I used a clear rhinestone brad for the porthole.

Finally, I turned to a non-SU die and embossing folder to make this card. I had seen the lovely Karen Thomas use this die and had to get one. The CS, DSP, 'Happy Birthday' stamp, button & glitter are all SU however. The DSP is now retired but had great colours so I stocked up on it. Don't know what Livvy thought, but her Mum liked it LOL. Pity the ink didn't come out evenly on the HB stamp, but I had some trouble getting the banner right & couldn't bring myself to do it yet again (slacker!!!)

I will try and get some more posts done to appear in the next few days but a cuppa is calling me first.

Cheers,
Fi xox

Back again..

Hi Guys,

Well I am 5/7 into my first week of holidays (it is flying past, sob) and have done a fraction of what I intended. Work had been so busy and having Convention in the mix as well I think I just got really tired and needed some 'do-nothing' days. Will have to spark up for the next two weeks. I am going to Sydney tomorrow as I am doing a resin bangle & ring making workshop. Should be fun.

My lovely friend & fellow midwife Elise (you might remember her wedding pic, here) is a few weeks away from having her first bub and we had a baby shower for her on Sunday. I had to make a card, of course. She loves neutrals, and has a cream and green nursery. I was low on ideas when I spied the Bugs & Kisses card on p64 of the IB&C. I don't turn to our catty often enough for ideas but it is chock-full of them.

 I used Crumb Cake as the base and Very Vanilla & Pear Pizazz as the accent colours. I still love the retired set 'Wild About You' and had to use the cute giraffe image. The 'Baby' sentiment is non-SU and I printed the 'Shower' sentiment using my computer. The brad is a 'Vintage Trinkets' button. I used twine & Pear Pizazz ribbon (US contraband). Elise loved it, thankfully.

It was also her b'day. I had seen this card ages ago on Sherri Barron's blog & just loved the technique of adhering DSP to CS and running it through the Bigshot with the Lattice Embossing folder. I have now CASEd it twice. I really love the colours that Sherri used but my friends both like browns.

The DSP is from the 'Botanical Gazette' papers and the CS colours are Early Espresso, Very Vanilla & Cherry Cobbler. I used stamps from the Nature Walk and French Foliage sets. The ribbon is US contraband (which I dearly hope will be in our next IB&C). I finished it of with tags stamped with the Tiny Tags set and finished with the co-ordinating punch.

Here is the version that I made for Joy:

It is similar but I didn't use the French Foliage stamps. I used Bravo Burgundy instead of Cherry Cobbler as it seems to go better with this DSP piece. I aded an Antique Brad and a Mini Vintage tag. I was really with how these cards came out. Thank you Sherri for the inspiration!

Must go & hang out my sheets (exciting life I lead!!!),

Cheers,
Fi x