Happy Birthday Grandma!

Wow it's been a busy day today. I started the day at the gym with the release of the 100th Les Mills Body Pump programme. It was great fun, I really love this class and I've been doing it for at least 10 years now. After that I walked into town to find out my favourite clothing store is closing, so they were selling everything for half price. I splurged like I haven't splurged for years. Now this is a great motivation for me to not gain weight, as I have bought several beautiful suits and a dress as well. I hope your day has been great too, whatever you have been up to.

While in town I also managed to mail several birthday cards, including this one for my Grandma who is turning 92 years soon. I wonder what it feels like to have lived for so long. How strange must today's world seem, with things like the internet which is completely foreign to her. What are the things I will have no idea about when I'm old? I already feel like I have no idea what the kids are doing these days with Snapchatting and whatnot. Sometimes it feels very comforting to create cards, read physical books and write in an analog journal. I love that one of my friends started writing me letters, and I have been responding to her. I used to write so many letters when I was younger. It's amazing to get a letter in the mail, make a cup of coffee, maybe get some chocolates and read the thoughts of your friend. It's very retro!

Anyhow, on to today's card. I started by inking with Distress Inks through the gorgeous Peony Number Two ARTplorations stencil. I then cut a strop from the inked flower to match the sketch I was inspired by. I also cut a strip of patterned paper from Lawn Fawn Let's Polka in the Meadow. Next I used the STAMPlorations Sketchy Alphabet to create the custom sentiment (it's not very easy to find Finnish sentiment stamps...). It just says Congrats in Finnish. I stamped the letters in black Versafine onto white card and fussy cut them. After adhering them to the card I added some Ice Stickles and pink Ranger Distress Sticklers. To add a bit more of a grunge look I splattered pink inks and water over the front of the card and added a few gold sequins. 

As I've been struggling with fining my crafting mojo, which clearly hasn't still returned from the wild New Year's party it went to, this card required quite a few challenges for inspiration. I was inspired by the sketch over at Freshly Made Sketches and the gorgeous inspiration image over at The Card Concept. My card is CAS and I was inspired by the black, pink and gold colour combo, the gorgeous flowers and the stripes on the mug. I'm also linking up with Shopping Our Stash where the theme is Stickle me Elmo (use Stickles), Clean and Simple on Sunday where the theme is black, white and one other colour and Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge where the theme is Stencil. 

Card: 300 gsm white card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card

Stamps: STAMPlorations Sketchy Alphabet 

Stencils: ARTplorations Peony Number Two

Ink: Tsukineko Versafine Onyx Black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry and Abandoned Coral

Other: Lawn Fawn Let's Polka in the Meadow paper, Ranger Ice Stickles, Ranger Distress Stickles Worn Lipstick, gold sequins from my stash