Another feather for your cap

Good morning and happy Saturday! I hang my head in shame and admit I had yet another play with my spritzer tool. Please bear with me as I get through this phase in my crafting life. I promise it won't last forever. But it's just so much fun! And I absolutely loooove the look it creates. It has given me a new appreciation of my stencils, which have been underused for most of my crafty career. 

When I first saw the current sketch over at My Favourite Things I immediately dismissed it. However, it clearly stayed in my subconsciousness. This card just popped into my head as I was laying in bed this morning reading blogs. Actually, it did change it's shape a bit during the creative process, most cards do, but I realised that a Dylusions stencil I bought ages ago would be perfect to create the background for my card. So out came the spritzer tool. I was also inspired by the colour challenge over at Colour Me...! as well as the inspiration picture over at Fusion (any bird themed challenge to me is a reason to pull out those Crazy Birds!!). I'm also linking up over at Addicted to Stamps where the theme is Make Your Mark (my second entry), Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge where the theme is Die Crazy and Alphabet Challenge where the theme is P is for Pelican, Peacock or any other bird. 

I created the background with the spritzer tool and Distress markers in Blueprint Sketch, Mowed Lawn and Peacock Feathers using two stencils, the Dylusions Shattered and a circular one I cut using a die onto linen textured cardstock (I currently have a huge crush on the look of this pretty textured card). I painted the bird with a watercolour brush using the same markers. I have tried to get my hands on the Tim Holtz stamp set which has accessories for the birds, but although ordering it months ago, I still haven't got it, it seems like there are none left in the world. So instead to give my birdie a graduation cap, I used the Lawn Fawn Hats off stamps set. For the sentiment, I used the Stampin' Up Alphabet Rotary stamp which has proven to be a really useful tool indeed. The sentiments looked a bit anaemic on their own, so I matted them onto coloured cardstock to make them pop a bit from the background. Last, I added some Glossy Accents to the graduation cap. I took my spritzing frenzy one step further and created a custom stencil using the Lawn Fawn Scripty Congrats die and spritzed through it for the inside of the card. I love how making your own stencils really extends the use of your dies, so much bang for your buck!

Card: Linen textured 300 gsm white card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card, Scraps of card in Navy and Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay and Old Olive
Stamps: Tim Holtz Bird Crazy and matching die, Lawn Fawn Hats off, Stampin' Up Alphabet Rotary stamp
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Tim Holtz Distress markers Blueprint Sketch, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers, Black Soot
Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Circle and Scripty Congrats die, Ranger Dylusions stencil Shattered, Stampin' Up Glossy Accents, Tim Holtz Distress Marker Spritzer tool

Dragon graduation

It's been such a glorious day today, hasn't it! And it seems like my cold is getting a bit better, although I did stay up half the night coughing. Hopefully tonight will be better. I got home from work with some daylight still leat and headed out in the garden with my red devil and took a few pictures of asparagus. Yes I know, I need a life. Only a few more days and those babies will be on my plate.

I recently acquired a bunch of new Lawn Fawn goodies, but they managed to remain untouched for at least three days which again is a clear indication that I haven't been quite a 100%. I needed some good inspiration to get going, and there it was, a great sketch from My Favourite Things. I also liked the colours over at ColourQ and all of this put together with my new Hats Off stamps resulted in this simple little graduation card. It will be graduation season sooner than you know, let me tell you! I would also like to link up over at Lawnscaping where the challenge is to add dimension. I have popped up the sentiment and the cute little graduation cap with dimensionals. Last but not least I'm also linking up at Addicted to Stamps where the theme this week is CAS. 

Card: White 300 gsm card
Paper: Stampin' Up Designer Series Paper Stack Brights, Lawn Fawn Let's Polka and Let's Polka Mon Amie
Stamps: Lawn Fawn Critters Ever After and Hats Off To You with matching dies, Happy Everything
Ink and colouring: Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay, Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics BG15 and BG26
Other: Lawn Fawn Stitched Circles dies, Stitched Rectangle dies, Xcuts star dies

Graduation card for Sis

After my marathon of making graduation cards for my Sister's friends, of course I had to make one for her too. I was somewhat short of ideas after making a total of eight graduation cards (links: card 1, card 2, card 3, card 4, card 5, card 6, card 7, card 8). After turning to the crafters best friend, Google and Pinterest, I thought this idea was great, so I adapted it to make my card.

I guess the picture says it all, I created all the components  freehand and fussycut with scissors. The name badge and NHS logo are printed using my ink jet printer and adhered to black cardstock. The white part of the card is actually a card holder, and the green bit inside is the card with the text on. It seems quite intricate, and while it took a bit of time and fiddling around to cut out the various parts, this is a really simple card as you only need a pair of scissors, some cardstock and adhesive to make the card. I think it turned out rather cool even if I do say so myself. It would also make a great holder for a gift card, come to think of it.

Cardstock: Stampin' Up Whisper White and Pear Pizzazz, scraps of black and white card from my stash
Other: Buttons from my stash, Stampin' Up Adhesive gems

Graduation cards - all done

This is finally the last of the graduation cards for my Sister's friends. Of course there is still my Sister's card which I will post in a few days once I have time to write the post. The graduation took place yesterday and everything went smoothly as expected with a big bunch of new doctors released out into the wild.

My sister suggested I make a box card for this new doctor, so a box card I made. I used my trusty box card design which I have used here, here and here. I covered the box with paper that I got for free with a crafting magazine. I used Stampin Up Petite Petals and Flower Shop stamps to stamp the flowers and punched them with the matching punches which makes life so much easier. Unfortunately I don't have a matching punch for the butterfly from the Bloomin' Marvellous stamp set so I had to fussy cut the butterflies. Finally as for all the other cards, I die cut the letters using my favourite alphabet die, the Tim Holtz Alterations Inside Out Alphabet die.

I'm entering this card into this week's The Pink Elephant where the theme is Summer Time.

Card: Leonardo Workshop 300 gsm White card, Coloured 240 gsm craft card in Pink Raspberry, Purple Grape and Ruby Red

Paper: The Country Diary of and Edwardian Lady (free with Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine earlier this year)

Ink: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Real Red, Rich Razzleberry andTempting Turquoise

Stamps: Stampin' Up Bloomin' Marvellous, Flower Shop, Petite Petals

Other: Tim Holtz Alterations Inside Out Alphabet Die, Stampin' up Petite Petals and Pansy punch

 

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Petite Petals graduation card

This is the second-to-last in the bunch of graduation cards I have made for my Sister's friends. It seems like ages ago when I started with the first one, and still I was struggling to get them all done in time. It's been a challenge to come up with something individual and unique for each of the new doctors, but I've had a great time creating. 

This card came together easily using the Stampin' Up Petite Petals stamp set and matching punch. It's so fun to stamp and punch the flowers, I could make oodles of cards like this. I also added some splatter using the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set (which seems to feature on about 90% of all my cards, but what can you do, if it ain't broken don't fix it). I die cut the letters and put everything together with a few adhesive gems for a bit of bling. I stamped a row of flowers inside the card and on the envelope as well.

I'm entering this card in Addicted to CAS which this week is about "Celebrate". If graduating as a Medical Doctor is not a reason to celebrate, I don't know what is. I'm also entering this week's Addicted to Stamps and more where the theme is CAS. I also had to enter the Shopping our Stash challenge as the theme was to use something you can't put away, and these two stamp sets definitely have seen their fair share of use in my craft room. 

Card: Leonardo Stationery 300 gsm Smooth White Card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card, Stampin' Up Crumb Cake
Stamps: Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge, Petite Petals
Inks: Stampin' Up Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Sahara Sand, Smoky Slate, Wisteria Wonder
Other: Stampin' Up Jewels Basic Rhinestones, Petite Petals punch, Tim Holtz Alterations Inside Out alphabet die

Graduation card with purple flower

I have a few more cards on my list of graduation cards for my Sister's friends. Their graduation is looming, only two more weeks to go so I thought I better get my crafting mojo in gear and finish a few more. This card was inspired by this week's Colour me... and Freshly Made Sketch, although I don't have Elegant Eggplant so I had to improvise a bit with the purple colour. Doesn't that inspiration picture just make you smile, it's too cute to be true.

I created the flower using the Stampin' Up Blossom, Pansy and Petite Petals punches and matching stamps for the last two. I stamped the flowers in Tim Holtz Distress ink in Seedless Preserves, inked around the edges with a foam applicator and curled the leaves a bit for a more three dimensional flower. I added a bit of Tim Holtz idea-ology Paper String as a finishing touch and in line with the sketch. I stamped the blue flowers in Soft Sky and die cut the letters using the Tim Holtz inside out alphabet die.

Cardstock: Leonardo Stationery 350 gsm Smooth White Card, Coloured craft card 240 gsm in Purple Grape, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm three shades of blue

Paper: Stampin' Up Sycamore Street DSP

Ink: Tim Holtz Distress ink Seedless Preserves

Stamps: Stampin' Up Flower Shop and Petite Petals  

Other: Tim Holtz idea-ology Paper String, Stampin' Up Jewels Basic Rhinestones, Tim Holtz alterations inside out alphabet die

Blossom graduation card

When I saw this amazingly beautiful card from Peg Coombes I knew I had to recreate it for one of the graduation cards I'm making. I love the flower stamps with matching punches, it's so easy and quick to create an impressive card, much quicker than die cutting. I like the cascading fold and the flowers all over the edges. Still the card fits in a normal size envelope. I also love the understated neutral colours which make the card very elegant.

For this card I used Stampin' Up Whisper White cardstock for the base and stamped the flowers in Sahara Sand. After punching them out I added Ranger Ice Stickles in Coffee Ice in the middle of the flowers for a little understated bling. I heat embossed the sentiment in white embossing powder onto Crumb Cake cardstock, and die cut the letters using a Tim Holtz die from the same card. After assembling the card I stamped a matching envelope.

Card folded and the envelope

Card: Stampin' Up Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card
Ink: Stampin' Up Sahara Sand, Tim Holtz Embossing Ink
Stamps: Stampin' Up Flower Shop, Petite Petals, TPC Studio Graduation Clear stamp set
Other: Tim Holtz Alterations Inside Out alphabet die, Ranger Ice Stickles in Coffee Ice, Papermania Seafoam White embossing powder, Stampin' Up Pansy and Petite Petals punch

G is for graduation card

I have a list of graduation cards my sister has asked me to make for her fellow medical students when they graduate this summer. For some reason I have struggled finding inspiration, but today I decided to bite the bullet and cross off another card on the list. I went in search of inspiration and found this week's Retro sketch. And it is just amazing! I really loved the sketch, I love sketches with elements with rounded corners, I think it just makes everything look so much more serene and peaceful and friendly. I immediately knew I wanted my top layer to be vellum, it gives such a cool look, but at the same time it's quite challenging to create with as you have to figure out ways of attaching it in place without leaving visible glue marks anywhere. 

I have also had The Card Concept challenge on my mind for a few days, it is so far outside my comfort zone I knew I just had to give it a shot. It's a colour challenge with yellow, black, white and grey. I am so bad with yellow. Seriously, I rarely use it on my cards unless I'm doing a colour challenge with yellow included. And this time, only yellow and neutrals? I had no idea what to do with it. But I think in the end it turned out quite elegant. Unfortunately it doesn't quite come across as good on the photo as it does in real life, photographing cards with vellum can sometimes be a bit tricky, and this was certainly one of those times. The Card Concept asks you to classify your card into one of their categories, I think this is "Clean and Layering". 

I also found a great new challenge blog called The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers (how great is that) and their current challenge is "R is for ribbon", so I'm entering my card in their challenge as well. Particularly as I finally managed to tie a bow that doesn't point in all possible different directions. And I won't tell anyone I actually used quite a few glue dots to make it look like that, as I'm incapable of tying a bow...

I started by picking out card in Smoky Slate for my background, and a DSP from the xx set for the background panel. I stamped the pretty flower stamp from So Very Grateful in black ink and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and coloured with markers, adding a few layers of yellow to make it bright enough. I die cut the letters using Tim Holtz alterations die. Then I attached everything into place, making sure the adhesive for the vellum panel went under where the ribbon was going to be, as well as under the die cut letters. I then tied the yellow ribbon and secured in a few places with glue dots. As a finishing touch, I added a few adhesive gems which also help keep the vellum in place. I also stamped, heat embossed and coloured the flowers in yellow and grey onto the envelope and inside the card. I really like how the card turned out and hope that my Sister's friend will like it too.

Card: Stampin' Up Smoky Slate, Basic Grey, Basic Black, Dovecraft 110 gsm Premium Vellum

Paper: Stampin' Up Sunshine and Sprinkles and Patterns Stack - Brights collection

Ink: Hobbycraft black pigment ink, Stampin' Up markers in Daffodil Delight, So Saffron and Smoky Slate

Stamps: Stampin' Up So Very Grateful

Other: Tim Holtz alterations inside out alphabet die, Papermania adhesive gems in Capsule Sunshine, Dovecraft Tea Party grosgrain ribbon

Butterfly graduation card

My sister recently finished her finals for Medical School and I'm so excited that she finally has all the hard work over and done with. She has worked so hard for many years now. There is a bit less than two weeks to go until the results are announced, but it's very likely that she and her friends will graduate this summer. I don't want to jinx it for anyone, but I know she and her friends have excelled academically, so I find it very hard to believe any of them would have fallen at this last hurdle. And I'm very excited that my sister asked me to make graduation cards for her friends. So this is the first one for a friend of hers who loves butterflies. 

Usually I turn to the Stampin' Up Swallowtail stamp for butterfly cards, but if I can remember correctly, I have already made a birthday card for my sister's friend with the Swallowtail stamp. So I thought I would do something else, and I ended up using the Hobbycraft butterfly stamp. I also embossed some vellum using a folder I got with the latest issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine. The embossing doesn't show very well in the picture, but you can see a few flowers if you look for them. I added some ribbon and some adhesive gems for that final touch.

When creating this card, I was inspired by this week's Color Throwdown colors as well as the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. In addition, the theme for the Card Concept this week was butterflies. They have different styles for cards, and my chosen style for this card was Classy and Elegant. I am entering the card into these three challenges.

Cardstock: Leonardo Stationery 350 gsm Smooth White Card, Hobbycraft 160 gsm white card, Dovecraft premium vellum 110 gsm
Inks: Stampin' Up Pistachio Pudding, Soft Sky, So Saffron
Other: Hobbycraft butterfly stamp, Tim Holtz Alterations Inside Out alphabet die, Papermania adhesive gems, blue ribbon from my stash