Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Birthday Spin

Digi image:  From the Heart Stamps 'Birthday Candle Birdbrain'.  Sentiments:  PTI 'Birthday Basics' and  'Birthday Bash Sentinents'.  Cardstock:  SU Wild Wasabi and Baja Breeze, Neenah White, DCWV 'Celebration Stack'.  Ink:  Copics and Memento black.
This card's inspiration is I {heart}Sketches #59 at From the Heart Stamps with the twist of creating an interactive card: 
Sketch059.jpg
To add a fun 'spin' to this birthday card, I added a wheel that could be spun to show a new sentiment:
The trick as to mount the circle on a center brad.  That was the easy part; the hardest part was sentiment placement.
I really would have liked to use the fun sentiments that accompany this Birdbrain, but my computer skills don't extend to curving digi sentiments!

Here's an 'action' shot, showing the wheel spun in between sentiments so you get an idea of placement:
Fun and (mostly) easy!

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Monochromatic Merci

Digi image:  From the Heart Stamps 'French Mustache Birdbrain'.  Cardstock:  Neenah white, kraft, SU navy blue, Glitz 'Vintage Blue'.  Ink:  Copics.
This week's From the Heart Stamps I {heart} sketch#58 had a twist that I discovered was more difficult than expected:  monochromatic.
Sketch058.jpg
This is as close as I could get to a single color scheme, using these gorgeous vintage blue patterns.  Guess I'm just not meant to be a single color gal!
 
It was fun to try, though.
 


Thursday, March 13, 2014

Birdday Heat



Image and sentiment:  From the Heart Stamps 'Birthday Candle Birdbrain'.  Cardstock:  SU Chocolate  and Bashful Blue, DCWV 'Glitter Sweet', Neenah white.  Ink:  Copics.
 Ever had one of those cards that just didn't turn out like you visualized?  I fiddled with this card for over an hour, just trying to come up with something that, well, didn't bug me.  I finally went to bed and when I reassessed the next morning it didn't look so bad after all.

Oh, the joys of perfectionism!

I had great inspiration with I {heart} sketches #57:
Sketch057.jpg

The twist for this week was dry embossing which forced me to dust off my embossing plates.  I need to do that more often!

On the inside I used one of the many sentiments included in this fun digi set:
I like these sentiments because they are funny without being too mean; it's a fine line sometimes!
 

Monday, March 10, 2014

Spring Notes

Image:  Stampavie 'Bird on Dogwood Branch'.  Sentiment: PTI 'Autumn Abundance'.  Cardstock:  PTI brown, SU Cool Caribbean, Prima 'Madeline' DP.  Ink:  Copics, SU Chocolate.
 
Another fun Spring image, this one sent to me by a stamping buddy on Splitcoast.  Thanks, Tracie!

Sketch inspiration was provided by Sweet Sunday Sketch #210:
Today it feels like Spring -- the temperatures are supposed to be close to 70!  Unfortunately, it's back to snow in the forecast for Wednesday.  Sigh.



Saturday, March 8, 2014

Springtime Friends

Digi image and sentiment:  From the Heart Stamps 'Hamlet Pigwit Think Spring'.  Cardstock:  BoBunny 'Prairie Chic', Neenah White, Bazzill black.  Ink:  Copics, Stardust glitter.
 The March image set  I received FREE for participating in the progressive monthly challenge is perfect for my mood -- I'm not just thinking of Spring, I'm dreaming of it!

Sketch inspiration is courtesy of the From the Heart Stamp archives:

I let one daffodil extend 'outside the box' and popped up the butterfly for extra dimension:
Now if Spring would just arrive in real life!

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Think Spring!

 

Digi image and sentiment:  From the Heart Stamps 'Hamlet PigWit Think Spring'.  Cardstock:  SU Wild Wasabi and gray, Neenah white, K& Co 'Sweet Nectar', Bo Bunny 'Prairie Chic'.  Ink:  Copics.
Aren't we all dreaming of Spring? Mr. Hamlet is no different -- this digi set also comes with a field of flowers and butterflies.  I received the complete set FREE for being part of the FTHS monthly progressive challenge.  Read HERE for details on how to join the fun!

Inspiration for this card came from the fun I {heart} sketches #56
Sketch056.jpg
An added twist  was to add real or faux stitching.  This detail may have been the most time consuming part of the cardmaking process since I don't have round stitching templates.  My solution was to use a slightly larger spellbinders circle die and pierce along the edge.  Not perfect and I had to be sure not to slice my fingers, but not bad, right??

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Chasing Dreams

Sentiment:  My Favorite Things 'Vertical Greetings'.  Cardstock:  Farm House 'Fair Skies'.  Bazzill ribbon.
I'm officially obsessed with this DP 6x6 pack 'Fair Skies' and these 'Vertical Greetings' sentiments!  The sad part is that I've had both of these in my possession for at least a year, but only rediscovered them during a feeble attempt to clear and organize my crafting space.  Makes a good excuse for organizing more often, doesn't it??

The sketch is inspired by Tuesday Morning Sketch #238, one of my all-time favorite sketch blogs.  It's been over a year since I played along, so I'm sticking to the 'missing a year' theme!


Saturday, March 1, 2014

My World

 
Sentiment:  My Favorite Things 'Vertical Greetings'.  Cardstock:  SU Night of Navy, Farmhouse 'Fair Skies' DP.  Ink:  Night of Navy.  Vintage button.
 My Favorite Thing's Weekly Sketch Challenge #165 inspired this card with its clean and simple lines. 
MFTWSC165

Once I decided on the sentiment, the DPs came together quickly thanks to this vintage DP stack. 

Guess what required the most time, even longer than assembling the card?  Choosing the button!  You might understand why when you realized I have three of these gorgeous antique Bell jars with original tin lids that are filled with vintage buttons:

Thanks, Mom, who passed these along to me when she inherited them from her mother-in-law.  They are the perfect decoration that is also a great card embellishment source!
 
I think this button is the best choice because not only is it masculine enough for a guy card, but still has the original thread:

Fun day -- what beats papercrafting AND being able to play with vintage buttons??