Enjoy the Moment

I find masculine cards to be quite the challenge. I didn't know what to do for my nephew-in-law's birthday, but I knew I didn't want to do trees or stars as it seems that is all I have done lately for the males in my life. I was blogsurfing this morning and came across this card by Vicki, which I used as my starting point.

My original plan was to use three hats using Real Red and Brilliant Blue. The only problem was that for the life of me, I can't see to get a crisp image with my clear stamps and SU ink. If anybody has any helpful suggestions, please pass them on. I've tried everything - conditioning the stamps, stamping with VersaMark first, but they always turn out like this:
I decided to go back to my FAVOURITE ink for clear stamps - VersaFine. Since I only have it in Black Onyx, there was no choice to be made. When I got out my stamps, I liked the three candles so I decided to change from three hats to two hats and the candles. Of course, the candles didn't fit on the same size circle as the hats, so that changed the card even more.
I also decided to change my colour scheme just because I had Kiwi Kiss and Pacific Point cardstock nearby and I might as well use it up as it is now retired. When I glued the candle circle on, I really liked the look of the card so I took a picture in case I need a quick card one day. Which one do you like better?

Thanks for looking,
Kim

P.S. - I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software to make the circles. I LOVE that program!

Party Hats - 1", 1.25" and 1.5"
Candles - 1.25", 1.5" and 1.75"

Card Stock - PTI - Stamper's Select White, SU Kiwi Kiss Textured, SU Pacific Point Textured
Ink - VersaFine Black Onyx
Stamps - PTI - Mixed Messages, Studio G $1.50 stamps from Michael's (I'm from Canada so no $1 stamps for me!)
Accessories - Stampin Dimensionals

17th Birthday

My daughter's seventeenth birthday is next week... I can't believe she's that old! I asked her what colour she wanted for her birthday card and she said bright green. Immediately my brain went to this card that was created by redbuggydriver for the Sketch Challenge 235 on Splitcoaststampers. I kept the colours of redbuggydriver's card and the layout. I just used the flower punch I had and used turquoise flowers on green squares and green flowers on turquoise squares, which is opposite from what she did. I made my card 5 1/2" square, which must be a bit bigger than redbuggydriver's as my diamond doesn't overlap the other squares. I think my daughter is going to like it!

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Card Stock - PTI - Stamper's Select White, SU Tempting Turquoise, SU Green Galore, SU Basic Black
Ink - VersaFine Black Onyx
Stamps - PTI - Mixed Messages
Accessories - Brads from Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts, Stampin Dimensionals, SU Spring Bouquet Punch (Retired)

Black Square - 1.37"

Coloured Square - 1

Circle - 1"

Birds and Swirls Anniversary

Dannie's card was my inspiration for this card that I created this card for my niece and her husband's third wedding anniversary. I liked it so much that I made it again for my younger brother and his wife's anniversary. My mom's wedding invitations were made using the Birds and Swirls embossing folder, so I'm thinking I'll make this card for her too, but I'll use Pretty in Pink as the accent colour. My older brother and his wife are celebrating their 25th anniversary next month so maybe I'll use it for that too! Can you tell I like this card?

The base of the card is a 5" square because the largest square panel I can make with the Cuttlebug embossing folder is 4". I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software to create the scallop,which is the same size as SU scallop punch. I also used the Cricut to make the scalloped circle (1.25"), turquoise circle (1") and white circle (0.85"). I love using my Cricut because I can easily make circles or any shape any size that I wish.

Kim

Card Stock - PTI Stamper's Select White; SU Tempting Turquoise, SU Blasic Black
Ink - VersaFine Black Onyx
Stamp - PTI Mixed Messages
Accessories - Satin Ribbon from Wal-Mart; Stampin' Dimensionals; Birds and Swirls Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Base - 5"

Black Panel - 4.25"

Embossed Panel - 4"

Scalloped Circle - 1.25"

Turquoise Circle - 1"

White Circle - 0.85"

Farm Birthday

AAAAAGH! When will I learn to check my pictures before I mail the card. This is such a cute card, but such a lousy picture. You can't see the panel of "wood" on each door, let alone the texture of the paper. I created this card using nhoetker's card as inspiration for the outside, so check hers out to get a better idea of how it looks.

I used Michelle's punch pig for the inside. Using my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software, I made my pig with a 2" body and 1.75" head so it would fit better in my 6" square card. I used a heart punch for the ears and a swirl punch from a craft kit of my daughter's for the tail. I used the window punch and star punch for his legs.

This card is for my youngest nephew who is turned six yesterday. He had a farm themed birthday party on the weekend. His mom is an AWESOME scrapbooker and cardmaker so there was a little pressure to create something special. I hope he liked it!

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
Accessories - Hodgepodge Hardware, Googly Eyes

Happy Father's Day

Well, I was back to using my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software for this card! I was inspired by Jennifer's card. I don't have a Father's Day stamp so I printed it up on the computer. I goofed when I was making this card because I decided to add the brads after I had glued everything on the card base. I don't like my brad backs showing on the inside of my card so I added a strip of DSP to the inside to cover my brads and my paper piercing. I know it doesn't look like it, but I did use my Mat pack template to make the paper piercing, but it still looks wonky! I need to practise that skill!

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Whisper White
SU Designer Paper - Summer Picnic
Accessories - Star brads

Graduation Cap

I got the idea for this card from Susan, who got the template from Arc. My nephew is graduating from high school in Ontario and these are his school colours. This was an easy card to make and it turned out so cute! I used Bethany's Word Art for the inside.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Bravo Burgundy, Bashful Blue
Accessories - Embroidery Thread, Brad

Good Luck Retirement

I created this card for my principal who is sort of retiring. I say sort of because he is retiring from our school district and has accepted a job as the head master of a private school. Since he is going to continue working, I didn't think "Happy Retirement" was an appropriate sentiment so I went with "Good Luck" instead. I just have two more retirement cards to make before the end of school.

I used Denise's card for inspiration. My Cricut came in handy for the circles, but I used my Nestabilities for the ovals.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Confetti White
SU Designer Paper - To the Nines Speciality
Ink - SU Chocolate Chip, Versamark
Stamps - SU - Lovely as a Tree, PTI - Mixed Messages
Accessories - Always Artichoke brads from Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts, Cricut, Oval Nestablities

Thinking of You Flowers

Kim's card was my inspiration for this card. Sometimes I feel guilty for always piggybacking off of somebody else's cards, but at this point in time, that is where I am most comfortable. I am truly in awe of all the beautiful cards out that I see and wish I had the creativity to come with creations that are 100% my own. It is enough for my brain to figure out how I can recreate a card using the supplies that I have.

I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software to make the flowers and the scallop. They are similar to Stampin' Up's Flower Layers and Flower Layers #3 dies. I'm not madly in love with this card. I think it is because the outer layer of the flower does not have uniform petals, which makes me think it looks like it was cut by hand or by a child! Which is silly because real flowers don't have perfect petals, but I guess I like them perfect on my cards.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Card Stock - PTI - Stamper's Select White, SU - Bashful Blue, Rose Red, So Saffron, Old Olive
SU Designer Paper - Junior Varsity
Ink - SU - Old Olive, VersaMark
Stamps - PTI - Faux Ribbon
Accessories - Elmer's Sticky Jewels, Brads in Bashful Blue, Rose Red and So Saffron from Pink Hedgehog Paper Crafts

Tangerine Kiss Daisy

This card was inspired by Diana Gibb's card. As per usual, I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software to create the daisy. I'm having a little problem with cutting the daisy in DSP with the Cricut. It sometimes tears at the bottom of the petals. Luckily the layers cover that up and you don't see it.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

Card Stock - SU Tangerine Tango Textured, SU Kiwi Kiss Textured, SU Chocolate Chip, PTI Stamper's Select White
SU Designer Paper - Tangerine Tango, Hawaii Papaya
Accessories - Cricut, Sure Cuts A Lot software, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Making Memories Jewelled Brad, Spring Bouquet Punch

Leaf 2 1/2" wide

Daisy - outer petals - 3" wide, middle petals - 2" wide

Vertical Panel - C/S - 1 7/8" x 4 3/4" and DSP 1 3/4" x 4 5/8"

Horizontal Panel - 4 1/8" x 1 5/8" and DSP 4" x 1 1/2"

Square - Kiwi Kiss 3 5/8" and White 3 1/2"

Washington Daisy

This card was inspired by Ashley's card box and cards. I REALLY wanted to make a card like the front of Ashley's box, but unfortunately I didn't have enough of the checkered Washington Apple DSP left. (I LOVE that paper!) So I used the flower from the box and the layout from her card and combined the two - therefore it isn't a total CASE!

I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software to make the daisy. I cut it twice for each colour at four inches, three inches and two inches. I used my Cuttlebug Build-a-Flower in my Big Shot for the embossed center.

Thanks for looking,
Kim

SU Card Stock - Ridinghood Red Textured, Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, So Saffron
SU Designer Paper - Washington Apple
Ink - VersaFine Black Onyx
Stamps - PTI Faux Ribbon
Accessories - Making Memories Cyrstal Brad, Window Punch, Corner Rounder Punch