Monday 15 July 2013

Another big Birthday

Hi Friends.
Hasn't the weather been gorgeous? Hope it stays a bit longer, though the gardens could do with a drink! I have been making the most of the sunshine in between everything else on my "to do " list, but the clear blue skies forecast for today are somewhat cloudy here in West Yorkshire. It's still hot though - so time for a quick post, a few chores and then a cuppa in the garden!

It's a male Birthday card for my hubby's friend who is reaching that big 60 this week. Men's cards are always difficult unless they like the usual football, golf etc. so I am really pleased with the large everyday sentiment stamps (set 43) from LOTV as they are good for male or female.
So here we are! --again!!

 
I cut an A5 card in half across the middle to make two landscape cards with the fold to the left and die cut a circle with a Spellbinder die. I also cut the same circle from black card. I then stamped the birthday wording with Versamark and embossed with black WOW embossing powder. I have a box full of embossing powders that I have had for years but I always seem to reach for the Wow ones at present. 

 
I then closed the card and stuck the black circle on to the back through the front aperture to be sure it lined up and finished with a die cut 60 and some bakers twine.
 
I also made one in red as I wasn't sure which hubby would choose for his friend -- he went with the  black and white, so I have left the circle blank on the red one to be personalised at a later date.
 

 
Which do you prefer?
I promise to bring you something different next time!
 
Stay safe in the sun friends and enjoy your week.
Hugs
Carole xx

Thursday 4 July 2013

"Bottoms Up"

Hi Everyone
Well what a big surprise this week to win the monthly challenge on LOTV ! The big decision was which set of stamps to choose as I love them all. In the end I have plumped for a set of the large sentiments -  Statements -Congratulations. I already have the Birthday set - so useful, on trend, that little bit different and great for a quick card - unisex too. So when the postie brings - watch this space for a creation.
Thank you too, to everyone who has taken the time to stop by, leave a comment and their good wishes. it is truly appreciated.
LOTV are doing a blog hop today so do hop over and join in for some lovely inspiration from their fab design team, and prizes along the way.

 At last I have managed something new to share. It's actually a card for a friends husband in a couple of weeks but they won't peek so I think I can share it, and it uses one of those large Statement stamps I have just been talking about!


 
In my mind I knew I wanted a backing paper with beer glasses on it and was so sure that I had some amongst my papers, but of course I couldn't find any so I had to resort to a bit of computer crafting and create my own. This was then matted and layered on to a card base. The sentiment was coloured with Whisper markers and stamped,( don't forget the huffing technique) then die cut with Spellbinders Basic Rectangles and layered on the brown card. I used pads to raise it off the background and give a little dimension - sorry you can't see this in the photo.
 
 
The beer glass in the middle of the sentiment is actually floating. I cut out two from spare paper and stuck them back to back on a strip of acetate and attached at the top of the card.
Finally the insert was created from the same backing paper but a lot paler - really washed out in fact and a computer generated sentiment. I stuck another beer glass on for good measure!
 
 
I am quite pleased with the finished result. What do you think? I would love for you to leave me a comment and let me know.
 
I think I can safely say that it has taken me longer to write this post than make the card!!! The gremlins from blogger got in and no matter how hard I tried to upload that last picture it turned it through 90 degrees every time! Anyway got there in the end thank goodness. Hopefully I will enter this card in the Paper Take Weekly challenge -Anything goes - if the gremlins let me!
 
 
Thanks for stopping by and have a good weekend -apparently it will be summer (I will wait and see on that one I think)
 
Crafty Hugs xx
 Carole