Wanted - A Pretty Pony Card

Cousin Maya is turning 8.  She loves horses, and is lucky to have her own white pony named Star.  When it came time to make Maya's birthday card the choice was easy - use the horse from the 'Wanted' stamp set.  Most of the projects I have seen and made using this set have been with earthy colours, and often quite masculine looking.  This time I wanted a pretty pony card, so instead of browns, I went with pink - well an embossed white horse on pink card (the running horses on the envelope were pink though).  The finishing touches were a couple of punched stars, some pink pirouette ribbon, and sponging around the edges of all the card and the pink pirouette patterned paper.

The layout of this card was based on the sketch challenge over at Stamping 411.  I love the simplicity of this sketch, and think I might have to file it away for future quick card reference:

 Now this card has me thinking about a possible  bargain bin project from my February challenge.  I see more pretty ponies in my future...  Stay tuned!

Box of Bargains - February Challenge

Okay, so I am sure I am not the only one who cannot resist looking through a bargain bin, seeing limitless potential in those discounted goodies, and then taking them home with the best of intentions, most often to gather dust.  I'm not the only one, right?

So here is my box of bargains with limitless potential - notebooks, post its, photo frames, wooden drawers, a mailbox (a little one!), coasters, more notebooks....

(not so bad, right?!)

And here is the challenge I set myself for this month.  Transform those bargains into beautiful things.  I may not get through the whole box, and I am okay with that, but hopefully I will get a few fun projects checked off the list (and make some room for future bargain bin treasures!)

Feel free to join me!

Another fun pirate card

Well I said I was having fun, and there has been a parade of pirates here this week, but I think this card is my favourite (along with the circle one from the beginning of the week).  I have really loved using the jumbo map wheel that coordinated with the pirate set (sadly both now retired), and figuring out different ways to have it hidden away, but still ready for a pirate to consult - interactive style cards!

This card definitely falls into the 'hand deliver only' category, because it really wouldn't work in an envelope!

 

I attached the map to the card base at one end using eyelets, and then threaded some hemp twine through so it can be rolled up and tied to hold it in place.  Then it can be easily unrolled and consulted whenever the pirate needs to check his treasure hunting progress.

      

My little pirates approved anyway - boys and girl, and my stash of kids card is growing.  Although I think that next week I might have to work on some more girly cards, or at least, pirates wearing pink!

A double challenge card (with coral!)

Cameo Coral has never been one of my 'go to' colours, and I'm not sure it ever will be, but in small doses it can really make a project pop.  So of course I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take part in Makeesha's colour challenge, and use up a bit more of my meagre coral card stash.  These were the colours:

And to add to the fun I decided to make this a double challenge card, with Karen's Sweet Sunday sketch challenge as well:

 I used my favourite stamps - Fifth Avenue Floral, and bent the rules a little - instead of circles I decided to cut the flower out, and go with a bit of layering.

Here is a closeup of the flower.  That little splash of coral really does look pretty - don't you think?

(and now back to my pirate card production line - I am having fun!)

Pirate Card (with a hidden treasure map!)

Campbell has another birthday party to attend this weekend - this time a pirate themed one.  Although it has been retired a while, the 'Ahoy Matey' stamp set (and matching jumbo wheel) always was a favourite of mine (the first project I posted on this blog was a birthday card for Hayden, using this set), and this seemed like an appropriate time to get it down from the shelf.  It has always been perfect for quick and easy cards, but this time round I was inspired by the latest NZSU challenge (which was inspired by Patrice's card, that was based on Jackie Topa's tutorial) - got that?!

Anyway, the theory is that a good pirate isn't going to leave his map out in plain view of everyone right?  Of course not, he is going to have it hidden away, and this card was perfect.  The map can be hidden away until the pirate is ready to reveal all by the simple turn of a handle. 

Here it is hidden:

Partially revealed:

Out there for all to see (but let's just keep it between us!):

Then when you have studied your map, you can hide it away again and your secret is safe!

I used caramel ink, and sponged the edges to give it all a well loved, grubby, pirate kind of a look.  A splash of colour was added with my recently acquired Earth Elements water colour crayons and a blender pen.  As for those big circles?  Circle Scissors mean they fell into the quick and easy category too.  Love that!

Campbell and Bridie have already asked if I could please make them one of these too.  I am thinking it would be handy to have a stash of these for future birthdays too, so might need to set up a production line...

Gift Bag and Birthday Card

My stash of birthday cards has well and truly been cleaned out - and with lots of birthday parties lately, the cards for kids are especially rare.  I think that might have to be my challenge for the coming week - birthday cards for kids ... (you may or may not see posts about that!)

The next party is tomorrow, and this time I decided to make a gift bag first and then used the same (retired) patterned paper as a base for the matching card.  It was easy to then pull the colours from the paper when it came time to decorate the card with just the right number of candles for the birthday boy.  This 'big bold birthday' stamp set is just so versatile for boys and girls of all ages.

Although I am guessing the birthday boy will probably be more interested in what is inside the gift bag!

Sweet Birthday Butterflies

Time for another challenge, and some more butterflies.  The Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge from Karen Giron is a great one to get you creating.  Here is the sketch for this week:

Here is the butterfly birthday card I made based on the sketch:

I clear embossed the butterflies and greeting to make them all shiny and pretty, and used linen thread for the bodies and antennae of the butterflies.  I wanted to add a twist of linen thread to the satin ribbon too, so attached the ribbon to a thin card strip first, so that it would hold its shape when I wrapped the thread around.

The butterflies were made using the butterfly prints stamp set, and butterfly punch, both from the new Summer Mini Catalogue.  Using the punch is much easier than cutting them out myself!  I attached those pretty butterflies with a double layer of Stampin' dimensionals under the wings so they look like they are about to take flight.

Colour Challenge Butterflies

I was so pleased to see that Kristina Werner had a colour inspiration up on her blog.  I always enjoy them, and since they are nolonger a regular feature I couldn't let this one pass me by without giving it a go.  So here are the colours:

And here is what I came up with:

As is so often the case I sat down with an idea in my head, and this was not it!  Different stamp set, different techniques, different everything, but I really had fun with it.  I have used my stampin write markers and aqua painter to water colour the butterfly from the 'Dreams du Jour' stampset.  They just look so pretty and were a lot of fun to do.

The sentiment is actually a rub on, from the Summer Mini Catalogue 'chitchat' rubons - very convenient if you don't have (or want) a whole lot of sentiment stamps.

For the finishing touch I was going to tie some ribbon at the top of the card, but decided instead to go with strips of card.  Card is less bulky than ribbon, and it also mimics the card layers around the butterflies more than ribbon would (it can also be a less expensive option if you are wanting to keep costs down).

Thanks Kristina, for another wonderfully inspirational challenge.

Ingredients:

Card - Baja Blue, Riding Hood Red, So Saffron, Watercolour paper

Markers - Ruby Red, Cameo Coral, More Mustard, So Saffron

Ink - Baja Blue, Basic Gray
Sentiment Rubon - 'Chit Chat' (NZ Summer Mini Catalogue)

Eyelet Border Punch, Aqua Painter

Happy New Year!

I hope you have all had a wonderful holiday break, and the New Year has started well for you.  For us the holidays went all too quickly, and while I had thought I might do a post or two while we were away, when it came right down to it, I was having much too much fun doing non bloggy stuff.  I am sure you were all much too busy to be reading blogs anyway!

While I didn't get any blogging done (or crafting for that matter) I did manage to get my hands on some new toys, and am looking forward to having a play and sharing the results over the coming weeks.  This week I am thinking will be all about butterflies.  And challenges.   I saw that Kristina Werner had a colour inspiration up, so I have been working on something for that one today.  That, and baking cookies.  Lots of them.  This time shaped like Kiwis and NZ, for Campbell to share with his classes.  Forgot to take a photo though, so we will just have to make some more for us to eat.   Ahh, the sacrifices we make!

First though, back to those butterflies...

Suitcases with Ribbon

Oh yes.  When the suitcases are adorned with beautiful SU ribbons, you know someone is going on a plane.  We are headed home for Christmas, and we are looking forward to it (well, once the next day or so is over!)  Posts may be a little infrequent over the next few weeks, what with traveling, celebrating, walking on the beach (an actual ocean beach!) and of course, the never ending laundry.  Then again, I might just surprise myself (and you!) and manage a post or two...

Oh, and you know those letters from Santa I mentioned a few posts ago?  This is what they look like at the other end...