Happy Summer card featuring 2 Cute Ink Beach Crab digi

This time of year I do either 4th of July cards or generic Happy Summer cards. I've gotten where I prefer the Happy Summer cards; there's no specific date for them to be received by and there are more cute summer images to choose from than 4th of July ones (like one of last year's favorites this Sunning Cat & Mouse card).

This card features a Beach Crab digital stamp from 2 Cute Ink. Paper is an Aldi score from the German company Max Bringmann (I only ever find these paper pads in Aldi).

Embellishment is a button and a bit of twine.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, patterned paper
Digital stamp –  2 Cute Ink Beach Crab
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle stax
Embellishments – button twine

I'm linking up with: Little Red Wagon #501 – Sea it!, Dream Valley Challenges #204 – Summer Colors, Di's Digi Challenge 15 June – Include a Sun, Colour Crazy Challenge #23 – ATG, and QKR Stampede #352 – ATG.

Victorian boot birthday card

Which card version of this Victorian boot stamp do you prefer? The vintage look of this mother's day card a few years back or today's bright one?

Paper is an outlet shop off brand pack. I love it! No matter what I use these papers on they look great (as last year's Happy Summer Pool Diving Mice and Sunbathing Mouse cards prove).

I debated what to use for embellishments, but decided to keep it simple with some red pom-poms. The sentiment is from Kim's Twelve Round Greetings Mixed 2 sentiment sheet.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, patterned paper
Digital stamp/sentiment – Victorian Boot digital stamp, Kim's Twelve Round Greetings Mixed 2
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics rectangle and circle stax
Embellishments – pom-poms

I'm linking up with: Seize the Birthday #167 – ATG Birthday, Creative Moments #170 – ATG, Crafting with an Attitude #52 – ATG, WWC224 – Feminine ATG, and The Crafter's Cafe #220 – Girl or Lady and/or Embossed.

Harry Potter themed birthday card

This Harry Potter themed birthday card may look a bit masculine, but it's actually for my niece's upcoming birthday. Although really, who gives a flip what's guy-ish or gal-ish anymore anyway? Normally I do something feline for her (like last year's Beach Kitten card) since she loves cats, but thought I'd change it up this year. As she's a devoted HP fan this seemed like a perfect fit.

I like how it turned out, for the most part. I had a spot of difficulty with the owl though. The 2CuteInk HPWizard stamp had little lines already drawn on the wings of the owl that  weren't conducive to adding splotches. If you remember (I didn't, but I looked it up), Harry's owl was white and had irregular black spots on the wings. I think I'd have been better off coloring it some other way, but oh well, too late now.

Paper is Dovecraft Black Out paper pad. I think this pad is retired, but I noticed several still for sale on Amazon and eBay. Mine was a recent outlet shop score. Embellishments are burgundy buttons and yellow twine. I created a curved sentiment using Andy font.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Dovecraft Black Out paper pad
Digital stamp – 2CuteInk HPWizard
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics oval stax
Embellishments – twine, buttons
Font – Andy

I'm linking up with: WWC #223 – ATG, Creative Fingers #165 – ATG, Crafty Friends #111 – Men/Boys, Crafty Calendar June – Masculine, and Crafter's Castle #18 – ATG.

Bright gender neutral birthday card with free 2 Cute Ink digital stamps

Although this bright birthday card was sent to my brother for his recent birthday, I really think these neutral design types work well for anyone. The digital stamp is a freebie courtesy of Simply Cards & Papercraft #150 magazine and 2 Cute Ink. You can click HERE to see the original post and commission I did for SCP using this stamp and three others. To download all four of the freebies offered on the SCP site click HERE.

If you did click on the first link above, you'll notice I'm re-using some of the now-defunct Tactile Studio paper I printed out and used for the commission. Considering that's been hanging around in my scrap file a few years now I feel pretty thrifty using it again.

Embellishments are crinkled paper ribbon and three brads with the tines cut off. I used sticky backed mousse paper to cut the sentiment (thanks to Master Card Maker Jan for giving me this idea!).

Supply List
Paper – cardstock,  digital paper
Digital stamp – 2 Cute Ink freebies
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Artemio large circle dies, Spellbinders Shapeabilities Simply Said Phrase Set One
Embellishments – crinkled paper ribbon, brads

I'm linking up with: WWC #222 – All About Occasions, Creative Moments #169 – ATG, Crafty Creations #391 – ATG, Addicted to Stamps & More #342 – Make Your Mark, and Seize the Birthday #166 – ATG Birthday option 'Presents'.

Christmas card with Kajans Scrapblogg Crazy Bird freebie digital stamp

This Crazy Bird Christmas freebie from Kajans Scrapblogg dates back to 2014 and yes, this is my first time to use it (better late than never, eh?).

I don't know why it's taken me so long, birds and Christmas are a look I like (this Robin Christmas card is one of my personal favorites).

Paper is Paper Addicts Happy Holidays. The sentiment is part of another stamp set that I'd printed out long ago and never used; I thought it went well with this image. Sometimes it does pay to save those unused bits and pieces. Mat enamel dots make a simple embellishment.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock,  Paper Addicts Happy Holidays
Digital stamp – Kajans Scrapblogg Crazy Bird Christmas freebie
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Die – Die-namics circle and rectangle stax
Embellishment – mat enamel dots

I'm linking up with: Cute n' Crafty Christmas #13 – ATG Christmas, Sweet Stampin' Christmas May – ATG Christmas, C.R.A.F.T Challenge #513 – Christmas, The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up #53 – ATG Christmas, Merry little Christmas Challenge #10 – ATG Christmas, Happy Little Stampers May – Christmas, and A Bit More Time to Craft #92 – ATG.

Do-crafts Simply Floral Bright Blooms A4 Decoupage Pack birthday card

I decided to make this 3D look birthday card for a friend, thinking it would be quicker than coloring a stamp, but you know I'm not really sure that it was. By the time I punched out all the pieces, filed off the rough edges (necessary for a smooth finish), and assembled the image layer by layer with 3D mousse tape and pads, I think I might have actually spent more time.

Docrafts Simply Floral Bright Blooms A4 Decoupage Pack provided the decoupage image and floral paper. I added the checkered paper, ribbon and enamel dots.

I used to make a lot of these 3D cards and still have quite a bit of stash laying around, so quicker or not it was good to use some of it up. For a tutorial on how to make these decoupage sheets look their best check out this Art Deco decoupage card. For more 3D goodness this Paris vintage 3D concertina card is one of my all time favorites.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Docrafts Simply Floral Bright Blooms A4 Decoupage Pack, checkered paper
Embellishments – ribbon, enamel dots

I'm linking up with: Dare 2 B Artsy Challenge May – Flowers, Dragonfly Dreams Challenge May – ATG, Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #105 – ATG, Corrosive Challenge #5 May – ATG, and Brown Sugar Challenge # 290 May – Flowers.

Free cupcake digital stamp and paper birthday card

This cupcake birthday card features a free cherry topped digital cupcake stamp from Scribbles (Sandy has a ton of freebies on her site!). The super cute coordinating free Sweets digital paper is from The Coffee Shop Blog. I highly recommend clicking on over and checking out all the fantastic paper freebies Rita so generously shares with her readers (I've used another of her freebie sets on this Coffee Bean card).

I accented the design with some side tied twine and a cherry charm. I haven't used a charm in a while and goodness knows I have quite a few waiting for a creative home. Charms really dress up a card and not just feminine ones either, as the anchor on this birthday card for my brother proves.

What do you think about the sentiment? I used the text path option in Craft Artist to create a sentiment that follows the line of the stamp. This Penguin Christmas card explains how to do that. Technically Craft Artist 2 Professional software is not available or supported anymore on the parent Serif site, although I have seen it available as a download buy on eBay (I'm always kind of suspicious of those though). It's a real shame as it was a wonderful program at a very reasonable price...sigh. Of course, you can do this on other applications, too, it was just super easy on CA.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, The Coffee Shop Blog Sweets free digital paper
Digital stamp – Scribbles cupcake freebie
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle stax
Embellishments – twine, charm
Font – Smarty Pants font

I'm linking up with: Scribbles Designs Challenge #76 – Pastels, Creative Fingers #163 – ATG, Aud Sentiments #226 – Feminine + a sentiment, Crafting with an Attitude #51 – ATG, and Cute Card Thursday #580 – ATG.

A parrot birthday card idea

I've got a parrot birthday card for you today and its accompanying parrot pun sentiment. The digital stamp is 2 Cute Ink's Pretty Parrot (I think the stamp may be retired as I don't see it in her shop). The sentiment was created with Candy Round font. Paper is from way back – Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue. Although, if you just really have a hankering for it, I see it's still available on Amazon and eBay. I used my favorite flower die – Memory Box Cherry Blossom – and a little ribbon for embellishment. Like the paper, I've had this die forever (well, back to 2013 at least), but if you look around you can still find it. It's one of those things (like my Toga Polaroid die) that just seem to look good wherever I use it, as on this upcycled candy box. I hadn't planned on using a flower on this card, but I had a glue incident on the corner there and needed to cover it up. Voila! My trusted flower friend to the rescue.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock,  Graphic 45 Tropical Travelogue
Digital stamp – 2 Cute Ink Pretty Parrot
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics oval stax, Memory Box Cherry Blossom
Embellishments – ribbon, enamel dot
Font – Candy Round BTN

Happy Easter! with Di's Digi Stamps digital stamp

Today's card uses my Easter card go-to Xcut egg dies for the base. The digital image is Di's Digi Stamps The Ears are the Best Bit (retired). It's rare I use the same stamp twice, but Di's stamps are proving to be the exception. I've used her Kick Off Ted soccer themed stamp twice and now this is the second time I've used this Ears are the Best Bit stamp (you can see it's first appearance HERE). In looking back at the first card, I was struck by just how different one stamp can look, depending on how you color it and the design surrounding it. The sentiment is from Cuddly Buddly Kim's Digital Stamps - Twelve Round Greetings - Mixed sentiment sheet. Paper is Prima Marketing Doodle Deux Collection Two-By-Two. Embellishments are ribbon, a button topped die-cut bow and some matt enamel dots.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Prima Marketing Doodle Deux Collection Two-By-Two
Digital stamps – Di's Digi Stamps The Ears are the Best Bit, Kim's Digital Stamps - Twelve Round Greetings - Mixed
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle stax, Xcut Egg dies, no-brand bow die
Embellishments – ribbon, button, enamel dots

Woodland Santa Christmas card with pretty free Christmas digital paper

My normal card making procedure is to first choose my stamp and then my paper to go with it, but for this card I chose the paper first. I spotted this Granny Enchanted Freebies Red Christmas Pack on Pinterest in December and promptly visited the website to get the paper. It is – as the name implies – free. The image is Woodland Santa from Scribbles. See how Santa is sooo over red and has modernized his wardrobe with a bit of black? I think it's a good look for him, don't you? The sentiment was created with Fine Hand font. I like changing up the 'traditional' Christmas color/paper spectrum with out of the ordinary choices, like this Cowboy Snowman card.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock,  Granny Enchanted Freebies Red Christmas Pack digital paper
Digital stamp – Scribbles Woodland Santa
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle and rectangle stax
Embellishments – buttons
Font – Fine Hand

I'm linking up with: The Twelve Months of Christmas Link-up – ATG Christmas option Fairies, Merry Little Christmas Challenge #9 – ATG Christmas, Cute and Crafty Christmas #10 – ATG Christmas, and Sweet Stampin' Christmas April – ATG Christmas option Monochromatic.