Cheshire cat masculine birthday card

I whipped up this grinning cat card featuring Dr. Digi's Cheshire Cat digital stamp for a young cousin of mine's birthday. He always likes my cards and thanks me for them, which I appreciate. I just purchased this Paper Addicts Mandala Dreams paper pad and was looking for a digi to pair it with; this stamp is the perfect match. Although it's more monotone than his blue/teal Genie card from last year, I like how it turned out.

Since the paper is so busy I didn't think it needed much in the way of embellishments. These black/tan buttons from my stash add a simple finishing touch.

The sentiment was created with TroutKings BTN font. The outside 'Smile!' sentiment is paired with '...it's your birthday!' inside.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Paper Addicts Mandala Dreams paper pad
Digital stamp – Dr. Digi's Cheshire Cat
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle, rectangle & square stax
Embellishments – buttons
Font – TroutKings BTN

I'm linking up with: Show Us Your Pussycats Challenge #44 – ATG with a cat, Get Creative Challenges #82 – ATG w/opt. monochromatic, Dare 2B Artsy July – Masculine Birthday, Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #109 – ATG, and Simply Create Too #151 – ATG.

Ham it up Pig Christmas card

I'm always on the lookout for quirky Christmas stamps. This QKR Stampede Christmas Pig digital stamp is a perfect example. And if the image suits a punny sentiment, so much the better. I created this one with Castellar font. I had to explain what 'Ham it up' meant to my French husband, so I guess that rules out sending it to any French speakers. And now that I think about it, it might not be the best card for a vegetarian either.

The paper is Carta Bella's Christmas Delivery paper pad. I purchased it a couple of years back so it's probably retired now, although I suspect it's still available on eBay or Amazon. It's my favorite Christmas paper pad and I've made serious inroads into it. There are three cards up on the blog made with it: Snow Time Bear, Cardinal Christmas, and Snowmen Joy.

I kept embellishments simple with a wooden snowflake and button.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Carta Bella Christmas Delivery
Digital stamp – QKR Stampede Christmas Pig
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Embellishments – wooden snowflake, button
Font – Castellar

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede #355 – ATG, Crafty Calendar July – Christmas in July, CHNC #445 – ATG Christmas with option men/boys (and I think this card would qualify for that!), Winter Wonderland July – Christmas Buildings/Winter Buildings (I'm hoping the inside of a stable counts), The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #52 – ATG Christmas, ABC Christmas Challenge July – N is for No Peeking/ O is for Ornament, and Cute n' Crafty Christmas #15 – ATG Christmas.

Happy 4th of July! and a Ready to Grill card

Happy 4th of July, everyone! To Americans back in the States and those abroad, enjoy the day! It might not look it from the front, but this IS a Happy 4th of July card; the 4th of July part of the sentiment is inside.

If this image looks familiar, you might remember that I used several of these stamps last year for the 4th of July – Porky in an apron and chef's hat, with an ear of corn, with a hotdog, with some watermelon, some pickles, and firing up the grill. And just in case you're wondering, yes, Porky is a vegetarian.

When you consider I paid only $1.00 for an eight stamp set, of which I've used seven, I'd say I got my money's worth. Unfortunately, Digi Web Studio no longer has this set and doesn't appear to be doing basic digital stamps anymore. The digital paper is left over from last year. I created the sentiment myself. Embellishment is a little striped ribbon.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock,  patterned paper
Digital stamp – Digi Web Studio Porky's Backyard BBQ stamp set
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namic circle and oval stax

I'm linking up with: Creatalicious Challenges #166 – ATG + opt. two or more design papers, Aud Sentiments Challenge #230 – ATG + a sentiment, Crafting with an Attitude #53 – ATG, Creative Playground Challenge #7 – ATG, and Southern Girls Challenge 27 June – Stripes.

Hello Summer card with Crayola coloring sheet freebie

Here's another Happy Summer/Happy 4th of July combo card. As I explained with my last Happy Summer Beach Crab post, I like using a summer sentiment and image on the outside, whilst saving my Happy 4th sentiment for the inside.

I used a luscious Happy Summer Crayola freebie as the focal point. Jute ribbon and coordinating buttons carry on the color theme.

Paper is from a Max Bringmann patterned paper pad (the same as on the aforementioned Beach Crab card). Sorry for no links. These are lovely papers, but just about impossible to find online; I have only ever found them in Aldi Swizterland.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, patterned paper
Digital stamp –  Crayola coloring freebie
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics rectangle stax
Embellishments – jupe ribbon, buttons

I'm linking up with: Little Red Wagon #502 – Summer Fun, Creatalicious Challenges #165 – ATG, Artistic Inspirations #216 – ATG, Get Creative Challenges #81 – ATG, and Creativ Fusion #12 – ATG.

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.