New Baby Boy – Bienvenue au nouveau né – card

Dearie Dolls Baby Boy Mousie free digital stamp takes pride of place on this new baby boy card. I created the sentiment (Welcome newborn) with Amelie font. What a great name for a font! I adore this name. It reminds me of the film Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain (English title Amélie), one of my favorite movies of all time. Such a great, quirky French film with a fantastic musical score. If you've never seen it I highly recommend it. Please, just watch it with the subtitles though, it'd be horrible to cover up Audrey Tautou's charming voice.

So, back to the card...Dearie Dolls has quite a few of these cute Mousie stamps; all offered free by Mary Ellen, the illustrator. You can find them for any season or holiday, like this Mousie Joy Christmas card. The Boy paper is from Tactile Studio's Adorable digital paper pack. The dotted paper is...who knows?

The stitched circle die is another of my inexpensive no-brand Chinese dies; as is the banner die, a recent acquisition with which I confess to being most pleased.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, polka dot paper, Tactile Studio Adorable digital paper pack,
Digital stamp – Dearie Dolls Free Baby Boy Mousie
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – No-brand Chinese dies stitched circles and banner
Embellishments – buttons
Font – Amelie

I'm linking up with: Colour Crazy Challenge Week 16 – ATG, Crafting With Friends #65 – ATG, Creative Fingers #145 – ATG, Cut It Up! #146 – Bugs and Critters, and FFC #230 – ATG.

A sans gluten – gluten free – masculine Christmas card

As I've mentioned on a few posts now, I'm trying to come up with humorous French sentiment Christmas cards, hence this latest addition. If you're wondering what this cookie munching Santa's saying it's, 'I hope this is gluten free.' I wish I were clever enough to have come up with this idea myself, but no, it's inspired by this gluten free Santa Christmas card by the Canadian artist Michelle Houde, as seen in her Etsy boutique. If you're in the market for some hilarious pre-made cards, check her out, she has some great designs.

The Santa is a freebie coloring page, shrunk down to digital stamp size. Sentiment font is Tekton Pro. Paper is Tactile Studio Sock Monkey (great for a masculine Christmas card).

Embellishments are this recently acquired no-brand Chinese snowflake banner die and pearls. I'm getting my money's worth with this die. You can see it in action on this Snow Time bear card, too. The only bad thing about it is that it's not very long, so in order for it to attain the length I'd like I'm cutting it in two and then covering up the missing space with the focal point stamp.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Tactile Studio Sock Monkey
Digital stamps – Santa Eating Cookies and Milk Christmas coloring page
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics rectangle stax, no-brand Chinese snowflake banner
Embellishment – pearls
Font – Tekton Pro

I'm linking up with: The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #27 – ATG Christmas, WWC #166 – ATG Masculine, Addicted to Stamps and More #288 – Holiday, Craftaholics R Us #16 – ATG, and The Merry Christmas Challenge #16 – ATG Christmas.

A groovy Hippie Chick birthday card

This Hippie Chick Birdbrain digital stamp and sentiment form the focal point of this psychedelic birthday card.

The patterned paper is a no-brand type I picked up at a discount shop. It has the perfect early 70's feel to go with the stamp. I remember seeing these types of decorative patterns when I was a kid. I even had a headband like the chick here. I remember wearing that and a fringed vest my mom made me, thinking I looked really cool.

Embellishments are a peace charm, twine, and enamel dots. These peace charms have been languishing in my charm box a while now; I was glad to finally use one. Tying a charm with twine or ribbon on the side of a card is my favorite way to use them (another example of which is this Let It Snow Christmas card).

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, patterned paper
Digital stamp – From the Heart (now closed) Hippie Chick Birdbrain
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics circle stax
Embellishments – peace charm, twine, enamel dots

I'm linking up with: Pause Dream Enjoy Challenges #15 – ATG, Inspiration Destination Challenge Blog #148 – ATG, Double "D" Challenges 04/04/18 – Twine, Crafty Creations #364 – ATG, and Addicted to Stamps and More #287 – Make Your Mark.

Ayez un Noël très cool ! Have a cool Christmas! card featuring QKR Stampede Ice Skating digital stamp

As I mentioned recently, I'm trying to create funny French Christmas cards and am not finding it all that easy. There's not much inspiration on the internet and although I speak my second language quite well, my level is not up to the nuisance of puns or native speaker humor. What I'm aiming for is a French version of the type of humor displayed on this Underwear for Christmas card.  I've tried to enlist my husband's help, but thinking up funny card sentiments apparently isn't one of  his strong points.

Take the QKR Stampede Ice Skating digi used on this card. When I saw it I thought I might use pingouin (French for penguin) in some funny way, as pingouin in French can be used in a dismissive sense referring to a man who isn't serious, who doesn't know what he's doing. Everything I came up with didn't sound funny, it sounded insulting. I dropped that train of thought and focused on the cool/cold aspect of the ice and penguin. We use cool in French just as you would in English. Something can be referred to as cool meaning nice, but we also use it in the since of relaxed. I thought either of those interpretations would work so that's what I went with. Have a cool Christmas! – nice or relaxed, preferably both – created with Annie BTN font.

Paper is from Folia's Motifblock Christmas paper pad. The circle border die is a recent inexpensive no-brand acquisition that I quite like. I used a small pom-pom to give a 3D aspect to the penguin's cap.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Folia Motifblock Christmas paper pad
Digital stamp – QKR Stampede's Ice Skating
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-Namics square stax, no-brand circular border
Embellishment – white pom-pom
Font – Annie BTN font

I'm linking up with: QKR Stampede #290 – ATG, CHNC #380 – ATG Christmas, Winter Wonderland March – Christmas Animals, The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #26 – ATG Christmas, ABC Christmas Challenge 04/04 – 'H' is for Hats or 'I' is for Ice, Sweet Stampin' Christmas March – ATG, and The Merry Christmas Challenge #14 – ATG Christmas.

We SEA it's your BIRTHDAY masculine birthday card

This card is for my cousin. He's a Pisces so I think it's rather appropriate, n'est-ce pas? The digital stamp is from Whimsie Doodles' Shell a Bration stamp set.

The fish paper is from Folia's Motivblock Vintage paper pad and the dotted paper Claire Fontaine's Scrap Dots City pad. I paper-pieced the hat to match. The stamp set's sentiment was re-created with Darlin' BTN font, changing the 'I' to 'We'.

Embellishments are ribbon and CANDi dots.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Folia Motivblock Vintage paper pad, Claire Fontaine Scrap Dots City pad
Digital stamp – Whimsie Doodle Shell a Bration stamp set
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-namics square stax
Embellishments – ribbon, CANDi dots
Font – Darlin' BTN

I'm linking up with: Always Fun Challenges #52 – Happy Birthday, Craftaholics R Us #14 – Birthday Cards, Addicted to Stamps and More #286 – ATG, Crafting by Designs April – ATG, and Creative Moments #140 – ATG.

Happy Easter! card featuring Pretty Cute stamps EGGSellent digital stamp

Happy Easter every one! Hope you have a delightful spring day and if you're like most of us here in Europe, enjoying the long weekend.

This cute EGGSellent digital stamp from Pretty Cute Stamps could easily be used for more than just Easter. There are three different sentiments and both a female and male version. I've sent this one to my niece. I especially liked the glasses as these are the same shape I wear.

The base is once again created with my retired Xcut XL egg dies. This is my third Easter card this year with these dies – are you sick of them yet? Just in case you missed them, here are #1 and #2. Paper is Tactile Studio Violet digital paper pack. Embellishments are ribbon and flowers. Look closely at the flowers in the photo above and you can see where I've used the cut off flower wires to form a decorative element. It doesn't show up much in this photo, but they do give a nice touch. For instructions on how to do this, see this frilly Eiffel Tower card.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Tactile Studio Violet digital paper pack
Digital stamp – Pretty Cute Stamps EGGSellent
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Docrafts Xcut eggs
Embellishments – ribbon, flowers, curled flower wires

I'm linking up with: Stamping Sensations April – One for the Girls, Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends #79 – ATG, 613 Avenue Create #208 – ATG, A Bit More Time to Craft #65 – ATG, and Dare 2B Artzy April – Pastel Colors.

Easter Card featuring Pretty Cute Stamps Chocolate Bunny digital stamp

This Easter card features Pretty Cute Stamps Chocolate Bunny digital stamp and sentiment. I've only recently discovered this line and I daresay, I like it. There are some very cute (and funny) stamps on the site (as used on this Bunny Conversation card). I like that the stamps include the sentiments and that bold lines are used in the designs – ever so much easier to color that way.

My old Easter standard – retired Xcut XL egg dies – form the base of the card.  To save time and paper, I digitally pieced the Tactile Studio Kathleen paper together before printing it out.

Embellishments are felt flowers and buttons.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Tactile Studio Kathleen digital paper pack
Digital stamp – Pretty Cute Stamps Chocoloate Bunny
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Docrafts Xcut egg die
Embellishments – felt flowers, buttons

I'm linking up with: Crafty Cardmakers #208 – Bunnies, Chicks or Eggs, Crafting from the Heart #200 – ATG, and Always Fun Challenges #51 – Easter.

Bite me! another funny Easter card

This Bite me! stamp from Whimsie Doodles cracks me up. I have to be be careful who I send it to though. I'm not sure everyone would appreciate the humor. This one's going to my Bro. I think he'll get it. I wanted to give you the stamp link, but I discovered...they're closed!!! Boo-hoo! I so liked their stamps. Boo-hoo, Boo-hoo because I noticed they had a 75% off closing sale 'til 16 March and I missed it. You can see this same stamp in another Easter incarnation HERE.

I created the egg shape card base with Docrafts XL egg dies. I use the heck out of these dies for Easter, as on this Bugs of Love Easter card from last year (now as I typed that I realized that kinda sounds like some sort of disease, doesn't it?!). I wanted to give you a link for these, too, but was thwarted once again; they've been retired.

The bow is a no-brand inexpensive Chinese type die, dressed up with a button. Paper is Tactile Studio digital Swiss Miss paper pack which – in order to save a few steps and a bit of time – I pieced together digitally before printing out.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Tactile Studio Swiss Miss digital paper pack
Digital stamp – Whimsie Doodles Bite me
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Docrafts Xcut egg dies, no-brand bows
Embellishments – button

I'm linking up with: Shopping Our Stash #346 – Easter, Crafty Sentiment Designs 20/03/18 – Shaped Cards (no squares or rectangles), The Paper Shelter #331 – Easter Time, Creative Moments #139 – ATG, and Craftaholics R Us #12 – ATG.

Easter card featuring Di's Digi Stamps The Ears Are the Best Bit digital stamp

An Easter card for you today, featuring Di's Digi Stamps The Ears Are the Best Bit digital stamp (retired). I like Di's stamps. You know how sometimes you have a stamp company that no matter what their stamps seem to turn out right for you? That's Di's Digi Stamps for me (like this fav Easter card from last year ).

The digital papers on this card are freebies from Crafts Beautiful magazine.  The sentiment was created with Bickley Script font.

Embellishments are ribbon and enamel dots.

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Crafts Beautiful digital freebies
Digital stamp – Di's Digi Stamps The Ears are the Best Bit
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-Namics circle stax
Embellishments – ribbon, enamel dots
Font – Bickley Script

I'm linking up with: Moving Along With the Times #67 – Easter, Daring Cardmakers 16/03/18 – Watch the Birdie, Colour Crazy Challenge Week 11 – ATG, My Time to Craft #366 – Easter/Spring, and Crafting with Dragonflies #100 – Easter cards.

Et merde... Funny Santa stuck in a chimney Christmas card

Now what would the Big Guy say if he got stuck in a chimney with no one to pull him out? Dang? Darn? Shucks? Or 'Oh, shit'? I opt for the later, which is what this card's sentiment means in French.

This stamp is a freebie I found a while back and I can't honestly tell you where I found it. I tried to find a link on the internet and I did find the stamp, but the sites where it appears don't look legitimate to me, so I hate to link back to them. I've noticed that a lot of freebies shared by talented artists on the internet get hijacked and appear on other sites with no link back to the originating artist. I do my best to avoid those kind of sites. If you by chance know the original artist for this cute digi please let me know.

I'm trying to come up with funny French Christmas cards for my French speaking friends, but inspiration is sorely lacking. I don't know why there are hardly any funny French Christmas cards out there. For anyone googling funny French Christmas cards maybe I'll get a few French hits with this: Père Noël coincé dans une cheminée, une idée pour une carte de Noël marrante.

Paper is Folia Motifblock Surfaces paper pad, which proves you don't have to use Christmas paper on a Christmas card. Embellishments are wooden snowflakes and rusty look dots. An interesting note on these snowflakes – I liked the back better than the front so I flipped them over, covered up that sticky bit with a dot and glued them down (you can see what the front looks like on this card).

Supply List
Paper – cardstock, Folia Motifblock Surfaces paper pad
Digital stamp – freebie
Color – Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 pencils
Dies – Die-Namics oval stax
Embellishments – ribbon, snowflakes, dots
Font – Annie BTN

I'm linking up with: The Merry Christmas Challenge #11 – ATG Christmas, Pause Dream Enjoy #11 – ATG, Inspiration Destination #146 – ATG, Sweet Stampin' Christmas March – ATG Christmas, and Addicted to Stamps #283 – Holiday.