Not so ....

.... shabby.  I made a card without doing any ripping or distressing!  It was very difficult not to, but it wouldn't have suited it, so I held myself in check!  It's a card for my step-mother's birthday. She loves the Irish rockabilly/jazz singer, Imelda May, and we got tickets for a gig for her birthday present.  Imelda is all about quiffed hair, razor sharp red lipstick, with 50s clothes and accessories to match, so I decided to personalise the card to suit the gift.  Here's what I made:

I used the sketch from this week's Deconstructed Sketch and I'm also entering this into the following challenges: Make it Monday ("Anything Goes"), Corrosive Challenges ("Life's Special Occasions") and Totally Papercrafts ("Monochromatic" - I've got red - plus black/cream neutrals - not sure if that's OK, though?).

I found an album cover with a caricature of Imelda May, including her trademark red lipstick and black/white quiff and drew it for the image on my card.  I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, but I bet my step-mother doesn't notice it - she's famously non-visual!!  She'll open the card, the ticket will fall out, she'll read it and then she might make the connection, but I'd bet money she'll have to have it pointed out to her!!!  Here's a side-shot of the card:

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Modern Homemaker"

Image: Hand-drawn

Other: MM brads, ribbon from stash, laser-cut border sticker from stash

Thanks for looking!

Happy Valen....

...birthday!  My daughter's best friend is 17 today, so her pals have planned a "Valenbirthday" for her.  They've bought 17 packets of love heart sweets (yum, I love those), love heart jewellery, a tub of heart jelly sweets, and they are sneaking into her house this morning to make heart shaped pancakes for her breakfast.  They asked me to make a card and here's what I ended up with:

I used bright happy colours and lots and lots of hearts!  I've used the sketch from this week's Sketch and Stash (and an old but never inked Lili of the Valley stamp and some new baker's twine).  I'm also entering the following challenges: Bunny Zoe's Crafts ("Celebration"), Daring Cardmakers ("Pretty Hearts and Paper Doilies"), Fussy and Fancy Friday ("With all my Heart"), Our Creative Corner ("Best Friend" and I've got flowers on the pp, hope that counts) and Totally Gorjuss ("Lurve"). 

Here's a closer look at the image, I found her skirt really difficult, the fold lines just don't look right.  Oh well, it'll do!!

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Modern Homemaker"

Image: Lili of the Valley "Maisie Two Balloons"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Punch: MS "Valentine Lace"

Other: Baker's Twine, Doily Heart, seam binding, needle + thread

Thanks for looking!

That mention ....

.... of churning out cards on my last post had the immediate effect of making me screech to a complete creative halt.  I mustn't use such dynamic verbs in future!!

I had a commissioned deadline to meet this morning, so having huffed and puffed about it all week, I got down to it yesterday afternoon and made a card.  It's for a friend's relative, Auntie Bina, who is 90 today.  I haven't met her but she sounds like a fun and fiesty lady, so I decided to avoid any little old lady pastel shades and go for vivid colours.  Here's the end result:

Recipe:

Papers: October Afternoon "Modern Homemaker"

Image: Pure Innocence "Hello Cupcake"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Diamond Stickles, ribbon from stash, glossy accents, needle + thread

I used the sketch from this week's Stamp with Fun, and I'm also entering this into Moving Along with the Times ("Ribbons and Bows"), Dutch Dare (recipe - I've got image, papers, layers and ribbon), ABC Challenge ("Dazzle") and Crafty Cardmakers ("Recycle" - my red ribbons and bow were kept from Christmas crackers).

I finally ordered my Christmas card stuff, and it arrived during the week.  I'm slightly freaked out by the lateness, so my design is quite simple (even though I wish I could add stitching, just don't have time).  Have a few other birthday cards to make and then the production line begins.

Thanks for looking!