Betcha didn't think ....

.... I'd finish that card today?  Neither did I, but .... I did!!  Maybe because I have to make a card a day for the next three days, no excuses - they're all due imminently.  Eek!

Today's card is the second of three commissioned cards that I'm making for a lady's 60th birthday.  I'm going for a very different look for each one, so I've moved from yesterday's soft greens and fairies to this -screaming bright red and manga!!

I've used the sketch from The Sugar Bowl - I'm also entering this into Kaboodle Doodles ("Stitching"), Stamp Something ("Summer Something" - my manga girl looks like she's heading out into an Irish summer - with sunhat AND umbrella!) and Totally Gorjuss ("punch or die").

I changed this card so many times while I was making it - the cardstock went from red to cream to aqua and finally walnut - and the top patterned paper layer went from these cherries to some blue with kites to some blue with red birds and finally back to the cherries again.  What a pain in the wotsit!!  My crafting buddy, Michelle, lent me a beautiful doily die at the crop the other night - it cuts out the most intricate doily pattern which I've used on this card - I'm going to have to buy this die, I think it's on the Joanna Sheen site.  It's also extremely therapeutic poking the bits out of all those little holes!!

Here's a close-up of my little Manga girl.





Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Togetherness" and "Early Bird"

Image: Sugar Nellie "April Showers"

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Doily Die, Hero Arts pearls, ribbon from stash, needle + thread

Thanks for looking - fingers crossed for another card tomorrow!!!

It's a beautiful day ....

.... here in Dublin.  I was at school and didn't even realise the sun was out until I stepped outside the door at going-home time.  Aaaaaggghh - the glare - had to grab the sunglasses quickly!!!  And now here I am at home sitting inside at the computer!!!

But only because it's Thursday, PaperPlay day.  Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp and they're giving the winner a $15 store voucher.

(Please note: This is a voucher code that entitles the winner to a $15 saving off their order in Simon Says Stamp,  P+P charges will still apply unless the conditions are met to earn free P+P,  please check here if you would like to see these conditions)

This week's challenge is very appropriate - "Summer Citrus Splash", use greens, yellows and oranges.  I have been making a series of quick and clean/simple (for me!) cards and the first of them is my DT entry.  Here's what I did:

I'm entering these into the following challenges: Cute Card Thursday ("Embellish It"), Truly Scrumptious ("Summer Sparkle"), Stamp with Fun ("In the Garden"), A Spoon Full of Sugar ("Flower Power") and The Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge ("Clean and Simple").

I've coloured the images with distress inks, used rub-ons for the sentiment on the thank you card and printed the sentiment directly onto the congrats card.  I popped the images up over the ribbon for dimension and added rock candy stickles on the centre of one flower and glossy accents on the other (don't think it shows in the pics, though).  Here's a close-up - and you can see that I took the photos on different days, the light is so different!!

Recipe:

Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Togetherness" and October Afternoon "Thrift Shop"

Images: Hero Arts "Peeking Posies" set

Colouring Medium: Distress Inks

Other: Making Memories alpha rub-ons, gingham ribbon from stash, East of India hearts ribbon, needle + thread.

Thanks for looking - I think I might just have to go out to the garden now!  Happy bank holiday weekend to all my fellow Irish crafters!!!