My first 'Planter Box' card

I've been wanting to make a card like this for a while, and so I decided to make one for my friend's birthday...

I don't have a wood effect stamp (yet) so drew onto kraft card stock with a sandstone Promarker instead so that it didn't look to plain.
The flowers are stamped with Memento inks using SU's 'Vintage Vogue' stamp set. I added punched stamens to the larger flowers then added a crystal gem to the centre of all the flowers.
The leaves were also punched out.
The main sentiment is from an old sheet by Kanban (I think).
Anita's name was added using a Tattered Lace alphabet die.

The card collapses flat so that it fits inside an envelope and can be posted easily.

Sick Chick

It's time for more mid-week inspiration for From The Heart Stamps.
My card for today uses the current sketch and the twist for our I {heart} sketches challenge, which will run until July 17th, because of our DT summer break. So you have plenty time to take part and earn yourself $1 credit (or $5 credit if you're the winner!) towards your next FTHS purchase.

This is the sketch..

Join in the challenge, and everyone who plays will receive a $1 discount code for the store, and if you are the challenge winner, you will receive a $5 discount code to the store! :)
Remember though, you must use an image by From The Heart Stamps to be eligible, and please include a pic of the sketch in your blog post too, it's in the rules!

The twist this time, is Paper Piecing. I chose to flip the sketch as I preferred the look of my pill embellies to be to the right of the image.

I chose to use Sick Chick for my card this time. I printed the transparent PNG format of the image onto some digital papers that I resized. These papers are all from Lori Whitlock's Basics collection.
I cut out the pieces needed and glued them onto another printed image i'd done as a guide. I added some foam behind the pills, feet, eyes & beak, & thermometer. In hindsight, I should have gone around the edges with a black marker so that it looks more seamless, but it's too late after you've glued it all down lol.
I made some pill embellies with pink foam, topped with pink card which has been scored through the centre.

I'm entering this card at:
Craft Your Passion - always anything goes
Ribbon Girls - June 'any image' challenge
QKR Stampede - paper piecing

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your day :)

Father's Day & LOTV

Here are a couple of Father's Day cards that i've made for my Dad, both using stamps from Lili of the Valley, one retired stamp, and one still available in the store.

This first card uses the retired stamp, Dad's the Name...

I bought this stamp years ago, and think i've only used it two or three times in the past, so I thought i'd ink it up for my Dad's card from me & my hubby.
I stamped using Memento ink, then coloured the image with promarkers.
The patterned papers are both from the same pack, Dovecraft's Back to Basics / Blue Skies.
The sentiment is computer generated, and I finished the card with some tool charm die cuts by Die-namics.

I'm entering this card at:
QKR Stampede - one for the guys
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards - use a die cut
ABC challenge - J for 'just as you like' (A/Goes)
Crafty Calendar - Father's Day / for a male



Here is my other card, using LOTV's James Laptop...

Now, my Dad does own a laptop, but he doesn't really know how to use it to it's full potential, as all he does is play puzzle games on it lol. So I thought this stamp would be perfect for him for his card from Jake.
Again, stamping with Memento, and then coloured with promarkers. I also added a little Wink of Stella to the laptop, then cut the image out.
The patterned papers for this card are by Lawn Fawn (Pint sized Patterns / Beachside)
The sentiment is computer generated, but I added 'GRANDAD' using Tattered Lace alphabet dies.
I finished the card with some stars cut using a Marianne die, with added Wink of Stella for a little sparkle.

I'm entering this card at:
Sweet Stampin - 3 or more layers
Die Cuttin Divas - Father's Day
The Male Room - Father's Day

Thanks for looking, hope you have a great day xx

Nerd Girl Potion

Happy Wednesday to you. It's time for another mid-week post for From The Heart Stamps, and today, i'm using one of the 2 new Smarty Pants images, Nerd Girl Potion...

This is a fab set, the little girl is a cutie, and you get the option to print her with or without the heart bubbles (which are also a seperate accent image too), as well as some clever (& nerdy) bonus sentiments for free, one of which I have also used here.
I coloured the image with promarkers, and added details with pencils, especially with her eyes. Then I fussy-cut around her with a craft knife.
I teamed her up with fun papers by Lawn Fawn (Let's Polka in the Meadow).
I used funky foam behind  my layers, and glued down some teeny iridescent stars around the hearts, instead of the bubbles.

I'm entering this card at:
Sketch Saturday - sketch #416
Sweet Stampin - 3 or more layers

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your day :)

50th Birthday cards

I was asked to make 2 cards for 2 special friends, both ladies celebrating their 50th birthday.
This is the first card...

I made a card almost identical to this last year, you can see it here.
The image is from DigiStamp Boutique (Florence and present).
I used the same supplies as the previous card too, although one of the papers is a different design from the same pad, 'Bonnets & Bowties' by Nitwit (at LOTV).
The name and number were cut using Die-namics dies, and the pretty frame was cut using a cArt-Us 'fountain' border die.

I'm entering this card at
DigiStamp Boutique - June customer competition 
Crafts galore encore - anything goes

and here is the 2nd card...

This image is by Stitchy Bear, well actually it's an image of one shoe, I added the other shoe (with permission first) by simply not printing the pearls on the other one, as you would do by not inking up that part on an actual stamp, then, after printing, drawing in the lines with a fineliner to fill in the space left behind. I fussy-cut them out after colouring, then layered one on top of the other. I added some stickles to the necklace for that added sparkle.
The patterned paper background is by Echo Park (Be Mine).
The number was cut using Die-namics dies, and the sentiment was printed off the computer.
I finished with lace and pearl trim from my stash.

I'm entering this card at:
The Ribbon Girl Blog - June card challenge
Sweet Stampin - 3 or more layers

FTHS June blog hop

Hello, and welcome to my stop on this month's From the Heart Stamps blog hop, and let me tell you, you are going to LOVE this one!

We have a fun and unique hop for you this month.
Every image is new and each designer got to choose what they would like for a special image and Faith designed them. How fun is that??!!! *Thank You, Faith*

As you hop along, please leave a comment on each blog. One random commenter will be selected on each blog to win the featured image on that blog.
In addition to the images offered on each blog, one very lucky hopper will be able to work with Faith to create an idea for a specially made image.
When you complete the hop and arrive back at the FTHS blog, please comment there, and say what kind of image you would like if you win the chance.

If you have arrived here from the lovely Imke, you are in the right place. If you haven't, why don’t you start at the From the Heart Stamps blog, so you don’t miss anything. The full hop list is there too.

So, here he is, the image that Faith has so kindly designed for me...

Photo Ham PigWit

I squealed like an excited pigwit when I saw this image, isn't he fun?
I asked Faith to design this image for me because it's my sisters 50th birthday later in the year, and she LOVES piggies, so I thought having Hamlet posing through a photo frame (party booth style) would be perfect to celebrate her special day.

I printed Hamlet twice, and, after colouring with promarkers, I carefully fussy cut around Hamlet and the frame on one image, and just Hamlet on the second one so that I could layer the image with foam tape.
I added the glass of champagne, the party hat, and a gold number 50 (die-namics dies) to complete Hamlet and the frame.
I wanted balloons in the background, so coloured and cut them twice, then glued them behind the frame.
The sentiment is one of 3 you get as a bonus with this image.
The patterned papers used are from Lawn Fawn's 'pint sized patterns (beachside)' paper pad.

I'm entering this card at:
The Ribbon Girl Blog - June card challenge
Penny's paper crafty - anything goes
Crafts galore encore - anything goes
Seize the birthday - anything goes (no topping)
Moving along with the times - age related sentiment. 

Now, please head over to Kathy's blog to see what she asked Faith to design for her :)

I hope that you enjoy hopping with us today.
The hop will end on Sunday, June 12th at 6am EST (11am UK time).
Winners will be posted on the From the Heart Stamps Blog on Wednesday, June 15th.

Hoppy Birthday

It's time for another mid-week post for From The Heart Stamps.
My card for today uses the current sketch for our I {heart} sketches challenge...

The twist this time is to show us your colouring skills :)
Join in the challenge, and everyone who plays will receive a $1 discount code for the store, and if you are the challenge winner, you will receive a $5 discount code to the store! :)
Remember though, you must use an image by From The Heart Stamps to be eligible, and please include a pic of the sketch in your blog post too, it's in the rules!

So, did you grab the FANTASTIC freebie at the weekend? Frog and Frozen Flies.
It was only available for free for 48 hours, so I hope that you did.
If not, but you absolutely lurrrrve this froggy (and who wouldn't?), it's available to buy in the store, just click on the link above and it will take you right there.

I love this fun image. It was a joy to colour up with my promarkers, and real easy to fussy cut around too.
This weeks sketch is perfectly CAS and well suited to focus on the colouring of the image, so I do hope that you'll join in with us this week too.
I used papers from Lawn Fawn's 'Let's Polka in the Meadow' paper pad, and the sentiment is one of 5 that you get as a bonus when you buy this image.

I'm entering this card at:
The Male Room - critters and/or bugs
Crafting By Designs - June anything goes challenge
Creative Inspirations - anything goes

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your day :)