Project 408: A musical die cut wedding card

Two friends are getting married and, while their wedding is totally low key, we're super excited for it. Rarely do you meet a couple that feel so well suited for each other, right from the off.

I have had this musical paper from the Neapolitan Recollections set for ages and it just feels perfect for the couple. The groom was our best man and him and my husband have gone to concerts together since they were in high school. He was in a band until his early 20s with some of our friends and my brother-in-law and music is a big part of his identity.

Once I found the paper I decided to rummage in my pre-die cut folder to see if I could find something fun. I was looking for a die cut sentiment but came across this nice little doily and a sparkly cake die and thought they'd go perfectly with the paper so changed my plan. I added their initials in navy and topped the cake with a sparkly heart bling.

It's a bit country-fair twee, which is what I wanted, and I think the couple will love it next week when we give it to them. Super easy but really personal as well.

Project 407: Some artsy Mother's Day commissions

Two special cards today commissioned for Mother's Day. The headline is a card that a colleague asked me to make featuring freesia (preferably purple freesia), a butterfly and a meerkat. Yes a meerkat. She had sent me a photo reference for the freesia that was really nice and, since I lacked a freesia stamp, I decided to try my hand at colored pencil drawing. Not too shabby I think! I die cut a butterfly and then added a little cut out meerkat. He's probably the weakest link here but, then again, it's not a strong narrative to have a meerkat is it!? After I fussy cut the flowers I arranged it and realized I needed a sentiment so I went to my trusty dies. I'm really pleased with it, even if it is totally random!

This one was too funny - a designer told me he wanted a card for his gran, who was a painter in her youth and from Wales. She liked painting birds and landscapes so I decided to do a little mini watercolour of a Welsh coastline scene in honour of her. I made a little watercolour box and a mini brush and easel out of paper. It was a bit fiddly but I am really pleased with it! Then I found a nice artsy backing paper that has texture but doesn't detract from the scene. I die cut a greeting but liked it better without it - I can always add it back in if my colleague wants it included.

Totally random and different but so pleasing to make!

Project 406: Die cut flowers for MAWTT

A fun challenge from Moving Along with the Times this week. We'd like to see die cut or handmade flowers.

I chose a Stampin' Up die set for my DT make and layered them up over an embossed card featuring a Sizzix folder. The flowers are joined together to make a little bouquet and even though I didn't put a sentiment on it I thought I would use it as a Mother's Day card. Finally a little gingham candy tops it off, and I'm really happy with how cheerful it is.

I look forward to seeing your entries and what flowers you create!

Project 405: A colourful music 30th

My colleague asked if I would make a 30th birthday card for her sister-in-law. She gave me the brief that she is musical, girly and likes a lot of bling.

I have never used the image featured here - it was from a music-themed Creative Stamping magazine last year - and when my colleague described her sister I just thought, yes, that's it! I heat embossed it in black and then blended with Distress Inks around her. I added music notes from the same set and a different greeting, I wanted something big and swirly. I added the blingy 30 and then edged the entire card in strip gems. Why not I thought?! Normally I'd think it's overkill but weirdly I think it works.

It's gotten me over my fear of this stamp and how complicated it is and now that I see how well it works with blending it may become a new favourite...!

Project 404: Mother's Day cards part 2

Another post on Mother's Day cards.  This is a series of blended cards and while these took a bit more effort I'm really pleased with them, I think I prefer them to the ones I made previously.

The headline card is a heat-embossed image from a new stamp set I got from a Creative Stamping magazine. I used a great bright yellow embossing powder and then blended over it with Cracked Pistachio Distress Ink. The greeting is from an older stamp set, maybe 9 months old, and I personalised it with a 'Mum' from the same set to make it relevant for Mother's Day. I stuck to natural card because it looked a bit washed out on white and it looks much more colourful on the brown stock. I'm really happy with it so I made a second one - and if they sell I'll make more!

Next up I used images from the same set (sentiment and wreath) over a blended circle that I created using a stencil from a die cut circle. The die cut sentiment matches the border in each instance and I love the color combos, they feel really modern and fresh.

Finally this one is using a pre-printed card blank that Claire gave me. I thought the little foiled heart looked great and would make a great Mother's Day card so all I did was add a sentiment and that was that. I have just shy of 20 now so hopefully that will get me a few sales...

Project 403: Mother's Day Cards part 1

I have been making Mother's Day cards all weekend. As the company I work for has grown so have the requests for cards and now I find I have hardly any wastage in what I bring in. In addition to a few special commissions, this is the first post of the collection.

These are the cards featuring coloring and die cuts. The headline card features a Bugaboo image that I colored with ProMarkers. I die cut concentric circles plus a scallop as the background and then die cut the greeting as well. I've cut that greeting so many times this weekend I'm sick of the sight of it! Above are a few extra colors I did as variety.

Here are two additional variants featuring Little Claire images colored with ProMarkers. I was going to layer them up by cutting out the boxes but I did a trial and thought it looked odd so I left it as is. I like these probably the least, I have to figure out if I want to add a bit more to them or not. Maybe a hand-drawn border? Hmmm...

Finally a few ones featuring big flowers. I stamped the background using a big stamp and I like the irregularity. I punched a border to give it a bit more interest and added the greeting on top.

Few more to post tomorrow, so I hope they sell and make it worth the effort!