Bon Voyage

I made this card for our pastor & his family who are going on sabbatical for 3 months. They are going to my friend's (his wife) home town in the States and we are going to miss them terribly!
The image is from today's release at Digistamps4Joy:

I used the latest CAS(E) this Sketch #34 for the layout:

The leaves are chipboard cut-outs that I embossed with gold.
Background DP's from Bo Bunny

Playing with:
http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/2013/06/case-this-sketch-34.html
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/06/simon-says-anything-goes.html

A blessed celebration

We are attending a wedding tomorrow from a lovely couple from church. I am SO happy for them both. They have both been at church for a long time but God's timing is perfect!! Her sister is also engaged recently. DOUBLE the joy this year for their family.
Here's the card I made. I wanted to go with something elegant & simple & ended up not using any images just their initials & "Blessings":

The letters and "&" (from Chiswick) were stamped and black heat embossed on DP and the sentiment my own.

Sharing with:
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/06/simon-says-anything-goes.html
http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/challenge-51-anything-goes.html

Make a splash!

Here's another card for a boy's birthday at church. Such a cute image at Digital Tuesday:

Sentiment from Unity's "Birthday Chic" set.
Coloured with Spectrum Noir & a dash of Sakura Stardust on the cloud edge.

Sharing with:
http://flourishes.org/2013/06/timeless-tuesday-226-make-a-splash/ - Pic says it all!!! My boy (who is 3) loves this image and "want that boat"!
http://www.spectrumnoir.com/challenge/ (This month's theme is SUMMER)

Wonderful everything!

Here's another Unity card. I love this set and see it being used A LOT in future. It's also for JEN's birthday at Less Is More!! Happy Birthday!

The circle and sentiment were black heat embossed on patterned paper. Banner DP & coloured DP all from the same pack.

Unity set: http://unitystampco.com/shop/everything-wonderful/

Playing with this week's Friends with Flair: http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/2013/06/kotm-and-fwf.html
and
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/06/simon-says-anything-goes.html
and
http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/challenge-51-anything-goes.html

Get well

I received a nice order of Unity stamps yesterday and was lucky to play with them today:

Sets used:
http://unitystampco.com/shop/argyle-distress-color/
http://unitystampco.com/shop/i-think-you-are-beautiful-vintage/
Kindness, Sorry, Get Well {eft}(discontinued?)

Playing with Friends with Flair http://theunitystampco.blogspot.com/2013/06/kotm-and-fwf.html

DS4J Challenge #70: Paper Folding

We are starting a new series of challenges at Digistamps4Joy and this time the DT's each get a turn to host!! First up is Desire with a Paper Folding challenge. See the DS4J blog for more!

I'm all into FANS it seems! I combined Misteri Japan & a Fan image from DS4J and then made a paper folded fan as embellishment.

Background DP & for fan is Bo Bunny.

Also playing with:
http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/2013/06/cfc106.html
http://www.addictedtostamps-challenge.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/challenge-51-anything-goes.html
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/06/simon-says-anything-goes.html

Unity Friends with Flair time!

I finally got to use my first STAMP OF THE WEEK I received from Unity. Being in South Africa these gorgeous little Itty Bitty's have to travel quite far to reach me. But SO glad they did:

I stamped it twice to cut out the wings & add some glitter...
Background is stamped with images from the BLOOMS set (UNITY)

Sharing with
  FWF!
http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2013/06/lawnscaping-challenge-60.html

Happy fish

Here's a Happy Fish card for a little boy:

I covered the bowl with Glossy Accents for the glassy look.
Image & sentiment: GinaK Designs "Enjoy the Sunshine"

Playing with: http://casology.blogspot.com/2013/06/week-49-fish.html
http://partytimetuesdays.blogspot.com/2013/06/ptt125-color-challenge.html

Moxie Tuesday Trigger

Here's the Tuesday Trigger from Moxie Fab World (it's a 2-weeker and ends this Sunday):

The geometric design immediately reminded me of my GinaK Designs "Elegant Elements" and I used the square image to stamp a border, decorated with brads. The stamped panel was matted and popped up with foam tape.

Sharing with:
http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2013/06/lawnscaping-challenge-60.html

The sentiment is my own and you can download it (for OWN personal use only):

right aligned

center aligned

left aligned

A non-card creation: Cable bag

I'd like to share my first cable knit bag! It's from a pattern at www.ideasmag.co.za but I added some stocking stitch rows at the ends to fold over the handles.

Sharing with:
http://asimplefive.blogspot.com/2013/06/inspire-me-fridays-107-anything-goes.html

Ombre, Hombre!

This card is for the PTI's Make It Monday: http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2013/06/make-it-monday-120.html

I've never really done this before and due to some lack of different color inks, I used the "stamping off" technique, so basically stamp a second time without re-inking. It gives you the same shade in a lighter color. I used Tim Holtz: Pine Needles, Peeled Paint and Crushed Olive. I stamped the full sentiment (PTI Think Big Favorites #12) in the middle with the darkest color and then masked off the "Happy" to do the other "Birthday" sentiments.

Father's Day 2013

I love this image from Digistamps4Joy because we love camping! So it's very apt for Dad! Our challenge # 69 is "For the men in our lives" - Basically to celebrate Father's Day, but your card/creation can be for a father, grandfather, stepfather, boyfriend, or a very special male friend.

Image: Camp time
Sentiment: (My friend Hannelie!! http://desertdiva-hannelie.blogspot.com/2012/05/free-father-sentiments.html. She also has new ones this year: http://desertdiva-hannelie.blogspot.com/2013/06/fathers-day-sentiments.html

Get your card(s) ready for Father's Day and join us in our challenge!
xxx
Riette

Sharing with:
http://craftingbydesigns.blogspot.com/2013/06/anything-goes-with-twist-fathers-day.html
http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com/2013/06/challenge-54-one-for-guys.html
http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/2013/06/iic-112-fathers-dayfor-guy.html
http://thesisterhoodofcrafters.blogspot.com/2013/06/its-all-about-boys.html

Reach for the Stars!

Here's another card specifically to combine the following challenges:
http://simplylessismoore.blogspot.com/2013/06/one-layer-week-123.html - OLC + "Need for speed"
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/06/masculine-father-day.html
http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2013/06/lawnscaping-challenge-59.html (Use coloring)

 I angled the card quite a bit to try and catch the shimmer on the flames & stars (Sakura Stardust pen).

Image source: www.raisingourkids.com (at time of writing this post the link was inactive :( )

Here's the sentiment if you want to use it. NOTE: Please use for PERSONAL use only.

DS4J Release Sunday: Tag

Hello everyone
Here's a card made with a new image from Digistamps4Joy "Tag" by Jen. It is layered with vellum stamped with black embossing powder.

Link to the shop: http://www.digistamps4joy.co.za/eshop/
Sentiment: GinaK Designs Wild Flowers
Tag colored with Spectrum Noir

I flipped the sketch from http://casethissketch.blogspot.com/2013/06/cts-31.html and split the image & sentiment even though they're overlaid.

Also entering into:
http://lawnscaping.blogspot.com/2013/06/lawnscaping-challenge-59.html
http://pathofpositivitychallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/06/challenge-3-strength-june-3-june-30-2013.html (My Mom asked for a card for my Aunt who is going through a rough time dealing with a lot of heart ache. I hope it will remind her that she doesn't have to be strong herself)

Birthday Rosette

I loved how my rosette turned out. That paper is SO gorgeous but I can't remember where it comes from. Maybe BasicGrey? Not sure :(

Center circle frame & sentiment from GinaK Designs "The Giving Tree". Cut with Circle & Scalloped Circle dies from Spellbinders:

Entering into:

http://bearlymine-challenges.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/89-dies-andor-punches.html

Circles & Wheels

Here's a card to combine challenges for:
http://addictedtocas.blogspot.com/2013/06/atcas-14-circles.html
and
http://casology.blogspot.com/2013/06/week-47-wheels.html

Sentiment: Papertrey Ink Think Big Favorites #12
Cog wheel image: PRIMA Marketing Craftsmen Collection

Banners and flags

It seems banners & flags are still very popular and although I haven't used it too often I'm growing fond of it too for interesting elements, texture (not all glued down) and a great way to use up scraps. I don't usually try and consciously combine challenges, but these worked out perfectly:
I made this for:
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2013/06/make-it-monday-119.html (Flagged borders)
and
http://cas-ualfridays.blogspot.com/2013/06/cfc104.html (Banners & Flags!)
and
http://freshlymadesketches.blogspot.ae/2013/06/freshly-made-sketches-89-sketch-by-rita.html











and
http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2013/06/tuesday-trigger-all-sweetness-light.html

which combined ended up like this:

 There's a lot of different sources of paper in here: GinaK (Petals & Wings), We R Memory Keepers and some odds & ends I don't remember. Banners cut by hand.
Sentiment: Papertrey Ink Think Big Favorites #12
Background image stamp: Papertrey Ink Spiral Bouquet 

Another Vintage (monochrome)

I think this card is too beige'y. But I like the way the dress flares up at the bottom :D. I printed two copies of the lady and cut out the 2nd one's hat & skirt. This was popped up with foam tape.

Image: http://www.digitaltuesday.blogspot.com/2013/05/fashion.html
Background stamped with Marianne Design (CS0857 (Vintage dress form & accessories)
Sentiment; GinaK Designs "Fanciful tags" (discontinued?)
Colored with Spectrum Noir (corals)

Sharing with:
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/2013/06/mim-143-with-kennyk.html
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/2013/06/anything-goes.html
http://www.craftdoormagazine.com/2013/06/ttcrd-challenge-june-4th-june-10th.html (GDT entry)
http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/05/simon-saysanything-goes_29.html (#4)

Fluffy paper cards

I got a pack of textured, embossed papers from my sister who bought it from a scrapbook stand at a hobby expo so I can't say the origin of it ;(. They almost feel like "fabric paper" if you understand what I mean?
I used a dark purple and a cream-colored one with purple / lavender touches to make the July birthday cards for ladies at church.
I very often use layouts from http://cleanandsimplestamping.blogspot.com/ as a starting point and decided on #235 for this:

I made a mirror-image of the layout:

 

The flower (GinaK Designs "A Year of Flowers) was heat embossed in black. The insides were first lightly colored in pink (Spectrum Noir) and then rubbed with Dusty Concord (Tim Holtz). The edges of the purple lace DP was also edged in Dusty Concord. A couple of liquid pearls added to the flower center. 

Sentiment from GinaK Designs "Enjoy the Sunshine".

 Close-up of the "fabric'y" paper with textured embossing. Feels like velvet.

FYI: I made NINE of these :D

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/05/simon-saysanything-goes_29.html (entry #3)
http://asimplefive.blogspot.com/2013/05/inspire-me-fridays-105-anything-goes.html
http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2013/05/challenge169-anything-goes.html

CAS masculine

Hey everyone. I've been wanting to use this image from PRIMA for a while and when I saw the latest CAS(E) this Sketch layout #30 I was very drawn to combine the two. I might use this sketch a LOT more in future because I have so many more ideas for it.

 I flipped the "ribbon element area" to the top and used a larger image that overlaps the sentiment panel:

I first held the sentiment panel down by hand when I stamped the balloon. After that the panel was adhered with foam tape. I made 8 of these (for men's birthdays in July at church) and had to make sure that I kept each panel with it's background balloon so that they will align up correctly.

Sentiment: Papertrey Ink Think Big Favorites #12

Stamped in Tim Holtz Fired Brick & Memento Tuxedo Black

Also sharing with:

http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/05/simon-saysanything-goes_29.html (2 / 5)

http://hobbyhousechallenge.blogspot.com/2013/06/challenge-1-anything-goes.html

http://brownsugarchallenge.blogspot.com/2013/05/challenge-44-masculine-birthday.html

http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/cmm70-rubber-stamps-sponsored-by-yumi.html

http://craftycatzweeklychallenge.blogspot.com/2013/05/challenge-185-inspired-by-storybook-or.html (Inspired by Around the world in 80 days!)

http://asimplefive.blogspot.com/2013/05/inspire-me-fridays-105-anything-goes.html

http://totallypapercrafts.blogspot.com/2013/05/challenge169-anything-goes.html

http://sisteractcardchallenge.blogspot.com/2013/05/sister-act-card-challenge-9.html