Birthday Card for a Beachy Friend

 

Growing up on the corner of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean virtually guaranteed that the beach would be in my DNA which means I love Stampin' Up's Sand and Sea suite.  The Seaside Seashell die set not only coordinates with the stamp set, but with the Seashells embossing folder as well!  You can either line up an embossed panel with the die and cut or you can cut first and line up the die cut in the embossing folder.  I tried it both ways and found the later was easier to line up and seemed to result in a deeper impression.  

Now, I have a dear friend and sister paper crafter who, despite growing up in the Midwest, loves the ocean, so you know I had to use this set to make her birthday card.   I wanted to use the Fab Friday Sketch below, so I cut the embossed die cut apart and colored the pieces with Prismacoler pencils. 

I then arranged them across the front panel which was embossed using the Sea Bed folder to form the element that goes across.  I used a stamp from the Itty Bitty Birthday Greetings to make a sentiment piece and put it more or less in the middle.  The bottom right shell is popped up with foam tape to add dimension.

I also plan to enter this card in the Crafty Catz Challenge which is anything goes with the optional twist of embossing and the Addicted to Stamps and More Birthday Card Challenge.   Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi

Unconventional Wedding Card

 

My cousin's daughter was recently married in his backyard with only her immediate family in attendance, blowout party to celebrate with extended family and friends to follow at a later, safer date.  This may seem like an unconventional card for a newlywed couple, but you have to know the couple.  The bride wore a black modern take on a 1950's prom dress with black, clunky heeled, ankle booties and a wreath of roses in her hair.  The groom wore black pants and a black shirt with a grey blazer and a rose  boutonniere to match the bride's headpiece.  Somehow an ivory and gold card does not seem appropriate for them.

I used the Mid-Century Frame die by Altenew to cut the frame in black cardstock and realized afterward that I should have backed it with adhesive paper before cutting.  Oops!  I then cut another frame from white cardstock, placed some adhesive paper behind the opening and inlayed the black frame filling it in with the negative space white pieces.  I then used the Kitty Love die by Penny Black to cut the cats in black and from the center of the Majestic holographic paper from Close to My Heart that I planned to use as a mat so I would have a heart to inlay.  I put it all together hoping for a modern Art Deco vibe.  I matted the panel on the Majestic paper and Black card stock before putting everything on a white card base.   Originally I did not fill in the tiny white pieces in the frame because it would be hard to fit them in, and I figured no one would notice since it was backed with white paper. I decided the frame needed something more, so I cut another frame from Majestic paper just so I would have the six tiny dots to fit in the black frame.  I already know what I will do with that extra frame.  The sentiment is from the Just to Say stamp set from Close to My Heart.

I plan to enter this card in the Daring Cardmakers'  challenge to use back and white plus one other color and the Happy Little Stampers April Die Cut Challenge.

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time, Hansi