Happy Birthday Ardyth (a little late....)

Yesterday was Ardyth's birthday and Darnell through her a surprise party on her blog where she is asking us to CASE an Ardyth card (gulp) and make a birthday card for her based on it http://www.djkardkreations.com/2013/05/happy-birthday-ardyth.html

I selected this happy dotty one layer creation and set about trying to do it justice.  I think I started with a base card that was a little too small, but other than the fact that my design doesn't have quite enough space to breathe, I am quite pleased with the rest of it.

I pulled out my favourite of the moment quilt pattern stamp from WPlus9 and stamped it twice side by side.  I masked off the edges so I could get a nice straight edge finish and then stamped a rainbow of colours to the diamond pattern as nothing says Ardyth to me more than a bright and happy rainbow!  I finished with a big (perhaps a little too big) sentiment from PTI.

It's Ardyth's week to host OLW too and she wants a card she'd like - hopefully this fits the bill - and it helps keep the birthday celebrations going a little longer!  Happy Belated Birthday Ardyth!  http://ardythpr.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/olw-142-happy-birthday-to-me.html

Birthday Mood Board

I loved the inspiration photo on the Monday Mood Board over on the WPlus9 blog this week - the orange and green really spoke to me.  http://stampawaywithme.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/monday-mood-board-12.html   The Birthday theme is because both Dawn and her DH have birthdays coming up - so what better way to celebrate than with a gallery full of birthday cards ;-)

I wanted to add some solid blocks of the orange and green so immediately jumped on Quilt Prints and stamped up a full background with pear tart and morocco momento inks using the dotted diamond to pick up on the confetti in the image.  I LOVE stamping up this background - it's so relaxing - and soooo thrilling when the last bit of the pattern is stamped in place and all the little bits mean the design possibilities are near endless!

I took further inspiration from the stacked cups and threw in some red using my new favourite Fresh Baked set stacking up bowls and a jug and coating in glossy accents and adding a thin fussy cut black border to help it stand out from the quilt pattern.  Simply finished with an embossed black sentiment also from Fresh Baked and a black mat before mounting onto a 3 x 3 card base.

Fresh Baked

I've been having a little play with some new stamps from WPlus9 - I fell in love with both sets the second I saw them.  I was lucky to win a challenge so got them shipped from the USA, but they will no doubt be in stock soon at Make the Day Special.  I used them to make a simple card for this weeks
 CASe this sketch challenge.

I used the quilt stamp set to stamp the band on the sketch with vibrant red and orange gingham.  I used a tag die to create a little shelf and heat embossed a sentiment onto it.  I then stamped the crock pot from the Fresh Baked set onto a piece of kraft cut with the matching die - I cut 4 more die cuts and layered them up for dimension and after colouring the little flower with pencils I covered the whole front with glossy accents.

Here's a link to the challenge and the sketch to follow - http://casethissketch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/case-this-sketch-26.htm

Time for a bath now - early start tomorrow as my friend and I are off to check out the new shopping centre in Leeds - we're long overdue a shopping trip so Leeds, you have been warned......