Gradient Background

I'd been struggling with No 49 on list of 75 challenges I am trying to complete - make your own background paper - not difficult but I just couldn't come up with an idea - see here for the full list, and this one is another of the challenges set by Cath over on Moxy Fab world so there is a deadline to be met http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2013/01/75-creative-card-challenges-week_9.html

I have however signed up for the latest online card class and there was a technique yesterday that was the perfect inspiration for this challenge - Jennifer's gradient background technique.  So as well as my challenge entry its also my homework for yesterday's lesson ;-)

I used one of the border strips from the Waltzingmouse Nordic Winter set to create my background and stamped it repeatedly with rhubarb stalk, tangelo and dandelion inks.  I added a mat and then used the same red card to stamp and heat emboss my sentiment from my current go to set - Heyday Sentiments from Hero Arts and Studio Calico.  I finished with a die cut heart covered with glossy accents and a really cute arrow shaped paper clip.

Itty Bitty Bubbly Heart

Today I have another card for the 75 card challenge I set myself based on the Paper Crafts special issue and this one is number 23 on the list - Make an Itty Bitty Card - but this one is also another one of the challenges Cath picked from the magazine over on Moxie Fab World so I am entering it into her challenge too http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2013/01/75-creative-card-challenges-week_11.html

Valentines hearts are everywhere at the moment, so I decided to go down that theme but to give it a twist wider than the 14th Feb.  I'm also going to enter it into the Addicted to CAS challenge which is all about hearts.

This is a tiny 3 x 3 inch card stamped with the smallest heart from the woodware bubble hearts stamp set and I then used a variety of tiny buttons, pearls and gems to fill in the stamped bubbles.   To complete the card I added a matching banner from the lovely Heydey Sentiments set from Hero Arts/Studio Calico - I love this set of funky sentiments so expect to see it often!

That's 4 cards ticked off on the list of 75 - I have a way to go but I'm working on it slowly but surely!