Orange blossom

I've seen this punched flower on many cards but had never made one until now.  

This card started out with a stamped image I had sitting on my desk, a small bouquet already coloured in orange and green.  I made up the background card with scraps and bits and pieces but then I felt the stamped image just didn't work and that I needed something bolder - and then I thought of making this flower.  I'm really happy with how it turned out.

365 Cards day 311 - Pretty Pairs "Damask + Pink"

And another bird-day card ready for posting off!

This one is for 365 Cards Pretty Pairs challenge which asked for "Damask and Pink".

I must say this is about the only 'damask' patterned paper in the whole of my stash so I was so lucky it was pink too!  I added a wee bird {love those pearls for eyes} plus a couple of die cut leaves, a couple of flowers, a sprinkling of glitter.  I used a retired SU stamp set called Alphabits for the greetings, that way I can make it any language I want - very versatile!  I've often thought of selling this set but I think I will keep it for a while longer, it is a little fiddly to cut and glue all the letters, but I like the slightly crooked effect they usually end up in hehehe... the first time I used the letters I punched them out with a 1/4" circle punch - never again!!

365 Cards day 313: Pretty Pairs "Yellow + Paisley"

Here is my card for the last "Pretty Pairs" challenge over at 365 Cards, lots of yellow plus embossed the background with a paisley folder.

Haven't used my Tilda stamps for ages so thought it was time to dust them off once again - love this one of her dressed up as a dragonfly/bee/fairy etc.  I put lavish amounts of glitter on the wings, she's ready for take-off now!

365 Cards day 312 - Pretty Pairs "Black + Checkerboard"

Bless you Tim Holtz!  I went into a mild panic when I saw the 365 Cards challenge combo of Black + Checkerboard, and after a couple of days of wondering what on earth I'd do I remembered the 'checkerboard' embossing folder I have!!  Horray!

So here is it, checkerboard embossed background, a hint of black in the gingham ribbon (still sitting on my desk as a possible element from the gingham card a couple of days ago...) and went all out flowery and butterflies again!

I think this is the first card where I've used Peach Parfait as a background colour and really like it!  It was an odd piece of card I hard lying around, and now it has found a fitting home.

365 Cards day 310 - Pretty Pairs "Red + Gingham"

Took me a while to sort this pair out!  I sort of got caught up in the thought that I needed red gingham [which I don't have] but of course it can be red gingham or red something and gingham something!

I had lots of fun making this card today, am really pleased I have a whole heap of birthdays coming up in February so by the time this week is over I should be sorted cardwise :>

For the last three cards I've used an off-white card I purchased at a $2 shop, feels really lovely to the touch, is nice and firm and goes with almost anything!  The pad had 12 sheets so that's 24 card bases for $2.50, not bad!

And I love this floral stamp from Stampin' Up! {Nature Walk stamp set}, I inked it up with Riding Hood Red and Old Olive, used a snippet of Cherry Cobbler plus some Certainly Celery - the green gingham was from a pack I got years ago...

Challenges:
365 Cards - Pretty Pairs Red + Gingham.

365 Cards day 309 - Pretty Pairs "Green + Stripes"

The second challenge of 'pretty pairs' at 365 Cards is to use "Green + Stripes".

Shhh, don't tell anyone but I almost forgot the green!!!

My initial plan was to paper piece the pickup truck with a green stripey paper but then the red caught my eye and I was so focused on that that 'green' almost slipped away on me!

So now you know why the truck in parked on the lawn hehehe - the day was saved by a scrap of Old Olive!

365 Cards day 308 - Pretty Pairs "Blue + Polkadots"

Here is my take on the challenge over at 365 Cards this week.  All this week they will be 'pretty-pairing' patterns with colours and the first one is "Blue + Polka Dots".  Of course my first reaction was to use a blue polka dot paper but then I found this scrap of paper on my desk so decided to challenge myself a little further and combine it with blue.  I really like how the Pumpkin Pie butterflies almost fly off the page!

I'll be sending this off to my sister-in-law who has a birthday at the start of February.

365 Cards day 307 - Cherry Cobbler birthday card

I had thought of sending the Teal birthday card to mum but then decided this morning to make her another one, just hoping she doesn't find it too dark!

I suddenly realised last night that I had not sent her a card yet and her birthday is on the 20th of this month, hope the post between here and Chile is super fast this time!

I chose the sparkly butterfly DCWV background paper as she used to love looking through that stack when she visited last year, hope she recognises it!

Made for the following challenges:
365 Cards Sketchy Sunday
Friday Mashup {my first time for this one} - make it sparkle {check out the sparkly butterfly paper!}