I love stamping, but I also love great papers like the Party Collection from Authentique.
This fun retro paper design comes together for a quick card using the Happy B-Day Die Cut by CZ Design.
Here's the masculine version that I'm linking-up at the Crafting Happiness Challenge to Add a Sentiment.
And the feminine version with some fun polka dot words using another paper from the collection.
Black and Gold (aka Yellow) are the colors of the nearby University of Iowa, so I tend to purchase paper collections that feature those colors for graduation or birthday cards. So needless to say, when I saw those were the colors at the Color Hues Challenge, I had to join the fun.
I pulled out Authentique's Classique Beauty Collection and managed to use scraps of the designer papers (that I store inside the paper pad) together with a rough rotated interpretation of the Sketch at the TGIF Challenges to pull together a Masculine Birthday Card.
I used a sentiment from Unity Stamp Company Itty Bitty Whimsical Birthday by Angie Blom (which I see is currently on sale for almost half-price). I framed it with a stitched die cut circle and finished with some enamel dots.
It's Day 11 of the 12 Tags of Christmas - Oh Christmas Tree.
I love using journaling cards in my paper crafting, so today I used one from Authentique's Colorful Christmas Collection for my tag.
I matted my card on a thin red cardstock frame and then used two sizes of red bling to decorate the tree. I finished with a stapled piece of glittery ribbon and Eyelet Outlet Square Jewel at the top of the tree.
I took my decoration inspiration from the Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge Inspiration Photo.
This week is the 500th Sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.
I thought I had been with them from the beginning, but the oldest card I could find was for Sketch #24 in March 2012, so almost the entire time. I always love their layouts.
Since I've been watching Soccer all day (actually mostly listening to Soccer; my husband is watching), it seemed appropriate that I made a Soccer-themed birthday card for a fellow soccer fan.
I'm also joining The Paper Players Challenge (Masculine - Die Cut - Birthday across the middle). I die cut a Hexagon from Plaid paper from the Authentique Soccer Collection to coordinate with the shape on the Doodlebug Soccer Ball Paper. The sentiment is a Simon Says Stamp Birthday Sentiment Strip.
I'm ready to start stocking my Halloween card stash.
I resisted buying any new Halloween products at Scrapmania this weekend (I bought plenty of other products), so instead I pulled out Authentique Mysterious papers from my large stash of vintage (aka retired) Halloween papers for this week's Paper Craft Crew Challenge Sketch.
I added a Boo Tag, some sticker sentiments, and a scattering of sequins to finish the design.
Tonight's cardmaking goal was very specific ... a Soccer-themed Thank You. I started with a piece of Soccer-themed designer paper from the We R Memory Keepers Game Day Collection. I searched through my stash and found several Gel Press Prints (the background & behind the sentiments) that coordinated.
Lastly, I used the Layout from Global Design Project and assembled my card.
I loved layering together all of those strips of paper. I used a vintage soccer picture and Goals Sentiment cut from Authentique Golf Papers. I completed my design with a Thank You sentiment from Simon Says Stamp CZ Design Sentiment Strips Reverse Gratitude.
I had fun playing with Authentique's new Bird Watcher Collection papers and stickers that I pre-ordered from The Funkie Junkie.
I started with the layout from TGIF Sketch Challenge.
I combined two stickers with some glittery enamel dots and a stamped sentiment from Impress Everyday Word.
For the next one I used the layout from Hand Stamped Sentiments Paper Crafting Challenges.
I love the monochromatic look with the pop of the color from the sweet little bird.
My third card uses the layout from Paper Craft Crew Vertical Sketch Challenge.
I used another sentiment from the Impress Everyday Word Sentiment Set together with some Swirl Bling Flourishes from Eyelet Outlet.
If you're a bird lover (or have bird lovers in your life) this is a lovely collection.
I've said it before ... one of my favorite things about cardmaking is being able to make designs that are personalized for the recipient.
This is a birthday card for someone who loves bow hunting with her Dad. My only experience shooting a bow was in Lifetime Sports Gym class in high school, but have tremendous respect for individuals who can wield one effectively (I was more about learning how to skeet shoot with a rifle and my Dad tossing pears into the sky from our pear trees).
I used Authentique's Hunting Papers together with this week's Atlantic Heart's Sketch.
It's also Anything Goes at the House that Stamps Built.
While this card is perfect for either gender, I'm also linking-up at the Animals Challenge at The Male Room.
Today I tried one of Birgit's techniques using Distress Oxide Ink and Stencils. The first print is made by putting the Carabelle Studios Circle of Stars stencil down on the inked plate and doing the first print. Then there is a second print after picking-up the stencil.
I used my first print for a masculine birthday card inspired by the Sports theme at the Cupcake Inspiration Challenge.
I chose the golf ball to inspire my design with Golf papers from Authentique.
The Happy Birthday sentiment is a clear sticker mounted on white cardstock.
I do love a good layered sketch, and the one at The Paper Players this week is a keeper.
I love the artistic meditative process of playing with patterns and colors of paper. I started with my new Soccer Paper Pad from Authentique. It had a perfect little vintage Soccer image for the focal point.
I did add some gold cardstock for a bit more contrast of colors, but the remainder are all papers from the collection. The sticker sentiment seemed perfect for the theme.
I'm also linking-up at the SPORTS Challenge at Use Your Stuff.
I was having so much fun, I pulled out Amy Tangerine's Oh Happy Life for another happy card.
I used the same scrap of gold cardstock in this design and added a few stickers from the collection for a bit more fun ... love the happy play of all those patterns. Another sticker sentiment completed the design.
