Mother's Day Blossoms--#tgifc307

Lately, I've been pulling out the stamp sets that I love but haven't used in a while.  I had a plan for my TGIF Challenges sketch challenge this week, but it went out the window when I saw the beautiful Forever Blossoms stamp set (#151457) sitting lonely and unused on my shelf.  The cherry blossoms are just so pretty:

The blossoms image was stamped in Basic Gray on Whisper White card stock, then colored with Rococo Rose (#154900) and Soft Sea Foam (#154902) Stampin' Blends.  It was die cut using the coordinating Cherry Blossoms dies (#151456).  The blossoms were layered over two Vellum circles die cut using the Stitched Shapes dies (#152323) and a layer of Balmy Blue card stock embossed with the Parisian Flourish 3D embossing folder (#151474).

The greeting is from the Strong & Beautiful stamp set (#148732).  It was stamped in Basic Gray on a 1/2" strip of Whisper White card stock.  The ends were punched with the Banners Pick a Punch (#153608) to create the banner.

A layer of Rococo Rose card stock, a Rococo Rose card base and some Pearl Basic Jewels (#144219) complete the card.

Find more wonderful projects using this sketch over at the TGIF Challenges Blog here.

Have a wonderful weekend!

--Sara Nell

  

Free as a Bird Mother's Day Card--#tgifc260

It's time for a TGIF Challenges technique challenge this week.  The technique is belly bands.  I usually do belly bands on boxes, but today I made a gatefold card with a belly band.  I had fun with it because I rarely do gatefold cards--so two construction techniques for me today!

The card base is Pool Party cut 5-1/2" X 8-1/2" and scored at 2-1/8" from each short end. I used three patterns from the Bird Ballad designer series paper pack (#149592).  Two pieces of the feather pattern were cut to 5-3/8" X 2" and layered on the two sides of the gatefold on the card base.  The belly band is the bird cage pattern cut at 1-1/2" X 10-1/2". It was wrapped around the card and taped together in the front with Tear & Tape adhesive.  The birds on the focal point circle were fussy cut from another pattern of Bird Ballad paper.  The birds were layered on a stitched circle (Stitched Shapes dies, #145372) die cut out of Pool Party and a scalloped circle (Layering Circles dies, #141705) die cut out of Calypso Coral.  

The greeting is from Strong & Beautiful stamp set (#148732).  Three strands of Whisper White baker's twine (#124262) tied in a bow with the ends curled and three Basic Pearls (#144219) complete the card.

There are some inspiring belly bands over at the TGIF Challenges blog.  Check them out here.

Hope you have a great weekend!  I'll be stampin'!

--Sara Nell

A Rainbow for Encouragement--#tgifc258

This week's TGIF color challenge is Rainbow!!!  I decided to use a rainbow as a backdrop for a message of encouragement to a special (and beautiful!) friend.  Everyone can use a little rainbow in their lives right now.

For my rainbow, I used strips of card stock in the rainbow colors of the Brights Collection:  Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Poppy Parade, Gorgeous Grape, Pacific Point and Granny Apple Green.  These strips were glue to a piece of Whisper White card stock.  I die cut the leaves image from the Well Written dies (#148534) in Basic Black and glued it on the rainbow.  Then I put this piece through my die cutting machine with the Subtle 3D embossing folder (#151775).  I love how this folder brings the leaves and panels together into one "painted" image.

The greeting is from The Strong & Beautiful stamp set (#148732).  It was stamped and die cut with a Rectangle Stitched die (#148551).   A Basic Black layer over a Whisper White thick card base and three rhinestone "diamonds" complete the card.

There are lots of different rainbows on the projects created for this color challenge over on the TGIF Challenges blog here.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend.

--Sara Nell