Dancing Stars

Last weekend my DS and his dance partner took their Bronze Dancing Exam.  It was very exciting for DH and me to go and watch (and offer support).  It really was a wonderful evening and they both passed with fantastic marks.  To put the icing on the cake, they were also the best 1st years overall in ballroom and Latin.

I used as much bronze as I could, cardstock & backing paper.  The backing paper was cut using my Sizzix frames die #3 (657939) and embossed with my Crafts Too Hearts Embossing Folder.  The stamp is from the Dirk & Dientje range and was coloured with Copics.

I hope some of their success is passed on to us:  DH and I have our Gold Star Dance exam next weekend – fingers crossed.

Fit for a Queen

A dear friend of mine was awarded a B.E.M in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.  Such a magnificent achievement deserved a card “fit for a Queen”.

The starting point: – what do you need when you meet the Queen?  A new outfit!

The card was based on the idea of a new outfit.  The hat was hand drawn and cut from blue card and then trimmed with white.  The dress, shoes and handbag were cut from blue card using Sizzix originals dress & accessories (38-1198/65462).  The stand was cut (using the same die) from Sizzix self adhesive card stock.   Once all the pieces were cut, I added some shading with my lovely Copics.  The greeting was computer generated.  I also embossed a piece of white card (cut to size) using the Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing & Stamp set – flourish (658280).  I swiped the embossing with a gold ink pad.

 

The recipient loved it (thank goodness).

Two birthdays

Two friends, two birthdays, 2 days apart = one basic design and 2 different cards.

                       

Both cards were based on the Sizzix textured impressions bird cage embossing folder (657661), “Happy Birthday”  Sizzix Sizzlits Card Phrases #3 (657524).

For the card on the left  I used a pearly pink card blank and for the card on the right a pearly gold card blank.  Both cards had embossed bird cages, burnished with gold & sepia ink and a happy birthday cut from Sizzix self adhesive card stock.

De Bruiloft (the wedding)

As my regular readers will know, DH and I are keen ballroom & Latin dancers: we have lessons every week.  The dance school arranges balls throughout the season and the most recent was de Bruiloft (the wedding).  The idea behind this theme was that the students would be the wedding guests.  We were split into to various groups: family of the bride/groom; colleagues of the bride/groom and so on – a great way of getting people to know each other from the different year groups.
Now, whilst we weren’t expected to bring a gift for the (pretend) bride & groom, we were encouraged to bring a card.  An opportunity that I simply couldn’t miss, and the bonus was I got to make two cards: one from DH and me and one from my DS and his dancing partner.

The one on the left used a combination of embossing (Swiss dots and hearts) and a bride & groom embellishment that I found in my stash.  The one on the right also made use of embossing, this time the wedding cake (Sizzix textured impressions – Wedding set 655845).  Using a gold ink pad, I carefully swiped over the embossing, just to give it a bit more oomph.
I also made a wedding cake.  Not a real one of course, but one from boxes,ribbon, ribbon & paper flowers, washi tape and oasis.
    

Almost silver

Friends of ours celebrated their 24th anniversary this year.  I wanted to included some sort of grey/silver elements as it’s almost the silver anniversary.  I also wanted to make a modern, fresh looking card.  This is what I came up with:

Using Sizzix Sizzlits heart scribbles #4 die (654811) and Sizzix self adhesive card stock in silver grey, orange and white, I cut three hearts. I mixed and matched the pieces until I had a look that I liked.  I embossed peach paper using my Cuttlebug Swiss dots embossing folder (37-1604) and assembled the card on a pearly orange card blank.  Before adding the hearts I used some grey washi tape to divide the card.

New Home

How exciting is it to leave home and move into your own place?  Another occasion where a special card is needed – as you (should) know by now, I couldn’t let this opportunity pass to make a card.

Once again, I started with a pearly white card blank.  This was embossed using my “Crafts Too” hearts embossing folder.  Using my Dutch house die (sorry, can’t remember where this one came from) I cut a house from white card.  This was mounted on a piece of blue card and trimmed.  The details to the shutters and roof were done with fine liners and the heart was cut from Sizzix self adhesive card stock (smallest heart Sizzix doodle love 38-9625).  The key was cut from silver card (Sizzix Bigz Heart Locket 655376).

Special anniversary

Without a doubt, all anniversaries are special and are cause for celebration.  I do love making cards for those extra special anniversaries.  I made this one for friends who were celebrating their 30th (pearl) anniversary.

I used a pearly white card base to get me started.  The letters were cut from white card (Sizzix alphabet Night & Day 654549) and I (carefully) stitched Pearl beads onto the letters.  The greeting was printed directly onto the card, grosgrain ribbon added across the middle and then the  letters were added.  The recipients loved it. 

New baby

Born early, this little one took me by surprise.  It was a scramble to get his present and card ready to give to the proud parents.

Card blank was embossed with Sizzix Textured Impressions Baby Set (655839) Die cut letters and Sizzix Original Bitty body (654573) and Bitty P.J’s & Bear (654578)

Anniversary & birthday

My friend celebrates her birthday and anniversary on the same day -  How lovely!