A FISHING DEER BIRTHDAY CARD

My niece's husband had a birthday this month.  I was at a loss as to what kind of card to make . . . just couldn't decide which stamp set to use.  Actually, the thinking process was wearing me down, making me want to just leave my stamp room.  I kept looking at my Cricut Explore machine, thinking about how much I enjoy making shaped cards with it, and that's how this card was born.  Yes, I know it looks a bit juvenile for a grown man, but it's also cute (right???) and totally captures two of Matt's hobbies . . . fishing and (deer) hunting.

This was the first time I've used a hexagon card base, but it won't be the last.  I really like it!  Designing shaped cards with Cricut Design Space is so easy and enjoyable!  Deciding which images to use actually takes longer than the design process.  

I know this post is short and sweet.  My next one will probably be a long one--loaded with photos of the scarecrow box cards that I recently made.  Stay tuned!

"OCEANFRONT" + "A FISH & A WISH"

 "Oceanfront" is such a great stamp set, and it's just so easy to use for just about any occasion.  I needed a thank you card recently, and this is what I made.  My cardstock colors are white, Coastal Cabana (or it might have been Soft Succulent), and Crumb Cake.  Ink colors are Coastal Cabana (or maybe Soft Succulent), Old Olive, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, and Pacific Point.

I thought the fish image would make a nice embellishment for this card and to make it more like an actual embellishment, I punched four shapes from cardstock (with the Fish Builder punch) to adhere to the stamped and punched image.  The fish was really thick and sturdy!

I can't explain my attraction to the "A Fish & A Wish" stamp set.  Fish art has never been my thing, I don't eat fish, don't have any pet fish, have no interest in baiting a hook, and yet this stamp set was one of my first purchases from Stampin' Up!'s current catalog.  The images are just so . . . well . . . lovely.  I don't think they're particularly difficult to work with, but I placed them upside down on the first two cards I ever made with this bundle.  🤣  I do a much better job with them now.

The prettiest finishing detail was the Wink of Stella shimmer that I brushed on the fish.  I never really think that much about it, but the Wink of Stella is probably one of my most used products.

So what do you think?  These two stamp sets work pretty well together, huh?

POP-UP BLOCK CARD FOR COLTON

 

Today is my great-nephew's birthday, and I'm sharing this Pop-up Block Card that I made for him.  My curiosity was piqued when I watched THIS TUTORIAL, which I altered a bit by rotating the intended orientation.  Actually, the bottom block was supposed to be loose--unattached and not a complete block--but I wanted it to be a sturdy block like the others.

In the above photo, you can see what I mean about the blocks.  Once I decided to make a vertical design of the pop-up block card, it became even more important to have a solid block at the bottom.  What makes this card a winner is that it folds flat(ish) for mailing, which is something that makes every card maker want to scream with delight.

My card features "Waves of the Ocean" designer paper and coordinating "Blue Foils" (retired), which were part of a Stampin' Up! bundle available last year.  The "Waves of Inspiration" stamp set and coordinating "Waves" dies are currently available in a bundle.  

Decorating the envelope was kept simple by adhering a strip of coordinating designer paper along the left edge.

Be sure to try a pop-up block card if you haven't already because it's an easy and fun one!  Last but not least . . . join me in wishing Colton a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

"HAPPIER THAN HAPPY"

I tried so hard to talk myself out of buying the "Happier than Happy" bundle.  I was successful--for a while, but then I felt that I really needed these adorable animals.  Isn't this a sweet card?  I actually made several to send to the special ladies who enjoy receiving mail from me.

All of the cards weren't exactly alike--but very similar.  I had to play around with ink to see which color I liked best for the tree stump (Soft Suede--or maybe it was Crumb Cake) and which I liked best for the owl (Early Espresso).  It was so handy to have dies to cut each of the stamped images!

I think the animals in this bundle make such sweet cards, and I do not regret this purchase!  If you're like me, you often think of using animals on cards for children but they work just as well when you want to send a sweet hello to someone special.  Don't you agree?