"To my favorite human"

 If there has ever been a sentiment that I don't understand, it is this. Animals don't send cards, nor do we have AI friends or robots who would send us cards. And the technology is not so advanced yet (if it ever will be, beware!), that non-humans would send us greeting cards. So why?!

Nonetheless, I have such a sentiment as part of a set. And today was the first day in my personal history, ever, that I would consider using it, by proxy of a very flustered bird who might have forgotten someone's birthday. 

 

I selected the bird, because it is a brand new (to me) stamp and I have been itching to use it. It suited fine for a couple of challenges.

I stamped the bird onto the card base, then drew three circles (as per a sketch), one around the bird and two smaller ones. I then applied GT watercolors onto everything. The special feature of Gansai Tambi watercolors is that they can be applied opaque, almost like gouache, and then again watery, like aquarelle. I used opaque for the background and more watery for the bird itself. I kept everything in two colors only, pink and brown.

 

Entering this card in these challenges I was inspired by:

Hand Stamped Sentiments: #497 Sketch

 

Sweet Stamping: CAS

Addicted to Stamps and More: #317 Circles

 

Girlz Creative Color: #30 Bruin en/ of roos - Brown and/or pink

NBUS: #90 September 

Poppies for birthday

 The ultimate summer flowers for me are poppies. But since they wither fast, it is safer to give them as a card. 

I have so many poppy stamps to prove my poppy addiction; today my selection fell on these supplies, a stamp set with lovely large poppies, a gifted gelli printed background and sentiments and their frames.

I started by cutting the gelli print to size. I preserved the woman's face, thinking it might peek behind the flowers. But in the end it was covered to an extent that it is unrecognizable only if you know what to look for. I then stamped the poppies and colored them in with markers, then fussy cut them. 

I arranged them on the background, raising the flowers with foam pads, but glueing the stems down. Then I stamped the label, fussy cut it and stamped the sentiment on it. It reads 'Best wishes for your birthday'.

Entering this in these challenges that inspired me today:

We Love Stamping: Summer Blooms

Beautiful Blossoms: #44 AG floral/ photo inspiration optional. I was inspired by the photo

 

Triple B: TB August/ moodboard optional

 

Passion For Markers: #851 Floral Vibes 

Hand Stamped Sentiments: #495 AG/ moodboard optional - I was inspired by the combination of red yellow, green in this moodboard 

 

Creative Inspirations: August AG 

 

Three curious hen

 Today I took a sketch, and instead of creating the perfect geometric shapes I wanted to go loose on them, more natural. Browsing a while in my stash and through the challenges I found some great matches.

I picked colors, a stamp set that had farm fencing in it and a wooden stamp of a stylized hen that I love. I also used a small leafy stamp and the stitched edges stamp which are not on the picture - at that time I didn't yet know I would need those.

 

I am entering this in these challenges that inspired me in my creation:

Try a Sketch on Tuesday: TSOT #697 Sketch

 

HSS: #490 Color challenge 

Sparkles Monthly: #200 Trios (Three of anything) 

Little Red Wagon: #862 O is for outdoors 

Critter Crazy: #111 AG critter  

Flowers for birthday

 A couple of lovely challenges were calling my name - one for layout, another for colors and two for flowers. I do love flowers and have wquite a few floral stamps.

For this card I selected an oldie by Stampendous. It is a skinny rectangle, so it needed cutting to size. I stamped the flowers with pale grey ink, then colored them in with Oxides and smeared some Nuvo drops on top for some sheen.

 I fussy cut it completely, even the center, then added blue cardstock tying it in I had with the blue flower in the background. Lastly I adhered iridescent sparklies most everywhere.

The sentiment was stamped onto a die cut circle and a frilly circle of vellum was adhered behind to soften it up.

Entering in these challenges that inspired me today:

Die-Cut Divas: Flowers

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: AG/ or moodboard optional. - I decided to go with softer colors.

Color My Heart Colordare Challenge: #577

 

Hand Stamped Sentiments: #428 sketch