Roses for birthday

 Today's inspirations lead me towards a birthday card. Always seem to be needing those!

The main supplies were a stamp of a layered rose and a die set for decorative lanterns. I have had both for years, but have seldom found use for them. The auxiliary supplies were designer paper, a pad of ready cut lattice designs and inks. I toyed with the idea of adding an arch via Spellbinders oval dies, but in the end didn't find it necessary.

 

I adhered the lattice on top of the designer paper, cut two lanterns out of the other two, stamped and fussy cut two roses and stamped the sentiment ('Happy birthday') and assembled the card.

 

I am entering this into these challenges that were my guiding light today:

Altenew: July 2026 inspiration challenge 

 

Daisy Chain: #109 Birthday 

GCFAOS: #23 Gebruik designpapier (Use designer paper)

The Neglected Stuff: July challenge 

 

Leftovers and the number 6

Today two challenges caught my interest: use leftovers from previous challenges and have six embellishments.  I gathered some leftovers.

 

I decided to use the remnants of the donut card (here): the cut-out circle became my stencil. I took a piece of card board and started pouncing color through it. I used my long-neglected Distress Stains for this.

 

The way they layered up transparent made me think of balloons. I drew their outlines with a fine liner. The sentiment is also a leftover, as are the dots. At first I had six, but mysteriously lost two of them, so I pulled out two enamel dots to complete the arrangement. The sentiment is a leftover from a project that never happened.

 

I am very happy that I could use up some leftovers. Entering this card in following challenges:

Inksprinational: #370 Leftovers

 

Path of Positivity: #142 AG w/ option Use 6 embellishments - i am going with this option

 

The Neglected Stuff: June AG - I used the Distress Stains and some enamel dots (2nd entry)

Polkadoodles: AG 

PIP: #2625 AG 

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends: #280 AG

For an unknown occasion

Sometimes I just make cards without any text. In the meanwhile there are three languages spoken and written in our larger family group, so it is not always wise to determine the language of a greeting card too early. Today is one of those occasions.

I was heavily inspired by some lovely challenges that play very well together. One of them asks to use neglected stuff. This was such a good opportunity to pull out an old background stamp, one that I lastly used about three-four years ago. I stamped with pale blue Versafine ink on top of a very colorful gelli print. 

 

The card needed only one focal point, for which I used a flower I had assembled some years ago. I made it look plush with some added petals that were still lying around from my recent die-cutting session. The card will get a sentiment once I know whom it is for.

 

I am entering this in these following challenges that helped me in my decision making process (thank you!):

Simon Says Monday: Add a rainbow of color

Mix It Up: MIUCB #83 AG/ stamped background optional - I went with this option 

The Neglected Stuff: June AG - I used an old stamp that hasn't been used for several years

Crafting From The Art: May challenge AG