Cute cats and a cherry tree

Some serendipitous themes have fallen together in this birthday card. 

Firstly: cute little cats. I have no recollection where these stamps are from, most likely from a private sale on FB. They are just too cute. Secondly: the background is a deep indigo jeans print. These two things made me think of kawaii and Japanese aesthetics and gave me an idea to take the card even more into more Japanese leaning territory. Enter leaves and cherry blossoms.

 

I also really liked a sketch prompt and tied it in. There is a fair split between stamping and die-cutting. The background circles and the stamped leaves have been die cut, wheras cats, flowers and leaves have been stamped.

 

 

Together they make a rather busy card. But for a birthday, why not? Plenty to look at.

 

 Entering this into the lovely challenges that inspired me today:

Try a Sketch on Tuesday: TSOT #695 

and Double Trouble #216, where the #2 option features TSOT#695 prompt

Die-Cut Divas: Let's celebrate! - I am celebrating a birthday. 

Critter Crazy: #110 AG as long as there's a critter

 

Simon Says Wednesday: Cute critters 

 

I Love Promarkers: Special occasions 

 

A snow scene for Christmas

 I was inspired by a few challenges today. It started with a sketch that frankly seemed rather overwhelming at first. 

I have this new snowy scene die that I wanted to use. Also the stars have their first outing today. The sky and stars were cut from a gelli printed paper, not that you can see much of it... The sentiment has been stamped and reads Merry Christmas.

 

Entering this into these inspiring challenges:

Allsorts Challenge: #756 Colors of winter

Try Stamping on Tuesday: #634 sketch 

Just Us Girls: #707 CAS week: in a circle 

CAS on Friday: #271 Christmas

NBUS: #56 November AG as long as something is used for the first time

Thank you for your visit!

Under the sea

 Today I was exploring whether I can make a sketch from a (non-CAS) challenge to work for CAS birthday card. I took color inspiration from another challenge and this is what I got:

I used watercolor to paint the lines, and my Creative Depot whimsical fish stamps. (I just love when stamps run in both directions!)

Entering it in the challenges that inspired me:

Cupcake Inspirations: #574 Color challenge 

Try Stamping on Tuesday: #TSOT616 Sketch

Less Is More: #448 Theme: Under the sea

also entering in:

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Anything goes  

 

Thank you for your visit!

 

This little piggy -

- wants to say: Happy Birthday!

I have a new piggy die (by Creative Depot) and an old four leaf clover stamp (bought in 2009 at Papersource!!) and now it was time to combine the two. 

I stamped the clover once directly to the card and once on paper, then cut it out and adhered behind the die cut. I colored the clovers in with watercolors, and then some of the background. (Which would have been easier to do beforehand had I thought about it...)

The text is a die cut as well, green peeking behind the pink as a shadow.

Entering this card in the challenges that inspired its creation:

Retro Rubber Challenge: #rrcb209 Summer scenes

Craft Rocket Challenges: #104 Use dies

AAA Birthday: #50 Watercolors

Try Stamping on Tuesday: #612 sketch 

Double Trouble: #141 Something, Anything - Claiming  THING 1 and THING 3 (twice!).