Skateboard birthday...

Some of you may have read in my recent posts that I have just changed from working 2 days a week to full time teaching. Because my son has just gone back to school he had a couple of party invitations with very little notice because they were early September birthdays. I managed to find a card in my stash for the first but did not have a card for the second so *Shock, Horror* I decided that we would just have to buy one from Morrisons- well, the choice was dire and I just could not do it!!! So out came my stuff and, after saying I would keep it very simple, I got carried away and was still at it at 11.45pm! Sorry the photo is a bit dark but I took it at about 7am so he could take the card with him to school today!

This card hits loads of challenges, which is a good thing due to my lack of crafting time right now! The layout is from the Spoon Full of Sugar sketch and it was a really nice one for these papers and this card. The papers are from Shabby Princess and are a free download so long as you are not using them to make cards to sell. These papers cover:-
Cupcake Craft- red, white and blue
My time to craft- polka dot party
Our Creative Corner- stars and stripes (with the die cut star from the red paper)
Stamp Something have 'Favourite Stamp' as their challenge- hard one because I love all my stamps but Jolly Nation are some of the first stamps I bought and I still keep coming back to them. I love the simplicity and how they just seem to look like people you know! (They also had an option of die cuts which I hit with the star.) The image is coloured with watercolour pencils and a brush. The ABC challenge this week was 'D is for Die Cuts' so that is the sizzlet star! Last but not least, Allsorts had 'Something for the boys' which I was fine with because having a son I do have the stamps and get lots of practice. I think I will need to build up my stash of boys cards again to avoid more midnight crafting!

Hope, Believe...

I made this card for one of my colleagues at school who is going through treatment for breast cancer. I found out just over a week ago and wanted to make her a card but was finding it hard to know what to make, so had not got started. Liz at Pink Petticoat has just posted this kit as a free download and it could not have been more perfect- thank you Liz and God bless you for giving this. Seeing my comment on the PP blog about not knowing what to make a kind blogger called Chris contacted me with a link to her fab card saying I was welcome to use it for inspiration. Do get over to see it if you can and I am going to try to get the stamp she used for a later card.

Most of this card was made from the PP kit. I glittered the large letters and raised them on foam pads. The ribbon background paper, 'newsprint' word paper and Believe sentiment have all been inked around with a pearlised pink Brilliance pad. I find grosgrain ribbon frays so I cut it then ran the ends through some glossy accents to seal it. I inked the flower a little and found the pearl brad in my stash. I have to confess this ribbon and flower 'o' was not my idea, but the way Liz designed the kit.

I followed the sketch at Friday Sketchers for this card. Charisma Cardz are asking for 'Swirls and Curls- with added hearts'. I think the ribbon designs can count as this and the Believe is dotted with a heart. I have also stamped 3 hearts on the back of the envelope and the same inside the card.