Our challenges are always Anything Goes with an optional twist.
The twist this time is the theme 'Spring Has Sprung'
We are very fortunate to have 2 sponsors for each challenge this year which means we get to choose which artist we would like to work with. This really is great as it gives us double the choice. We are very lucky with the amazing sponsors that are lined up this year, many of which are old favourites and some are new to me.
I chose to work with this cute image Lulu With Daffodil from Paper Nest Dolls. I have been lucky to work with a number of Christine's images recently and I adore the sweet expressions on their faces.
I used this image to make a centrepiece in a card I was making for my Mother in Law's birthday. I have seen some wreath cards on my blog travels and thought it might make a colourful and different card for my Mother in Law. This year her birthday was the day before Mother's Day so the pressure was on to make not one but 2 spectacular cards for her.... the pressure is real people.
The base of the card is a sheet of green adorable scorable card from Hunkydory. It is a 350gsm good weight of card which was perfect for this as I wasn't sure if the flowers would make it top heavy. I experimented with the size of circle and made them 6.5 circumference in the centre and 8cm on the outside. I knew that compass I had kept in my stash would come in handy one day! I cut this from heavy weight card to provide a good solid base for the flowers. Once I had my circle I could then use this to cut the green card to match the shape and size. I then added some floral patterned paper and a matching white border.
The flowers are a mixture of pre-bought paper ones and then ones cut from flower forming foam using dies. There are some paper daffodils that I bought from Ebay a million years ago along with some fabric ones. I embellished with some gems and flower stamens. I can't lie, this took ages to put them together.
The Happy Birthday sentiment is a really ornate die from Crafter's Companion. I also used a butterfly die from Sizzix. I drew around the outside to create a solid mat in green and cut this with scissors. I added a flower stamen for the antenna and some small gems for the body. The 2 smaller butterflies are 3d stickers that came in a kit from QVC many years ago.
At this point the initial card was done and then I had the idea to use the image and make it into a spinner card. I wasn't completely happy with one of the flowers as it seemed too bright an orange compared to the other so I swapped this out and I am now much happier with the result.
I coloured Lulu with Promarkers and added some metallic highlights with a glitter marker from Spectrum Noir. I added some shading to the hair with Arteza pencils. The image has been coloured the same twice so I could use them back to back. I die cut them using a pretty scallop edge frame. I then added some clear thread in between and then fixed this to the top and bottom of the circle.
This is like nothing I have ever made before and was a real labour of love. My MIL loves my cards though so it is worth the effort for her.
Card Details -
Size - 8” x 9.5”
Image - Lulu With Daffodil (Paper Nest Dolls)
Dies - Floral Wreath (Sizzix Thinlits), Box Large Die (Crafter’s Companion), Petite Posies (Crafter’s Companion) Clover (Crafter’s Companion) Happy Birthday Sentiment (Crafter’s Companion), Just a Note Butterflies (Sizzix). Crea-Nest-Lies XXL69 Dies (Crea-lies) Colouring Medium - Promarkers & Spectrum Noir Glitter Markers
Embellishments - Autumn Hues & Floral Bouquet Flower Forming Foam, Stamens, Paper Flowers, Paper Daffodils, fabric, self adhesive gems, Butterfly 3D Stickers, Clear thread
I would like to enter this card into the following challenges (in Alphabetical Order)
Allsorts - #617/618 Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge - Z is for Zoology
Butterfly Challenge - #155 Butterfly/Lace/Laser lemon
Cardz TV - #137 Anything Goes
Catch The Bug - Anything Goes
CD Sunday Plus - #57 - Anything Goes with a Digital
Colour Crazy Challenge - #12 Anything Goes with Colouring
Color Throwdown - #637 Brown(in hair), green, yellow & orange
Crafty Catz - #545 Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers - #205 Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday - #680 Anything Goes
Digi Choosday - #14 Anything Goes
Gem of A Challenge - #7 Anything Goes
Incy Wincy Designs - Borders and/or bright colours
International Art & Soul - #105 Shaped Card
Krafty Chicks - #553 Stamp Act
Lemon Shortbread - #143 Anything Goes
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #155 Anything Goes
Make My Monday - #145 Easter or Spring
Paper Shelter - #464 With a Sentiment
Paperminutes - #686 Flowers
Passion For Markers - #585 Animal Antics
Penny’s Challenge - #492 Anything Goes
Polkadoodles - #14 Anything Goes
Scrapping4fun Challenges - #189 Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday - Happy Birthday
Sisterhood of Crafters - Easter / Spring
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - #386 Spring or Easter
Sweet Stampin’ - For A Special Woman (My Mother in Law)
Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Try It On Tuesday - Hello Spring
Try Stamping on Tuesdays or Not - #501 Optional theme Birthdays
Word Art Wednesday - #485-486 Anything Goes
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge - #3 Anything Goes