Penny Black: For you - a birthday celebration

Hello blogging friends! 

At last, I have been able to get into some cardmaking after what seems an eternity!!  Funny how when you haven't made a card for ages, it takes a while to get back into the groove and get the old mojo happening.  

It has been difficult to blog anything with Mr Blogger having some issues which I read about in Blogger Buzz and Known Issues for Blogger which I subscribe to.  If you don't subscribe to either, I would heartily recommend that you do so you know if there are any issues going on with Blogger.   Or check out the forum via the Help button at the top RHS of your Blog.  They have had to "roll-back" to an earlier version at their end and are now gradually restoring posts done since that roll-back.  I have noticed that some Bloggers have done their latest posts a couple of times probably not knowing what was going on and now their blogs have the same post several times over as Blogger is restoring them.  Anyway, I don't envy the Blogger Admin trying to fix what has obviously been a major problem - I imagine they would be very stressed and I'm grateful for all the work that they do behind the scenes.

As usual, I am digressing........back to my card.......

I started with a very simple masculine card for my nephew - which actually took me a silly amount of hours to do!  I just couldn't make up my mind about the sentiment panel and the ribbon.  Sometimes it takes longer for me to do a CAS (Clean and Simple) card than do a card with layers - it seems easier to "balance" the different elements on a layered card.  Rather ironic really when CAS cards are supposed to be quicker.......    But it's a style that I enjoy when it flows - plus it's a style I would like to master!   My blogging friend Robyn from Rainbows by Robyn is fantastic at CAS cards - check out Robyn's Blog here - you won't be disappointed.

I daresay you can see how I made my card, but I'll explain it in case you are new to cardmaking.  The kraft cardstock was run through my Cuttlebug using the Happy Birthday embossing folder and I rounded the corners with my corner punch.  I stamped the dog using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink, heat-set it then coloured it with pencils + OMS, added some blue glitter to the present, cut the image out and popped it up on foam pads.  The sentiment panel was diecut using one of the Spellbinder Tags Trio dies and I inked around the edges with Sky blue pigment ink, heat-set it so it wouldn't smear, added the brads then popped this panel up on foam pads as well.  The sentiment actually says 'Celebrate All Day' but I masked off the words to just leave the word 'Celebrate'.  Lastly, I tied the ribbon on the card, slipped it off again and sewed the button to the centre, then slipped the ribbon back on - much easier than trying to sew the button on when the ribbon is already on the card.

Here is a little close-up peek of that cute little dog that I love so much:

This card fits the following Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Week 151:  Clean and Simple

Moving along with the times - Challenge 98:  2 B's - at least 2 items on your project beginning with B, but you can have more.  My 'B' items are brads, blue, button and birthday.  And unfortunately belated as I got my weeks mixed up and I thought my nephew's birthday was THIS coming week, not last week!  Oops....

So that's about it.  Don't forget that you can email if you have any questions - my address is on the LHS of my Blog - just scroll down a little till you find it.

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you again soon.  

Jocelyn

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Penny Black 'For you' 3446E, Sentiment from Hero Arts - HA-CL292 Celebrate All Day clear stamp set

Ink:  Versafine Vintage Sepia, Versafine Onyx Black, Versacolor Sky blue pigment

Accessories:  Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Happy Birthday embossing folder, Spellbinder Tags Trio S3-147, doublesided foam pads, blue brads, gingham ribbon, blue button + sewing thread, blue glitter - Art Institute (from Shabby Chic set), Designer Dries clear adhesive (for glitter), heat-gun, Prismacolor and Derwent Coloursoft pencils, OMS (Odourless Mineral Spirits), paper stumps, Cardstock:  American Crafts Kraft, KW Doggett "Knight" white

Punches:  Stampin' up corner punch