Something Special - A Retirement Card

Evening everybody, are you all ready for Christmas?  I've still got a bit of shopping to do, trying to crack on with the wrapping for now!!  I've a few more cards I want to make before Christmas.  Once they're done I intend to pack away most of my craft stuff to the loft outta the way til after all the festivities.  I don't have my own craft room so this plan should hopefully ensure the dining room remains tidy!

This card I have done for my mum's best friend who turns 60 at the end of December and retires on the 4th January.   I am entering it into the following challenges;

Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge - Special

Allsorts Challenge - Pearls and Swirls

Stampin' for the Weekend - Blue and Brown

Daring Cardmakers - Going Dotty

Totally Gorjuss - Free and Easy

Quixotic Challenge - Lace

The layout design is my own.  I decided against any sentiment on the front as I think that may detract from all the elements - I think my craft stuff  kinda exploded on it a bit LOL!  The insert inside reads

"Congratulations on your Retirement,

time now to spread your wings and let the fairy

within you fly"

The flourish is gorgeous but quite big and I cut it to use in the two area here.  The flourish was also quite expensive but I LOVE the effect so think am gonna get creative with a pencil and create my own in the New Year.

I have also gone round the edges of the cardstock and papers with my uni silver paint pen to give a slightly gilted look to the edges.

RECIPE

Image - Mo's Digital Pencil

Colouring Medium - copics, water colour pencils

Blue Cardstock - Stash

Papers - My Minds Eye and HOTP

Border Punch - Martha Stewart

Leaf Punch - Leone Em

Flowers - Prima

Pearly Flourish - Prima

Lace - local haberdashery

Card Candy

Glamour Dust

My mum's friend has been ill lately so I hope this cheers her up and that she can soon wave goodbye to the pressures of work, really enjoy her retirement and let her hair down.

Thankyou for stopping by my little haven in cyber space.  I hope you like what you see!  Take care and happy crafting. 

Mel X

Magical Crafts Fortnightly Challenge #1

Morning everyone, the sun is shining brightly here this morning, I've a busy day today as Emily's at gymnastics class late morning and Ethan has a football party to go to this afternoon. They have a better social life than me LOL!!

My SIL Jo is a DT member on a new challenge blog and I wanted to show my support by joining in their first challenge! However, all the ladies are sooo lovely, I'm supporting the lot of 'em! It's such a fab first challenge, there's a good chance I'll be back for more!! They don't know what they've let themselves in for LOL!! So, down to business! For their first challenge they would like to see a Christmas Ornament/Decoration and/or a matching card, however, you must include red, green and gold.

I love using stamps and I've a couple that my hubby loves, so out came this Paintbox Poppet, isn't she cute!! The real thinking part was how to incorporate this into an ornament! I started thinking - Tree Decoration!!! I bought some blank cork coaster mats and some decorative cord from Hobbycraft and started playing!! Two mats were glued back to back and trimmed to shape! The image was stamped three times and two were cut to shape and placed on each side of the mats. The images were coloured in watercolour pencils and her scarf was glittered with glamour dust. Red ribbon was glued to the edge between the two pics. Out came some more ribbons and bows and two clear display bubbles I knew I had stashed up in the loft!! (My original thought was to use the base of a juice bottle but couldn't find any suitable). Anyway, with mojo in full flow, this is my creation.


Here's a close up of the card

Here's a close up of one side of the decoration

Side View


and, in case I get fed up with the A side, I did a B side as well!!


and here's a photo of the B side with the matching card

I'm really chuffed with the result and am contemplating doing more - maybe I'll be faster second time round LOL! This year is my step brother's son's first Christmas so I'm thinking it would be nice to do him a commemorative decoration! I know just the stamp I'll use next and might put some flower soft or something inside the bubble!!!

Thanks for dropping by here in cyberspace, please feel free to leave a comment, I do enjoy reading them. Enjoy your, whatever you're doing.

Happy crafting everyone!

Mel X