Today has been another one of those days where everything just seems to have taken forever. I suppose I shouldn’t have expected to be completely recovered from COVID just because I no longer need to self-isolate. Still it’s very frustrating not be able to achieve as much as I want to in a day. Today’s project is a pretty birthday card inspired by two different challenge blogs. I definitely wouldn’t have created this card without their input. I hope you like the finished result, despite the lateness of my post.

CHALLENGE #1 – COLOURS
My first challenge came from the Paper Players – PP582. It’s a colour challenge using Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody and Pear Pizzazz. As well as these colours I chose Very Vanilla as my main card colour, and Early Espresso for a contrasting neutral ink.

For my stamped images I couldn’t resist the flowers and leaves of the Sentimental Swirls Stamp Set. This is a two-step stamp set and I chose the four-petal flower and single leaf images, with both the solid and outline stamps.
Lining up the images was easy as I started by stamping three of the flower outline using Early Espresso ink. Then came twelve leaf outlines on a strip of Thick Very Vanilla Card using Pear Pizzazz ink.
Next I used the corresponding solid stamps to add colour to the images, starting with more Pear Pizzazz on the leaves. My Mango Melody flowers were a bit of a happy accident. You see that stamp pad really needs re-inking as there’s a large area in the centre that is obviously lighter than around the edges. This meant that when I inked up the solid stamp there was a variation in the amount of ink picked up. So when I stamped into the flower outline the petals weren’t an even colour. In fact I quite liked the effect!
With everything stamped I punched out all the pieces using the coordinating Flowers & Leaves Punch.
By this point I decided to use that flower image as the coordinating feature for the project. So using Early Espresso ink I stamped the out line in the centre of the flap of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope. Then after cutting a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Very Vanilla Card I stamped the flower in the centre near the top, Finally using Mango Melody ink I coloured the two flowers and set these pieces aside.
That just left the card base to make and for this I chose Thick Very Vanilla Card. Using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored the card, folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with Bone Folder.
CHALLENGE #2
Now it was time to factor in the challenge from Freshly Made Sketches FMS527. It looked simple enough although I did tweak the sketch just a little.

Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I fixed four leaves to the back of each of my three flowers. These would correspond with the three blocks on the sketch. But to be honest they looked a bit lost when I laid them out on the front of the card base. Then I had an idea…

I took a piece of Paper Lattice and using Paper Snips cut out three little ‘window pane’ pieces. Then I fixed one of my assembled flowers to each lattice piece with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Suddenly the blocks made sense. But I still hadn’t used Daffodil Delight, the third colour required the Paper Players Challenge. So I cut a 1/4″ x 5-1/2″ strip of card and glued that to the card front 3/4″ from the right-hand edge.

Now I could add the three floral pieces over the Daffodil Delight strip with Stampin’ Dimensionals supporting the flowers and liquid glue anchoring the lattice.
For my sentiment I went back to the Sentimental Swirls Stamp Set and chose “happy birthday”. Using Early Espresso ink I stamped it onto some Thick Very Vanilla Card. Then I cut around the sentiment before adding it to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Finally using liquid glue I fixed the stamped Very Vanilla layer to the inside of the card base and my project was complete.
I am delighted with how this project turned out and the inspiration provided by the challenge blogs. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… I really should take part in more challenges.
PRODUCT LIST
BUNDLE BONUS – As well as coordinating with the Sentimental Swirls Stamp Set the Flowers & Leaves Punch also coordinates with the Flowers Of Friendship Stamp Set in the Annual Catalogue. Although I didn’t use this other stamp set today it is the one included in a discounted bundle with the punch. You’ll see that I’ve included the a link to the bundle so you can explore this option further if you are interested.
Tracy your bright blooms are so fresh and pretty and use of the lattice was inspired – along with the ribbon, your design comes together perfectly! Hope you continue to recover from Covid – it really can knock you for six! Thanks for playing with my colour challenge over at The Paper Players this week!
Thank you for the lovely colour inspiration Joanne
Beautiful and so clean, love the colors and images are perfect…awesome take on the sketch and the color challenge!
Thank you Kathy
What a pretty card! Love how you used the color combo! And don’t you love it when you can combine challenges?? Thanks for playing at The Paper Players this week!
Thank you Jennie
This is absolutely beautiful! I love the way you used the paper lattice! Brilliant!
Thank you Tammy
Great use of the sketch & the images are perfect.
Thank you Kim
Your design came together so cleverly! The lattice pieces look like wrapped gifts and the yellow stripe fits the modern feel of the card. Thanks so much for playing along with us at FMS.
Thank you Jacquie
I love the color of your blooms and the lattice background! Thank you for playing along with my sketch at Freshly Made Sketches this week!
Thank you Judy it was a fun sketch to play with.
Your window panes behind the flowers are so clever! Gorgeous card! Thanks so much for joining us at Freshly Made Sketches.
Thank you Karren
This was just perfect, Tracy! Loved it the second I saw it! congrats on two picks in two challenges- much deserved:)
Thank you Cindy