Is it a bird, is it a plane... no- it’s a car and a new challenge over at My Partner in Crafting Crime!! :)

Hey everyone!! :)

Firstly, apologies for that shocking post title- I really find thinking them up harder than making the card or writing the rest of the post put together sometimes!!lol Well, as if we needed any other convincing beyond the freezing cold winds to prove that ‘summer’ (such as it was here in the UK, anyway!! :( ) is behind us, then here it is- the kids are back in school, the nights are drawing in... and we over at My Partner in Crafting Crime are back from our summer break with some fab new challenges in store for you!! :) Now that’s a nicer thought, isn’t it!?! :) :) 

To get us all back into things this fortnight, our theme is ‘Planes, Trains and Automobiles’ ...which is fairly self-explanatory really, and we're making it extra easy for you as it's our first week back... just use any mode of transport in your project!! :) A great chance to get one of those pesky Male cards we all struggle with done!!lol We have two fab sponsors this time: Bows and Berries Digital Stamps and Glitterbabe Digis so do pop over to their shops and have a look around!! :)

Okay, on to my card!! ;) The original idea for this one came after I'd been browsing the fabulous inspiration over at Clean & Simple Stamping and came together from elements of various sketches I liked. The card was made for an order from a friend for a birthday card for her b-i-l who had recently lost his mum so she wanted it to be fairly simple, not too bright and also to incorporate his love of cars. She also wanted to avoid typical 'happy b’day' sentiments.

I started by making my own 5"x7" card blank from a sheet of A3 as I knew I wanted to round the two right hand corners and wasn't sure that would look right if the spine was at the top.

I stamped the car image (which is from DoCrafts- either Papermania or Anita's ranges, I'm not sure and it's buried deep in one of my stamp boxes again now! :S ) in black pigment ink, masking the text on the bottom of the stamp with paper while I inked up, and embossed with clear powder. Then I cut and embossed it with a Nestie and, with the die still in place, masked the car and added the sky and road with Distress Inks and Cut’n’Dry.

I used my MS Zig Zag punch- indispensable for male cards!!- and Hougie board to add a bit of interest to the border strips- had the brief not been to keep it so simple I might have added a bit of dark raffia or something similar for a bit of texture.

In keeping with the circular theme, I altered one of the sentiments I created last year in my graphics program and printed in dark blue to match. I’m not quite sure about the way it looks, though... maybe it’s just a tad too big?!

I was a little concerned I had gone too muted with the colours but she was happy with it and I was pleased with the style :) I may have to try a similar layout with brighter colours... I think I'd either make the sentiment smaller or put it somewhere else entirely, though, if I did! :)

'The List'...

White A3 cardstock to make a 5"x7" base
Image: Wood mounted car stamp from DoCrafts
Black Versacolour ink pad, clear embossing powder and heat tool
Circle Nesties
Distress Inks: Stormy Sky and Pumice Stone
Martha Stewart Zig Zag punch
Hougie Board and embossing stylus
Digi Stamp Sentiment created in my graphics program

I’d like to enter this in the following Challenges: Di Digi Designs - Anything Goes :) ; Totally Gorjuss - It's A Man Thing :) ; Fairy Fun Fridays - Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog's Tails :) ; Crafting For All Seasons - Birthdays :) ; Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes :) ; Cards For Men - Anything But A Square :)

Thanks for all your lovely comments on my last post- such a lovely welcome back to Blogland!! :) I’ve managed to visit a few of you in the last week or so and will hopefully be able to continue to catch up with you all a few at a time- just having to try to be a bit careful with the time spent on the computer and just generally trying not to overdo things at the mo’ :S I hope you’re all okay and enjoyed your weekends!! :) Don’t forget to stop by the PCC blog and have a look at the great work from the rest of the team and I hope you'll join in with us!! :)