Birthday | haiku cards

Agapanthus orange birthday

06 Aug 2016 6 Comments

by Helen in Birthday, Cards, floral Tags: agapanthus

I’ve been using my new favourite agapanthus stamps (Stampendous Agapanthus Thank You) to create a birthday card for a lovely aunt. I would love to have more floral stamps, and am looking for some good ones to add to my Need-to-have list…

I will add this card to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Fabulous florals

Just Add Ink #323; Add F (Flowers!)

That’s crafty Zesty Zing challenge I love these bright zesty colours!

May the bright sun warm
your aching bones, bring echoes
of youth and freedom.

A challenge entry – CAS(E) this Sketch #171

08 May 2016 2 Comments

I’ve never tried a challenge card before, so here goes…

I’m CASEing this sketch

CAS(E) this sketch #171

And here’s my card.

My favourite Caran D’Ache watercolours and a stamp that came free with a magazine ages ago…

Creativity…
sometimes it strikes like lightning…
or flows like treacle!

Image by Helen

Sheep!

17 Apr 2016 Comments Off on Sheep!

by Helen in Birthday, Cards Tags: humorous, sheep

I’m sure someone else has come up with this before me, but it’s not based on any particular card, though I did google sheep drawings.

My doodled/handdrawn text leaves a lot to be desired. Practice may eventually make perfect. I’ve wasted enough time watching YouTube videos on calligraphy and hand-lettering. I have to try…

sheep

I wish I could sleep.
Counting sheep and stars makes me
sadder than ever.

Flaming feathers

10 Mar 2016 Comments Off on Flaming feathers

I love the poem from Emily Dickinson that starts

‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—

Feather stamps – and the cards made from them – have been and are continuing to be popular. As usual, Stampin Up withdrew theirs before I made up my mind to buy it (it takes me some time). But there are lots of other similar sets available. Mine is part of a seaside set from Crafty Individuals: Call of the Sea.

I love these colours. Kaleidacolor Desert Heat ink was used on this.

Flame Feathers

The feather floating
in the wind as you pretend –
but you are falling…

(Skydiver haiku 2)

Image by Helen

Zendoodle horse birthday card

20 Feb 2016 Comments Off on Zendoodle horse birthday card

I’ve really got into doodling recently, and thought I’d try some cards. This is for a horse-riding colleague (seem to have a few of those!). It’s tricky coming up with something new every year!

I really must get better at taking pictures…

Wind ruffling my hair
In a moment I’ll gallop
far from dreary work!

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Image by Helen

Skydiver birthday card

23 Jan 2016 Comments Off on Skydiver birthday card

When people know you like making cards they sometimes try to give you a gift you’ll appreciate and they don’t quite “get it” – do you find that? I am very grateful for the thought, but “toppers” are really not my scene – I prefer to make my own. Nevertheless, I really did like these butterflies – though I’m not sure where they came from as they were a gift. So thank you.

OK, so there’s a skydiver in the family, and something in flight seemed to be appropriate for the latest birthday. Running with the on-trend watercolouring for the background (watercolour pencils here), I also got a bit creative on the computer with the text.

Never let your life
be limited by others.
Fly in your own way!

(Skydiver haiku 1)

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Image by Helen

Dalek Birthday card

08 Nov 2015 Comments Off on Dalek Birthday card

For a geek Dr Who lover (not necessarily the same thing!) on a special birthday. The dalek is a stencil sold by Lakeland last year intended for cakes I think. Tried to make the bling reflect the design of a dalek…

Time goes by and still
I enjoy your good friendship:
sharing fun and likes.

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Image by Helen

Piano birthday card

13 Sep 2015 Comments Off on Piano birthday card

A piano card for a piano-playing relative. Scanned sheet music and all other elements created from scratch.

PianoBirthday2015-09-13 16.00.22

CASEd from FubsyRuth on Splitcoast Stampers – hers was already a CASE! I think a few people have come up with this design, or similar, independently…

My phone rings: it’s you:
your voice like sweet piano
music to my ears

Image by Helen

Steampunk birthday card

08 Aug 2015 Comments Off on Steampunk birthday card

Lots of birthdays coming up in September! This is a birthday card for a relative who loves anything steampunk. The cogs were created using a free downloaded image as a template, inked with ColorBox Cat’s Eye Queue metallic inks. The background is created with Heidi Swapp clocks stamps.