Australian Inspired birthday card!

So I have been exposed to Covid-19 a lot lately and I finally tested positive for it. So while I rest I hope to get caught up on a few things and one of them being my blog. As you can tell it has been neglected for awhile now with barely any post. I have created but just didn’t have time to create and blog. So I’m hoping in these 10 days off the Lord will allow me to be well enough to do a few things on the to-do list.

So one of my nephews had a birthday in September and I just couldn't create the right card for him. And then weeks turned into months and the poor boy never got a card or his present. Which I was just going to give him money because time was getting away from me. But I really didn't want to do that because even though I was late I wanted to make sure he knew he was special and loved. His mom had told me he is into Australia right now and he loves to learn about new things. Well, I went to Beccy's Place Blog and saw a brand new stamp released this month and it was perfect!! It is called Limited Edition and it is a platypus!! The creative juices flowed and I even got out the Distress Oxide inks my friend Karen taught me how to use last year. I made the background (Salvaged patina and peacock feathers) by starting with lighter and going darker. Then I spritzed it with water. Then I used Blueprint sketch Distress Oxide ink on paper and cut the 10 out of it. I printed the bubbles from the digital stamp directly on my background piece. I love how it turned out!! I went with a 7 1/4 x 3 3/4 card as it was the perfect size for the platypus swimming to the number 10!! (It uses a 7 1/2 x 4 envelope that I had to special order). 

This card also inspired me to find books to go with it. So I find a cool book that comes in a series called Platypus Police Squad and I got him the first book - The Frog who Croaked. Which is double awesome because it is about a platypus and a cop (his dad is a police officer!) I also got him a book on the animals in Australia (A is for Australian Animals) and a book on Australia (A is for Australia)

I hope to turn this design into some Hello Cards instead of the 10 being on there. We will see what happens and I'll post if I get them made!!

CHALLENGES:
1) Beccy's Challenges - January - Create a card or paper-craft project using any Beccy's Place image, upload a photo of it to your blog or other hosted site, and submit a direct link. The challenge runs from now until midnight on the 31st of January 2022 (AEST).

SUPPLIES:
Digital Image: Limited Edition @ Beccy's Place
Distress Oxide Inks: Ranger Tim Holtz (Salvaged patina, Peacock feathers, Blueprint sketch)
Cardstock: Bazzill (Mediterranean, Pinecone)
Water paper for inking: Neenah paper
Accents/Tools: pop dots, Epson inkjet printer

Learning about Australia at For Fun Challenges

Helen at For Fun Challenges pulled out a challenge for me this week! She challenged us to make anything that was inspired by Australia. Well, I want to go there so learning about is as close as I will get right now! I didn’t want to do the Kangaroo or Kola because I like to be different and I didn’t have any stamps that would work. So I started looking up facts about Australia. I learned the following:

Australia’s national floral emblem is the golden wattle (Acacia pycnantha Benth.). On August 19th, 1988 the Governor-General, the Rt Hon Sir Ninian M Stephen AK GCMG GCVO KBE, proclaimed the golden wattle as Australia’s national floral emblem. National Wattle Day is the first day of September.

I also thought about doing something with a crocodile on it but I will save that for another day! I also saw that the Australia Open is going on this week.  I decide to look for images of the Golden Wattle. I found one digital image that was free at JJDezignz.  I thought it would be perfect for a masculine sympathy card since it wasn’t a girly looking flower. What do you think….does it work for masculine or should I stick giving it to females since it has a flower on it?

I hope you take the challenge and push yourself to create a card inspired by Australia! I love how my card turned out….thanks for the push Helen.

CHALLENGES:

1) For Fun Challenge – inspired by Australia

SUPPLIES:

Stamp: Golden Wattle @ jjdezignz

Cardstock: Bazzill

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Accents/Tools: Martha Stewart border punch, brad, ribbon, pop dots, scor-tape