Much Happiness Card with Chinese Lanterns

(We're having heavy snow today. Being snowed in is a great time for papercrafting. But it also gives me a headache making it hard to think what to write. It's amazing that brain fog can allow creativity, but not words. I believe it has to do with my headache being on the left side, language side of the brain.)

Here is an Asian card using a sketch from Mark's Finest Paper SpeedyTV Oriental Sketch Challenge, paper lanterns from Graphic 45 "Bird Song" paper, and a long-retired CTMH stamp called "Kanji Phrases." The glitter gems are also from CTMH. I loved using the Marvelous Squares and Splendid Circles Spellbinders dies. The background designer paper is from an old DCWV paper pad, "Far East."

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed as you craft and share your blessings with others!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Cards Galore Encore #2 - add gems/bling
Crafting from the Heart #6 - Anything goes/Use Red
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper challenge - anything goes with patterned paper
Crafts 4 Eternity #161 - Oriental Theme
Cuttlebug Mania - A Touch of Red
MFP SpeedyTV Oriental Sketch Challenge #22 - sketch
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Penny Black and More February Challenge - Make It Sparkle
Polkadoodles wk. 5 - Anything Goes/Oriental

Bird Song Love and Honor Valentine Card

Chinese New Year is later this week. This is another chance for me to make an Asian card using Graphic 45's Bird Song collection. I think the papers are beautiful and easy to use. The two birds in the picture I chose remind me of LOVE BIRDS, so I stamped the words "Love" and "Honor" to go with the illustration. I designed this card to be a masculine valentine (no pink, lace or hearts).

I used the design I found at Mark's Finest Papers Oriental Sketch Challenge #21:

I used a 3" circle punch to cut the bird picture. I have a few Asian stamps that I've collected since my son and his wife like to decorate with all things Chinese. I stamped the two squares with words from the Technique Tuesday Far East stamp set. I tied black crochet thread around the striped panel. The black doily is glittery, so I matted the two words on black and then gold metallic cardstock. You might be able to see the black glitter and gold shine in this photo:

You can find many Chinese card sentiments with a google search. Here is the Valentine sentiment I chose from a set that included the English translation. This is from Chinese Phrases for Greeting Cards by Hongyang in this pdf file.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Hiding in My Craft Room #134 - For a loved one
Oriental Sketch Challenge #21 (mfpspeedytv) - Sketch used
Pile It On #4 - Animals
Ruby's Rainbow #71- use a Doily (black Wilton doily)
Sentimental Sundays #191 - Lovey Dovey
Simply Create Too #53 - Valentines or hearts
Stamplorations January Challenge - Feathers (bird pictures) and stamping (Chinese & English words)
Word Art Wednesday #116 - anything goes with uplifting verse

Bird Song Birthday Card

I spent Martin Luther King Day with my three oldest grandsons. We had a great adventure visiting our planetarium and the Imax theater in our old Union Station. We had a lot of time to talk about the history of Civil Rights in our country and Martin Luther King Jr.'s contribution. It also made me realize I needed to make more multi-cultural cards which I hope to start this week.

I saw Time 4 Scrap that it's time for the Chinese New Year. That inspired me to make some Asian cards. My son, his wife, and I have always had a fascination with all things Asian, so when Our Daily Bread Designs had an inspiration photo of cherry blossoms in a blue jar, I knew that my Graphic 45 Bird Song paper would be perfect for this challenge. My grandchildren go to school with many Asian children. I hope this card will be enjoyed by one of their mothers.

The left side is CTMH Crystal Blue cs embossed with bamboo. The black sparkle flourish is also from CTMH.

Here is the inspiration from Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #187. I used the colors and flowers on the right as my inspiration.

The sketch from Everybody Art Challenge #262 gave me more inspiration:

I used three stamp sets from Our Daily Bread Designs. The pink flowers were fussy cut from an image from "Grow in Grace" and matted on black. The outside "Blessings" banner is from "Sweet William-Small." The inside sentiment is from "Birthday Blessings."

Thank you for visiting. May God strengthen you with wisdom and bless your days in this new year!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks #178 - Bling (black sparkle flourishes and gold flower centers)
Crafting By Designs - Girly Girl
Crafting for All Seasons #69 - Girly
Crafty Sentiments - Birthdays
Deep Ocean #69 - Birthday
Everybody Art Challenge #262 - sketch
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #187 - photo inspiration
Time 4 Scrap #32 - Chinese New Year
Word Art Wednesday #116 - anything goes with uplifting verse