Krafty Chicks challenge #714 - Stamps

Good morning lovely friends; I hope you're having a brilliant week so far.  Well the weather here has turned decidedly chilly and wet again, so I'm still dreaming of spring; you would think by May 2nd we would be having spring weather by now wouldn't you?  Anyway enough of my waffling let's get on to the card making lol!

It's the start of a brand new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week is Week 1 so we want to see your stamps/digis.  

It was my Father-in-law's birthday yesterday so I used the opportunity to make a card for my sons to give to their grandfather.  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A close up of the cute image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

It's strange for me to make a 6"x6" card these days, even though that's the only size I used to make years ago.  It's funny how our preferences change isn't it.  I started by making my own card base from a white 12"x12" piece of card (cut to 6"x12" and scored in the middle); I also made my own envelope using the envelope punch board.  I stamped the image onto white alcohol marker friendly card with black ink and coloured it with Promarkers.  I made a mask for the bear and once in place used a cloud stencil and grass stencil to create my background.  I also stamped 2 small butterflies, coloured them with Promarkers and added some white gel pen dots for extra detail.  I then stamped the sentiment onto the sign with black ink (the happy birthday was part of the same set as the bear but the grandad was from a different company).  I matted the image panel onto some light blue card with double sided tape.  I rediscovered a lovely paper pad which had some great generic patterns which suited a man and chose this 'hessian' looking pattern for behind my image panel.  I again adhered it to a light blue mat with double sided tape and also added it to my card base with double sided tape.  I added the image panel onto the patterned paper panel with foam tape.  I finished the front with a few gold pearls.  For the inside I chose to decorate it quite simply this time.  I cut a white panel and stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink.  I matted it onto the same light blue card with double sided tape and took a piece of the patterned paper and added it to the bottom of the panel with double sided tape.  This was adhered to the card base with double sided tape.  A fairly simple card overall but I think perfect for my boys to give to their grandfather.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Allsorts challenge - use a stencil (I used two)

As You Like It challenge - soft or bold colours (I tend to use bolder colours as I struggle with pastels)

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Incy Wincy Designs challenge - spring and/or animals

PINspirational challenge - designer/patterned paper

Sweet Stampin' challenge - animals

The Cutie Pie challenge - simply cuties

Tic Tac Toe challenge - butterflies/free/patterned paper (I appreciate my butterflies are dinky so delete if not appropriate)

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'Stamps' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky.  Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori and also our guest designer Rachelle, who is joining us again this month. 

Enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping by. 

Love and hugs, 

Card ingredients:

LOTV Stamps - James thinking of you A5 stamp set

Gina K Designs - autumn splendor 6x6 paper pad

Gina K Designs - ink pads - sea glass & jelly bean green

Gina K Designs - pearl mix - black, gold & silver 

MFT - mini cloud edges stencil & grassy edges stencil

Clearly Besotted Stamps - simply said stamp set (for inside greeting)

Clearly Besotted Stamps - friends and family stamp set (for grandad) (retired)

Craft UK Limited - 12 x 12 250gsm smooth white card

blue card from stash