Ice Ice Baby

Matching the warm temperatures outside, I'll show you a summer-inspired card set today for my DT inspiration over at the Alphabet challenge blog. Our theme this fortnight is "die cuts", which should be an easy one if you have die cuts and a cuttlebug in your stash. None of which I have. Meaning, I'd have to either get as close as possible to the challenge theme by using punches, or improvise.

I picked the latter and searched the internet for die cut inspirations I could copy without actually using die cuts. The idea was to find one that would be easy enough to copy/imitate and still give a decent result. In the ends, I found this absolutely adorable popsicle over at Mavelu and gave it a try. 

I copied the outline on a patterned paper featuring a pink/orange arrangement of hippie flowers. The idea was to create a fun popsicle which I'd then place on a white background. I picked an embossed background to make it more interesting, and used a layer of orange cardboard in the background. The motif was then placed onto a kraft card base, and decorated with a couple of shimmering pearls. 

Since I liked the outcome so much, I immediately created another card using green hippie flowers this time.

I also had a look at my paper stash to find more papers that would look great as popsicles, and might start a little ice cream production soon :)

I decided to go against a sentiment in order to make the card suitable for different occasions. I'm not sure where it will end up, but it looks perfect for a child's birthday, a picknick, a pool party, or just a summer-ish "Hello" for a friend. 

challenges: 

- krafty chicks: CAS

- 613 avenue create: ATG
- a place to start: ATG

- allsorts challengeblog: add some sparkle

- as you like it: favourite food (given the warm temperatures outside, I'll go for ice cream on this one. We would only get it for special occasions as children, so it remains to be a treat even now that I can get it myself anytime I want. I like the cold refreshment ice brings during hot summer months, and will explore unfamiliar flavours to discover new favourite combinations. I'll get myself a popsicle from the supermarket when it gets really hot outside and I'm not home, but I have my absolute favourite in form of a little Italian ice cream parlor in my hometown and I will rather go without ice cream than "betray" them by buying it somewhere else. Because nothing is better than handmade, homemade Italian ice cream without any artificial additives. Among all the classics, they'll make sure to offer unique flavours on a daily basis, meaning one day it will be pear or persimmon, next day peach with basil or maybe raspberry with rosemary. I like how every trip becomes a surprise, literally, because you never know what will be on display.)

- basteltraum: summer

- can you handle the pressure: embossing with a twist "flowers"

- classicdesignchallenge: ATG DT 

- crafty calendar: ATG 
- crafty catz: ATG

- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper

- creative moments: ATG with optional twist "summer's here"

- double D challenges: monochromatic

- intaas: 3 of something (3 shimmering pearls)

- little red wagon: friends

- love to craft: ATG 

- morgans artworld: ATG
- moving along with the times: birthday
- path of positivity: celebrate something special about your friends (I'm not a spontaneous person in general and will prefer quality over quantity when it comes to friends, meaning I could maybe come up with a handful of friends if I try hard. On the positive side, I know that these friendships are true no matter what, and the best thing about them is that we can be ourselves, help each other, be serious and lift each other up, as well as have fun and just enjoy the moment.)
- pennys papertake: ATG
- scrapping4fun: ATG

- sparklesmonthlychallenges: floral frenzy

- through the craftroom door: ATG

- wortartwednesday: ATG
- worldwide open design team challenge: ATG