Wow! I can’t believe how long it’s been since I created a post!! Time really got away from me. I guess that’s what happens when you accept a contract that keeps you on the move. I went from a busy time frame to super busy time frame and while I was being creative, I just didn’t quite make it here to post what I was doing.

But I’m back and I have a cutie of a card to share with you.

I’ve actually been really creatively busy this past month. There is the The Daily Marker 30 Day Colouring Challenge going on #thedailymarker30day and I’ve been trying to make time for that each day, posting to the challenge both on the Facebook page as well as over on Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Facebook page.

Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps also has a number of challenges going on and I dived right into her Harry Potter-themed mix of fun. Like the four houses in the series, there are four different “characteristic” cards you can make. It’s been great to take the ideas I’ve had percolating in my mind and bring them to life. I’ll try and share them over the next couple of days because there are quite a few.

But first, today is Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps’ sneak peek for the July release and I want to show you what I created. The new set is called “Life is a Joy!” and it is by Kimmie’s artist Cheryl Grant. What a sweet set! It’s full of encouragement and love with two adorable images and a number of sentiments! As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be perfect for creating an anniversary card for my honey. We celebrate this weekend.

I knew that I wanted to use both of the new the stamps on the card so I chose this layout and I cut out the 3-panel card base with my Silhouette Cameo. The banding across the bottom allows it to bend flat. I actually adapted the card design somewhat, and didn’t use all of the graphic elements that came with the card.

I decided that I would use the banding area to create a brick pathway for the bike to follow. That’s where the idea for the wording on the card came from. I embossed the brick design using my BIGKick and a Darice embossing folder called Brick Wall.

I typed the wording and used my Silhouette in the Sketch Pen mode and a black Sketch pen to write it on vellum. While the ink was still wet, I used black embossing powder and heat embossed it to really make it stand out. I added Doodlebug heart embellishment candies as a finishing touch.

The little cutie riding the bike I coloured with my Copic markers:

• Hair: Y21 Y23 Y32 YR21
• Skin: E00 E02 R20
• Dress: B21, B23
• Shoes: B23, B32
• Socks & Bows: R21 R22
• Bike: W1 W3 W5 W7 Y08 Sakura Gellyroll #700
• Basket: E21 E43 E53
• Kitten: E21 E43 R20 Sakura Gellyroll #50
• Flowers: G02 G21 YG17 Y08 RV66

I fussy cut her out and popped her up with foam dots to give her some dimension.

Middle panel view of anniversary card by DistictivelyDiana.com

I knew that I wanted to create a sunset heart for the couple to be looking at. I used Jim Holtz Ranger Distress Watercolour Paper and used Kraftin’ Kimmie Inks. I used a fabulous new colour called Party Peach, which is launching this week. I also used a number of the other KKS inks: Raspberry Rose, Pumpkin Patch, Yummy Yellow, Pink Pizazz, Ruby Red…Oh, I just realized I could have put in the purples! Ah well.. I wet blended them all and then heat dried the heart.

The couple were also coloured with copics:

• Her hair: Y21 Y23 Y32 YR21
• His hair: E25 E44 E77 E79
• Skin: E00 E02
• His socks & shoes: W3 W5
• Her socks & shoes: R21 B24
• Her dress: B21 B23
• His shirt: R27 B69
• Bench E15 E43 E47
• Ducks: Y02 Y08
• Grass: YG03 YG17 G94

I also foam pop-dotted the couple on the card.

I die-cut and created another box to add more traditional anniversary sentiments from a Picket Fence studio set called Ways to Say Happy Anniversary and I added some more candy hearts.

Pssttt, before I forget, also launching this week are new Pastel Dots… 54 dots in six different colours and three different sizes. Krafty Candy!! So much fun!!

View of Inside Back Panel of Anniversary Card by DistinctivelyDiana.com

And that is how you catch six years worth of love and tuck it into a handmade card for your sweetie!!

Thanks for dropping by!