Thursday, March 13, 2025

Guesting with Seize the Birthday




Hello, friends!  It's a happy day as I'm kicking off a guest spot for the next two months with Seize the Birthday.  I was delighted when Nancy reached out to me, and it's been a treat preparing for it.


 


Our topping this month is "Anything that Flies".  If you prefer not to do the topping, that's okay as long as it's a birthday card.



I went for the topping because my stamp and die collection is full of things that fly.  Many of them have not yet been used, such as the butterflies on today's card.  They're from the Memory Box Fuchsia release, summer 2024.  These are the Canyon Butterflies.  So pretty!




The rest of the card is made up of goodies I shopped from my stash -- some many years old, some maybe only a year or two, but it's all good.  I think of my craft room as a big, wonderful toy box.

This is one of Jill Foster's sketches for Penny Black, somewhat modified to accommodate my focal area.  The already-colored embossed panel was pulled from my spare parts, and I nested some oldie Sizzix tag dies to make the frame.  Flowers and Nuvo drops and Penny Black sentiments fill in the rest.  Color is courtesy of ink blending with brushes.  I think you can even see the glitter in the flower centers.





That's all from me!  You know the team at Seize the Birthday always has fabulous samples to inspire you.  Check them out and then play along with yours!  Have a happy day!



Stamps:  Penny Black Enjoy Builder and Happy Builder  Paper:  Neenah Classic Crest Super Smooth Solar White 80 & 110 lb, scrap olive cardstock  Ink:  Stampin' Up Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Barely Banana, Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, Memento Tuxedo Black  Coloring:  Ink blending with brushes, Copic 35 for flower centers  Other:  Memory Box Canyon Butterflies, Elizabeth Craft Bunch of Flowers 4, Sizzix Fancy Tags, Creative Expressions Fanciful Flowers 3D embossing folder, Nuvo Sugared Almond Crystal Drops, Diamond Stickles glitter

30 comments:

Vicki Dutcher said...

Your coloring on the bflies is so soft & pretty!

Yogi said...

sooo pretty and springie.. love the colors. We got a light dusting of snow, more forecast. Hope not to much. Have a great day

HilaryJane said...

Congratulations on joining the wonderful seize the birthday team for the next 2 month. What a lovely start you have made with theis card. I am so glad to see you use those butterflies, they are gorgeous. I love the pops of green too xx

Linda said...

Leslie, it is so nice having you as our Special Guest for the next two months. Your card is so soft and absolutely beautiful. Love the soft colors of the butterflies with your lovely design.

Glenda said...

What a lovely creation my friend. I love those pretty colors you chose and of course I love me some butterflies! Well done!

Lisa Elton said...

You've picked two very pretty things that fly, Leslie and have used them in the sweetest way! This is a wonderful way to send birthday wishes. A big congrats to you on guesting!

Christine Alexander said...

Congrats on the GD spot, you nailed it with this card. Your background is stunning and the butterflies are so pretty ♥

Barbara said...

So pretty how you split the background panel, very attractive and the butterflies. I don't think you can have enough different styles of them. It is good to be on another team with you again. I love your style.

Marcia Hill said...

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL card Leslie and I recognized the Jill Foster layout right away! The butterfly and background are all so gorgeous and I love your soft colors...makes me think of a Spring or early Summer birthday card! Lovely, lovely card my friend and congrats on your guest spot at Seize the Birthday...I'll look forward to seeing more from you!! Hugs. :0)

I Card Everyone said...

Leslie, you have an abundance of loveliness happening on your birthday card! Your butterflies could not be more beautiful - there's so much to love in this frame they couldn't resist landing there!
Congratulations on being a guest designer for Seize the Birthday!
=]

FranmadeInOregon said...

Hello, Leslie! Congrats on your guest design gig at STB - they're a fun group! Love your card but mostly wanted to say hi to you from across the southern part of the state, here in Medford.

Bonnie said...

Yay on being the Surprise Party Guest at Seize the Birthday, Leslie! Your card is wonderful inspiration. It's like spring on a card! Love that butterfly, the colors and the layout! A Gorgeous card, my friend!

GerJanne said...

Hi Leslie,
your guest dsigner card for STB is winderful. I like the idea of partial embossing and the frame on it. And the soft colors look lovely!

Birgit said...

What a beautiful card to celebrate your guesting on STB. The coloring on the butterflies and flowers is so pretty and soft. What a great design as well. Beautifully done, Leslie!

Ida said...

This is gorgeous! Love those butterflies and all the great details on this card.

Lynette said...

So beautiful, Leslie! Soft and beautiful and wonderful.

JoAnn said...

Beautiful card with those pretty butterflies. Love how you placed them on the frame and the pretty background paper. It definitely had a Spring feel. .

Nancy said...

Lucky us that you said yes to being our guest, Leslie! You certainly started off your time with us with a beauty! Love the overall design of this card and the light touches of color you added to the butterflies too. Have a great week!

Diane said...

What a beautiful design that makes a beautiful card, such pretty soft and pastel colors making me yearn for Spring. Memory Box has such beautiful dies that make me want them all, if only I were rich, HAH! This is absolutely gorgeous!!

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my that is so pretty, I love the embossing around the unique framing and your flowers and butterflies are so pretty with their spring coloring, Lovely card!

JulieP said...

If this doesn't just scream Spring, I don't know what does. This is just the sweetest, prettiest card. I am in love with your divided horizontal design. I don't know if this was your addition to the sketch but I am definitely going to have to try it. Thanks so much for guesting with us Leslie. I can't wait to see what else is in store.

Sue from Oregon said...

This is a pretty one. I struggle so much with pastels, but you always knock them out of the park! Love the butterfly die! 💕Sue Kment

Darnell said...

Congratulations on the honor of being a Guest Designer at STB for two months, Leslie! You lit up the stage with your first from-stash and NBUS beautiful design! I love all the elements and admire your ability to put them together in harmony! Hugs, Darnell

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

Congrats on your guest spot. Your card is so pretty with all the soft colors and the beautiful butterflies. I like how you divided the design from the greeting. Makes me feel like Spring has sprung!

Cathy said...

Beautiful design Leslie and those butterflies are so pretty, love the soft colours, glad to have you guesting with us at STB, Cathy x

Ashwini Rao said...

I so love this card! The half design is something that I should incorporate in one of my cards - looks so great! And I do love the pastel colored butterflies - so pretty!! What a lovely, gorgeous card!! Thank you so much for this wonderful inspiration for Seize the Birthday challenge!
"I think of my craft room as a big, wonderful toy box." - something I'll remember!! :)

My Paper Epiphany said...

This is so exquisite! I love the softness of the colours! So wonderful to have you with us:)

Donna Ellis said...

Congrats on your GDT gig this month. Leslie, the soft colors on your dear card really melted my heart from the get-go. Such a sweet little frame, and pretty sentiment. Your sentiments ALWAYS align perfectly. I want to be in that garden, don't you? With only butterflies and sweet flowers - in the perfect humidity and temps. SO CUTE! hugs, de

Glenda J said...

This is such a beautiful card! I love the colours you chose and your butterflies & flowers are stunning. So great to have you joining us at Seize the Birthday.

shirley-bee said...

This card just sings Spring, Leslie! I love the soft pastel colours, and the split layout is very effective. Great to have you with us for the next two months at STB!