Rainbow birthday

CAS(E) this Sketch's sketch #254 was very pretty and floral:

The sketch provided my inspiration - but I think I ended up a bit off-piste - perhaps my decision to try to avoid the literal interpretation of using flowers was to blame! I think you can still see the remains of the sketch, though: 

I do love the new rainbows Stampin' Up has introduced - am going to play with these lots, I think. (And they just beg to be combined with balloons!)
Made using:
Stampin' Up:
Dies (Stitched Shapes, Rainbow Builder Framelits, Up and Away)
Stamps: Lift Me Up, Balloon Celebrations (for the sentiment)
Paper and card: Kraft, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Botanical Gardens Vellum, (and for the rainbow, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Rose Red (and a random other purple piece)
Derwent Ink Intense Watercolour pencils

Rainbow Flowers

I tired a few different ideas for the lovely sketch from Less is More this week (#334), but in the end settled on keeping it really CAS by using my favourite little punch to make a rainbow of flowers. Here's the card:

Made using: ek tiny petal punch, Stampin' Up card (Whisper White, Wisteria wonder, Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi, So Saffron, Calypso Coral, Rose Red), Francheville rhinestones, Stampin' Up's Thoughtful Banners (sentiment) and some random purple card left over from my daughter's school days.

Rainbow Congratulations

I suggest that it's impossible to make a rainbow card and not feel happy while you do it. In fact, it puts me in mind of the firefly verse:
I'd love to be a firefly
Cos fireflies have more fun:
How can you be grumpy
When the sun shines out your bum?
Here's the card that came from my happy place:

For it, I combined three challenges: The Paper Players PP314:

Can You Case It?'s CYCI#139, with the challenge 'Rainbows of Colour', and Less is More's 'Recipe' Challenge: Thread. Here's a close up of the 'thread' - I used jute thread and a stitched border die on the strips of card that make up the rainbow. I love those Stampin' Up candy dots on the flowers - such a pity they retired them - I'm glad I have a little stockpile, but it's running out fast. 

Made using:

Paper: Stampin' Up's Rose Red, Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi, Wisteria Wonder, Very Vanilla and Pretty Petals DSP. Also a random strip of purple from an unidentifiable source!

Other: Memento Basic Black Ink, American Crafts jute  spools, ek tools mini petal punch, Stampin' Up's Thoughtful Banners stamps and punch, Kaiser Craft's stitched border diea. 

The Card Concept

I thought this photo was beautiful! I was especially inspired by the rainbow colours, but also wanted to try a slightly more abstract take on the idea of the grouped flowerpots. I sponged the dots of colour to soften their look. In my head to begin with, the card was clean and simple, but it didn't really end up that way!

Made Using: 

Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White, Dapper Denim, Daffodil Delight, Sweet Sugarplum, Bermuda Bay, Emerald Envy, TAD watercolour paper

Ink: Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, Emerald Envy, Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, Blackberry Bliss, Pacific Point, Mint Macaron

Stamps: Stampin' Up What I Love, I Think You're Great

Other: Stampin' Up tiny petals punch (retired), Francheville Pearls