Hello 2019!

It's great to come back to making cards after a break, where guests needed to sleep in the craft room. My first 2019 cards were inspired by CAS(E) this Sketch's challenge #303. I'm just loving the Needlepoint Nook Suite and so turned to it with glee. I particularly like playing with the loved stitched patterned die. My first card pretty much stuck to the sketch, but I thought I'd also post the more off-piste 2nd version as well (same basic principal, but the central shapes much bigger).
The first card:

and the second:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up! stamps (Needle and Thread), dies (Needlepoint Elements, Stitched Shapes, Layering Circles), DSP (Needlepoint Nook), vellum, card (Whisper White, Old Olive, Poppy Parade, Blushing Bride), ink (Balmy Blue, Old Olive, Poppy Parade, Basic Black) embossing powder (white), pearls, glitter enamel dots.

Botanicals revisited

I was lucky, with this card, to find a sketch and colours I thought combined well: CAS Colours and Sketches #255 (Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky) and Fab Friday's #129:

 I used some old favourites to make the card: I like me, they're kind of semi-retired!
The card:

Made using Stampin' Up:

Dies: Botanical Builder, Flourish

Stamp: Vertical Greetings (sentiment)

Paper: Whisper White, Perfect Plum, Wisteria Wonder, Soft Sky

Embossing Folder: I think it was called Christmas?

Other: American Crafts POW glitter paper (white) and Rosie dots: enamel and glitter enamel 

HAPPY Birthday

A quick post with a cheerful little card, made in response to two challenges: CASology's 'Cake' cue word and Fab Friday's #121 sketch.
I liked the idea of cake-fireworks - I'll give it to someone who really loves to celebrate their birthday!

Made using:

Stampin' Up Ink (Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight), Paper (Whisper White), Stamps (Endless Birthday Wishes, In the City, and Watercolour Pencils.