Birthday card for John

I know I'm not the only cardmaker that finds it difficult to get on and make a card for one of our nearest and dearest. John's birthday is on Wednesday and I didn't really want to leave it till tomorrow to make his card as we are up at Guy's again in the morning.

It's difficult to think of something different, especially when you've been making cards for years. And now, because of poor health, John has so little that he can do that it's hard to think of a 'theme' for his card. But he does still love following sport, particularly rugby (hence the card I showed the other day that I made for mum to give him) and cricket, so I thought I'd base my card around that. When making a card for John I have to bear in mind that detail is lost with him having such poor vision, so I've just used photo toppers and Craft creations papers.

This week challenge 71 on My time to craft is 'Z folds' - I haven't made this style of card for ages, so thought it would be good to use it for John's card. And another one for Little red wagon 8: 'man cards'.

So here I am, one whole day and a bit ahead of myself!! ( ... but I still haven't bought him anything yet ... think he might have to have an I.O.U.)

Snowflake and buttons

This is for a spoon full of sugar 82: ' sketchy time':

I wanted to put three buttons up in the right hand corner, but could only find two of these - I was convinced I had three of them - if I happen to find another one, I'll add it!

ColourQ 11 is 'real red, pretty in pink, certainly celery, glorious green + neutral', so I've used these colours with free papers from a magazine.

Why is it that the colours are OK irl, but not on the photo? Admittedly, it's been taken by flash this evening (might replace tomorrow if daylight is good enough).

Say Thank You with pastels

This card is for sketch 53 on Lord have mercy:

It's also for:

Lexi's creations 4: 'pastel colours'
Jacksonbelle challenge to make a project using any product from the Jacksonbelle store - my product is My mind's eye Bloom & Grow cardstock
Another for Pixie cottage 6: 'button it!'
365 cards day 244: 'you're so transparent' - use at least three different items transparent to a degree - the 'thank you' sentiment, the brad in the centre of the blooms and the buttons
There she goes 35: 'Is it spring break yet?' - make a card that features flowers
Papertake 31: 'thank you'
C.R.A.F.T. 31: 'thank you'
Magical crafts 5: 'thank you'
No time to stamp 119: 'CAS thank you'
Fiskarettes: 'keep it simple'

Hidden Happy Christmas

This card is for Posh designs sketch 4 with a twist: 'color combinations~white and blue (other color with this is ok but it needs to be mainly the two colors listed) and journaling card/tag':


This is also for Little paper shop: 'Ring in the New Year' Color Challenge - Navy Blue, Light Blue and Silver - my silver is on the rims of the brads; also for Creative Belli 81: 'tags' and, as there's a tag on the card I hope it counts for the current Totally Gorjuss challenge, which now allows us to enter cards without using Gorjuss stamps.

And Crafty creations 47 is 'happy holidays' - a fairly open theme this time.

The papers are BG marrakech and the brads are DCWV.

The hidden journaling is on the back of the tag, which can be swung out from beneath the rims of the brads: