Happy Mail and Seahorse Love

     This first card was scheduled to post this morning but when I came to write a blog for another card, I discovered that Blogger failed to post it at the scheduled time.  So, I added my second card to this post and you now get 2 for 1 !  Isn't that a great Sunday bargain?

     Good morning to all.  I have a fun child's birthday card (the theme at Phindy's) with an image from Phindy's Place, and I want to share with you the story behind the sentiment.  First, the card and the sketch I used from Willow Sketchie.

     When my eldest grandson was a youngster, he referred to his birthday as a "happy mail day" because that's when he got birthday cards from his grandparents, all of whom live in other states.  So, since this is a birthday card for a child, and the image is called "Happy Mail", I decided on the sentiment, "It's a Happy Mail Day."

     The colors came from the Card Chain Challenge at Lily Pad Cards.  Everything is matted with CS or dp from my stash, and I added the flowers then put either pearls or rhinestones in the centers.  I painted them with Creative Inspirations white paint for a little shimmer (challenge theme this week -- for Someone Special.) 

     I wanted to keep it pretty CAS since this card is going in the box of cards for Operation Write Home.  Simpler tends to be better for those cards so that they aren't too bulky for a standard A2 envelope.

     Challenges for this card:
Charisma Cardz -- Pretty in Pink
Crafts 4 Eternity -- CAS
Moving Along with the Times -- Blooming Marvelous - flowers
Paper Crafting Journey -- Floral
Sweet Stamping -- Animals
Try It on Tuesday -- In the Mail

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     Here's the card I added to this post, with an image called "Seahorses" from Stitchy Bear.  The challenge at One Stitch at a Time is to "Use a Digi."  What could be easier than that?   Aren't these seahorses obviously in love?

I chose a sketch from Operation Write Home and this is another card that will go to one of our troops who can use it to write home.

     The colors of light blue and brown came from Sassy Cheryl's, and I used both Copic markers and sparkle gel pen (Robyn's Fetish - Make It Sparkle) to sparkle up the bubbles in the water and the eyes on the seahorses.   Those are great colors for oceans and water, but not so typical of Love/Valentines/Anniversary cards.  Both Paper and Such Design and The Ribbon Carousel have "non-traditional colors" for their themes.

   The starfish ribbon just had to go with this image, especially since it was an appropriate light blue.  I added one, polka-dot ribbon bow for embellishment, and left it at that.  The seahorse image was the focal point and I didn't want to detract from it.

     Challenges for this card;
Anything Goes Challenges -- To the One I Love
Crafty Pad -- Valentine/Anniversary Love
Digistamps 4 Joy -- for the Boys
Dream Valley Challenges -- Animals
Pile It On -- Just Because
That Craft Place -- Oh, I do like to be beside the Seaside!
Whimsical Wednesdays -- Love is in the Air

     OK, that's it for this weekend but I'll have more to share with you throughout the week.  Thanks for your visit and feel free to browse around while you're here.  I love it when you leave me feedback, and always look forward to your comments.  Happy Crafting.  NanaConnie