Policewoman's birthday card

I have been asked to make a card for a british policewoman's birthday. Their uniform has these funny black and white checkered stripes that you can see on her hat. It was an interesting challenge in itself and definitely worth my while as this is a theme hard to find in the shops.

For an Indian Summer feeling, I placed her in front of a starry sky and complemented her visibility vest with some of my favourite buttons - a non-shiny sort that varies in colour and seems to emit a wonderful soft glow. The curling ribbon on top of the dotted one adds a lighthearted swirl.

Challenges: Truly scrumptious #16, 2 Red Bananas , One Stop Craft #45, Charisma Cardz #35, Dutch Dare #58, Stamps and Smiles #31, Christmas and birthday cards #44, Everybody Art #56, Caardvarks, Sketch Saturday #67, Abc, Moving along with the times #12

Dragonfly retirement card

It's the first time I have made a retirement card but didn't find it difficult to get into the spirit of the theme - it was quite relaxing actually! I used light purple lace and made a little flower charm from metallic pearls. The ribbon on the right is knitting yarn.

Challenges: Scrapmaster's Paradise Colour Combo #10, ABC, Charisma Cardz # 32, stamps and smiles #28, Rainbow lady's # 72, Jacksonbelle, Lily of the valley #34, Stamping for the weekend #11

Pink, brown and green flower card

On this card are quite a few items I got in the sales: the shiny buttons for example, and a tapestry border in musty pink and green with dangling pompoms. I have taken one of the pompoms apart and used the threads to make the flower. The card base is brown and cream.

Challenges: Dutch dare, Sweet Stop Sketches, My time to craft, Simon says stamp, Jehkotar Card, Double Dutch #24, Jacksonbelle

Computer keyboard card

This is a contemporary birthday card for a male twen who spends a lot of time in front of computers.

Challenges: SSS16, Challenge up your life

Under the sea: Fish stamp birthday card

Summer is the season for going to the seaside! Inspired by the sunny colours in the art work of Lauren Alexander, I used bright colours for the fish and also added some Shimmerz, to let it stand out from the blue background. The shimmery effect doesn't show up very well in the photo unfortunately.

I also stuck on one of those moving eyes with eyelashes - voila, a female fish!

The ribbon is from a reel of rather expensive knitting yarn from a specialist shop. Of course it goes a long way in card making.

Challenges: Sunflowers and Dragonflies, Crafty Creations, Friday Sketchers, Creative Inspirations, Creative card crew, Papertake Weekly , The Sweet Stop , Sunday sketch and stamp, Daring Cardmakers

Overgrown garden card

I like visiting large old gardens, overgrown ruins or disused grave yards (in bright sunshine only!) - they can be very scenic.
If only my own little garden was half as pretty to look at when nature takes over...

For this card, I enhanced the picture with 3D embellishments and some shimmering details.

Challenges: Midnight Madness, Flourishes Newsletter #23 and #25, A Spoonfull of Sugar #62, IC Sketches, High Hopes #41, Creative Inspirations

Impressionist sisters

I have found these slightly odd sisters in my Russian impressionists postcard book... They could be twins if it wasn't for the size difference. I'm not sure if they are pictured on horseback - the crop is there, but where is the horse? - or making their way through an equally invisible crowd.

All things considered, it seemed best to take the focus away from the sisters and concentrate on the harmonic surroundings.

I made two flowers using knitting yarn and tiny gold glass beads.

This punch is one of my favourite crafting tools. Its pattern, centered around a small heart, and the Organza ribbon and bow with blue diamond cut teardrop add a "dusting of sugar" to the card.

Challenges: A Spoon full of Sugar, CPS #124, The Secret Crafter Saturday, ICSketches, My Papertake Weekly