Inspired by Stamping blog hop—Honey Bee and Provençal Grapes birthday cards

This is my Honey Bee birthday card for the first sketch of Inspired by Stamping's July Blog Hop. This sketch works very well for a gate card, which is what this is. The IBS blog hop starts today and runs for two weeks; so you have plenty of time to play along. There are two wonderful sketches to inspire you. Just create a card or scrapbook layout with the sketches shown and upload to Joanna's site for a chance to win a $30 gift card to the IBS store. Even if you don't have any Inspired by Stamping sets yet, you can still play along. But, if you use an IBS set, you could be a featured artist on the IBS Facebook page and pinned to the IBS “Inspiring Designs from Customers” Board on Pinterest!

The focal point stamps are IBS Fancy Circles and Trendy Circles Sentiments. By the way, this set and all IBS sentiment sets are 20% off this month!

Instead of ribbon, I used IBS Washi Tape near the bottom edge. I tied black twine along the left side and hung a bee charm from it. The bee is fussy cut from the paper and layered for a 3D effect.

Inside the card are stamps from IBS Big Wishes and Birthday Greetings (and again, both of these are 20% off right now).

This is my Provençal Grapes birthday card using the second sketch.

I used stamps from IBS French Country, Happy Occasions Sentiments, and Everyday Tabs on the front of the card. This French Country set is such a great set! I love the distressed look of the stamps. The grapes stamp gives the perfect Provençal feel.

The diamond pattern to the left I stamped on kraft paper for a vintage look. The corners are half of the set's square stamp. I rusted a fleur de lys charm and hung it on crinkle ribbon, tied to the side of the card.

Inside is the new Happy Sentiments set.

Material Honey Bee
Stamps—Inspired by Stamping  Big Wishes, Birthday Greetings, Washi Tape, Fancy Circles  Trendy Circles Sentiments

Ink—Versafine black pigment
Paper—Creative Cardmaking Magazine Issue No. 55 and cardstock
Dies—Die-namics
Embellishments—twine and bee charm

Material Provencal Grapes

Stamps—Inspired by Stamping French Country, Happy Occasions Sentiments, Happy Sentiments, Everyday Tabs

Ink—Versafine Burgundy
Paper—Artemio Inspiration Atmosphere, kraft paper, cardstock
Dies—Die-namics
Embellishments—crinkle ribbon, fleur de lys charm