Ismaki Challenge Card- Happy Birthday Mum!

I'm feeling strange and confused, as I show my next Ismaki challenge card, as I almost don't recognise it as mine! Using a sketch is very exciting, as it does make you think in a very different way to how you normally do. To me, this seems quite cluttered, as I have lots of different elements on the card, but actually, now I see the photo, I see how there is a balance to the design. Here is the sketch this card is based on- see what you think!
Inks: Brilliance Pearlescent Lavender, Purple and Crimson (also used to watercolour)
Stamps: Paperartsy, Personal Impressions, Tanda and MSE
Paper: English Paper Company
Other: Zoomz from Stamp Galaxy and ribbon from my stash
My husband is away for part of this week, so I am really hoping that I will get a lot of stamping done after Dan is in bed. I am really inspired by my new Paperartsy stamps so have some plans for those. All I need to do now is persuade my lovely cat to get off my lap...wish me luck!

Do not adjust your set...

I have made a cute card! I know this is not my usual thing, but a soon-to-be five year old girl would not really appreciate alcohol inks and image transfers (yet!). It's a waterfall card, and for anyone who hasn't come across one of these before, Splitcoast Stampers has the best instructions that I have found.
The base card is a plain white DL size card, stamped with Aud Design flowers and Brilliance Pearlescent Orchid ink. The squares are also white card, covered with paper from Karen Foster Design, with fun foam die-cut letters (cut in my Sizzix Sidekick, it works fine!) The band across the front is fun foam, held on with brads, and the strap which is the mechanism is covered with Karen Foster paper, and stamped with my MSE clear alphabet. I haven't taken a half-open photo, but as you pull the fun foam flower, the letters flip to spell 'Tyler'.
I took a photo of the inside of the card too. With all of my cards, I like to add a computer generated insert, and recently I have started stamping inside as well. I think it adds a nice finishing touch. And I do the envelope, does it sound like I just can't stop! This card is in the post now, so I did stop...eventually!

A Big First.

This Father's Day was particularly special for my Husband, as it was his first! Sadly, we didn't plan anything much as he had to pack for a trip away with work, and had to leave in the afternoon, but he got coffee in bed, and a lot of play time with Dan! I have actually got something planned for him, but my lips are sealed as he may still get around to reading this in the next couple of weeks while he is busy.
I saw the sentiment on this card as a stamp for Mother's Day, but knew then that I had to use it for Father's Day, as 'Danny and Daddy' time is all about smiles and laughter (Mummy time is all about eating and sleeping, boring!). I had planned to use more colour, but in the end I chose black and white because I thought it would be more punchy.
The capital letters are Papermania foam stamps, the curly letters are an MSE clear alphabet, and the small letters are my trusty PSX alphabet. I used Versamark to stamp the background with the Cherry Pie Klimt swirls, then used white embossing powder for the words. The photo was re-sized, adjusted to black and white and the words added in Paint Shop Pro, then the brad and the ribbon added. I stopped there, as Paul rightly says I add too much 'stuff' to my work, and don't know when to stop! At least he is honest enough to tell the truth!