Pastels for Baby

Hello again. I have a baby card to share using a previously bought but unused die set from A Pocket Full of Happiness:

I chose to follow the colour scheme from Sparkles Forum, which is to use pastel colours, and to include a rabbit. This die set comes with dies to create a rabbit, tiger, monkey, and a horse, and includes the square stitched die in the packet, as well as the letters.

I chose card stock from Concord & 9th, and some random scrap pieces, cutting out the rabbit in four different pastel colours, the die cut them all again in a darker pink for the ears, mouth and nose, as well as black for the eyes and eye brows.

I applied some double sided sticky tape to the rear of the rabbit die cuts, then inlaid the respective pink and black pieces.

The letters for the word ‘baby’ were die cut in each of the four pastel colours, then layered with a couple of white die cuts for dimension.

The background panel was created using a Pinkfresh Studio cover plate called ‘Stitched Octagons‘, which was adhered to a white card base.

The squares were attached with 3D foam, as was each of the rabbits, then the stacked letters glued down.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Sparkles Forum – pastel colours and rabbits

Die Cut Divas – die cuts and celebrations

Dragonfly Dreams – use die cuts

Take Time For Yourself

Hello everyone. I have a card to share after some crafty playtime yesterday, and utilising some of the colours which sang to me in the current challenge at AAA Colourful:

The colours I chose are green and blue, with a hint of light pink/coral.

The first step was to stamp the floral images from Pinkfresh Studio ‘Beautiful Day‘. I stamped first in a light brown ink, used the matching layering stencils to colour it in – adding extra shading at the base of the florals, and some of the leaves – re-stamped in black (having left the stamp in the original place in my Misti) then used the matching die set to cut them out.

I find it I stamp in a lighter shade, then re-stamp in the bolder or black ink after ink blending, there is a more bold outline – and no chance of smudging the black ink if used before ink blending. A tip from Pinkfresh Studio virtual classes which works for me.

The next step was to plan my background layers.

The background panel was dry embossed using a Spellbinders embossing folder – choosing something with detail – nit too much – but which wouldn’t detract from the florals.

I also wanted a background frame, so I used Pinkfresh Studio ‘Nested Hexagons: double stitched‘ applied thin 3D foam to back of the frame – inserting the middle cut-out piece – then placing the frame on top. This was placed higher on the embossed panel, to make room for a sentiment below.

Next step was to arrange the florals. I did do some trimming of the images so I could have more flexibility with placing them, then attached with a mixture of 3D foam and glue.

The pre-packaged sentiment was attached, then some Pinkfresh Studio blue gems added.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CYHTP – embossing folder with option of flowers taken

Ellibelle’s Corner Garden Party – anything in or from the garden

Addicted To Stamps & More – make your mark

AAA Colourful – colour inspiration

Love To Craft – anything goes

You Are Plane Awesome

Hello once again. The Alphabet Challenge has started another round of the Alphabet. Billie A has chosen the theme:

A is for in the Air

Here is my card:

I made this card as our God Son has been accepted into the WWE world in the USA, and is going to their training camp in Florida. What an achievement for him. We wish him all the best in the world.

I started by creating the plane from a Spellbinders die set – Fly Away – then hunted for a flowing banner, which I found in a Heffy Doodle set ‘Flying High‘. The sentiment was stamped then die cut with the banner die.

I wanted lots of details and some dimension for the scene, so I also used the Spellbinders die set called ‘Tunnel Clouds‘, and three different shades of blue card stock, playing with the placement and ararngement a little to create a large enough area for the plane and banner to sit in.

When I first put the layers together, they looked a little ‘plane’ (forgive my pun……) so I then a Spellbinders embossing folder on all three layers called ‘Cloud Nine‘, lining up each of the three layers so the pattern ran across seamlessly, then took my white pigment ink pad and gently ran it across the top to highlight the raised areas.

The final step was to add some sequins, because I saw no reason not to really…….added bling for an up-and-coming international wrestler……!

I hope you can come and join us with your creations following our theme. There are lots of options to be able to create, as you can see from the DT inspiration. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Tic Tac Toe – middle column – die cuts/emboss/layers

Cut It Up – die cuts and something with wings

Happy Birthday, Honey

Hello everyone. Cardz 4 Galz has started a new challenge. Dawn is hosting, and she has chosen the theme os:

Bees

Here is my card:

I used Simon says Stamps products which were part of a previous online class from 2025.

My first step was to stamp all the images in the set onto water-colour card stock in black ink, then add clear embossing powder. I then water-coloured all the images with my Zigs. When they were dry, I used the matching dies to cut them out.

The background panel is plain yellow card stock, but onto that I added pieces of the honey comb – die cut from a Simon Says Stamp die set called ‘Honeycomb Tag‘ and snipped in places, arranged haphazardly, for added interest, also adding some of the ‘fall out’ pieces. I do like to add die cuts onto the background instead of embossing sometimes for a different and quirky look.

The central hexagon is from this die set too, and die cut from a previously created ink smooshing panel, onto which I then added extra detail by stenciling through a honeycomb patterned stencil – also from Simon Says Stamp.

I hope you can come and join us with your creations following our theme. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments – watercolour and/or Spring and a sentiment – water colour chosen

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Allsorts – anything but square

Hello…..

Hi everyone. I have a card to share following the recipe at As You See It. There are 5 things you have to include – one word sentiment, shades of pink, die cut, flowers, and frame. Here is my card:

I pulled out lots of my card stock in varying shades of pink. These were from Spellbinders, Concord & 9th, and Heffy Doodle. I then searched the CML app for flower die sets – there are a lot in there – and used the one from Spellbinders called ‘Petal Fresh‘, and also pulled out the Spellbinders 2024 Advent Calendar for some stems for the flowers, and for the sentiment banner.

For the frame, I used the ‘Filigree Frame‘ from The Greetery .

Now to all the die cutting – lots of it again. I cut all the layers for all of the flowers in varying shades of pink – playing with which colours for which layers, and glued them together.

The frame was die cut, then a white die cut layer behind for a little more stability.

The background panel is a textured cream card stock, as I thought this would be gentler on the eye, and also be better for all the pink that was going to be happening on this card.

Frame and cream panel glued to the card, florals arranged and attached with 3D foam and glue, then the banner attached with 3d Foam – that way it could also hold down the bottom of all of the stems.

I was in two minds whether to hide the bottom of the stems behind the banner, but left them uneven and below – more natural to me.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

As You See It – recipe – one word sentiment, die cut, frame, shades of pink, flowers

Craft Rocket – layer it up

A Cut Above – die cuts, option of pastels

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Someone Is Thinking Of You

Hello. A little crafty playtime – and lots of die cutting – to create this card:

For some reason, I was obviously in a purple and pink mood today, using Concord & 9th card stock – Grape Soda & Briar Rose. It may be because Grape Soda is one of the colours they are retiring and it was on my mind.

I die cut the [post box and all it’s layers, assembling together, then die cutting the floral elements and two white envelopes, choosing to keep to the two colours instead of adding any extra.

I used a Spellbinders stencil set to create the ‘air mail’ look around the outside of a white panel, and the matching inks to the card stock.

Once this panel was placed onto the ‘air mail’ panel, I thought it looked a little plain, so I used an old (very old) Darice embossing folder of small flowers to emboss it.

The sentiment was stamped then die cut with the matching die, layered with a couple more of the die cuts for dimension.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Tic Tac Toe – middle column – die cut/punch & emboss wet or dry & layers

Just Us Girls – stencil week

A Cut Above – die cuts, option of pastels not taken

Happy Birthday

I have a card to share created for a good friend who is celebrating her 60th birthday tomorrow:

Following the theme from AAA Birthday to use Washi tape, I gathered my Pinkfresh Studio product suites which included Washi tape, and used ‘Fluttering Butterfly‘ to create the leafy sections and the butterfly itself. The Washi was adhered to white card, then the matching die to cut them out.

To add interest to the background, I die cut the ‘Floral Lace’ die twice and layered it together, glui9ng to the card base.

The leaves and butterfly were adhere, then some gold gems for extra interest, and to match the gold within the Washi tape itself.

The sentiment banner is from a Simon Hurley/Spellbinders die set, cut out of gold, with a white backing, and adhered with 3D foam.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Die Cut Divas – die cuts and birthday/anniversary

AAA Birthday – birthday and Washi tape

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Cocoa Kisses

I created a card inspired by the challenge at 52 CCT, where the current theme is Christmas and Mug:

I started by die cutting and assembling the Spellbinders Santa mug from the die set called ‘Cocoa Greetings’. You do have the option of creating a penguin and deer also – but I was feeling that Santa vibe.

Once assembled, I took a piece of a light teal blue card stock and used a Spellbinders embossing folder to create a snowflake background, stamped the sentiment – also from Spellbinders, and die cut that with it’s matching die.

I added some small black gems for the buttons on his tunic.

A fairly straight-forward card which came together quite quickly, once I had decided on the colours.

I shall be entering into the following challenges:

52 CCT – Christmas and Mug

Peace On Earth – Christmas with optional mood board

Thinking Of You Today

Hello again. I have a card to share whilst trying to keep my mind busy after saying goodbye to one of my cats yesterday.

My starting point was the list at Festive Friday and searched my CML app for ‘envelope’. This Spellbinders hot foil plate came up, and with it were layering stencils, so out came my foil machine, and off I went.

I used a brass foil and Hammermill card stock. Now – I am not a fan of this card stock. I have not had great results when foiling or ink blending, but thought I would give it another go……..in future, I will stick with my Neenah for ink blending.

It did foil perfectly. I just don’t like how the card ‘grabs’ the brush, the ink doesn’t flow smoothly enough for me. I will use it for foiling or for stamping – but not for ink blending….

Anyhoo – onwards……I ink blended Pinkfresh Studio inks in the colours you see using all the layering stencils. I added a slightly darker blend to the areas of the envelopes I felt would be a little,in shadow under another envelope.

The panel was then cut down slightly to leave a white border showing on the card base.

The sentiment is from Pinkfresh and one of their recent virtual events, heat embossed in brass, then die cut with the matching die.

I created a die cut vellum label to go behind the sentiment, also from Pinkfresh Studio.

I can see that I shall be crafting over the next few days – in between cuddles with my other cats – that’s if they let me. They aren’t particularly a cuddly bunch. The weather in the UK seems to be a little brighter this next few days so I much venture out on my push bike…….

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Festive Friday – 3 items from the list – envelopes/vellum/thinking of you sentiment

Addicted to Stamps & More – die cuts and/or stencils – I used both

Stencil Fun – stencils, option of rainbow colours

Happy, Happy Birthday

Hello again. I have a birthday card to share using some new products from Spellbinders:

There are a couple of challenges calling for Spring themed cards, so I used the new dies from Spellbinders which included these bluebells and pansies, and some bright card stock off-cuts I have handy.

I first cut and layered the pansies, then the bluebells, adding the stalks. The bluebell stalks hold one flower, but I layered three together to create several which dangle from the same stem.

The background panel was created using an older SIzzix 3D embossing folder and trimmed down slightly.

The bottom light brown/Kraft section was cut, and then the border added so it looked like a window box.

The flowers were arranged, then stems tucked beneath the brown section, with 3D foam behind each flower head.