Month: December 2017

Masculine?

20171231_120701Hi there. I’ve managed to sneak some card making into today – whilst hubby out golfing! I concentrated on stamping instead of die-cutting, using a couple of Stamps By Me sets, and Altenew inks.

This is a one layer card, and meant to be more masculine. I stamped the ‘Watercolour Flower’ in Versafine black onyx, and heat embossed in clear. I then used the smaller ‘blotch’ in the stamp set to cover the individual flowers, and even the same blotch to cover the leaves. I was going for a rough and rugged look, not necessarily water-coloured, but definitely outside the lines.

I then stamped the larger blotch, once in brown and then again – on the top – in the green. I did this basically as the first stamp didn’t really cover well – a large solid stamp, so I went back in the with same green I had used on the flowers. I like how the big blotch turned out, actually, and I think it brings the card together.

The sentiment is from Stamps By Me – a big and bold sentiment – required for such a large card.

The inks were from Altenew, using a combination from their green and their brown colours, working and toning well, and not being careful about the placement of the blotches on the flowers. I used a couple of the brown colours, but only one green colour.

The hardest part? Placement. Does anyone else agree that is difficult? When you are filling a card, it is a little easier, but when I’m trying to leave a lot of space – well – those stamps are placed everywhere before I make a decision. Sometimes I don’t make a decision, and make several cards with the same kinda layout, different sized cards, even different colours – as I did yesterday.

I hope you all have a fabulous evening, and I hope to see and hear from you next year! 🙂

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Altenew December challenge – using challenge from August 2017 as inspiration

Stamplorations – December CAS challenge

Watercooler challenges – anything goes masculine

 

 

Uniko Rose

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Hello everyone. I hope you have had a good few days celebrating, and taking some time for yourself. This is the first time I’ve had time to craft since before Christmas. A busy time for us all, I know.

This card is for the current CASology challenge, and Simon Says Stamp challenge. A simple layout – but it did take me a while to settle on the size and shape of the card, and where to stamp each element.

Here are some of the other examples I made:

This stamp set is one bought from when I attended the Uniko craft retreat earlier in December. The stamp set is quite large, and comes with two different size roses – outline and infill, with buds and leaves, and even sentiments.

I used Altenew inks and stamped the rose, then masked it off to stamp the leaves, so it looks like they are underneath. I did think of colouring the leaves, but I like the effect of leaving them with just the outline, as it gives a more open feel to the card.

The sentiments are from a ‘Stamps By Me’ set I have had for a while, and suited the CASology challenge cue card – ‘kindness’.

I know it’s a short and quick posting today, but at least I’ve managed to do some crafting.

I wish everyone the best for the New Year. Best wishes – Lynda 🙂

2 more cards

20171217_124126Hello again. I have two more cards today, completely different to the cards from yesterday. Both of these were inspired by different challenges, and both ending today – talk about last minute again!

The first card was made using the colours from Color Throwdown – pink, green, kraft, white. I used the Dahlia turnabout from Concord and 9th (from Seven Hills Crafts whilst it was back in stock) and stamped four times using pink and green alternately, then used the matching die to cut out one portion of it.

I didn’t back the cut out part, and you can see through to the inside of the card, which I thought was quite a different way to use it. Of course, I then had to stamp the sentiment separately and add to the front of the card with carefully placed foam pads. I didn’t want the front sticking to the inside, did I?

The second card was made using the inspiration from CASology. A short but sweet word on the cue card – as per usual – current word being ‘Gray’.

I used the Altenew ‘Floral Fantasy’ set, and used the set of Altenew grey inks too. Once I had stamped it, then layered with some Narwhal cardstock, adding to a white base card, I then looked for a suitable sentiment…..and looked…..and looked. Finally, I couldn’t decide what sentiment to use – so I didn’t! I’ve done this before, and I think it looks just right as it is, and can be used for any occasion, or even as a ‘just because…..’ card.

Maybe I’ll have some time to play after work today, and be able to show what else I have been making.

Have a good day……… 🙂

 

Another two-fer

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Hello everyone. I hope you are all well, and enjoying this time of year. I have had time to play and make some last-minute cards, so I will be posting a couple today, and probably a couple tomorrow.

The first card is basically a red and white card, with a pop of green, and all glittery. I love doing glittery cards when it is Christmas, and you can see I really went to town on this one!

The card is 8 inches square, with a white glitter card as base – from Crafters Companion – with a red glitter card frame. The trees are from a Sue Wilson set I have had for a few years, again cut out of glittery card, this time in green.

The red poinsettias are from an x-cut die – again I have had this for many years and is my go-to die for poinsettias. This time cut out of a shiny red card instead of glitter. I layered a couple of the die-cuts together, giving some dimension to each leaf, adding a small gem to the centre.

The flowers were stuck down with 3D glue, and I also inserted some holly branches – Sue Wilson again – just underneath the petals.

The sentiment is die cut in green glitter – I know, lots of glitter – and stuck down after passing the words through my Xyron machine.

I shall be entering this card into the following challenges:

Double D challenges – red and white Christmas with optional pop of green

City Crafter Challenge – Christmas Tree

Try it on Tuesday – Twinkle, twinkle – lots of shiny things

Watercooler Wednesday – all about occasions

Time Out Challenges – photo inspiration – used colours and tree

QKR Stampede – anything goes with twist Christmas

The Holly and Ivy Christmas challenge – anything goes Christmas

The second card for today is a much more simple and flatter card:

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I used the Altenew layering Bells and Bows stamp set, as I am entering this card into the current Cards in Envy challenge – to use bells. I have the matching die set, and cut out the bells, and also cut some red bows out of red glitter card.

I stuck them down onto a polka dot embossed panel, for some interest in the background, and added the sentiment as you can see.

So – a couple of cards, each one different to the other. I hope you can call back tomorrow when I post another couple of cards……

Uniko Christmas Tree

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Hello everyone. I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I posted to my blog. My goodness – time flies! I cut down my working days from 5 days to 4 days, and I seem to be even busier. Maybe it’s the time of year, and social occasions going strong.

I have been crafting and making some complicated Sue Wilson-type cards for family and then decided I needed some simpler cards as I seem to be falling way behind in making them.

I also went to the Uniko retreat in Stockton-On-Tees last Saturday. It was a great day, spending at least five hours playing with Uniko stamps, plenty of inking plenty of playing, and plenty of chat and coffee – my ideal day. Thanks Bev. 🙂 🙂

This tree stamp set is one I bought that day. I love the simplicity of the tree, and I find it is quite elegant.

I started by stamping the front tree in a red Altenew ink, masked it and stamped the green trees. I then added the sentiment from another Uniko set, stamping it in black, then heat embossing it with clear embossing powder.

I thought I’d photograph it with the snow in the background. It may not be a lot of snow compared to other places around the world, but it does seem to impact on travel in the UK quite quickly.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Aud sentiments challenge – Christmas and sentiment

Hand stamped sentiments – photo inspiration (trees and colours)

CAS on Sunday – CAS Christmas

Alphabet challenge – ‘T’ for trees

Uniko challenge – Christmas