Month: March 2019

Ocean Scene

Hello there. I have a card for you today which is CAS – different to my recent cards:

I saw the theme for the current challenge at CASology – Ocean – and knew I had a layering stamp set somewhere, by someone, and it took me a few minutes to remember this was from The Ton – a golf course layering stamp set.

I had forgotten how to stamp and layer this, so I turned to YouTube – and found an amazing video from June 2018 – link HERE – where Effie from The Ton used the waves stamp several times, the technique for not getting any lines whilst mixing and merging the stamps – and basically you ended up with a beach scene. Just keep stamping the waves bottom layer again and again, in different places – and the effect produces a deeper and longer waves layer…..as above……

The initial stamps create the layer you see above with the darker waves, and the waves below that are just using the base stamp over and over again – varying the placement.

My first few attempts I got a few lines where I didn’t wipe the edges enough – but if you check the video out – it really is quite simple once you get the hang of it (she says – laughing – tongue in cheek!!)

Once I had the ocean stamped, I then used the current from the current challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches, die cut a circle – and placed as you see.

I also added some muted grey clouds from that same stamp set – two layer clouds, but in the lightest grey inks from Altenew.

Combining a theme, colours, and sketches really helps me to create a more balanced card. trying to put together colours fazes me sometimes – so many colours – so much choice, and where to stamp and put my die-cuts? That’s why I like to combine challenges.

Sometimes I start with a them, sometimes with the colours, but the sketch challenges certainly help me with the layout.

I shall also be entering this challenge into the current Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge – where the theme is CAS.

Stitched Flowers

Hi everyone, I have some days off now, and so will be able to spend some time in my craft room. It’s been busy at work, and – to be honest – I haven’t felt much like crafting when I got in.

However, having just received a Stampin Up order and the newest Catherine Pooler collection – on the same day!!!!! – well, those creative juices started to flow.

Even though this card isn’t using those new products, the die cuts were sitting on my craft table waiting for me to put this card together for this coming Sunday – Mother’s Day here in the UK:

I used some yellow Brusho’s and green Brusho’s on damp water-colour card, let it dry, then die cut these gorgeous Lawn Fawn ‘Stitched Flowers‘ dies.

I wanted a bright and colourful card, but not a solid yellow for the images. I did think about using my Copics for the yellow and green – but went with a more ‘uneven’ look.

The background is an embossing folder from Crafters Companion – a leaf image – and I think adds some detail to an otherwise too plain background. I didn’t try to match the folder on both layers, though I could have done, but again didn’t want such a structured look and taking away from the actual flower die cuts.

The card is actually 8 inches square, so I felt it needed something behind the flowers.

And I did it again with the sentiment – I stamped it after I had embossed the background, and after I had put the card together – thank goodness for the stamping platforms – that’s all I can say!!

I shall be entering this into the following challenges:

The Rainbow Card Challenge – yellow

Watercooler Challenges – occasions

Cut It Up Challenge – flowers and die cuts

Now I’m off to play with my new stuff…………. 🙂

A Friendly Blue Fox

Hi there. I had time to craft last night, and wanted to play at the current colour challenge at MFT. I also wanted to play with the MFT ‘Friendly Fox’ dies I received a few weeks ago.

Here is my card:

The colours to be used are:

I don’t have any MFT inks or card-stock so I had to make do with what I had. The base card is actually an off-white card I have used as the natural colour, the blueberry fox is from Creative Expressions, and the greens are Distress Oxides blended onto a piece of Crafters Companion Neenah card, and then die cut using the MFT Horizontal Snow Drifts die – and piecing the elements back together.

I think I’m into paper-piecing at the moment – I must move on to something different!!

So – a blueberry fox………I think it works to create even more cuteness…

As I mentioned the other day – I must get to making a birthday card for mum for the 28th, and a mother’s day card for the 31st……so – back to my craft room………..such a difficult evening ahead…………!!!

Oh – and the new challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenges starts today – I hope you can come and join us – the theme is anything goes for Christmas…………..

🙂 🙂

Holiday Cheer

Hi again. I hope you are doing well. I have a Christmas card for you today for the new challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge. This challenge is always ‘anything goes’, and I hope you join us to have that stash ready for later in the year.

Here is my card:

I used a stamp set from Gerda Steiner designs I received when Justin Hovey was doing her de-stash sale. After stamping with Gina K amalgam ink, I coloured with Copics – very simple colouring, no shading, as this card stock isn’t suitable for blending, and I didn’t want white – but a cream/off white card for this.

I added the two little birdies and kept them in the same colours as already used. I think they look a little upset about being sat on the reindeer’s antlers….don’t you?

The frames are from Reverse Confetti. I did think about raising one of the frames, but kept it quite simple in the end, letting the images speak for themselves.

The Design Team have some amazing projects for you to help inspire you, and I hope you are able to join us for the next couple of weeks. I look forward to seeing your creations.

🙂 🙂

A Big Birthday Wish

Hello there. I have a busy day ahead – crafting and house stuff. I’ve already been out for my third mini-bike ride…….I’ve just started to cycle, and currently only going out for 15-20 minutes. The second time I went out I fell off – that seat was just too high and I couldn’t put my feet down when I stopped……gravel rash in hand and knee – but now all good.

So, now I feel all proud that I’ve already done some exercise – I feel craftiness coming on. I have to make a card for the next Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge – due to start on the 26th March; it is Mother’s Day here in the UK next Sunday – 31st March; it is my mum’s birthday on Thursday 28th March………..and on the 3rd of April the next ABC Christmas Challenge begins………I’d better get to it, hadn’t I?

The card for posting this morning was a little fiddly, but I enjoyed creating it:

I stamped the Mama Elephant ‘Little Cat Agenda‘ and coloured with Copics. All the same colour, and only used red and yellow for the items the cats were holding, as I knew I was going to do a vibrant and colourful background.

I then used Distress Oxides in rainbow colours to create the background, and cut it out with my newly purchased MFT ‘Puzzle Cover-Up Die-Dynamic’. I toyed with the idea of putting the puzzle pieces back together correctly, then thought about them all back crooked, but went with this way – some gaps between each piece.

It also took me a bit of time arranging these little puddy tats – I didn’t want yellow additions on the yellow piece, and wanted to ensure some contrast between the cats and the background.

The sentiment is also from MFT – a freebie from Seven Hills Crafts ages ago, but a great range of birthday sentiments in different fonts – I usually go to that stamp set time and again.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Always Fun Challenges – dogs or cats

Freshly Made Sketches – sketch

Seize the Birthday – Birthday with option dots and stripes (not used)

MFT Birthday Project – birthday and rainbow colours

Flowers are always a good idea

Hi again. I managed to get some crafting time after work today, and used my new Concord and 9th ‘Fine Line Florals‘ die set, and the Lawn Fawn ‘Fancy Lattice Backdrop‘ die:

I used the colours from the current Color Throwdown Challenge – red, yellow, soft green, and white – and I am sure I did the most complicated method of creating this card that you can probably think of……….

I started with some red card, backed with double sided sticky paper, and die cut the large flower. I then die cut the flower and leaves in white card, and coloured them with Copics.

I then placed the red flower outline over the yellow flower, and added the black centre part.

All the pieces are pieced back into the outline – because the Gemini Junior cut them out so well – they all fell out…………..now where did I put my reading glasses???? I certainly needed them for that job!

Here is a little close-up:

The sentiment is also from the Concord and 9th matching stamp set – I think I may have to use that sentiment again – love it!

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – red, yellow, soft green, white

The Flower Challenge – flowers anything goes

Aud Sentiments – any sentiment except Happy Birthday

Sparkly deer

Hi there. I have a quick posting for a card today, to enter the current challenge at CAS Christmas Cards:

I took this very intricate deer from X-cut, and cut it out of glitter card from Crafters Companion, after sticking some double-sided sticky sheet on the back of it. I knew the deer was intricate, and didn’t want to glue it, as I generally get some glue leaking around the edges.

I used the Crafters Companion Gemini Junior to cut it – and that took several passes through the machine – which is very unusual. I even used the metal plate too…….

The blue/green rectangle is Distress Oxides, which I blended through an aperture I masked off. The sentiment is from a Concord and 9th stamp set. I thought the sentiment was suitable for a peaceful looking deer.

So – a quick posting, as I was at the computer buying the newest Catherine Pooler release…………which will take 2-3 weeks to get to me!! I am sure you will know when I have it, as there will definitely be some cards made very soon after receiving it…….. 🙂

Copic Peony

Hello there. I decided to have a go at Copic colouring again for this beautiful stamp set from Uniko – the Pure Florals Peony:

I enjoyed colouring this image so much – strange for me to actually enjoy colouring – so I did another one:

I even managed to grab some fresh air to take the photos – I do miss going outside to photograph my cards. It makes such a difference.

The colours for this image was from the current challenge at Just Us Girls – yellow, purple, teal; the layout is for the current challenge at CAS Colours and Sketches; and Copic colouring to enter the current challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More, where they invite you to ‘make your mark’.

I hope you are having a fabulous day, (perhaps recovering from St Patrick’s Day), but I am waiting for our St George’s Day on 23rd April………..

🙂 🙂

CAS Wild Ferns

I seem to have lost my posting about this card, but have found it via a challenge link. Hopefully it works now……….and it hasn’t posted twice!! 😦

Hi again. I have a simple card to share today. I have spent the past couple of days playing with some intricate techniques and cards – see previous post – so today I wanted to go a little more clean……….

I actually made another with out the sequins, and matted and layered slightly differently:

The idea behind these cards, was for a couple of guys at work who have just been through some exams, and I wanted to give them a card which is not my usual more feminine style – obviously – so these are what I came up with. A clean and simple – yet effective – card.

Who says a guy can’t have sequins on a card? Not me……….

I used the Altenew ‘Wild Ferns’ stamp set and went with a simple stamped image using three of the Altenew green inks.

This layout is one I have used for a previous challenge where the idea was to use just one third, or just the top part of the card. I find going back to previous challenge sketch layouts gives me an idea about my design.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

The Male Room – Male and green

The Card Concept – Photo Inspiration

Addicted to CAS – green

Faux Stained Glass Flower

Hello there. I have been trying out a new technique – new to me, anyway. I decided to try the faux stained glass technique, and I thought I knew what I was doing, that it would be easy, no hassle, get it done, seen some videos months ago…….. quick……well…….erm…..not quite!

Firstly, here is the finished card:

Now a close-up:

I used the Altenew ‘Antique Engravings Cover die’, cut out several times in white card. I actually removed the outer thin frame, because when I started to stack them up together, it just kept getting in the way. I stacked at least four of them together, and then went in with Nuvo Crystal Drops in the green and pick as you see.

Sticking such a lacy die on top of another several times? Challenging. The Nuvo drops were the second challenge hurdle. Then letting it all dry – I had to wait until the next day – I’m not that good at waiting…………….but I managed.

Then realised I wanted to add Glossy Accents too…………..more waiting……….!

At this point I decided I ought to look at some videos about this technique after all……uh huh! Just at the end of my ‘playing’. That’s me all over…. 🙂

I used one of the tips from Jennifer McGuire – I had a final white outline which I embossed using Altenew Rose Gold embossing powder, stuck that down, and made the card as you see……(First time using that embossing powder – certainly won’t be the last! Lovely stuff!)

Now – in the future I can see me doing this technique again – but I will be using Copics to colour the lower level. Though, now this card is done, I really like how shiny the colours are. I must remember next time to allow a couple of days – and even to do several at a time……

I shall be entering this card into the following challenges:

CAS Mix Up Challenge – CAS faux stained glass + stamping + your choice – (stamping the sentiment, my choice of heat embossing and die cut layer)

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – feminine/girly

Altenew March Challenge – Photo Inspiration