Month: April 2020

Hang In there….

Hello everyone. I hope you are keeping well. I have a CAS card to share today from a new stamp set from Tracy Hey/Alpaca Pals:

This is such a cute stamp set, and I would never have found this company if it wasn’t for seeing a card made by Jenny aka Ginger Ninja Crafts

I went to the web site, spent a little bit of money on several stamps – and as I ordered at about 12 midday – they arrived the following day! How about that for rapid service! There are so many cute images on so many different stamp sets – and the sentiments are truly fabulous – I hope you check them out.

Anyhoo – back to my card – I used Make-It Colour Blending Card cut to 7×5 inches, stamped the images as you see with Gina K Amalgam ink, then coloured with Copics.

The colour scheme is from the current challenge at Color Throwdown.

At the moment, I seem to be playing with my Copics quite a bit – I think I’m getting the hang of them – but in any event – I’m getting to like the little bit of colouring I’m doing. Maybe because I’m getting the results I want, maybe because I have more time to play, so I don’t feel ‘pressured’ to HAVE to colour……………..I never thought I’d say I like colouring…..!

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – red, black, grey, white

QKR Stampede – anything goes

Always Fun Challenges – CAS

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – ‘E’ is for……..Elephant

Crafty Sentiments – anything goes

Pink Gem Challenge – anything goes

CAS with bleaching

Hi again. A lot of crafting done today…………….

I had some bad news from a dear friend of mine today. Her son has died from the dreaded Covid-19! Her son! How on earth do you cope with that? I don’t have children, so I couldn’t possibly imagine how that must feel. He must have been around 40 years of age, and was working as a bus driver after the lock-down………………..As nurses we are expected to continue to work, and as a bus driver, he who would be in more contact with the general public, was trying to get the rest of us to work during this pandemic. I can’t comprehend how she must be feeling right now.

I have a card planned in my mind, as I can’t go and give her a hug. I can’t go anywhere near her, with the lock-down in place, and especially as she is in the vulnerable age group, but at least I can send a card with some pretend hugs……………………at least she will know I am thinking about her!

I took to my craft room and tried a new technique to try and ease my own mind.

I tried some bleaching on my image. Here is the card before I tell you any more about my technique:

I ink blended the Distress Oxide ‘Barn Door’ as I wanted a very vibrant red colour, which would stand out from the bleaching. I dried it with my heat tool, then stamped and embossed the Uniko ‘Peony’ in Altenew Gold embossing powder then went hunting for some bleach……

Erm – as we have a septic tank – I didn’t have any pure bleach – we’re not supposed to use too much bleach – so I improvised. I took some ‘Domestos‘ – which is bleach technically – but it is ultra-thick…….and just tried it.

I noticed it took the colour away VERY quickly, but I also noticed I could determine how much colour was taken off depending on how long I left it there – so I tried a little ‘blending’. Removing some very quickly from the inner petals to try and create some darker petals, and removing a second or too later for the lighter and outer petals.

I then cut thisa piece into a square, and added a wonky stitched rectangle frame.

The sentiment is from a new Tracy Hey stamp set – full of encouraging words and phrases – I can see I’m going to be using those a lot in the next few weeks.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CAS Mix-Up – CAS – bleaching + stamping + your choice (embossing and die-cutting)

Craft Friends Challenge – atg

Crafty Creations Challenge – atg

Crafters Castle Challenge – atg

Wishing You Brighter Days

Hi everyone. I have created a CAS card today – an idea I had yesterday and going round in my mind. I changed my idea several times, and this card is the one I prefer. Isn’t it strange how such a CAS card can lead to several versions?

I have wanted to use this die set for ages – and have left it out on my desk since I bought it – which is probably a few months, actually! There are 6 small square dies in this set – and I’ll probably make some encouraging cards with the rest of the images.

I die cut the Pink Fresh Studio square from white card stock with double sided sticky tape on the back. This was placed in the centre of a square card whilst I toyed with a couple of ways to add the extremely glittery blue card into the petals.

I first inlaid them on one card, then I made another and this time I inserted the white petals in first, then added the blue petals on top – that way the blue petals stood a little proud of the outline.

It’s very difficult to show the glimmer here – but trust me – it’s very sparkly!

As I am currently making cards with encouraging sentiments – mainly anyway – I used this sentiment from a Clearly Besotted stamp set.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Just Us Girls Challenge – square card featuring a square shape

All Sorts Challenge – something old, or new, or borrowed, or blue

Daring Cardmakers – CAS with a dash of sparkle

Pinspirational – atg with option of photo inspiration (not taken the option)

Time Out Challenges – Inspired by Words (garden/flower)

Life Can Be Tough – But So Can You………

Hi there. I have made a card today just for the fun of it. I took inspiration from several challenges – but I wanted to create a fun and colourful card, with some inspiring words. Inspiring for me – and for everyone else.

I wanted to play around with colour, I wanted to play with some water-colouring, I wanted to just play. I didn’t want to particularly think about what I was creating. I knew I wanted to use this stamp set from Hero Arts, and I knew what sketch and colours I wanted to use – so I began.

I played, I water-coloured, I used colour, I used dies. No shading, no thinking about which way the light was coming from – just played………..and in the end I am pleased with what I created!

I stamped the turtle onto Arteza water-colour card in Altenew Obsidian ink, let it dry a little, then collected the four colours together I was using from the current challenge at Color Throwdown.

I did colour a turtle in pink – but didn’t like that, so here is what I did the second time around. I used a little water with each colour, to spread things around a little, and I’d forgotten how pigmented these zigs are……..

The stitched waves were pieces of card coloured again with zigs and die cut using a Lawn Fawn ‘stitched wavy borders’ die, and they remind me of some sea-weed drifting in the motion of the sea.

I have just receievd some Tracy Hey Designs stamp sets – and this sentiment was just sat there looking at me………………it’s almost as though I am saying this to myself – and saying this to others. I may have to use this sentiment again…….

So – a fairly basic yet colourful card, I enjoyed the process, and I’m already planning what to make tomorrow…..

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – orange, pink, yellow, green

CAS(E) This Sketch – sketch

Hero Arts Challenge – self care

Addicted to CAS – CAS Animal

Happy Little Stampers watercolour challenge – water-colour atg with option of stars

CAS flowers and a penguin

Hello there. Unless I’m going to work or shopping, I am spending a lot of time crafting, or in the garden – we are having unseasonably warm weather here in the UK at the moment – so I’m enjoying it whilst I can.

I have a couple of CAS cards to share today.

Here is the first card:

I used a Simon Says Stamp die set – aptly named ‘Look for the Miracles’ – die cut the set in white card, then coloured with Copics. The sentiment is from the Altenew ‘Regal Beauty’ stamp set and I;m liking the different fonts in the sentimet.

This is the second card:

This time I used a Clearly Besotted stamp set for the cute penguin and kite – stamping in Gina K Amalgam ink, then colouring with Copics. The square die is from Lawn Fawn, and the sentiment is from the same Clearly Besotted.

I shall be entering the first card into the following challenges:

Perfectly CAS – CAS die cuts

CAS Colours and Sketches – Petal Pink, Mint Macaron, Highland Heather

The Papergirls – florals

Challenge Up Your Life – Focus on Flowers

I shall be entering the second card into the following challenges:

CASology – Kite

Addicted to Stamps – CAS

CAS on Sunday/Friday – CAS – black, white, one colour

Stamplorations CAS – option lemon yellow (not used)

Alphabet Challenge – 10 year anniversary – Anything Goes

There is a new challenge beginning at The Alphabet Challenge – we are back to the letter ‘A’ for ‘Anything Goes‘ – and……….it’s the 10 year anniversary for this challenge!

Jan’s Digis pre-coloured sentiment

10 years! Isn’t that marvellous? I have only been a part of the Design Team since August last year – a veritable newbie – but I am loving this tour through the alphabet – and the Design Team always has great makes, which inspire me for other and future challenges.

I hope you can come along and play in this mile-stone challenge – we would love to see you create any handcrafted item, any theme, any layout – just come along and play with us! You can even play 3 times – I know, I know – only 3 times!!!!!

Here is my card:

I stamped lots of images from the Lawn Fawn and the MFT stamp sets listed, coloured with Copics, then cut them out with the matching die sets.

Here are the Copics I used:

I then found a spare piece of green grassy border left over from a previous card so placed that down, them played around with the layout of the images until I was happy with it. That actually took me quite a while – which squirrel goes on which branch, which mushroom goes where, which flower goes next to which other element…………the possibilities were endless.

I toyed with the idea of blending a background, or even colouring a background, but as I can;t seem to get the hang of that – I left the background to the imagination of whoever is looking at the card.

I think I’m getting a ‘Copic thumb’…………….is there such a thing? Some periods of colouring and my thumb hurts and cramps – I may have to try holding the marker differently, as I’m kinda getting into the colouring groove…….I still find colouring a chore – but less so these days! The tide is turning!

So – come and play and help us to celebrate the 10th anniversary – I can’t wait to see your creations. Hope to see you there………… xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Craft Sentiments Challenge – anything goes

Digi Choosday – anything goes

Arty Divas – anything goes

A Perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Crafty Creations Challenge – anything goes

Craft Rocket Challenge – furry animals

Happy Little Stampers – anything goes with dies

Add a kite….

Hello there. I hope you are keeping well – and as isolated as possible! As I’m one of the NHS nurses still working, it’s great to see people obeying the rules – mostly!

On my down time, I am crafting like crazy………such a relaxing and creative craft, except now I’m making cards for sending out to people just because I can. Not for any particular reason – just because I can. Therefore, many of the sentiments I shall be using are quite generic, and hopefully raise a smile.

This card is for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz and the new topic this time is – can you guess – ‘Use a Kite’. Here is my card:

Here are the Copics I used:

I stamped the Clearly Besotted plushie and kite, coloured with Copics, then fussy-cut them out…….I know – me and fussy-cutting…….wonders never cease!

The background stamps are also from Clearly Besotted, and once the rainbow had been stamped, I masked it off to add the sunshine and clouds stamp, then underneath the tree and hills stamp.

I made a decision to leave the background un-coloured for several reasons. I think the blank backgrounds leave the rainbow and plushie as the centre of attention, secondly I didn’t know what colours to use so I didn’t take away from the little bear – but mostly because I don’t colour backgrounds very well! At all! Hence leaving them blank – and I;m actually quite liking the effect………..

I hope you can come and join us with your ‘kite‘ creations, and I look forward to seeing you in our gallery. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Catch The Bug – anything goes

A Bit More Time To Craft – anything goes

Colour Crazy Challenge – anything goes colouring

Creative Fingers Challenge – anything goes

Unicorn Challenge – furry friends

Just Because Cottontail Cutie

Hello once again. I have created a card to share as I am currently making cards to give to people I meet at work, or when shopping, just to say ‘hello’, or ‘just because’ – to try and spread some good cheer.

I used the MFT ‘Cottontail Cutie’ die set, as I haven’t played with that for a while, and the colours from the current challenge at Color Throwdown.

The grey card has an almost silver sheen to it, and I think adds a little texture to the bunny. The pink areas are cut from a pink foam I just happened to have lying around…..adding some brightness and even more dimension.

I used the Lawn Fawn ‘Simple Grassy Hillsides’ as you see, and the sentiment is white heat embossed.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – pink, grey, green, Kraft

Aud Sentiments – anything goes with a sentiment

A Bit More Time To Craft – anything goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – anything goes with a critter

Die Cut Divas – anything goes with a die cut and option of animals

Crafty Animals Challenge – anything goes animals

Country View Challenges – an animal as focal point

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CAS Flowers

Hello. I have a card to share I made today, as I’m working the next couple of days, and may not have time to craft.

I used a newer die set from MFT called ‘Stitched Garden Dynamics‘, and just played with die-cutting and glue sticking.

I also used a stencil for the bottom edge, from Time For Tea Designs, to add some added interest that wasn’t dimensional. I did toy with the idea of die-cutting some grass, but in the end went for the stencil. I think it gives a more CAS look.

I have received three backdrops to enable me to take better pictures of my cards – though the lighting and additional elements are what I;m going to be working on from here – but these are the other two backdrops I received:

I like them all, and it took me a while to decide to use the dark wood, as my card is so bright and light. I will be working on adding some decorative elements to my photos too – watch this space!

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge – mood board/Spring

CAS Colours and Sketches– sketch and peekaboo peach, wild wasabi, tangerine tango

AAA Cards – CAS Made in minutes with option to use a stencil

Perfectly CAS – CAS and die cuts

ABC Christmas H and I

Hello. It is time for a new challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge – and it’s my turn to host.

The theme letters this time are ‘H’ for Hand Drawn, and ‘I’ for Inside. I have put a couple of prizes up for this challenge.

The first prize is for my Top Pick and is Concord and 9th ‘Christmas Florals’ stamp set:

And the second prize will be awarded randomly – I shall use a random number generator – so everyone is in with a chance of winning the following stamp and matching die set from Thirsty Brush and Co, ‘Under The Mistletoe’:

I made a card for each letter – well – I made two cards for the first – ‘H’ for hand drawn, as I liked drawing these little baubles on a string so much. White gel pen to colour them:

The first sentiment is from Altenew, and the second sentiment if from a freebie stamp set – my handwriting just won’t cut it! Trust me – I tried – and had to bin a card or two.

My card for ‘I’ for Inside (a frame)is:

I was going to create something special on the inside of a card – but I ‘found‘ this MFT stamp set and decided to put my bear ‘inside’ a frame……..the bear and the colouring were the easy part – it was sorting out the frame and the layers and the position on the card……phew! It took some thinking about, believe it or not.

Anyhoo – I hope you can come and join us in this challenge – and be in with a chance of winning one of the two prizes – and badges for your blog, or course.

There is some fabulous inspiration from our Design Team – I look forward to seeing what you create – and good luck for the prize winning! xx

I shall be entering the following challenges for the Kraft card:

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge – anything goes – option to use Kraft

Creative Fingers Challenge – anything goes

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

I shall be entering the ‘Bearing Gifts’ card into the following challenges:

Crimbo Crackers Challenge – Christmas and Animals

Pink Gem Challenge – anything goes colouring

Time Out Challenge – purple – a lot or a little