Month: December 2020

Big Hugs Z Fold

Hello. A new challenge has started at Cardz 4 Galz. I wanted to get the year started with virtual hugs and to be able to let someone know I was thinking of them. The theme is ‘more than one fold’, chosen by Billie A:

I played around with some fancy fold cards, and even made another card for the challenge – but I wasn’t happy with it. This is Take 2…..

I made a ‘Z’ fold card – white card base – and added some Stampin Up ‘Peaceful Poppies‘ DSP – which I’ve had for ages and just never got around to using. I wanted to add some of the embellishments which came with this series – but they seem to have been ‘filed’ where I can’t find them!

Once the card and the paper layers were stuck down, I decided to add some simple die-cut sentiments in black – so they can stand out against this patterned paper.

Both the die-cut sentiments are from Lawn Fawn. The ‘Big Hugs’ in the middle of the card is white heat embossed onto black card, layered several times before being stuck down so you can see the ‘hugs’ when the card is closed, but ‘Big Hugs’ when the card is open.

‘Thinking about you’ is also Lawn Fawn – but it is very fine, and I found it a little too fiddly to layer it up, so stuck down with one layer only after die cutting.

I hope you can come and join us – and educate me into the various ways we can introduce more than one fold in our creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge – atg with patterned paper

Crafty Creations Challenge – atg

Creative Moments Challenge – atg

TTCRD Challenge – atg

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Foxy Misses You…..

Hello there. A little playtime in my craft room, and I have a cute little fox card to share:

After making the little fox up in the muted colours, knowing I wanted to use a dark grey card base, I then searched my stash for the heart stencil I just knew I had somewhere. After a few minutes, I searched the Color My Life app – there it was – a Thirsty Brush and Co stencil, Bingo.

I used Catherine Pooler’s ‘Sugared Lavender‘ ink and a blending brush to create the background, and used one of the ‘geode‘ dies from Concord & 9th. I did go looking for a heart die, but when I was searching the CML app – I saw this and thought it would make a different kind of shape….and would fit the card base better.

Before I stuck anything down on the card base, I stamped and white heat embossed the sentiment from Simon says Stamp – I keep trying to remember to do this before I add anything to the base – sometimes I forget..!

I added the ‘geode’ die-cut, then the fox, and thought it looked a little plain – so I used the dies from MFT ‘Stitched Garden’ and Concord & 9th card-stock to create the flowers – and adhered as you see.

I made this card for a particular person – she is working more than full-time as a Matron at one of our hospitals, working all shifts, having to manage whatever is thrown at her – and that leaves very little time to connect. We obviously can’t meet each other in person – even at work – and sometimes it goes weeks without a moment to message or call each other………..she has been my bestie for the past 30 years – and I’m hoping we can reconnect soon………

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Animal Friends Challenge – fox or hare/rabbit

Die Cut Divas – Anything goes with die cuts

Stamplorations Stencil Challenge – anything goes with a stencil

Watercooler Challenge – anything goes

Glittery and Inky Snowflakes

Hi. A quick post to share some inky backgrounds with some very glittery snowflakes.

For the two darker blue backgrounds, I used Tim Holtz Water-colour card, Brushos, Crafters Companion sparkle pens, and lots of water, and smooshing.

For the teal background I used the same card stock, lots of water, and ink smooshed with the sparkle pens on top of Peacock Feathers Distress ink.

The snowflakes are a mixture of Tim Holtz and Simon Says Stamp die cut out of bright silver glitter card. The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn.

Some of the glimmer and shine:

and a cat who wanted to help place the card in the right place for the photo:

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Cup Cake Inspirations – photo inspiration

Always Fun Challenges – Christmas

Allsorts Challenge – sparkle and shine

MMM Challenge – create own background – in an inky way – smooshing/water-colour/Brushos etc

Christmas Craft Creations – Christmas and Winter Blues

Stardust and Sequins Poinsettia

Hi. I have another card to share very similar to yesterday – I just switched the colours around and added some sequins:

I liked how the teal and ‘Stardust‘ coloured card looked, so this time I used the Simon Says Stamp ‘Cling Stamp Poinsettia‘ on white card, stamped with SSS ‘Audrey Blue’ ink, then the Altenew ‘Poinsettia 3D die‘ cut using Concord & 9th ‘Stardust’ card stock.

For that added bling, some teal and yellowy/greeny/mustardy sequins – I’d love to know what colour these are……

I again used a Simon Says Stamp sentiment, but a different one this time.

A card which came together quite quickly, as I knew what I wanted and how to do it.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

The Flower Challenge – Flowers and add embellishments

Watercooler Challenge – anything goes

Teal Poinsettia

Hi everyone. I have a card to share using a different colour scheme for a poinsettia:

I recently bought some Lawn Fawn ‘Peacock’ card stock to participate in a Jenn Shurkus virtual class, and think this colour is so vibrant that I decided to use it for this poinsettia.

Using Altenew ‘Poinsettia 3D‘ die set I die cut all the layers and glued them together. The background is a Simon Says Stamp ‘Poinsettia’ cling stamp – a huge rubber stamp – that I’ve been wanting to play with for absolutely ages, and for this card I used a tone-on-tone look.

The mustard looking card is ‘Stardust’ from Concord & 9th, and the stamp was inked using the same ink cube – ‘Stardust‘, hence the tone-on-tone look.

The sentiment is from Simon says Stamp and CZ Designs ‘Good Cheer’, stamped in the same ‘Stardust’ ink on white – to match the white card base – and die cut with the matching dies.

I am pleased with how the colours worked together – I think it looks quite simple yet quite effective.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Dara And Diane Challenge – Poinsettia

Crafty Creations Challenge – anything goes

Simply ElliBelle Challenge – anything goes

Snow Globe Scene

Hi there. A new challenge is beginning at The Alphabet Challenge. We have reached the letter ‘S’ – and we want to see your ‘snow scenes’. Here is my card:

I decided to choose a small snow scene from a Mama Elephant stamp set, and then stamped a snow globe around it.

Coloured with Copics, I then added some clear shimmer the the sky and snow – leaving the house free to see.

I die cut the globe, then added some glossy accents to the banner to give the impression of a metal plaque – hopefully…….

Two layers dry embossed with an embossing folder – I think is Sue Wilson but I’m not exactly sure – then added some extra bling with some sequins.

I hope you can come and join us for our ‘Snow Scene’ theme – I look forward to seeing what you create. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge – Christmas

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Inkspirational – SNOW

Christmas Blog Challenge – anything goes Christmas

TTCRD Challenge – anything goes

Yappy Christmas

Hello. I have been playing with some rainbow Copics:

I used a Whimsy and Simon Says Stamp collaboration stamp set – ‘Happy Pugmas‘. I don’t have dogs – two cats – but I thought this stamp set was so funny, with cute images and sentiments, so now it was time to play…..

The colours were inspired by the current challenge at ‘The Rainbow Card Challenge’ – this time the theme is ‘Holiday Rainbow’. I don’t think I’ve coloured an actual rainbow card before, so I looked for what the colours of the rainbow are, and followed the ROYGBIV – as you can see from my Christmas Trees.

These trees are from the same stamp set, and involved some masking. I first stamped the pug – masked him, then stamped a tree either side, masked them, then stamped again etc…….

I then looked for some Copics to colour the trees following the ROYGBIV for the rainbow, and it just so happened that the pug ended up having the green for his hat and ruffle.

For the baubles, I added some green Stickles. Now – I’m not a great user of Stickles, I have a few of them, but I find I usually make a mess, forgetting it’s still wet and smudging, or the dots don’t look right. I prefer Nuvo drops – they hold their shape better, but this came out quite nicely I think:

I’ll let you into a secret – I had no idea what the colour indigo was – I thought it was a deep purple – but it appears to be a blue/purple hybrid – I did have to google it. I also googled which Copic colours were the best for colouring indigo – and then hubby showed me a new Indigo Blu stamp set just sitting there on our kitchen counter……….with their logo being – obviously – indigo blue……..doh!

The base card is a dark grey – makes a change to white I think, and frames the main layer.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

The Rainbow Card Challenge – Rainbow Holiday

Christmas with the Cuties – Cute Christmas Creatures

Colour Crazy Challenge – week 48 – anything goes colouring

Stamplorations CAS Challenge – CAS anything goes with option of red and brown (not taken)

Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas (option quick and easy)

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Hello yet again. Here is my card for the new challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge – the theme is ‘Anything goes Christmas’:

I used the images from mama Elephant’s ‘Santa Baby‘, stamping, colouring and die cutting. I see I have used teal/aqua again – I must try and move away from those colours – but I do like them for Christmas cards…..

The four rectangles were ink blended – I used Distress Inks instead of Oxides – and used Twisted Citron and a blue…….I know – numpty here forgot that blue and yellow make green…….!!!!!!

Anyhoo – I like how the colours turned out, and when the images were added it made them stand out even more, I think….

The addition of some glitter, and some white acrylic splatters as well as some clear Nuvo glitter pen made the card feel very sparkly.

I hope you can come and join us for this challenge – I look forward to seeing your creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Cut It Up Challenge – Christmas with die cuts

Crafters Café Challenge – anything goes

Dies R Us Challenge – Christmas and die cuts

Die Cut Divas – anything goes with die cuts

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

SPREAD THE MERRY LITTLE LOVE AND GRAB A BADGE!

Leafy Beautiful Day

Hello. I have a card to share today using a new die set with colours inspired by the current challenge at Color Throwdown:

This Altenew leaf die set has a lot of leaves – different patterns and I was tempted to try and use them all! However – I restrained myself……

I did die cut several of the leaves in the colours of the challenge, and decided to go with only a few of them.

The base card is using Lawn Fawn ‘Vanilla’ card-stock as the cream from the challenge, then I added some ‘wheat‘ card-stock from Concord & 9th for the ‘Kraft’ – die cut with a stitched rectangle.

I played a lot with my leaf die cuts, and glued some of the ‘wheat‘ coloured leaves to the background for a tone-on-tone look.

I die cut some ‘vanilla’ solid leaves, and added some ‘Cranberry’ dotted leaves on top, but the ‘Poppy‘ card-stock – such a rich red, a gorgeous true red – looked a little lost and washed-out when I put the two colours alongside each other. So – plan D ( I went through a few other thoughts) – was to not put a cream backing to the ‘Poppy‘ leaves – and had them just sitting there on the Kraft/Wheat background – I like how they stand out now.

The sentiment is from another Altenew stamp set, stamped in ‘Wheat‘ ink, and die cut with a stitched rectangle.

The ‘Poppy’ leaves are only stuck down at the bases, and the ‘Cranberry/Vanilla’ dotty leaves are stuck down with 3D foam pads – which meant they also held down the other leaves – but only at the bases, therefore creating a little movement.

Here is the colour scheme for the challenge:

As the card says – I wish you all a beautiful day……. xx

Rainy Day Hippos

Hello. I have a slimline card to share for the new challenge at The Alphabet Challenge, and the new theme of ‘R’ for Rainbow:

I enjoyed making this card, though there are a lot of elements to it.

I began by stamping the hippo, duck and puddle images from Clearly Besotted, coloured with Copics, and used the matching die set to cut them out. I know this is an older stamp set, as Clearly Besotted don’t produce matching dies any more….

The base card is using Concord & 9th cardstock to match the colours of the Copics I used, and the white layer is scalloped circles from Pinkfresh Studio.

I thought the area behind each window was a little too plain, so I used a matching ink colour and an umbrella stencil from Clearly Besotted to create a muted background.

All stuck down as you see – and some matching little sequins added – they were just kinda sitting there on my craft desk – I think I have a thing for teal/aqua colours………

The sentiment is from the same stamp set – adding the ‘rainbow’ theme to the card, even though now picture of rainbows – I thought out of the box…!

I hope you can come and join us for this challenge with your ‘rainbow’ themed creations – I look forward to seeing what you create. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Polkadoodles Challenge – week 48 – anything goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs – anything goes (colouring)

Aud Sentiments – anything goes with a sentiment

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – anything goes with critters

A perfect Time To Craft – anything goes