Month: January 2024

Hello Friend….

Hello there. I seem to be on a roll using products I have previously bought, but never used. I think I’m a collector – buy things ‘just in case’. I do eventually use them, but it might take me a while…….

Here is a card using a layering stencil from Pinkfresh Studio I have had for a little while:

I took the opportunity to use this set of stencils with the current colours for the Color Throwdown Challenge.

I had a piece of Vicki Boutin Foundation Paper I had taken out of the pad ready for a Distress Spray class yesterday, but never used, so I thought I would have a go and see how this card stock works with ink blending.

I used all the layers of the stencil, but I did use different tones of each colour on the same stencil. I would never have thought of doing that until I attended some Taylored Expressions and Pinkfresh Studio virtual events. Now I wonder why on earth I would think you have to use just the one colour on each layer is beyond me – but there you go…..we live and learn.

I used Pinkfresh inks as I have several colour families, and just inked it up. I am a little heavy handed when it comes to ink blending, so I made sure to dry each layer before moving on to the next stencil – another lesson learned…..

Once the panel was created, I used an older Mama Elephant slimline die to cut it out with a scallop and stitched edge, then adhered it to a Neenah card base.

The sentiment was chosen as it wouldn’t cover too much of the design, and I didn’t even add gems or sequins – that design really does stand for itself.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

MAWTT – use a new craft item

Avenue 613 – anything goes – option new beginnings not taken

Color Throwdown – red, navy, pink

Just Us Girls – stencils

Lil Red Wagon – never before used Schtuff

Stencil Fun – stencil – option of birds/birdhouses/bird feeders taken (two little birds on the bottom of the stencil)

V is for Vogue

Hello there. The Alphabet Challenge has reached the letter ‘V’, and Veronika has chosen the theme of

‘V is for Vogue – inspired by fashion’

Here is my card:

I had such fun creating this pop-up card – so many little elements to use and apply. So much die cutting……

The die sets for this card came from Concord & 9th. I already had the pop-up shoppe and the Christmas elements from a virtual event they ran a couple of years ago, and when I saw this landscape pop-up die set – and the fashion and clothing elements I just had to have it. We all need options for orientation of cards, I think.

The most work came from deciding which colour of card stock to use for which elements. I wanted to use the Spellbinders sage card stock for the shop canopy, and gold card stock for the details, and basically went from there.

I managed to find a subtle background paper for the inside of the shop, then placed all the elements where I thought they would look the best.

I even added a little potted plant you could see through the door.

I hope you can come and join us with your ‘Vogue/Fashion’ inspired creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Die Cut divas – die cuts and never before used stuff

MAWTT – use a new craft item

Avenue 613 Create – anything goes

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Roses Galore

Hello there. Cardz 4 Galz has started a new challenge. Sue J has chosen the theme of ‘red and/or pinks‘. Here is my card:

I decided to give my new purchase of the Waffle Flower ‘Postage Collage Rose‘ stencils. I have had them for a couple of months, but not used them yet, and I must say I really like how these images come together using the layering stencils.

Onto a white panel I used Pinkfresh Studio inks to create each layer. Several tones of pinks and green to create some difference between the images. Once ink blended, I then used the ‘Postage Collage’ die, which creates such a unique layout with the stitching and the holes.

The stamp set was then used for the black postage elements.

I thought the pink card base – using Concord & 9th card stock – highlighted the images and colours better than a white card base would.

I can see that I will have to play more with this stencil and die set – so many options.

I hope you can come and join us with your pink and/or red creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Inkspirational – more than one stencil

MAWTT – use a new craft item

Avenue 613 Create – anything goes – option of nee beginnings not taken

Triple B – birds and/or butterflies and/or blooms

Ellibelle’s Corner – anything goes

Fab’n’Funky – stamp it – include some stamping

Stencil Fun – stencil – option birds/bird feeders/bird houses not taken

Beautiful Blossoms – flowers

Ellibelle’s Corner – I Spy – Hearts and Roses

Stenciled Trees

Hello once again. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge has started another challenge – anything goes Christmas. Here is my card:

These trees were one of the products from the Simon Says Stamp Wonder Box – a 12 days of advent crafter calendar.

I began by stencilling the trees in Pinkfresh Studio inks – there are four stencils to this set. Three of the stencils are for the trees, then the fourth is for the snow – which I used with embossing ink and silver embossing powder.

Once that had cooled down, I used a wonky stitched square die to cut it out.

The background panel was die cut using the same wonky stitched square die to ensure the aperture was the same size, then dry embossed using a Simon Says Stamp embossing folder.

This snowflake panel was adhered to a card base the 3D foam, then the tree panel inserted flat to the card base.

I hope you can come and join us with your Christmas makes. I look forward to seeing you in our gallery. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CYHTP – embossing folder, option of snow people not taken

Krafty Chicks – CAS

The Four Seasons Challenge – anything goes winter

Inkspirational – more than one stencil

Craft Rocket – use embossing

Daisy Chain Challenge – no designer paper

Get Well Wishes

Hello everyone. I created this card and finally managed to use the matching stencils for this background I had in my stash from a previous foiling session:

I have this foil plate and matching stencils for a while, and had foiled the panel quite a few months ago, but hadn’t got around to using it. I used the opportunity with the current colours for The Color Throwdown.

Onto the silver foiled panel, I used all the layering stencils, and the three Distress Ink pads you see in the photo. I set this aside and die cut the arch from another white panel, then used a Stampin’ Up embossing folder to create the texture on it.

I wanted it to be almost like a stained glass window.

I then adhered the ink blended panel behind the arch aperture, using 3D foam to stick them to a card base.

The sentiment is also from a previous foiling session.

The ink blending took most of the time creating this card, but the choosing of the colours to use was easier as I have just finished swatching all my Distress Inks and Distress Oxides, so I can easily flip through the swatches to choose the colours.

I also realised there are 3 colours of Distress Inks I don’t currently have – that will be amended in the next couple of days….!

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – blush, dusty blue, pink

Inkspirational – more than one stencil

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Avenue 613 Create – anything goes – option of new beginnings – not taken

Stencil Fun – stencils – option of birds/birdhouses/bird feeders – not taken

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Windows of Blue

Hello again. I have created a card I would like to share with you:

I was inspired by the blue and the window/shutters of the Inspired By challenge, and used the arch window die from The Greetery. I wanted the window pane section to be separate from the arch itself, so I first die cut the arch using a Simon Says Stamp arch die set, then die cut the window panes inside that. I then die cut the panes again in a lighter blue and pieced them back in. All the card stock is from Concord & 9th.

The background was created using a Spellbinders stencil and ink blending the two Distress Inks you see in the photo, keeping the darker blue towards the bottom.

Once this was adhered to the card base, I added the window with 3D foam, die cut the flowers, and added them for a pop of colour.

The flowers and sentiment strip are both from Spellbinders.

I also added some glittery gems from Pinkfresh Studio to the centre of the smaller cluster of flowers.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Inspired By – photo Inspiration

A Perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Daisy Chain Challenge – no designer paper

The Crafty Addicts – anything goes

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Warm Winter Wishes

Hello once again. I had some messy and inky play yesterday to create this card:

I first created the panel for the mug. I used a Simon Says Stamp snowflake stencil, and through that I put some Altenew paste onto water colour card. Whist that was drying, I took some Distress Heavy Kraft card stock, stamped and heat embossed the sentiment in white, then sprayed with Distress Oxides in two purple colours. Again – this was set aside to dry.

Once the white snowflake panel was dry, I took purple Distress Inks, and ink blended over the top. I wanted the snowflakes to catch the ink, but also to have some purple on the background for an almost grungy look, and to be able to see the pattern from the water colour card itself. I then die cut the mug shape using a Heffy Doodle die set.

The sentiment cup holder was wiped with a dry cloth to try and get the white sentiment back, then die cut. The top of the mug was also using some of the left-over pieces from the die cutting of the mug and the holder piece.

I wanted a snowflake background, so took a Simon Says Stamp embossing folder, and as I didn’t want it stark white, I ink blended the lighter purple Ditress Ink around the edges.

The background panel was glued directly onto the card base, and the mug attached with 3D foam.

I found some purple sequins and dotted them around as you see.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Allsorts – anything goes, option to make your own background taken

The Four Seasons Challenge – anything goes winter

Give A Crafter A Cookie – photo Inspiration

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Mix It Up – anything goes – option to use more than one medium taken

Floral Boot Birthday

Hello. A chance to play today to create this card:

The die cuts on this card are from Spellbinder – a mix of different die sets – with card stock from Concord & 9th.

I used an embossing folder on a panel for the background, and adhered that flat to the card base.

I then took some purple and pink Concord & 9th card colours, and a green Spellbinders card for all the floral and foliage and set to the die cutting. Once everything was die cut, I assembled the layers, then arranged – finally – as you see. This usually takes me a while, but once I am happy, I take a snap shot, then use glue or foam dots to stick them all down.

I have tried using Press’n’seal to pick everything up once arranged, but that never works out for me……

The sentiment is a foiled strip from a previous foiling session.

To finish the flowers, I added some gems to the centre, then also added some clear/iridescent gems near the bottom.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Double D – birthday or anniversary

Color Throwdown – pink, purple, green

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Aud Sentiments – make your own background and/or birthday and a sentiment

Unicorn Challenge – birthday

Daisy Chain Challenge – no designer paper

Triple B – birds and/or butterflies and/or blooms

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Christmas (or not) Bingo Challenge – Column G – pearls, die cuts, free

Make A Splash……

Hello once again. The Alphabet Challenge has reached the letter ‘U’, and Melanie has chosen the theme of ‘Under something‘. Think of under the sea, under the weather, under an umbrella etc. Here is my card:

I decided to break out several older products for this card.

The background blue piece is a water colour panel coloured with Brushos – I wet the piece down, sprinkled on the Brushos, move it around a little, then let it dry. I wanted a more even background colour with some darker little spots, and I also wanted the water colour card texture to come through too.

The images are from Lawn Fawn, coloured with Copics, then cut using the matching die set.

The sentiment is stamped onto the background panel instead of using a separate sentiment strip, to try and keep as much of the blue background as possible.

A little rainy and splashy scene with the cute Lawn Fawn images.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

2 Critter Crazies – anything goes with a critter

Creative Inspiration – anything goes

Aud Sentiments – sentiment + make your own background and/or birthday

Daisy Chain challenge – no designer paper

The Crafty Addicts – anything goes

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of more than one medium taken (ink, Copics, Brushos)

Elephant Safari

Happy New Year to you all.
Cardz 4 Galz has started the new year with a challenge theme chosen by Dawn W. – ‘On safari. Here is my card:

The die set of the elephants are from Altenew, and when I saw them just before Christmas – I just had to have them. Aren’t they cute?

I used a lighter grey and a darker grey for the layers, but added a little shading with Distress Inks to the larger elephant on the layers at the back – the legs and the body, just for a little more dimension.

Once the layers were glued together, and some black gel pen added for the eyes, I searched through my designer paper stash for a suitable background paper, and found this from Spellbinders with some faint little hearts.

I matted that layer with black and a gold layer, which I also die cut the sentiment and it’s shadow layer from. The sentiment is from the Spellbinders Advent Calendar.

The hardest part about this was the arrangement of the elephants, and after playing around a little I thought the three of them arranged like this – as though they were waling towards you to say hello – would work best.

I hope you can come and join us with your ‘safari’ themed projects. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Ellibelle’s Corner – I Spy – something old and/or something new (new elephant die set, new sentiment die, old paper)

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – anything goes with a critter

Die Cut Divas – dies cuts and never before used stuff (Altenew die set, sentiment die)

Moving Along With The Times – use a new craft item (Altenew die set, sentiment die)

Christmas Bingo – the ‘O’ column – layers, rectangle free