Card Making

Love Hope and Joy

Hello there. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge has started a new challenge. The theme is always ‘anything goes Christmas’. Here is my card:

I thought I would have a go at using the Color Cubes by Sarah Renae Clark. My sister bought them for me a year or two ago – and I have never even opened the two boxes. Here is the photo with the card from the cube box I used:

I thought it was quite dramatic and so I went with it.

The background panel was created using a panel of Spiced Cider card stock from Concord & 9th and a Spellbinders embossing folder.

The mistletoe layering dies are from The Greetery, die cut using Concord & 9th card stock and some white glitter card from a UK company called Pink Frog Crafts. (This company is very local to me actually, and they have a fabulous range of glitter card – even non-shedding – and is quite handy when I am almost running out.

The bow is from another die set from The Greetery, also die cut out of white glitter card.

The final touches were the added foiled sentiment, and the clear gems.

I hope you can come and join us with your Christmas creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Jingle Belles Rock – Christmas and Bling It! – (glitter card stock and gems)

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

CYHTP – embossing folder – option of lucky/St Patrick’s Day not taken

Aud Sentiments – a sentiment with the option of glitter and bling (or St Patrick’s Day)

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of lets of layers taken

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Hugs & Kisses

Hello again. The Alphabet Challenge has reached the letter ‘X’ and Dawn has chosen the theme of;

XOXO – hugs & Kisses

Here is my card:

I went with a little drama for this card by using a black background to highlight the soft and sketchy floral images.

The background panel was embossed using a Spellbinders embossing folder which has little hearts on it.

The floral images are from The Greetery and have a sketchy look which I quite like. This way, even if the layers of colour are slightly out – it doesn’t really matter. It just added to the overall effect,

I stamped the outline and then lined up the other layers as instructed, then used the matching die set to cut them out. I arranged them on the background, leaving a little space in the centre whilst I decided on which sentiment to use – of course – this foiled sentiment was perfect for the challenge theme.

As this was a silver foiled sentiment, I added some silver sequins – you know I like my added embellishments – then adhered the sentiment across the width of the card.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms – flowers and optional mood board

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

A Cut Above – anything goes with die cuts

Mix It Up – anything goes- option of layers taken

Love To Craft – anything goes

Happy You Day

Hello everyone. Cardz 4 Galz has started another challenge. Caz is the host, and she has chosen the theme of:

‘Mother’s Day UK – 30th March – or for a special lady/friend’

Here is my card:

The outer frame and inner frame were die cut using a Pinkfresh Studio die set. The smaller frame was die cut again in white and then embossed using a Spellbinders embossing folder. I thought the lattice affect would look good behind the floral images.

These frames were then attached to a white card base, and then the floral and vine images were die cut twice, and several flowers created so I had enough to place around.

All were adhered to the card and the sentiment was heat embossed and placed into the centre.

I added small gems the the flower centres, and then decided to add them to some of the greenery – once I start I find it difficult to stop adding them….

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms – flowers – optional mood board

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

A Cut Above – anything goes with die cuts

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Thinking Of You

Hello everyone. I had – unfortunately – the need for a sympathy card. A close friend of mine lost her father this last week so I wanted something simple yet meaningful. Here is my card:

I started with the background, and used a Pinkfresh Studio cover plate to create the stitched panel. This was adhered flat to the card base. Onto that I attached a frame created using a layering stencil from a recent Pinkfresh Studio virtual event, and die cutting with a ‘Fancy Frames‘ die set – also part of that event.

I first stencilled a panel, then used the frame dies, and used this one piece adhered flat to the background stitched panel.

Using the washi tape from that event – stuck onto a piece of card then die cut with the matching dies – I chose the floral images I thought would best go around the frame, and adhered them with glue.

The sentiment is a previously foiled strip.

Having lost both my parents over the past 5 years of so, I can appreciate how she is feeling, but it is still very difficult to be able to put that into words, isn’t it?

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Just Us Girls – anything goes with a stencil

Creative Fingers – anything goes

Make My Monday – faux or real stitching (background panel)

Beautiful Blossoms – flowers – optional mood board

Tic Tac Toe – top row (metallic – layers – thinking of you)

Love To Craft – anything goes

Happy, Happy Birthday

Hello everyone. I am here with a card for the new challenge at A Perfect Time To Craft. I was chosen as one of the winners for the December 2024 challenge, as as such took up their offer of being a Guest Designer for an upcoming challenge.

Here is my card:

I was allowed to choose from digital images and saw this suite of images from Anne Constantly-Carding site. The ‘Pink Blooms‘ set has some lovely background papers and floral images, so many I was stuck for choice.

I don’t work very often with digital images, as I don’t really know how to manipulate them,. and my printer doesn’t like to print on anything much thicker than paper…

I first printed all the images onto paper, then attached those sheets to a white card. After deciding which image I was going to use, I took a scalloped circle die which fit this circular image perfectly, and die cut.

The background panel is actually a blush card stock – even though it looks cream on the photo – and dry embossed using a Stampin Up embossing folder. The ‘Ornate Circle‘ die from Pinkfresh Studio seemed the pe4rfect frame for the floral circle, and die cut using Concord & 9th ‘Briar Rose’ card stock.

The layers were attached as you see, and some gold gems added around the ornate frame.

The sentiment is also from Pinkfresh Studio, and heat embossed with gold.

I hope you can come and join the fun at A Perfect Time To Craft. Their challenge is always ‘anything goes’, and you can enter as many times as you wish. xx

Oh Christmas Tree

Hello everyone. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge has started a new challenge – anything goes Christmas. Here is my card:

I started by creating the background. Using a Spellbinders embossing folder, I inked up smoother side of the folder, and an it through the machine with a white card panel. This created the embossed leaves, but the blue background to them. I then used gold acrylic ink and created some splatter.

The card base is 5×7 inches, a slightly smaller blue panel adhered, then the white and blue embossed panel was cut slightly smaller than that and glued down.

The tree is a die set from The Greetery, – an interesting die set and an interesting way to put all the levels together. All layers were die cut with the same green card stock, then a little ink blending along the bottom for a slightly darker look – some added dimension.

Once I had set the tree on the background, I though it needed a frame, so I also used the Ribbon Frame die set. As this ribbon frame was created for an A2 panel – I die cut two, did a little snipping, and elongated it to fir the 5×7 card.

The ribbon and tree were attached, and some very sparkly gems added to areas on the tree.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Crafts Galore – anything goes

A Cut Above – anything goes with a die cut

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

12 Months Of Christmas Link Up – anything goes Christmas – option of couples not taken

CYHTP – embossing folder – option of masculine not taken

W is for Wings

Hello once again. It is time for the new challenge at The Alphabet Challenge. Having reached the letter ‘W‘, Billie A has chosen the theme of ‘W is for Wings‘. Here is my card:

This was created using a lot of die cuts – I mean a lot. Several sets from Spellbinders, and a little patience….

I chose a cream background panel for this 5×7 inch card base, and used a Spellbinders embossing folder. It is a little difficult to see in the photos – but it is there…..

I then used lots of different coloured card stock for each of the layering die cut elements, along with some glitter card stock for the wings of the bees, and the centre of the larger flowers.

I made sure eyes of each of the bees were glued so it looked like there were looking towards the centre, or even looking towards each other – the way my mind works sometimes….!

I added some blue sparkly gems around and about – even more bling and sparkle – and it looks like I couldn’t fit anything else on there – that’s why I used a larger card base.

I hope you can come and join us with your creations featuring wings – lots of scope there. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – anything goes with a critter

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

MAWTT – things with wings

A Cut Above – anything goes with die cuts

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Best Wishes

Hello there. Cardz 4 Galz has started a new challenge. Pamela is hosting and she has chosen the theme of ‘Embellishments’. Think gems, sequins, buttons, bows, etc. Here is my card:

The background panel is a purple card stock and dry embossed using a Spellbinders embossing folder.

I die cut the frame from a Pinkfresh Studio die set out of brushed gold card stock, then added the washi tape blue roses – again from Pinkfresh Studio. I only used one of the multiple images from the strip of washi tape, the others are for another project.

The sentiment is heat embossed, and my nod to the challenge theme was to add multiple gems – some small sparkly gems and a few larger coloured gems.

I hope you can come and join us with your projects incorporating our theme. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Tic Tac Toe – top left to bottom right diagonal – enamel dots – die cuts – dry/heat embossing

A Cut Above – anything goes with a die cut

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Beautiful Blossoms – anything goes with flowers/floral

Congrats – You deserve It

Hi there. Popping in to share another project created using the products from this past weekend’s Pinkfresh Studio virtual event.

I have the need for 6 congratulations cards, as the rest of my nurse practitioner team have been given a higher grading/banding. In the UK, we have certain ‘band’ levels which rise with seniority and qualifications, so their hard work and university courses have really paid off for them.

It has taken them 2 years of a Masters course at university on top of doing their day-to-day jobs, all that writing and actually jumping through hoops – it has taken a while – but they have finally been successful. Congrats to them all.

Here is my set of cards:

It probably took me a couple of hours to create these, but once you get going, all that ink blending on all those panels just goes quickly.

I first hot foiled the image, then started to ink blend. I did start with purple, but went to the coral colour and decided to keep them virtually the same after that. A couple of tones to create the dimension on the balloons, then each panel was die cut with the matching die set. I cut an extra of the balloon image for each one and glued together to create a little more stability.

I then hot foiled the sentiment, again used the matching dies, and added more blank die cuts behind those too.

The background panel was also a plate which had stitched detail, and adhered flat to the card base.

The extra little floral elements I added just for a little more colour.

This image – the stamp set, hot foil plate, layering stencils, and matching dies – are all just one set of products from one class – there are 4 other classes I have yet to do with other products………I can see a lot of Pinkfresh Studio projects coming your way….

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Fab’n’Funky – stitching – real or faux

Addicted To Stamps and More – make your mark

Ellibelle’s Corner – anything goes

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Hello Friend

Hello everyone. I have a fun card to share with you made as Guest Designer for the new challenge at Ellibelle’s Corner I Spy challenge. The new theme is ‘no designer paper‘ Here is my card:

When I saw this carrot house and bunny from Picket Fence Studio – ‘Welcome Home Bun Bun‘ – I just had to have it. Such a fun and different die set.

Rather than using different coloured card stock, I created some panels using Distress Inks and played with ink smooshing. I used a couple of orange and a couple of green ink pads, wanting the panels to have lots of texture, and lots of layers, also adding some brown to the orange panel, just for more interest and dimension.

Once these panels were dry, I used the dies for each section then used the back shadow layer to glue all the parts together. I am glad this back layer was added as it makes gluing all the layers so much easier.

The background panel was created using Speckled Egg and again ink smooshing to give a soft pale blue sky, and the clouds were die cut from an ink smooshed panel using Salvaged Patina – or was it the other way round……?!

The window frames and door – die cut from the orange panel – were rubbed into some dark brown Distress Ink to make then stand out a little more. The windows were also die cut from the light blue piece of card and the ‘glass’ areas inlaid.

The bunny was die cut from a light grey card stock with the pink areas die cut and inlaid, and the sentiment from Spellbinders was created by using some left over spare orange and blue ink smooshed panels.

This was actually quite a fiddly card to make – you can see where all the die cuts are, and making them different colours, inlaying some of the die cuts – a little time consuming, but I must have been in a fiddly mood as I enjoyed the process,

I hope you can join us with your creation following the new theme. xx