Card Making

Delivering Warm Hugs

Hello once again. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge is starting a new ‘anything goes Christmas’ challenge. Here is my card:

I first created thew background panel using a stencil from Funky Fossil. I used a light blue card stock, then white pigment ink for the snowflakes. This was cut down to slightly less than an A2 card panel.

The central die cuts are from The Greetery and the die is called ‘Frost Buds’. The branch part was die cut from some white glitter card stock, and the buds themselves cut from silver glitter card stock. These were layered and added as you see.

I die cut some extra small pieces and added them to the background, then added some glitter gems to the centre of each of the die cut snowflakes.

The sentiment is from a previous foiling session.

I hope you can come and join us with your Christmas creations – anything goes is the theme. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Christmas (or not) Bingo – column G – free – pearls/gems – die cuts

Love To Craft – anything goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Crafty Catz – anything goes – option to use a die taken

12 Months Of Christmas Link Up – Christmas anything goes – option of couples taken – a couple of branches

Stencil Fun – use a stencil – option of pinks and reds not taken

You’re Sweet

Hello everyone. I’m popping in to share a card created using the photo inspiration from the current Just Add Ink Challenge:

Here is the photo they used for inspiration:

And here is what I created:

I was inspired by the glass and the colour scheme, as well as the use of fruits.

I started by creating the background panel using Concord & 9th card stock and a Spellbinders embossing folder. This was then glued flat to a card base.

The glass, fruit, and foliage images are all from Pinkfresh Studio, and a mixture of a couple of sets.

The images were stamped then heat embossed with gold embossing powder, then all images coloured using the relevant layering stencils. I used Pinkfresh inks in a couple of coral and pink tones for the fruit, then a couple of green tones for the leaves.

The glass itself is actually from a Christmas/holiday set and was part of one of their virtual events, but I thought it would work for this and not be a Christmas card.

The glass has a notch cut into it near the top and into that I inserted the two pieces of fruit and a couple of leaves. The fruits all come die cut as one piece – several pieces altogether – so I cut them apart and picked the pieces I wanted.

I wanted to add a brushed gold frame, so die cut one out – then decided I liked the look of the ‘off cut’ from the frame – the outside piece we generally throw away – it seemed more suitable as it wasn’t too thick – thank goodness I centred in on the panel in the first place! The proper frame will be used on another project….

The glass and foliage were arranged on the panel, then I used low tack tape to pick the whole thing up – added thinner 3D foam to the back, then stuck it all down in one go. I little glue to some areas laying on the top.

The foiled sentiment was added – three layers altogether o make it more stable, and then brushed gold gems added as you see.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Just Add Ink – photo Inspiration

Love To Craft – anything goes

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Crafty Catz – anything goes – option to use a die taken

Creative Artiste – anything goes mixed media

Heart Hugs

Hello. I had some time to create in my craft room today using some products from the recent Simon Says Stamp ‘Sending Love‘ virtual class event. Even though I don’t see myself as a particularly romantic person, the products were inspiring. Here is my creation:

I first started by using the layering heart stencil. There are four layers to this stencil, and I used Pinkfresh Studio inks in tones of pink. This panel was then die cut using the ‘postage edge’ die set – part of the kit – and a larger layer of red to mat behind it.

These two layers were attached to a white A2 card base, the red glued directly down, and the heart panel raised using some craft foam.

I then stamped the ‘HUGS’ in black Gina K Amalgam ink, then coloured with three red Copic markers, creating a gradient darker at the bottom and lighter at the top. This word was then die cut, and I also added three more die cut layers to make this a little more sturdy.

The word was then glued down, and I added some glossy accents on top to make it all shiny…

I also raided my stash as I knew I had some little heart embellishments, and added some light pink hearts around and about in the open spaces:

This actually turned out to be a mixed media project at the end, which surprises me as it is quite simple – but yet effective.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Addicted To Stamps & More – dies cuts and/or stencils – both were used

Inkspirational – red and pink

Christmas (or not) bingo – column G – red, free, die cuts

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

We Love To Create – anything goes mixed media – Copics, dye inks, pigment ink, glossy accents

Colorful Options – mood board

Stencil Fun – anything goes with stencils, option to use pink and red taken

Creative Artiste Mixed Media – anything goes mixed media – Copics, dye inks, pigment ink, glossy accents

V is for Vintage

Hello again. The Alphabet Challenge has reached the letter ‘V‘, and Caz has chosen the theme of ‘Vintage‘. Here is my card:

I really struggle with the vintage feel of projects, they aren’t my usual style, but I embraced the challenge and created this.

I started by using a 5×7 card base, and onto that I layered some patterned papers from my stash. These were given a torn edge with my scissors, then some brown ink blended around the edges.

The bottom two were adhered direct to the card base, then I found this vintage lady in my stash so I used her to be the focus in the bottom left corner.

I then used some flowers which had a vintage feel – to me anyway – and framed here, also adding some brown die cut wreaths and leaves which were laying on my table.

This quite a dimensional project but hopefully it works.

I hope you can come and join us with your vintage projects, and I look forward to being inspired. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Beautiful Blossoms – florals

Mix It Up – anything goes, option of monochrome

Love To Craft – anything goes

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Cardz 4 Galz – Polka Dots

Hello once again. Debbie is hosting the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz, and she has chosen the theme of ‘Polka Dots’. Here is my card:

I chose to use a couple of items received as part of the Spellbinders Advent calendar for 2024.

The background panel was dry embossed using a Spellbinders embossing folder. I wanted a darker and vibrant colour to enable the centre panel to stand out more. I die cut a square from the top half and added a light grey frame.

The polka dots were a set of stencils from the advent calendar, the two layers ink bledned, and I also rotated a layer to get a different colour in there. I die cut a square from that little panel, and placed behind the window on the dark blue panel.

The cat and balloon were also from the advent calendar, die cut as you see, with the balloon being die cut from a silver glitter card stock. These were added, and the sentiment glued below, with some gems top right and bottom left for a little extra sparkle.

I hope you can come and join us with your polka dot themed creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Addicted To Stamps and More – die cuts and/or stencils (I used both)

Allsorts – anything goes – option of romance and/or music not taken

Love To Craft – anything goes

Ellibelle’s I Spy – feathers or fur – fur for me

2 Crafty Critters Crazies – anything goes with a critter

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

Warm Snowflake Wishes

Hello everyone. It’s been a busy week so I am sorry I am late with this post for the new challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge. I’m also still getting to grips with the changes that WordPress has made – small changes – but it has made it more difficult and less intuitive for me.

The challenge is always ‘anything goes Christmas‘. Here is my card:

For this card, I used some older products. The background panel is a foiled plate from Lawn Fawn – I love this foil plate and have it foiled in a variety of colours of foil, and a variety of colours of card stock. I did enjoy playing that day…

The gold foil is on some blue card stock and cut to an A2 panel.

I used the Spellbinders ‘Delicate Snowflakes’ die set and white glitter card stock for the base layer of the snowflakes, and some purple tones for the layers.

The sentiment is also a Pinkfresh Studio foiled sentiment and I added some Pinkfresh Studio ombre glitter gems for the centre of the die cut snowflakes, and also the centre of the snowflakes on the foiled panel.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Give A Crafter A Cookie – anything goes

12 Months Of Christmas Link up – anything goes Christmas – option of Polar Bears not taken

Inkspirational – prompt word – snow

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Girls Creative Christmas – Christmas and snowflakes

Addicted to Stamps and More – die cuts and/or stencils

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

U is for Underwater

Hello again. It is time for the next challenge at The Alphabet Challenge. We have reached the letter ‘U’ and Deborah has chosen the theme of:

U is for Underwater

Here is my card:

I used some die sets from Spellbinders to create this card. The ‘underwater tunnel’ dies were used, and card stock from my stash, including from Concord & 9th and Spellbinders, as well as some from Creative Expressions if I remember correctly.

Once I had decided which card stock, and where the apertures were to go, I then die cut the turtle, coral and anchor, layering as I went along.

The layers for the tunnel were glued onto an A2 card base, but the top lighter layer I added a very thin 3D foam for a little more dimension, and so I could slot the other die cuts in where I wanted.

The final touch were the clear gems, to represent some bubbles.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

2 Crafty Critters Crazies – anything goes with a critter

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

Crafty Calendar – add a die cut

Allsorts – close to nature

Give A Crafter A Cookie – anything goes

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Love To Craft – anything goes

Cardz 4 Galz – anything but square

Hello once again. Cardz 4 Galz has started a new challenge. Helen is hosting this time, and she has chosen the theme of:

‘anything but square’

Here is my card:

I decided to go with an oval card suing nesting oval dies from Spellbinders. Using a basic A2 card base, I die cut a large oval – keeping the fold – for the actual card base.

I then used the large oval to create the brushed gold layer, then another for the white piece on top. This white piece I used an embossing folder on to create some added interest.

using even more of the nesting ovals I created a brushed gold oval frame, placed that on top of the white piece, and used that as a base shape to place all the images.

The blue roses are from Pinkfresh, one of their washi tape suites, die cut a couple of times to enable me to have plenty of flowers to play around with.

Once all the elements were attached – a mixture of glue and 3D foam pads – I added the gold sentiment and some gold gems dotted around and about.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

A perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Crafty Calendar – add a die cut

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Creative Inspiration – anything goes

Give A Crafter A Cookie – anything goes

Beautiful Blossoms – florals

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of monochrome

Season’s Greetings

Hello everyone. The Holly and Ivy Challenge is back with their first challenge of the year. There was quite a lot of blogger issues with our leader at the end of last year, and a few of us weren’t able to comment or even find where to add things. We apologise if your entry over the past couple of months wasn’t commented on – it was a nightmare for us all.

Here is my card for the first challenge of the year, with the theme being ‘anything goes Christmas‘:

I decided to try a different colour scheme, using more purple tones, with a little bit of pink.

The background is hot foiled using a Lawn Fawn plate – silver onto a dark blue panel, and adhered flat to the card base.

The ice skates are from Spellbinders, and die cut using different tones of purple, with matt silver for the blades, and black for the sole of the shoes.

The flowers and foliage were die cut and assembled, then all arranged onto the card base. Some silver sequins added for a little more shine – to the centre of the flower and some around the background.

I hope you can come and join us and start building your stash.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Peace On Earth – anything goes Christmas

A Perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Dragonfly Dreams – use pinks and purples

Crafty Calendar – add a die cut

12 Months Of Christmas Link Up – anything goes Christmas – option polar bears not taken

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Roses Thank You

Hello once again everyone. The Alphabet Challenge has started a new challenge. Billie A is hosting, and she has chosen the theme of:

T is for Thank You

Here is my card:

The background roses are from a Waffle Flower Crafts stencil. A layering stencil. I used the stencil three times on an A2 card panel to create the three roses, just by rotating the stencil each time, and masking off the leaves where necessary.

I then used the stencil to add a few leaves, and found a little stamp with dots on to add more details in the open spaces.

I used my gold shimmery acrylic paint to add splatters. Once dry, I used a foil plate from Crafty Meraki which had a lot of hearts, and dry embossed using the silicone mat and my die cutting machine. You can see the subtle background hearts: