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Just Saying Hello

Hello once again. The Alphabet Challenge has started a run through the alphabet again. For this challenge, hosted by Helen, we want you to choose your own letter from the alphabet, and create a card from your own choice of theme for that letter….

I chose ‘F’ is for Flowers’, and created this card:

This is actually a gate-fold card, so I created the blue card base first, then ran that through the machine with an embossing folder. This created an all-over pattern for the whole of the card base.

The front panel was created using the same embossing folder, onto which I adhered some Pinkfresh florals from one of their washi tape suites – attached to a white piece of card, then die cut.

Once the images were laid out onto the white panel, with images over-hanging the edge, I cut the over-hangs off. The foiled sentiment was added, as were some gold gems.

I placed another white panel on the inside of the card, also decorated with some of the washi florals.

I hope you can come and join us this time round – choose your own letter and your own theme following that letter – the world is your oyster. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Addicted To Stamps & More – die cuts and/or stencils

CYHTP – embossing folder – option of rainbow or rainbow colours not taken

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Die Cut Divas – die cuts and flowers

Creative Creases – anything goes with a fun fold

Beautiful Blossoms – anything goes flowers/florals

Art Deco Thanks

Hello everyone. Cardz 4 Galz has started a new challenge. Johanna is the host, and she has chosen the theme of ‘Art Deco’.

I had to do an internet search as I really didn’t know what that actually meant. I see that it describes bold colours, geometric or simple lines……I had a search through the products in my Color My Life app and came up items to create this card:

I used a Pinkfresh Studio suite of products (Overlapping Geo Leaf) which included a foil plate, layering stencils, and a die.

I first used the foil plate on white card stock, then the layering stencils, and then the matching die. The inks used were also from Pinkfresh Studio, and I chose bold colours which would work well when layered together.

Once die cut, I then used some Spellbinders brushed gold card stock, and used the die again, placing the gold outer frame ‘off cut’ onto a white card base. I decided to die cut again in white, and layered that with the ink blended panel then inlaid it into the frame, adding the smaller gold pieces. This made the ink blended piece stand a little proud of the background.

The foiled sentiment was added as you see.

I hope you can join us with your projects in the Art Deco style – I am looking forward to seeing all the bold and bright colours on our gallery. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

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

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Stencil Fun – use stencils – option of patterns taken

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Snowflake Swirl

Hello once again. It is time for the new challenge at ABC Christmas Challenge. We have reached the letters ‘H’ and ‘I’, and we want to see your Christmas creations following these two themes:

H is for Ho Ho Ho (Santa) and/or I is for Ice

Here is my card for the theme of Ice:

This is quite a clean and simple card for me, with only a few elements, but I do think it makes an impact.

I first die cut the Snowflake swirl die out of silver glitter card stock. This die is from Simon Says Stamp and is quite delicate.

I chose to highlight the die cut with a blue textured piece of card stock from my stash – goodness knows how old this card is – and used two strips of the same silver glitter card to run down each of the side edges.

I added the silver foiled sentiment and some silver gems to the centre if the snowflakes, with some extra for the edge of the sentiment.

I hope you can come and join us with your Christmas creations following one of both of our themes. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Crafters Café – anything goes – option of CAS

Christmas (or not) Bingo – column I – free, Christmas, no stamping

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Peace On Earth – anything goes Christmas

12 Months of Christmas Link Up – Christmas – option of vintage not taken

Christmas – Acetate Technique

Hello everyone. It’s the start of another ‘anything goes Christmas‘ challenge at The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge. Here is my card:

The snowflake was created using a Simon Says Stamp die (Pixie Snowflake) and die cutting that out of a previously created panel of acetate, tissue paper, Brushos, and glue……

You take a piece of acetate, add some dries clear glue or lacquer, then alcohol inks or water-colour powder – the colours of your choice – then sprinkle on some glitter. Here is a Sue Wilson video to check out if you wish.

You then add some wrinkled tissue paper and press down so the tissue paper sticks to the glue and alcohol inks. This is the messy part, so I wore some disposable gloves and some kitchen roll.

This needs to then dry over night – I usually make several pieces at one time to have some available when I want them.

Once that acetate and tissue paper had dried, I used a Simon Says Stamp die (Grand Pixie Snowflake) and die cut out of the middle of an A2 sized piece. I did have to use my chrome plate for die cutting as the acetate and the layers it has on it needs a little more help than the usual plates.

I created a white card base and added a green panel slightly smaller. The white glitter card I cut down to a square just larger than the snowflake, then die cut the snowflake out of the centre, and inlaid the acetate die cut into the glitter square.

The sentiment is a previously foiled strip.

I have the ‘off-cut’ here ready to add another sentiment when the time is right:

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Just Us Girls – die cuts – no flowers

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Peace On Earth – anything goes Christmas

12 Months of Christmas Link Up – Christmas – option of vintage not taken

Bunny Thanks

Hello once again everyone. I have a card to share as Guest Design Team for this new challenge at Dragonfly Dreams. I was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the Top 3 for the January challenge and was invited to join them for a future challenge.

Their new challenge theme is ‘animals’. Here is my card:

I wanted to use a new to me die set from The Greetery of this cute little bunny called ‘Bunny Kisses’. This die set includes the bunny and a few other elements for the bunny to hold – I chose to use the flowers for this card, but there are also some little eggs.

The bunny was die cut and assembled, and I also put several flowers together in different colours to be able to choose how many and which colours I wanted once the card was assembled.

I created the background florals using a layering stencil and Pinkfresh Studio inks, then cut that down so I could layer it with a black panel, and then layered that onto a white card base.

When I lay the bunny onto the background, I felt it was too busy behind him, so I added a circular vellum die cut, then the bunny. This circle die is also from Pinkfresh Studio.

I added the flowers then the black foiled sentiment, as well as some black enamel dots.

I hope I see you in the Dragonfly dreams gallery with your creations featuring animals. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Beautiful Blossoms – flowers – optional mood board

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Crafters Café – anything goes – option of CAS not taken

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

Love To Craft – anything goes

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

Give A Crafter A Cookie – photo Inspiration – bunny was my inspiration

Z is for Zoom

Hello once again. I am here with a creation for the new challenge at The Alphabet Challenge. The theme has been chosen by Melanie, and she has chosen:

Z is for Zoom – anything which goes fast

Here is my card:

I used a Spellbinders die set to create the plane and banner, and a mixture of acrd stock from Concord & 9th and Spellbinders.

I did have to watch a YouTube video several times to be able to layer each part in the correct way – but I managed to achieve it – finally.

Once the plane and banner was assembled, I used an MFT stencil to create the background clouds. I wanted lots of clouds, and lots of dimension so I used a blue card panel and some slightly darker blue ink to create it.

The panel was adhered flat to the card base, the plane and banner attached with a thin 3D foam, then some clear enamel dots added here and there.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Addicted To Stamps & More – any occasion

Seize The Birthday – birthday – option of milestone not taken

Tic Tac Toe – middle column – enamel dots, free, die cut

Ellibelle’s Corner – anything goes

Butterfly Stripes

Hello there. Popping in to share a card for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz. Dawn has chosen the theme of ‘Stripes’. Here is my card:

My use of stripes is in the background foiled panel. I layered that onto a piece of gold glitter card stock. I added another frame from a Pinkfresh Studio die set, then created the images.

These images are from another Pinkfresh Studio suite – washi tape onto white card, then die cut with the matching dies.

The images were arranged as you see, and some ombre glitter gems added.

The sentiment is also gold foiled, and stacked with two or three die cuts instead of 3D foam.

There is a lot of gold going on in this card – I must have been in one of my blingy moods.

I hope you can come and join us with your take on our theme of ‘stripes’.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Crafters Café – anything goes – option of CAS not taken

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of layers taken

Love To Craft – anything goes

Warm Snowflake Wishes

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

The background panel is a previously created panel using alcohol inks and water – you have a shallow dish of water big enough to take your card panel, add alcohol inks, stir a little – then place the card on top for a few seconds, lift it up – et voila…..a fabulous card panel. You can use any card – normal 80lbs – so I hope you give it a go.

This was cut down to just smaller than an A2 card base, then adhered flat.

The snowflake is from a Simon Says Stamps die, cut out of white glitter card – and layered with another plain white piece for more stability.

I added the silver foiled sentiment – from Pinkfresh Studio – then added some silver pearls to parts of the snowflake.

I hope you can com and join us and prepare your stash for the end of the year. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Avenue 613 Create – anything goes – option any occasion

Crafts Galore – anything goes

12 Months Of Christmas Link Up – Christmas – option of owls not taken

Aud Sentiments – sentiment – with glitter and bling or St Patrick’s/green

Peace On Earth – anything goes Christmas

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Y is for Yummy

Hello again. It is my turn to host at The Alphabet Challenge. Having reached the letter ‘Y‘, I chose the theme of ‘Yummy‘. Anything food related and yummy and delicious – you get my drift. Here is my card:

I think I went quite clean here making the die cuts speak for themselves.

The blue background panel was created using a Spellbinders embossing folder and adhered flat to the card base – a small white edge all the way around.

The cake, balloons, and sentiment are from a die set received as a ‘goodie bag’ from an online Facebook sale from a UK shop. They have this sale once a month, and can last up to three hours – there are always bargains to me had – and the last bargain is a super-duper crafty bag. This die set was one of items in that bag, and are from Karen Burniston.

I felt these were small but mighty cute images, and as such I wanted them to stand out.

The cake was created – gotta be chocolate for me – using two shades of brown card stock from Concord & 9th.

All the other elements were die cut using Pinkfresh Studio gold glitter card stock. I may well have used this a lot recently – but it is very, very sparkly and it just has to be done…..

The cake was adhered to the platter, the candles layered behind. the balloon strings were adhered to the back of each balloon – the middle one cut down slightly to fit above the cake.

And the sentiment added at jaunty angles.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Seize The Birthday – anything goes birthday – option anything that flies not taken -unless to let the balloon go in windy weather….! :)

Addicted To Stamps & More – birthday

Happy Spring

Hello everyone. I have a card to share for the new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz. Sue J is hosting this time round and she has chosen the theme of ‘Springtime’. Here is my card:

I chose to make use of products from a previous crafty event. The products are from ‘Stamps Of Life’ and the die set creates this stepper card, with added dies for the layers.

I started by creating the card base using the main die, then added layers of patterned paper for the background. Some bright and colourful dotty paper.

I added the two die cut words – also using dies from the same die set.

The two crocus flowers are from The Greetery layered as per instructions, and adding more green leaves for a fuller look.