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

Thanks For Everything

Hello everyone. I have a card to share using new products from Pinkfresh Studio. This press plate, stamp, die, and colouring stencils are from the Pinkfresh Studio event happening this weekend. I made this putting my take on the products whilst the live event:

I began by hot foiling the press plate of the balloons, then used the layering stencils to colour them. I created some dimension with varying the pressure of the ink blending brush, and also added a slightly darker blue to the left and under-side of each balloon.

I then hot foiled the sentiment – also products from the event – then die cut it and stacked a couple more layers beneath that.

This is a 5×7 inch card, and I used a ‘Dragonfruit‘ piece of card stock and a Spellbinders embossing folder for the background, adhered with a layer of foam, and attached to the card base.

The two balloon images were adhered with 3D foam beneath each balloon, then the sentiment glued down.

I also added some clear drops from Altenew:

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Festive Friday – incorporate at least three items – pink, glossy drops, ink blending, words of encouragement/kindness, balloons

CYHTP – embossing folder, option of using something beginning with ‘F’ taken – foiling

Addicted To Stamps And More – make your mark

Stencil Fun – use a stencil – option of pink and/or red taken

ABC Christmas Challenge – C & D

Hello there. The ABC Christmas Challenge has started their second challenge of the year. The letters are ‘C’ and ‘D’ and we have chosen the themes of:

C is for Cute

and/or

D is for Die Cuts

Here is my card which incorporates both of the challenge themes:

This was another mixed media card and using some products received as part of the Gummiapan Advent Calendar. I just loved the gnome feeding the reindeer, and as I already had the trees from a previous order, I thought they would work to create a scene.

I started with the background, and used a Pinkfresh hot foil plate to create an imprint in the card. I then used Distress Oxide inks to swipe across the back of the card so the details would remain white as they were deeper. I added some water – not too much as this was normal card not water-colour card – then when dry I splattered on some gold and white acrylic paint.

For the main images, I did use water-colour card stock and my Zig water-colour markers – something I haven’t used for a while.

The images were die cut then water-coloured, gluing together once dry. The gold stars were painted using my gold marker.

I cut the snow bank free hand and attached before adding the images.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Love To Craft – anything goes

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Cut It Up – die cuts – and this certainly makes me smile

Creative Fingers – anything goes

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – anything goes with a critter

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

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.