Oh Joy…..

Hello everyone and a Happy New Year to you all…..

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge has started their new challenge – the theme is always ‘anything goes Christmas’. Here is my card:

I decided it was time to use some products I had received as part of a virtual event last year. I hadn’t gone through the classes at all, so I am trying to use the products, even though I wasn’t following the actual classes.

The background is a Spellbinders embossing folder, and onto that I adhered the stitched oval which was layered three times, the top layer being the gold layer. I only attached the top half of the oval initially, as I knew I wanted to layer some foliage under it.

The bird is a layering stencil from the SCT class, die cut then stencil – easier to layer that way. I then sued a stencil for the holly and the pine cone, then used the matching dies for those.

The bird was attached first with 3D foam strategically placed, then the foliage elements inserted.

The foiled sentiment from Lawn Fawn was added, and then some gold sequins.

I hope you can come and join us, it would be great to see you in our gallery. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Ellibelle’s Corner – something old and/or something new (new layering stencils)

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – anything goes with a critter

A Perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Die Cut Divas – die cuts and never before used stuff

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

T is for Texture

Hello once again. It is my turn to host at The Alphabet Challenge. As we have reached the letter ‘T’, I chose the theme of ‘Texture’. Texture can be added however you want to add it – embossing folder, paste, stencil – create texture in any way you choose.

Here is my card:

I added texture a couple of different ways here. The first was the background blue. This is a piece of acetate, tissue paper stuck down to one side of it, crinkling it as I went along. I then added water then Brushos added to create a dark and deep blue. Once the piece was dry, I went over the top of the crinkles with Hero Arts gold wax.

I then worked on the arch frame using Simon Says Stamp dies, and then stuck the frame on top of the blue crinkled tissue paper.

The leaf dies are also from Simon Says Stamp, and themselves have some texture to them with the detail on the leaves.

More texture added with the gold sequins, before I then adhered the gold foiled sentiment.

I hope you can come and join us and share your projects incorporating ways of adding texture. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Ellibelle’s Corner – anything goes

The Crafty Addicts – anything goes

Creative Artiste Mixed Media – anything goes mixed media (foil, wax, Brushos, wet glue)

Stay Crafty With a Blog Named Hero – Shiny – using at least one Hero Arts product (Hero Wax)

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

A DL/Slimline card with flowers

Hello everyone. I hope you have enjoyed the past few days in whichever way suited you.

Cardz 4 Galz has started a new challenge, Caz has chosen the theme of ‘A DL/Slimline card with flowers‘. Here is my card:

It wasn’t until one of my DT peeps asked what a DL card that I actually realised I didn’t know. I thought it was slimline, but Caz shared that it is ‘double length’……..you learn something new every day…….

I started with a white card base, and added a stitched gold layer, then added a previously gold stenciled panel. This is one of my favourite Spellbinder stencils, and I also have the glimmer plate as I love that diamond pattern – so versatile.

The florals are from Sue Wilson, an older die set, but I like the almost filigree pattern to them. The centres are the same gold card as the base layer, and I also added a gold gem on top.

Once the flowers were added, attached a gold foiled sentiment.

I hope you can come and join us and follow our theme. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Most Magical Time Of The Year – anything goes Christmas or Halloween

Die Cut Divas – die cuts and flowers

Dragonfly Dreams – Christmas

Christmas Crafts All Year Round – anything goes Christmas (or 12 of something, or a musical theme)

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

Beautiful Blossoms – anything goes flowers/florals

From Me To You…

Hello everyone. I have a card to share using products from several companies:

The background panel is a light pink, embossed using a Sizzix embossing folder, and cut down just a tad before gluing onto the white card base/

I then used the Spellbinders Kaleidoscope Arch die set, die cut the floral elements in either dark pink, a lighter pink, or white. The leaf and stems were die cut using a light brown card stock, and Spellbinders matte silver card stock for the flower centres.

The top layer of each of the arches was stitched with silver shiny thread, then the other layers matted underneath.

The flowers were layered, and added to the two arches once the sentiment strip was adhered, so I could tuck them underneath.

The pink sequins were part of the year’s Spellbinders Advent Calendar – just perfect for this. They have an almost iridescent look to them – sometimes they look dark pink, sometimes light pink, and at other times gold…

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Colour Hues – pink and silver

Aud Sentiments - embossing folder (other options are winter and/or New Year) and a sentiment

Die Cut Divas – die cuts and flowers

Give A Crafter A Cookie – gold and/or silver

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

The Crafty Addicts – anything goes

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

S is for Stars

Dawn is hosting the new challenge at The Alphabet Challenge. Having reached the letter ‘S‘ – she has chosen the theme of ‘Stars’

Here is my card:

The background panel was created using a star stencil and gold paste – applied liberally to create a little more dimension.

I decided to try and put some Hero Arts wax on the edge of the panel, and got a little carried away – this wax gives such a fabulous gold shine – so I just added more, and then more – and went for a messy and uneven look.

I then chose this sentiment die from Simon Says Stamp, die cut it out of hold card stock, layered it with white card stock for more stability, then attached the the panel.

A messy, funky kind of card, which does have lots of shine in real life. I hope you can come and join us with your creations matching our theme. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Ellibelle’s Corner – I Spy – Sparkle and Shine

A Perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Give A Crafter A Cookie – gold and/or silver

Avenue 613 Create – anything goes

Here Is A Place To Start – anything goes

Sparkly Joy

Hello once again. Cardz 4 Galz has started a new challenge. Pamela is hosting and has chosen the theme of:

‘A Christmas Card’

Here is my card:

The background was created using a hot foil plate from Spellbinders, and cut to an A2 card size.

The die cut elements were created using some Tim Holtz die sets – the word ‘Joy’ die cut out of Spellbinders red glitter foam and adhered with 3D foam – more dimension so I could add the foliage underneath the letters.

For the holly and the berries, I added glossy accents to create the shine, and I dotted some clear sequins around for even more shimmer and shine:

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Inkspirational – add glitter

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Ellibelle’s Corner – I Spy – sparkle or shine

Most Magical Time Of The Year – anything goes Halloween or Christmas

Dragonfly Dreams – Christmas

Christmas Crafts All Year Round – 12 of something, a musical theme, or anything goes Christmas

Sage Green Snowflake

Hello everyone. The ABC Christmas Challenge has reached the last challenge for this year. Helen is hosting this month, and having arrived at the letters ‘Y’ and ‘Z’, and we want to see your Christmas makes following the themes of:

Y is for Your Choice, Z is for Zebra – black and white or stripes

I chose ‘Y is for Your Choice’. Here is my card:

The background is using Spellbinders sage green card stock, and a Simon Says Stamp embossing folder. The circle is from Pinkfresh Studio, die cut using the same sage green card stock, and layered as you see.

The snowflake is from Pinkfresh Studio, stamped with one of the darker inks I used to ink blend with, then ink blended, using green/blue tones, and using a lighter or heavier hand to create even more contrast between the layers of the stencil.

I then used the matching die to cut it out, and attached it to the layers on the card base, then added some silver gems to the centre and four of the points.

The sentiment is from Lawn Fawn, silver foiled, then die cut using the matching die set.

I hope you can come and join us with your festive/Christmas creations – following our themes.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of stamping

Christmas Bingo – column B – free, stamped image, ink blending

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

A Perfect Time To Craft – anything goes

Aud Sentiments – embossing folder and/or winter/New Year and sentiment

Most Magical Time Of The Year – anything goes Christmas or Halloween

Merry & Bright

Hello all. I had some time to play to create using a stencil and die set I have had for a few weeks – if not months – to create this card:

The stencil and die set are from Waffle Flower, and I used the colours from the current Color Throwdown Challenge. This took a little creative thinking, but I am pleased with the result.

There are four layering stencils, and I chose an aqua blue and darker blue from Pinkfresh Studio, a light brown Distress Ink, and decided to gold heat emboss some of the elements.

This did involve using some of the stencils a couple of times for the different layers, and masking some of the smaller parts off.

I remembered to ensure the ink was dry before trying to heat emboss, and to apply the embossing ink through the stencil I used a dedicated blending brush. This is a technique learned during a previous virtual event – and it works a treat, especially for those little dots – just use the brush, the embossing ink, and pounce through the stencil……

Once gold heat embossed, I used the matching postage die, matted it with a black layer, then added it to a top folding A2 card base.

The sentiment is a hot foiled and die cut one from a previous hot foiling session.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – blue, aqua, gold

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – use dies

Peace On Earth – anything goes Christmas

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of stamping not taken

Make My Monday – Christmas tree or forest tree

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

We Love to Create – anything goes mixed media (heat embossing, ink for blending, hot foiling)

Creative Artiste Mixed Media – anything goes mixed media (heat embossing, ink blending, hot foiling)

Birthday Wishes

Hello everyone. I have a card to share for the Happy Little Stampers ‘anything goes Birthday’ challenge.

Unfortunately, Kylie has decided that the Happy Little Stampers will be closing – for all challenges…… It is with a heavy heart that Kylie made this decision, but she obviously feels that this decision is right for her at this time. I am sure we all wish Kylie well for the future, and maybe she will return when and if she feels it is right……

So – the final birthday card for the final Happy Little Stampers ‘anything goes Birthday challenge’:

For this card, I used Concord & 9th ‘Pretty Petals’ stamp and die set. I used the turnabout stamp for the light grey background – I wanted a muted background for the floral images.

The layers of the florals were die cut and assembled, placed onto the panel, then the sentiment added.

I couldn’t resist using some of the gold flecked enamel dots – matching the colours – around and about the image.

I hope you will come and join us with your ‘birthday’ creations, and with wishing Kylie well for the future. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Beautiful Blossoms – flowers/florals

Love To Craft – anything goes

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of stamping taken

Happy Reindeer Christmas

Hello everyone. I was lucky enough to be the winner of a recent Critter Crazy Challenge, and have taken them up on the offer to be this month’s Guest Designers. The theme for their challenges is ‘anything goes with a critter. The animal has to be the main focus. Here is my card:

I have been wanting to use this new die set from Spellbinders, designed by Nichol Spohr, and thought this challenge would be the ideal opportunity.

I first die cut the elements to make the reindeer, and assembled all the layers. This reindeer was my second go at it – I added the muzzle and mouth the wrong way up the first time – and then wondered why he looked so sad……!

I put him to one side then concentrated on the other elements.

The background panel is a light brown card stock, dry embossed using a Spellbinders embossing folder, then I ran the Hero Arts white pigment ink pad over it to catch the raised white areas.

I attached this to a 5 x 7 inch card base, leaving a white border, and then added my reindeer with 3D foam.

I then used several Spellbinder die sets for the flowers and the foliage, using three green, a couple of reds, white, and some gold for the ferns.

These were assembled, then I added them to the card using wet glue, arranging them until I was happy. The poinsettias were added on top of the rest, and faceted gold gems were placed in their centres.

The foiled sentiment was attached using 3D foam, and some holly leaves and berries at both ends.

I hope you can come and join us with your critter creations. The challenge ends on the 25th of this month, and you can enter 5 times with different projects. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

C YHTP – embossing folder – option of Christmas taken

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Beautiful Blossoms – flowers/florals

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Ellibelle’s Corner – I Spy – sparkle or shine