die cuts

Teal Poinsettia

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

To create this card, I used the Waffle Flower Crafts ‘Sketched Poinsettia‘ stamp, die and stencil set. I first gold heat embossed the image with Altenew gold embossing powder, used the matching stencils to ink blend and colour the image in, then used the matching die to cut it out.

I used Pinkfresh Studio inks for the main floarl element.

For the background, I wanted a bold back-drop to the flower, so I used a dark blue card stock, and a Spellbinders embossing folder. This panel was cut slightly down to create a white edge.

The Spellbinders sentiment is gold foiled and die cut.

the elements were added as you see, and some dew drops added around and about.

I hope you can come and join, and I look forward to seeing you in our gallery. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Die Cut Divas – anything goes with die cuts

A Cut Above – anything goes with die cuts

Stencil Fun – use stencils – option of nature taken

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Congratulations Duck….

Hello once again. Cardz 4 Galz has started a new challenge. Helen has chosen the them of ‘Cute Animals’ Here is my card:

I just had to use this cute little duck again, so I die cut the elements and layered them together, leaving a little piece under the wing unglued to add the balloon string.

The balloon was die cut several times to get all the colours to layer.

Once the duck and balloon were sorted, I used an embossing folder to create the background – I wanted a bright and colourful card, and thought the little duck would stand out from this colour.

The sentiment is foiled and added somewhat as a grounding for the duck.

I am from an area in England where we call everyone ‘duck’ – a term of affection – to strangers and friends alike. I believe this is sometimes a little difficult for people to appreciate if you aren’t from the Sheffield/Yorkshire area – but if anyone from England calls you ‘duck’ – then take it as a friendly greeting……xx

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Everybody Art Challenge – farm animals

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

CYHTP – embossing folder – option of birds taken

Ellibelle’s Corner – something yellow

2 Sisters On The Blog – farm animals

Stitched Hello You……

The same friend that gave me the idea of using peonies for the last post, gave me some threads to stitch some of my stitching dies. I used to cross-stitch and sew tapestry many years ago, but when I started to need glasses and a spotlight to sew, I gave all my stuff away.

Here is what I came up with:

The stitching die is from Spellbinders, and the layers die cut out of white card stock. I wanted the embroidery to stand out.

All the coloured card stock is from Concord & 9th, using some of their new colours. Once the three layers were die cut and stitched with a lilac, a pink, and a darker purple, I die cut the centre panel, and attached the three elements together.

A Briar Rose panel was dry embossed using a Spellbinders embossing folder, attached to the white card base, and the three die cut and sewn elements were added with 3D foam.

I then die cut some florals and leaves, layered them together and added to the centre panel. I decided to go with a landscape orientation, as I felt it suited the floral dies better.

The small sentiment is white heat embossed, and die cut with it’s matching die.

I added some purple sequins around the larger sewn piece, and three smaller purple onto the centre panel.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – anything goes

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Ally’s Angels – anything goes

Beautiful Blossoms – anything goes flowers/florals

Ellibelle’s I Spy Challenge – April showers or May Flowers

So Many Reasons To Be Happy

Hello. I have been creating using a card kit from Spellbinders – outside of my comfort zone – but loving the fancy fold:

I understand this is called a ‘seagull’ fold. I came across this when viewing one of my DT friends and her recent post. which linked to a video on how to create it. Her post is here.

More pictures:

I chose to use some Spellbinders patterned papers as the background pieces, and some die cuts from one of their card kits. I don’t usually use a lot of these die cuts, but I seem to have quite a collection going now – so I took the opportunity to create this little jumping bunny scene. I feel the bunny is protecting itself from the sun – though we aren’t having much at the moment here in the UK. I understand it is coming soon though…….

I added some enamel dots to the centre of the flowers in the front panel, then decided that those polka dots on the patterned paper deserved some too – once I start I can’t seem to stop adding them. The enamel dots are from Concord & 9th and from a previous online crafty event.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Tic Tac Toe – using the top row – fancy fold, die cut, enamel dots

Crafty Catz – anything goes – option for a child

2 Crafty Critter Crazies – anything goes with a critter

Crafty Animals – anything goes with an animal

Crafts Galore – anything goes

Floral Framed Birthday

Hello yet again. Happy Little Stampers anything goes birthday has started a new challenge – and we’ll be taking a break for a couple of months after this. Here is my card:

The background was created using a Spellbinders stencil, paste, and then sprinkling glitter over the paste and let it dry.

I added A Pinkfresh Studio deco frame, and layered the flowers and twigs around the edge.

I added some gold gems to the flowers, the corners of the frame, and each end of the foiled sentiment.

I’ve forgotten which die and stamp set I used for the floral and leaves elements, and with the Color My Life app having some issues at the moment I couldn’t search it – and didn’t fancy trawling through my stash – when the app works again I’ll edit the post to let you know.

I hope you can come and join us for our last challenge of the year – it would be great to see you in our gallery. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – anything goes

Dream Valley Challenge – lots of layers

Crafters Café – use dies/punches

Mix It Up Challenge – anything goes – option to use a technique – stencil, paste, glitter

Birdie Christmas Greetings

Hello. I have a card to share inspired by the current colours at Color Throwdown:

I decided to make a Christmas card with those colours, and used a few Spellbinders die sets I have.

The background is embossed using an older embossing folder from Sizzix – not a Christmas design by any means, but I liked that it add some interest.

The central die is from Gina K designs and one of her Master Layouts, raised and adhered with foam.

The birds were put together using all the layers in each die set, but for the bird which is supposed to be a cardinal, I changed his/her tail feathers to the smaller ones from the other bird.

The floral elements and ferns are also from Spellbinders.

I played with the layout a little, stuck the elements down when I was happy with a mixture of 3D foam and glue, then added some sequins – I restrained myself to only adding three – and found that the sequins actually shine a little pink – so matches the colours perfectly.

I added the previously foiled sentiment for a total contrast so there is no mistake that this is a Christmas card……! Despit the colours…..!

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – mustard, pink, green

CYHTP – embossing folder – option pumpkins not taken

Christmas With The Cuties – anything goes Christmas – option food/drinks not taken

Sparkles Forum – festive and things with wings

Die Cut Divas – anything goes with die cuts

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

You Are The Best

I have managed to play in my craft room today – trying to ignore all the battering winds and rain.

I’m currently loving using Pinkfresh Studios sets – the stamp, stencils, and die sets are so much fun to use. I decided to use a new set to me to create this card:

I started by stamping the image, then used the layering stencils to colour. Even though there are three layers for the flowers, I only used two Distress Oxide colours – but the lightest one I used for two of the layers so it appears darker on the second layer, then a dark blue for the third layer.

I decided I wanted the leaves brown, so I used Vintage Photo (I think!) again for both the layers, so the second layer gives a darker tone.

I then die cut the branch and turned to the card base.

The embossed layer is using a Simon Says Stamp 3D embossing folder, and cut down to smaller than the card base, and adhered using 3D foam.

I then stuck down the branch with some smaller pieces of 3D foam, stamped the sentiment and did the same.

For the colours at Color Throwdown I had to use a darker green, so after thinking about more leaves, stamping the sentiment in green (I really didn’t like that idea) or Nuvo drops, I actually found these green gems in my stash, and placed them as you see – 3 larger and 3 smaller.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Color Throwdown – light blue, dark blue, forest green, brown

Can You Handle The Pressure – embossing folder – option to use pink (not taken)

Allsorts Challenge – I love……? (layering stencils currently!)

Creative Fingers Challenge – anything goes