foiling

Thinking Of You Today

Hello again. I have a card to share whilst trying to keep my mind busy after saying goodbye to one of my cats yesterday.

My starting point was the list at Festive Friday and searched my CML app for ‘envelope’. This Spellbinders hot foil plate came up, and with it were layering stencils, so out came my foil machine, and off I went.

I used a brass foil and Hammermill card stock. Now – I am not a fan of this card stock. I have not had great results when foiling or ink blending, but thought I would give it another go……..in future, I will stick with my Neenah for ink blending.

It did foil perfectly. I just don’t like how the card ‘grabs’ the brush, the ink doesn’t flow smoothly enough for me. I will use it for foiling or for stamping – but not for ink blending….

Anyhoo – onwards……I ink blended Pinkfresh Studio inks in the colours you see using all the layering stencils. I added a slightly darker blend to the areas of the envelopes I felt would be a little,in shadow under another envelope.

The panel was then cut down slightly to leave a white border showing on the card base.

The sentiment is from Pinkfresh and one of their recent virtual events, heat embossed in brass, then die cut with the matching die.

I created a die cut vellum label to go behind the sentiment, also from Pinkfresh Studio.

I can see that I shall be crafting over the next few days – in between cuddles with my other cats – that’s if they let me. They aren’t particularly a cuddly bunch. The weather in the UK seems to be a little brighter this next few days so I much venture out on my push bike…….

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Festive Friday – 3 items from the list – envelopes/vellum/thinking of you sentiment

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

Stencil Fun – stencils, option of rainbow colours

Mixed Media Butterflies

Hello everyone. I am here to announce the new challenge starting at The Alphabet Challenge. We have reached the letter ‘Z‘, and Deborah has chosen the theme of:

Z is for Zoology

Here is my card:

As you can see I chose butterflies, which – according to Google – are classed under the order of Lepidoptera.

I started by grabbing the Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous red rubber stamp set called ‘Flutter‘ and chose to go down the mixed media path.

I first grabbed my Distress Pencils, some water, and then coloured each butterfly stamp with the wet pencil nibs in a selection of colours, applied a spray of water to that, then stamped.

This gave a water-colour pattern, not precise, which is what I was going for. After that had dried, I fussy-cut them out…..yep, me, fussy-cutting…….!!

Now for the background panel.

This was created with a piece of Distress watercolour card, some script stamps, Distress pencils – using the same wet pencil to stamp technique, and stamped a couple of times.

This was left to dry whilst I hunted out more stamps I could use, and found a label stamp on which I used a light purple Distress pencil – same technique – wet nib then spritz.

Once the panel was dry, some splatters applied and left to dry – again.

I then used a stencil from Finnabair ‘Gothic’ script and some clear embossing paste – you can see a slight shine in some parts on the background.

Once everything was dry, I attached the background panel to a white card base, created a little curve in the butterfly wings and attached with glue – 3D foam under each wing to maintain dimension.

The foiled sentiment was added – silver on black – and little black gems stuck down as you see.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Just Add Ink – inspiration & colours – pink, brown – light and dark, white,

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

Stamping Sensations – stamping and inspired by nature

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

Ellibelle’s Corner Garden Party – anything in or from the garden

Cardinal Slimline

Hello everyone. I have a card to share for the new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. I was lucky enough to be chosen as winner for their February 2026 technique challenge with THIS card, and as such invited to be Guest Design Team member for this challenge.

The theme is Christmas and slimline.

Here is my card:

I wanted to use this cardinal layering die set from Honey Beet Stamps, so I first created him, using three tones of red card stock adding the black for the face and feet.

The slimline card base was created – 3.5 x 8.5 inches – then a separate piece of white card added for the background, which I ran through with a Spellbinders embossing folder.

I wanted the cardinal to be framed somehow, so search through the CML app, and saw this set from The Greetery.

I die cut the oval, then used the layering stamps to create the holly frame with the berries.

Something else was needed behind the bird, so I used a ‘Filigree Capsule Border‘ die, also from The Greetery to create the second smaller oval, and used the same embossing folder to add further detail.

I wanted to add more – you know me – so I also used other products from The Greetery – the ‘Hang It Up‘ die set using Spellbinders matt gold card stock, and the ‘Ornamental Tags‘ die set for the foliage.

I wanted even more, so I also used their ‘Regency Bow No 1‘….

I then thought I was done with the die cutting and started to put the card together.

I first added the embossed smaller oval to the larger oval, added the bird with 3D foam, nipped then tucked some of the foliage behind him. The tag hanger-up thingy was attached, then the bow on top of that.

The final step was to added the gold foiled sentiment, previously created on black card stock – to tie in with the black details on the cardinal.

I really enjoyed making this card, all the techniques – stamping, die cutting, embossing – make me happy…

I hope you can come and join the team with your Christmas creations following their theme. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

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

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Mix It Up – anything goes – option of die cuts taken

A Splash of Green

Hello everyone. A new challenge has started at Cardz 4 Galz, with the theme of ‘a splash of green‘ hosted by Pamela:

The centre image is from Pinkfresh Studio ‘Garden Tapestry’ and consists of a stamp, die, stencil, and hot foil plate. I didn’t use the hot foil plate this time round, and chose the stamp and gold heat emboss the main image.

Once heat embossed, I used the layering stencils to colour the image, choosing softer colours, then use the matching die to cut it out.

The background panel was created using some light green card stock and running it through with a Spellbinders embossing folder ‘branching out’, cutting it down slightly and attached to a white card base.

The die cut image was added with 3D foam, then the foiled sentiment attached.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

CYHTP – embossing folder – option of sewing/sewing related not taken

Stencil Fun – use stencils – option of vine/vinery

Craft Rocket – no designer paper

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Thanks So Much

Hello everyone. The new challenge has started at Cardz 4 Galz, and Debbie has chosen the theme of:

embossing – heat or dry

Here is my card with dry embossing:

I chose to make a very tall card here, as I wanted to use two of the floral images. These florals are from The Greetery and are called ‘Botanicuts Morning Glory’.

The layers were die cut and assembled, choosing to use a lighter green for the veins of the leaves instead a darker green. I don’t know why – it just looked pretty…..

I then took the slimline card base, cut a piece of white card the same size, and ran that through with a Spellbinder embossing folder.

When I placed everything down, I felt the background needed just a little something more, so I added some splatter – small splatters, not too much – just enough for interets.

I was happier with the look, so when it was dry – it didn’t take too long – I attached the images with 3D foam, and added the foiled sentiment:

I hope you can come and join with your dry or heat embossing creations. xx

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

A Cut Above – anything goes with a die cut

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

Mix It Up – anything goes with the option of die cuts taken

Heat Emboss Resist Christmas

Hello. I thought I had posted this card a day or two ago – but obviously forgot to even write it – never mind post it.

This card was created as I was intrigued by the current challenge at 52 CCT – their Christmas technique theme this time is for using heat emboss resist. I thought of a Gina K Designs stencil I had of a large snowflake, so decided to give it a go:

The first step was to tape the 6×6 inch stencil onto a piece of white card which measured slightly bigger, and pounce some embossing ink through it. I think I remember doing this on a previous virtual event, so I had a blending brush already set aside for using this embossing ink.

I first brushed some anti-static powder onto the card stock, then taped the stencil down round the edges. It took a little doing, a lot of pouncing instead of brushing, but I managed to get the whole image done, then used white embossing powder and heat set the design.

I then took three colours of Pinkfresh Studio inks and blended them all around, wiping it down between each colour to not cross-contaminate.

The blending was taken to the edge of the larger piece of card, so I could choose which part to use, and die cutting with a Gina K Designs Master Layout die set to get a stitched rectangle.

This rectangle was then matted with brushed gold card stock from Spellbinders, then a deep purple card, and attached to a white card base.

The foiled sentiment was then added.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

52 CCT – heat emboss resist

Inkspirational – use stencils – option of plaid not taken

Merry Little Christmas Challenge – anything goes Christmas

Daffodil Dimension

Hello again. The Alphabet Challenge has started a new challenge, having reached the letter ‘V’, Helen has chosen the theme of :

‘volume – use foam pads or gel to raise apart of you design’

Here is my card:

I decided to go with a springtime fell with these daffodils. Having had what seems like months of rain here in the UK, the snowdrops are appearing, and I felt a spring card was needed to encourage brighter weather.

The daffodils are from Hero Arts, die cut and then a little ink blending to the petals before adding the corona, which was attached with 3D foam pieces.

The background panels of green, then the stitched white layer were cut using a Gina K Designs Master Layouts set, and the green circles die cut with nesting dies to be slightly larger than the two white scalloped circles – also cut with a Gina K Designs die. Before attaching the white circles to the green, I ran them through an embossing folder to give a little more interest.

The sentiment is foiled and die cut from Pinkfresh Studio.

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

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Crafts Galore – anything goes

A Cut Above – anything goes with die cuts

Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends – anything goes

Craft Rocket – flowers

Black & Gold Christmas

Hello everyone. As you probably know, I love making Christmas cards – all year round. I enjoy making them for challenges with a set theme, and this card is no exception. I was inspired by the current challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown – their current Christmas theme is to ONLY use black and gold – here is what I created:

I used dies from The Greetery to create these two sprigs of holly, die cutting the main elements out of Spellbinders brushed gold card stock, and the berries out of mirror metallic gold.

I created a black card base, and the used a piece of Pink Frog Crafts Black Ice card stock – this has a pearlescent finish, but felt it was a little too stark behind the holly sprigs……..so out came my Spellbinders hot foil machine!

I used this dotted background plate from Pinkfresh Studio and a mat gold foil. This plate has two sides of dots – this one I used, and the other side is dots which are closer together. I made two panels – one of each – but went with this one. The other will definitely be used later….and I must say that this card stock foiled like a dream…..

Whilst I had my foil machine out and running, I also foiled several Christmas sentiments – from Spellbinders – and used the one you see.

Assembly was quite straight forward – the black dotted panel adhered to the card base, the holly sprigs arranged using small itty bitty pieces of 3D foam tape on some areas ( I found some black 3D foam pieces to use) and the sentiment added to cover the ends of the sprigs.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

52 CCT – Christmas with black and gold

Krafty Chicks – Christmas

Peace On Earth – anything goes Christmas

Get Well Wishes

Hello everyone. A little time to play in my craft room today, inspired initially by Time Out Challenges and their ‘pick two’ list, die cutting and using an embossing folder – my favourite way to create, and my happy zone:

The die set used for the floral and the circle frame are from Spellbinders. The die set was part of their Weekender from 2024. I haven’t played with this diet set yet, so I thought it was time.

The circle and frame is supposed to be an embroidery hoop – but I left it at a framed circle, using some circle nesting dies from Hero Arts to create the slightly larger frame in red, then cutting the die again, out of white glitter card to give the slightly smaller frame – glued to the larger red circle – and the white glitter inner circle.

The florals were all die cut and assembled separately, and set to one side, whilst I used a light pink card stock panel and ran it through with a Spellbinders embossing folder, a small edge of black, then attached to a white card base.

The hoop was assembled then glued down, the flowers arranged how I wanted them, and as I though I needed something to cover the bottom of the stems, I used a previously created wax seal. The final step was to add the white foiled sentiment.

I shall be entering the following challenges:

Time Out Challenge – choose at least 2 – sparkle, red, heart, pink – not using aperture and twine out of the 6 options

Cut It Up – die cuts and this makes me happy

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

CYHTP – embossing folder, option of using die cuts taken

Christmas Poinsettia and Bells

Hello there. It’s been a busy few days but I am here with two cards for the new challenge at ABC Christmas. I am hosting for this month, and as we are using the letters ‘C’ and ‘D’, the Christmas themes are:

C is for Crimson & D is for Ding-Dong(bells)

I have provided a prize for the randomly drawn winner of the challenge, open worldwide, a stamp and matching die set from WPlus9:

Here are my cards:

For the poinsettia card, I created the poinsettia using a die set from The Greetery, then used there capsule basics die set to create the fancy oval. I die cut an inner oval piece with another lighter green card, then used an embossing folder to add detail to that, as well as the same embossing folder on a white panel.

This white panel was adhered to a card base, the oval layers stuck together and attached using thin 3D foam, the poinsettia added with more foam pieces, and the foiled sentiment from Pinkfresh Studio added.

The final touch was to add some Pinkfresh Studio ombre glitter gems.

My second card was started by creating the bells. These are from Tim Holtz, and simply die cut with the same brushed gold card stock from Spellbinders – no different coloured layers – and glued together. I created 5 of these bells as I didn’t know where I was going other than to use these bells….

Finally deciding on where I wanted to go with this, I then took a white panel and stamped the word ‘jingle’ down the side using a Simon Says Stamp set and embossing ink. (Thank goodness for the Misti – it certainly made the lining up of these four words easier) These words were then heat embossed using gold embossing powder.

I thought the background was a little plain when I laid everything out, so I then ran this white panel with the words heat embossed through my machine with a Spellbinders embossing folder.

This white panel was layered with a shiny red card stock piece, the same card as I die cut the bow from, the bows added down the side with some gold DMC thread and the bow attached to the top.

The small sub-sentiment was also heat embossed and a red shiny mat added so it stood out more.