Winter Birthday

... Good morning! I'm here today with a card that I made for my aunt - she was 80 years old last Thursday. Sadly, we missed her birthday party, but she got this card from us:

Stamps: Gina K - Peaceful Poinsettia, Essential Greetings; Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Gina K - Sea Glass, Ocean Mist, Cadet Blue, Light Spruce, Med Spruce, Dark Spruce; Versafine Claire - Nocture

Dies: Gina K - Peaceful Poinsettia

Accessories; White Card; Gina K Card - Blue Lagoon; Gina K Stencils - Peaceful Poinsettia, Winter Bliss; Grabie Glitter Pen; Clear Gems

I'm submitting this card to AAA Colourful - AAAC#23 - such perfect colours for a winter card, Addicted to Stamps & More! - ATSM#508 where they want birthday cards, and to Seize the Birthday - STB#318 where the topping is to make a snowflake background.

This is a non standard size card. I started by stencilling a snowflake background directly onto an A2 card. However, I decided I wanted the card to be a bit bigger. I cut a piece of blue card to give a ¼" border around the snowflake background and then added it to a custom size white card. I used my MISTI to stamp the poinsettia onto white card, I used the matching stencils to add colour to the flower, and then put the image back into the MISTI and restamped with black ink. I cut out the flower and some extras using the matching dies. I layered up the poinsettia flowers to give depth and adhered it to the front of the card. I completed the front with a simple greeting and some clear crystals. On the inside of the card, I cut a piece of blue card onto which I layered some white card. I stamped the poinsettia in a teal ink and added a fun greeting.

I love poinsettia flowers, well they're all leaves really, but they do look so beautiful. 

Well, that's all from me today. It's been fun making some cards. I still have lots to make. There are 9 family birthdays in January. Thank you for stopping by.

Birthday Boy

... Hello! It's been quite a while since my last post. I really thought I'd got it together, but it turned out not to be the case. However, I'm determined to get back to making cards - I've got hardly any left in my stash! So, today I'm sharing a card that I made for our son, Ben. Ben is 30 years old on Tuesday - I'm safe sharing it now, as he doesn't look at my blog!! Here's the card:

Stamps: MFT - Bitty Birthday Wishes, Sassy Pants Birthday Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Red Velvet, Stormy Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: SU - Large Number Framelits

Accessories: Waffle Flower Stencil - Layered Triangles; Graphite Grey Mirri Card; Gina K Card - Red Velvet; White Card

I'm submitting this card to Color Hues - CH#124, great colours for a guy, AAA Birthday - AAAB#81, Winter birthday theme, and Inkspirational - INK#358, where they want shine.

This stencil is great for a masculine card. I did the first layer in red and the second in grey. I trimmed the panel to be slightly smaller than an A2 (US size card) card. I stamped a simple birthday greeting in grey, and finished the front with a bold, shiny number 30. I die cut two numbers from mirri card (so hard to photograph), along with several in white card which I layered up to give the number some depth. On the inside, I used what was left of the ink on the stencil to make a second generation image. On top of that I stamped a fun birthday greeting.

I've posted the card to Ben and, hopefully, he should get it by Tuesday. It's hard to believe he's 30 years old.

Before I go, I'd just like to wish everyone a Happy New Year - I'm sure this will be the latest one in the year. See you soon.

Swiftie Birthday Girl

.... Morning!! Today is Kat's 24th birthday!! I don't understand how I can possibly have a 24 year old daughter, I'm only 36 myself 😋Well, I wish!! Our once Goth Girl, has become a firm Taylor Swift fan, and I made this card for her:

Stamps: Stampingbella - Uptown Girl Loves to Sing, Uptown Girl Plays Guitar, Uptown Girl Loves to Perform, Shake It Off Sentiments; MFT - Festive Fireworks

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Emerald Coast, Dusty Rose; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark

Accessories: White Card; Dylusions Stencil Lg - Starstruck; Silver Holographic Card; Copic Markers; Embossing Powder - Lawn Fawn Silver, WOW Metallic Silver Sparkle; Clear Shimmer Aquabrush

When I saw these stamps I knew I had to have them in my stash. I couldn't decide which to use, so ended up using them all. Using my MISTI, I stamped the images onto white card with a pale Copic friendly ink. I removed the images, coloured them with Copic markers (I copied the suggested colours on the packing), put the images back in the MISTI and restamped with black ink. I then fussy cut out each image. To finish the images, I added a light coat of shimmer to the clothes. I used a large 7¾" square card for the base. I cut a piece of holographic card for the mat layer (in the photo you can see the fab rainbow effect). I cut the white card to 7½" square. I used a large stencil and inked on the stars, darker at the edges to pale in the centre. I added more 'firework' type stars stamping with Versamark ink and embossing with two types of silver embossing powder. They have a lovely shimmer. I adhered two images flat to the card, and used dimensional pads to add the guitar playing lady. I finished the front by adding a couple of greetings.

Inside the card, I adhered a holographic card for the mat layer. On the white panel, I stamped a simple greeting and added a few more 'firework' style stars in colours matching the dresses.

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#78 (all the 'Taylor' images are brand new), Seize the Birthday - STB#313 - the topping is to use embossing (all the stars), and finally to Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#501 - make your mark (colouring).

Kat went to one of Taylor Swift's concerts in Liverpool last year - she had brilliant seats right towards the front. Here are some of her photos.

Happy Birthday Kat - have a wonderful day - enjoy yourself. That's it for today. Thank you for stopping by.

Fall Colours

...Morning!! So much for making a card everyday!! Instead, I've been doing some reorganising in my craft room - it's nearly done. However, I did get chance to make a card yesterday - we had autumn sunshine and I noticed that autumn colours are creeping in already. So, here's the card:

Stamps: Waffle Flower - Multiple Fall Leaves; C&9 - Triple Step Autumn Leaf, Harvest Wreath Turnabout; Stampin' Up! - Cookie Cutter Halloween

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Faded Brick, Fresh Asparagus, Sandy Beach; Memento - Tuxedo Black

Accessories: White Card; SU Punch - Cookie Cutter; Copic Markers

I masked off an area in the centre of the notecard, I lightly inked the background, stamped some outline leaves, which I coloured with Copic markers, and finished by adding some solid images in coloured inks. I removed the tape (sadly there was some spreading of the alcohol ink) and stamped a greeting. Next, I stamped the cute scarecrow, coloured him with Copics and used the co-ordinating punch to cut him out. For the inside of the card, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the notecard, added some autumnal leaves and a simple greeting in bold black ink.

This one is already in the post, off to my Aunt in Barry and confirming a date for our lunch next month - so looking forward to seeing her.

I'm playing along with the following challenges - CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#568 (used their sketch); Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#501 (make your mark); CAS on Friday - CASOF#317 (Theme - Fall); and Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#78 (I've had the Cookie Cutter image and punch for years, and this is the first time I've used it on a card!!!).

That's all for now - I'm spending the rest of the day finishing off the reorganisation that I started. I've got rid of a large black DVD unit (used to store SU and Uniko stamps) - it blocked the light, and now I have a much brighter room. There's no autumnal sunshine today, just rain - lots of it. I'm not going to grumble as we need the rain, but it's dull!!! Bye for now.

Lavinia Stamps

... Hello!! I had such a fun day yesterday. My hubby took me to Ruthin, a market town in the neighbouring county of Denbighshire. It's also the home to Lavinia Stamps, a local craft company. I think it was last year they opened their new store - The Dreamatorium in the town centre. I've been wanting to visit for ages. 

It's wonderful - a magical place, full of all types of gifts for the home. And it also has a super craft supply section. Here are some of the photos I took:

Obviously, I couldn't leave without buying something (or several somethings). I'll be going back again soon. If you're ever in the area of Ruthin -it's well worth a visit.

Monochromatic Birthday

..... Hello again!! This is a quick post sharing a black and white birthday card:

Stamps: Uniko -  Background Block Swiss Dots; Gina K - Mr Fix-It, The Great Outdoors

Inks: Gina K - Stormy Sky;  Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Mr Fix-It

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#701, and to Seize the Birthday - STB#312 - using the colour option this time.

This is a 5" square white card. I stamped the dotty background in grey ink directly on the card. I stamped the tool images onto white card, added some subtle colour, restamped with Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I used the matching dies to cut out the images, along with some plain white diecuts which I layered up for depth. I finished the front with a simple birthday greeting. Inside the card, I stamped a birthday message and added some small images for fun.

This post has taken me longer than normal as I normally edit my photos in Lightroom. However, yesterday it appears that Lightroom did an update and now it's not working on my PC. I hate technology sometimes. 

 

That really is all for today. I'm off to try and work out why Lightroom isn't working properly. And if that doesn't work, what I'm going to use instead!! Bye for now.

Graphic Birthday

.... Morning!! Somehow, it's September already - I swear as I get older, the months go by so much faster. Heyho!! I have a graphic, quite masculine, card to share with you this morning:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks  MOD Circle Builder, Mid Century Modern Wreath Builder, Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments

Inks: Versafine Claire - Nocturne; C&9 - Blueberry, Oceanside, Seaglass; Gina K - Blue Sky

Accessories: Uniko Stencil - MOD Background Builder Circles; White & Green Card; Copic Marker

As this is a birthday card, I'm submitting it to Seize the Birthday - STB#312 - Anything Goes.

I started this card at the Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop. I totally ignored the suggested card and made this. I used the stencil (which is the same shape, but bigger than the stamp) to add some colour to the corners of a piece of white card. I blended blue and green inks for an ombre effect. I stamped the image in black ink overlapping the colours. I added the panel to a green note card. When I got home I finished the card by adding a bold birthday greeting in black ink. I cut a panel of white card for the inside, onto which I stamped the MOD Circle Builder image in a soft blue ink and added a bold greeting over the top. I edged the card with a green marker and that it done.

I really like the stencil and stamp images I've used here. I can see so many possibilities. That's all for now. Hope you have a good day. See you soon.

Grateful for You

.... Hello! In my Friday post, I mentioned that I attended the Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop earlier this month. Bev and Tracey put on a brilliant workshop with lots of opportunity to make cards (and shop too!!). I started work on several cards and brought them home to complete. This is the first of the completed cards:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Swiss Dots; C&9 - So Many Sayings

Inks: C&9 - Briar Rose, Wildberry, Eucalyptus, Juniper; VFC - Nocturne, Twilight 

Dies: Pinkfresh Studio - Petal Perfection; C&9 - So Many Sayings

Accessories: Pinkfresh Studio - Petal Perfection Layering Stencils; White Card; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Time Out Challenges - TOC#296 where the theme is support/friends/encouragement, and to Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#500 to use diecuts and/or stencils.

We did have instructions for suggested cards, but I went rogue!! I stamped the dotty background in soft grey directly onto a white note card (it was going to be one layer). I took the opportunity to try out Pinkfresh Studios dies and matching layering stencils and made this lovely flower. I stamped C&9 So Many Saying in black ink and used the co-ordinating die to cut them out (I have lots still to use). I used dimensional pads to add the greeting. When I got home I found I'd made the card upside down, so I simply cut the completed panel off, trimmed it to fit on the front of an A2 (US size) card, edged it with a green Copic markers and added it to the card base. Inside the card, I cut another piece of white, edged it with the green marker and glued to the inside of the card. I had more die cut flowers, so I simply added a flower to finish the inside.

The workshop that I attended was held in Warrington and hopefully, Bev and Tracey will be back there again soon. However, if you fancy attending a Uniko/Dies to Die For Workshop, the ladies are holding another retreat on Sunday 12 October in Worsall Village Hall, Yarm. It's only £60 and well worth it.

Jonathan and I went to the cinema yesterday to see The Roses - it's a remake(ish) of The War of the Roses. It stars Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch in the main roles. The script is brilliant - witty, sharp, bitchy, sweary (very) and so black. It was a joy to watch them both, and the rest of the cast were brilliant. I recommend it.  That's all for today. See you soon.