Doing well in Challenges

... Morning! This is just a very quick note to say thanks to the Design Teams who visit all the entries in the various challenges run on the Internet. I've not made many cards over the past couple of years, so it's a real pleasure to get comments on my cards. And it's even better when I get a badge to put on my blog, as you really liked a card. 

So, particular thanks to the Design Teams on Addicted to Stamps and More! and Addicted to CAS for picking some of my recent makes. You've made my day.

Birthday Card for a Sewing Fan

.... Good afternoon! It's absolutely beautiful here in North Wales. The sky is blue, and the sun is shining, and, more importantly, it's lovely and warm too. And I've spent the morning making a birthday card for my friend:

Stamps: Waffle Flower - Sweet Birthday Sentiments, Postage Collage, Postage Collage Sew Fun

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Soft Stone, Stormy Sky, Light Orchid, Medium Orchid, Dark Orchid

Stencils: Waffle Flower - Postage Collage Sew Fun, Postage Collage Blocks Stencil, Postage Collage Coloring Stencil

Dies: Waffle Flower - Postage Collage Die, Sweet Birthday Sentiments

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate; White Posca Pen

I had so much fun making this card. Heather, my friend, is a whiz with the sewing machine. She makes lots of her own clothes, so this is perfect for her. I die cut the postage stamp panel from white card, used the co-ordinating Sew Fun stencils and inks to create the little stamps, and finished by adding postage marks in black ink. I used the PC Coloring Stencil to make the airmail border on an A2 white note card. I layered the stamp panel on grey card and added the whole piece to the A2 card. I finished the front with a simple birthday greeting. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of grey card, and on the white panel stamped a birthday greeting and a couple of sewing images.

I'm submitting this card to AAA Birthday Challenge - AAAB#85 where it's their 7th birthday and the theme is Anything Birthday Goes. I'm also playing along with Color Hues - CH#133 where the colours are lime green and violet.

This card is going in the post this afternoon and should reach Heather in plenty of time. That's all for now. See you soon.

Belated Birthday Card

... Hi! I'm running late with this card. It's my brother-in-law's birthday today, and I got so caught up with the bank holiday weekend, that I forgot to make a card for him. However, it's never too late to wish someone a happy birthday. Here's the card:

Stamps: Uniko - Bauhaus Blocks, Simply Said Birthday, Everyday Sentiments, Birthday Sentiments, Background Blocks Mid Century Modern

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Blue Denim, Blue Sky, In the Navy

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Lawn Fawn - Clear Embossing Powder

This came together very quickly. I used my MISTI to stamp the Bauhaus Blocks images, removed them and coloured with Copic Markers. I returned them to the MISTI and restamped with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I then cut them into individual square panels. I added them to the front of an A2 white note card and finished with a suitable greeting. On the inside, I cut a white panel slightly smaller than A2 size. I stamped a fun background in light blue ink, and added a greeting in shades of dark blue. I edged the panel with a yellow marker and adhered it to the note card.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#307 where it make a birthday card

Color Hues - CH#132 - to use yellow and blue

Cardz 4 Guyz - C4G#385 - make a clean and simple card

 

I really like the Bauhaus blocks images - they work perfectly for masculine cards, and also for feminine cards too. It just depends what colours you pick! That's it for now. See you again soon.

Hubby's Birthday Card

.... Morning! Today is Jonathan's 62nd birthday, and this is the card I made for him:

Stamps: PaperArtsy - Kate Crane KC012; Uniko - Simply Said, Birthday Wishes

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versafine - Black Onyx; Gina K - Soft Stone

Dies: Waffle Flower - Nesting Postage Layers #3

Accessories: White & Black Card; Copic Markers; LF - Clear Embossing Powder

I got a new stamp set last weekend featuring some fab toadstools. I used it for this card. I stamped a number of the toadstools directly onto an A2 white note card in soft grey ink. I die cut the postage stamp backing and white topper. I used my MISTI to stamp the main image onto white card. I removed it from the MISTI, used Copics to add colour, restamped with Versafine ink and embossed the image with clear powder. Then I fussy cut it out. I added the 'postage stamp' to the card at an angle, adhered the toadstool and finished with sentiments in black ink. I added a couple of words ' to my' in black fine liner. Jonathan does enjoy a pun!!! On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than A2 size, edged it with a blue marker, added a birthday greeting and another toadstool.

I'm submitting this card to:

Cardz 4 Guyz - C4G#385 where they want a clean and simple card (mostly)

Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#516 - to make my mark - done

Seize the Birthday - STB#325 - I've done an anything goes as long as it's birthday

That's all from me today. I'll be back soon. 

Silver Wedding Anniversary

... Good morning! Today is our 25th wedding anniversary. I can't believe how fast the years have gone by. I was going to make a special silver anniversary card, then I remembered that I still have lots of cards that I made for Jonathan in my stash. I tend to make new cards and give those, so I've built up a small stash and I've picked one to give Jonathan today. This is the card:

I made this card when I was on the design team for The Male Room; still one of my favourite challenges. Full details about the products used and pictures of the inside can be found on my original post.

Signing the register after our marriage ceremony - it was such a lovely day.

Birthday Cupcakes

.... Hello! Three days in a row, my I'm on a roll. Today's card is for my sister-in-law, her birthday is next week and I'm safe to share it here as she doesn't look at my blog. Here's her card:

Stamps: Waffle Flower - Postage Collage, PC - Birthday, PC - Fall

Inks: Memento - Anel Pink, Summer Sky; Gina K - Passionate Pink, Blue Sky, Barely There Amalgam; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - Postage Cupcake

Stencils: Waffle Flower - Postage Cupcake, Random Rhombus

Accessories: White Card

I used a stencil to make the background - blending pale pink and pale blue inks, where they cross I have a soft lilac. Next I die cut three postage circle stamps and used the co-ordinating stencil to create little cupcakes in each stamp. I added some ribbon to the card base, adhered the two blue cupcake stamps directly to the card. I added some postage marks to the pink cupcake, stacked it on two white die cuts for dimension, and added it to the card. I finished with a simple birthday sentiment in black. For the inside I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than A2, stamped a greeting and added a little birthday postmark.

I'm playing along with the following challenges:

CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#583 - I turned the sketch to make a landscape card

{PIN}spirational Challenges - PIN#336 - to use pale pink and pale blue

Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#85 - I've had the rhombus stencil and cupcake die 'n' stencil for a while, but this is the first time I've used them!

That's it for today - see you again soon.

Oversized Postage Birthday

.... Hello again! Today I'm sharing a card I made for my aunt - it's actually her birthday today, so it's going to be a bit late. Here's the card:

Stamps: Waffle Flower - Sketched Aster, Oversized Postage, Postage Collage, Sweet Birthday Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Sea Glass, Emerald Coast, Blue Sky, Dusty Rose, Innocent Pink, Petunia, Soft Stone; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - Oversized Postage, Rhombus Texture Die

Stencils: Waffle Flower - Sketched Aster

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers

I created subtle texture on the A2 card background using a WF Rhombus Texture die. I used the Oversized Postage dies to cut out the stamp edge background and the top panel. I added a touch of green ink to the stamp edge. I used the Sketched Aster stencil to create the flower on the white panel. Once the flower was completed, I lightly inked over with matching colour to tone down the brilliant white. I added some postage marks in black ink and adhered the panel to the card. I finished the front with a circular special delivery stamp containing a cute birthday cake. I kept the inside very simple. I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than A2, edged the panel with a green marker, stamped a bold birthday greeting in black ink and added the sketched aster in soft grey ink.

I'm submitting this card to:

AAA Colourful - AAAC#27 - love these colours

Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#306 where the theme is Postage

Stencil Fun Challenge - SFC#0426 - where it's always anything goes with stencils, the option is rainbow colours - which I skipped

 

 

I need to make a few more cards today and tomorrow. One for my hubby as it's our 25th Wedding Anniversary on Wednesday - and I can't believe how fast the time has gone. And one for my sister-in-law, who has a birthday at the end of the month. That's it for now. See you again soon.

Spring Garden Birthday

..... Oh boy! So much for my plan to make a card every day. I've not even managed one a week. However, today I've made two. The card I'm sharing today is for a friend in the village - she's a keen gardener and crafter, so I think she'll love this one:

Stamps: Gina K - Birthday Garden, Modern Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Passionate Pink, Sweet Mango; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Birthday Garden, Modern Greetings; Waffle Flower - Sparkles Panel Die

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Kraft, Granny Apple Green; Copic Markers

I had an A2 (US size) kraft card on my desk and decided to start with that. I used the WF Sparkles panel die to cut the background pattern, and on the inside I added green card to show through. Using my MISTI I stamped all the images from Birthday Garden on white card. I removed them from the MISTI, coloured with Copic markers, replaced into the MISTI and stamped again with VFC Nocturne ink -this gives a really strong black image. I used the matching dies to cut out all the images. Next, using a technique that I learnt from Gina K, I stamped an ombre birthday greeting. I adhered all the images to the front of the card. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the A2 card, stamped a simple greeting, edged the panel with a green marker, adhered it to the card and finished by adding the wheelbarrow image.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday - STB#324 - where the option is to make a Spring Garden

Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#515 - to use die cuts and/or stencils - die cuts used

A Cut Above - ACA#0426 - where it's always anything goes with a die cut the option is pastel colours

 

 

I have enjoyed making cards today. However, even though I've not made many cards, I have been crafting. I've been doing several of Dyan Reaveley's doodle classes - they are brilliant. Anyway, that's all from me today. Drop by tomorrow to see my other card.

Candy Cane Christmas - 52CCT Guest Designer

... Good Morning!!! I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to be joining the Design Team at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown as Guest Designer today. We have such a fun challenge for you. The team have picked - Candy Cane - 52CCT2026-11 - and here's my card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Elf Made, Half Baked Gingerbread Joy, Jolly Old Elf, Oven Fresh Gingerbread Joy, Candy Jar Christmas Fillers, Nordic Christmas

Inks: Gina K - Kelly Green, Red Hot, Lucky Clover, Lipstick, Soft Stone; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White & Black Card; Copic Markers; Gold Glitter Pen

I had such fun making this card. At Christmas, I do find myself going back to some of my favourite stamp sets from Waltzingmouse Stamps (now, sadly, closed). Claire's stamps are perfect for this challenge. I made the background pattern using various candy can images and stamped them in shades of green and red directly onto the A2 note card. I used my MISTI to stamp the cute elf on white card. I removed the image from the MISTI and coloured it with Copic markers. I returned the image to the MISTI and restamped the image with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink - such a dark black. I then fussy cut the image out. I used dies to cut the mat layers, added a simple greetings and used dimensional pads to adhere the elf and his candy cane. On the inside, I cut a mat layer in black and on the white panel, I stamped candy cane in soft grey ink, coloured with Copic markers, and finished with a warm Christmas greeting.

I'm building my Christmas card stash quite nicely. I made a few more candy cane cards, and I'll be sharing those during the week. I'm entering this card to ABC Christmas Card Challenge - ABCXMAS#0326 where they have E = for Elf, and also to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#67 where it's anything Christmas goes.

I'd like to thank the 52CCT DT for inviting me to join them this week - it's always a pleasure to play along; this challenge has a very special place in my heart!!

That's all for now. I look forward to seeing all the cards for this challenge. See you soon.