Happy Birthday

... Good morning! I hope everyone is okay and coping with the wintery weather we're having. I made this card on Monday - needed to get it in the post to get to Xander on time. It's a birthday card for my nephew's son:

Stamps: Visible Image - Set the Tone, Happy Birthday, Accessorize; Carabelle Studio - Number '1'

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

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

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

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

AAA Birthday - AAAB#47 where they want us to have stripes and/or dots 

Inkspirational - INK#285 - where they have a word prompt to use 'Numbers'

Just Us Girls - JUGS#670 - their word prompt is 'Rainbow'

Seize the Birthday - STB#257 - the toppings option is to 'make a card for a child'

Xander is 11 - he's at the age where it's so hard to know what to make for him. As I don't know his favourite football team, I decided to concentrate on his age. I used my MISTI to stamp the number 1 twice onto white card, removed it from the MISTI and did rainbow colouring down each number. I restamped and embossed the image with clear powder. I then fussy cut each number out and edged with a black marker. I die cut a stitched-edge panel of white card and stamped the dotty/grungy background in soft grey and added a birthday greeting below. I used dimensional pads to adhere the numbers and then layered the piece onto black card and added to the front of an A2 white notecard. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I stamped a bold birthday greeting and added a sweet birthday cupcake. I coloured the cake case in rainbow order to match the numbers on the front of the card.

It was fun making this card. And the best way to spend a very wet and windy Monday morning - safe inside my craft room.

That's all for now. See you soon.

SHC - A Trio of Cards

.... Morning!! I'm here with my last post for Seven Hills Craft. It's been an honour and privilege to be part of Tara and Rick's team. I'm finishing off with a trio of cards, and the first is a bold, bright, birthday card:

Stamps: Avery Elle - Inside Birthday Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango, Bubblegum Pink, Lipstick; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - Zigzag Texture Die; Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White & Black Card; Waffle Flower - Zigzag Stencil Trio; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to AAA Birthday - AAAB#46 where the team want us to use Stencils, and also to Time Out Challenges - TOC#232 where it's Anything Birthday goes as they're celebrating their 9th birthday.

I used the Zigzag Texure die to cut out the stitched pattern and panel. To add colour, I used the matching trio of stencils. However, you may notice that there are actually four colours on my panel! I had a mishap, I put one of the stencils in the wrong place and added ink. I realised immediately that it was an 'oops', and I didn't want to waste the panel, so I simply put the stencil the right place and added the red ink. I rather like the new pattern with the sweet white diamond!! It did result in some odd marks around the edge of the panel, so I simply used another stitch-edged die to make the panel a bit smaller and layered it onto a black mat layer. I stamped a bold birthday greeting in black directly onto the panel and added the whole piece to the front of a side-opening A2 (US size) note card. I used my MISTI to stamp the floral image, removed it and coloured with Copic markers, replaced it in the MISTI and restamped with a dark black ink. I then fussy cut the flowers and used dimensional pads to add it to the card. I finished by adding some sparkle to the flowers. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. on the white panel I stamped the floral image in soft grey ink and added a fun birthday greeting. This card is for my aunt.

I made two further cards - one with the zigzag die and stencils, and one with a turnabout stamp. I wasn't expecting to have to make sympathy cards. My son, Ben, rang last weekend to let me know that his cat, Luna, had been hit by a car and was so seriously injured that she had to be put to sleep. Ben was, and is, absolutely devasted, so I made a card for him and for his housemate, Harry. This is the card I made for Ben:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sketched Dots Turnabout, So Happy for You; MFT - Deepest Sympathy; Waffle Flower - With Sympathy Duo

Inks: Gina K - Light Lilac, Soft Stone, Slate; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White & Black Card

I used the turnabout stamp to create the background directly onto the card - I only did three turns to keep it reasonably clean. I added a sentiment - which I think is so appropriate - in the corner of the card. I added some embossed leaves and a flower, from my left-over stash, to complete the front of the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I stamped a message and added some dots.

The next card was made for Harry, and this time I used the zigzag stencil to add colour as planned:

Stamps: MFT - Deepest Sympathy; Waffle Flower - With Sympathy Duo; Concord & 9th - So Happy for You

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Stormy Sky, Slate; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - Zigzag Texture Die

Accessories: White & Black Card; Waffle Flower - Zigzag Stencil Trio

I'm submitting this card to Inkspirational Challenge - INK#283 where they want us to use a stencil.

This time I used the zigzag trio of stencils correctly to add colour to the die cut panel. I stamped a sentiment onto the panel and adhered it to the front of a black A2 note card. I used embossed leaves and flower from my stash to complete the front of the card. Inside, I cut a panel of white card and simply added a message and another flower.

I hope that Ben and Harry can take some comfort from the cards. Pets bring so much joy into our lives and they leaves such big holes when they go. 

Anyway, that's all from me today - it's been a joy to be part of Tara and Rick's team. I may be back from time to time, but that's all for now. See you soon.

SHC - Squeeze the Day

... Hello! I'm here with my post for Seven Hills Craft. I've only one card to share today and I had such fun making it:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - You're the Zest

Inks: Gina K - Dusty Rose, Sandy Beach; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Lawn Fawn - You're the Zest

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Lawn Fawn Stencil - Clover Background

I'm submitting this card to Color Throwdown - CTD#730 - such pretty colours, and to Inkspirational - INK#283 - where they want us to use stencils.

I've had the lemon stamp and die sets for a while and I thought it was about time to use them. I stamped three lemons, coloured them with Copic markers and cut them out with the matching die. I used a two-step stencil to make the background. I used pink ink on the first layer and soft sand on the second layer. I concentrated the colour towards the middle of the card, and allowed it to fade out towards the edges. The stencil is called 'clover background', but I think they look like clusters of little hearts, especially in these colours!!! I glued the lemons on the card and added a sentiment. I've not decorated the inside as I'm sending this to our daughter Kat. Kat likes a pun, so she'll enjoy this card.

That's all for today. I'll see you again soon.

SHC - Die Cut Love

... Morning!! I'm here with my Seven Hills Craft blog post. I've only got one card to share with you today and it came together quickly as I used scraps left-over from previous crafting sessions. Here's my card:

Stamps: C&9 - Just the Ticket, Perfect Matchbox, Love Lines Turnabout

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Key Lime, Turquoise Sea, Blue Denim

Dies: C&9 - Love Quilt Top, Double Stripe Card Front

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Pacific Point, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Yellow; SU DP - Daffodil Yellow

I'm submitting this card to Cardz 4 Guyz - G4G#315 where they would like us to make a Valentine's card for a guy - done!

I used left-over bits from my stash for this card. I found two large pieces of card, adhered them together and die cut a stitched pattern into the piece. I then used the Love Quilt top set to die cut a deckle-edge square with the word 'love' stitched into the panel. I had a scrap of card with the Love Lines pattern stamped on it and cut out the letters ' L, V, and E' from it. I used a scrap of yellow design paper for the heart. I then carefully glued the pieces onto the square panel and added the complete piece to the front of a 5¼" square white note card. I finished the front by stamping a greeting above and below the die cut panel. For the inside, I cut a piece of yellow card for the mat layer, and on the white panel I stamped a dotty heart in yellow and added a sentiment.

And that's it! All done in about half an hour. This is for Jonathan - he'll have two cards on Valentine's day - but he's worth it!!

Bye for now, see you again soon.

SHC - Love Lines Options

.... Hello! I'm here with my Seven Hills Craft blog. Grab a coffee (or tea if you prefer) and join me. I've got six cards to share with you today. The main image on them all is a new Turnabout stamp from Concord & 9th - Love Lines - it's part of the Valentine release, but it's so much more versatile. The stamp consists of an double turnabout - so you can make a complete background, an outer frame, and an inner pattern. Here's my first card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Love Lines Turnabout; The Greetery - Sentiment Suite - Thinking of You

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Stormy Sky, Slate, Black Onyx; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: C&9 - Just Saying

Accessories: White & Black Card; Vellum; C&9 - All-in-One Turnabout Jig

I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#72 where it's always 'anything goes'.

If you've not used a Turnabout stamp, Concord & 9th have a super video on their blog to show you how. I used both parts of the turnabout image to create a complete background in greys and black. I layered the piece onto a black mat and added it to a 5¾" white square note card. I finished the front by adding a die cut greeting. The die cuts both shadow and words, I did the shadow in vellum and the words in black card. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I stamped a sympathy greeting along with a simple grey flower.

Next is a card I've made for my son, Ben:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Love Lines Turnabout, Friendship Garden

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Key Lime, Turquoise Sea, Blue Denim; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: C&9 - Just Saying, Double Stripe Card Front

Accessories: White & Black Card; SU Card - Granny Apple Green; C&9 - All-in-One Turnabout Jig

I'm submitting this to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#47 - Love Lines is brand new, and this is the first time I've used the Just Saying dies.

I made this a bright card using blue, teal, green, and yellow. I added extra interest to the background using the double stripe die which cuts stiched lines into the background. I adhered the panel to the front of an A2 (US size) green card. I added a die cut greeting - the shadow cut from black card and the words in green to match the note card. I cut a piece of white card for the inside and simply stamped a greeting and branch image in the bottom corner. I edged the panel with a blue marker and adhered the panel to the note card.

Next is a Valentine's card - but not in pinks/red - this is more masculine:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Love Lines Turnabout, Just the Ticket, Perfect Match

Inks: Gina K - Ocean Mist, Blue Lagoon, Blue Denim, Stormy Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White & Black Card; SU Card - Basic Grey; C&9 - All-in-One Turnabout Jig

I'm submitting this card to Global Design Project - GDP#379 where the theme is 'love'.

I used a stitch-edged die to cut out the white panel, added a greeting in dark blue at the bottom and then layered it onto a black mat. I adhered the whole piece to the front of an A2 grey note card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped a dotty heart and added some fun sentiments.

Next, is a more feminine version of the central pattern and I've made this for my mum:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Love Lines Turnabout, Hello Wishes

Inks: Gina K - Innocent Pink, Dusty Rose, Lovely Lavender, Medium Lilac; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: C&9 - Simply You

Accessories: White & Black Card; SU Card - Highland Heather; C&9 - All-in-One Turnabout Jig

I'm submitting this card to Inkspirational - INK#282 where they have a moodboard where the theme is 'love/Valentine, but with other options too'. I've focused on the love theme.

I used a wide scallop stitched-edge die to cut out this panel - it's so pretty. I adhered the panel to the front of a lilac A2 (US size) note card. I finished the front by adding a die cut greeting. On the white panel inside the card, I stamped a simple greeting and flowers.

I decided to make a card for my daughter, Kat, too - this time I used the outer frame of the Turnabout stamp:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Love Lines Turnabout, Hello Wishes, Friendship Garden

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango, Passionate Pink, Coral Reef; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 1

Accessories: White & Black Card; SU Card - Melon Mambo; C&9 - All-in-One Turnabout Jig

Using the outer part of the Turnabout stamp give a central open space, perfect for a large greeting. I stamped this lovely message in bright pink ink. I cut the panel with a die and layered it onto a black mat. I added the whole piece to the front of a bright pink A2 note card. On the white panel inside, I stamped a sentiment and flower - I left a big space for my own message.

My final card is a Christmas card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Love Lines Turnabout, Festive Phrases, Fa La La Fringe Tree

Inks: Gina K - Lipstick, Jelly Bean Green, Lucky Clover, Key Lime; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Poppy Parade; C&9 - All-in-One Turnabout Jig

I'm submitting this one to The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#132 where the theme is always 'anything Christmas goes'. So happy to join in with this challenge again.

I stamped a bold black Christmas greeting in the opening, layered the panel onto bright red card and added it to the front of a 5¾ white square note card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of red card and on the white panel stamped a simple bold greeting and red stars.

I had such fun making all these card. They show just how versatile Turnabout stamps are - and they come together so quickly. Once set up in my MISTI, I like to stamp multiple backgrounds and keep them in my stash for future use.

That's all from me today. Thanks for sticking with me. See you again soon.