SHC - Guac My World ...

... Good morning! Can you believe it's almost the end of October? Me neither! Anyway, it's Wednesday and that means it's time for my regular weekly Seven Hills Craft Blog post. We are concentrating on the Colorado Craft Company. This company was new to me (well I only found it earlier this year) and I really like their Big & Bold range. These 6" × 6" stamps sets feature LARGE images that can be used to fill the front of a card, or you can you parts of the image. I'm using a fun set that features Avocado. Here's my first card:

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Avocado Love

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark; Gina K - Kraft, Black Amalgam

Dies: Die-namics - A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 2 #7

Accessories: White & Black Card; Kaisercraft DP - Fiesta!; Vellum; Clear & White Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

Using my MISTI stamp positioner, I stamped the avocado onto white card, removed it and coloured the image with Copic markers. I replaced the image in the MISTI, stamped again in Versafine black ink and heat embossed the image with clear powder. I put the image back into the MISTI and stamped the sentiment in the middle of the avocado, heat embossed with white powder so that the sentiment stands out, and then fussy cut the image. I found some paper in my stash that suggested brightly patterned Mexican walls, layered a piece onto black card and added it to the front of a 6¼" × 4½" card. I used a stitch edged die to cut a piece of vellum onto which I adhered the avocado. I then added that to the front of the card. On the inside of the card, I cut a mat layer of black card and a panel of white card. I added a strip of the design paper to the side, used kraft ink to stamp the flowered branch at the top corner and the avocado at the bottom corner. I finished by stamping the sentiment in black ink in the centre.

This card is for my stash of cards that I make for Jonathan. I often give him cards, just because, and I know that he'll appreciate the sentiment. I was having such fun with the stamps that I made another card:

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Avocado Love

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark; Gina K - Kraft, Black Amalgam

Accessories: White, Black & Kraft Card; Kaisercraft DP - Fiesta!; Clear & White Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

This is a standard 5½" × 4¼" (an A2 card - US size) card. I used black cardstock to make the card. I used design paper to suggest patterned tiles and added a panel to the top of the card. I cut a strip of kraft card onto which I stamped a greeting, embossed it with white powder and added it to the card. I finished by adding the cut avocado, previously coloured with Copic markers. On the inside, I simply cut a piece of white card and added the avocado offset at the bottom corner. There's plenty of space for my own message.

I'm submitting the first card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#51, where it's Anything Goes.

That's all from me for today. I've not made many cards lately, I've been busy working on my monthly Dyalog - I've gone for a Halloween theme this month, and I'll share some of it later. Take care.

SHC - Halloween Wishes ...

.... Morning! It's almost Halloween - probably my favourite holiday of the year. Sadly, it's not anywhere near as popular here in the UK as it is in the States. I do miss seeing all the wonderful decorations that folk put out, but our village isn't too bad. However, I always make cards for the kids and I'm here today with my post for Seven Hills Craft blog - a couple of fun cards. Here's the first:

Stamps: Stamping Bella - Curvy Girl Loves Halloween; MFT - Four Corners Background

Inks: Distress Oxide - Carved Pumpkin, Fossilized Amber, Ripe Persimmon; Versamark; Verafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Obsidian Amalgam

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers; Sakura Stardust Pens

I've only just discovered Stamping Bella - no idea why it's taken so long, but there it is. I really like this image - she's really cute and such fun to colour. I used my MISTI to stamp her on white card. Removed the card from the MISTI, coloured with Copic markers, returned to the MISTI and restamped with Versafine black ink. I embossed the image with clear powder and then carefully fussy cut her out. I added some sparkle to the stars on her dress and hat with an orange Stardust pen. I stamped the large background image with Versamark ink, added clear powder and then used a soft, dry brush to remove some of the powder. I heat set the image and used three shades of orange ink to reveal the pattern - it's a lovely distressed look. I adhered the coloured image to the card and finished with one of the sentiments from the stamp set. On the inside, I stamped the girl again - slightly offset to the right hand side of the card.

I got another Halloween themed stamp set from Stamping Bella and used it on my next card:

Stamps: Stamping Bella - Mochi Bride of Frankenstein; MFT - Peacock Pattern Background

Inks: Distress Oxide - Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Lucky Clover; Versamark; Verafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Obsidian Amalgam

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I used the same techniques to make this card, just changed up the colours. I particularly like this image as it's kind of based on the bride from the film, Bride of Frankenstein. It is one of my favourite oldies. I also did the inside the same as the other card, with the image off set to the side of the card and space for my message.

That's all from me for now. Catch up again soon.

C24C - 3D Christmas ....

.... Hello again! Two days on the trot! I'm here this morning with my card for our new challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#20. We'd like to see your 3D creations for the next few weeks. Here's my card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Iconic Christmas Turnabout, Merry Mantle

Inks: Gina K - Dusty Rose, Powder Blue, Passionate Pink, Blue Denim, Obsidian Amalgam

Dies: Concord & 9th - Iconic Christmas, Christmas Cottage; Altenew - Featured Sentiments Dies

Accessories: White Card; Silver, Blue, & Pink Satin Mirri Card; Gem

You might recognise the stamped background on this card - it's a piece that I had left over from the cards I made for yesterday's post. I decided to use the Concord & 9th Christmas Cottage die to create the frame for this fold down card. I covered the back of the card and the strips with the printed background. I used the matching Iconic Christmas dies to cut the decorations and adhered them to the card. I finished by adding a simple greeting to the front along with a little gem on the snowflake. Here's a view looking down on the card, showing the dimension. The next photo shows how the card folds down to fit inside a standard A2 (US size) envelope.

Don't forget to visit our blog to see more inspirational projects from the rest of the design team. I'm looking forward to seeing your creations. Bye for now!

SHC - Iconic Christmas and More! ...

.... Hello! Sorry to have been missing for a while, I've not been feeling totally great, but I think all is well now. Not Covid related!! Anyway, I'm here with some Christmas cards - several in fact! I ordered some lovely new Concord & 9th and Altenew stamps from Seven Hills Crafts and they arrived last Friday, so I was able to spend the weekend crafting. I love the turnabout stamps that Concord & 9th make and I got the Iconic Christmas turnabout and made lots of backgrounds. Here's the first card I made:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Iconic Christmas Turnabout, Merry Mantle

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Peach Bellini, Prickly Pear, Tomato Soup; Versafine - Onyx Black

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Midas Touch Aquashimmer Brush; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#81, where it's Anything Christmas Goes.

I've used non-traditional colours here - I like the feeling of warmth they give. I used my MISTI to stamp the background and then trimmed the panel to fit the front of a top folding A2 card (US size). I edged it with an orange marker and adhered it flat to the card. I stamped the stockings and mantle on white card, coloured the images with Copic markers, repositioned the images in the MISTI and stamped with Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. Then I carefully cut around the images. I adhered the stockings to the front of the card, added the mantle above and finished with a simple greeting. The inside is, as yet, unfinished. 

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Iconic Christmas Turnabout, Joy

Inks: Gina K - Powder Blue, Dusty Rose, Blue Denim; Versamark

Dies: Concord & 9th - Joy

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Pink Satin Mirri Card; Silver Embossing Powder; Vellum

This is a large 8" square card. I used the whole 6" stamped panel for the centre of the card. I edged it with a blue marker, adhered it to some satin mirri card and added it to the front of the card. I finished the card with a large 'Joy' word. I stamped the large solid word in pink and carefully cut it out. I stamped the thin 'joy' word onto some vellum, and heat embossed it with clear powder. I used the matching die to cut out the word and layered the vellum letters onto the background word and added it to the centre of the card. I finished the front with a simple greeting from the Joy stamp set. The inside has yet to be done!

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Iconic Christmas Turnabout; Altenew - Warm Blessings

Inks: Gina K - Jelly Bean Green, Red Velvet, Christmas Pine, Obsidian Amalgam; Versamark

Dies: Altenew - Holiday Tag

Accessories: White Card; Gold Embossing Powder; Gold Satin Mirri Card; Green Fibres

This card has a much more traditional Christmas feel with greens, red and gold. It's a standard A2 card (US size). I layered the stamped panel on gold satin mirri card and added it to the front of the card. I made the tag with an Altenew die. I cut gold and white pieces and used a fancy edge to cut the zig-zag on the white card. I added a simple greetings and some stamped holly. I attached some green fibres to the tag and adhered to the card. Once again, the inside still has to be completed.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Iconic Christmas Turnabout, Merry Mantle, Joy; Altenew - Warm Blessings

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Sea Glass, Lovely Lavender, Kraft, Sandy Beach; Versafine - Onyx Black

Dies: Concord & 9th - Merry Mantle

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; Clear Embossing Powder; Green Mulberry Paper; Copic Markers

I made the card bases from kraft card. I cut the stamped panel to fit the card, layered it on some green mulberry paper and attached it to the card base. I stamped the wreath on white card, coloured with Copics, and cut it out with the matching die. I also used the word 'Noel' from the die set. I cut one black and three white words, adhered them together to give a more dimension to the word and added it to the card. I used the left over strip on another card. I stamped some snowflakes on the card, added the strip of card and finished by stamping the bold greeting in black and heat embossing it with clear powder. I still have to complete the inside of both cards.

That's all from me today. Do come by again tomorrow when I'll be sharing another Christmas card for Christmas 24 Challenge. See you soon.

C24C - Winter Birds ....

.... Hello! I'm not sure I can quite believe that it's October already. This year is flying by. It's time for our new challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#19 and for the next couple of weeks we want to see WINTER BIRDS on your Christmas cards. Here's my first card:

Stamps: 12 Days of Christmas (free with Creative Stamping Magazine)

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Green Glitter Paper; Copic Markers; Sakura Stardust Pens; Nuvo - Clear & Gold Aquashimmer Brush

My inspiration came from the Christmas song - The Twelve Days of Christmas - and I just happened to have the perfect set that I got free a while ago. I started off with the partridge in a pear tree. I stamped it on a piece of white card, coloured with Copic markers, restamped with Versafine and embossed with clear powder. I added some sparkle to the pears and to the sparkly feathers on the bird's breast. I added the words all round the panel, adhered it to some green glitter paper and added it to the front of a square card.

Now, there are several birds in the song, so I made cards for each of them. Three are in this style - image with layering, and three are ultra clean and simple. Here they are:

I had lots of fun making these cards. I did some masking and layering on the three French hens card. I also stamped one hen on some white card, coloured with Copics, embossed, and fussy cut her out and added her to the front of the card. I did the same with the good and pile of eggs, and the swan. I've decorated the inside of all the cards with a simple Christmas greeting and small holly stamp. I'm submitting the partridge card to The Holly & Ivy Christmas Card Challenge - H&ICC#80, where it's anything Christmas Goes.

I'm submitting the Seven Swans card to CAS Christmas Challenge - CASX#10 where, this month, they want to see Christmas birds. Done!!

I don't want to worry anyone, but there are only 12 weeks until Christmas!! If you joined in with us at the beginning of the year you will have at least 18 cards in your stash - I have more as I sometimes do multiples. If you haven't made a start, this is a fun challenge to get you going. I look forward to seeing your creations. Don't forget to visit our blog to see more inspiration from the rest of the team. Bye for now!