SHC - Holographic Birthday cards ....

... Morning! Wow, it's the last day of March - this month has flown by!! I've been having fun in my craft room making a couple of very shiny birthday cards. Today is my regular weekly post for Seven Hills Craft store. I've made two cards using some of Concord & 9th's fabulous birthday stamp and die sets. Here's the first card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Let's Party Turnabout, Yay for Birthdays

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Delicata - Silvery Shimmer

Dies: Concord & 9th - Perfect Pairings

Accessories: White & Black Card; Holographic Card

I'm submitting this card to Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#194 where the cue word is Birthday.

This card is about as easy as it gets. I used black card to make the side folding notecard. I die cut the birthday words from rainbow holographic card and adhered them flat to the note card. I didn't add anything else as I want the shimmer and shine to be the star of the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of silver mirri card. On the white panel, I stamped a birthday greeting in black and added some silver confetti using one of the smaller stamps from Yay for Birthdays.

My next card uses the balloon die from Perfect Pairings - again, I've kept things very simple:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Let's Party Turnabout, Yay for Birthdays

Inks: Delicata - Silvery Shimmer; Versamark; Gina K - Stormy Sky

Dies: Concord & 9th - Perfect Pairings

Accessories: White & Black Card; Holographic Card

I am delighted that the full holographic effect has been captured in my photos - a bit surprised too!! The balloon die gives the outline of balloons along with five solid balloons. I adhered the die cut to the side of the card and stamped the greeting in Versamark ink and heat embossed with silver powder. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of the same holographic card and on the white card I stamped a bold 'Yay' using the two-step stamp from Yay for Birthdays. 

I am so pleased how these cards turned out. I love the way the holographic card shimmers in the light, so even though both cards are clean and simple, they sparkle!!! And how! That's all from me today. See you again soon.

SHC - Christmas Foliage

.... Morning. I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft post. I've got a Christmas card to share today. It's reasonably clean and simple and focuses on Christmas flowers and leaves:

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold Winter Wishes Snowflake, Big & Bold Frosty's Hat

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Delicata - Silvery Shimmer; Versafine Clair - Nocture

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder

I used the sketch from Christmas 24 Challenge for the layout of this card. I'm submitting this card to Jingle Belles - JB:21:06 where the theme is Christmas Foliage; so pleased to finally join in with this challenge.

This is a reasonably big card – 4½” x 6¼”. I started by stamping the background with the big snowflake from Colorado Craft Company’s Big & Bold Winter Wishes Snowflake. I stamped it in a soft shimmery silver ink, once towards the top of the card and again just off to the left. Next, I stamped the holly leaves and berries, and the poinsettia flower from Big & Bold Frosty’s Hat. I coloured the images with Copic markers, replaced them in my stamp positioner, stamped with black Versafine ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I then carefully fussy cut out all the images. I edged the images with a black marker, adhered them to the card and then added a greeting from Big & Bold Winter Wishes Snowflake.  Inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the base. I stamped the snowflake in silver in the centre of the panel and added a fun sentiment from Big & Bold Frosty’s Hat. I edged the panel with a soft blue marker and glued it into the card.

Edited to add: I'm also submitting this card to the Holly & The Ivy Challenge - H&ICC#90 where it's Anything Goes.

That's all from me today - only one card, but a pretty one. See you again soon.

SHC - Winged Things and More ....

... Good Morning everyone! If you're in the UK I hope you all had a good Mother's Day. I'm here with my regular weekly post for Seven Hills Craft blog. Last I tried out Jennifer McGuire's Gel Plate Lift technique and I shared a couple of cards that I'd made. Well, I made lots of backgrounds and today's cards are all made from them. They mainly feature images from Colorado Craft Company's Big & Bold range of stamps, with other images from Altenew and Concord & 9th. For my first two cards I used the Big & Bold Honey Bee stamp set. I embossed the huge bee onto white card, emboosed with clear powder and used three shades of yellow ink to build up the background colour. I ended up with a darker positive image and softer negative image. My first card is bold and bright:

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold Honey Bee; Concord & 9th - Beautiful Butterfly

Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango, Soft Stone; Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Love to Challenge Craft Blog - LTCCB#56 where the theme is Anything Goes.

My first card uses the positive image. I cut the panel to 4” x 5¾”. I added a simple sentiment from Concord & 9th’s Beautiful Butterfly in bold black ink. I layered the panel on black card and adhered the whole piece to a US A6 (6¼” x 4½”) card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped the large honey bee in yellow ink, added some soft grey hexagons and finished with one of the sentiments from the Honey Bee stamp set.

I was having such fun with this stamp set that I decorated the envelope too. I add a bold yellow bee on the front of the envelope and added a message, created from the stamps, on the envelope flap. I like the 'save the bees' message - bees, for some reason, seem to be declining in number.

My next card uses the softer negative image. 

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold Honey Bee; Altenew - Hello Hydrangea

Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango, Soft Stone; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - A2 Rectangles Stax Set 1 #11, A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 2 #9

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Basic Black

I'm submitting this card to Darnell's Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#24 - it's the first time I've used the lovely big honey bee stamp!

This time I used an US A2 (4¼” x 5½”) card. I cut a piece of black card just smaller than the blank and used a die to cut the honey bee image. It’s such a lovely image that I kept the greeting quite simple and used the vertical ‘hello’ stamp from Altenew’s Hello Hydrangea stamp set. Inside on the white panel, I stamped the little hydrangea buds from Hello Hydrangea, and the solid bee and words from Honey Bee. I layered this onto black card and adhered the whole piece inside the card.

My next two cards feature some of the leaves from Colorado Craft Company’s Big & Bold Brilliant Beetle stamp set. Using the same technique, I have a bolder positive image and softer negative image.

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold Brilliant Beetle; Concord & 9th - Beautiful Butterfly

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Grass Green, Fresh Asparagus; Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - A2 Rectangles Stax Set 1 #11, A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 2 #9

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Basic Black

The first card, using the bold positive image, is a US A2 card. I stamped a butterfly from Concord & 9th’s Beautiful Butterfly stamp set, coloured it with Copic markers, restamped with Versamark, heat embossed with silver powder and fussy cut it out. I used a strip of the left-over green card the long sentiment from Big & Bold Brilliant Beetle, embossed with silver powder and cut it out. I layered it onto some scraps of card for dimension and adhered it to the card. I used dimensional pads to add the butterfly. I kept the inside white panel very simple. I stamped another of the butterflies from Beautiful Butterfly and added some leaves and a words from Brilliant Beetle. I layered the panel onto black card and added to the inside of the card.

My last card for today is for my stash. I think it’s always important to have some sympathy cards on hand, but they are so hard to make. So, I tend to make them as I go and have them ready. This one uses the softer negative image.

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold Brilliant Beetle; Altenew - Fresh Freesia, Beautiful Inside

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Grass Green, Jelly Bean Green, Fresh Asparagus; Memento - New Sprout; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Basic Black

The card is a US A6 and I simply cut the mat layer and image panel to fit the card. I added a simple sentiment from Altenew’s Fresh Freesia stamp set in black and called it done. On the inside, I stamped a verse from Altenew’s Beautiful Inside stamp set – the words are lovely. I finished by adding a few leaves from Brilliant Beetle.

It was fun learning this technique and I recommend watching Jennifer's video, click this link and it will take you to her post. I love the velvety look you get on the positive images - the inks blend beautifully and are so smooth. I think I might come back to this technique. 

This turned out to be an exceptionally long post – thanks so much for sticking with me to the end. I hope you liked the cards. I had fun making them. I can’t make up my mind which image I prefer – the bold positive or the softer negative. What do you think? See you soon.

Edited to add: Jonathan and I had our first Covid-19 vaccination today - we had the Oxford Astra Zenica one. Second vaccination in about 12 weeks. Feeling great :)

Happy Birthday Boy ....

... Morning! This is a very quick post to share a birthday card that I've made for my nephew - it's late! It should have reached him yesterday, but I forgot - bad aunty!! Here's the card:

Stamps: MFT - Spotlight Sentiments; My Mind's Eye - Boy Crazy; Avery Elle - Handwritten Notes

Inks: Kaleidacolor - Spectrum; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

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

I'm submitting this card to Seize the Birthday - STB#209 - I'm skipping the topping of shades of green, and just celebrating a birthday.

I made the base card last year when I made a selection of spotlight sentiment birthday cards for my Seven Hills Craft blog post. I made some that simply had the sentiment stamped across the front. Today I pulled out the rainbow greeting as I think it's perfect for a 9 year old. I stamped the robot on white card, coloured him with Copic markers, restamped in Versafine and heat embossed with clear powder. I then fussy cut him out and glued him to the front of the card. I used a clear shimmer brush to add some sparkle to the robot - and you can see this in the photo!! I added a few of the embellishments from the stamp set. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the card. I stamped a fun greeting in black and added the 'belated' part in pink. I also stamped part of the robot off to the side in the Spectrum ink.

I think this is a fun card and while it's going to be late, I do hope that my nephew likes it. That's all from me today. I'm off to get a cup of coffee and then make a start on my Zoom Welsh class - almost at the end of the entry level course and loving it. Apologies for the photos - I've got a new lightbox to take photos and I'm learning the settings!

C24C - Sketch Challenge ....

.... Good morning! It's time for our new challenge at Christmas 24 - C24C#30 - we have a fun sketch challenge for you - you can flip the sketch, so long as we can see the basic sketch layout in your card. Here's my take on the sketch:

Stamps: Happy Little Stampers - Let It Snow, Merry Kissmass, Mixed Christmas Sentiments

Inks: Memento - Angel Pink, Summer Sky, New Sprout; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versafine - Onyx Black

Dies: MFT - Mini Scallop Stitched Squares Stax #2, Squares Stax Set 2 #3

Accessories: White Card; Kaisercraft DP - Mistletoe; Clear Embossing Powder; Copics; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stampers Christmas challenge - HLSXMAS#03 where it's Anything Goes (I've skipped the option of angels), and to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#32 - where it's Anything Goes.

I used a fancy edge die to cut the mat layers from Christmas design paper, and use a plain square die to cut pieces of white card which are 1½" square. I then stamped the holly and berries twice and the green berries once. I coloured them with Copic markers, returned the images to the MISTI and stamped with Versafine ink and heat embossed with clear powder. Next I used some snowflake images to stamp a subtle and pastel background. I finished by stamping a bold greeting in black. The two holly panels have been adhered flat to the card, and I used dimensional pads for the berry piece. You can see it from the photo, but I did add sparkle to the berries with a clear aqua shimmer brush. Inside the card, I used another piece of design paper for the mat layer and on the white card I stamped a greeting and added some more Christmas foliage which I coloured with copic markers.

You have until the end of the month to join in with our challenge. Don't forget to visit our blog to see more inspiration cards from the rest of the design team.

Before I go I hope all the mums out there had a super day yesterday - I had a lovely time. Cards and flowers from my children, flowers to my mum and mother-in-law, and a lovely cream tea for our special meal. It was fab! See you soon.

SHC - Painted Roses ....

.... Morning! I'm here with my regular weekly post for Seven Hills Crafts. I've been watching Jennifer McGuire's video on her Gel Lift Technique. It was fab and I immediately had a go. My first attempt wasn't great. In fact I completely forgot to blend one of the ink layers all the way down the gel and ended up with a line across the images. I've put the photos at the end of this post. My first card was made using the waste card from cleaning off the brayer.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Painted Rose; Lawn Fawn - Celebration Scripty Sayings; Hero Arts - Mod Pattern Background

Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion, Powder Blue, Blue Raspberry; Memento - Summer Skies, Danube Blue; Versafine - Onyx Black

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Color Hues - CH#13 where the colours are Yellow and Blue.

I stamped the large rose onto the yellow card, embossed it with clear powder and fussy cut it out. I did the same for the leaves. Next, I took a US A6 card and masked off the edges with ½" tape and stamped the background in soft blue ink. I removed the tape and adhered the complete rose. I finished the front by adding a scripty sentiment in dark blue and lots of shimmer to the rose with a clear aqua shimmer brush. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the base. I stamped the rose in pale yellow in the centre and finished by adding a sentiment in blue. I edged the panel with a blue marker and glued it in the card.

I was having such fun with this stamp set that I decide to decorate the envelope too.

This card is for my mother-in-law, and I'm perfectly safe sharing it here, as she doesn't do the Internet!!

My next card uses the soft negative image that I messed up, but I think I saved it okay.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Painted Rose, Beautiful Words;  Hero Arts - Mod Pattern Background

Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion, Powder Blue, Jelly Bean Green

Dies: MFT - Zig-Zag Stitched Ovals Stax #5 

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush; Gel Press

I'm submitting this card to the new Fusion challenge - FUSION#0521 - I've used the sketched and mostly the greens.

I used an fancy-edged oval die to cut out the rose. I positioned the just above the line the made in the image - it worked. I stamped a pale yellow background over the A2 card and added the oval towards the top of the card. I had a strip of the green card left and used that for the sentiment. I stamped the words in green ink and finished the sentiment inside the card. I stamped a pale yellow rose inside too.

Before I go, here are the two pages that I did first trying out Jennifer's technique. I would have been thrilled with them - but that line! So pleased that I was able to save the soft image. Still thinking about what I can do with the bold positive image.

That's it from me today - see you again soon.