SHC - Floral Birthday ....

... Morning all! I'm here with my Seven Hills Craft blog post. Today I've got a pretty birthday card to share with you. I made this one for my mother-in-law, it's her birthday tomorrow, but I'm safe to share it here now as she doesn't look at the Internet.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - All the Birthdays, Type Talk

Inks: Gina K - Innocent Pink, Sweet Corn, Jelly Bean Green; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Concord & 9th - Birthday, Everyday Circles, Type Talk; Gina K - Master Layouts 1

Accessories: White Card; Gina K - Black Onyx Card; C&9 - Everyday Tintables Card Pack; C&9 Summer Glitter Pack; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Fab Friday - FABF#216 - such pretty colours for the challenge.

I was going through my stash last week and found a couple of pack of Tintables Card from Concord & 9th, so I decided to use the rainbow arches sheet for my card. I used pink, yellow and green inks and blended them onto the card to reveal the pattern. I then used a die to cut the panel to size and layered it onto a piece of black card. I adhered both pieces to the front of an A2 (US size card) card. 

I wanted to use some of my older die and stamp sets on this card, so I found this lovely circle die and cut it in white card - I found, to my surprise, that it also cut a think frame for the circle, so I cut it again in black card and used the thin black frame for the card. I added some stitched detail to the bottom of the circle, stamped the word birthday and added a die cut glitter happy word. I stamped the flowers from another C&9 stamp set onto white card, removed them from the MISTI coloured with Copics, restamped with Versafine ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I used the matching die to cut out the flowers. I adhered the flowers directly to the ink blended background. Then I added the circle and think black circle frame. I like how this matches the thin frame on the main panel. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white card, I added thin strips of the tinted card to each side and finished by stamping a birthday greeting along with some fun dot decoration.

This card has already been posted to my MIL, and she should get it tomorrow. That's all from me today. See you again soon.

SHC - Calendar Page ...

... Morning! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. Today, instead of a card, I've got a calendar page to share with you. A few years ago I made a desk calendar for me, and family, from scratch. I wanted to do the same last year, but ran out of time. So, I purchased an A4 hanging calandar with a blank space over the month. I've been decorating my calendar all year with stamps, stencils and dies from my stash. Today, I thought I'd share my page for June:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Yay for Birthdays

Inks: Gina K - Dusty Rose, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango, Passionate Pink

Accessories: A4 Wire Bound 2021 Blank Calender; Black Marker Pen

I'm submitting this page to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#59 where it's Anything Goes.

I've masked off the details of the month - mostly it's birthdays as I seem to have loads this month!! And that's the reason for the decoration too - it was my 61st birthday on 2 June, so I thought I'd celebrate everyday when I look at the calendar!! 😉

All the stamps come from Concord & 9th's Yay for Birthdays stamp set. I used each of the solid balloon images with a different coloured ink to create the arch of balloons. Under that I stamped the two-step word 'Yay' in pink and yellow, getting a bonus orange where the dots overlap. I used a bright pink ink for the word 'birthday'. To finish the page, I added balloon strings and the word 'my' with a fine black marker pen. It makes me happy every time I look at the page.

I have already purchased my 2022 calendar and will be decorating it soon. At the moment, I tend to decorate each month as I get to it!!

That's all for now - see you again soon.

SHC - Happy Birthday ....

.... Morning! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. I've been watching lots of crafting videos recently, particularly Gina K and Jennifer McGuire. This card is inspired by some peek-a-boo door cards that Jennifer made in July last year. I decided to have a go and make a rainbow birthday card:

Stamps: MFT - Musical Notes Background; The Stamping Village - Happy Birthday; 

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Sweet Mango, Wild Dandelion, Lucky Clover, Turquoise Sea, Stormy Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark

Dies: Hero Arts - Oval Peekaboo Doors Infinity Dies; MFT - A2 Rectangle Stax Set 1 #11, A2 Rectangle Stax Set 2 #11

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

I'm submitting this card to Seize the Birthday - STB#216 - where I've skipped their toppings challenge and just gone for Anything Goes Birthday. I'm also playing along with Fab Friday - FABF#215 - this is based on their sketch.

I used my MISTI to stamp the images on this card. I used the largest of the peekaboo door dies to cut a piece of masking paper and placed that in the centre of my diecut white panel. I positioned it over the musical notes background, stamped the image with Versamark ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I then used rainbow dye inks to create the ink blended background. I removed the masking paper and used the die to cut out the door. I used the oval die to cut another door from white card. I stamped the musical notes on some scrap white paper which I left in the MISTI. I put the rainbow panel back in the MISTI and drew round the inside of the die cut door. After removing the panel, I positioned the white oval (with some temporary adhesive on the back) in the pencilled shape on the scrap paper. I then stamped the musical notes again in soft grey ink. I removed all the stamped pieces from the MISTI. I adhered the white panel behind the rainbow panel and then stamped the Happy Birthday balloon image on the front white door, and the Hip Hip Hooray image on the musical note panel inside the door.

I used Copic markers to colour the image. I also restamped the balloon image on white card, coloured the balloons, fussy cut them out and adhered them to the front of the card with dimensional pads. I adhered the whole of the rainbow panel to a piece of black card slightly bigger and then that to the front of an A2 note card. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped another image from the birthday greeting set and that's it done. I like that when you open the door you get to see a cute message and then another inside the card!!

I've included Jennifer's video to show how she makes these pretty interactive peek-a-boo door cards.

That's all from me today - see you soon.

C24C - Trees and Ornaments ....

... Good morning! I hope that you all had a good weekend - it was wonderful here in north Wales with bright sunshine and high temperatures. For me, it was also fun as it was the start of Euro 2020!! I did find time to make my card for our new challenge at Christmas 24 - C24C#36. For the next couple of weeks we want to see your Christmas cards that feature Trees AND Ornaments. Here's my take:

Stamps: Penny Black - Xmas Constellation; MFT - Bitty Holiday Wishes; Uniko - Most Wonderful

Inks: Gina K - Applemint, Key Lime, Lucky Clover, Jelly Bean Green, Grass Green, Christmas Pine; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Card - Lucky Clover; Gems from stash

I'm submitting this card to Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#407 where the theme is Christmas, and to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#35 where it's always Anything Christmas Goes.

I've been watching a lot of Gina K videos recently and at the beginning of June, Gina did some wonderful ink blending on video and I was inspired have a go. I die cut a panel of white card and masked of a ½" border all the way round the panel and then set to work blending a lot of green inks. Once I was happy with the blending, I removed the masking paper and stamped this lovely abstract Christmas tree in the middle of the panel. I added greeting above and below the image and layered the panel onto black card. I made a notecard from some co-ordinating card and adhered the panel in the centre. I finished the front by adding lots of iridescent gems to the little stars and dots on the stamped image - these are my Christmas ornaments. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped the abstract Christmas tree in lime ink and added a greeting in black ink.

I love the way Gina K inks blend so smoothly and the depth of colour they give. This is such a pretty tree too - I've had it ages, but it's been a while since I inked it up. I took a close-up photo to show the pretty iridescent gems - they really glow in the light:

That's all from me today - do visit our Christmas 24 Challenge blog to see more inspiration from the team. I look forward to visiting your blogs to see your creations. Have fun!!

SHC - Books Galore ....

.... Morning! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. I was lucky enough to get a super new stamp for my birthday - thanks so much Tara. I had to play with it.

Stamps: Hero Arts - Bookcase Peek a Boo; Concord & 9th - Tiny Tagalong; Mama Elephant - Mixed Wishes Greetings

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

Dies: MFT - A2 Rectangle Stax Set 1 #11

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

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#27 - the stamp is brand new!!!

I started by stamping the large bookcase image onto white card. I removed it from my MISTI and coloured, in rainbow order, with Copic markers. I returned the image to the MISTI, stamped in Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I used a die to cut it out, edged it with a black marker and adhered it to the front of an A2 notecard. I stamped this fun message in dark grey ink and used the matching banner stamp in pale grey. I carefully cut out the banner, leaving a white edge around. I used dimensional pads to adhere it to the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped a lovely greeting from another new set and added a bit of the bookcase image in the corner. This card can be used for a birthday or just because!

After stamping and mixed media and making cards, reading is my favourite hobby. I have a an old and much loved bookmark that I use in my books. It was made for me in 2012 by Vicky Hayes - I used to get my Stampin' Up! goodies from her. And, when I went to the States she made me the bookmark as a farewell gift. Here's a photo - it's a bit dog eared, but the paper is soft and smooth and it feels wonderful.

As this bookmark is getting a bit old and fragile, I decided to make some new bookmarks using the Bookcase Peek a Boo stamp. I based the design of my bookmarks on the one Vicky made for me. I didn't take my bookmark apart, I worked out how to do it. Here are the bookmarks:

Stamps: Hero Arts - Bookcase Peek a Boo

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Accessories: White, Black, Red, Green, Teal, Orange and Yellow Card; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder; Ribbons and Brads from my stash

I'm submitting the bookmarks to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#59 - where it is Anything Goes.

I stamped the image on white card and coloured each row shades of one colour. I stamped and embossed it and then cut it out. I layered the coloured panels on black card. I cut two strips of card measuring 1½" x 6" in each colour. I adhered the coloured image at the bottom of one strip and stamped some words at the top. On the reverse of this strip of card I adhered some super tacky adhesive tape down the centre and around the edges. Next I cut some ribbon and folded it in half and adhered it to the centre strip of adhesive tape. I then added a brad at the top of the strip, making sure that it went through the ribbon. I removed the protective paper from the adhesive, added a thin layer of strong liquid adhesive and than carefully aligned and adhered the second strip of card on the back. I made sure the hold the edges together to ensure they were fully adhered. 

I am very happy how these have turned out. My daughter Kat, who came home from University on Saturday, has taken possession of the teal bookmark, and I've given a couple to mum.

That's all from me today. See you again soon.

SHC - It's All About the Dies ...

... Morning! I'm running a bit late with my Seven Hills Craft blog post - Internet gremlins!! Fortunately, Bev did my slot yesterday and I'm doing hers today. I'm focusing on dies today. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has many dies in her stash, and I'm often guilty of not using them enough (at all!!). I'm making up for that today. Here's my first card:

Dies: Concord & 9th - Everyday Sayings

Accessories: White and Black Card

This is as clean and simple as it gets. I used the hello die and its shadow to cut a black mat layer and white top layer. I adhered them together and glued them to the front of my card. Done!! The inside is blank for my message. My next card is still quite CAS, but much brighter:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Bold Butterflies, Fluttering By Turnabout Stamp, Kids are Grand

Inks: Gina K - Dusty Rose, Stormy Sky; Stampin' Up! - Poppy Parade

Dies: C&9 - Bold Butterflies, Everyday Sayings

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Poppy Parade

I'm submitting this card to Uniko Challenge - USC#65 where it's Anything Goes with the option of using dies - done!

This was very easy to make. I die cut the large 'hi' twice in red card and layered them together and adhered them to the card. Next, I stamped the layered butterfly onto white card and used the matching die to cut it out. I applied a thin line of glue down the middle of the butterfly and added some dimensional pads under the winds. I finished the front by adding a tiny butterfly trail. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of red card and on the white panel I stamped a message and added a tiny red butterfly.

Next is another clean and simple card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Kids are Grand

Inks: Gina K - Lucky Clover

Dies: MFT - In Focus Florals

Accessories: White Card; Brusho Crystals - Sea Green, Emerald Green, Lime Green, Turquoise, Black; Cosmic Shimmer - Pearl

I'm submitting this to CAS on Friday - CASOF#206 where they want to see the colour Green. Done!

I stamped the little clusters of kisses and the sentiment in green and added the lovely die cut leaf/floral image. This was cut from some water colour panels that I had in my stash. I made them ages ago, so it's nice to actually use them!! The inside is blank for my message.

The next three cards are all made using the water colour panels that I found in my stash. When I make panels like this, I keep a note of the products I use.

Dies: C&9 - Everyday Sayings

Accessories: White Card; Tim Holtz Water Colour Card; Brushos - Gray, Burnt Sienna, Black, Dark Brown, Sandstone; Cosmic Shimmer - Pearl Spray

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stamps Water Colour challenge - HLSWC#06 where it's Anything Goes.

This was so easy to make. The water colour panel was quite large, so I cut it to fit the front of an A2 size card (US size) and adhered it to the card. I had a strip left over, so I used the large 'hello' die to cut out the word. I used the shadow die to cut out a mat layer. The first time I did it in black card, but the word was lost on the front of the card, so I cut a white shadow layer. I glued the pieces together and added it to the centre of the card. Done. I love this one!! The inside is blank for my message.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Kids are Grand

Inks:Versamark

Dies: MFT - In Focus Florals; Gina K - Master Layouts1

Accessories: White & Black Card; Brusho Crystals - Ost Blue, Ost Red, Violet, Cobalt Blue; Cosmic Shimmer - Pearl; White Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Seize the Birthday - STB#215 - I've gone for the Anything Goes Birthday option.

Another card that was very quick to put together. I used dies to cut the water colour panel to size and layered it onto black card and added it to the front of the card. I die cut three white flowers and layered them together and glued directly to the card. I finished the front by stamping a birthday greeting on black card and heat embossing with white powder. I trimmed the strip to fit the front of the card. At the moment, the inside is still blank.

Finally, I used the negative space on the green water colour panel:

Stamps: MFT - Itty Bitty Basics

Inks: Versamark

Dies: MFT - In Focus Florals, Itty Bitty Strips; Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White & Black Card; SU Card - Costal Cabana; Brusho Crystals - Sea Green, Emerald Green, Lime Green, Turquoise, Black; Cosmic Shimmer - Pearl

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#27 - the dies are all new.

I used a die to cut the water colour panel to the right size and layered it on black card. I then adhered the little pieces from the leaves back into the leaf spaces. I adhered the whole panel to the front of a pale green note card. I finished the front by stamping a message on black card, embossed with white powder and used the matching die to cut it out. I used dimensional pads to adhere it to the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and added a white panel which is blank for my message.

Thanks for sticking with me to the end of this post - it's a long one!! 

Yesterday was my 61st birthday and I had my second Covid vaccination as a present. I was also lucky enough to get lots of lovely cards and some super stamps for presents. See you soon. Keep safe!

C24C - Colour Challenge ...

.... Morning!! Wow, it's 1 June - this year is flying by. And, we've even had some warm sunshine - at last. Today I'm here with my card for our new challenge at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#35. It's a colour challenge - we want to see your Christmas cards that feature the colours WHITE, BLACK and GREY. Here's my take:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Scandi Doodle Christmas, Say It Loud Winter Holiday

Inks: Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Stormy Sky

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White & Grey Card; Kanban Black Diamond Card; Copic Markers; Lawn Fawn - Silver Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to the Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#95 where it's always Anything Christmas Goes.

I stamped the Christmas tree image on white card removed it from the MISTI and used several shades of grey Copic to colour sections of the image. I returned it to the MISTI, stamped the image in Versamark ink and heat embossed with silver powder. I then cut out the image. I used dies to cut two mat layers - dark grey and black diamond layer. I adhered them to the card base, added a simple greeting and finished by adding the tree. Inside the card, I cut another mat layer of grey card. On the white panel I stamped a wreath image in black, coloured with grey markers and finished by adding a Christmas greeting in grey ink.

After I'd adhered the panel inside the card, I realised that it would make a wonderful clean and simple Christmas card. So I think I'm going to make a couple of cards with this design - I might change up the colours a bit!!

That's all from me today - don't forget to visit Christmas 24 Challenge blog to see more inspiration ideas from the rest of the team. You've got until 14 June to join the challenge. Have fun!