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.