SHC - Sweater Weather!! ....

... Morning! I don't know what it's like around your area, but here in North Wales, it's been dull, grey, damp and feeling rather autumnal! So, for this week's Seven Hills Craft blog post, I've made a few, well several, autumn themed cards. Here's the first:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather Turnabout, Give Thanks, Lace Leaf, Just Wanted to Say

Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Gina K - Stormy Sky

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 1

Accessories: White Card; Gina K Card - Black Onyx; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Darnell's Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#29 challenge. While I've had these stamps for quite a while, it's the first time the Lace Leaf and Sweater Weather stamps have been used.

I used my MISTI to stamp all the sweater weather panels. And, it's so easy to make multiple panels when you have the stamp set up in the MISTI.

For this card, I stamped all four turns with Copic friendly black ink. I used the stamping guide on the back of the pack to help me colour the images with Copic markers - I think I mostly did it!! I used a die to cut the coloured panel and layered it onto a black mat. I adhered this panel flat to my A2 (US size) notecard. I found this sentiment in another older stamp set and it's perfect for the theme. I stamped it on a white strip, cut that to size and adhered it to the front of the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I used grey ink to stamp the word 'hi' and to add a narrow sentiment strip with all the wonderful autumn things. I finished the panel by adding the watercolour wash image in a third-generation stamp.

My next card is more clean and simple in style:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather Turnabout, Cozy Up; Altenew - School Days

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Wild Dandelion, Turquoise Sea; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 2

Accessories: White Card; Gina K Card - Black Onyx; Gold Embossing Powder

I used the colours from last week's CAS Colours & Sketches challenge - CASC&S#433 - such bold, bright colours.

I used a stitch edged die to cut out a small section of the stamped panel and layered that onto a black mat. I adhered this to the top left-hand corner of the card. Now, these cards have come about because summer seems to have vanished around here. Looking through my stash I found this fabulous sentiment in an old Altenew set called School Days and it's perfect. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel, I kept things very simple with a fun knitted sock which I coloured to match the inks on the front of the card and used another of the sentiments from School Days.

Next is an autumn themed birthday card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather Turnabout, Tiny Tagalongs

Inks: Gina K - Sandy Beach, Kraft, Warm Cocoa, Dark Chocolate

Dies: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake, Early Espresso; Gold Glitter

I'm submitting this card to The Male Room - TMR#153 where the challenge is celebrating its 8th birthday.

I used kraft cardstock to make the note card and stamped the Sweater Weather turnabout in four shades of brown directly on the card front. I used the co-ordinating dies to create the greeting panel. I used the rectangle die to cut a kraft label onto which I applied double sided adhesive. I used dark brown card to cut the 'autumn wishes' words and adhered that to the kraft panel. I then poured gold glitter onto the panel and burnished the glitter in place. I used dimensional tape to adhere the finished panel. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of dark brown card. On the white card, I stamped a birthday greeting and added some autumn foliage. This card is for my uncle - his birthday is next month.

Next is a fun, colourful autumn card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather Turnabout, Cozy Up

Inks: Gina K - Blue Raspberry, Tangerine Twist, Plum Punch, Lucky Clover, Warm Glow; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather

Accessories: White Card; Gina K Card - Plum Punch, Blue Raspberry, Tangerine Twist, Lucky Clover; Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots

I am submitted this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#61 where it's Anything Goes.

I made the notecard from plum cardstock. I used darker, more autumnal colours for this card panel. Stupidly, I dropped the panel on the floor and rolled my chair over the card. This resulted in some deep creases. So to rescue the card, I used one of my embossing folders - first time for ages!! I adhered the panel directly to the front of the card. I created the greeting panel by using the Sweater Weather dies and four different coloured card. I used the in-lay die technique to add the letters. I used dimensional tape to add the finished panel. Inside the card, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the notecard. I create a bold, colourful sentiment using stamps from another old set - Cozy Up!

My final card is very clean and simple:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather Turnabout, Lace Leaf, Give Thanks

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Wild Dandelion, Turquoise Sea, Dark Chocolate; Versamark

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; Gold Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to AAA Cards - AAA#197 where they want us to use a one inch strip and that's it!

I used kraft cardstock to make the note card. I stamped a narrow sentiment strip on the card in dark brown ink - it lists all the wonderful things we like in autumn. I had some of the bright sweater weather panel left over, so I cut a strip one inch wide and used dimensional tape to adhere it above the stamped sentiment. On the white panel inside, I stamped a fun greeting in bright colours.

Well, that turned into a very long post. I really enjoy working with Concord & 9th's turnabout stamps - you can make so many different styles of card. I've made lots of autumn themed cards as it's Kat's favourite season. And, now that she's back in Nottingham sharing a flat with her friend Rachel, I'll be sending lots of cards her way. So it seemed a good idea to have some in my stash.

That's it for now and who knows, we might even have summer weather when this post goes live. See you next week.

SHC - Succulent Bouquet Four Ways .....

.... Morning! It's time for my weekly Seven Hills Craft Blog post. I've gone a bit mad and made four cards today, all featuring the wonderful Succulent Bouquet image from Hero Arts. First up is a birthday card:

Stamps: Altenew - Just a Number; Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet; MFT - Itty Bitty Birthday 

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Kaleidacolor - Spectrum

Dies: Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet

Accessories: White Card; MFT Design Paper - Rainbow Plaid

I'm submitting this card to Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#263 where they have some wonderful colours for us to use. I think I've used them all in this paper!

This is a really quick and easy card to make. I used a US A6 size card (4½" x 6¼") for the note card and covered most of the front with a sheet of rainbow plaid paper. I love the pattern and the ways the colours blend. As there's so much colour in the background, I kept the focal image very simple. I stamped it with bold black ink. I used the matching die to cut out the stamped image and two more blank white die cuts. I layered them together to give the flowers dimension and stability. I adhered them to the front of the card. I finished the front by stamping a birthday greeting - I used two stamps - the tiny message is from Itty Bitty Birthday and the bold birthday is from Just a Number. Inside the card, I used another of the pages of design paper for a mat layer. On the white panel I stamped the succulent image with a rainbow ink pad. I finished by stamping a birthday greeting - a quote from John Lennon which I think is just lovely.

Next is a wedding card:

Stamps: Altenew - Build a Flower Magnolia; Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet; MFT - Itty Bitty Birthday 

Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Soft Stone, Lovely Lavender

Dies: Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet

Accessories: White Card; SU! Design Paper - Whisper White; Zig Clean Colour Pens; Tim Holtz Watercolour Card; Silver Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stampers Water Colour Challenge - HLSWC#08 where it's Anything Goes, and to The Flower Challenge - TFC#59 where they want us to use a die (and the option is a slimline card). 

It's another US A6 card - it's a good size to showcase the succulent bouquet image. I covered the card with some old Stampin' Up! whisper white design paper. I stamped the image on water colour card with Versamark ink and heat embossed with silver powder. I spritzed the image with water and then used my Zig water colour pens to add colour. I love the way the colours blend and move with water. Once dry, I used the matching die to cut out the image and one blank white die cut. I layered them together and adhered them at the bottom of the card. I finished the front by stamping a greeting in Versamark and embossing with silver powder. Inside, the card I used the design paper for the mat layer. On the white panel I stamped the succulent image off the edge with a lavender/pink ink, and added a message for the happy couple. This card is going into my stash.

I have another birthday card:

Stamps: Altenew - Just a Number; Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet; MFT - Itty Bitty Birthday 

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet

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

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#08, and to The Male Room - TMR#153 where the challenge is Our 8th Birthday. The Male Room has a very special place in my heart as I used to run the challenge and I just love making masculine style cards.

This is a top folding US A2 note card. I cut three strips of black card of varying thickness and adhered them directly to the card front. I stamped the image on white card, coloured it with Copic markers, returned it to the MISTI and restamped with Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I used the matching succulent die to cut out the image. I adhered the image flat to the card. I finished the front by adding a simple birthday greeting. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I added one of the greeting from Altenew's Just a Number stamp set. There are some great messages in the set. I also stamped the tiny snail from the Succulent Bouquet stamp set. This card has been sent to my nephew - it was his 40th birthday last Monday. And it just feels wrong that he's 40 already!!!

My final card today is a quick, clean, simple, one-layer card:

Stamps: Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Kaleidacolor - Spectrum

Accessories: White Card

I'm submitting this to Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - HLSCAS#08 where they want us to go Off the Edge.

This is a US A2 card. I used my MISTI to stamp the image. I put the note card into the MISTI and positioned the image off the edge of the card. I used a multi-coloured ink pad to stamp the flowers in the opposite corners of the card. In the space I stamped a scripty 'hello' sentiment in black ink. Inside the card I kept it very simple. I stamped the flowers again, just off the edge, and added the tiny snail.

Wow! That turned out to be a very long post. Thanks so much for sticking with me to the end. I think you'll agree that this is a wonderfully versatile stamp. Actually, coloured with red and green, it would make a super Christmas card too :)

Bye for now - see you soon.

SHC - Shades of Blue .....

... Good morning! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. For a change I've only got one card to share with you today. It's a one layer, clean and simple card.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Painted Shapes; Altenew - Friends Forever

Inks: Gina K - Powder Blue, Blue Raspberry, Blue Denim; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; Black Marker Pen

I was inspired to make this card by a couple of challenges - Less is More - LIM#449 where they want us to use Shades of Blue, and AAA Cards - AAA#196 where they want us to decorate two quarters with the option of our favourite colour.

This card is really easy to make. I worked out the centre of side and used them to mask off the card. I stamped the chevron stamp in three shades of blue ink in the top left-hand corner. I removed the masking tape, repositioned it and then stamped the same image in the bottom right-hand corner. I used a black marker pen and ruler to draw the lines to mark off the quarters. I finished the front by adding a simple greeting in black ink. Inside the card, I simply stamped a line of dots at the top of the card (I slipped a bit), and some more chevrons at the bottom. There's lots of space for my message.

I'm very pleased how this card turned out. It's so easy to make that I might make a set and send them to Ben, along with some greetings that he can add as he wants. 

After a rather wet and cool weekend, we've had some lovely sunny days here. Looks like summer might stick around for a while longer. Mum has been busy in her garden - it looks fab. Kat has been packing her bags as she's going back to Nottingham soon for her second year at university. That's all from me today. See you again soon.

SHC - Shimmer and Shine ....

.... Morning! I can't quite believe that it's already August - the year is flying by. However, it's Wednesday and that means it's time for my weekly Seven Hills Craft Blog post. Not a Christmas card in sight today, instead I've made a set of three cards all using products from Concord & 9th. Here's the first:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Stripes & Sayings, Everyday Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Passionate Pink; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: C&9 - Confetti Card Die, Butterfly Perfect Pairing

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Melon Mambo; C&9 - Tintables Card Fronts; Silver Holographic Card; Sheer Shimmer Spray - Sparkle

I'm submitting this card to Color Hues - CH#23 where the colours are yellow and pink, and to Inkspirational - INK#244 where they want to see Dots/Spots.

I started by blending yellow and pink inks over the dotty tintable card front. I love the way the pattern is revealed as the colour is blended! I spritzed the panel with a shimmer spray and once it was dry I used a fancy edge die to cut the panel to fit on the front of an A2 (US size card) notecard. I stamped a simple greeting in bold black in the bottom corner of the card. I finished the front by adding a flutter of butterflies. I die cut a silver layer and two white layers. I adhered them together to give strength and stability to the die cut, and then I glued them to the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of bright pink card. On the white panel I stamped a birthday greeting in bright pink and added a tiny sun stamp in yellow. I also added a silver holographic butterfly - some of the waste from the die cut!!

Next, I used word tintable card front:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Everyday Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Key Lime, Lucky Clover

Dies: C&9 - Confetti Card Die

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Granny Apple Green; C&9 - Tintables Card Fronts; Sheer Shimmer Spray - Frost

I'm submitting this to the current Never-Before-Used-Sctuff - NBUS#29 - first time I've used the Confetti die, despite having it for a while!!

I used acid lemon, lime green and grass green for this tintable cover sheet. In real-life the words are clearly visible, but not so much in the photo. I think perhaps, I'll use darker colours next time. As before, I used the Confetti die to cut out the panel, after first adding shimmer with a frost spray. I adhered the panel directly to an A2 notecard. Inside, I cut a mat layer of bright green card. On the white panel, I simply adding a bold greeting in green. Lots of space left for my own message.

My final card is a simple hello card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Shine On

Inks: Gina K - Powder Blue, Blue Denim, In the Navy, Slate

Dies: C&9 - Confetti Card Die; Everyday Sayings

Accessories: White & Black Card; C&9 - Tintables Card Fronts; Sheer Shimmer Spray - Frost; Copic Marker

I'm submitting this card to Cardz 4 Guyz - C4G#276 where they want us to use Shades of Blue - done!!

This time I used blue and grey inks to blend over the chevron tintable card front. I spritzed on some frosty shimmer and, once dry, I used the Confetti die to cut the panel to size. I adhered it to the front of an A2 card. I used a large 'hello' die to cut a black shadow and three white hellos. I layered the white words together, glued them to the black shadow and then adhered the lot to the front of the card. Inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the note card. I edged it with a dark grey Copic marker and stamped a message and some stars. There's plenty of space for my message. I think this one will go to our son, Ben.

That's all from me today. I'm taking Mum and Kat into Chester later this morning for a bit of retail therapy. And then, in the afternoon, I'll be watching the Olympics - just love all the sports. See you soon.