SHC - Gone But Not Forgotton ...

.... Morning! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. I suggest you grab a coffee (or tea) as this is a long post. In my stash I have stamps from several companies that have sadly closed their doors. However, this week, I'm using some of these stamps as Tara still has some stock of Lil' Inkers and Neat & Tangled on the website - all at bargain prices. Grab them while you can!! One of my favourite Lil' Inker stamp sets is Darling Diamonds - it's small, but so useful. I've made a few cards, and I'll start with a reasonably clean and simple birthday card:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Darling Diamonds; Concord & 9th - Tiny Tagalongs; Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Powder Blue, Blue Denim

Accessories: White Card; Copic Marker

I'm submitting this card to Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#413 where the theme is Birthdays. I'm too late to submit this to Color Throwdown - CTD#658, but I got the inspiration for the colours from their challenge.

I did all the stamping on this card freehand. However, in order to try to keep reasonably straight lines, I did pencil in a straight line before I stamped the complete line of diamonds. Once stamped, and allowed to dry, I erased the pencil line and winged it as I stamped the rest of the pattern. I finished the front with a simple birthday greeting in blue ink. I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the A2 (US size) note card, onto which I stamped a fun greeting and added a few more diamonds.

I used bright yellow and orange inks on my next card:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Darling Diamonds; Altenew - Hello Hydrangea

Inks: Gina K - Peach Bellini, Sweet Mango, Tangerine Twist, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Corn, Tomato Soup; Versamark

Dies: Lil' Inker - Wonky Squares

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Tangelo Twist

I'm submitting this card to the Color Hues Challenge - CH#25 - love the colours they've picked.

I randomly stamped the sweet diamond images on the front of an A2 note card. I made the sentiment the focal point of the card. I used the Lil' Inker Wonky Square dies to cut an orange mat layer and a white layer. I used Versamark to stamp more diamonds on the orange layer for a tone-on-tone look. I stamped 'hello' in bright yellow on the white panel. I love the way these dies echo the shape of the darling diamond stamps!! Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of orange card. On the white panel I added a message at the bottom of the card, along with some more diamonds. There's lots of space for my own message.

I got a bit carried away with this set of stamps. It is so easy to build background patterns - and all done freehand too. I'll start with my rainbow card:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Darling Diamonds, Happy Shiny Sentiments; Altenew - Hello Hydrangea

Inks: Gina K - Bubblegum Pink, Lipstick, Sweet Mango, Wild Dandelion, Lucky Clover, Blue Raspberry, Wild Lilac; Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 1

Accessories: White Card; GK Card - Black Onyx; White Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#62 - where it's Anything Goes.

I cut a piece of white card to 4¼" x 5½" and used my t-ruler to draw a light pencil line at ¾". I then stamped the first line of solid diamonds in red ink. Once dry, I erased the pencil line and stamped the rest of the card freehand hand. It's reasonably straight, going slightly wonky towards the bottom of the panel. I used dies to cut a mat layer of black card and the stamped panel. I stamped a fun sentiment on black card with Versamark ink and heat embossed with white powder - it's not perfect, but it'll do!! I trimmed the panel to size and adhered it to the front of the card. I finished the front by adding a sentiment above the panel. Inside the card, I have a mat layer of black card. I kept the white panel very simple, with a sentiment at the bottom and a tiny diamond stamp. Lots of space for my message.

I was having fun making background patterns, so I did a couple more - here's the first:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Darling Diamonds; Altenew - Halftone Stars

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Blue Raspberry, Wild Dandelion; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Lil' Inker - Wonky Squares

Accessories: White Card; GK Card - Black Onyx

I used the colours from last week's CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#435 - I'm too late to submit, but then I didn't use the sketch, just the colours!

For this pattern, I drew pencil lines to mark the centre vertically and horizontally. I started stamping in the middle of the card and built the pattern from there. I cut a mat of black card and trimmed the stamped panel to fit on top and adhered it to the note card. I stamped the sentiment on white card, used a wonky square die to cut it out and made the black mat by drawing around the die on some black card and cutting it out. Inside, there's a black mat layer and on the white panel I stamped a birthday greeting and added some bright diamond images.

My last background pattern has a slightly more masculine feel to it:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Darling Diamonds, Shiny Happy Sentiments; Altenew - Hello Hydrangea

Inks: Gina K - Blue Denim, Tranquil Teal, Faded Brick, Soft Stone; Versamark; Memento - Tuxedo Black

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 1

Accessories: White Card; GK Card - Black Onyx; White Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I started stamping the pattern in the centre of the white panel as before, but this time I stamped the ''petal' impressions different colours either side of the black dot, and I only filled in the centre of every other row. This gives a very different pattern. I used dies to trim a black mat and the white panel and adhered them to the notecard. I stamped a sentiment on black card with Versmark ink and heat embossed with white powder and adhered it across the front of the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel stamped greeting in the corner which I coloured with Copic markers.

The inspiration for this next card came from the sentiment:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Shiny Happy Sentiments; Altenew - Halftone Stars

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Jelly Bean Green, Fresh Asparagus, Ocean Mist, Turquoise Sea, Blue Lagoon; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#30. I've had the Halftone Stars for a while, but this is the first time I've used them!!

This is a larger card at 6¼" x 4½". I stamped the sentiment in black ink towards the top of the card and then filled in the front with stars of all different sizes - both solid and halftone. I used greens and teals as they are my husband's favourite colours. I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the note card and stamped another of the sentiments from Shiny Happy Sentiments. I think this is just perfect for my hubby! I used a Copic marker to edge the panel and adhered it inside the card.

You'll be pleased to know, that we have come to my last card today - it's a Christmas card:

Stamps: Neat & Tangled - Winter Trees

Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Gina K - Stormy Sky, Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion; Versafine - Onyx Black

Dies: Lil' Inker - Wonky Squares

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#38 where it's always Anything Christmas Goes.

Using my MISTI, I stamped the Christmas trees on white card, removed the panel and coloured with Copic markers. I returned the image to the MISTI, restamped with Versafine ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I used a wonky square die to cut out the image and then added lots of little stars to the sky. I stamped the trees again directly on the front of a square notecard and adhered the stamped image on top. I finished the front by adding a Christmas greeting. Inside I cut a panel of white card slightly smaller than the notecard, stamped a greeting, some more trees and a few more stars.

Well, that was a long post - thanks so much for sticking with me to the end. I'm very sad that both Lil' Inker and Neat & Tangled have shut up shop, but I'm so pleased I have some of their stamps and have been able to show them off here. Don't forget to visit Seven Hills Craft website to see what they - it's all at a great price. See you soon!!