SHC - Masculine Birthday Cards

... Morning! It's time for my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. This week I have a couple of masculine themed cards to share with you. Here's the first:

Stamps: Altenew - Just a Number; Mama Elephant - Easy Sentiments

Inks: Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze

Dies: Altenew - Just a Number

Accessories: A6 Grey Notecard; Altenew - Geo Diamonds 3D Embossing Folder

I'm submitting this to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#66 where it is always Anything Goes. I'm also submitting this to Seize the Birthday - STB#230 where they want to see embossing!

This card was so quick and easy to make. I placed a piece of white card into the 3D embossing folder and ran it through my Big Shot. I love the simplicity of the design. I trimmed the panel to fit on the front of a UK A6 grey notecard. To finish the front I stamped the 'happy birthday' greeting onto white card and used the matching die to cut out the words. I layered them onto plain white die cuts and added them to the card. This is a simple masculine CAS card. Inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the notecard and added several birthday greetings in blue ink.

My next card is also quite clean and simple:

Stamps: Altenew - Birthday Builder; Mama Elephant - Mixed Wishes Greetings; C&9 - Playful Patterns

Inks: Gina K - Blue Lagoon, Blue Denim, Christmas Pine, Wild Lilac; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White & Kraft Card; Altenew Block Stencil; Copic Markers

I used Stencil 2 from the Block stencil pack to create the pattern on kraft card. It is not quite perfect, but I like it. I cut a piece of white card to 3" x 4¼" to allow some of the background to show around the edge. I added an outline birthday greeting and coloured the letters with Copic markers. I added a dotty pattern and lightly ink blended around the white card. Inside, the card I cut a mat layer of kraft card and on the white panel I stamped a birthday greeting and some more dots.

Well, that's all the cards for January made. I don't need quite so many for Februay, but those that I do are for special birthdays! That's it for today. See you soon.

SHC - Floral Birthdays

Morning!! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. Today I have a couple of floral birthday cards to share with you:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - In Bloom; Mama Elephant - Birthday Messages; Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion, Applemint, Keylime, Warm Cocoa, Soft Stone

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Daffodil Delight, Grey Granite; C&9 - In Bloom Stencils

I'm submitting this card to AAA Birthday - AAAB#33 where they want us to use two favourite colours.

I used my MISTI to stamp the large image onto white card. I removed the image and used the matching stencils to add colour to the flowers and leaves. In the stencil set there is a stencil that allows us to add stripes to the image. I used a soft grey ink for the stripes. To finish the panel I stamped a tiny birthday greeting to the bottom right coner of the panel. I rounded the corners of the finished panel and layered it on yellow and grey mats. I adhered the finished panel to the front of a square note card. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of yellow card. On the white panel, I added a fun birthday greeting along with a couple more flowers stamped in yellow.

My next card uses a water spray to give a totally different look to the same stamp:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - In Bloom; Avery Elle - Inside Birthday Greeting

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Dusty Rose, Red Velvet

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Raspberry Ripple; Zig Clear Color Brushes

I'm submitting this card to The Flower Challenge - TFC#64 where they want to see a monochromatic colour theme, and to CAS Mix Up Card Challenge - CASMU#94 where they want to see loose watercolour.

I used Zig Clear Color brushes to add colour to the image and lightly spritzed with water before stamping on regular white card stock. I allowed the stamp to sit on the card to ensure that all the colour transferred to the card. I like the loose texture that this technique gives. When completely dry, I added a bold birthday greeting at the top of the panel. I layered the panel on red card and added it to a white note card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of red card. On the white panel, I added a simple birthday greeting and another flower stamped to match the front of the card.

That's all from me today. As always thanks for stopping by and leaving comments - I really do appreciate them. See you soon.

SHC - Silver & Gold ....

..... Morning! This is a pre-prepared post as I had surgery last Thursday (see post from Monday) and I'm not sure how well I'll feel post-op!! This is my weekly post for Seven Hills Crafts blog and I've got a Christmas card to share with you. Yes, I know it's only just finished, but I like making Christmas cards and it makes things so much less stressful in December. Here's my card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Yuletide Ornament

Inks: Versmark

Dies: C&9 - Yuletide Ornament

Accessories: White and Black Card; Silver Embossing Powder; Finetec - Pearl Colours; Tim Holtz Watercolour Card; Silver Holographic Card

I'm submitting this card to CAS Christmas - CASX#01 where they want us to use silver and gold, and to Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - HLSXMAS#01 - where it is anything goes this month.

I stamped the ornament in Versamark on watercolour card and heat embossed with silver powder. I used several shades of gold watercolour paint to colour the ornament - it has a wonderful shimmer in real-life. Once dry, I used the matching die to cut out the ornament and adhered it flat to an US AS note card. I used the die to cut out a silver holographic bow, along with a couple of white bows which I layered together. I added the bow to the ornament. I completed the front of the card with a simple greeting which I stamped in Versamark on black card. I heat set with silver powder and cut it out with the matching die. Once again, I layered the sentiment onto two other dies and added it to the card. I did decorate the inside, but forgot to take a photo!!

That's the card for today - thanks so much for stopping by. See you soon. x

Free Spirit Birthday ....

..... Morning! I've got a birthday card to share with you today. This one is for our son, Ben:

Stamps: Waltzing Mouse Stamps - Free Spirit Boy; The Greetery - Birthday Sentiment Suite; Mama Elephant - Mixed Wishes Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Keylime, Blue Lagoon, Blue Raspberry; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White & Black Card; Taylored Expressions - Ovals Masking Stencils

I'm submitting this card to The Male Room - TMR#158 to make a card for a teenager, Just Us Girls - JUGS#614 - Trend week to make an inked background, and to Seize the Birthday - STB#229 - I've gone for the Anything Goes option.

I placed the oval mask on a side opening A2 note card. I used three inks to shade the background - I love how Gina K inks blend so well. I removed the mask and stamped the abstract circles image in black ink. This image is from Waltzing Mouse Stamps (now sadly closed), but it is one of my all time favourite stamps for making masculine birthday cards. I used it many times in the past for cards for Ben, and while he's not a teenager anymore, it is perfect for this card. I finished the front by adding a simple birthday greeting. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white card, I stamped the circle image again this time blending together the green, teal and blue inks. I finished with a fun verse. This card is already in the post and on its way to Ben.

That's all for now with cards. 

I'm feeling very tired now and need to have a nap. Some of you may have seen my recent Facebook posts. I had a lumpectomy last week for breast cancer. I'm only telling you this because it's important not to ignore any lumps or bumps you might find. I found a lump in early November, saw my GP who immediately referred me to a specialist. I saw him in December and had a shedload of tests. And then I was told I had breast cancer. I really hadn't been expecting that at all. Christmas and New Year have been a bit quite. However, the good thing is that I had surgery last week and will be followed up shortly to find out next steps. Apart from feeling absolutely shattered, I'm okay. So, don't ignore lumps you might find and get them followed up. I'm so thankful for our wonderful National Health Service.

That's really is all for now. See you again soon.

SHC - A Rabble of Butterflies ...

.... Morning! My second post of 2022!! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. I have lots of pretty butterflies on my cards. I'll start with a birthday card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Fluttering By Turnabout; The Greetery - Birthday Blooms; Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Gina K - Lipstick, Cherry Red, Lovely Lavender, Wild Lilac; VFC - Nocturne

Dies: The Greetery - Birthday Blooms

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Raspberry Ripple

I'm submitting this card to Color Hues - CH#32 where they want to see Red and Purple.

You all know that I love the Concord & 9th turnabout stamps - they are great for making pretty, and quick, backgrounds. I used shades of purple and red to make this butterfly filled background. I added the body and trail details with black ink. I stamped the word 'happy' directly on the card, and layered the panel on a red mat layer and added to a white square card. I finished the front with the lovely scripty die cut word 'birthday'. It's still flat enough to go through the post. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of red card. On the white panel I stamped a fun greeting - I know my aunt will appreciate the fun - and added a couple of butterflies.

Next up is another birthday card - this one is for my sister-in-law who will be celebrating her 50th tomorrow:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Fluttering By Turnabout; The Greetery - Birthday Blooms; Mama Elephant - Mixed Wishes Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Keylime, Blue Raspberry, Passionate Pink, Tangerine Twist; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: The Greetery - Birthday Blooms

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Pacific Point; Silver Holographic Card

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#34 - first time I've used both the turnabout stamp and Birthday Blooms, won't be the last!!

This time I made a US A2 size card. I cut the stamped panel to fit on the front and above it I added a strip of blue card, along with a thin silver holographic strip for some sparkle. I finished the front by stamping a sentiment and adding the die cut word 'celebrate'. Inside, I cut a mat layer of blue card. On the white panel I stamped a birthday greeting and added a couple more butterflies.

My final card has lots of sparkle:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Fluttering By Turnabout; Mama Elephant - Easy Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango, Prickly Pear, Tomato Soup

Dies: C&9 - Everyday Sayings

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Early Espresso; C&9 - Summer Glitter Paper Pack

I'm submitting this card to The Paper Players - PP#572 where the theme is to make it sparkle.

I made a top folding A2 card from brown cardstock. I trimmed the stamped panel to size and layered it onto some copper glitter paper. Before adhering the stamped panel, I die cut the word 'hi' from the middle of the glitter paper - a great way to economise!! Once the stamped panel was added on top - you would know. I finished the front of the card by adhering the sparkly word 'hi'. Inside, I simply cut a piece of white card. I added a few fun sentiments to the bottom of the panel with space for my own message.

That's all from me today. Keep safe and see you again soon.

Happy Birthday ....

... Good afternoon. One of the things I am planning to do this year is play along with a few more challenges - I follow lots, but don't seem to make cards for them. So, this afternoon, I've a birthday card to share that I've made for my aunt - it's her birthday on Saturday:

Stamps: Gina K - Beautiful Butterflies 2; Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Gina K - Innocent Pink, Dusty Rose, Peach Bellini, Blue Denim, Black Onyx; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layouts 1

Accessories: White & Black Card; Studio Katia - Silver Foil Crystals

I'm submitting this card to Gina K Monthly Mix Challenge - GKMMC#01 where they want us to use water on Gina's reactive inks - done! I'm also playing along with Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#273 - they have a colour palette for inspiration.

I've been watching lots of Gina's video recently and I love the way her inks blend. I didn't realise they were also water reactive. I used several inks to blend a sunrise/sunset kind of background. Once finished I splashed on some water, allowed it to react and dried with a paper towel and heat gun. This gives a wonderful mottled effect. I used the large rectangle dies from MLO1 to cut out the blended background along with a mat black layer. I then stamped a birthday greeting at the bottom of the panel and added several gorgeous butterflies in black ink. I adhered the panel to the front of a US A2 side opening card. To finish the front, I added a number of silver foil crystals. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. I kept the white panel simple with a birthday greeting and one of the butterflies stamped in colour.

After a very mild weather over the New Year weekend, it feels like winter has arrived today. It started off bright and sunny with a very cold wind, and this afternoon we had hail!! The weatherman has promised some snow over the high ground tonight - I kind of hope not. Anyway, that's all from me for now. See you tomorrow.

Happy New Year ....

....  To all my family and friends. We've had a very quiet holiday period, but it's been super. Ben and Kat were both able to come home and spend a week with us - which was fab and the house feels very empty again now. I hope you all had a good break. I didn't get much chance to craft over the holidays, but I did manage to decorate my January calendar page.

I've used a mixture of stamps on this page - mostly from Gina K and Altenew. Very happy how it's turned out. 

That's all for today. I'll be back on Wednesday with my regular post for Seven Hills Crafts. See you then.