Calendar Prep

... Hello! I hope everyone has had an enjoyable holiday period. We had a good time. It's always fun to be with family. At this time of year, I spend time getting my Filofax, calendars and Dyalogs ready for the new year. Today I've been working on my January calendar page:

Stamps: MFT - Festive Fireworks, Champagne Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Passionate Pink, Red Hot, Blue Raspberry, Sweet Mango, Wild Dandelion, Bubblegum Pink, Ocean Mist, Blue Lagoon, Grass Green, Key Lime, Lovely Lavender, Applemint, Wild Wisteria; Versafine Clair - Nocturne, Summertime, Glamorous, Paradise, Verdant, Charming Pink, Blue Belle, Purple Delight, Fantasia

Accessories: 2023 Calandar Blank

I'm submitting this to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#45 - it's all brand new!!

I had so much fun creating the firework background. I stamped the larger fireworks first, layering the stamps is quite easy and even if not perfect, they still look fab. I then added some of the smaller fireworks and finished by adding lots of little fireworks/stars. I finished by adding a message to the new year. 

I sincerely hope that 2023 is a better year for our family, as this year has not been the best! That's probably an understatement of things, but we are all better now and moving forward. That's it for today. See you soon.

SHC - Happy Birthday

.... Hello! It's time for my Seven Hills Craft blog post. Today I'm sharing a birthday card:

Stamps: Stamping Village - Happy Birthday Greetings; Avery Elle - Inside Birthday Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Sea Glass, Turquoise Sea, Tranquil Teal; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Concord & 9th - Stitched Polka Dot Card Front, Simply You; Altenew - Just a Number

Accessories: SU Card - Bermuda Bay; White Card; Silver Textured Mirri Card; Imagine - Sheer Sheer Frost; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#12, and to AAA Cards - AAA#230 where they have a mood board - I've picked the teal colour from the board.

I used dark teal card from my stash to make an A2 US size note card. I cut a piece of white card to 4¼" x 5½" and put the stitched polka dot die plate on it and ran it through my Big Shot. I then used a scallop edge die to cut out the centre of the panel. I inked on several shades of teal ink to emphasise the scallop edge and define the polka dot pattern. I adhered the panel to the front of the note card. I used a die to create the birthday greeting - the shadow from dark teal card and the words from silver textured mirri card. Prior to adding the words to the card, I spritzed the front with a clear shimmer spray. Inside the card, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the note card. I inked the edges of the white panel to match the front of the card. I used my MISTI to stamp the balloon greeting, removed it and used Copic markers to colour the balloons. I replaced it in the MISTI and stamped again in dark black ink and added a smaller birthday greeting below it.

This card is for my niece Georgia, she's 22 years old tomorrow. Fortunately, I don't have to post it to her. Her parents are coming to our place tomorrow for an early Christmas celebration. It's been so cold here, but we've been lucky and had no snow. It might even snow for our celebration!! That's all from me today. See you soon.

SHC - Birthday Flowers

... Good morning!! It's been a while since I posted here - life got very busy and I simply ran out of time to make a card. However, I'm here today with my Seven Hills Craft post and I've made a birthday card:

Stamps: Altenew - Calming Cluster; C&9 - Yay for Birthdays; The Greetery - Sentiment Suite - Birthdays

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Wild Dandelion, Dusty Rose; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Altenew - Calming Cluster

Accessories: White Card; Concord & 9th - Confetti Dots Turnabout Stencil; Copic Markers; Gold Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to a couple of challenges - Happy Little Stampers Birthday Challenge - HLSBC#12 where it's Anything Goes, and AAA Birthday - AAAB#44 - where the theme is Embossing.

I used my MISTI to stamp the large flower cluster onto white card. I removed the piece and coloured the image with Copic markers. I returned the coloured imaged to the MISTI and stamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with gold powder. I used the matching die to cut out the finished piece along with two white pieces. I layered these pieces together to give the flower image stability and dimension. On a  white note card measuring 4½" x 6¼" I used the Confetti Dots Turnabout stencil to add a subtle grey background. I adhered the flowers to the card and finished the front by stamping a simple vertical greeting in black ink. Inside the card, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the base. On this panel I stamped a fun two-step greeting in pink and yellow, and finished by adding two smaller messages in black ink.

This card is for my friend Cheryl - she lives in Florida, so I'm sending it now. Postal strikes permitting, Cheryl should get the card on time!!

It's very cold here in North Wales - we've had our first frosts of winter, but yesterday was gorgeous with bright sunshine too! That's all from me today. See you soon.