Lacey Floral Birthday

...Hello, good afternoon. I hope everyone has had a good weekend. It's been a quite one here, mostly I've been working in my craft room. I've made a birthday card and been working on my dyalog (more of that later this week). Here's the birthday card:

Stamps: Gina K - Lovely Lace, Modern Roses, Let's Celebrate

Inks: Versafine Clair - Morning Mist, Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Modern Roses, Master Layouts 1

Accessories: White & Black Card; Copic Markers; Sakura Stardust Pens

I'm submitting this to Color Throwdown - CTD#785, Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#464 where it's Any Occasion, and to Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#254 where the word is 'bloom'.

Using my MISTI, I stamped the large floral image onto white card, removed it from the MISTI, and coloured the image with Copic markers. I replaced the image in the MISTI and restamped with Versafine Clair grey ink - I like the softer look with grey ink. I added some shimmer to the image with Stardust pens. I used a die to cut out the panel and layered it onto black card and added to the front of an A2 note card. I finished the front of the card with a bold birthday greeting which I stamped in black ink and cut out with the matching die. 

Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel, I stamped a simple birthday greeting and added some flowers.

That's all from me today - see you again soon.

Easter Simplicity

.... Good afternoon! It's been a lovely day here in Northop Hall - blue skies and sunshine, but a cold wind. I've been doing my usual - working in my craft room. I finished my last Easter card - this one is for our son, Ben. Here's the card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps (closed) - Free Spirit Boy, Compact Sentiments; Gina K - Handmade Holidays

Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Blue Raspberry, Blue Denim, Key Lime, Lucky Clover, Soft Stone; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Spellbinders - Nested Eggs (S4-264) #2; Gina K - Handmade Holidays

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#533 - they have a sketch this week, and to CAS on Friday - CASOF#279 - where the theme is Easter.

I was having a bit of struggle trying to decide what to make for Ben's card, then when I saw the sketch, I knew that it would have to be six funky Easter eggs. I stamped the large Free Spirit circle image in Versmark ink and embossed with clear powder - I did two images. I coloured one with blue inks and the other with green inks. I used a small Easter egg die to cut out three of each and added them to a plain white A2 note card. I finished the front with a simple Easter greeting in black ink.

For the inside, I cut a couple of pieces of white card. On the larger piece I lightly brushed on blue ink. On the smaller piece I stamped the large circle image in soft grey ink and added a bold greeting in black ink. I layered the panels together and adhered them inside the card.

The Free Spirit Boy stamp set is from Waltzingmouse Stamps and is one of my all time favourite sets. I've used it often to make cards for Ben. 

On my last post, I mentioned that I was going to have some blonde highlights in my hair and promised a photo. Here it is:

I'm so pleased how the colour has come out. I love, love the bright blue, pink and green that I had over Christmas, but it takes so much to keep it looking nice (and it's expensive too, so it was time to go back to more 'normal' colours. That's all for today. Bye for now.

Easter Bling

... Good morning! Today's Easter card has a bit of bling. This one is for my aunt and uncle, safe to share it now as my family don't read my blog! Here's the card:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Nestie Eggs, Spring Baskets

Inks: Gina K - Blue Denim; Versafine Claire - Acorn, Morning Mist; Versamark 

Dies: Spellbinders - Nested Eggs (S4-264) #4; WF - Dotted Sunburst

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Very Vanilla; Copics; Shimmer Spray - Sparkle; Gems; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this to Color Hues - CH#83 - I do like these colours.

This card is a companion to the one I made for my Mum on Sunday. I cut a piece of cream card slightly smaller than an A2 note card and used the dotted sunburst die to cut a pattern in the card. I spritzed on a shimmer spray that has a slight gold tint and set it aside to dry. I used one of my favourite stamps sets from WMS. I stamped the largest egg onto cream card with Versamark and heat embossed with clear powder. I brushed on blue ink to reveal the lovely pattern on the Easter egg. I ended up using a smaller die to cut out the central part of the egg. I added a touch of darker blue ink around the edge of the egg. I adhered the egg to the cream panel and added them both the the A2 note card. I stamped a greeting and added that to the card. I finished the front of the card by adding some little crystal gems to the Easter egg.

Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of cream card. On the white panel I stamped a greeting and created a basket of Easter eggs. I love the colours - the card looks very elegant.

I'm off to the hairdresser this afternoon. I'm going to have some blonde highlights added to my hair - I'll share a photo later. Bye for now.

Easter Critters

..... Hello again! If you've read my earlier post, you'll know that I've been requested to make separate Easter cards for our daughter Kat, and her partner, Kobie. You saw Kat's card earlier, and this is the one I've made for Kobie:

Stamps: Gina K - Coffee Critters; Lawn Fawn - Magic Spring Messages, Celebration Scripty Sayings

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocture

Accessories: White Card; Kaisercraft DP - Off the Wall; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Color Throwdown - CTD#784, and to Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#627. So pleased to be able to join in with both challenges. As it's the first time I've used the Coffee Critters stamp set, I'm also playing along with Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#60.

This was fun to make. I had a look through my stash and decided that these little guys were perfect for Kobie. The set is called 'Coffee Critters' and the llama and bear are both holding cups of coffee, but that was so easy to fix. The inspiration for the critters is the cute bear on the CTD logo. I simply stamped some extra Easter eggs along with the critters, coloured them with Copic markers, and then fussy cut them all out. I adhered the Easter eggs over the coffee mugs and no one would ever know! Well, apart from all of you!! I cut a strip of design paper for the bottom of the card. Stamped the greeting and then added the cute critters.

Inside the card is quite simple. I cut more of the design paper for the mat layer. On the white panel I stamped a scripty greeting and added the cute fox in the corner.

That's definitely all for today. I need to go and do some household chores - not too many mind! See you soon.

Easter Bunnies

... Morning!! Here's another of the Easter cards that I made this weekend. This is a fun, cute card with lots of Easter bunnies and Easter eggs:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Spring Baskets, Vintage Postcards; Lawn Fawn - Easter Before 'n' Afters, Magic Spring Messages, Happy Happy Happy, Celebration Scripty Sentiments; WF - Postage Collage

Inks: Gina K - Dusty Pink; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - A6 Postage Collage

Accessories: White & Kraft Card; WF - A6 Blocks Stencil; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#331where they have some lovely spring colours to play with - perfect for an Easter card.

This card is a US A6 card measuring 4½" x 6¼" and using the WF A6 die, I can make a postage stamp style using their die. I'm very keen on the postage collage dies and have them in A2, A6, A7, and mini-slimline - so much fun!! Anyway, I die cut the A6 white panel and used the matching A6 blocks stencil and lightly brushed on pink ink to define the 'stamps'. I used a mix of stamps to add images and a greeting, I coloured the images with Copic markers and once all the little 'stamps' were created, I added postage elements. I layered the finished panel on kraft card and added the whole lot to the front of a side-opening A6 white note card.

 

For the inside, I cut a mat layer of kraft card. On the white panel, I stamped a greeting mixing stamps from two sets, added another cute bunny, coloured with Copic markers and added to the card.

This card was going to be for our daughter, Kat and her partner, Kobie. However, I've been asked for separate cards!! Not that it will be a hardship as making cards is jus so much fun. That's all for now - I'm off to make some more cards and listen to my new Audible book. See you soon.

Happy Easter

... Good afternoon! It's been quite nice here today and so I spent the day playing in my craft room. Well, it's my happy place! I'm still working on my Easter cards - this one is for my mum. I'm perfectly safe to share it here as Mum doesn't do technology!

Stamps: Gina K - Lovely Lace; Waltzingmouse Stamps - Nestie Eggs

Inks: Gina K - Blue Denim

Dies: Spellbinders - Cross Collection (S4-265); Waffle Flower - Dotted Sunburst

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Balmy Blue, Very Vanilla; Sheer Shimmer Spray - Frost; Gems

I'm submitting this card to Color Hues - CH#83 - blue and cream. 

I cut a piece of blue card to be slightly smaller than an A2 white note card. I used the Dotted Sunburst die - this cuts a pattern into the card. I spritzed the card with a shimmer spray and set it aside to dry. I die cut a cross in cream card, along with 3 white crosses. Leaving the cross in the die, I brushed on blue ink - it was whatever was left on the brush. I removed the cross from the die and layered it with the three other crosses to give strength and dimension. I added the cross to the front of the card and added tiny crystal gems to the end of each arm of the cross. To complete the card, I stamped a simple greeting in blue ink on cream card and adhered it to the panel.

For the inside of the card, I cut a mat layer of blue card and a piece of white card. I stamped on of the WMS Nestie Eggs onto cream card with blue ink and used the Spellbinder die to cut it out. I lightly brushed blue ink around the edge of the egg and glued it to the white panel.

I'm very pleased how this card has turned out. I'm not at all religious - for me Easter is an excuse to enjoy lots of chocolate eggs. However, for my mum, Easter is very important and I think she'll love this card. It's been fun playing with my old Waltzingmouse stamps too. The Nestie Eggs set is just gorgeous - love the patterns in the eggs. That's it for now. See you tomorrow.

Easter Postage Style

.... Good evening!! It's been rather dull here today, so I've spent the day in my craft room. I've made a couple of cards - one I can share now, and one you'll see soon. I need several Easter cards for my family and this is the first:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Celebration Scripty Sayings, Celebration Scripty Sentiments, Happy Happy Happy; Waltzingmouse Stamps - Vintage Postcards; Waffle Flower - Postage Collage

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Powder Blue, Blue Denim, Light Orchid, Medium Orchid, Dark Orchid, Light Lilac, Medium Lilac, Dark Lilac; Memento - Summer Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - Postage Collage Die A2 

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Stencil - Christmas Flowers; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to AAA Colourful - AAAC#02 where the colour board is just gorgeous - shades of pinks, blues and purples - love them!!

I'm working through the postage collage die cuts on my desk. For this one, I masked the edges of the die and between each 'stamp'. The flower stencil has four layers which are very easy to line up. I inked each flower a different colour, added the leaves and the dots. I removed the masking strips and used a mix of stamps sets to add the extra details in black ink. I layered the finished panel onto a black mat layer and then added the whole piece to the front of an A2 white note card.

For the inside of the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped an Easter greeting made up from two stamps sets. I finished the panel by lightly stencilling another flower to the bottom corner.

It's been a fun day. Not only have I made some cards, I've completed a couple of pages in my art journals, and I've been listening to Audible. I'm listening to Misery by Stephen King - really enjoying this book - reminds me that I should rewatch the movie!! That's all for now. See you soon.

Modern Roses

.... Hello, good morning! I had fun yesterday afternoon and finished off two more cards with the new Modern Roses stamp set. Here they are:

Stamps: Gina K - Modern Roses, Sweet Sentiments

Inks: Wild Dandelion, Dusty Rose, Key Lime, Jelly Bean Green, Fresh Asparagus; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Modern Roses, Master Layouts 1

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Embossing Folder - Swiss Dot

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#60 - all of it!! I'm also playing along with Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#463 the theme is 'birthdays', and to The Paper Players - PP#680 - these colours.

I stamped the roses in pink on white card, added the leaves and then die cut the panel to size. I placed the piece into the Swiss Dot EF. I realised after I'd run it through the Spellbinders that I had the EF the wrong way up - but I quite like the debossed look!! I than stamped a few roses in yellow and some leaves in a darker green; I used the matching die to cut them out. I added the roses and leaves to the stamped panel and then adhered the panel to a black mat layer and then to an A2 white note card. I finished the front with a pretty birthday greeting stamped in black and die cut. I also cut a few extra white die cuts and layered them together to give dimension to the greeting.

Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped a scripty greeting and added some roses and a leaf.

This card is for Ann - one of the ladies mum and I know from the hairdressers. I've been taking mum to see Tracey for a weekly hair wash and dry for the past two years and we've got to know all the regulars. It's a lovely salon, and last week Ann gave us the most delicious lemon drizzle cake - it didn't last long. And that's when we found out it's Ann's birthday tomorrow.

My next card is for a friend who I've not seen for some time:

Stamps: Modern Roses, Wonderfully Made

Inks: Gina K - Ocean Mist, Powder Blue, Key Lime; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Modern Roses, Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White & Black Card; Copic Marker

I'm submitting this one to CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#532 for the colours, and Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#253 where the theme is 'friends'.

I used my MISTI to stamp the roses first in pale blue and then again in a darker blue. Then I stamped the leaves in a bright green. I used a stitched edge die to cut out the panel and layered it onto a black mat and added it to the front of an A2 white note card. I stamped the sentiment in black and cut it, and a couple of blanks, out with the matching die. I added the sentiment in the bottom right corner. I really like the way this stamp works so well in both landscape and portrait.

For the inside, I cut a piece of white card and stamped a simple greeting in the corner, leaving a nice space for my message. I finished by edging the panel with a blue marker and then adhered it into the card.

I can see that this set is going to be a favourite. I had lots of fun making these cards. That's all for now. See you soon.