Swiftie Birthday Girl

.... Morning!! Today is Kat's 24th birthday!! I don't understand how I can possibly have a 24 year old daughter, I'm only 36 myself 😋Well, I wish!! Our once Goth Girl, has become a firm Taylor Swift fan, and I made this card for her:

Stamps: Stampingbella - Uptown Girl Loves to Sing, Uptown Girl Plays Guitar, Uptown Girl Loves to Perform, Shake It Off Sentiments; MFT - Festive Fireworks

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Emerald Coast, Dusty Rose; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark

Accessories: White Card; Dylusions Stencil Lg - Starstruck; Silver Holographic Card; Copic Markers; Embossing Powder - Lawn Fawn Silver, WOW Metallic Silver Sparkle; Clear Shimmer Aquabrush

When I saw these stamps I knew I had to have them in my stash. I couldn't decide which to use, so ended up using them all. Using my MISTI, I stamped the images onto white card with a pale Copic friendly ink. I removed the images, coloured them with Copic markers (I copied the suggested colours on the packing), put the images back in the MISTI and restamped with black ink. I then fussy cut out each image. To finish the images, I added a light coat of shimmer to the clothes. I used a large 7¾" square card for the base. I cut a piece of holographic card for the mat layer (in the photo you can see the fab rainbow effect). I cut the white card to 7½" square. I used a large stencil and inked on the stars, darker at the edges to pale in the centre. I added more 'firework' type stars stamping with Versamark ink and embossing with two types of silver embossing powder. They have a lovely shimmer. I adhered two images flat to the card, and used dimensional pads to add the guitar playing lady. I finished the front by adding a couple of greetings.

Inside the card, I adhered a holographic card for the mat layer. On the white panel, I stamped a simple greeting and added a few more 'firework' style stars in colours matching the dresses.

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#78 (all the 'Taylor' images are brand new), Seize the Birthday - STB#313 - the topping is to use embossing (all the stars), and finally to Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#501 - make your mark (colouring).

Kat went to one of Taylor Swift's concerts in Liverpool last year - she had brilliant seats right towards the front. Here are some of her photos.

Happy Birthday Kat - have a wonderful day - enjoy yourself. That's it for today. Thank you for stopping by.

Fall Colours

...Morning!! So much for making a card everyday!! Instead, I've been doing some reorganising in my craft room - it's nearly done. However, I did get chance to make a card yesterday - we had autumn sunshine and I noticed that autumn colours are creeping in already. So, here's the card:

Stamps: Waffle Flower - Multiple Fall Leaves; C&9 - Triple Step Autumn Leaf, Harvest Wreath Turnabout; Stampin' Up! - Cookie Cutter Halloween

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Gina K - Faded Brick, Fresh Asparagus, Sandy Beach; Memento - Tuxedo Black

Accessories: White Card; SU Punch - Cookie Cutter; Copic Markers

I masked off an area in the centre of the notecard, I lightly inked the background, stamped some outline leaves, which I coloured with Copic markers, and finished by adding some solid images in coloured inks. I removed the tape (sadly there was some spreading of the alcohol ink) and stamped a greeting. Next, I stamped the cute scarecrow, coloured him with Copics and used the co-ordinating punch to cut him out. For the inside of the card, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the notecard, added some autumnal leaves and a simple greeting in bold black ink.

This one is already in the post, off to my Aunt in Barry and confirming a date for our lunch next month - so looking forward to seeing her.

I'm playing along with the following challenges - CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#568 (used their sketch); Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#501 (make your mark); CAS on Friday - CASOF#317 (Theme - Fall); and Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#78 (I've had the Cookie Cutter image and punch for years, and this is the first time I've used it on a card!!!).

That's all for now - I'm spending the rest of the day finishing off the reorganisation that I started. I've got rid of a large black DVD unit (used to store SU and Uniko stamps) - it blocked the light, and now I have a much brighter room. There's no autumnal sunshine today, just rain - lots of it. I'm not going to grumble as we need the rain, but it's dull!!! Bye for now.

Lavinia Stamps

... Hello!! I had such a fun day yesterday. My hubby took me to Ruthin, a market town in the neighbouring county of Denbighshire. It's also the home to Lavinia Stamps, a local craft company. I think it was last year they opened their new store - The Dreamatorium in the town centre. I've been wanting to visit for ages. 

It's wonderful - a magical place, full of all types of gifts for the home. And it also has a super craft supply section. Here are some of the photos I took:

Obviously, I couldn't leave without buying something (or several somethings). I'll be going back again soon. If you're ever in the area of Ruthin -it's well worth a visit.

Monochromatic Birthday

..... Hello again!! This is a quick post sharing a black and white birthday card:

Stamps: Uniko -  Background Block Swiss Dots; Gina K - Mr Fix-It, The Great Outdoors

Inks: Gina K - Stormy Sky;  Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Mr Fix-It

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#701, and to Seize the Birthday - STB#312 - using the colour option this time.

This is a 5" square white card. I stamped the dotty background in grey ink directly on the card. I stamped the tool images onto white card, added some subtle colour, restamped with Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I used the matching dies to cut out the images, along with some plain white diecuts which I layered up for depth. I finished the front with a simple birthday greeting. Inside the card, I stamped a birthday message and added some small images for fun.

This post has taken me longer than normal as I normally edit my photos in Lightroom. However, yesterday it appears that Lightroom did an update and now it's not working on my PC. I hate technology sometimes. 

 

That really is all for today. I'm off to try and work out why Lightroom isn't working properly. And if that doesn't work, what I'm going to use instead!! Bye for now.

Graphic Birthday

.... Morning!! Somehow, it's September already - I swear as I get older, the months go by so much faster. Heyho!! I have a graphic, quite masculine, card to share with you this morning:

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks  MOD Circle Builder, Mid Century Modern Wreath Builder, Mid Century Modern Everyday Sentiments

Inks: Versafine Claire - Nocturne; C&9 - Blueberry, Oceanside, Seaglass; Gina K - Blue Sky

Accessories: Uniko Stencil - MOD Background Builder Circles; White & Green Card; Copic Marker

As this is a birthday card, I'm submitting it to Seize the Birthday - STB#312 - Anything Goes.

I started this card at the Uniko/Dies to Die For workshop. I totally ignored the suggested card and made this. I used the stencil (which is the same shape, but bigger than the stamp) to add some colour to the corners of a piece of white card. I blended blue and green inks for an ombre effect. I stamped the image in black ink overlapping the colours. I added the panel to a green note card. When I got home I finished the card by adding a bold birthday greeting in black ink. I cut a panel of white card for the inside, onto which I stamped the MOD Circle Builder image in a soft blue ink and added a bold greeting over the top. I edged the card with a green marker and that it done.

I really like the stencil and stamp images I've used here. I can see so many possibilities. That's all for now. Hope you have a good day. See you soon.