Spring Garden Birthday

..... Oh boy! So much for my plan to make a card every day. I've not even managed one a week. However, today I've made two. The card I'm sharing today is for a friend in the village - she's a keen gardener and crafter, so I think she'll love this one:

Stamps: Gina K - Birthday Garden, Modern Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Passionate Pink, Sweet Mango; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Birthday Garden, Modern Greetings; Waffle Flower - Sparkles Panel Die

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Kraft, Granny Apple Green; Copic Markers

I had an A2 (US size) kraft card on my desk and decided to start with that. I used the WF Sparkles panel die to cut the background pattern, and on the inside I added green card to show through. Using my MISTI I stamped all the images from Birthday Garden on white card. I removed them from the MISTI, coloured with Copic markers, replaced into the MISTI and stamped again with VFC Nocturne ink -this gives a really strong black image. I used the matching dies to cut out all the images. Next, using a technique that I learnt from Gina K, I stamped an ombre birthday greeting. I adhered all the images to the front of the card. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the A2 card, stamped a simple greeting, edged the panel with a green marker, adhered it to the card and finished by adding the wheelbarrow image.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday - STB#324 - where the option is to make a Spring Garden

Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#515 - to use die cuts and/or stencils - die cuts used

A Cut Above - ACA#0426 - where it's always anything goes with a die cut the option is pastel colours

 

 

I have enjoyed making cards today. However, even though I've not made many cards, I have been crafting. I've been doing several of Dyan Reaveley's doodle classes - they are brilliant. Anyway, that's all from me today. Drop by tomorrow to see my other card.

Red Christmas

...Hello!! It's a lovely day here in North Wales - no rain, blue skies and sunshine! Just fab! I'm here to share a couple of Christmas cards for this year's stash. Here they are:

Stamps: Gina K - Holly Jolly Mini

Inks: Gina K - Petunia, Red Hot, Red Velvet, Cherry Red; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 1 #8, A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 2 #9

Accessories: White & Black Card; C&9/KW - Holiday Icons Stencils; Xmas Labels; Gems

I'm submitting these cards to the following challenges:

Jingle Belles - JB2604 - to use mostly Red - done!

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge - POE#106 - it either anything Xmas goes or the graphic

Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#83 - First time I've used these fab stencils

A Cut Above - ACA#0226 - must use dies on your card - done

This is the first time (but not the last) that I've used Kristina's Christmas Icons stencils. I only used the outline stencil for these cards because I wanted a couple of quick and simple cards. I blended several shades of red ink to give a lovely ombre effect from bottom to top of the card. I used stitched edged dies to cut a mat in black and then picked my favourite bits of each side for the main image. I finished the front of each card with a simple black greeting - I've had these labels since about 2009!! And added a few gems. On the inside, I used black mat layers and on the white panels I stencilled an Xmas tree and a candy cane, and finished with a bold, black greeting.

My cards have been inspired by Kristina's cards in her holiday card series where she gave us some ink blending tips.

I'd like to thank everyone for their lovely comments on my recent cards. It's so nice to be back making cards. That's all for now. See you again soon.

Belated Birthday Card

... Morning!! Today's card is a fun and funky one - I made it for an old friend of mine - it was her birthday last week and I completely forgot to send a card. I thought she'd like this one:

Stamps: Funky Fossil - Utterly Potterly

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Pinkfresh Studio - Ornate Trellis

Accessories: White Card; PF - Ornate Trellis Press Plate; Rainbow Foil; Copic Markers; LF - Clear Embossing Powder

I'm playing along with three challenges:

A Cut Above - ACA#0126 - where anything goes but must include a die cut

Neglected Stuff Challenge - NSC#0126 - to use stash that we've fogotten all about!

Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#90 - where it is always anything goes

I used one the ornate trellis backgrounds that I made earlier - I cut out the centre of the panel and adhered it to an A2 note card. You can't see it well in the photo, but the frame has rainbow foil and it is beautiful! The focal image is my neglected stamp set. I purchased it at a craft show, put it away and forgot about it. I love the image; it's fun, quirky and pretty - kind of like my friend. I used my MISTI to stamp the image, removed it and coloured with Copic markers, I put it back into the MISTI, stamped with Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I then carefully fussy cut it out. I cut out two other images which I used to layer and give the image dimension and strength. I finished the front with a fun sentiment. On the inside, I cut a panel of white card onto which I stamped a greeting and another of the 'potty heads'. I edged the panel with a marker and adhered it to the note card.

Now that I've rediscovered this stamp set, I must make a few more cards with it!! 

That's all for now. See you soon.

Christmas Hot Chocolate

.... Morning! Today my card has a Christmas theme; I really want to get ahead this year. 

Stamps: Pink & Main - Christmas Mugs

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: PF - Ornate Trellis; P&M - Christmas Mugs

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Early Espresso; PF Press Plate - Ornate Trellis; Copic Markers

This card has the same background pattern as yesterday's card. This time I used copper foil in the Glimmer machine, and cut it out with the matching die. I made an A2 note card from brown card and adhered the foiled panel.  The focal image is a fun mug of hot chocolate. I stamped the image, coloured it with Copic markers, and used the matching die to cut it out. I layered the coloured image onto three other die cuts for added dimension and strength. I stamped the greeting in black ink, trimmed the end and glued it to the card. For the inside, I cut a piece of white card onto which I added a greeting, and I stamped the mug to one side.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:

Caffeinated Christmas Card Challenge - CCCC#49

A Cut Above - ACA#0126 - anything goes, but must feature a die (s)

ABC Christmas Challenge - ABCXMAS#0126 - 'B for Bright'

It's been ages since I played along with Caffeinated Christmas and ABC Christmas challenges, I'm so pleased to be back. And, A Cut Above challenge is another one that's new to me. That's all for now. Bye!