SHC - Gone But Not Forgotton ...

.... Morning! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. I suggest you grab a coffee (or tea) as this is a long post. In my stash I have stamps from several companies that have sadly closed their doors. However, this week, I'm using some of these stamps as Tara still has some stock of Lil' Inkers and Neat & Tangled on the website - all at bargain prices. Grab them while you can!! One of my favourite Lil' Inker stamp sets is Darling Diamonds - it's small, but so useful. I've made a few cards, and I'll start with a reasonably clean and simple birthday card:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Darling Diamonds; Concord & 9th - Tiny Tagalongs; Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Powder Blue, Blue Denim

Accessories: White Card; Copic Marker

I'm submitting this card to Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#413 where the theme is Birthdays. I'm too late to submit this to Color Throwdown - CTD#658, but I got the inspiration for the colours from their challenge.

I did all the stamping on this card freehand. However, in order to try to keep reasonably straight lines, I did pencil in a straight line before I stamped the complete line of diamonds. Once stamped, and allowed to dry, I erased the pencil line and winged it as I stamped the rest of the pattern. I finished the front with a simple birthday greeting in blue ink. I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the A2 (US size) note card, onto which I stamped a fun greeting and added a few more diamonds.

I used bright yellow and orange inks on my next card:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Darling Diamonds; Altenew - Hello Hydrangea

Inks: Gina K - Peach Bellini, Sweet Mango, Tangerine Twist, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Corn, Tomato Soup; Versamark

Dies: Lil' Inker - Wonky Squares

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Tangelo Twist

I'm submitting this card to the Color Hues Challenge - CH#25 - love the colours they've picked.

I randomly stamped the sweet diamond images on the front of an A2 note card. I made the sentiment the focal point of the card. I used the Lil' Inker Wonky Square dies to cut an orange mat layer and a white layer. I used Versamark to stamp more diamonds on the orange layer for a tone-on-tone look. I stamped 'hello' in bright yellow on the white panel. I love the way these dies echo the shape of the darling diamond stamps!! Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of orange card. On the white panel I added a message at the bottom of the card, along with some more diamonds. There's lots of space for my own message.

I got a bit carried away with this set of stamps. It is so easy to build background patterns - and all done freehand too. I'll start with my rainbow card:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Darling Diamonds, Happy Shiny Sentiments; Altenew - Hello Hydrangea

Inks: Gina K - Bubblegum Pink, Lipstick, Sweet Mango, Wild Dandelion, Lucky Clover, Blue Raspberry, Wild Lilac; Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 1

Accessories: White Card; GK Card - Black Onyx; White Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#62 - where it's Anything Goes.

I cut a piece of white card to 4¼" x 5½" and used my t-ruler to draw a light pencil line at ¾". I then stamped the first line of solid diamonds in red ink. Once dry, I erased the pencil line and stamped the rest of the card freehand hand. It's reasonably straight, going slightly wonky towards the bottom of the panel. I used dies to cut a mat layer of black card and the stamped panel. I stamped a fun sentiment on black card with Versamark ink and heat embossed with white powder - it's not perfect, but it'll do!! I trimmed the panel to size and adhered it to the front of the card. I finished the front by adding a sentiment above the panel. Inside the card, I have a mat layer of black card. I kept the white panel very simple, with a sentiment at the bottom and a tiny diamond stamp. Lots of space for my message.

I was having fun making background patterns, so I did a couple more - here's the first:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Darling Diamonds; Altenew - Halftone Stars

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Blue Raspberry, Wild Dandelion; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Lil' Inker - Wonky Squares

Accessories: White Card; GK Card - Black Onyx

I used the colours from last week's CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#435 - I'm too late to submit, but then I didn't use the sketch, just the colours!

For this pattern, I drew pencil lines to mark the centre vertically and horizontally. I started stamping in the middle of the card and built the pattern from there. I cut a mat of black card and trimmed the stamped panel to fit on top and adhered it to the note card. I stamped the sentiment on white card, used a wonky square die to cut it out and made the black mat by drawing around the die on some black card and cutting it out. Inside, there's a black mat layer and on the white panel I stamped a birthday greeting and added some bright diamond images.

My last background pattern has a slightly more masculine feel to it:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Darling Diamonds, Shiny Happy Sentiments; Altenew - Hello Hydrangea

Inks: Gina K - Blue Denim, Tranquil Teal, Faded Brick, Soft Stone; Versamark; Memento - Tuxedo Black

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 1

Accessories: White Card; GK Card - Black Onyx; White Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

I started stamping the pattern in the centre of the white panel as before, but this time I stamped the ''petal' impressions different colours either side of the black dot, and I only filled in the centre of every other row. This gives a very different pattern. I used dies to trim a black mat and the white panel and adhered them to the notecard. I stamped a sentiment on black card with Versmark ink and heat embossed with white powder and adhered it across the front of the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel stamped greeting in the corner which I coloured with Copic markers.

The inspiration for this next card came from the sentiment:

Stamps: Lil' Inker - Shiny Happy Sentiments; Altenew - Halftone Stars

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Jelly Bean Green, Fresh Asparagus, Ocean Mist, Turquoise Sea, Blue Lagoon; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#30. I've had the Halftone Stars for a while, but this is the first time I've used them!!

This is a larger card at 6¼" x 4½". I stamped the sentiment in black ink towards the top of the card and then filled in the front with stars of all different sizes - both solid and halftone. I used greens and teals as they are my husband's favourite colours. I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the note card and stamped another of the sentiments from Shiny Happy Sentiments. I think this is just perfect for my hubby! I used a Copic marker to edge the panel and adhered it inside the card.

You'll be pleased to know, that we have come to my last card today - it's a Christmas card:

Stamps: Neat & Tangled - Winter Trees

Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Gina K - Stormy Sky, Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion; Versafine - Onyx Black

Dies: Lil' Inker - Wonky Squares

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#38 where it's always Anything Christmas Goes.

Using my MISTI, I stamped the Christmas trees on white card, removed the panel and coloured with Copic markers. I returned the image to the MISTI, restamped with Versafine ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I used a wonky square die to cut out the image and then added lots of little stars to the sky. I stamped the trees again directly on the front of a square notecard and adhered the stamped image on top. I finished the front by adding a Christmas greeting. Inside I cut a panel of white card slightly smaller than the notecard, stamped a greeting, some more trees and a few more stars.

Well, that was a long post - thanks so much for sticking with me to the end. I'm very sad that both Lil' Inker and Neat & Tangled have shut up shop, but I'm so pleased I have some of their stamps and have been able to show them off here. Don't forget to visit Seven Hills Craft website to see what they - it's all at a great price. See you soon!!

SHC - Happy Birthdays .....

.... Good morning! I'm here with my regular weekly post for Seven Hills Crafts. Today I'm sharing a couple of birthday cards that I've made. My husband, Jonathan, and his sister, Charlotte, share the same birth date - 30 April, just seven years apart! I'll start off with the card I made for Charlotte:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Let's Party Turnabout, Tiny Tagalongs, Yay for Birthdays; Altenew - Hello Hydrangea

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Wild Dandelion; Delicata - Silvery Shimmer; Memento - Gray Flannel; Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Altenew - Hello Hydrangea

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Lawn Fawn - Silver Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Color Hues - CH#16 where the colours are yellow and grey - the Pantone colours of 2021. 

I started by stamping the Let's Party turnabout background in two shades of grey, silver and silver embossing. Next, in my MISTI, I stamped the lovely hydrangea flower on white card. I removed it and coloured with Copic markers. I know that a totally yellow hydrangea like this doesn't exist in nature, but I wish it did!! I returned the coloured image to the MISTI and restamped with Versamark ink and heat embossed with silver embossing powder. This is still one of my all-time favourite techniques. I used the co-ordinating die to cut out the completed flower along with two more plain white card die cuts. I layered the die cuts together to give some diemension and strength to the flower and adhered it to the front of the card. I finished the front by stamping a simple birthday greeting in black ink. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the note card. I stamped another birthday greeting, this time overlapping the words. I added some little flowers to decorate the inside, edged the card with a yellow marker and adhered it. All done!

While I had the Let's Party turnabout in the MISTI I made another background using shades of blue, green and teal for Jonathan's birthday card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Let's Party Turnabout, Oh Snap!, All the Birthdays; Altenew - Birthday Builder

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Powder Blue, Ocean Mist, Jelly Bean Green; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Memento - Grey Flannel

Dies: Concord & 9th - Oh Snap!

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#25 - the Let's Party stamp is quite new, but I've had the Oh Snap! set for a while - it's the first time I've used them both!

After stamping the background, I turned to the focal image. Jonathan loves to take photos. While he doesn't use a Polaroid camera anymore, I'm sure he did once upon a time! I had to find some photos of these old polaroid cameras to work out how to colour it. I was very happy to see that they had a rainbow on them, so I added that to my completed camera. I used the matching die to cut out the camera and also the little slit where the photo comes out. I stamped the photo image on white card, used the die to cut it out and then added a birthday message in the centre along with a little 'pull here' message on the photo tab. Once assembled, I used dimensional tape to (a) hold the photo in place and (b) adhere it to the front of the card. Inside, I cut a piece of white card onto which I stamped a birthday greeting and decorated with photos stamped in various colours.

I think that they will both like their cards. Charlotte is celebrating her 50th, and Jonathan will be 57 years old (my toy boy!). I am going to make a special fruit birthday cake for Jonathan - his favourite.

That's all from me today. See you again soon.

SHC - Magical Day ....

..... Morning! I can't quite believe we've reached the last week of January, this month is flying by!! Anyway, it's time for my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. Today I'm sharing a bold, floral birthday card:

Stamps: Altenew - Hello Hydrangea, Striped Circle, Birthday Builder

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Memento - Angel Pink

Dies: Altenew - Hello Hydrangea, Featured Sentiments

Accessories: White Card; Kaisercraft DP - A Touch of Gold; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder 

I'm submitting this card to Festive Friday Challenge - FF#0076. This is a new to me challenge. To take part you have to use at least three items from the inspiration list they provide - I've used flowers, gold, foil paper and red.

I adore hydrangeas and just had to get this new stamp set from Altenew. The flower is BIG - it pretty much covers the front of my 6¼" x 4½" card. I used my MISTI to stamp the flower. I stamped it, removed it from the MISTI, coloured with Copic markers, restamped with Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I love the clean, crisp finish you get with this technique. I used the matching die to cut out the flower. In my stash I found this super dotty gold foiled paper and used that to cover the card, I edged it with a red marker before attaching it to the card. The sentiment come from Striped Circle. I stamped the two parts in black ink and used a die to cut out the smaller words, and fussy cut out the word 'magical'. On the inside, I used another piece of design paper for the mat layer and on the white card I stamped the hydrangea in soft pink and added a bold birthday greeting in black.

That's it from me today - thanks so much for stopping by and leaving comments, I really do appreciate you taking the time. See you soon.