MCM Birthday

... Hello again! I'm on a bit of a roll. Here's another birthday card I made. This is one for my stash. I've gone for a more masculine look.

Stamps: Uniko - Background Blocks Mid Century Modern, Bauhaus Blocks; Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Memento - Rhubarb Stalk, Nautical Blue, Bamboo Leaves; Gina K - Soft Stone; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - Square STAX Set 2 -  #2

Accessories: White Card; Uniko Stencil - Layering Bauhaus Blocks

I'm playing along with several challenges. They are:

Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#718

CAS Colour & Sketches - CASC&S#576 - I do like these colours

Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#508 - Birthdays

I started by picking three of the square images from the Layering Bauhaus Blocks stencil and inked them up with the three colours. I used a 1" square die to cut out the images. Next I stamped the graphic background in soft grey ink over a piece of white card. I trimmed off a section and adhered it to an A2 white card base. I used a marker to draw in a thin black line to define the panel. Next, I stamped the simple birthday greeting in black ink and finally I adhered the colourful blocks to the card front. Simple and graphic. For the inside, I cut a piece of white card onto which I stamped the graphic background in the centre of the panel. I finished by adding a fun greeting in black ink.

It's good getting back to making cards - I'm very slow and out of practise, but the objective is to enjoy myself and end up with a nice stash of cards ready for me to use.

That's it for now. I'm going to make a start of a couple more cards today and hope to be able to share them in the next few days. See you soon.

Winter Birthday

... Good morning! I'm here today with a card that I made for my aunt - she was 80 years old last Thursday. Sadly, we missed her birthday party, but she got this card from us:

Stamps: Gina K - Peaceful Poinsettia, Essential Greetings; Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Gina K - Sea Glass, Ocean Mist, Cadet Blue, Light Spruce, Med Spruce, Dark Spruce; Versafine Claire - Nocture

Dies: Gina K - Peaceful Poinsettia

Accessories; White Card; Gina K Card - Blue Lagoon; Gina K Stencils - Peaceful Poinsettia, Winter Bliss; Grabie Glitter Pen; Clear Gems

I'm submitting this card to AAA Colourful - AAAC#23 - such perfect colours for a winter card, Addicted to Stamps & More! - ATSM#508 where they want birthday cards, and to Seize the Birthday - STB#318 where the topping is to make a snowflake background.

This is a non standard size card. I started by stencilling a snowflake background directly onto an A2 card. However, I decided I wanted the card to be a bit bigger. I cut a piece of blue card to give a ¼" border around the snowflake background and then added it to a custom size white card. I used my MISTI to stamp the poinsettia onto white card, I used the matching stencils to add colour to the flower, and then put the image back into the MISTI and restamped with black ink. I cut out the flower and some extras using the matching dies. I layered up the poinsettia flowers to give depth and adhered it to the front of the card. I completed the front with a simple greeting and some clear crystals. On the inside of the card, I cut a piece of blue card onto which I layered some white card. I stamped the poinsettia in a teal ink and added a fun greeting.

I love poinsettia flowers, well they're all leaves really, but they do look so beautiful. 

Well, that's all from me today. It's been fun making some cards. I still have lots to make. There are 9 family birthdays in January. Thank you for stopping by.

Floral Birthday Postage Card

... Hello! I've got a birthday card to share with you this morning. This was inspired by Gina K's recent video, although the only Gina K products on the card are the inks!! Here's the card:

Stamps: Altenew - Enjoy Life, Just a Number; Waffle Flower - Postage Collage Fall, Postage Collage; The Greetery - Sentiment Suite Birthday

Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Light Lilac, Medium Lilac, Dark Lilac, Applemint, Lucky Clover; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - A2 Postage Collage Die 

Accessories: White Card; Stencils - Waffle Flower Postage Collage Colouring Stencil, Altenew Enjoy Life; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this to Color Hues - CH#81 to use Lilac and Mint, to The Flower Challenge - TFC#88 - to add a heart, and to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#59 - the Postage Collage stencil and stamps have not been used before.

I have the Waffle Flowers postage collage collection and not really used it much. I was watching Gina K's release video where she made a postage stamp card with one of her flower stencils - I loved it. So I decided to use that as the inspiration and mix and match my existing stamps, dies, stencils, etc. I started by cutting the A2 postage collage die in white card. I added masking magic tape to cover the dots and stitched lines and using the first part of the collage colouring stencil, I lightly inked in pale yellow around the edges to define the 'stamps'. I then stamped the floral image onto the panel and used the matching stencils to add colour. I removed the masking magic and using a variety of stamps added words, images and prices to the 'stamps'. I created the border on the A2 note card by using Waffle Flower's Postage Collage Colouring stencil - first in green, then in lilac. I adhered the postage stamp panel to the front of the card.

For the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the note card. I lightly inked the edges of the panel with lilac ink. I stamped a fun greeting in the middle of the panel, and stamped the floral image again and coloured it with Copic markers.

This card is for my aunty Sue. She has her birthday on Saturday - and I'm safe to share it here now as Sue doesn't look at my blog! To be honest, not sure any of my family look at my blog. That's all for today - I'm off to the post office now. See you all soon.

Big Birthday Wishes

... Morning! I mentioned in my last post that April was a busy month for birthdays in the family. Well, it continues into May!! Today is my brother-in-law's birthday, and this is the card I made for Tim:

Stamps: Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Lucky Clover, Light Lilac, Turquoise Sea, Tangerine Tango, Red Hot, Light Orchid; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - Big Birthday Wishes

Accessories: White & Black Card; Simon Hurley Stencil - Dazzling Diamonds

I'm submitting this card to a few challenges - The Paper Players - PP#638 where there is a tic-tac-toe grid and I used the diagonal 'bright colours, die cut, birthday'; Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#445 where the theme is to use stencils and dies; and finally to Happy Little Stampers Birthday Challenge - HLSBC#05 where it's anything goes.

I took part in the Stencilled 2 online card class and finally got round to making some cards. For this card I used two of the layers from Dazzling Diamonds. I used the large diamond added colour, shifted positions, added more colour, and shifted again. Next I used the tiny diamond on top with darker inks and ended up with this lovely pattern. I placed the large die cut in the centre of the panel and cut out the greeting, I trimmed the piece to size and layered the panel onto black card and added it to an A2 notecard. Inside the card, I cut a piece of black card for the mat layer. I added a strip of the pattern paper to the edge of the white panel and stamped a birthday greeting.

And the fun thing about this card is that I have left-over letters with the pretty pattern on them. I'll share that card soon. That's all for now. See you soon.

Family Birthday Cards

...  Good morning! April is a busy month for birthdays in our family. And today is especially busy. My husband, Jonathan, and his sister, Charlotte, both have their birthdays on 30th April - only Charlotte's 7 years younger!! So, I've been busy making cards, and using some new stash. Here's the card I made for Charlotte:

Stamps: Gina K - Sweet Sentiments; MFT - Inside & Outside Birthday Greetings

Inks: Gina K - Med Lilac, Sea Glass, Sweetcorn, Key Lime, Bubblegum Pink, Light Orchid, Jelly Bean Green; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 2

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Stencil - Layered Peony 

I'm submitting this card to Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#444 where the theme is Any Occasion, and to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#49 - this is the first time I've used the stencils and stamps.

I thought Charlotte's birthday card would be the perfect time to use the layered peony stencils. I love rainbows and was totally inspired by Mindy Eggen's beautiful rainbow cards. I stencilled the peony onto a piece of white card and used a stitch-edge die to cut out the panel. I added a simple greeting to one side and then layered the piece onto black card and added the whole panel to the front of a white A2 note card. Inside, I cut a piece of black card for the mat layer. On the white panel I lightly stencilled the peony again - using only layer 1 of the stencils and using a very light hand. I finished by adding a simple birthday greeting.

Hopefully, Charlotte will have received this card by now - but I'm not sure I got it in the post on time!! Heyho!! The next card is the one I made for my mum to give to Jonathan:

Stamps: Altenew - Just a Number

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Key Lime, Turquoise Sea, Blue Raspberry, Sweet Mango, Lipstick

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 1; Altenew - Just a Number

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Stencil - Making Waves; Simon Hurley Stencil - Candles

I'm submitting this card to The Male Room - TMR#173 where the challenge is to use stencil and/or dies - done. I'm also playing along with Seize the Birthday - STB#260 - the Anything Goes part of the challenge.

I took part in Stenciled 2 - on the Online Card Classes  - recently, and this is the first time I've tried out any of the techniques. I first stencilled the candles from yellow to blue to create an ombre colour. Leaving the candle stencil in place, I added the Making Waves stencil on top and, using the same colours, I added more colour on top. I love the subtle pattern this creates in the candles. I used layer 2 of the candles stencil to add the candle flames blending orange and red ink. I die cut a section of the panel and adhered it to a black mat layer and then onto an A2 note card. On a scrap of white card, I blended the same colours and then used a 'happy birthday' die to cut out the words and layered them onto black shadow layers and glued to the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white card I added a fun sentiment and a few candles that I cut out from the piece of card left over from the front.

I think the candles stencil is just super - perfect for everyone! 

That's all from me for now. It's a dull, wet day here in North Wales, so I'm planning on spending the day in my craft room making cards and listening to my Audible book. See you soon.

SHC - One Background - Four Ways

... Hello again! I'm beginning to get back into card making - so many birthday cards needed this month. I'm here with my Seven Hills Craft blog post. I've used one background stamp - four different ways. Here's the first card:

Stamps: Altenew - Woven Stripes, Just a Number, Birthday Builder; Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold Majestic Moth

Inks: Gina K - Soft Stone, Keylime, Blue Raspberry, Sea Glass; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versafine - Onyx Black

Dies: C&9 - Confetti Card Die

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Pear Pizzazz; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Seize the Birthday - STB#253 - I'm using the toppings option - 'winged things'.

I made an A2 note card using green card from my stash. I put the Woven Stripes stamp into my MISTI and masked off sections, I stamped the panel in four colours. I used a scallop edge die to cut out a piece of the panel and glued it to the note card. I stamped a simple birthday greeting in the bottom corner of the panel, along with a dragonfly above. I stamped the dragonfly again on white card, coloured it with Copic markers, restamped in Versamark ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I then carefully cut out the dragonfly, edged it with a black marker and glued it to the note card. I finished the front by adding some shimmer to the dragonfly with a clear aquashimmer brush. I cut a piece of white card for the inside, I stamped a fun sentiment and another dragonfly.

Next is a card for Ben's grandmother:

Stamps: Altenew - Woven Stripes, Just a Number, Enchanting Beauty, Sentiment Strips 3

Inks: Gina K - Powder Blue; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark; Memento - Angel Pink

Dies: Altenew - Just a Number, Enchanting Beauty

Accessories: White & Black Card; Watercolour Card; Brusho - Cobalt Blue, Violet, Rose Red; Silver Mirri Card; Silver & White Embossing Powders; Vellum

I'm submitting this card to a new challenge - Birthstone Challenges - BSC#01 - January (Garnet) and February (Amethyst).

This time I stamped the Woven Stripes image in Versamark on watercolour card and heat embossed with white powder. I sprinkled Brusho crystals onto the panel, spritzed with water and allowed the colours to flow and blend. Once dry, I trimmed the panel and layered it onto a black mat layer. I glued the whole piece to the front of a note card measuring 6¼" x 4½". I stamped the leaf image in Versamark onto vellum and heat embossed with silver powder. I used the matching die to cut out the leaf and adhered it to the panel. I finished the front with a die cut birthday greeting. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I stamped the leaf image in pink and added a birthday greeting.

Next up is a clean, simple card:

Stamps: Altenew - Woven Stripes, Just a Number, Sentiment Strips 3, Half-tone Stars;

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

Accessories: White & Black Card

I'm submitting this one to The Male Room - TMR#170 where the theme is 'galaxy and/or stars'. I've not played along with this challenge for a long while, so it's good to play along.

I stamped this background in several colours - using my MISTI and masking off areas. Once stamped, I cut the card in half along the long line of the biggest set of stripes. I turned one section and glued it to the bottom of an A2 white note card and trimmed off the excess. I then added a thin strip of black card above. I finished the front by stamping a simple birthday greeting and adding several stars stamped to match the colour of the stripes. For the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the note card. I added two more portions of the Woven Stamp panel at the corners and edged them with a black marker. I finished by adding a fun sentiment and a few more stars.

For my last card, I simply stamped the Woven Stripes background directly on the card:

Stamps: Altenew - Woven Stripes, Just a Number, Sentiment Strips 3; C&9 - Triple-Step Hooray

Inks: Kaleidacolor - Blue Breeze; Gina K - Powder Blue, Ocean Mist, Blue Raspberry; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White & Black Card

I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#72 where it's always 'anything goes'.

I used my Kaleidacolor ink pad to stamp this background - I love the ombre effect you get with these ink pads. I stamped the three-step word 'hooray' on white card - it's very easy to line up these stamps. I then cut out the word and layered it onto a black mat and adhered it to the front of the card. I finished the front by stamping one of the smaller sentiments from Triple-Step Hooray in bold black ink, trimmed it to size and used dimensional pads to adhere it to the card. On the white panel inside, I stamped a birthday greeting and some stars.

That's all my cards for today. I'm so pleased to be making cards again. I need to replenish my own card stash. See you soon. Take care.