Happy Crafting ....

... Hi! I'm listening to Radio 2, Zoe Ball's show, as I type this. It is full of music, laughter, joy and fun - all so needed during this time of uncertainty. I've made a card that makes me feel calm and is one of my ways of keeping sane:

Stamps: Altenew - Painted Butterflies, Botanical Garden, Crafty Friends; Waltzingmouse Stamps - Gingham & Co
Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion, Powder Blue, Innocent Pink, Passionate Pink, Black Amalgam; Memento - Summer Sky
Dies: Altenew - Painted Butterflies
Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Black; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#362, such lovely colours this week, also to Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#489 to use Butterflies, and to Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#381 where it's Anything Goes.

I used my MISTI (so helpful when layering images) and scraps of white card for the butterflies, and cut them out with the matching dies. I masked the top of the card and stamped a pretty ombre gingham rainbow across the bottom. I stamped the outline flower image in bold black and added the sentiment. I finished the front by adhering a thin black border to ground the flower and used dimensional pads to attach the butterflies. I also added some shimmer to the butterflies wings with a clear aquashimmer brush. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel stamped another gingham strip and a bold sentiment.

I love the light, spring-like feeling in this card and it's very much like our new back garden. The flowers have all established well and lots of new growth is showing. I'll share pictures of the garden soon.

One of my great joys is being able to go out with family and friends. However, for the foreseeable future, this isn't happening. So, I'm planning to keep touch with folk by posting out the cards I make!! And, of course, calling to talk - it's not the same as being face to face, but it all helps. Be safe.

Life is Beautiful ....

... Hi! The morning seems to have run away from me! I've been playing in my craft room and have actually managed to complete a card for The Flower Challenge - TFC#13, to use a 'favourite' flower:

Stamps: Altenew - Spring Daisy, Painted Butterflies
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Lemon Lime Twist, Wild Wasabi, Flirty Flamingo, Calypso Coral, Night of Navy
Dies: Altenew - Painted Butterflies
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Lemon Lime Twist; Gems

I've used the colours from this week's CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#245 - I just love the bold, bright lemon-lime colour! I made the card base from this zingy green and cut a panel of white card slightly smaller to layer on top. I used my MISTI to stamp the flower outline, masked the flower and stamped the leaves. Once I'd done the leaves I finished the flower and added the sentiment. I decided that the card needed a bit more, so I added a couple of bold, beautiful butterflies and lots of little gems. On the inside, I cut a white panel onto which I stamped a sentiment and some more flowers.

I really like this pretty layering daisy from Altenew, it's certainly one of my favourites!

CASC&S - Sketch ....

....  Morning! This month is simply flying by! I've come to the end of my month as Guest Designer at CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#224, and I really have to say thanks to the Team - I've had such fun with all colours and the sketches. So this week we have a sketch to inspire us, and I've made a simple floral card:

Stamps: Altenew - Spring Daisy, Painted Butterflies
Inks: Versamark; Stampin' Up! - So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Peekaboo Peach, Pear Pizzazz
Dies: Altenew - Spring Daisy
Accessories: White Lustre Card; Kaisercraft DP - Bombay Sunset

I got some lovely new design papers at the weekend. In the pad was this lovely gold embossed piece of paper - perfect for my card. I cut a strip and adhered it flat to the card. The flower and leaf are multi-step images from Altenew. I think that Altenew makes the most amazing multi-step flower sets. The first layer was stamped with Versamark, and heat embossed with gold powder. I added colour for the second and third layers with SU inks. The flower was cut out with the matching die. I created the leaf in the same way, although this was fussy cut as there's no die for this leaf. Before attaching the flower and leaf, I stamped the sentiment using my MISTI - I was able to ensure that it was perfectly straight and in the right place for adding the flower. The leaf was glued flat to the card and I used dimensional tape on the flower. For the inside I used up the rest of the design paper for the mat layer and on the white panel added another flower and a greeting.

I'm submitting this card to AAA Cards - AAA#90 where they want to see embossing - here I've got gold embossing as well as the lovely embossed paper. Do visit CAS Colours & Sketches to see more inspirational cards from the rest of the Design Team.

I hope you have a super day - mine will be spent ironing and doing a TV catchup - it makes the ironing go quicker!! That's all for now. See you soon.