SHC - Hearts Galore! ...

... Morning! I'm here with my weekly blog for Seven Hills Craft shop - you can get all the stamps and dies there!! I've got a few cards to share with you today - they all feature hearts. I guess I've been inspired by Valentine's day and all the challenges about. I'll start with a card I've made for my mum - just because I can and because I love her to bits!!

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Hearts Turnabout Stamp, Lucky, Sunshine Turnabout Stamp, Kindhearted

Inks: Gina K - Innocent Pink, Peach Bellini, Sweet Corn, Sandy Beach, Stormy Sky; Versafine Clair - Tulip Red; Delicata - Golden Glitz

Dies: Concord & 9th - Cozy Up

Accessories: White Card; Gina K Card - Innocent Pink; Copic Marker; Gems

I think you all know that I love Concord & 9th's turnabout stamps and use them quite often. I'll add a link at the end of this post to show how to use them. I used my MISTI to stamp two background pieces one using the colours above and one in shades of blue and green.

I'm submitting this card to The Paper Players - PP#527 where they want us to use Hearts and/or Stars - I did both! Also to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#55 where it's Anything Goes.

After I stamped the background panel, I trimmed it to 5" square, edged it with a red marker and glued it to a square card. I used the scallop edge heart die from Cozy Up (there is a matching stamp set) to cut a piece of pink card onto which I stamped a greeting in bright red ink. I think it's perfect for my mum. I then added lots of tiny pink stars around the words (the stars come from Lucky). I sponged gold ink around the heart and adhered it in the middle of the card. I finished the front by adding some tiny gems - some of which are also stars and hearts!! On the inside, I cut a mat layer of pale pink card. On the white piece I created a greeting using words from Kindhearted, and added some of the tiny stamps as decoration.

My next card uses the blue and green background along with a die cut black heart.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Hearts Turnabout Stamp, Give Thanks

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Sea Glass, Applemint, Stormy Sky; Memento - Summer Sky; Versamark

Dies: Concord & 9th - Geode

Accessories: White Card; Stampin' Up! - Basic Black; White Embossing Powder

This is a top folding A2 (US size card - 5½" x 4¼") card. I cut a strip of the stamped background 2¼" wide and adhered it down the centre of the card. I used the larger heart die from the Geode set to cut out a black heart. I stamped the word 'love' (from Give Thanks) in Versamark and heat embossed it with white powder. I made sure to remove all particles of white powder before heating to make sure that only the word embossed! I used dimensional pads to adhere it towards the top of the card. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the base. I created the greeting by stamping the heart (from Give Thanks) in lime green and added the words in grey.

I'm submitting this card to Inkspirational - INK#232 where the theme is to use hearts - done!!

I have another Valentine card to share - I love my hubby lots, and he's worth two cards! Besides, I enjoy making them.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Geode, Give Thanks

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Sea Glass, Applemint, Stormy Sky; Memento - Summer Sky; Versafine - Onyx Black

Dies: Concord & 9th - Geode

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Silver Thread; Zig Clear Colour Watercolour Brushes; Shimmer Spray; Tim Holtz Watercolour Card

Sorry the picture is a bit dark - it was rather challenging taking photos!! I stamped the geode heart using Versafine Onyx Black on water colour card and heat embossed it with clear powder. I applied water all over the heart and then touched the Zig watercolour pens to the card. I repeated this several times to get the depth of colour I wanted and finished with a spritz of shimmer spray. I then set the heart aside to dry. Meanwhile, I made the card. I stamped the words in black, found some silver thread in my stash which I looped and adhered to the card. Once the heart was dry I used the co-ordinating die to cut it out and attached it with dimensional pads. I kept the inside really simple - I stamped the geode heart using matching inks and finished by adding the word 'love' in black.

I'm submitting this card to Just Us Girls - JUGS#570 where the cue word is 'Valentine', to CAS on Friday - CASOF#198 where the theme is 'Love', and Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge - HLSWC#02 where it's Anything Goes.

My last card is a clean, simple thank you card for my stash.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Hearts Turnabout Stamp, Give Thanks

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Sea Glass, Applemint, Stormy Sky; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; Stampin' Up! - Basic Black

I had a strip of the blue and green background card left, so I trimmed a piece to 1¼" wide and adhered it to the front of the card. I added thin strips of black card above and below the patterned piece. I finished by stamping the large word 'thanks' from Give Thanks in bold black ink. The inside is blank for my own message.

Here are all the challenge graphics:

And before I go, I promised to add a link to the Concord & 9th page on how to use Turnabout stamps.

That's all from me today - hope to see you again soon.

TMR - Technique and DT Call ...

... Hi! I'm here this morning with my card for our new challenge over at The Male Room - TMR#69. We have a fun theme for your masculine projects; for the next couple of weeks - we want use to use MASKING. I've made an autumn themed card:

Stamps: Stampendous - Pattern Leaves; Concord & 9th - Kindhearted
Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Sweet Mango, Tomato Soup, Kraft, Honey Mustard, Warm Cocoa, Dark Chocolate, Charcoal Brown, Black Onyx
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Early Espresso; Copics; Wink of Stella - Clear; Gold Embossing Powder

Using my MISTI I stamped the large patterned leaf in the centre of the card. I coloured it with Copic markers then I ran a dust buddy over the image, put the card back in the MISTI and stamped the image again with Versamark and heat embossed with gold powder. I added a touch of sparkle to the leaf with a clear Wink of Stella brush. This method gives a really crisp image. I masked the leaf and used my MISTI to stamp the repeat sentiment in the background. This is a technique that I learnt from Jennifer McGuire. On the inside I cut a mat layer of dark brown card and on the white panel I partially stamped the leaf twice and added a greeting.

I'm submitting this card to a few challenges: Less is More - LIM#345 - where it's one layer week with colouring in, Creative with Stamps - CWS#18 where they want leaves, and House of Cards - HOC#09 where they have colour and/or text - I've got both.

Do visit The Male Room to see more inspiration from the rest of the team. You've got plenty of time to play along.

Now the bit in the title where I said DT CALL - The Male Room is looking for some new DT members - full details can be found on the blog.

That's all for today. I'll be back again tomorrow.