Coffee Time ...

... Hello again! I've had a super afternoon, playing with stamps and ink - something I've not done for a while. I've got a couple of cards with coffee theme to share. My first card also celebrates the 9th birthday of one of my favourite stamp companies - Uniko. I've been a fan of Bev's designs since she started the company and I've also been lucky enough to be on her design team too. This card is for Bev:

Stamps: Uniko - I Love Coffee, Originally Organic

Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Stormy Sky

Dies: Honey Bee - Coffee Cup Card

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; Vellum; Copic Markers; Silver Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Bev's Uniko 9th Birthday Bash - US9BD.

I used Honey Bee's large coffee mug die to cut out the card. I used some kraft card for the cup lid and stamped lots of little coffee beans over it in Versamark. On the main mug I stamped the beautiful Originally Organic flower - this is a favourite of mine. I coloured it with Copic markers paying homage to Uniko's house colours. I embossed the finished image with silver powder. I cut the cup holder in vellum as I didn't want to hide the pretty image when it is put over the mug. On the inside, I stamped a simple and heartfelt sentiment in grey.

My next card kind of sums up how I feel at the moment. This third lockdown has really gotten to me, as it has to many, and this just made me feel better:

Stamps: CAS-ual Friday Stamps - Cup of Coffee, Hot Coffee, Peace, Love & Coffee; Stampendous - Coffee Background

Inks: Gina K - Warm Cocoa; Memento - Rhubarb Stalk

Dies: CFS - Coffee Cup

Accessories: White Card

I'm submitting this card to Caffeine Fueled Paper Play - CFPP#02 (a challenge I've been meaning to play along with for ages), and to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#23.

I've not used any of the coffee themed stamp sets that I have from CAS-ual Friday, so it's been fun to give them an outing! I stamped the background image using soft brown ink - it has lots of wonderful coffee quotes. I stamped the coffee mug on white card and added this brilliantly snarky sentiment. Absolutely perfect for how I'm feeling! I used the matching die to cut out the mug and adhered it to the front of the card. On the inside, I simply stamped another sentiment and added a tiny coffee mug.

I really do think that's it from me today. The sun is just starting to go down behind the houses over the road. It's been a beautiful bright day and I've played inside - my idea of fun. See you tomorrow!

Coffee, Craft, Repeat ....

... Good afternoon! It was a gorgeous day yesterday. Started off a bit grey, but by the afternoon we had temperatures in excess of 20ºC, not typical for early April. I was able to go out for my walk and enjoy the sun and birds - it was lovely. In the morning I spent some time working on my Day-by-Day Dyalog - photos to come soon. This morning I tidied my craft space - so nice to see a clear desk, rather then all the stash covering it. Here's the card I made:

Stamps: Altenew - Coffee Love, Coffee Talk, Coffee Ring
Inks: Kaleidacolor - Cappuccino Delight
Dies: Die-namics - Cross-stitched Circle Stax #2 and #3
Accessories: White Card; SU Card and DP - Early Espresso

I've got lots of coffee themed stamp sets (well, I love coffee) so I thought it would be good to play along with the new Caffeine Fueled Paper Play - CLC#04, and I've used the sketch from this week's Freshly Made Sketches - FMS#429.

I started by creating my own background paper using lots of little coffee themed images, and stamping in the appropriately names, cappuccino delight ink! I cut a piece to size and adhered it to the front of my card. I added a thin strip of dark brown card to finish it. I used dies to cut two patterned circles from early espresso design paper and stamped a fun sentiment on the white circle. I adhered the two patterned panels flat to the card and used dimensional pads to attach the middle circle. I finished the front by adding a fun sentiment which continues inside the card with the word "coffee" 😀😁😀 I also stamped a coffee ring and layered the white panel on more of the brown design paper.

That's all from me today - hope to see you again soon. Stay home, keep safe.

Coffee ....

... Morning! I had a really enjoyable afternoon yesterday, self-isolating in my craft room. We're all fine. Kat is still at school at the moment, but not sure how long it'll be before the Government decides to shut that down. Jonathan works from home, so there's no change to his situation. My local craft group has been closed for a while. So, I made a card just for fun:

Stamps: Stamplorations - Caffeinated Zen 1; Sugar Pea Designs - The Perfect Blend
Inks: Versafine Clair - Pinecone, Acorn
Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Early Espresso; Tim Holtz Watercolour Card; Zig Clear Colour Brushes; Staedtler - Aquarell Watercolour Pencils; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm playing along with Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge - HLSWC#03 where it's Anything Goes with the option of Flowers. I'm also joining in with Coffee Loving Cardmakers - CLC#03; this is a challenge that I've been meaning to play along with for ages.

I stamped the lower coffee mug directly on the card using Versafine Clair ink and embossed with clear powder. I used watercolour pencils to colour the flowers on the mug band giving a lovely soft finish. I stamped the other mug on scrap card, embossed it and cut it out. I stamped the band of flowers on watercolour card and used Zig Clean Colour brushes to colour this band, giving a much more vibrant mug band. I attached this mug using dimensional pads. I finished the front with a simple word - "coffee" the best drink in the world, and added shadow under the mugs. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of brown card and on the white panel added a verse - so true, especially at the moment. I also added a coffee tree and some coffee beans.

I know that this is an extremely difficult time for us all, and particularly those who have got friends and family who have got Covid-19. Our village has set up a scheme to help those who really need to isolate by getting shopping, meds, etc and just making sure they're okay. Keep safe. Bye for now.