Birthday Argyle

.... Morning! Hope you had a good weekend. Storm Kathleen seems to have mostly missed our area, we did have some high winds, but fortunately not too much rain! However, in order to be 'safe' I spent most of the weekend playing in my craft room. I shared one of the cards I made yesterday, and today I'm sharing the card that we're sending to Simon:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Happy Happy Happy; Stampin' Up! - Half Full; Taylored Expressions - Argyle Stamp & Stencil Combo

Inks: Gina K - Blue Denim, Red Hot, Kraft; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Dies: Taylored Expressions - Diamonds Piercing Plate; MFT Die-namics - A2 Rectangles Set 1 # 10, A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 1 #8; Lil' Inkers - Dad

Accessories: White & Black Card; Glossy Accents

I'm submitting this card to Cardz 4 Guyz - C4G#344 where the colours are navy, red and kraft, and also to Addicted to Stamps and More - ATSM#465 - stencils and/or dies.

I love the Arygle stamp and stencil set - you can make so many different patterns, ones that work for women, and this one, which I think is particularly masculine in look. I cut a piece of white card to 5½" x 4¼" (the size of an A2 note card). I used the layered stencils to add colour. After creating the diamond pattern, I stamped the black lines and then used the piercing plate to add more detail. I used a stitched edge die to cut the main panel and layered it onto a black mat. I added the panel to the front of an A2 note card. To finish the front, I stamped the words 'happy birthday' on white card and trimmed to size. I die cut the word 'D@D' three times from black card, layered them together and added to the card. I finished by adding glossy accents over the word and set it aside to dry.

Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I stamped a greeting a row of wine glasses. My father-in-law enjoys a glass of good red wine!!

On a totally different subject, there's a total eclipse of the sun today. This will be visible (weather permitting) over a large area of the States. If we're incredibly lucky, we might catch it at sunset tonight. In reality, of course, it'll be cloudy and sun won't be visible!! That's all for now. See you all again soon.

Easter Bunnies

... Morning!! Here's another of the Easter cards that I made this weekend. This is a fun, cute card with lots of Easter bunnies and Easter eggs:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Spring Baskets, Vintage Postcards; Lawn Fawn - Easter Before 'n' Afters, Magic Spring Messages, Happy Happy Happy, Celebration Scripty Sentiments; WF - Postage Collage

Inks: Gina K - Dusty Pink; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - A6 Postage Collage

Accessories: White & Kraft Card; WF - A6 Blocks Stencil; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#331where they have some lovely spring colours to play with - perfect for an Easter card.

This card is a US A6 card measuring 4½" x 6¼" and using the WF A6 die, I can make a postage stamp style using their die. I'm very keen on the postage collage dies and have them in A2, A6, A7, and mini-slimline - so much fun!! Anyway, I die cut the A6 white panel and used the matching A6 blocks stencil and lightly brushed on pink ink to define the 'stamps'. I used a mix of stamps to add images and a greeting, I coloured the images with Copic markers and once all the little 'stamps' were created, I added postage elements. I layered the finished panel on kraft card and added the whole lot to the front of a side-opening A6 white note card.

 

For the inside, I cut a mat layer of kraft card. On the white panel, I stamped a greeting mixing stamps from two sets, added another cute bunny, coloured with Copic markers and added to the card.

This card was going to be for our daughter, Kat and her partner, Kobie. However, I've been asked for separate cards!! Not that it will be a hardship as making cards is jus so much fun. That's all for now - I'm off to make some more cards and listen to my new Audible book. See you soon.

Easter Postage Style

.... Good evening!! It's been rather dull here today, so I've spent the day in my craft room. I've made a couple of cards - one I can share now, and one you'll see soon. I need several Easter cards for my family and this is the first:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Celebration Scripty Sayings, Celebration Scripty Sentiments, Happy Happy Happy; Waltzingmouse Stamps - Vintage Postcards; Waffle Flower - Postage Collage

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Powder Blue, Blue Denim, Light Orchid, Medium Orchid, Dark Orchid, Light Lilac, Medium Lilac, Dark Lilac; Memento - Summer Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Waffle Flower - Postage Collage Die A2 

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Stencil - Christmas Flowers; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to AAA Colourful - AAAC#02 where the colour board is just gorgeous - shades of pinks, blues and purples - love them!!

I'm working through the postage collage die cuts on my desk. For this one, I masked the edges of the die and between each 'stamp'. The flower stencil has four layers which are very easy to line up. I inked each flower a different colour, added the leaves and the dots. I removed the masking strips and used a mix of stamps sets to add the extra details in black ink. I layered the finished panel onto a black mat layer and then added the whole piece to the front of an A2 white note card.

For the inside of the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped an Easter greeting made up from two stamps sets. I finished the panel by lightly stencilling another flower to the bottom corner.

It's been a fun day. Not only have I made some cards, I've completed a couple of pages in my art journals, and I've been listening to Audible. I'm listening to Misery by Stephen King - really enjoying this book - reminds me that I should rewatch the movie!! That's all for now. See you soon.

Great-Nephew's Birthday

..... Good morning!! It's been a while - February is flying by. I'm here today to share the card that I've made for my great-nephew, he'll be 5 years old tomorrow.

Stamps: My Mind's Eye - Boy Crazy; Lawn Fawn - Happy Happy Happy; Mama Elephant - Mixed Wishes Greetings

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

Accessories: White Card; The Greetery - Pinwheel Party Stencils; Copics; Clear Embossing Powder; Lakeland - Foil Number

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges: CAS Colours & Sketches - CASC&S#530, Time Out Challenge - TOC#257, and CAS on Friday - CASOF#277 where the theme is male/boy.

I had such fun making this card. I started by stencilling the red and blue pinwheels directly onto the A2 note card. I used my MISTI to stamp the robot onto white card. I removed the image, coloured it with Copic markers, returned it to the MISTI and stamped with Versafine ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I then carefully fussy cut out the robot and edged the image with a black marker. I added a simple birthday greeting and a large bright yellow '5' at the top of the card.

I cut a piece of white card for the inside - I lightly brushed on red ink around the edge. I stamped the robot at the bottom left and added a simple birthday verse along with some yellow elements.

I'm heading to the local post box shortly to get this card in the post - I had thought that Elijah's birthday was next Tuesday, but in fact it's tomorrow!!! I hope he likes the cute robot - it's a favourite of mine for kids cards. That's all for now - see you soon. 

Floral Circle ....

... Morning! With all of life's craziness, spending some time in my craft room really helps me to keep grounded, keep sane. I made a card this morning for my mother-in-law:

Stamps: Altenew - Hello Sunshine; Uniko - Background Builders Vines, Background Builders Vine Winter Additions, Simply Said; Lawn Fawn - Happy Happy Happy
Inks: Gina K - Passionate Pink, Red Velvet, Soft Stone, Black Amalgam
Dies: Die-namics - Cross-Stitched Circle Stax # 2 & #3
Accessories: White Card; SU DP - Smoky Slate; Vellum

I'm submitting this card to Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#180 where the key word is Circle, Less is More - LIM#415 to use red, raspberry and grey, and to Cardz for Galz - C4Glz#117 where they want Spring Flowers. Now, in my head this was really clean and simple, but it's turned out to be a little less CAS, I'm still playing along though!!

I used my MISTI and Gina K wreath builder stencil to create the wreath of spring flowers. I used cross-stitch edged circle die to cut the vellum and four white circles.  I stamped the greeting on the top circle and layered the other white circles to give some depth. I layered the stamped panel on soft grey floral design paper and adhered the whole panel to the front of the card. On the inside, I cut another mat of grey floral paper and added a simple greeting and some more flowers. 

I'm safe to share this card here as my mother-in-law doesn't do computers, so she won't see it until the card arrives this weekend. We spoke to her and my FIL yesterday, they are keeping well and self-isolating. My MIL says all is good she has plenty to keep her occupied in her garden.

I know that things are changing almost hourly now, and our new world reality is quite scary, but we will get through this. Look after yourself and your family, keep in touch with family and friends and find ways to keep occupied. My daughter has said she can read for pleasure now! Take care, that's all for now.

TMR - Technique ....

.... Morning! We've had the most spring-like weather for the past week or so - we've had blue skies and sunshine, but somehow the temperature still feels like winter!! And then yesterday the temperatures went up, but the rain came too! Anyhow, enough of that, it's time for our new challenge at The Male Room - TMR#82. We want to see you use watercolours on your masculine projects. I had lots of fun and got really inky!! Here's my card:

Stamps: Visible Image - Fibonacci, Son Definition, Father Definition; MFT - Because You; Lawn Fawn - Happy, Happy, Happy
Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Gina K - Powder Blue, Jelly Bean Green, Wild Lilac
Accessories: White Lustre Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Brusho Crystals - Lime Green, Cobalt Blue, Violet, Leaf Green; Clear Embossing Powder; Shimmer Spritz - Frost; Tim Holtz Watercolour Card; Copics

I cut a panel of watercolour card to fit my card, sprinkled on some Brusho crystals and spritzed with water. I love the way these crystals bloom into colour and move with the water. I dried the panel carefully and then stamped this wonderful Fibonacci image in Versafine and heat embossed it with clear powder. I added a touch of sparkle to the whole panel by spritzing on frost shimmer spritz. I attached the panel to a black mat layer and then added it to the front of the card. I stamped a selection of words from several different sets, embossed them with clear powder and cut them down to get the words I wanted. I attached the words to the front of the panel. On the inside I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel stamped the Fibonacci image again, using several shades to echo the watercolour panel. I finished by stamping a greeting. This card is for my wonderful husband on our anniversary next month - it'll be 17 years!!!

I took another photo of the front of the card to show all the wonderful sparkle:

I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#20 where it's Anything Goes.

Before I go, I'd like to say goodbye and best wishes for the future to Cathy who, sadly, is leaving the DT. And, at the same time, I'd like to welcome Lynn (aka Linby) to the team - so glad to have you join us. Don't forget to visit The Male Room and see lots more inspiration projects from the rest of the Design Team. You've got plenty of time to join in the fun - deadline for submission is midnight (BST) Tuesday 10th April, that's 7.00pm EDT in the States.

That's all from me for now - see you soon.