World Card Making Day ....

... Morning - I know this is late, but better that than not at all!! It was World Cardmaking Day on 2nd October. I didn't actually make a card on Saturday, but I did indulge in lot of U-tube videos from Gina K, Jennifer McGuire, and many more brilliant crafters. It was fabulous. However, I did do some stamping and colouring. 

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - Great Big Owl, Midnight Feast; Dylusions - Flight of Fancy; Tim Holtz - Regions Beyond

My wall calendar has a space above the dates in which you can do anything. You can add a photo - it's the perfect size for a photo. However, I like to decorate with my stamps. Obviously the key thing in October is Halloween - my favourite holiday. Sadly, we don't celebrate it anywhere near enough in the UK - it's one of the things I miss the most about living in Northville, Michigan. It's huge there!! I've used a mixture of stamps from Diane Reaveley, Tim Holtz and Claire Brennan. I adore this owl - from Waltzingmouse Stamps (now closed) and use it often. 

I'm submitting this page to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#63 where it's Anything Goes.

That's it from me today. We're off to see the new James Bond movie today. We had a Bond film fest - catching up on Daniel Craig's movies - so looking forward to it. See you soon.

SHC - Books Galore ....

.... Morning! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. I was lucky enough to get a super new stamp for my birthday - thanks so much Tara. I had to play with it.

Stamps: Hero Arts - Bookcase Peek a Boo; Concord & 9th - Tiny Tagalong; Mama Elephant - Mixed Wishes Greetings

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Claire - Nocturne; Gina K - Soft Stone, Stormy Sky

Dies: MFT - A2 Rectangle Stax Set 1 #11

Accessories: White & Black Card; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder; Sakura Stardust Pen

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#27 - the stamp is brand new!!!

I started by stamping the large bookcase image onto white card. I removed it from my MISTI and coloured, in rainbow order, with Copic markers. I returned the image to the MISTI, stamped in Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I used a die to cut it out, edged it with a black marker and adhered it to the front of an A2 notecard. I stamped this fun message in dark grey ink and used the matching banner stamp in pale grey. I carefully cut out the banner, leaving a white edge around. I used dimensional pads to adhere it to the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped a lovely greeting from another new set and added a bit of the bookcase image in the corner. This card can be used for a birthday or just because!

After stamping and mixed media and making cards, reading is my favourite hobby. I have a an old and much loved bookmark that I use in my books. It was made for me in 2012 by Vicky Hayes - I used to get my Stampin' Up! goodies from her. And, when I went to the States she made me the bookmark as a farewell gift. Here's a photo - it's a bit dog eared, but the paper is soft and smooth and it feels wonderful.

As this bookmark is getting a bit old and fragile, I decided to make some new bookmarks using the Bookcase Peek a Boo stamp. I based the design of my bookmarks on the one Vicky made for me. I didn't take my bookmark apart, I worked out how to do it. Here are the bookmarks:

Stamps: Hero Arts - Bookcase Peek a Boo

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Claire - Nocturne

Accessories: White, Black, Red, Green, Teal, Orange and Yellow Card; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder; Ribbons and Brads from my stash

I'm submitting the bookmarks to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#59 - where it is Anything Goes.

I stamped the image on white card and coloured each row shades of one colour. I stamped and embossed it and then cut it out. I layered the coloured panels on black card. I cut two strips of card measuring 1½" x 6" in each colour. I adhered the coloured image at the bottom of one strip and stamped some words at the top. On the reverse of this strip of card I adhered some super tacky adhesive tape down the centre and around the edges. Next I cut some ribbon and folded it in half and adhered it to the centre strip of adhesive tape. I then added a brad at the top of the strip, making sure that it went through the ribbon. I removed the protective paper from the adhesive, added a thin layer of strong liquid adhesive and than carefully aligned and adhered the second strip of card on the back. I made sure the hold the edges together to ensure they were fully adhered. 

I am very happy how these have turned out. My daughter Kat, who came home from University on Saturday, has taken possession of the teal bookmark, and I've given a couple to mum.

That's all from me today. See you again soon.

SHC - Winged Things and More ....

... Good Morning everyone! If you're in the UK I hope you all had a good Mother's Day. I'm here with my regular weekly post for Seven Hills Craft blog. Last I tried out Jennifer McGuire's Gel Plate Lift technique and I shared a couple of cards that I'd made. Well, I made lots of backgrounds and today's cards are all made from them. They mainly feature images from Colorado Craft Company's Big & Bold range of stamps, with other images from Altenew and Concord & 9th. For my first two cards I used the Big & Bold Honey Bee stamp set. I embossed the huge bee onto white card, emboosed with clear powder and used three shades of yellow ink to build up the background colour. I ended up with a darker positive image and softer negative image. My first card is bold and bright:

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold Honey Bee; Concord & 9th - Beautiful Butterfly

Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango, Soft Stone; Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Basic Black; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Love to Challenge Craft Blog - LTCCB#56 where the theme is Anything Goes.

My first card uses the positive image. I cut the panel to 4” x 5¾”. I added a simple sentiment from Concord & 9th’s Beautiful Butterfly in bold black ink. I layered the panel on black card and adhered the whole piece to a US A6 (6¼” x 4½”) card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped the large honey bee in yellow ink, added some soft grey hexagons and finished with one of the sentiments from the Honey Bee stamp set.

I was having such fun with this stamp set that I decorated the envelope too. I add a bold yellow bee on the front of the envelope and added a message, created from the stamps, on the envelope flap. I like the 'save the bees' message - bees, for some reason, seem to be declining in number.

My next card uses the softer negative image. 

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold Honey Bee; Altenew - Hello Hydrangea

Inks: Gina K - Lemon Drop, Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango, Soft Stone; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - A2 Rectangles Stax Set 1 #11, A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 2 #9

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Basic Black

I'm submitting this card to Darnell's Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#24 - it's the first time I've used the lovely big honey bee stamp!

This time I used an US A2 (4¼” x 5½”) card. I cut a piece of black card just smaller than the blank and used a die to cut the honey bee image. It’s such a lovely image that I kept the greeting quite simple and used the vertical ‘hello’ stamp from Altenew’s Hello Hydrangea stamp set. Inside on the white panel, I stamped the little hydrangea buds from Hello Hydrangea, and the solid bee and words from Honey Bee. I layered this onto black card and adhered the whole piece inside the card.

My next two cards feature some of the leaves from Colorado Craft Company’s Big & Bold Brilliant Beetle stamp set. Using the same technique, I have a bolder positive image and softer negative image.

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold Brilliant Beetle; Concord & 9th - Beautiful Butterfly

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Grass Green, Fresh Asparagus; Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: MFT - A2 Rectangles Stax Set 1 #11, A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 2 #9

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Basic Black

The first card, using the bold positive image, is a US A2 card. I stamped a butterfly from Concord & 9th’s Beautiful Butterfly stamp set, coloured it with Copic markers, restamped with Versamark, heat embossed with silver powder and fussy cut it out. I used a strip of the left-over green card the long sentiment from Big & Bold Brilliant Beetle, embossed with silver powder and cut it out. I layered it onto some scraps of card for dimension and adhered it to the card. I used dimensional pads to add the butterfly. I kept the inside white panel very simple. I stamped another of the butterflies from Beautiful Butterfly and added some leaves and a words from Brilliant Beetle. I layered the panel onto black card and added to the inside of the card.

My last card for today is for my stash. I think it’s always important to have some sympathy cards on hand, but they are so hard to make. So, I tend to make them as I go and have them ready. This one uses the softer negative image.

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold Brilliant Beetle; Altenew - Fresh Freesia, Beautiful Inside

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Grass Green, Jelly Bean Green, Fresh Asparagus; Memento - New Sprout; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Basic Black

The card is a US A6 and I simply cut the mat layer and image panel to fit the card. I added a simple sentiment from Altenew’s Fresh Freesia stamp set in black and called it done. On the inside, I stamped a verse from Altenew’s Beautiful Inside stamp set – the words are lovely. I finished by adding a few leaves from Brilliant Beetle.

It was fun learning this technique and I recommend watching Jennifer's video, click this link and it will take you to her post. I love the velvety look you get on the positive images - the inks blend beautifully and are so smooth. I think I might come back to this technique. 

This turned out to be an exceptionally long post – thanks so much for sticking with me to the end. I hope you liked the cards. I had fun making them. I can’t make up my mind which image I prefer – the bold positive or the softer negative. What do you think? See you soon.

Edited to add: Jonathan and I had our first Covid-19 vaccination today - we had the Oxford Astra Zenica one. Second vaccination in about 12 weeks. Feeling great :)

SHC - Going Dotty ....

.... Hello and good morning! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. I've been playing with my new Altenew stamps and dies (I went very slightly mad when the new release came out). I'll start with a card that Kat has nicked to send to her best friend.

Stamps: Altenew - Friends Forever, Dots & Boxes

Inks: Kaleidacolor - Cappucino Delight

Dies: Altenew - Friends Forever

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; Copic Markers; Kaisercraft DP - Curiosity; Nuvo - Midas Aquashimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Cardz 4 Galz - C4Glz#138 where they want to see cards that feature Cocktails, Wine or Coffee; mine's got coffee! What else??

I used kraft card to make the card base. Next I stamped the large dotty grid background using a Kaleidacolor inkpad. I slightly offset the image to the upper right, to give a narrow clear border. Next I stamped the large coffee mug onto white card, I cut it out with the matching die. I stamped the mug band part again on a scrap of design paper, cut it out and adhered it to the mug. I stamped one of straws, the hearts and the outline BFF letters onto white card, used Copics to colour them, and cut them out with the matching dies. I adhered the coffee mug and straw to the left of the card front and added the letters at the bottom. I used a golden tone aquashimmer brush to add sparkle to the hearts and letters. On the inside of the card, I cut a panel of white card slightly smaller then the base. I stamped one of the sentiments from Friends Forever, added another coffee mug, edged the panel with an orange marker and adhered it to the card base.

My next card is a masculine birthday card:

Stamps: Altenew - Dots & Boxes; Mama Elephant - Birthday Messages

Inks: Memento - Paris Dusk; Stampin' Up! - Night of Navy, Soft Suede; Gina K - Sandy Beach

Dies: Altenew - Burlap Texture; Concord & 9th - Birthday

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake, Night of Navy; Nuvo - Midas Aquashimmer Brush; Glossy Accents

I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#54 where it's always Anything Goes, and to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#01.

I stamped the dotty grid background in navy on a craft card base. Next, I used the burlap die to cut a navy panel for the centre of the card. I decided not to have any stamping on the front of this card, so I made the greeting with an older Concord & 9th die set. I die cut the words 'Happy Birthday' and the banner several times. I layered up the letters and word to give dimension and adhered them on top of the burlap panel. I added a couple of birthday banners to the top of the card and finished by adding sparkle with a gold shimmer brush. I also added some glossy accents to the word 'birthday'. On the inside, I cut a panel of white card onto which I stamped the dotty background, this time in a soft kraft colour. I finished with a sweet little birthday greeting in navy.

You can actually see the gold shimmer in these photos.

Well, that's all from me today. Thanks so much for stopping by and for your comments, they are always much appreciated. Take care and be safe.

SHC - Guac My World ...

... Good morning! Can you believe it's almost the end of October? Me neither! Anyway, it's Wednesday and that means it's time for my regular weekly Seven Hills Craft Blog post. We are concentrating on the Colorado Craft Company. This company was new to me (well I only found it earlier this year) and I really like their Big & Bold range. These 6" × 6" stamps sets feature LARGE images that can be used to fill the front of a card, or you can you parts of the image. I'm using a fun set that features Avocado. Here's my first card:

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Avocado Love

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark; Gina K - Kraft, Black Amalgam

Dies: Die-namics - A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 2 #7

Accessories: White & Black Card; Kaisercraft DP - Fiesta!; Vellum; Clear & White Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

Using my MISTI stamp positioner, I stamped the avocado onto white card, removed it and coloured the image with Copic markers. I replaced the image in the MISTI, stamped again in Versafine black ink and heat embossed the image with clear powder. I put the image back into the MISTI and stamped the sentiment in the middle of the avocado, heat embossed with white powder so that the sentiment stands out, and then fussy cut the image. I found some paper in my stash that suggested brightly patterned Mexican walls, layered a piece onto black card and added it to the front of a 6¼" × 4½" card. I used a stitch edged die to cut a piece of vellum onto which I adhered the avocado. I then added that to the front of the card. On the inside of the card, I cut a mat layer of black card and a panel of white card. I added a strip of the design paper to the side, used kraft ink to stamp the flowered branch at the top corner and the avocado at the bottom corner. I finished by stamping the sentiment in black ink in the centre.

This card is for my stash of cards that I make for Jonathan. I often give him cards, just because, and I know that he'll appreciate the sentiment. I was having such fun with the stamps that I made another card:

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Avocado Love

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versamark; Gina K - Kraft, Black Amalgam

Accessories: White, Black & Kraft Card; Kaisercraft DP - Fiesta!; Clear & White Embossing Powder; Copic Markers

This is a standard 5½" × 4¼" (an A2 card - US size) card. I used black cardstock to make the card. I used design paper to suggest patterned tiles and added a panel to the top of the card. I cut a strip of kraft card onto which I stamped a greeting, embossed it with white powder and added it to the card. I finished by adding the cut avocado, previously coloured with Copic markers. On the inside, I simply cut a piece of white card and added the avocado offset at the bottom corner. There's plenty of space for my own message.

I'm submitting the first card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#51, where it's Anything Goes.

That's all from me for today. I've not made many cards lately, I've been busy working on my monthly Dyalog - I've gone for a Halloween theme this month, and I'll share some of it later. Take care.

SHC - Yas Queen ....

... Morning! It's Wednesday, and that means it's time for my Seven Hills Craft blog post. Today I'm sharing a sparkly creation:

Stamps: Colorado Craft Company - Big & Bold A Queen's Crown
Inks: Stampin' Up! - Costal Cabana
Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Costal Cabana; Green Satin Mirri Card; Gems

I'm submitting this to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#50 where it's Anything Goes.

This card is relatively quick and easy to make. I picked a 5" x 7" white card for the base so that I could use the whole of the crown on the card. I cut some light teal card to size, stamped the crown in the middle in the matching ink, added the sentiment in the top left in black and then went to town with lots of little gems. The image has small dots which look very pretty left as they are, but they make the perfect guide for adding gems. I could have added more, but wanted to keep things simple 😉. I layered the image on some soft green satin mirri card and then added the whole panel to the front of the card. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of teal card and on the white panel I stamped a part of the crown and added a lovely greeting.

This is both a birthday and good luck card. Kat's friend had her 19th birthday last week (two days after Kat's 19th) and she also started at Cambridge University. I can't quite believe how fast the last 19 years have gone by. Anyway, that's all from me today. See you soon.

SHC - Back to School ...

... Hello again! Two days on the trot, something strange going on! I'm here with my Seven Hills Craft blog post. Today I'm sharing a card that Kat asked me to make. She wanted me to make a good luck card for a friend who's shortly heading off to Cardiff University. This is what I made:

Stamps: Hero Arts/Ink Blot Shop - Please Deliver; Altenew - Happy Dreams, School Days
Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Gina K - Soft Stone; Kaleidacolor - Spectrum
Dies: Hero Arts - Rectangle Peek-a-Boo Doors #11
Accessories: Black and White Card; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Clear Aquashimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#50 where it's always, Anything Goes.

Before I start, I have to give credit for this card to Jennifer McGuire - check out her video where she shows you how to make peek-a-boo doors in your cards. I pretty much CASEd the entire card. I cut a piece of white card, larger than I needed, and stamped the pencil image along the bottom. I colour the pencils with Copic markers, such fun to make the rainbow. I die cut the door in the panel, replaced it in the MISTI and stamped the sentiment and arrow. I then trimmed the panel to fit the card. I made the card from black cardstock and added a piece of white card to the front. I put the card in the MISTI and placed the stamped panel on top. I opened the door and pencilled around the opening, removed the panel and stamped another image.

I think this inspirational sentiment is perfect for someone starting university. On the inside, I cut a white panel of card and stamped another message. This one has the words 'Back to School' - well, a university is just a very big school for big kids - so I think it works! I also added some little stars for fun.

I added some sparkle to the coloured pencils with a clear aquashimmer  brush - you can't see it in the photos above, but I did take a photo holding the card out of the window and you can really see the shimmer in this photo. Love all that sparkle!!

Not only is Kat's friend heading for university, Kat will be heading to the University of Nottingham on Saturday to study Politics & American Studies. Kat is so excited, but a bit nervous too. Because of the Covid-19 restrictions only one parent can accompany Kat on moving-in day, so she's going with her dad. I've told Kat she has to send me lots of photos of her room and new friends. I know the campus well - it's one of my favourite universities. I'll share the card I made for Kat later this week! Bye for now!