SHC - Birthday Confetti

... Morning!! It's time for my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. This week's post is a bit special as the birthday card I made is for Tara - owner of Seven Hills Crafts. Here's the card:

Stamps: C&9 - Yay for Birthdays

Inks: Gina K - Powder Blue, Wild Dandelion, Tomato Soup, Kraft, Peach Bellini, Sandy Beach, Blue Denim; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: C&9 - Yay for Birthday, Simply You

Accessories: White & Black Card; C&9 Turnabout Stencil - Confetti Dots; Glitter

I'm submitting this card to Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#556 where the theme is Anything Goes, and also to Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#295 where they have a colour challenge.

I took a piece of white card 5½" square, placed it in the centre of my jig and put it in the corner of my MISTI. I put mark on one corner of the Turnabout stencil and then placed it on top of the card and jig. I then applied the yellow ink. Then, instead of turning the card and jig as I would with turnabout stamps, I simply turned the stencil through 90 degrees and repeated the process with the remaining inks. I used a scallop and stitch edge die to cut a panel from this stencilled piece. I also die cut a piece of black card which I cut diagonally and adhered the two pieces behind the panel - creating a black shadow layer. I adhered the whole piece to the front of an A2 note card. I stamped a birthday greeting at the bottom of the panel. I die cut the cupcake from white card and used the matching stamps to add colour to the pieces. I die cut some extra cupcakes onto which I layered the inked cupcake. I adhered the finished cupcake to the card and added a touch of glitter. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped a birthday greeting and some confetti exploding from the greeting.

Provided Royal Mail was working okay, Tara should have received this card yesterday - on her actual birthday. If not, this is a surprise!! 

I'd like to thank everyone who has left comments on my blog - I really do appreciate each and every one. That's all for now. See you again soon.

SHC - Exclamations!!

.... Morning! I'm here with my Seven Hills Craft blog post. This week I've been playing with my new Exclamations Turnabout stamp - you all know I love turnabout stamps. Here's my first card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Exclamation Turnabout, Good Vibes Turnabout, Snail Mail

Inks: Gina K Electro Pop - Loud Lime, Orange Glow, Screamin' Green, Potent Purple; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: C&9 - Exclamation

Accessories: White & Black Card; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Seize the Birthday - STB#250 where the theme is to use Halloween colours.

I used fluorescent inks to create the background panel - I love this graphic design - perfect for a teenage boy. I cut the panel to be slightly smaller than an A2 note card. I edged it with a black marker and adhered it to the note card. I used the matching dies to create the birthday greeting. The dies cut the black shadow layer, the white words and there's a separate die for the word birthday. I die cut the word 'birthday' from white card and used Copic markers to colour the letters. Once glued to the greeting I added a touch of sparkle to the letters. For the inside I cut another white panel onto which I stamped a greeting - made up from old and new stamp sets. 

While I had the Exclamations turnabout stamp in my MISTI, I made a couple more panels.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Exclamation Turnabout, Painted Sayings

Inks: Gina K - Prickly Pear, Turquoise Sea; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Bermuda Bay

I'm submitting this card to Color Hues - CH#52 and Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#44.

I made the note card from dark turquoise card stock. I stamped the turnabout twice to give a simpler background pattern. I stamped a bold greeting on the front and adhered the panel to the front of the card. On the white panel inside the card, I added a simple greeting in the corner. Lots of space for my message.

Next is a clean and simple card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Exclamation Turnabout

Inks: Gina K - Innocent Pink, Sweetcorn, Soft Stone; Memento - New Sprout

Dies: C&9 - Everyday Sayings

Accessories: White & Black Card

I'm submitting this to Color Throwdown - CTD#717. I do like the soft colours.

This time I decided to die cut the word 'hello' from the turnabout background. I used dies to cut the black shadow layer and the word. I adhered them together and added them to the front of an A2 white note card. This is nice clean, simple card with lots of space inside for my message.

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

SHC - Happy Holidays

.... Morning! It's been a while since I posted - we went away for a short break - more of that later. I'm here today with my post for Seven Hills Craft blog. I've made a simple, layered Christmas card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Iconic Christmas, Festive Phrases, Winter Wonderland

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Sandy Beach; Hero Arts - Unicorn

Dies: C&9 - Festive Phrases, Iconic Christmas; Gina K - Master Layouts 2

Accessories: White Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this to The Card Concept - CC#182B where I've picked the Christmas Joy photo for my inspiration. I used the colours for my clean, layered card.

I used deep red card from my stash to make the note card base. I stamped the turnabout pattern in white ink onto kraft card and used a stitched edge die to cut out a panel which I layered onto dark brown card. I adhered the whole panel to the front of the note card. I made the sentiment by stamping on white card and used the matching die to cut it out. I added it towards the top of the card and finished the front by adding a simple holly spring. I used copic markers to colour white card, cut out the pieces with dies and then added them to the card. On the white panel inside the card, I stamped a bold Christmas greeting in bright red and added a couple of flurries of snowflakes.

This card is very easy to make - I think I'll be making several more for my stash.

I mentioned above that we'd been away for a short break. We went to Christchurch and stayed at The Christchurch Harbour Hotel & Spa. It was a wonderful week. The hotel was fabulous. Our room was perfect with a great view of the harbour from our terrace. And, as the weather was just wonderful for this time of year, we were able to enjoy the terrace and sit out in the sun. The hotel's restaurant was super - lovely breakfasts and we dined twice on the freshest fish possible. We both had a couple of treatments in the spa - after the year we've had, we needed treatments and the break. I can't believe how lucky we were with the weather. To be fair the weather's been fantastic since we got home too. 

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

SHC - Cool Christmas

... Hello. I'm here with my Seven Hills Craft blog post. I've another Christmas card to share - this time I've gone for a cool colour theme:

Stamps: C&9 - Tiny Trees Turnabout, Winter Wonderland, Festive Phrases

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Turquoise Sea, Sea Glass, Tranquil Teal; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: C&9 - Tiny Trees, Snowfall Card Front

Accessories: White Card

I used the Snowfall card front die to cut the pattern into a piece of white card. I lightly blended pale teal ink over the whole panel, edged it with a teal marker and then stamped on a greeting in black ink. I should have stamped the sentiment before I die cut the pattern, but it still works. I adhered the panel to the front of an A2 note card. I stamped a few tiny Christmas trees on white card and used the matching dies to cut them out. I glued to directly to the note card and used dimensional pads to add the middle tree. Inside the card, I cut a white panel onto which I stamped a greeting and added some pale teal snowflakes.

I'm submitting this card to Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog - MLCCB#46 where the theme is always Anything Christmas Goes.

That's all for today. Hope to see you again soon.

SHC - Bright Christmas

... Morning, I'm here with my regular Seven Hills Craft blog post. Today I'm sharing a bold and bright Christmas card:

Stamps: C&9 - Festive Phrases, Tiny Trees Turnabout

Inks: Gina K - Passionate Pink, Soft Stone, Stormy Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: C&9 - Festive Phrases, Snowfall Card Front

Accessories: White Card; Glossy Black Card; Zig Clean Colour Brushes; Clear Shimmer Spray

I used the Snowfall die to cut a pattern into a piece of white card, I trimmed the piece to 4" x 5¼". I lightly sponged bright pink ink onto the snowflakes, edged the panel with a pink marker and adhered the panel to an A2 note card. On a piece of scrap watercolour card, I scribbled three pink Zig brushes, spritzed with water and allowed the inks to blend. I used the 'Holly Jolly' die for the focal image as it has a large shadow layer along with the words. I cut the shadow from the pink watercolour card and the words from glossy black card. I spritzed the front of the card with clear shimmer spray and then added the sentiment. Inside the card, I cut a piece of white card onto which I stamped a sentiment and added a cute Christmas tree.

This card is very quick and easy to make, and I think it might be one that I'll  mass produce. I'll change up the colours and the focal sentiment, but this will easily make ten of my required Christmas stash.

I'm submitting this card to Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#554 which is where I got the colour theme. I'm also playing along with Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge - HLSWC#10 where it's Anything Goes.

That's all for now. See you again soon.

SHC - Simply Celebrate Fall

... Good morning. I'm beginning to get back into my normal routine. I'm here with my Seven Hills Craft blog post. I don't normally do cute, but I do like Lawn Fawn's Simply Celebrate range of stamps, and I treated myself to the new Simply Celebrate Fall, matching dies and the Simply Fall Sentiments recently. I challenged myself to use these sets as the main stamps for my cards. I started by stamping all the images from Celebrate Fall, colouring them with Copics and cutting them out with the matching dies. So here's my first card:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate Fall, Simply Fall Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Sweet Mango, Passionate Pink, Wild Lilac, Blue Denim, In the Navy, Black Onyx; Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Simply Celebrate Fall; Gina K - Master Layout 2

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Glorious Grape; Wow - Superfine White Embossing Powder; Finetec - Pearlescent Colours; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Addicted to Stamps and More! - ATSM#439 where the challenge is Any Occasion.

I used purple card from my stash to make a side-opening US A2 notecard. I cut a piece of white card onto which I blended several inks to create a night sky and tapped on pearl shimmer paint to make stars. I used a stitch edged die to cut out the panel and layered it onto a white mat layer. I stamped a simple Halloween greeting at the bottom of the panel and adhered a row of cute ghosts across the panel. Inside the card I cut a piece of white card onto which I stamp a fun sentiment along with a couple more cute ghosts.

My next card is much cleaner and simpler:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate Fall, Simply Fall Sentiments

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Simply Celebrate Fall

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Mango Melody; Copic Markers

I die cut four rows of acorns in orange card, stacked them together and finished with the coloured row on top. I stamped a bold greeting in black ink towards the top of the card and glued the acorns above. I stamped another row of acorns, coloured them with Copics and fussy cut them out. I stamped several of the acorns tumbling down the front of the card. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of orange card and on the white panel I stamped a matching sentiment and added a few more acorns.

Next up is an autumn/thanks card:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate Fall, Scripty Autumn Sentiments, Thanks Thanks Thanks

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Simply Celebrate Fall

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Gumball Green; MFT Design Paper - Cheerful Plaid; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Midas Aqua Shimmer Brush

This time I decided to cover the front of the note card with some green plaid design paper. I stacked the coloured autumn leaves onto four more white leaf diecuts and glued it to the card. I finished the front with a simple, bold greeting. Inside the card, I cut a piece of white card to which I added a strip of the plaid paper. I created the greeting from a couple of other stamp sets and added a single autumn leaf.

Next up is another Halloween card:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate Fall, Costume Party

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Simply Celebrate Fall; Gina K - Master Layout 2

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Mango Melody; MFT Design Paper - Rainbow Plaid; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Midas Aqua Shimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#70 where the theme is always Anything Goes.

I made the note card from orange card to match the candy corn image. I covered the front with a piece of rainbow plaid. I used a smaller stitch edge die to cut a piece of white card which I layered onto a black mat layer. I stamped a fun greeting in black and used dimensional pads to adhere the row of candy corn. I added a touch of sparkle with a gold tinted aqua shimmer brush. Inside the card, I cut a piece of white card and added a piece of the rainbow plaid paper to the edge. I finished the inside with a simple greeting and tiny candy corn.

Next is another Halloween card:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate Fall, Costume Party; Simply Fall Sentiments

Inks: Gina K - Sweet Mango, Passionate Pink, Wild Lilac, Blue Denim, In the Navy; Versamark; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Simply Celebrate Fall; Gina K - Master Layout 1; LF - Costume Party

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Glorious Grape; Wow - Superfine White Embossing Powder; Finetec - Pearlescent Colours; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#42 - all new stuff!!

I blended several inks to create the background - I made it more of a sunset background this time. I used pearlescent paints to add the 'stars'. I die cut the panel and layered it onto a white mat layer. I stamped the Halloween greeting at the top of the card. I stamped the cut kids and extra bits on white card, coloured them with Copics and cut them out with the matching dies. I adhered the kids and bits to the card, added the row of stacked pumpkins and finished the front with a touch of sparkle to the pumpkins. Inside the card, I cut a piece of white card onto which I stamped a sentiment and added a few candy decorations.

My final card is quite clean and simple:

Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Simply Celebrate Fall, Simply Fall Sentiments; Concord & 9th - Apple Orchard Turnabout

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Simply Celebrate Fall; C&9 - Apple Orchard

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Gumball Green; Copic Markers; C&9 - Enamel Seeds; Nuvo - Midas Aqua Shimmer Brush

I decided to get out my Apple Orchard stamps and die for this card. I die cut a large apple from orange card, lightly added red ink to the edge of the apple. I added the die cut stalk, leaf and apple, stamped a bold greeting and finished with enamel seeds. I added the row of colour apples to the bottom of the note card. I added gold tinted sparkle to these apples. Inside the card, I cut a piece of white card onto which I stamped a message. I also added a number of cute apples onto which I'd stamped faces. 

Wow, that turned out to be a very long post. Thanks so much for sticking with me to the end. I had so much fun making these cards. The Halloween ones are for Kat, her friend Rachel, and Ben. The rest are for my stash - although I think I know where they'll end up!!

The weather around here has turned very autumnal - so much so that I've had to get out my winter sweaters!! Take care, keep safe and warm. See you again soon.

SHC - Autumn Thanks

.... Hello! It's been a long while since I posted on my blog. Here's my post for Seven Hill Craft blog. I'm here today with a large thank you card - with an autumnal feel. 

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Apple Orchard Turnabout Stamp Set

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Dusty Rose, Key Lim, Wild Lilac, Sweet Mango, Lucky Clover, Blue Lagoon, Powder Blue, Honey Mustard, Red Hot, Fresh Asparagus, Blue Denim, Passionate Pink, Peach Bellini, Christmas Pine, Lovely Lavender; Versafine - Onyx Black

Dies: C&9 - Apple Orchard Dies

Accessories: White & Black Card; Vellum; Clear Embossing Powder; Concord & 9th - Autumn Hues Stencil Set

I think you know that I'm a big fan of Concord & 9th products. I used the Autumn Hues stencil set as the main feature on this card. The stencil pack has two stencils - which both work in the same way as the turnabout stamps - one creates a full background and the other a wreath image. What is lots of fun is how you can use lots of different coloured inks to create the main image - and that's exactly what I did! The main panel is 6" square, layered onto a 6½" black mat layer and then added to the front of an 8" square white card. I stamped the greeting in black ink onto vellum, heat set it with clear embossing powder and used the apple die to cut it out. I adhered it directly to the card front. You can just about see the vellum apple in the image above!! Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I used the wreath stencil and added a greeting inside.

I had so much fun making this card. Actually it's good to get back to making cards and doing my mixed media art work too. 

I'm submitting this card to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#42 - first time using any of these products. And also to Happy Little Stampers Stencil Challenge - HLSSC#09 where it's anything goes.

That's the end of the post about my card.

I completed my chemotherapy at the beginning of August. This was followed by radiotherapy for 5 days (so glad it was only 5 days) which ended at the beginning of September. I've been feeling so, so tired for the past few months, and it's only in the last few days that I've really started to feel more like myself. I still have days when I just want to stay in bed and sleep, but mostly it's all good now. Before I go, I want to remind you all to make sure you check your breasts regularly. Take care of yourselves.