Hip Hop Birthday ....

.... Good afternoon! It's a really dismal day here in Northop Hall - dull, grey, wet but mild! So I've been playing in my craft room. A friend recently asked me to make a birthday card for him, so I came up with some ideas and made the one he liked. But I had a few idea left over, so I made one of them today. Here's a birthday card for my stash:

Stamps: Visible Image - Hip Hop Girls, Tomorrow Doesn't Exist, Random Art of Kindness, Rays of Light; MFT - Bitty Birthday Wishes

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Sweet Mango, Bubblegum Pink, Key Lime, Powder Blue; Versafine - Onyx Black

Accessories: White Card; Visible Image Stencil - Cosmic Skies; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Seize the Birthday - STB#208 - I going for the Anything Goes option, to Just Us Girls - JUGS#572 where they want to see rainbow colours, and to Happy Little Stampers Stencil Challenge - HLSSC#02 Anything Goes.

This is a one layer card. I started by stamping the hip hop dancer in black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I covered the image with a mask and then stamped the numbers to act as a ground for her and added the rays of light behind her. Again they were stamped in Versafine black ink and heat embossed. Next I stamped the birthday greeting and embossed that. I finished the front by adding rainbow colours through a stencil. It has a very grungy feel. I've left the inside blank for my own message.

That's all for today. I'm going back to messing about with paints and inks. I've been doing an online class with Dyan Reaveley - Distinctly Dylusions 12 - where we've been using her wonderful hexagon stamps and stencils. I've lots of pages prepared to colour. I'll share some in the next few weeks. See you soon.

SHC - Trigonometry .....

.... Morning all! I'm here with my weekly Seven Hills Craft blog post. I've been doing a bit of reorganisation and tidying in my craft room and that means I've been going through my big, vast, stamp stash. Last week I came across Trigonometry from Altenew. This is a super set with nine large triangles - lots of patterns and a solid, as well as a few smaller triangles. I've not used this set before, despite having had it for a while, so I decided to play. I made three cards. Here's the first:

Stamps: Altenew - Trigonometry, Striped Circle

Inks: Gina K - Innocent Pink, Dusty Rose, Bubblegum Pink, Passionate Pink, Stormy Sky, Jet Black (Amalgam); Versamark

Dies: MFT - A2 Stitched Rectangles Set 2 #9

Accessories: White Card; Silver Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to The Paper Players - PP#528 where I got the colours, and to Never-Before-Used-Sctuff - NBUS#23.

I used my MISTI to stamp the different triangle images. I wanted to make sure they were straight and lined up properly. I used a mixture of pink inks, along with black and a few silver embossed triangles. Once I was happy with the stamped panel, I used a stitch edged die to cut it out and adhered it to the front of an A2 card. I finished the front by adding the birthday sentiment from the stamp set. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the card. I picked two of the patterned triangles, stamped them in the middle of the card and then added a greeting. The words come from a new Altenew stamp set - Striped Circle - they are perfect for a birthday card!

While my first card is very much a feminine birthday card, I think the triangles are perfect for a masculine card, so here it is:

Stamps: Altenew - Trigonometry, New Me

Inks: Gina K - Key Lim, Jelly Bean Green, Turquoise Sea, Blue Lagoon, Jet Black (Amalgam)

Accessories: White Card

I'm submitting this card to Cardz 4 Guyz - C4G#264 where they want to see a clean and simple card.

This card measures 4½" x 6¼". I started with the solid triangle at the bottom of the card and moved up the card diagonally towards the opposite corner. I finished with a striped triangle pointing down the card. I added a few of the smaller triangles and stamped the greeting at the bottom of the card. On the inside, I cut a piece of white card onto which I stamped the dotty triangles to form a diamond shape. I used a sentiment from Altenew's New Me stamp set. Most of the sentiments in this set are aimed at scrapbooking and journals, but they work on cards too.

My final card is another feminine birthday card. This time I stamped the images freehand. They are so easy to line up.

Stamps: Altenew - Trigonometry, Floral Sprig

Inks: Gina K - Innocent Pink, Passionate Pink, Warm Cocoa, Dark Chocolate

Accessories: Cream Card

I'm submitting this card to Cardz 4 Galz - C4Glz#140 where they have the colours brown and pink.

I started by stamping the triangle with the holes in pale pink. I started at the bottom left corner and stamped half the image. I then added the multiple triangles stamp in light brown, and worked my way up the card to the top right corner. I inked up the dotty triangle with dark brown ink and filled in most of the pale pink triangles, and did one in bright pink. I finished the front by added a super funky birthday message from Floral Sprig. On the inside, I kept things really simple. I stamped the flowers from Floral Sprig and left the rest blank for my own message.

I had planned on making a Christmas card with the triangles too, but I'll save that for another day. Thanks so much for stopping by, see you again soon.

C24C - Cute Animals ....

...Good morning all! We're already half-way through February, time seems to be flying by. Your red, green and gold cards were absolutely lovely last time. This time at Christmas 24 Challenge - C24C#28 we have a theme that's always popular. We want to see CUTE ANIMALS on your Christmas cards. I have to admit that for me this was tough. In all my vast stash I only have three "cute" animals. I think this bear is adorable:

Stamps: Docrafts - Forever Friends G Stamp; MFT - Bitty Holiday Wishes

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

Accessories: White Card; Copic Markers; Clear Embossing Powder; Uniko Stencil - Let It Snow; Martha Stewart - Frosty Glitter

I'm submitting this card to CASology - CAS#383 where the cue word is Envelope - my little guy is clutching his Christmas envelope and is ready to hand it over.

I stamped the bear in black Versafine ink onto white card and heat embossed the image with clear powder. I used my Copics to colour him in and then I fussy cut him out. I sponged pale blue ink through a snowflake stencil to give a wintery background. I added a simple sentiment in black along the bottom of the card and the adhered the bear on the line. I finished the front by adding some sparkly glitter to the hat. On the inside, I kept things really simple. I stamped the bear image again in pale grey and added a greeting in darker grey.

I decided to make another card for the challenge - this one features a cat, more snarky than cute, but I think he's great:

Stamps: Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz Snarky Cat Christmas CMS416

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

Dies: Lawn Fawn - Stitched Hillside Borders

Accessories: White Card; Clear Embossing Powder; Copic Markers; Glitter

I'm submitting this card to CAS Christmas Card Challenge - CASXMAS#02 where they want us to use a Dog and/or Cat, and to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - 52CCT06-21 where they have the colour pink, blue and purple.

I stamped the cat onto white card, embossed the image with clear powder and coloured him with Copic makers. I then fussy cut him out. I used a stitched edge die to cut the hillside border, stamped a sentiment on the left corner and adhered it to the card. I added the cat and some glitter. Perfectly clean and simple and just a bit snarky! On the inside, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the card. I stamped another of the cats and the matching sentiment in grey, added a touch of colour to the image, edged the panel with a blue marker and adhered it inside.

So, I had fun with our challenge of 'Cute Animals' and I'm looking forward to seeing your creations. Don't forget to visit our blog, Christmas 24 Challenge, to see lots more inspiration cards from the rest of the team.

That's all for now - see you again soon.

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.

SHC - Thank You Mr Postman! ...

... Hi! I'm here this morning with my post for Seven Hills Craft blog. I've gone for a postal theme this week. I've made several projects. Here's the first:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Postmarked Turnabout, All the Hellos, Type Talk

Inks: Memento - Lady Bug, Tangelo, Dandelion, Bahama Blue; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Concord & 9th - Snail Mail

Accessories: White & Black Card

I'm submitting this card to Cardz 4 Galz - C4Glz#139 where they want us to be inspired by Beatles songs. My card is based on All My Loving where the lyrics include the line "then while I'm away, I'll write home everyday and I'll send all my loving to you", and also to their cover version of Please Mr Postman.

I used my MISTI to stamp the fun background in bold, bright colours. I cut the panel down to 5¼" square and layered it onto a 5½" black square and glued the lot to the front of a white square card. I used a rectangle "postage stamp" die from Sanil mail to make the focal image. I cut a piece in black card and in white card. I stamped the word 'Hello' using colours to match the front panel, overlaid it with a scripty 'hello' and then layered it onto the black diecut piece. On the inside of the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I stamped a tiny message in the top left corner, and added some decoration at the bottom. Most of the panel is blank for my message. I also decorated the envelope to match the card.

While I had the turnabout stamp in the MISTI, I stamped another panel. This time I used colours from Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#511 where the colours are maroon, teal and gold. The layout is based on last week's sketch from The Paper Players - PP#525.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Postmarked Turnabout, Type Talk, Tiny Tagalong

Inks: Gina K - Blue Lagoon; Stampin' Up! - Merry Merlot; Hero Arts - Unicorn; Delicata - Golden Glitz

Dies: Concord & 9th - Snail Mail

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gold Mirri Card; Midas Aquashimmer Brush; Glossy Accents

I cut the panel to 4¼" x 5½" and adhered it to the front of an A2 (US size) card. I cut a piece of white card an inch smaller each side and adhered it to the card toward the top right. I used the little square "postage stamp" die to cut a gold stamp, and the heart die to cut a little black heart. I adhered the heart to the stamp, added some gold shimmer to the heart and added a layer of glossy accents and set it aside to dry. Meanwhile, I cut a strip of white card onto which I stamped a birthday greeting in white ink, cut an angle at the end of the strip and glued it to the card. I finished the front by gluing on the gold stamp. On the inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel added a bold birthday greeting, some little hearts in the same colour as the front of the card along with some gold diagonal stripes.

I had a strip of card leftover, so I made another card. I'm submitting this one to Addicted to CAS - ATCAS#190 where the theme is Pattern, but still clean and simple.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Postmarked Turnabout, Snail Mail

Inks: Gina K - Blue Lagoon, Turquoise Sea; Stampin' Up! - Merry Merlot; 

Dies: Concord & 9th - Snail Mail

Accessories: White & Black Card

I adhered the patterned strip to the bottom of an A2 card and added a thin black strip of card above it. Then I stamped a small snail trail above the black card. The snail is a three-step image - I stamped the outline in black, the body in light teal, and the shell in maroon. I used the co-ordinating die to cut him out and adhered him directly to the card. I finished the front by stamping the large "hi!" sentiment in bold black ink. The inside has been left blank for my message.

Finally, I made a little gift card using a large envelope die.

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Brighter Days

Inks: Memento - Lady Bug, Tangelo, Dandelion, Bahama Blue; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Concord & 9th - Mini Post Envelope

Accessories: White Card; Kaisercraft DP - Bombay Sunset

The cut cuts the envelope and also the liner - here this is a scrap from one of my many design paper pads. To make the card, I simply cut some white card to 3¾" x 2½", used a corner rounder and stamped a bold, bright message. The finished envelope is 4" x 2¾". It's a bit small to mail, but works for adding to gifts and also makes a super embellishment for larger cards.

Here are all the challenge graphics:

That's all from me today - thanks for sticking with me to the end. Keep safe. See you soon.