SHC - A Wreath for All Seasons ....

... Pinch, punch, the first of the month!! Can you believe it's already September, no, me neither! However, it does mean that it's time for my weekly Seven Hills Craft Blog post. I have four cards to share with you today. I've focused on the Harvest Wreath stamp set from Concord & 9th's new release. I'll start with a birthday card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Harvest Wreath Turnabout, Tiny Tagalongs; MFT - Itty Bitty Birthday

Inks: Gina K - Honey Mustard, Blue Denim, Grass Green, Cherry Red

Dies: C&9 - Harvest Wreath

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Cherry Cobbler; Copic Marker

I'm submitting this card to The Paper Players - PP#556 where they have a tic-tac-toe grid - I've picked the central horizontal line - birthday, die-cut, masculine.

I made the note card from dark red card. I used my MISTI to stamp the fuller wreath in blue, mustard, red and green inks - I used darker inks for a more seasonal look. I cut the panel slightly smaller than the note card, edged it with a blue marker and adhered it to the card. I used one of the co-ordinating dies to cut a stitched edge square in red card and stamped leaves in Versamark ink for a tone-on-tone look. I adhered the square to make a diamond shape. I finished the front by adding a simple birthday greeting in blue ink and cut out with a stitch edged die. Inside, I stamped one of the greeting from Harvest Wreath and added a tiny sentiment from Itty Bitty Birthday to complete the message. I also stamped some more of the leaves from the wreath image. This card is on it's way to my uncle - it's his birthday this weekend.

While I had this wreath image in the MISTI, I stamped another wreath in brighter colours:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Harvest Wreath Turnabout, Tiny Tagalongs

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Turquoise Sea, Blue Denim, Soft Stone; Versamark

Dies: C&9 - Harvest Wreath

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Smoky Slate, Night of Navy; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush; Glossy Accents

I'm submitting this card to Just Us Girls - JUGS#599 where it's a photo week. I've taken the colours from the inspiration photo.

I made the note card from soft grey card. I stamped the wreath leaves in Versamark ink around the edge of the grey note card for a tone-on-tone background pattern. I used blue, yellow, turquoise and grey ink to create this wreath. I added a simple sentiment in blue ink at the bottom of the panel.  I adhered the panel directly to the card base. I finished the front by adding a tiny heart which I die cut from navy card stock. I covered it with sparkle and added glossy accents. Love the way the heart looks! On the white panel inside the card, I simply stamped more of the leaves in yellow ink. I might add a greeting later, or leave it blank for my own message.

I changed the wreath image to the thinner wreath and made a Christmas card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Harvest Wreath Turnabout, All the Merrys, Holly Berry Turnabout

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Lucky Clover, Christmas Pine; Versamark

Dies: C&9 - Everyday Circles

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Poppy Parade; Lawn Fawn - Gold Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this to The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#100 where it's Anything Christmas Goes.

I used traditional Christmas colours for this card and the last impression was stamped with Versamark ink, I added gold embossing powder and heat set it. I didn't have gold card to match the gold embossing, so I made my own. I cut a piece of white card, rubbed Versamark ink around the edges and poured on gold embossing powder and heat set. I repeated this process three times to give a nice gold edge. I layered the stamped panel on the embossed piece and added both to the front of a 5¼" square note card. I used a stitch edge die to cut a circle panel, stamped a Christmas greeting, added some green leaves and then edged the circle with Versamark and used gold embossing powder to create a gold rim. I used dimensional pads to add the greeting to the front of the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of red card. On the white panel I created the greeting from the words in the Holly Berry turnabout stamp set.

For my final card I changed up the colours and created a Halloween card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Harvest Wreath Turnabout, Tiny Tagalong; Stamping Bella - Oddball Sparkle Fairy

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Tangerine Twist, Wild Lilac, Black Onyx; Versamark

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Tangelo Twist; Copic Markers; Nuvo - Clear Aqua Shimmer Brush; Clear Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Time Out Challenge - TOC#195 where they want us to use a Coloured Card Base. I could have used any of the cards, but I like this orange one!!

I used traditional Halloween colours for the wreath. I stamped the sparkle fairy on white card, removed her from the MISTI, coloured her with Copic markers, restamped with Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I then carefully fussy cut her out. I used a black marker to go over the white card edges. I added the Halloween sparkle in the centre of the wreath, stamped a simple greeting and adhered the fairy to the wreath. I added sparkle to the fairy's wings and the tiny skulls. On the white panel inside the card, I simply stamped the greeting and added more of the little skulls.

That's it. I could have made lots more cards with these wreath images - I have ideas for a wedding and sympathy cards, but I'll do those later. Thanks for staying to the end of the post. See you soon.

SHC - Sweater Weather!! ....

... Morning! I don't know what it's like around your area, but here in North Wales, it's been dull, grey, damp and feeling rather autumnal! So, for this week's Seven Hills Craft blog post, I've made a few, well several, autumn themed cards. Here's the first:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather Turnabout, Give Thanks, Lace Leaf, Just Wanted to Say

Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Gina K - Stormy Sky

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 1

Accessories: White Card; Gina K Card - Black Onyx; Copic Markers

I'm submitting this card to Darnell's Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#29 challenge. While I've had these stamps for quite a while, it's the first time the Lace Leaf and Sweater Weather stamps have been used.

I used my MISTI to stamp all the sweater weather panels. And, it's so easy to make multiple panels when you have the stamp set up in the MISTI.

For this card, I stamped all four turns with Copic friendly black ink. I used the stamping guide on the back of the pack to help me colour the images with Copic markers - I think I mostly did it!! I used a die to cut the coloured panel and layered it onto a black mat. I adhered this panel flat to my A2 (US size) notecard. I found this sentiment in another older stamp set and it's perfect for the theme. I stamped it on a white strip, cut that to size and adhered it to the front of the card. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel I used grey ink to stamp the word 'hi' and to add a narrow sentiment strip with all the wonderful autumn things. I finished the panel by adding the watercolour wash image in a third-generation stamp.

My next card is more clean and simple in style:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather Turnabout, Cozy Up; Altenew - School Days

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Wild Dandelion, Turquoise Sea; Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Versamark

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 2

Accessories: White Card; Gina K Card - Black Onyx; Gold Embossing Powder

I used the colours from last week's CAS Colours & Sketches challenge - CASC&S#433 - such bold, bright colours.

I used a stitch edged die to cut out a small section of the stamped panel and layered that onto a black mat. I adhered this to the top left-hand corner of the card. Now, these cards have come about because summer seems to have vanished around here. Looking through my stash I found this fabulous sentiment in an old Altenew set called School Days and it's perfect. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel, I kept things very simple with a fun knitted sock which I coloured to match the inks on the front of the card and used another of the sentiments from School Days.

Next is an autumn themed birthday card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather Turnabout, Tiny Tagalongs

Inks: Gina K - Sandy Beach, Kraft, Warm Cocoa, Dark Chocolate

Dies: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake, Early Espresso; Gold Glitter

I'm submitting this card to The Male Room - TMR#153 where the challenge is celebrating its 8th birthday.

I used kraft cardstock to make the note card and stamped the Sweater Weather turnabout in four shades of brown directly on the card front. I used the co-ordinating dies to create the greeting panel. I used the rectangle die to cut a kraft label onto which I applied double sided adhesive. I used dark brown card to cut the 'autumn wishes' words and adhered that to the kraft panel. I then poured gold glitter onto the panel and burnished the glitter in place. I used dimensional tape to adhere the finished panel. Inside the card, I cut a mat layer of dark brown card. On the white card, I stamped a birthday greeting and added some autumn foliage. This card is for my uncle - his birthday is next month.

Next is a fun, colourful autumn card:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather Turnabout, Cozy Up

Inks: Gina K - Blue Raspberry, Tangerine Twist, Plum Punch, Lucky Clover, Warm Glow; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather

Accessories: White Card; Gina K Card - Plum Punch, Blue Raspberry, Tangerine Twist, Lucky Clover; Cuttlebug EF - Swiss Dots

I am submitted this card to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#61 where it's Anything Goes.

I made the notecard from plum cardstock. I used darker, more autumnal colours for this card panel. Stupidly, I dropped the panel on the floor and rolled my chair over the card. This resulted in some deep creases. So to rescue the card, I used one of my embossing folders - first time for ages!! I adhered the panel directly to the front of the card. I created the greeting panel by using the Sweater Weather dies and four different coloured card. I used the in-lay die technique to add the letters. I used dimensional tape to add the finished panel. Inside the card, I cut a piece of white card slightly smaller than the notecard. I create a bold, colourful sentiment using stamps from another old set - Cozy Up!

My final card is very clean and simple:

Stamps: Concord & 9th - Sweater Weather Turnabout, Lace Leaf, Give Thanks

Inks: Gina K - Red Hot, Wild Dandelion, Turquoise Sea, Dark Chocolate; Versamark

Accessories: White Card; SU Card - Crumb Cake; Gold Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to AAA Cards - AAA#197 where they want us to use a one inch strip and that's it!

I used kraft cardstock to make the note card. I stamped a narrow sentiment strip on the card in dark brown ink - it lists all the wonderful things we like in autumn. I had some of the bright sweater weather panel left over, so I cut a strip one inch wide and used dimensional tape to adhere it above the stamped sentiment. On the white panel inside, I stamped a fun greeting in bright colours.

Well, that turned into a very long post. I really enjoy working with Concord & 9th's turnabout stamps - you can make so many different styles of card. I've made lots of autumn themed cards as it's Kat's favourite season. And, now that she's back in Nottingham sharing a flat with her friend Rachel, I'll be sending lots of cards her way. So it seemed a good idea to have some in my stash.

That's it for now and who knows, we might even have summer weather when this post goes live. See you next week.

SHC - Succulent Bouquet Four Ways .....

.... Morning! It's time for my weekly Seven Hills Craft Blog post. I've gone a bit mad and made four cards today, all featuring the wonderful Succulent Bouquet image from Hero Arts. First up is a birthday card:

Stamps: Altenew - Just a Number; Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet; MFT - Itty Bitty Birthday 

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Kaleidacolor - Spectrum

Dies: Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet

Accessories: White Card; MFT Design Paper - Rainbow Plaid

I'm submitting this card to Sunday Stamps Challenge - SSC#263 where they have some wonderful colours for us to use. I think I've used them all in this paper!

This is a really quick and easy card to make. I used a US A6 size card (4½" x 6¼") for the note card and covered most of the front with a sheet of rainbow plaid paper. I love the pattern and the ways the colours blend. As there's so much colour in the background, I kept the focal image very simple. I stamped it with bold black ink. I used the matching die to cut out the stamped image and two more blank white die cuts. I layered them together to give the flowers dimension and stability. I adhered them to the front of the card. I finished the front by stamping a birthday greeting - I used two stamps - the tiny message is from Itty Bitty Birthday and the bold birthday is from Just a Number. Inside the card, I used another of the pages of design paper for a mat layer. On the white panel I stamped the succulent image with a rainbow ink pad. I finished by stamping a birthday greeting - a quote from John Lennon which I think is just lovely.

Next is a wedding card:

Stamps: Altenew - Build a Flower Magnolia; Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet; MFT - Itty Bitty Birthday 

Inks: Versamark; Gina K - Soft Stone, Lovely Lavender

Dies: Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet

Accessories: White Card; SU! Design Paper - Whisper White; Zig Clean Colour Pens; Tim Holtz Watercolour Card; Silver Embossing Powder

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stampers Water Colour Challenge - HLSWC#08 where it's Anything Goes, and to The Flower Challenge - TFC#59 where they want us to use a die (and the option is a slimline card). 

It's another US A6 card - it's a good size to showcase the succulent bouquet image. I covered the card with some old Stampin' Up! whisper white design paper. I stamped the image on water colour card with Versamark ink and heat embossed with silver powder. I spritzed the image with water and then used my Zig water colour pens to add colour. I love the way the colours blend and move with water. Once dry, I used the matching die to cut out the image and one blank white die cut. I layered them together and adhered them at the bottom of the card. I finished the front by stamping a greeting in Versamark and embossing with silver powder. Inside, the card I used the design paper for the mat layer. On the white panel I stamped the succulent image off the edge with a lavender/pink ink, and added a message for the happy couple. This card is going into my stash.

I have another birthday card:

Stamps: Altenew - Just a Number; Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet; MFT - Itty Bitty Birthday 

Inks: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet

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

I'm submitting this card to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#08, and to The Male Room - TMR#153 where the challenge is Our 8th Birthday. The Male Room has a very special place in my heart as I used to run the challenge and I just love making masculine style cards.

This is a top folding US A2 note card. I cut three strips of black card of varying thickness and adhered them directly to the card front. I stamped the image on white card, coloured it with Copic markers, returned it to the MISTI and restamped with Versafine black ink and heat embossed with clear powder. I used the matching succulent die to cut out the image. I adhered the image flat to the card. I finished the front by adding a simple birthday greeting. Inside, I cut a mat layer of black card and on the white panel I added one of the greeting from Altenew's Just a Number stamp set. There are some great messages in the set. I also stamped the tiny snail from the Succulent Bouquet stamp set. This card has been sent to my nephew - it was his 40th birthday last Monday. And it just feels wrong that he's 40 already!!!

My final card today is a quick, clean, simple, one-layer card:

Stamps: Hero Arts - Succulent Bouquet

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne; Kaleidacolor - Spectrum

Accessories: White Card

I'm submitting this to Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge - HLSCAS#08 where they want us to go Off the Edge.

This is a US A2 card. I used my MISTI to stamp the image. I put the note card into the MISTI and positioned the image off the edge of the card. I used a multi-coloured ink pad to stamp the flowers in the opposite corners of the card. In the space I stamped a scripty 'hello' sentiment in black ink. Inside the card I kept it very simple. I stamped the flowers again, just off the edge, and added the tiny snail.

Wow! That turned out to be a very long post. Thanks so much for sticking with me to the end. I think you'll agree that this is a wonderfully versatile stamp. Actually, coloured with red and green, it would make a super Christmas card too :)

Bye for now - see you soon.