Rainbow Birthday

.....  Good afternoon. It's been a lovely day here in Northop Hall - bright, sunny, clear and cold!! But no rain, yea! I've been playing in my craft room. For me, January, is a very busy month - I have 9 family birthdays. I've made a bright and fun card for my niece, Anne, who will be 40 years old on 11 January. I can share the card here as Anne doesn't look at my blog:

Stamps: The Greetery - Pinwheel Party, Sentiment Suite Birthday, Birthday Blooms

Inks: Gina K - Passionate Pink, Red Velvet, Tangerine Twist, Wild Dandelion, Lucky Clover, Turquoise Sea, Blue Raspberry, Wild Lilac; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: The Greetery - Pinwheel Party, Birthday Blooms

Accessories: White & Black Card; The Greetery Stencils - Pinwheel Party; Gina K - Flat Sequins; Rainbow Gems

I'm submitting this card to several challenges - AAA Birthday - AAAB#57 where the theme is to use a rainbow or rainbow colours, The Paper Players - PP#671 where the team want us to make a birthday card, and to AAA Cards - AAA#256 where we have a sketch to use.

I had considered making a card with a big '40' on the front, but decided instead to make a chain of pretty rainbow pinwheels. This is a large card measuring 5" x 7" and I've put it in landscape format so that I can get the whole rainbow of colours across the front of the card. It's been a while since I've used these fun pinwheels. I used the dies to cut out lots of white pinwheels in all sizes (I still have a quite a few left). I used the co-ordinating stencils to add colour and made each pinwheel two-tone. I started with pink/red, then red/orange, orange/yellow, yellow/green, green/teal, teal/blue, and blue/purple. I adhered four of the pinwheels flat to the card and used dimensional pads to add the other three. I added rainbow gems to the centre of four pinwheels and flat sequins to the other three. I stamped the word 'happy' directly on the card. I stamped the word 'birthday' on card and used the matching die to cut it, and two other out. I layered them together and added it to the card. I love the simplicity of this card and the bold, bright colours.

On the inside, I cut a mat layer of black card. On the white panel, I stamped a birthday greeting in black ink. I added three more pinwheels which I stencilled directly onto the card. The stencil kit comes with the masks, so it was easy to layer the two smaller pinwheels.

It's so nice to be making cards again. My mojo took a long trip away, and it's only recently that I've got it back. Thank you for stopping by and for your comments. I really do appreciate you taking the time.

See you soon.

New Year FIreworks

... Well, hello! No post yesterday - more of that below. So, it's a post today and I'm sharing my January calendar page:

Stamps: Waltzingmouse Stamps - USA 1776; Gina K - Party Time

Inks: Versafine Clair - Nocturne, Bluebelle, Green Oasis, Charming Pink, Summertime, Medieval Blue, Verdant

Accessories: A4 Wire Bound 2024 Calender Blank

I'm submitting this to Love to Craft Challenge Blog - LTCCB#78 where the theme is always, Anything Goes - you can make anything.

The calendar layout has changed a bit this year - the month and year used to be at the centre top, but is now just above the month. That actually works better - more space to fill. I guess these are not the fireworks you were expecting. I started by stamped the words, from Party Time, in bold black ink. Once done, I used my all time favourite fireworks stamps from Waltzingmouse Stamps (sadly now closed) designed by the brilliant Claire Brennan and stamped using Versafine Claire inks - so bold and bright. And that's it done for the month. I guess most people put photos in the space, but I enjoy making each month different.

The reason I didn't manage a post yesterday is that I was driving our son to Crewe railway station to get his train back to Hastings. Not a journey that Ben enjoys, but, when I heard from him about 2pm the journey was going well. Unfortunately, due to the effects of Storm Henk, the second part of Ben's journey to Hastings was totally ruined. There was a tree on the line from Tunbridge Wells to Hastings, so all the passengers had to change and get a train from Ashford to Hastings. Ben finally made it home by 9.30pm. I'm so proud of Ben - he has a fear of crowds, he has ADHD (so hates change), and he's overcoming agoraphobia - so Ben could have had a complete meltdown, but he made it. So, so proud of him. 

I'm heading back to Weight Watchers today - I need the accountability of the weekly weigh-in. So, that's all from me today. See you soon.

Happy New Year

.... Good morning all! I hope those of you who stayed up to enjoy the New Year celebrations had a wonderful time and are feeling okay now. I thought I'd start the year as I mean (hope) to continue, with a regular post in my blog. Today is simply to wish all my family and friends a Happy New Year.

Whatever you're doing today - be safe, be happy. See you soon.

Christmas Greetings

... I'm taking a break from the computer today as I'm going to be cooking a big meal!! So, I thought I'd like to wish all my crafting friends who celebrate Christmas a very Happy Christmas. 

This is a photo of our back garden, and, no, we haven't suddenly had snow in time for Christmas. This was taken in January when we did have a couple of days of snow. See you in 2024.

Peace, Love, Joy

... Good morning! It's the last day of my Christmas card reveal, and for Day 7 I have two sets of 8 cards each:

Stamps: Gina K - Holly Jolly Mini

Inks: Gina K - Powder blue, Passionate Pink, Key Lime, Jelly Bean Green, Fresh Asparagus, Christmas Pine, Lipstick Red, Red Hot, Cherry Red, Plum Punch, Sea Glass, Turquoise Sea, Blue Lagoon, Tranquil Teal, Stormy Sky, Applemint, Medium Lilac, Wild Dandelion, Tangerine Twist, In the Navy, Blue Denim; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Peace Love Joy Coverplate, Master Layout 2

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Polyglaze Sheets - Tiny Dots, Celebration, Flurries, Winter Snow; ToW - Black Toner Sheets; Gina K/ToW Deco Foils - Amethyst, Silver Sequins, Glimmering Gold, Sparkling Silver, Rainbow Shattered Glass, Glass Slipper, Gold Sequins

I'm submitting these cards to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#12, and to The Male Room - TMR#181 where the theme is Christmas.

Despite these cards being the last set I'm sharing with you, they were actually the first set made. I picked four Polyglaze designs and, taking two of each design, I foiled them in my Minc. I then used the left-over foils on eight black toner sheets - so I now had 16 panels. Next, I blended Gina K inks over the foiled panels - this was such fun, the inks blend so easily and smooth out beautifully. Once completely dry, I used the Peace, Love, Joy die to cut out the panels, along with eight plain white panels. I used colour card from my stash to make the A2 notecards. I layered the foiled panels onto a black mat layer, and adhered the white panels directly onto the coloured notecards. I then spent a couple of hours, carefully inlaying all the letters on the front of the cards. I love the simplicity and elegance of this design. Inside the cards is a plain white panel onto which I stamped a bold greeting in black ink and added some snowflakes.

And that's it - all 52 of this year's Christmas Cards shared with you. They were so easy to make - and so quick too. But next year, I'm going back to my usual method of making at least one card a week - that way I'll have lots of different designs. Thanks again for stopping by. See you soon.

More Graphic Christmas Trees

.... Morning!! Only a week to go before Christmas day - and time is simply flying by. Day 6 of my Christmas Card reveal. Today I have a set of three cards:

Stamps: Gina K - Graphic Tree, Holly Jolly Mini

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Tranquil Teal, Christmas Pine; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Graphic Tree, Master Layout 2

Accessories: White Card; Stampin' Up! Card - Lucky Limeade, Lost Lagoon, Tranquil Tide; Gina K Polyglaze Sheets - Tiny Dots, Winter Snow; Gina K/ThermoWeb Deco Foil - Glimmering Gold, Sparkling Silver, Silver Sequins; Frost Shimmer Spray

I'm submitting these cards to Time Out Challenge - TOC#253 - where the theme is sparkly, and to Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - HLSCC#12 (skipping the optional extra).

I used coloured card from my stash to make the A2 size notecards and spritzed them all with a frost shimmer spray. I used the left-over die cut pieces of foiled toner cards, layered them onto a white mat and added them to the front of each card. I used dimensional pads to add the Graphic Christmas trees and finished each card with a die cut sentiment. On the inside, I cut white panels to size and stamped a bold Christmas greeting in black and added a few snowflakes stamped in matching colours.

The photos above really don't show the shimmer and shine very well at all; they are so pretty in real-life. That's all for now. See you again soon.

Ornamental Trees

... Hello again! I'm on something of a roll and am enjoying sharing my Christmas Cards. So, Day 5 of my Christmas Cards reveal, and I have two sets of 4 - all based on the same theme:

Stamps: Gina K - Snow Much Love, Under the Mistletoe, Graphic Tree, On the Inside - Christmas

Inks: Gina K - Key Lime, Jelly Bean Green, Blue Raspberry, Ocean Mist, Blue Denim; Memento - Cottage Ivy; Versafine Clair - Blue Belle, Green Oasis, Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Ornamental Trees, Master Layout 2

Accessories: White Card; Blue & Green Mirri Card; Crystal Glitter

I'm submitting these cards to Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#12, to Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - HLSCC#12 (skipping the option), and to The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#153 - where it's always anything Christmas goes.

I used my MISTI to layout the snowflake stamps and then, using greens and blues, stamped directly onto white A2 notecards. I cut out eight different Ornamental trees in green and blue mirri card, put them through my Xyron machine to make them self-adhesive and put each tree on a die cut panel. I stamped a greeting and layered the panels onto green or blue mirri card mat layers. As there was some adhesive in the spaces on the trees, I added fine crystal glitter, burnished it in and dusted off the excess. For the inside, I cut white card inserts, stamped on a Christmas greeting in black along with some matching snowflakes.

Thank you for stopping by and your comments - always gratefully received. I have two more posts to come - and that'll be the end of my 52 Christmas cards this year!! See you soon.

Merry & Bright

     Good Morning!! It's Day 4 of this year's Christmas card run through. I have a set of ten cards for today - they are all one layer - simple and bright:

Stamps: Gina K - Festive Phrases, Blizzard, Holly Jolly Mini; GK/ToW - Penguin Pals

Inks: Gina K - Wild Dandelion, Peach Bellini, Light Carnation, Light Lilac, Applemint, Ocean Mist, Soft Stone, Lovely Lavender; Memento - Angel Pink, Summer Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Accessories: White Card

I'm submitting these cards to Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - HLSCC#12 where it's Anything Christmas goes (I've skipped the optional extra), and to Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#584 - Winter Wonderland.

Having a MISTI stamping platform makes it so easy to create multiple cards with the same layout. I set out the snowflakes stamps in the MISTI and then, using different colours, stamped the images directly onto A2 white notecards. Once finished I light inked the edges of the cards to soften the look. I finished each card with a bold Christmas greeting in black ink, again stamped directly onto the notecards. Inside I added a panel of white card onto which I stamp a bold Christmas greeting along with a few snowflakes - the colour matching the front of each card.

These cards were fun to make - sort of rainbow colours, with two sub-sets - warms and cools. That's all for today. See you soon.

Pastel Winter Wonderlands

..... Hello! Day 3 of my Christmas Card run through. Today, I've a set of four pastel Christmas cards - all like a winter wonderland:

Stamps: Gina K - Graphic Tree, Festive Phrases, On the Inside - Christmas

Inks: Gina K - Ocean Mist, Lovely Lavender, Bubblegum Pink, Blue Lagoon, Wild Lilac, Passionate Pink, Blue Denim; Memento - Summer Sky; Versafine Clair - Nocture

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 4, Graphic Tree

Accessories: White Card; GK/ThermoWeb - Stars & Snow Stencil; Sakura Pens

I'm submitting this set of cards to Cupcake Inspirations Challenge - CIC#584 where the theme is Winter Wonderland, and to Happy Little Stampers Stencil Challenge - HLSSC#12 - where it's Anything Goes.

I cut four pieces of white card and then stencil the starry/snowy background in soft pastel colours, and used a scalloped stitched rectangle to cut out the background pieces. I stamped the Christmas tree onto white card using the same inks and then cut them out with the matching die. I also cut out a number of extra trees. I layered the trees to give stability and dimension. I inked the edges of white A2 notecards with the same pastel shades to give the illusion of coloured notecards. I stamped the bold Christmas greeting in darker/brighter co-ordinating inks and adhered them to the matching notecards. I added the Christmas trees. To finish the trees, I added some sparkle and shine with Sakura pens. Inside the card, I added a sentiment panel.

I really like the Christmas tree stamp - it has endless possibilities - I think next year, I might add gems and/or buttons!! That's it for today. See you again tomorrow.

Stencilled Snowflakes

... Hello again!! Day 2 of this year's Christmas cards. I have two sets this time - both using the same products, but in greens and then blues:

Stamps: Gina K - Festive Phrases, On the Inside - Christmas; ThermoWeb - Penguin Pals

Inks: Gina K - Blue Raspberry, Blue Denim, Applemint, Lucky Clover; Memento - Summer Sky, Cottage Ivy; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout 2

Accessories: White Card; Gina K Stencil - Heartfelt Layering Snowflake; Blue & Green Mirri Card; Posca - White Pen

I'm submitting these cards to Happy Little Stampers Stencil Challenge - HLSSC#12 - where it's Anything Goes, and to The Holly & Ivy Christmas Challenge - H&ICC#153 - where it's Anything Christmas Goes.

I used a 4-for-1 stencil technique that I learnt from Jennifer McGuire to create the backgrounds. I used the layering Heartfelt Snowflake to  make the images. I used Master Layout 2 to cut the mat layers in blue and green mirri card, and to cut the stitched panels. I used a Posca white paint pen to add some white highlights on the image, and finished the panels by stamping bold Christmas greetings in black ink. Before adding the stamped panel to the mirri card mat layer, I used a smaller die to cut out a rectangle from the centre of each piece. On the inside, I added a white panel stamped with a Christmas verse and added some snowflakes.

That's all for today. Thank you for stopping by my little piece of blogland!! See you all again soon.

Graphic Christmas Trees

... Gosh, I've just realised how long it's been since I posted on my blog - largely because my mojo went AWOL!! Normally, by the end of November, I've made all the Christmas cards I need to send - around 100 - 120 cards in total. This year - nah! For some reason, this year has been hard. Then I had a brainwave on 1st December - I'll make Christmas cards said I!!! I think I'm mad.  But, not so much. I made 52 cards in a week and have posted them all out - so they should make it to the recipients on time.

Here's the first set of Christmas cards I made:

Stamps: Gina K - Graphic Tree, Holly Jolly Mini

Inks: Gina K - Blue Raspberry, Wild Lilac, Red Velvet; Versafine Clair - Nocturne

Dies: Gina K - Master Layout Sets 1 and 2, Graphic Tree

Accessories: White & Black Card; Gina K Poly Glaze Sheets - Winter Snow, Tiny Dots; Gina K/ThermoWeb Deco Foils - Glimmering Gold, Sparkling Silver, Silver Sequins

I'm submitting them to Happy Little Stamps Anything Goes with Dies - HLSAGD#12, Time Out Challenge - TOC#253 - where the theme is sparkly, and to Never-Before-Used-Schtuff - NBUS#57 - all this is new!

All 52 of the cards I made were very quick, largely because I used similar products on them all. I picked four different Polyglaze designs, foiled them using my Minc machine and then used the left-over foils on toner sheets. This set of cards uses three of the left-over sheets. I cut the panels using a die to fit the front of an A2 note card. Before adhering them to the card, I used a smaller die from MLO2 to cut out a piece from the centre of each panel - more of them later. I used dies to cut a black mat layer and white panel on which I stamped a simple greeting. I finished by adding a diecut Graphic Christmas tree to each panel - mounted with dimensional pads. Inside each card I added a panel with a bold greeting. I stamped the little snowflakes to match the colour of the tree on each card.

That's all for now. I'll share more cards during the week. So happy to be back making cards. Mind, I've not stopping crafting - only it's more mixed media in my Dylusions Dyalogs. See you all soon.