Tuesday 28 October 2014

Neutral Christmas

Afternoon everyone.
Now, I don't want to start a panic, 
but do you know, it's only 57 days til Christmas!!

I need to step up my Christmas card production!
Here's another one for the pile...


This is for the Merry Monday challenge, where the theme is
Snowflakes, Neutral Colours and Dry Embossing

It was the dry embossing that had me stumped for a while - it's not something I have ever done.
After a quick google, I came across a way to emboss with a nestie.
I tried running it through my Big Shot, but couldn't get it to emboss without cutting,
so in the end, I die cut my circle and then, leaving it in the nestie, turned it over.
Then, I used an embossing tool to go around the inside edge.
You can just make out in the photos that it does create a nice, clear impression.


Supplies.
Nestie Circle Die  /  Stamps - WPlus9 Heartfelt Holidays  /  Snowflake - Marianne Die
Glitter Card - DCWV  /  Inks - Memento Toffee Crunch and Versa Color Bisque
Sequins  /  Twine


Friday 24 October 2014

Sunburst

I'm not gonna lie, 
it's taken me a few days to ponder this week's MUSE card.
But, I really loved Marion's striking design and wanted to give it a go.

Here's my attempt ...


 I don't have a sunburst die, so I had to cobble something together.
I started by drawing round a circle die, and then using a ruler to draw lines through the circle.
I then cut alternate pieces with a craft knife.
You can see from the picture below just how I did this.


 I then layered this 'sunburst' onto my coloured card, trimming off the edges.
No need to worry about how bad the centre looks, as this is coverd up by my 'sun'.


It was a bit tricky die cutting my sentiment through those layers, but I finally prised it out
with the help of my craft knife and filled it with a navy blue insert.

I finished off with an embossed sentiment and a few scattered sequins.

I'm so glad I persevered with this card, as I really like the effect.
(Big thanks to Marion for the inspiration and making me try something different)
 


Here's the  MUSE card, by Marion Vagg

 

xxx

 

Tuesday 21 October 2014

Totally Tropical


Hey there.   Hope you haven't been affected by the high winds today.
It's a bit gusty here, but the goldfinches are still managing to cling onto their bird feeder.
They do love their seed ;-)

Today I'm sharing a bright Christmas card with you.


I used a rectangle nestie to cut a piece of card for a mask, and added a strip
where my sentiment would go.
Then, I stamped my snowflake ornament in some tropical colours.
I removed the mask to stamp the sentiment.
Because the design is a little fussy, I chose a very plain sentiment,
but just stamping it once looked a little odd,
so it got the triple treatment ;-)

A few sequins were the finishing touch.
 

I'd like to enter my card for 3 challenges.

Winter Wonderland - Tropical Christmas
52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - A One Layer Card
Merry Monday -  Non-Traditional Colours

Supplies.
Stamp from the Crafty Impressions, Christmas Baubles Set.
Inks - Memento Dandelion / Tangelo   Versacolor Mint  Papermania Pink
Sentiment WPlus9 Heartfelt Holidays.   Sequins.

Wednesday 15 October 2014

A Very Big House In The Country


It's been a chilly 13 degrees in the kitchen recently, and I've taken to wearing my gloves!
Have  you ever tried using your phone with gloves on - it's impossible!!
Time to turn the heating on, I think.

Here's my card for today.


I stamped a little, forest landscape and added a big, red house.
 
I could just picture, being snowed in, in that red cabin -
with all the family there, a roaring log fire and lots of great food and drink.
Sounds like fun :-)

Normally, I would throw glitter at this little scene, but I wanted something a little more subtle.
so, I used a thin, glitter pen to add some moonlight sparkle
to the trees and landscape.
You can just about see it on the photo below, it's a little more sparkly IRL.
 

Challenges.
Merry Monday Christmas - Silent Night
Muse - Therese's Inspiration Card
 

Supplies.
WPlus9 Heartfelt Holidays - Stamps and Dies  Stampendous - Holiday Home Stamp Set
Memento Inks - Lady Bug/Grey Flannel/Black  DP - DDE Digitally Smitten.    Sequin/Gem
Sakura glitter pen

Monday 13 October 2014

Birthdays are good for you - the more you have, the longer you live!

Urghhh... It's Monday - time for those jobs I've been putting off all weekend.
First on the list is to get a roofer out to take a look at a leak,
before the living room ceiling, ends up being the living room floor!!!
 
You just know, when the roofer does that shake of the head,
and a sharp intake of breath, that this is going to be a costly exercise.

At least my craftroom is dry ;-)


 This is my card for the Cutting Edge Challenge
Taking Amy's card as inspiration, I have made a couple of negative die-cuts,
with a dp backing, and added  a postitive die-cut and stamped sentiment.






Supplies.
Clearly Besotted Stamps and Dies 'Make A Wish'
Memento Ink - Tangelo.   Papermania Ink - Green
DP - DCWV Nana's Nursery  Sequin/Gem

Friday 10 October 2014

Glitter Is My Prozac

I don't often make more than one card in the same design,
but Vicki's fabulous inspiration card, over at the MUSE challenge,
was such a dream to CASE.

Here's my take on it...  x2     ;-)


 I die-cut the snowflakes into my black card, then cut them again in glitter paper,
and popped these back into the space.

TIP: This glitter paper is so thin that it tends to either stick inside the die,
or stick to the plastic plate of my Big Shot. To stop this,I sandwich the glitter paper
inbetween some baking paper and then put the die on top. Works a treat!

The sentiment is stamped and then gold embossed.



IRL this is much more glittery than the picture shows,
and I really liked how it turned out, so I made another with red glitter paper.


 
Supplies.
Snowflake Dies - Marianne Dies
Glitter Paper - American Crafts.
Gold Embosinsg Powder.  Sentiment WPlus9 Heartfelt Holidays.

 


Thursday 9 October 2014

When Black Cats Prowl

Halloween here is a pretty sad affair.
We're lucky if we get half a dozen groups of trick or treaters at the door!
I miss the days when we would have a big, kids party, with ghosts
and witches screaming through the house   :-)
So, I only need a couple of cards - one for each of my daughters.
And this year, I went with the same design for both of them.

We are all animal crazy - 
Annabel has a couple of cats and Maria has a shared  'house' cat ,
so I thought this stamp would be perfect for them.

At the last minute, I die cut a circle into the orange card, to make a 'moon'
which helped to balance the card and add a little more interest.
 

Challenges.

The Card Concept - Colour Challenge Black/Orange/White  in the CAS style.
A Little Bit Crafty - Boo (Halloween)

Supplies.
Little Claire's Silhouette Cats.
Circle Nestie Die.   Sentiment Made On My Comp.

... and here's a little loook at the cats :-)

 Benga and Nero

Elvis

Happy Haunting   xxxx


Wednesday 8 October 2014

Make it Bright

When it comes embossing, I'm a liability.
I usually overdo it and end up burning the paper.
This is why I only have a few powders - white, clear, gold and hot pink!!
Hmmm.. hot pink! I never  thought I would use that - and then I saw the challenge at

NEON


 Someone is getting a bright card this year :-)

After stamping and embossing I needed a little image, or just something to add  interest,
and, after a rummage, I came across this little, chipboard bird.
I inked it up and covered it in hot pink embossing powder.
I had to retrieve the bird from under my crafting table a few times,
when the embossing gun blew it about, but I finally got it done and stuck down :-)
 
It's not easy to photo bright colours - IRL that pink is glowing :-)
 

Supplies.
Sentiment - Stampendous 'Holiday Home'
WPlus9 Heartfelt Holidays.
Versacolor Ink - Mint/Pink
Embossing Powder - Personal Impressions Hot Pink
Chipboard Bird.   Sequins.

Sunday 5 October 2014

Try Something New

Hey everyone!
Today I'm showing you a card that looked fantastic in my head - 
but I'm not sure it quite worked IRL.

I was thinking of techniques for the challenge over at
and, 'cos I'm terrible at all that inky stuff, I thought I would try something new.


I've saw a gorgeous 'hearts' card from LISA on Pinterest, and  it got me wondering
whether you could use stamps and dies in a similar way.

I drew round a circle nestie, in pencil, and then stamped my leaves and flowers.
Then I die cut the three large flowers and the sentiment banner.
I nearly gave up at this stage, cos it looked dreadful, as you can see below, but I persevered.



I stamped a sentiment banner and inserted it back into the space.
{This is a great technique, especially if you want your cards flatter for posting}

Then...    are you still with me?
I stamped the flowers that were one size smaller than the die, and placed them in the
space with a foam pad.

I also added the little, pink flowers ( I changed the colour from that dark red) and a pink house,
put a touch of darker Copic pen in the centre of the flowers and some glitter.

What do you think?
As a technique, it needs some work, doesn't it?
I'll definitely give it another go though.



Supplies.
Lawn Fawn Stamps and Dies - Penelope's Blossoms
WPlus9 Stamps and Dies - Heartfelt Holidays.   This is soooo my fav. stamp set right now.
Scroll down to see some other cards I've made, using it.
Memento Inks - Lady Bug/Bamboo Leaves/ New Sprout/Angel Pink.
Diamond Stickles.

Friday 3 October 2014

Do you want to build a snowman?

Hey there, thanks for stopping by.
Today I'm sharing another Christmas card with you.

This is for the Top Tip Tuesday challenge.
The theme is non traditional colours, and I went for this mint green and pink combo.


When it comes to buying stamps I can be a bit hit and miss.
Sets that I thought I would love, can end up rarely coming out of their packets.
Not so with these Wplus9 stamps and dies though. I love them!
They are so easy to use and it's fun making up designs with all the different images.
Definitely one of my better buys :-)

 

Stamps and Dies - Heartfelt Holidays, Wplus9
Versacolor Inks - Mint/Pink   Memento Ink - Baby Pink/ToffeeCrunch
Adhesive Pearls



Thursday 2 October 2014

Happiness is hot chocolate on a cold winter's day

Hello crafters, just a quick post from me tonight.
This is my card for the CASology challenge.
I am in full Christmas card mode, so when I saw the cue word was CHOCOLATE,
my first thought was a lovely mug of hot chocolate, with marshmallows.


This is another of those stamps that had been relegated to the 'will never use' box.
It had never even been opened, and was unmounted, so I had to stick it
to my acrylic block with ds tape!

He stamped up beautifully though, and I coloured him with Copics and
a touch of  glitter.

 

Stamp - Whiff of Joy coloured with Copics and stickles glitter.
Sentiment - WPlus9 Heartfelt Holidays