Celebrating Ellonie

Welcome

My friend recently became a devoted Nonna to Ellonie, so I decided to make a card for wee Ellonie's parents, to celebrate her safe arrival.

(Ellonie's name is pronounced I - Owe - Knee)

I started with the pink card and made a Z-fold and die cut in it.

I then stamped the image (from FLONZcraft, a New Zealand firm) on white card in Rich Cocoa ink and  then cut it with a  Labels 3 die and embossed it,  while still in the die I rubbed some chalk into the background. 

The wee image in the background, embossed in white is another image from the same set.

The sentiment is a Montarga one (also and NZ firm), and was also white embossed.

 Some white ribbon finished the card - a bow on the right to balance the plain line on the left of the card.

This view gives an idea of the way the card folds.  As you can see it was a lovely sunny morning this morning after a light frost - my favourite type of winter day.

I am linking this to:

 Vintage Stamping Challenge #20 - Ribbon and Bows

The House That Stamps Built Challenge #521 - Monochromatic

Word Art Wednesday Challenge#134 - Anything Goes

Sister Act Challenge #59 - Anything Goes

QKR Stampede Challenge #90 - Baby, Spring or Celebration

Docerela Stamps Challenge #62 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge #233 - Anything Goes

Craft For The Craic May Challenge - For the Baby

Chocolate Coffee Cards Challenge #66 - Embossing

Artbymiriam Challenge #7 - Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting - any comments you leave are deeply appreciated.

May your day be blessed

Thank You From Octavious

Welcome

I have a fun card to share today - one I made to say thank you to the neighbours for caring for our rather bossy cat, while we were away recently. They love him, and slavishly serve him, and I might say, he has them on!!

Yes his formal name is Octavius, but he is known as Occy.  

I started with the scrap of blue card that was on my desk, and stamped the cat image in the centre, and put paw prints going from corner to corner - I chose this layout as he sits in a spot close to the common fence line and watches both households to see who is moving, and where he is most likely to get attention... typical cat ;-).

I then sponged the edges of both cards with Faded Denim, and randomly stamped paw prints on the white background in the same ink.

The sentiment stamp is from and New Zealand firm, Montaga.

I popped two of the other stamps from the SU 'C Is For Cat' set on the left side of the inside of the card, and wrote the message on the other side.

I am linking this to:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #134 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Nutcrafters Challenge #69 - Animals or Insects

Inky Impressions Challenge #161 - Anything Goes

The House That Stamps Built DCC #521 - Monochromatic

Dazzling Diva Challenge #27 - Colour/Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #323 - Blues and Hues

Crafty Girls Challenges #19 - Anything Goes

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge # 196 - Crazy Egg /Anything goes

Thank you for visiting - any comments you may leave are deeply appreciated

May your day be blessed

Rapid Anniversary

Welcome

I suddenly realised I needed an anniversary card for a family member today - and that was in the early afternoon.  As it was this card came together in about 20 minutes.

My first thought was to use an image from Clearly Vintage, and I printed it off after sizing it to fit the card.  I distressed the edges and sponged with Faded Denim D.I.

I stamped and embossed the sentiment, and also distressed and sponged it after cutting it to a banner shape.  I then added a strip of pearls to the end of the banner,

to the top corner,

and randomly over the flowers - I think I am starting to 'get' the random thing, as this went quickly and was not too painful for this right-brained crafter!!

I am linking this to:
Creative Card Crew Challenge #62 - Shabby Chic / Vintage
Everyday Art Challenge #280 - Bling Bling
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #133 - Anything Goes

My Craft Creations Challenge - Anything Goes

Lawnscaping Challenge - Distressing

Paper Makeup Stamps Challenge #142 - Digi image/Flowers

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #20 - Anything Goes

Card mania Challenge #47 - CAS

Thank you for visiting - any comments you may bless me with are deeply appreciated

May your day be blessed

Bright Colours and Butterflies

Welcome.

It's been a few days since I was last here - we have been spending them with family - and sharing various bugs...  

When I made this card I went for strong colours on the background so the white frame and image would take centre stage and not get 'lost'.

I have bought some new dies and am working through using them before I put them away.  By doing that I can't just ignore them as they are 'in my face'! This photo frame die was one of them.

The Kiwi Stamping image of poppies was stamped using Rich Cocoa ink and coloured with chalks. The edge of the frame was sponged with gold ink, and the butterflies cut from the same card as the base. 

The 'photo' was mounted over some strong green patterned paper by Amy Tangerine, and then onto the bright yellow base - both layers were sponged with matching inks.  The ribbon and rhinestones were from my stash, and seemed to brighten up the whole card.

I am linking this to:

Dream Valley Challenge #82 - Things With Wings

Dragonfly Dreams Challenge #5 - How Does You Garden Grow

Come and Get it Challenge - Lots of Layers

Amusing Challenges - Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #208 - Things with Wings

One Stitch At A Time Challenge #214 - Anything Goes

Lacy Sunshine Challenge - Dies or Punches

Fairytale Stampers Challenge #39 - Flowers

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #93 - Anything Goes with Twist of Wings

Craft Your Passion Challenge #215 - Frame it

Thank you for visiting - any comments you may leave are deeply appreciated.

May your day be blessed.

Chalks, a Butterfly and Pearls

Welcome

I made this card for the birthday of an older woman, and was pleased with how it turned out, especially as I was trying a new technique, along with reviving an old one.

My inspiration was from the Craft Stamper magazine - again :-)

I started by stamping the white layer with versamark ink and the  Stampendous Bandana background stamp, then randomly colouring it by rubbing chalks over the ink, which picked up the colour and showed the detail

The centre panel was embossed, and on the debossed side chalks were again rubbed over it to colour, and accent the pattern.

I assembled the card using gold card to frame the layers.

The finishing details were a double layered butterfly and pearls.

 I will 'fess up here - the tutorial had the sentiment stamped directly on the debossed panel, but the panel was too detailed and the stamp too fine to really show up (in fact it looked terrible) so I stamped the sentiment on plain paper and cut it using a tag to hide the um, er, boo boo.

The final detail was the ribbon across the bottom of the card - this was because the stamped panel was too short for the A4 card size that we use here.

I am linking this to:

Scrapbook Stamp Society Challenge #41 - Anything Goes Option Spring

Timbro Scrap Mania Challenge #94 - Ribbons and Bows

My Craft Creations - Anything Goes

Love To Scrap Challenge #30 - Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs - Embossing and bling

Eureka Stamps Challenge #90 - Birthdays

Created With Love Challenge #82 - Lots of Layers

Craft- Dee BowZ Challenge - Anything Goes with a Bow

Cards In Envy - Things with Wings

Artistic inspirations Challenge #92 - Anything Goes Plus Use Punches/ Dies

Thank you for visiting - any comments you leave are deeply appreciated.

May your day be blessed.

Dimensional Poppy

Welcome - I am so glad you have visited.

I made this card having been inspired by a video tutorial by Jennifer McGuire.

After cutting the die, I also embossed the other half, and ran around the edge and the embossing with a gold pen.

The poppy is a Sweet 'n' Sassy stamp from the Precious Poppies set.

I stamped and embossed the image twice, once on the die cut (which was a labels three, turned 90 degrees) and once on a scrap, and then fussy cut it. 

 The top image was shaped, then both images were water coloured, then a layer of twinkling H2O paint was added for extra interest.  The centre of the top layer was also given added dimension with some gold micro beads.

The sentiment, my trusty birthday greeting from Montaga stamps (a N.Z, firm) was gold embossed on the back of the card, to the right of the Z-fold.

A few white pearls finished the card.

I am linking this to:

Crafting at the Weekend Challenge #1 - Anything Goes

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #29 - Clean and Simple

Kit and Clowder May Challenge - Flowers

The Technique Twist Challenge #23 - 3D Flowers

Simply Less is More Week #172 - Flowers

Thank you for visiting - any comments you may leave are deeply appreciated.

May your day be blessed.

Baby Blues

Welcome

I made a card last weekend ready to teach at card class, but I was singularly uninspired, and it took me for ever to make just a simple card ....

The patterned paper was embossed with a dotted swirl, and this was emphasised with some direct to paper inking.

The cradle was a diecut oval with a section cut out.  Some lace was added down the side of the hood of the cradle, and the edges sponged.

The cradle was then 'suspended' by ribbon

and a congratulations sign hung from the base of the crib.

Oh how plain, and I could not get past it ........

So then at class I showed how to use the negative die cut to form a mask, and sprayed it with a pale blue iridescent spray.

Still not happy with it, I today added some second generation stamping with a background stamp (again using the mask), then added another layer of spray.

This is the final product, which I am now happy with.

I am linking this to:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #132 - Anything Goes

Crafty Ribbons Challenge #89 - Anything Goes

Just For Fun Challenge Blog - Ribbon or Lace

Flat Friends Challenge #20 - Use Dies or Punches -

Die Cut Diva's May Challenge - Use at least one embellishment

Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper May Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore May Challenge - Anything Goes

Sarah Hurley 365 Challenge #92 - Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting - any comments you may leave are deeply appreciated.

May your day be blessed.

Colour Wash Flowers

Welcome

This card is a new card, but created on the base of an old one that I had smudged and generally messed up on!

The base had been washed with watercolours in an ombre effect.

I die cut the flowers out of the green layer, and stamped and embossed the sentiment.

I then ran the green card through an embossing folder with the branch on to give a wee bit more interest to the card, and also added the pearls.

The butterfly was one of the final details and really made the card 'come to life.'

A final peep at the card!

I am linking this to:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #132 - Anything goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Die Cuts

Rhedd and Rosie's Challenge #32 - Texture

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #177 - Anything Goes

Inky Impressions Challenge #159 - Flower Power

Hambo Hoedown - Flowers

Crafty Creations Challenge # 263 Recipe - use flowers and a diecut

Crafting For All Seasons Challenge #77 - Things with Wings

Thank you for visiting - any comment s you may leave are deeply appreciated

May your day be blessed.

Vintage Motorcar Fun

Welcome

I visited my friends at Kiwi Stamping the other day and came home with some new stamps, one of which is the car on this card.

I was inspired by an article in the Craft Stamper magazine that I bought recently, where a base to the image was made using torn scraps of paper.

 The words were computer generated, printed and cut apart after being sponged with tea dye ink, and then I doodled around them with a black ball point pen before being adhered to the card.

The stamp was stamped on another piece of white card, and then fussy cut, which gives a surprising focus to it.

Before I adhered the image onto the card base, I stamped it with a couple of background stamps in green and pale blue - this provided an interesting texture without distracting from the rest of the card, this was also a technique showcased in the magazine.

After rounding the corners of the white panel I mounted onto a green base, as this is one of the recipients favourite colours.

I am linking this to:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #131 -= Anything Goes

Simon Says Monday Challenge - M (for Motor car)

Craft Creations May Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafting from the Heart Challenge #18 - Anything Goes

Through the Purple Haze - Anything Goes /twist - For a Male

Scraps + Fun = Creaativity Challenge #202 - Vehicles

Scribble and Scrap Challenge #18 - Anything Goes

Scrappy Hands Challenge #12 - strips of paper

Dream Valley Challenge #81 - Anything Goes

Challenges 4 Everybody #41 - Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting - any comments you may leave are deeply appreciated

May your day be blessed

Planning Ahead

Welcome

I don't usually have a stock of Sympathy cards on hand, but decided to make one today - partially as a sample for a card class project, and partially simply to have one to hand should I need one in a hurry.

I started with a blue base, and embossed the sentiment directly onto it.

I then cut a strip of plain card and embossed it with a folder that came in the (English) Cardmaker magazine recently.  I did sponge some slightly darker ink over it to try and emphasise the embossing, but the contrast was lost once the ink dried.

The flower was cut in three layers - the first and last in patterned paper, and the middle one in white.  All layers were sponged with the same ink I used on the embossed panel.

One rather serendipitous detail was the butterfly on the patterned paper on the top half of the card - I had cut all the pieces of paper for the kits, and took this one as it was on the top.

When I was adding the rhinestones, I decided to make the most of this detail and outlined it with a blue glitter pen and added some bling to the body.

I am linking this to:

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #131 - Anything Goes

A Sprinkle of Imagination - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore Challenge - May - Anything Goes

Die Cut Diva's - May Challenge - Use at least one embellishment

Mema's Crafts May Challenge - Flowers

Crafting at the Weekend Challenge #1 - Anything Goes

Paula Holifields Challenge - Flower Power

Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenge #28 - Flowers

We Do Doobadoo Challenge #5 - Lots of layers

Crazy 4 Challenges #235 - Lets Play Bingo - bottom line

Thank you for visiting - Any comments you may leave are deeply appreciated

May your day be blessed

COF Blog Hop and Candy Give away

Welcome

I was asked to be a Guest Designer for the Carriers of Faith group on 

Splitcoast Stampers

Kelly is the hostess this month, and this is the brief we received

Scripture: "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—

those he redeemed from the hand of the foe..." ~ Psalm 107:2

This is one of my favourite times of year, celebrating this time of Christ's resurrection! On Easter morning when the tomb was empty, the gift to all of us was the assurance that we will live again and be given eternally glory. As Christians, of course, we come to know Christ and accept him as our Saviour and share the gospel with friends, family, those we fellowship with. Truly when God died on that cross for you, for me, for all of us, he paid the price for us to worship at his feet and redeem ourselves by accepting His Lordship of our lives. On this hop today, we all unite to share our creations with you as well as a letter on each stop of the way. Please remember the letter on your host's blog and at the end (Kelly) will ask you to write the word from all the letters in order! What's more fun, there is a prize for one lucky winner which will be given at random from all those leaving the Guess the Word comment!

 ♥ Blessings to each of you! ♥

Challenge: This month, create a card/project/scrapbook page/picture based on the scripture above and what the meaning you pull from that is. Tell us your story! What speaks to your heart? What gifts do you have that you give to others as part of a fellowship - do you read, pray, write, create, walk, sing? There are so many parts in each of us ~ what part of your story are you sharing with others? As an added bonus but not required!! Please use the colour GREEN {my VERY favourite colour!}somewhere on your card to represent newness, growth, the blossoming of nature around us and the blooming friendships we have!

 Here is the hop order:

MAY HOP ORDER:

Barb

Carol

Guest Designer - Maxine (you are here)

Shelly

Paula

Jeanette (MIA, her letter is M)

Zella

April

Kelly

For my card I chose a garden theme - the garden always speaks to me of redemption - once the dry, dark seed is planted, it is watered, and the the life within it springs forth as a new plant.  

I was once in a dry, dark state with my world crumbling around me - and God got hold of me, redeemed my life through faith in Jesus' death on the cross, (and that faith was a free gift from God too - how loving is that!!) 

then 'watered' me with his Holy Spirit and made me into a new person, 

now blessed to be a wife, mother and grandmother, and blessed too with gifts of being able to do many handicrafts, and to pray for folks, something I love to do.

I started with a digi image from a file I have named Glitter Babe's Art Shop - It was a freebie I picked up several years ago, and I could not find a link when I 'googled' it.

I cut the image and coloured it with chalks before removing the die, then mounted it over a dark green scalloped rectangle.

The image panel was mounted over a pale lemon panel embossed with the square lattice folder.

Next was a  gingham ribbon and a wee sentiment tag I made. I attached the tag with gold thread (from my embroidery days) and  a few sequins finished the card after mounting it on a green base.

The letter I have been given to share is

D

If you have arrived here from Carol's blog you are in the right track - from here you hop to  Shelly's blog.

If you want to join in the fun from the beginning, go back to Barb's blog.

Thank you for visiting - may your day be blessed