Lessons From a Gift

Welcome

I was visiting a friend when she showed me some design paper that she said she would not use, and offered it to me.  It was her birthday a few days later, so I couldn't resist making her a card from the paper!

I cut the paper so it sat on the white card base at an angle

I cut the oval and embossed it in white on red card with the stamp that was in the set (by Couture Creations  in the Rambling Rose Series), then die cut two more (black) layers to stack it on.

I used my Vertical Happy Birthday stamp for the sentiment, stamping it completely in the centre of the side, and then once above and below... it was a wood mounted stamp, and I got a bit close, so visually separated the words with rhinestones.

The patterned paper has some glitter on it, and I think was what had made my friend think she would not use it.  To tie the elements together I added some rhinestones to the feature panel corners.

After having a laugh with me over the fact I used that particular paper on her card, my girlfriend went away with an appreciation of how to use the balance of the paper she still had!

I am linking this to: 

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #81 - Anything Goes

Digi Chooseday Challenge Week #48 - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes

The Crafty Addicts Challenge #54 - Anything Goes, Twist, Make it Girly

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

The House That Stamps Built Challenge - n2818 - Anything Goes

Creative moments Challenge #157 - Anything Goes - Twist, World Hello Day - add a Sentiment

Crafty Creations Challenge 3379 - Anything Goes

Time out Challenge #123 - Black, White and one other colour

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Weeks #362-363 - Anything Goes

Silver and Blue Magi

Welcome

This was a one off card I made last year, and then the computer swallowed it and I did not 'find' it again until too late for Christmas.... 

The stamp was embossed in silver on blue - it is one of my originals by Kiwistamping, and incidentally, one of my favourite Christmas colourways

The blue panel was mounted over an angled layer of silver glitter card which was mounted over a card base of embossed pearlised card. 

I am linking this to:

Always Fun Challenge #86 - Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations November Challenge - Get Ready For Christmas

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #94 - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams November Challenge - Anything Goes

Angie's Digital Stamps Challenge #26 - Anything Goes - Twist, Christmas

Pammie's Inky Pinky's Challnege #1847 - Anything Goes

Cute N Crafty Challenge #14 - Anything Goes

Crafting From the Hearts Challenge #230 - Anything Goes

Scrappy Mo's Rudolph Days November Challenge - Anything Chirstmas

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Weeks #362-363 - Anything Goes

Rainbows and Stars

Welcome

I am not sure where this image came from - I think I may have stamped it whilst I was visiting Lovely Linda last year - If I recall correctly it is a Tim Holtz image, but then again...
EDIT : Linda has just let me know the image is from Sparkle n Sprinkle

!!

I fussy cut the focal image, and die cut the sentiment with S/B label 14, and lightly sponged with ink before removing the die.

The background paper had a bokeh look to it, and I added some silver shimmer spray across the top of it before assembling the elements.

The focal panel was layered over some pale green before layering it onto a base of deep forest green. 

This was a simple card to make, but I was very pleased with the outcome.

I am linking this to:

A Gem of a Challenge #232 - Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge #495 - Inspired by a Song

(Singin' In The Rain)

Dis Digi Challenge - Include a Sentiment

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Whatever the Weather

Polka Doodles Challenge Week #47 - Anything Goes

QKR Stampede Challenge #323 - Anything Goes

Jo's Stamp Shack Fun Day Fridays  Challenge #261 - Anything Goes

Little Miss Muffet Challenge #202 - Anything Goes

Southern Girls Challenge - Inks and Sprays

Word Art Wednesday challenge Weeks #362 - 363 - Anything Goes

Mercy and Butterflies

Welcome

This week's scripture for my Word Art Wednesday card is from Psalm 103:17.  It's a wonderful promise that if we fear (reverence, hold in awe) the Lord, He will remember us, and our, children with favour.

I started this with some paper left over from another project, this is the flip side of it, and it set the whole 'tone' of the card. 

The silhouette die  came in a magazine a year or more ago, but I had not used it as it is too wide for the narrow side of a card, and too short for the long side. I cut it from a snippet of the same deep forest green card as the base then fiddled around and cut another short length, and trimmed it so it fitted onto one end of the full  length  cut - I was very happy with how it worked out.  The join is in the photo above, but it is pretty seamless, if I say so myself. 

After printing and die cutting the verse, I ran the edge of the card over a Peeled Paint DI pad, but I messed one corner of the bottom edge.... I tried my ink rubber without much joy, and then dampened it with a cotton bud (Q tip) and blotted at it... it did remove quite a bit of ink, but I was still not happy.

No 'garden' is really complete without a butterfly, so I cut a M/B Pippi die in gold glitter card, but it got a bit lost on the background, so I then cut a plain butterfly out of green vellum and placed it underneath, which muted the paper and let the butterfly shine.

As I put those dies away I saw another M/B die that is a line of tiny butterflies that are individually cut, (Now disc'd) so I cut some using a snippet of the same vellum, and put a line of dancing butterflies across the bottom of the verse panel, which hid the 'oops' without detracting from the verse itself.

The trimming from the die cut edge I used to decorate the inside of the card

I am linking this to:

Digi Chooseday Challenge, Week 47 - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #81 - Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door Challenge- Anything Goes

Artistic Inspirations Challenge #209 - Anything Goes

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #229 - Anything Goes

Cute 'n' Crafty Challenge #14 - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge #1846 - Anything Goes

Path of Positivity Challenge #62 - Shades of Green

The Paper Nest Dolls November Challenge - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams November Challenge - Anyting Goes

Mixed media and bright colours!

Welcome

This card was made for a swap in a small New Zealand group I am in - and the criteria was to use a lattice and some old supplies or technique.

I started by mixing some Gloss Gel medium with some blue acrylic  paint, then using a die as a stencil, (Art Deco lace by Couture Creations, which appears to have been discontinued) I created the focal point of the background.  To finish I splattered it with some of the paint diluted with water.

 

This gives a close up of the texture and gloss achieved.

The rose is an Altnew Die set that I have had for months and not used...  The layers were cut from snippets for both the rose and the leaves

This sentiment stamp is over a decade old, and has not seen much use - on the wooden block it is difficult to stamp straight, so I removed it and placed it in the MISTI - bliss - straight, two layers of ink and it was done!

I also ran the edges of the banner and the feature panel on the matching ink pads, which gives a defined edge, but much more subtle than sponging - something I did when I first started cardmaking. 

And my little helper had to photo bomb and start playing with the camera strap, just as I finished, thankfully!

I am linking this to:

A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge #80 - Anything Goes

Classic Design Team November Challenge - Open

Jo's Stamp Shack Funday Friday Challenge #260 - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers Challenge #154 - Anything Goes

Crafting With Friends Challenge #75 - Anything Goes

Crafts Galore Encore November Challenge #57 - Anything Goes

A Perfect Time To Craft November Challenge - Anything Goes

A Inky Mess Challenge #25 - Anything Goes Mixed Media

Pixies Crafty Workshop Challenge #339 - Anything Goes using snippets

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Weeks #360-361 - Anything Goes

Lindy's Background and Flowers

Welcome

Some time ago I took a class using Lindy's powders - I have shown one card, and this is another assembled from the class materials.

So much for thinking life was slowing down a bit... looks as though I may be MIA again on line over the next week as I have some  outside commitments as well as trying to catch up on the gardens again... 

The background was made by shaking powders onto the watercolour paper and spraying them

The flowers and leaves, (by Dark Room Door) were coloured by painting with some powders that had been liquefied with water, as one would use standard water colour paints, drying between applications

The sentiment was stamped onto a snippet of black card stock and white embossed 

You can just see the sparkle in this above photo - it is really pretty IRL when the light catches it.

The flowers were mounted on foam tape to give some dimension, and a few clear rhinestones finished the card front, which was mounted onto a black base.

I am linking this to:

Crafting With an Attitude Challenge #45 - Anything Goes

Little Miss Muffet Challenge #202 - Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge #378 - Anything Goes

Creative Moments Challenge #156 - Anything Goes

The Crafty Addicts Challenge #54 - Anything Goes, Opt Make it Girly

Digi Chooseday Challenge Week 46 - Anything Goes

Ike's World Challenge #114 - Anything Goes/Colour Inspiration

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #80 - Anything Goes

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Weeks #360-361 - Anything Goes

Three Cute Critters

Welcome

I hope I have finished all my gallivanting around - last week I was away for a conference, and now I  have developed a spring cold... life is never dull!

This card was made for a youngster who lives on a farm, and these creatures will be familiar to him!

The card started with a previously made die cut (from an unidentified die)  I stamped the frog and Sheep ( both discontinued) and the Pukeko (known as a Swamp Hen in Australia)  .

The sentiment (an original) was gold embossed on the card base and painted with Viva Ink Gold - Inka Gold to add depth.

  

The creatures were coloured with my Prisma Color pencils

And mounted in the small windows of the die cut

The background paper was some I had in my stash.

I kept the card simple, as what young boy wants bling??

I am linking this to:

Colour Crazy Challenge Week #45 - Anything Goes

Crafters Castle Challenge #11 - Anything Goes

A Gem of a Challenge #231 - Anything Goes

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #93 - Anything Goes

International Art And Soul Challenge #46 - Wild Animals

(the frog and Pukeko are wild)

Dragonfly Dreams November Challenge - Anything Goes

The Paper Nest Dolls November Challenge - Anything Goes

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge #1845 - Anything Goes

Crafting From the Heart Challenge #228 - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Weeks #360-361 - Anything Goes

Stencilled Autumnal Tones

Welcome

I would like to give a shout out to one of my long time followers who follows on bloglovin' rather than blogger, and that is Fran of  Scallops and Swirls. Thank you for your loyalty Fran!!

This weeks Word Art Wednesday's scripture has a thanksgiving theme, and as it is Autumn/Fall in America, I used autumnal colours for my card

I made the background by stippling various inks through the STAMPlorations  Leaf Print stencil, and also around the scripture, which was cut using a Sizzex Stitched Oval die

The addition of bling and some ribbon accented the scripture 

Here you can see a close up of the stippling - I find I get better results stippling with a stiff brush with stencils, rather than sponging. 

I am linking this to:

Make My Monday Challenge #83 - Stencil Stories

Digi Chooseday Challenge Week #45 - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #80 - Anything Goes

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Dream Valley Challenge #190- Use Dies or Punches

Cute n Crafty Challenge #13 - Thankful / Thanksgiving

Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenge #1844 - Anything Goes

Hiding In My Craft Room Challenge #377 - Autumnal/Fall Colours

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Make Your Own Background

STAMPlorations Never Ending Challenge - Anything Goes

Centre Step Floral

 Welcome,

And a very special welcome to my newest follower Megan Flynn.  Megan, if you have a blog, can you let me know in the comments, so I can put a link here 😊

My apologies that I have not been visiting often - after the end of this week I will hopefully be less busy and have the time to catch up.

This card was part of a swap in a small New Zealand group I belong to, where the challenge last month was to make a spring/floral centre step card.

I was running late, so I was able to copy the folds from the card I received, but I did wing it as far as the dimensions went!

The flower stamp was from Happy Little Stampers, embossed in gold, painted with pink, then covered with Wink of Stella was stamped on a snippet of white card stock and then die cut with a M/B stitched circle die. I painted the background after the flower and was pleased with the result.

The sentiment (a magazine freebie) was gold embossed on a snippet, which was cut to a double banner .  All edges were sponged with Aged Mahogany DI, as was the flower on the sentiment banner.  The lace was another snippet from my stash. 

I am linking this to:

A Gem of a Challenge #230 - Anything Goes

Allsorts Challenge #492 - Pretty Papers

Pixies Snippets Playground Challenge #338 - Anything Goes using Snippets

Penny Black and Allsorts November Challenge - Make Someone Smile

Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge #93 - Anything Goes

Dragonfly Dreams November Challenge - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers Challenge #154 - Anything Goes

Crafty Catz Challenge - Anything Goes -Twist - Must Have a Sentiment

Colour Crazy Craft Challenge Week #44 - Anything Goes with colouring

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Weeks #358-359 - Anything Goes

Almost Stamp-free....

Welcome

Before I went away I had several cards on a 'must get done' list, and this was one of them.

It was for a young woman, and I hit a block... started rifling through my NUBS mountain and came across a packet of stickers, and this was the outcome.

I adhered the stickers to some cream card, but had no brown card that matched for the base, so out came some white card stock and the Vintage Photo DI , unfortunately, although the cube is new it was very dry, and it took some effort to get a reasonable depth of colour on boarder of the card

I also stamped the greeting in the ink, and that took four tries to get a good impression - thank goodness for the MISTI!!

Some of the stickers were quite puffy, as this shows.  

I also outlined the edge with a ruled and dashed gold line.

The inside was finished with gold spotted washi tape.

I am linking this to:

Crafty Catz Challenge #436 - Anything Goes - Twist - must have a sentiment

Creative Fingers Challenge #154 - Anything Goes

Jo's Stamp Shack Fun Day Friday Challenge #258 - Anything Goes

Polka Doodles Challenge Week #44 - Anything Goes

QKR Stampede Challenge #320 - Anything Goes

Crafting With An Attitude Challenge #45 - Anything Goes

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #554 - Anything Goes

Little Miss Muffet Challenge #201 - Anything Goes

Southern Girls Challenge - Stuck on You

Word Art Wednesday Challenge Weeks #358-359 - Anything Goes