Pastel Floral Anniversary

Hi guys

Tonight I thought I'd share another of the Anniversary cards I made for my stash last weekend. 

I love how pretty this one turned out and it was fairly easy to create too.

I started by die cutting a heart aperture (sorry, it's that heart again!) from a panel of white cardstock.  Before I created the rest of the heart detail I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment in platinum.  I then die cut the Gardenia flower and placed it behind the aperture, adhering the edges to the reverse of the panel.  Behind this I secured some glittered patterned paper.  The panel was then popped up on fun foam onto the card base.

Materials used:

• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Heart Stax; Memory Box - Gorgeous Gardenia Outline
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Mr and Mrs
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Platinum
• Patterned Paper: By Decotime - unknown name

Challenge entries:

Just Add Ink - Challenge #397 - Just Add 'H' (heart, heat embossing)
Cards in Envy - Give It Some Heart
Inkspirational - Challenge #154 - Aperture
Happy Little Stampers - February Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies
Creative with Stamps - Challenge #23 - Heart
Aurora Wings - Challenge #64 - Bingo (Glitter / Die Cuts / Layers)






Thank you so much for stopping by :)

Jigsaw Heart

Hi there

Back again to share another card.  This is the Valentine's Day card I made for my boyfriend.

Here it is...

I started by die cutting some red cardstock with a jigsaw puzzle die.  I adhered this to a piece of scrap cardstock and then die cut with a stitched heart die.  I cut another heart from some black glitter cardstock using a larger die from the same stack.  I made triple score lines at the top and base of the card base and then adhered the hearts, the red one being adhered on some 3D foam.  The card was finished by stamping the sentiment in red. 

The photo below captures the glitter in the black cardstock better, and the score lines at the base.

Materials used:

• Dies: Dovecraft - Jigsaw Pieces; MFT Die-namics - Stitched Heart Stax
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Mr and Mrs
• Ink: Versa Color - Cardinal
• Cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

CASology - Week 287 - Together

AAA Cards - CAS Game #109 - Die Cuts Only (stamped sentiment allowed)

Time Out - Challenge #103 - Hobbies...Jigsaw puzzles! (not twisting with an OLC)

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #279 - CAS

My Time to Craft - Challenge #364 - Love is All We Need

Happy Little Stampers - February Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

STAMPlorations - February Challenge - Paint it Red

Cards in Envy - Love You So Much

That's all from me today, thanks so much for popping by :)

Hot Pink Anniversary

Hi guys

I was sorting through the cards in my stock box recently and realised the one genre of card I don't have any of is Anniversary.  So I made a few for my stash, and then my Auntie promptly bought two of them so I now need to make more!

Here's one of them, I'll share the others in future posts.

At the time, this was one of those cards I wished I hadn't started as it took a lot longer to create than I thought it would.  But I do think it has the wow factor, while still looking very simple.

I started with a panel of white cardstock slightly smaller than the card base and die cut a heart aperture in the centre.  I then laid it over the base and marked with a pencil where the aperture would be.  I then used a tile background die and cut this once from white and also from some glossy hot pink card I had in my stash.  I adhered a section of the white die cut onto the card base and then filled in the pattern using the waste from the hot pink die cut.  Although this die looks symmetrical, I can assure you it isn't!  Some of those little 'drop' shapes are different sizes, so after some choice language coming from the area of my craft desk, I did finally fill in the gaps!  Next time I'll try to keep the die cut and waste intact rather than just popping them out willy nilly :D

To finish I popped the panel up on 3D foam and then added a black sentiment strip with the sentiment heat embossed in white.

Materials used:

• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Heart Stax; Hobbycraft Intricut - Circle Tile Background
• Stamp: Altenew - Vintage Roses (sentiment)
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - CAS Game #109 - Die Cuts Only (stamped sentiment allowed)

Alphabet Challenge - X for Xtra Special Occasion

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #279 - CAS

My Time to Craft - Challenge #364 - Love is All You Need

Inkspirational - Challenge #154 - Aperture Card

Happy Little Stampers - February Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

Cards in Envy - Love You So Much

Thanks as always for your visit, I appreciate each and every one of you coming to my little space in Blogland x

Valentine Bunnies

Hi guys

This evening I'm sharing a Valentine's Day card I made for a friend to give to his wife.  The design was pretty much left to me.  As it was a special card I made it A5 in size, instead of A6 which is the size I use for the majority of my cards.

Here it is...

I started by stamping the kissing bunnies and colouring them with ProMarkers before cutting them out with a stitched heart die.  I cut out a second heart and embossed it with a hearts embossing folder.  On a panel of deep red cardstock I stamped 'to my wonderful' in VersaMark and embossed in silver.  I also embossed 'Happy Valentine's Day' in silver onto a strip of vellum which was wrapped around the panel and secured on the reverse.  I stamped and embossed 'Wife' in silver and die cut with its co-ordinating die.  I adhered the panel flat to the card base and popped up the die cut sentiment on 3D foam as well as the bunnies heart over the embossed heart.  The photo below picks up the embossed hearts a little better.

To finish, I added a touch of Wink of Stella to the bow, pink hearts and the bunnies' tails.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Kiss Me Quick, Happy Anniversary, Sugar & Spice (and co-ordinating die), Call Cupid
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Silver
• Embossing Folder: We R Memory Keepers - Next Level 'Dotted'
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Heart Stax
• Vellum and cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

My Time to Craft - Challenge #364 - Love is all we need

Happy Little Stampers - February Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

STAMPlorations - February Challenge - Paint it Red/Love

Creative Inspirations - February Challenge - Love is in the Air and/or Pink/Red colour scheme

Cards in Envy - Love you so Much

Artistic Inspirations - Challenge #193 - Anything Goes (Valentine)

Creative with Stamps - Challenge #23 - Hearts

Thanks so much for visiting :)

Less is More Challenge #365

Good morning, crafters!

At Less is More we're continuing with our 7th Birthday celebrations this month and I'm back to tell you about the challenge for the next two weeks.

Once again we have Chrissie, Jen, Esther and Sarah joining in the birthday fun so please do visit their blogs following the links over on the main challenge blog, I'm sure they would love for you to say hi.

We have a technique for this next challenge which is...

As always, our challenges are looking for CAS (clean and simple) projects so please ensure you check out the challenge guidelines over on the main post.

We are also offering up a few prizes this month and these details can also be found over at Less is More.

For this two week challenge our wonderful sponsor is Seven Hills Crafts and we also have the lovely Tara joining in as Guest Designer.

Ok, onto my cards, and I have two for you this week.  Here's the first...

I had my first go at partial embossing for this one.  I had a few failed attempts that hit the bin, as I couldn't get my Big Shot sandwich right, and although this one isn't perfect I don't think with this design it needs to be.  You can find a link to a video I found from a few years ago by Kristina Werner, here, where she uses DIY embossing diffusers to emboss just part of a panel.  That's what I did here using a stack of die cut circles, although not very circular is it!  The photo below is a little clearer...

I adhered the panel to the card base on fun foam and die cut the flower from some cardstock I'd blended with Distress Inks and added a sentiment embossed in white onto a black strip.

Materials used:

• Embossing Folder: Sizzix - Basket Weave
• Die: Wild Rose Studio - Dancing Poppies
• Ink: Distress Ink - Candied Apple, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet; VersaMark
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Message Me
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #279 - CAS

CAS on Friday - Challenge #126 - Dies
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Add a Die Cut

I knew which embossing folder I wanted to use for my second card as it creates a scene whilst also leaving an area of white space, and this also created another Christmas card for my 2018 box!

This embossing folder was free with a magazine a while ago.  I decided to pair it up with a Christmas stamp set I didn't get around to using last Christmas.  I embossed a panel of cardstock slightly smaller than the card base using the woodland folder and stamped the musical notes on it before adhering to the base on 3D foam.  I then stamped, coloured and die cut the birds before adhering them on the tree branches.  A white embossed sentiment on a red strip finished the card.

Materials used:

• Embossing Folder: Unknown brand - free with magazine
• Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Winter Sparrows (and co-ordinating dies)
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White

Challenge entries:

Happy Little Stampers - February Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes (not using optional twist)

Thanks so much for stopping by.  There is lots to see over at LIM, my teamies have created some beauties for you.  And don't forget you have two weeks to play along, so plenty of time to link up.

Muse Challenge #252 - Butterfly Meadow Shaker

Hi there

I'm your designer for this week's challenge over at Muse and I've gone for a pastel Spring card, and one I made for my best friend.

The idea at Muse is to use the designer's card as inspiration for your own creation.  It could be the theme, colours, layout, technique, etc.  Just see where it takes you, and I hope you can get some inspiration from mine this week.

Here it is...

I started with a panel of white cardstock and stamped the grasses in pastel greens and pinky nudes.  I then stamped the sentiment over these in black.  I die cut the butterfly and made a shaker window with acetate surrounded by 3D foam and filled with sparklies from two different shaker sets.  I trapped the sparklies inside and adhered the foam backed panel to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Simple Silhouettes, Make a Wish
• Ink: Versa Color - Sage, Cinnamon, Seashell, Laurel Leaf; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: Marianne Creatables - Tiny's Butterflies 2
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Phosphorescence, Itty Bitty Stars Clear Iridescent

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you find time to play along this week, and don't forget to visit your fellow participants along the way, and vote for your favourites at the end of the challenge.

Less is More is 7!

Good morning!

At Less is More this month we're celebrating...it's our 7th Birthday!  Over on the main challenge blog there's a bumper post telling you all about it, so for all the details please do pop over there.

In a nutshell, as it's our birthday month we are celebrating with two challenges, two sponsors, we have prizes and also have some familiar faces back with us to celebrate, as well as our sponsor Guest Designers so please do check it out and follow all the links to see more details of all their fabulous creations.

The first challenge for this month is a theme and here are the details...

Our sponsor for this first challenge of February is the awesome Uniko so don't forgot you have to play along for a chance to win the monthly prize.

I did have a bit of a panic when I saw this challenge as I have almost nothing to fit this theme in my stash but I luckily found a free stamp set with a magazine only last week which was perfect for the challenge...and then also DID find a few bits within my stash that could work too.  And amazingly, I've made six cards for you, I just couldn't stop!


Card One

I die cut a circle off the edge of a white cardstock panel and then ink blended the card base in the area to show through the aperture.  I placed the panel over the base and stamped the musical image through the aperture onto the blended area.  The sentiment was then stamped onto the panel which was adhered flat.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Candied Apple, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: Hero Arts - Infinity Circle Dies
• Stamps: Sheena Douglass - The Music and Dance Collection (free with magazine)

Challenge entries:

Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #204 - Get Inky/Messy



Card Two

This has got to be one of the quickest cards I've ever made!  I embossed the card base with a square die and then used another die from the same set to cut out the pierced square.  The sentiment and note were stamped and the small panel popped up on 3D foam.  The embossed card base can be seen more clearly below...

Materials used:

• Die: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Scrumptious Sentiments; Sheena Douglass - The Music and Dance Collection (free with magazine)
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Camelia

Challenge entries:

Freshly Make Sketches - Challenge #322





Card Three

A panel of white cardtock was blended at the top with blue ink and a cloud stencil.  Then the branch, bird, music notes and sentiment were simply stamped to create the scene.  The panel was popped up on fun foam.

Materials used:

• Stencil: MFT - Mini Cloud Edges
• Ink: Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass; Altenew - Espresso, Sand Dunes, Rocky Shore, Industrial Diamond; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - So Tweet, Love Blossoms; Lawn Fawn - Happy Wedding (notes)

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes



Card Four

This was super easy.  On a panel of white cardstock I masked a horizontal strip and blended the four colours of Distress Ink.  The images were simply stamped in black before mounting the panel on fun foam.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Blueprint Sketch, Wilted Violet; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Sheena Douglass - The Music and Dance Collection (free with magazine)

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #277 - Make Your Mark (ink blending/sponging)




Card Five

I stamped the music score image onto a panel and then the sentiment above.  The holly was stamped in green pigment ink and I added some enamel dots for the berries.  The panel was foam mounted.  Yay, another Christmas 2018 card in the bag!

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Background Builder; Christmas Sparkle (free with a magazine)
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Evergreen
• Accents: Doodlebug Sprinkles - Ladybug

Card Six

This is my least favourite of my six cards but I thought I'd share it with you anyway.  The music score, another stamp from the free set, was stamped on a panel of white cardstock which I then die cut with a landscape die.  I manipulated the sentiment to follow the curve before stamping it above.  I adhered some stripey paper to the card base and the panel flat over the top before colouring the flowers with Zig markers.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Sheena Douglass - The Music and Dance Collection (free with magazine); SP & Co - Just a Note
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Patterned Paper: Pebbles - Sunny Side
• Coloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

Thank you SO much if you made it to the end.  I hope you'll feel inspired to play along, and don't forget that our challenges now run for two weeks so there's more time for you to link up.

My teamies have some great projects being shared over at LIM and to see more, and from our guests, just follow each of their links.

Have a wonderful weekend.