Skull and Cross Buns April/May Release - Crafty Harlequin Diamonds and Easter Icons

Hi guys

I'm back this evening to share another couple of makes using products from the Skull and Cross Buns April/May release.

I think you're going to love the new set called Crafting Is My Super Power.  There are some great crafting item images as well as some crafty sentiments, including this fab one I've used on my card.  I've also used the Harlequin Diamond Pattern Stencil which is part of a five stencil bundle...

I used the shifted stencilling technique on a white cardstock panel, first inking in Cracked Pistachio before shifting very slightly and then inking with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink, both of which were faded out towards the centre.  I then stamped and fussy cut the stencil and ink pad images and popped these up on 3D foam alongside the sentiment.  The panel was then adhered flat to the card base.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Set of 5 April/May 2019 Large Stencils (Harlequin Diamond)
• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Crafting Is My Super Power
• Ink: Distress Ink - Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Coloured with ProMarkers

For my next card I've combined two more of the new stamp sets, Spring Motifs and Spring Sentiments...

Although this card looks fairly simple, it did take some time to stamp and emboss the words onto the kraft card as most of these are separate stamps so there was lots of lining up and stamping in stages to ensure the ink was still sticky enough to accept the embossing powder.  Once the panel was complete I sliced away the central diagonal section and adhered the two corners to the card base.  I then stamped five of the images directly on the card base and coloured these very simply with ProMarkers.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Spring Sentiments, Spring Motifs
• Ink: VersaMark; Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White
• Coloured with ProMarkers

Challenge entries:

Always Fun Challenges - Challenge #103 - Use Kraft

Uniko - Challenge #52 - Spring optional twist Easter

Here's a reminder of the full Skull and Cross Buns April/May Release, all now available on the website, here...

As always, thanks so much for visiting.

Guest Designer for Honey Doo Crafts - Selection One

Hi there

I'm excited to share the news that I'm once again joining Honey Doo Crafts as a Guest Designer for their latest release.

There are ten new stamp sets, all lovely floral designs that Amanda and the team do so well, and all so perfect for Spring.

The new sets will be showcased on TV shopping channel, Hochanda on 3 April 2019 at 12pm and 4pm BST so please do tune in if you can (Sky 673 / Freeview 85).

Honey Doo are also doing a Facebook Live on 1 April 2019 at 7pm BST which you can find here where they will be showing the new stamp sets in full detail.


Ok, onto my first few samples.

This first card uses a lovely new set and I think it's my favourite from this release, called Repot Rose!...

Here, I masked off my card base and used the emboss resist technique where I stamped and heat embossed the image in white and blended with Distress Oxides.  I then die cut the top panel and created a circular aperture, stamped the sentiment from the same set and popped the panel up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Repot Rose!
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Oxide - Picked Raspberry, Shaded Lilac; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White
• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; Hero Arts - Infinity Circle Dies

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #334 - CAS

AAA Cards - CAS Game #136 - One Image + Spring

Next up is the Repot Rose! set again, but it looks completely different in a sepia design...

I used a cream base and panel here, stamped the image in Distress Ink and watercoloured, drawing in the stamped ink and adding more watercolour details with the same ink.  I stamped the sentiment from the same set in a co-ordinating ink and then added gold watercolour to the flower centres and some gold splatters.  Then panel was popped up on fun foam.  The gold detail can be seen more clearly here...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Repot Rose!
• Ink: Distress Ink - Gathered Twigs; Altenew - Espresso
• Paint: Gansai Tambi Watercolours

The following card uses a new set called Summer Blossom, and the sentiment from the Repot Rose! set...

On a panel of lavender cardstock I initially stamped the image in a pale grey ink, before adding some highlights with coloured pencils.  It's easier to add the detail before embossing the image and if using a stamp positioner such as a MISTI this allows you to restamp in exactly the same spot.  I then restamped and heat embossed in white.  The sentiment was stamped in a co-ordinating ink, the panel adhered flat to the card base and some jewels added to finish.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Summer Blossom, Repot Rose!
• Ink: VersaMark; Altenew - Hydrangea
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White
• Coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Grape Mix Jewels

My final card in this first selection uses a gorgeous new set called What's Up Buttercup?...

I used the same process as the last card for this image, stamping in a yellow ink first, colouring with ProMarkers and adding detail with coloured pencils.  I then restamped and heat embossed in white.  Some polka dot paper was added to the card base, and the panel die cut with a curved edge and adhered flat.  The sentiment from the same set was stamped in green onto a die cut oval and popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - What's Up Buttercup?
• Ink: VersaMark; Altenew - Hunters Green
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White
• Coloured with ProMarkers and Faber Castell Polychromos
• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Basic Edges; Lil Inkers - Classic Ovals
• Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn - Let's Polka

Challenge entry:

Allsorts - Challenge #513 - Use Yellow

Here's a snapshot of all the new sets...

Thanks so much for stopping by, I'll be sharing my samples using the rest of these new sets ahead of the TV shows on Hochanda on 3 April, so would love for you to pop back and take a look.

Enjoy your weekend :)

Skull and Cross Buns April/May Release! - Spring Scene

Hi guys

Popping, or should I say, hopping by today to share the first of my makes using the fab new April/May product release by Skull and Cross Buns.

The release includes:

• 3 new clear stamp sets
• 4 new stamp set bundle
• Happy Stamping Card Making Kit - loads of Spring themed goodies
• Bundle of 5 stencils

You can find all the new products by following this link, here.  These are also feature on the Skull and Cross Buns Facebook page, here.  I've included a collage of the new products at the base of this post.

For my first card I've made a Spring scene for an Easter card combining three products form the new release...

I ink blended the background with Distress Ink and a cloud stencil and a little green along the base.  The rest is just stamping and colouring of all the little individual elements.  And for a little bling I added some sparkle to the bee's wings...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Spring Motifs, Spring Sentiments, Spring Friends (available in the stamp bundle or kit)
• Stencil: MFT - Cloud
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Mowed Lawn
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Accent: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear

Skull and Cross Buns April/May Release:

Challenge entries:

Uniko - Challenge #52 - Spring: optional twist Easter

Inkspirational - Challenge #183 - Cloud

I'll be sharing lots more over the next few days so I'd love for you to pop back if you have time.

Less is More Challenge #392

Good morning

I'm back this morning to introduce the next challenge over at Less is More.  As there are three Saturdays in March we have a Lucky Dip challenge this time.  Here is the cue card...

eg. sunlight, moonlight, starlight, electric light, or anything else that springs to mind.

Once again, our wonderful sponsor for this challenge is Visible Image. 

We also have a member of the Visible Image Design Team, Veerle Morels, joining us as a Guest Designer for this challenge, so please do pop over to her blog and say hi.


For my card I used a stunning stamp set from Visible Image called Into The Woods, together with a couple more stamps from my stash...

I first die cut a circle die from a post-in note to use as a mask for the sun before blending the gradient background with four different shades of Distress Ink to create the sunset.  I then stamped the background layer of trees with grey ink and the trees in the foreground in black.  The birds were also stamped in black before trimming down the panel and matting onto some black cardstock.  This was then adhered to the card base the sentiment stamped below in black.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Visible Image - Into The Woods; Inkylicious - Simply Trees (birds); MFT - Grand Peaceful Wild Flowers (sentiment)
• Ink: Distress Ink - Faded Jeans, Seedless Preserves, Spun Sugar, Squeezed Lemonade; Memento - London Fog; Versfine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #334 - Clean and Simple

Thanks so much for visiting.  For more inspiration please do pop over to the main Less is More challenge page where my fellow teamies are sharing some great makes, and there could be more on their personal blogs too.

I have a lot to share over the next few days so would love for you to pop back and take a look.  Have a great weekend.

Hidden Sentiment Splats

Hi guys

Apologies for the silence here for almost two weeks.  I've been creating lots behind the scenes but haven't been able to share those yet, but they'll be up on here very soon.

On top of that I was unwell for a while, after finally fighting off my cold I then had chronic sinusitis so for about ten days I felt like I'd been kicked in the face.  But it's finally subsided and I'm feeling much better now.  I kind of lost almost the whole of March!

So, until I can share my DT makes, in the meantime I thought I'd pop in to share a card I made last week for my godson's 13th birthday, it only seems like a couple of years since I was at his Christening and now he's a teenager!  Where does the time go?

I really struggle with masculine cards and even more so when they are for teenagers, so I went with bright colours and splats!  Who knows why?! :D

On a panel of white cardstock the same size as the card base I blended ink through a splats stencil with Distress Inks.  I then die cut the happy birthday from the panel, being sure to save all the little in-betweeny bits.  I then die cut it twice more from some black cardstock.  I added adhesive all over the card base and adhered the panel.  I then adhered one of the black die cuts into the negative space, filling in the spaces with the bits saved from the first cut.  The second black die cut and the original layer were then stacked and adhered on top.  You can see the dimension in the next photo...

To finish I die cut two balloons from black cardstock, and also stamped and die cut the numbers.  These were adhered together and affixed to the card, and I hand drew the balloon strings.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Imagination Crafts - Splats
• Ink: Distress Ink - Blueprint Sketch, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Dies: Paper Smooches - Happy Birthday Words; Clearly Besotted - Got Your Number
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Got Your Number

Thanks so much for stopping by, I'll try not to leave it so long next time!

Less is More Challenge #391

Hi there

It's a brand new Saturday and a brand new challenge at Less is More.  We've whizzed around to the next type of challenge which this time is a Recipe challenge.  Here's what we want to see...

e.g. 3 images / 3 words / 3 colours, etc.

Visible Image continues as our fabulous sponsor for this month so why not play along to be in with a chance of winning the monthly prize!

We have a wonderful Guest Designer joining us for this challenge, the super talented Joanne James of The Crafty Owl who was our January winner!  I'm sure she would love for you to pop over to her blog and say hi.

Apologies for only having one card for you this week.  I've been fighting a horrible cough and cold over the last couple of weeks so haven't been feeling too great.  But I wanted to use a stencil by our sponsor for a card so here's what I came up with...

I die cut three sizes of a rectangle from a scrap of cardstock and used these as masks to blend ink through the apertures, one by one.  I began by adding a light blend of blue ink thought the largest aperture, then laid the stencil over the top of the opening and blended with a heavier hand to create the darker shade of blue.  I repeated the same process with the two smaller rectangles and two further colours of ink.  I stamped the candle on the top of the cake, and the sentiment below, both in black ink, before popping the panel up on fun foam on an embossed card base.

So here we have three colours, three tiers and a sentiment with three words :)

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Mermaid Lagoon, Festive Berries, Twisted Citron; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stencil: Visible Image - Collision
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Tiny Type; Penny Black - Salutations (candle)

Thanks so much for visiting.  Please do pop over to the main challenge blog to see what my fellow teamies are sharing, there's a lovely mix of designs for you this week.  And don't forget, the linky will be open for the next fortnight so there's plenty of time for you to play along.

Happy Little Stampers March 2019 CAS Challenge

Hi guys

It's time for the new CAS challenge for this month over at Happy Little Stampers.  I'll get straight to it with the cue card...

Lots of scope with this theme, just remember to keep your entries clean and simple.

I chose to use one of my new stamp sets for my DT card, I think a baby's arrival is certainly a special day!  Here it is...

I stamped the word baby and heat embossed it in white.  I then used emboss resist and blended it with two shades of Distress Oxide ink.  I love lemon and mint green for baby cards.  The image was then die cut using the co-ordinating word die and I popped this up onto a stitched rectangle cut from some cardstock which is embossed with stripes.  The sentiment from the same set was stamped below in black.

Materials used:

• Clearly Besotted - On The Shelf (and co-ordinating die)
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Oxide - Squeezed Lemonade, Cracked Pistachio; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles

Challenge entry:

CAS(E) this Sketch - Challenge #311

Don't forget, all the HLS challenges run until the end of the month so lots of time to play along and link up.  

Thanks so much for visiting.

Less is More Challenge #390

Good morning

It's time for a fresh new month and a fresh new challenge over at Less is More.  We're kicking things off today with a Theme challenge for the next fortnight, and here's what we want to see...

So, star sign symbols, constellations, or any link you can think of

and don't forget to keep your entries CAS

And for this month we have a brand new sponsor, Visible Image!  Jane, one of the DT at Visible Image is joining us as a Guestie for this challenge so please do pop by and say hi.

Ok, onto my samples, and I have three for you this time!


First up, I've used the Cancer symbol, the crab...

I stamped the crab and coloured him with ProMarkers before fussy cutting him out.  I then took a panel of white cardstock and added two strips of ripped washi tape to represent the sand and sea/sky.  I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle die, stamped the sentiment and then popped the panel up on fun foam.  The little guy was then popped up on 3D foam squares.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Your Next Stamp - Flippin' Fabulous
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Washi tape from stash

Next up is the card I shared over on the main LIM challenge post.  If you're confused about how this relates to horoscopes, I used the symbol for Gemini as my cue...twins!

Directly on the card base I added some clouds using a cloud stencil and blended Distress Ink.  I then stamped the stork and bundles, coloured with ProMarkers and die cut them with their co-ordinating dies.  I popped these up on 3D foam for some dimension.  The sentiment was from the same stamp set.

Materials used:

• Stencil: MFT Die-namics - Cloud
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Special Delivery (and co-ordinating dies), Hot Stuff (sentiment)
• Ink: Memento -Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass
• Coloured with ProMarkers

Last up, it's Leo the Lion...

I've had this Katzelkraft stamp set for ages and not inked it up so just had to use this lion :)

I began by stamping the hat, then masked it before stamping the lion.  On the original stamp he has a bird on his head.  I sketchily coloured him with ProMarkers.  I added the party streamers to team in with the party hat, then stamped the sentiment before popping the panel up on fun foam.  I used cardstock embossed with stripes for the card base to add interest to the border.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Katzelkraft - Les Jungles; Lawn Fawn - So Much to Say (hat); Altenew - Party Time (streamers); Avery Elle - Party Animal (sentiment)
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Altenew - Evergreen, Forest Glades, Crimson, Rouge, Persian Blue, Caribbean Sky
• Coloured with ProMarkers

Challenge entry:

Just Us Girls - Challenge #477 - Birthday

I think there's lots of scope for this challenge so can't wait to see where it takes you creatively.  And don't forget to drop by my teamies' personal blogs as there may be some extra makes they're sharing with you.

Have a great Saturday, I'll be back this evening with details of this month's CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers.