Easter at Skull and Cross Buns

Hi guys

Today I'm sharing a couple of cards using some stamps from the Easter range at Skull and Cross Buns.

At Skull and Cross Buns, as well as stocking clear stamp sets, inks, stencils and embellishments, Emily's main passion is for making wood mounted rubber stamps.  The stamps are amazing quality and the fact that they are manufactured in my home county of Devon, makes me a huge fan.  Personalised stamps are also available so please do take a look at the website.

Ok, onto my cards, which both use the 'bunny bum' stamp, as well as some others from the selection.  Here's the first...

I die cut a faux stitched square and heat embossed the round sentiment and image in the centre in white before ink blending over the top with Distress Oxides.  I then placed the panel in my MISTI and stamped the bunny four times, leaving the stamp in position and turning the panel 1/4 turn each time.  I then stamped the hot cross bun in between the bunnies in a light brown ink which I then coloured with Copics.  I popped the panel up on fun foam onto the card base and added some adhesive and white flitter to the bunny tails.

Materials used:

• Die: The Works - square stitched dies
• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Bunny Bum, Hot Cross Bun, Happy Easter Wreath
• Ink: Altenew - Frosty Pink; Memento - Desert Sand; VersaMark; Distress Oxide - Squeezed Lemonade, Cracked Pistachio
• Embossing Powder: Brutus Monroe - Alabaster White
• Copics: E50, E53
• White flitter from stash

Challenge entries:

Make My Monday - Challenge #145 - Easter or Spring Card

Uniko - Challenge #64 - Signs of Spring (Option: Easter)

And my second card...

On my card base I adhered some patterned papers, one in a very thin strip along the top edge of another.  On a die cut rectangular panel I then stamped the bunny, sentiment and the daffodil (using mini stamps from a clear set) and coloured the daffodil with Copics.  I then used an embossing pen on the bunny's tail and added some chunky white embossing enamel in two layers for dimension.

Materials used:

• Patterned paper: Dovecraft - Garden Party
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Bunny Bum, Happy Easter Quirky, Spring Motifs clear stamp set
• Ink: Altenew - Coral Berry, Forest Glades; Memento - Bamboo Leaves, Cantaloupe
• Copics: Y08, YG17
• Embossing Powder: Stampendous - Chunky White Deep Impression Embossing Enamel

Thanks for the visit today, I'll be back tomorrow evening to introduce the new Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge for April.

(AD - some products kindly gifted for design team purposes)

Muse Challenge #269 - Hello Friend

Hi there

The designers' baton is back with me which means it's my turn to create a card for you for this week's Muse challenge.

I've been itching to use a couple of dies I bought last month at the Sincerely Yours Papercraft Show so I've used them together on this card.  Hopefully there are some elements here you can take as inspiration to play along.  You can choose any element(s) as a starting point, e.g. colours, layout, technique, etc.

Here's my card...

I cut a piece of patterned paper with an ombre sky effect to a size just smaller than the card base.  I then die cut the floral border and adhered this to the paper along the bottom edge, trimming to the same size.  Next I die cut the words from some white glitter cardstock to add a little bling.  I decided to single out a couple of the teeny flowers along the base and coloured these yellow, and die cut another to use as the dot on the 'i' of friend.  You can see the glittery cardstock a little better in the next photo.

All that was then left to do was adhere the panel to the card base, which I did with fun foam.

Materials used:

• Patterned Paper: Docrafts Papermania - Capsule Elements Pigment
• Dies: Memory Box - Broadsworth Floral Border; Pretty Pink Posh - Hello Friend Script
• Coloured with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker
• White glitter cardstock from stash

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #294 - Clean and Simple

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I hope you can find some time to play along with us at Muse this week.

Spellbinders - Designer Series: Flower Garden

Hi guys

I was recently contacted by the fabulous Yana Smakula on behalf of Spellbinders asking if I would like to receive some Spellbinders goodies in the mail to play with.

Of course, I didn't hesitate in saying yes so today I'm sharing a couple of cards I've made using some dies from the Flower Garden collection.

First up is a card using the Spellbinders Flower Garden Floral Panel Card Etched Dies...

I'm loving the blush shade trend right now so chose that for this card.  I die cut the main blush panel using the gorgeous floral frame and outline dies.  The cardstock I chose was from a set of blush and grey shades so I chose one of the mid grey tones to cover my card base.  I wrapped some blush toned organza ribbon around the panel before adhering flat to the base then die cut the tag from the same die set from the same grey cardstock and heat embossed the sentiment in white (this particular embossing powder is a very creamy white so co-ordinates well with the blush tone).  The tag was then popped up on 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Dies: Spellbinders - Designer Series Flower Garden: Floral Panel Card
• Cardstock: Papermania - Midnight Blush
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Scrumptious Script
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Stampin' Up - White
• Organza ribbon from stash

Challenge entries:

Happy Little Stampers - May Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

Next up is a card using some dies from the same Flower Garden Series, this time the Corner Floral Etched Dies...

I began by adhering some patterned paper to my card base.  Next I took a panel of white cardstock and die cut the scalloped border using a Spellbinders Edgeabilities die that's been in my stash for years, the Classic Scallop.  I then chose to use the inlaid die technique and die cut the rose and leaves from the panel.  Using a separate piece of cardstock I blended with Distress Ink and then die cut these out and replaced the pieces into the main panel, using an adhesive sheet on the reverse.  All that was left to do was to stamp the sentiment and then adhere the panel onto the card base using 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Dies: Spellbinders - Designer Series Flower Garden: Corner Floral, Edgeabilities: Classic Scallop
• Patterned Paper: Dovecraft - Garden Party
• Stamp: Clearly Besotted - Say It With Flowers
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Ink - Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - CAS Game #115 - Inspired by Nature
Allsorts - Week 467 - In The Pink
Time Out - Challenge #109 - Inspired by Words





Thanks for visiting today and I hope you've had a lovely weekend.  It's back to work for me tomorrow after a lovely week off taking a few days out here and there, and for once the weather has been great for the most part.  Let's hope it stays that way as it was a long time coming!

Bye for now. 

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 :)

Better Late than Never - Father's Day Feline

Hi guys

As promised, here's the other card that I made month's ago and forgot about, until just finding the photo in the depths of my laptop!

This was the Father's Day card I made for my boyfriend's dad back in the summer.  He loves cats so this image from a fab Katzelkraft set was purrfect! *groan :D

I started by stamping this cute kitty on white cardstock then adding some simple colour pencil detailing to this already sketchy image.  Above the image I stamped the sentiment inside another image of speech bubble.  These were then die cut with a stitched rectangle die.  On a kraft card base I stamped some paw prints in varying sizes in VersaMark ink to create a tone on tone effect.  The panel was then popped up on fun foam.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Katzelkraft - Les Chats Russes; Clearly Besotted - Message Me, You Said It; Dovecraft - Paw Prints
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Rectangle Stax
• Kraft cardstock: Neenah - Desert Storm
• Coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #261 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

The Male Room - Challenge #70 - Anything Goes (not using optional theme this time)

Phew! Ok, I'm now up to date, there are no more photos of unshared cards.  Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I'll be back tomorrow with my card for the next Muse Challenge and then later in the evening, details of the October CAS Challenge at Happy Little Stampers.

I hope to see you again soon.

Muse Challenge #223 - Brushstrokes Butterfly

Hi there

I'm super happy to be your designer over at Muse this week.

I decided to go with a purely stamped card this time.  No complicated techniques at all, just layered stamping mounted onto a black frame.  I hope you can get some inspiration from it.  I chose bright colours and a black image and frame to add a little bit of drama.

I you're not familiar with Muse, the idea is to create your own interpretation of the designer's card each week and create your own version, using whatever inspiration you want; i.e. theme, colours, layout, techniques, etc.

I'm loving the whole turquoise/pink/purple colour combo at the moment and that was my starting point for this card.  I also wanted to use this butterfly stamp that I picked up recently at The Range (a store in the UK) and it cost just 99p...for a photopolymer stamp!

So I started by stamping the brushstroke images in three bright colours, then overstamped the butterfly and the sentiment in black ink.  The panel was then popped up on 3D foam over a black frame.  That was it....super simple!

Here's a close up of that fab butterfly design...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Work of Art; Dovecraft - Spiral Butterfly; Clearly Besotted - To You With Love
• Ink: Versa Color - Turquoise, Opera Pink, Violet; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for visiting today, I hope you have a lovely week.

Less is More Week #334

Good morning

Wow, what a hot week it's been here in the UK!  I love the sun but this heat has been taking it out of me.  Thankfully, since Thursday it's been a little cooler so it's much more bearable now.

So, let's get to the reason for today's post.  At Less is More this week we have a Sketch challenge for you.  It's been a while since we've had a sketch challenge so here it is...

We continue to have STAMPlorations as our fab sponsor this month so please do play along for a chance to win the monthly prize.

I find sketch challenges the most difficult but I've managed three cards for you this week (it might have something to do with the fact that I designed this week's sketch! haha Hope you like it!)

So let's get to it with my first card...

I used a curved die to create some masks and then blended in between with Distress Inks in sunset colours.  After removing the masks I stamped the flowers in waterproof black ink.  I then 'painted' the petals with clean water and blotted with a paper towel to remove the colour.  I went over the petals a couple of times to achieve the faded look a little more.  I finished by stamping the flourishes and sentiment.

Materials used:

• Die: Avery Elle - Dotted Borders Dies (to create the masks)
• Ink: Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Carved Pumpkin, Candied Apple; Archival - Jet Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Flowers for Design; Clearly Besotted - Message Me

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #247 - Make Your Mark (sponge blending)

Penny Black and More - June Challenge - Anything Goes

The Flower Challenge - Challenge #9 - Anything Goes

I chose a kraft and lace theme for my second card...

On a panel of kraft cardstock slightly smaller than my card base I used some thin paper cut from a curved die to mask the wavy section.  I then stamped the lace design in VersaMark and heat embossed in white.  I chose thin paper for my masks as I wanted to achieve the best impression from my stamp.  With thicker masks you usually get a narrow margin that doesn't stamp properly.  I also heat embossed the sentiment and die cut around it with a stitched heart die.  The main panel was mounted on fun foam to the card base, and then I adhered the heart and added a single white pearl.

Materials used:

• Kraft cardstock: Neenah - Desert Storm
• Dies: Mama Elephant - Landscape Trio Dies; MFT Die-namics - Stitched Heart Stax
• Stamps: Wow! - Lace; Clearly Besotted - On Your Day
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Hobbycraft - 3mm white pearl

Challenge entries:

CAS(E) this Sketch - Challenge #227

Alphabet Challenge - 'H' for Hearts

I reached for some patterned paper for card three...

This patterned paper pack has been in my stash for about ten years!!!  So it was nice to create with it again.  I adhered a strip to my card base and then cut a panel of white cardstock, split using a curved die.  I stamped the sentiment in grey before adhering both white panels on 3D foam.  I used a die which co-ordinated well with the design of the paper and used this to cut a flower from some bright pink cardstock, adhered over the panels to finish.

Materials used:

• Dies: MFT Die-namics - Snowdrifts; Tim Holtz - Wildflowers
• Patterned Paper: Dovecraft - A Hint of Pink
• Stamp: Wplus9 - Fresh Cut Florals
• Ink: Versa Color - Sky Gray

Challenge entries:

Happy Little Stampers - June Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Patterned Paper

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Please do pop over to the LIM challenge blog and check out my teamies' creations this week, they've really shown how versatile this sketch is, and no doubt will have more inspiration for you over on their personal blogs too.

Have a lovely weekend :)

Less is More Week 279

Hi there

The first Saturday of the month means that our new challenge this week at Less is More is a Colour challenge.  And this time we would like you to...

Use Some Purple

Our wonderful Sponsors for the month of June are Dies to Die For and STAMPlorations.  

For my first card this week I've used some stamps by STAMPlorations, sent to me by the super generous Shery!  Thanks so much for my happy mail, Shery!

I stamped the rose image with waterproof ink onto some watercolour paper and coloured it with my Inktense pencils and water.  I then stamped the sentiment from the same set in black ink.  The plan was to add diagonal stamped stripes to the corners but I messed up my stamping so I saved my panel by slicing off the two corners and then mounting it to my card base which was first covered with purple polka dot paper...phew!  I think I prefer this look anyway, so never throw away creations that could be used after all!  A few sequins finished off the card.

Materials used:

• Stamps: STAMPlorations - About a Rose
• Ink: Archival - Jet Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with Derwent Inktense pencils
• Patterned Paper: Dovecraft - Back to Basics IV 6x6 Designer Paper Pack
• Accents: Little Things from Lucy's Cards - Sparkling Rainbow Sequin Mix

Challenge entry:

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #89 - Petals

I did a bit of masking to create this next monochrome card...

I started by masking a cardstock panel with the aperture created from a circle die, which I placed off the edge.  I blended within the mask with Distress Ink before splattering with water.  I left the bottom part of the mask in place but removed the top half before stamping the foliage in three different purple shades extending above the circle.  The sentiment was stamped in black before adhering the panel with 3D foam.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Wilted Violet; Versa Color - Imperial Blue, Boysenberry, Heliotrope; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Inkylicious - Meadow Breeze; Clearly Besotted - Brushed Greetings II

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Mask It

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Monochrome

CASology - Week #200 - CAS

Thanks so much for visiting today.  My LIM teamies and I would love for you to join in this week so if your creation is CAS and uses purple, why not link up?!

Hope to see you again soon.