Layered Butterfly on Petals

Hi guys

Another card for you today, this was the card I made for my lovely sister-in-law's birthday earlier this month.

You may recognise the basic design as it's very similar to a card I made back in January, here.

As before, I masked a section and then blended with light pink ink before then blending through the stencil with the darker shade.  I stamped the sentiment in black before then adding the two butterfly die cuts, just adhering in the centre, the lower layer being vellum.  Some clear gemstones were added to finish.  I love how this die cut mirrors the design of the stencilled flowers.  I didn't plan that, I only noticed after I'd taken the photo!

Materials used:

• Stencil: Funky Fossil - Pretty Petals
• Ink: Distress Ink - Spun Sugar, Seedless Preserves; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamp: Marion Emberson - On Your Special Day
• Dies: Clearly Besotted - Butterfly Duo Die Collection
• Accent: Gemstones from stash

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #381 - Anything Goes

Time Out - Challenge #157 - Birthday

AAA Birthday - Game #11 - Flowers

STAMPlorations - March Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for visiting, I hope you've had a good weekend, and managing to keep yourselves busy if you're self-isolating or social distancing.  A very worrying world to be in right now, stay safe everyone xx

Green and Gold Festive Foliage Minis

Hi there

Back with some 'same but different' multiples this time.

For these three I stamped and heat embossed the images in gold on green cardstock...

I used some offcuts of two shades of green cardstock for the panels on these mini cards.  I used the festive florals and foliage from a stamp set that was free with a magazine.  All were stamped in VersaMark and heat embossed in gold.  The sentiments heat embossed on the black strips were from a different stamp set.  Each area of stamping was then die cut using a pierced square die and adhered flat to the card bases. 

To finish, I added some clear Wink of Stella to parts of the images to add some subtle shimmer.  Here it was added to the flower petals and berries...

And on this one the shimmer was just added to the pine cone...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Christmas Florals - free set with Creative Stamping magazine; Marion Emberson - Sparkling Christmas
• Ink: VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax

Challenge entries:

CASology - Week 358 - Branch

My Time To Craft - Challenge #412 - Christmas Flowers

Penny Black and More - December Challenge - Flowers

That's all of the multiples now posted.  I still have some individual cards to share so I'll be back with those very soon.

Perfectly CAS - November 2019 Challenge

Good evening

It's new challenge day at Perfectly CAS and for this month we have a super easy challenge for you.  A perfect opportunity to get caught up with your Christmas cards, just ensure that you keep your design to one third of the card or less...

A couple of month's ago I picked up some new products at the Creative Craft Show which I've used on this card...

On a panel of kraft cardstock I used a new holly border stencil, spread some texture paste through, then sprinkled with green glitter.  The sentiment was stamped in black then I left the panel to thoroughly dry.  It was then popped up on fun foam before I finished by adding some red Nuvo drops.  Unfortunately my 'berries' are more like splodges, does anyone else have problems with some colours of Nuvo drops being more gloopy than others?

Materials used:

• Stencil: Sweet Poppy - Holly Borders
• Embossing Paste: Sweet Poppy - Stencil Dimensions Translucent
• Glitter: Sweet Poppy - Superfine Satin in Moss Green
• Stamp: Marion Emberson - Sparkling Christmas
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black
• Accents: Nuvo Crystal Drops - Autumn Red

Challenge entries:

AAA Cards - CAS Game #153 - One Image (shimmer)

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #463 - Anything Goes

Dream Valley - Challenge #213 - All That Glitters

STAMPlorations - November Stencil Challenge - Anything Goes
Fab 'n' Funky Challenges - Challenge #457 - Add Some Sparkle

If you've still got Christmas cards to make for this year, why not use our guidelines and link up to the challenge, we'd love to see your creations in the gallery.

Emboss Resist Snowflakes

Hi guys

Just popping by to share another Christmas card I made recently, using snowflakes with emboss resist.

On some white cardstock I stamped the snowflakes in VersaMark and heat embossed in white.  I then blended over them with Distress Inks and cut a panel using a fishtail flag die.  This was adhered flat to the card base and I then added the sentiment strip, with the sentiment heat embossed in silver which was popped up on 3D foam.  To finish, some tiny clear gems were added to the snowflake centres.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Uniko - Stunning Snowflakes; Marion Emberson - Sparkling Christmas
• Ink: VersaMark; Distress Ink - Spun Sugar, Tumbled Glass, Dusty Concord
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White, Metallic Silver
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Fishtail Flag Stax
• Clear gems from stash

Challenge entries:

Allsorts - Challenge #446 - Cold and Frosty Colours

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Last Minute Christmas/CAS

Creative Inspirations - Challenge #284 - Winter/Christmas

Dream Valley - Challenge #169 - Christmas

Uniko - Challenge #44 - Christmas

Thanks so much for visiting, I'll be sharing more very soon :)

Less is More Week #358

Hi there

We're flying towards Christmas at full speed and I'm now in panic mode as I still haven't finished making my Christmas cards!  So, more mass production will be taking place today!

But before I start that, I want to introduce this week's challenge over at Less is More and we're back with the love/hate challenge that is One Layer week.  Here it is...

And the awesome Happy Little Stampers continues to be our sponsor for this month so please do play along for a chance to win the monthly prize.

Just one card from me this time.  I was hoping to make more for this challenge but a combination of a chest infection, lack of sleep and working means I've just not managed any more I'm afraid. 

Anyway, here's my offering this week...

This one layer card is a combination of stamping, masking and blending.  I started with a piece of scrap paper cut into a curve and used this to mask the bottom section and gently blended to create the snow bank using a purple/blue ink.  With the mask still in place I stamped the little trees in black, some in second and third generation stamping to create some depth.  I then removed the mask and stamped the main tree trunk and branch.  I worked out where I wanted to place my lantern and before stamping it I blended the candle glow with yellow/orange ink.  To finish I stamped the sentiment, hand drew the lantern string and added some glitter to the snow.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Card-io - Mini Tall Trees, Vintage Christmas, Tall Trees; Marion Emberson - Sparkling Christmas (sentiment)
• Ink: Archival - Jet Black; Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Imperial Blue, Marigold, Scarlet
• Accents: Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Frost - Frosty Dawn

Challenge entries:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Icy Inspiration mood board
Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #271 - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - Challenge #284 - Winter / Christmas
Dream Valley - Challenge #169 - Christmas
Penny Black and More - December Challenge - CAS
Stamping Sensations - December Challenge - Winter Trees and Flowers
Christmas Cards All Year Round - December Challenge - Anything Goes
AAA Card - CAS Game #104 - Christmas
Uniko - Challenge #44 - Christmas
Alphabet Challenge - 'T' for Trees

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I've still got lots of cards I haven't shared with you yet, I just need to find the time to get them on here!  So hopefully I'll be back soon.

Less is More Week #339

Good morning, crafters

Saturday morning means it's time for a new challenge to launch over at Less is More and as there are five Saturdays in this month we have a Lucky Dip challenge for you.

But first I have some sad news.  Our lovely Sarah G is stepping down from the Design Team.  Sarah has a busy working life, so with the added pressure of design team commitments, both have become difficult to accomplish.  We're all going to miss you on the team, Sarah.  Please do pop over and wish her well :)

So, onto the challenge, here are the details...

We'd like to see paper piercing, brads, eyelets, sewing, etc.

I have two cards to share with you and for my first I am revisiting one of my designs which was ShowCASed at this very challenge back in February 2014 as well as achieving a win at Addicted to Stamps and More!  This is pretty much a blatant copy of this card, I've just changed up the colours and the sentiment...

I covered the card base with some green striped paper and cut a panel slightly smaller than the card base.  The image was stamped in black and the sentiment in pink and black.  I then affixed eyelets to take the place of some of the rings of the design.  The panel was then adhered flat to the base.

Materials used:

• Patterned Paper: Lawn Fawn - Let's Bokeh in the Snow
• Stamps: Marion Emberson - On Your Special Day; Altenew - Celebrate
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Opera Pink
• Eyelets from stash

Challenge entries:

The Color Throwdown - Challenge #453

House of Cards - July Challenge - Stripes and/or colours
Just Us Girls - Challenge #404 - Something Old and/or Something New (a new version of an old design and the eyelets in my stash are really old!)

For my second card I did some paper piercing as well as using a pierced die...

I started by stamping the ring in VersaMark and heat embossed in platinum.  I then added the pierced heart detail using a paper piercing template.  I die cut this out with a pierced square die and mounted it onto my card base using 3D foam.  I coloured the gemstone with a pale blue Zig marker and added some shimmer to the whole ring with some clear Wink of Stella.  The sentiment was stamped below the panel in black.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Happy Wedding
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Platinum
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax
• Pierced heart using Stampin' Up Paper-Piercing Pack Essentials
• Accents: Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker; Wink of Stella - Clear

Challenge entry:

STAMPlorations - Summer CAS Card Challenge

This might be an opportunity to revisit some oldie but goodie techniques so why not play along!

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Less is More Week #319

Good morning, crafters

It's time for the challenge that gives many of us sweaty palms!  That's right, it's One Layer week over at Less is More and this time our theme is leaves.

I managed three cards for you this week and had fun making all of them! The leaves theme/one layer week combo actually works really well.

Ok, here's my first, although I was having a nightmare with the lighting.  I had to use my daylight lamp but this one looks completely washed out.  Photography isn't my strong point!

I used my Mini MISTI for the stamping on this card as I knew I was going to need to re-stamp.  The top and bottom images were done one at a time as I had to leave the stamp in position.  So I stamped once in white pigment ink.  Once dry I coloured in some details with a blue coloured pencil and then restamped in the white ink to re-establish the detail of the image.  The sentiment was stamped in a co-ordinating blue shade and that was it.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Magnolia Blooms; Altenew - Thinking of You
• Ink: Hero Arts - Unicorn; Versa Color - Atlantic

Challenge entry

CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #169 - Off the Edge





I used one of my favourite layouts for my next card, masking is a great way to add a sentiment strip to a one layer card...

I adhered some masking tape across my card and then blended up and down from it with some Distress Ink, gently fading it out.  With the tape still in place I stamped the leaves and flourishes.  The mask was then removed and the sentiment stamped in black.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Marion Emberson Designs - Just Because; Altenew - Thinking of You
• Ink: Distress Ink - Dried Marigold; Versa Color - Evergreen, Green Tea, Split Pea, Lauren Leaf, Cement; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Stamping Sensations - March Challenge - Close to Nature

For my final card I added some interest by embossing my card base with a die...

I embossed my card base with an oval die using a rubber mat with my Big Shot.  I then cut the same oval from a scrap of cardstock and used this as a mask so I could blend the background.  I used my heat gun to ensure the ink was dry, and used some anti static powder before stamping the sprig of leaves in VersaMark and heat embossing in gold.  I then added a little water to the berries with a paint brush and blotted away the colour to make the berries appear lighter in colour.  Finally, the sentiment was stamped below in black.

Materials used:

• Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Classic Ovals
• Ink: Distress Ink - Aged Mahogany; VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Simply Sketched; Altenew - Beautiful Day
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #232 - Make Your Mark (sponged ink blending)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  And if you have the time, why not take a little hop around my teamies' blogs for more inspiration, I'm sure they would love a visit from you.

Have a great weekend!

Less is More Week #318

Good morning

And as it's Saturday we're back with a new challenge over at Less is More.  And the first challenge of the month signifies a Colour challenge and this week we would like to see...

And we have a fresh new sponsor for the month of March which is Dies to Die For, so we would love you to play along this month for a chance of winning a prize.

I only have one card for you this week, and I'm gutted as teal/turquoise/aqua are my absolute favourite colours but this week has just been crazy busy for me so even this one was made in a frantic rush.  

I've used a decorative corner die from a set I bought towards the end of last year and also added a few gold touches as I think it looks lovely with teal, I hope you like it...

I started by die cutting and stamping the flowers and leaves all from the same set by Wplus9 using shades of teal, and heat embossed a few accents in gold.  I blended a corner of the card base so that it would show through the panel which I have die cut with a corner collage die.  I stamped the sentiment in a teal shade, adhered the panel to the base and then arranged and adhered the cluster of flowers and leaves.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Wplus9 - Fresh Cut Florals; Marion Emberson - On Your Special Day
• Ink: Altenew - Emerald, Lagoon, Volcano Lake, Mountain Mist; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich
• Dies: Wplus 9 - Fresh Cut Florals; Memory Box - Distressed Addington Collage

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #231 - Anything Goes

The Crafter's Cafe - Challenge #168 - CAS

Thank so much for stopping by.  My LIM teamies have created some beautiful cards this week so please do pop by the challenge blog and follow their links for more information, and more inspiration.  

I have a feeling the gallery is going to look stunning this week!