Christmas Card Multiples - Starstruck Silhouettes

Good evening

Yes, you've guessed it, I've got more Christmas card multiples for you! 

After I made my DT card for the latest Perfectly CAS challenge, here, I just had to make more cards using the gorgeous animal silhouettes in the Card-io Starstruck set.  I just love it.

So I made two each of five different designs, all one layer mini cards...

Each design follows the same basic principle, gently ink blending away from a curved piece of scrap paper to create the snow hills.  Rather than using a blending tool I wrapped some kitchen paper around my finger and gently blended the pigment ink, fading it upwards.  I then stamped the silhouettes and sentiments in black ink.  The only design that was created slightly differently was the front facing fox as he has a white chest, so I stamped him first before masking him and then ink blending the background.

For my previous card I heat embossed the star but as these were one layer cards I didn't want to risk warping the card bases with the heat so instead I stamped them with silver pigment ink then used a glue pen over them and sprinkled on some fine glitter to create the sparkle.  I then finished by adding some detailing with a white pigment pen.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Card-io - Starstruck; Penny Black - Wonder Collection
• Ink: Versa Color - Neptune, Silver; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Accents: Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Frost - Frosty Dawn; Signo Uniball white pen

Challenge entries:

Christmas with the Cuties - Challenge #34 - Christmas Cuties

Happy Little Stampers - December Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes

Try It On Tuesday - Christmas is Coming

Dream Valley - Challenge #215 - Christmas

Yes, I still have more to come!  I'd love for you to check back :)

Perfectly CAS - December 2019 Challenge

Hi guys

Firstly, apologies for the silence on here, I've been having a race against time to get all my Christmas cards made, written and sent.  But I'm just about done now...phew!

But now back to the reason for this post...it's new challenge day over at Perfectly CAS.  And there's lots of scope with this challenge, here's the cue card...

Any celebration cards will work for this challenge, just remember to keep you CAS designs to one third of the card or less.

I was itching to use another of my new sets from Card-io which I purchased at a craft show a few months ago, I thought it was so cute.  Here it is...

And the main thing that made me want this stamp set.....that adorable little mouse!!!

On a die cut rectangular panel I began by using a curved piece of scrap paper as a mask and ink blended with the purple/blue shade, upwardly fading it out.  The animal silhouettes and the sentiment were then stamped in black.  I then stamped the star in VersaMark and heat embossed in clear sparkle.  The panel was then popped up onto the card base using fun foam and I finished by adding some falling snowflakes, using a white pigment pen.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Card-io - Star Struck; Penny Black - Wonder Collection
• Ink: Versa Color - Neptune; Versafine - Onyx Black; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: All Night Media - Crystal Sparkle
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Accents: Signo Uniball Pen - White

Challenge entries:

Happy Little Stampers - December Christmas Challenge - Anything Goes
Alphabet Challenge - S for Snow
Sweet Stampin - Christmas
Make My Monday - Challenge #111 - Anything Christmas
Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #247 - Christmas
Try It On Tuesday - Christmas is Coming
CAS on Friday - Challenge #170 - Christmas
Stamping Sensations - December Challenge - Anything Goes




I have since made a few more of these cards but using square mini cards, I'll be sharing those very soon.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  This challenge will be live until the second week of January, so plenty of time to play along with your Celebration creations.  Looking forward to seeing you in the gallery.

I have quite a few cards still to share with you before Christmas, lots of multiples I've been making over the last couple of weeks, so they'll be up on here very soon.

Cute Wedding

Hi there

Apologies for the radio silence.  I've completely lost my creative mojo lately, I'm hoping to sit down and have a proper look for it later!

In the meantime, I thought I'd pop on and share a card I made last month.  I was commissioned to create a card for a friend for her son's wedding, I was waiting until after the day to share it here then it completely slipped my mind.

Here it is, the brief was an A5 wedding card with a cute theme featuring owls...

As a CAS cardmaker I really struggle with larger sizes such as A5, as I find it difficult to fill such a large area whilst maintaining my usual style.  As I opted for the textured frame I was really happy with how this turned out.

I began by cutting the upper panel, from a sheet of embossed stripe cardstock, and die cutting the stitched aperture.  This way I could be sure that the focal point was positioned correctly on the card base behind.  I roughly marked the focal area with a pencil and then stamped the branch, owls, leaves, hearts, top hat and flower, before then roughly masking and creating the clouds with a stencil and Distress Ink.  Before adhering the panel, I wrapped some decorative ribbon around the panel and topped with a bow.  The panel was then adhered on 3D foam strips.

I printed the wording onto some white cardstock (using a font called dearJoe 5 CASUAL) and cut the two hearts out with a stitched heart die to tie in with the stitched aperture.  I adhered these, popping some 3D foam squares behind the parts that overlapped the aperture, and to finish added some Glossy Accents to the owls' eyes...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Paired Up (branch/hearts/leaves), Woodland Pals (owls); Mama Elephant - Three Amigos (hat); Penny Black - Salutations (flower)
• Ink: Altenew - Lava Rock, Mocha, Morning Frost; Versa Color - Olive, Pink, Rose Red; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stencil: MFT - Cloud
• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles; MFT Die-namics - Stitched Heart Stax
• Accents: Glossy Accents

Challenge entries:

Fab 'n' Funky - Challenge #440 - Wedding

Thanks so much for visiting, hopefully I'll find some crafty inspiration soon and be able to share more with you.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)

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.

Less is More Week #323

Hi there

Well, are you ready?  Yes, you've guessed it, it's time for One Layer week over at Less is More.  I think there's lots of scope for this one this week, see what you think...

I'll get straight to my cards, I have two for you this week (I did plan to have a third but it didn't go to plan so got filed under bin!)...

I started by stamping the flower, the flower head being stamped in two shades of orange to give it some depth at the centre.  I left it a few minutes to ensure it was dry before masking off a curved section and blending with two shades of Distress Ink.  After removing the masks I splattered some water drops to remove some colour, and finished with the sentiment, which was manipulated slightly to follow the curve.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Penny Black - Dreamy; Clearly Besotted - With Love
• Ink: Altenew - Olive, Sunkissed, Orange Cream; Distress Ink - Scattered Straw, Wild Honey; Versafine - Onyx Black

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #236 - Anything Goes

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge - Speckled

Stamping Sensations - April Challenge - Anything Goes

Penny Black - April Challenge - Spring

I decided to do some faded out ghosting on my second card.  Not entirely happy with it, not sure why.  Perhaps it's the colour, hmmm...but makes it gender neutral I suppose.

I die cut a curve from a scrap of card and used it to mask off the base of my card.  I then blended some green Distress Ink, gently fading it out upwards.  A leafy stencil was then placed over the inking, spritzed with water and then blotted away.  I curved the sentiment stamps to follow the curve of the design.  I think this one needs something else, but left it alone for now before I went ahead and ruined it :)

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Bundled Sage; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stencil: The Crafters Workshop - Mini Vineyard
• Stamps: Wplus9 - That is All

Challenge entries:

CAS on Sunday - Challenge #105 - Leaves and/or Trees

The Male Room - Challenge #57 - Black and white and one other colour

Thanks so much for popping in to see me today.  I hope you'll have a go at our one layer challenge this week, they really aren't that daunting, just sometimes take a little more planning.  Good luck!

One Layer with a Flourish

Good morning

Saturday morning at 8am can only mean it's time for another new challenge over at Less is More.  Our sequence of challenges has whizzed around again so this week we are back with our One Layer challenge and the theme is...

Flourish

I've got two cards to share with you this week, here's the first.  And with February not far away I thought I'd go with a Valentine's Day theme...

I started by stamping the flowery flourish off the top edge of the card base with black ink.  I then found a stamp which co-ordinated perfectly and used part of this to create the vertical line of dots to suspend my die cut heart which was cut from a scrap of deep red cardstock.  I then added some Wink of Stella for some shimmer, stamped the sentiment along the top edge and finished by adding some clear smooth gemstones to the centres of the flowers.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Inkadinkado - Modern Flower Flourish; Penny Black - Salutations (line of dots); Clearly Besotted - Happy Anniversary
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Cardinal
• Die: Lawn Fawn - Mini Hearts
• Accents: Wink of Stella - Clear; Smooth gemstones from stash

Challenge entries:

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #157 - Anything Goes (option - CAS card)
CASology - Week 179 - Simple

I chose a coloured card base for my second card...

I stamped the flourish and butterfly in VersaMark ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  I love that the butterfly also has flourishes on its wings!  I coloured in the butterfly with ProMarkers to add a touch of tone on tone detail.  I then simply finished with a sentiment stamped in green ink and some glitter enamel dots.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Flowers for Design and Beautiful Butterflies; MFT - Peaceful Wildflowers
• Ink: VersaMark; Versa Color - Evergreen
• Embossing powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: ProMarkers; Glitter Enamel Dots from stash

Challenge entries:

Passion for ProMarkers - Challenge #327 - Monochrome (little use of ProMarkers but they are there!)
House of Cards - January Challenge - Embossing and/or Color Inspiration (I chose embossing here)

One layer cards are fast becoming one of my favourite types to make, I don't know what I was so afraid of before.  My teamies are sharing some great projects this week, if you get the chance please pop over to their personal blogs, I know they will appreciate your visit.  I can't wait to see your creations in the gallery this week.

Bye for now!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Hi guys

Welcome to my regular Saturday morning post to introduce the new challenge over at Less is More.  This week it's the turn of our One Layer Challenge.  And we would like you to make cards that depict...

Santa

Our guidelines can be found here.  Please remember to keep your creations clean and simple.

I have three cards to share with you this week, all very different.  I hope these will whet your appetite and inspire you to join us this week.

I was really pleased with the result on my first card, exactly how I had planned it (makes a change!)

This card took a bit of planning but was pretty simple to create.  I sketched a Santa hat onto a post-it note and cut it out from the inside to create a mask, firstly minus the white parts.  I used a grey card base as I wanted the white to eventually show up.  I blended red ink through the mask to add some light and shade.  I then cut two more masks for the fluffy white parts of the hat and swiped a VersaMark ink pad over the negative space onto my card base.  I then heat embossed these areas with white embossing powder.  I finished with a sentiment below in black.

Materials used:

• Cardstock from stash
• Ink: Distress Ink - Barn Door; VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Stamp: MFT - Christmas Cuteness

Challenge entries:

Creative Inspirations - Challenge #335 - Anything Goes
Crazy 4 Challenges - Challenge #310 - Christmas Theme



And my second...

I think the Santa image I used here has a very vintage feel so I started with a kraft card base, masked a central circle and blended in some Distress Ink.  With the mask still in place I then stamped the Santa image, and the sentiment was stamped below in the same ink. It looked like something was missing so I decided to turn the sphere into a bauble and heat embossed the hanger and bow with gold embossing powder.

Materials used:

• Cardstock: Neenah - Desert Storm
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Double Stitched Circles
• Ink: Distress Ink - Vintage Photo, Walnut Stain; VersaMark
• Stamps: Stampin' Up - Santa's List; Clearly Besotted - Ornamental Style
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Metallic Gold Rich

Challenge entries:

The Crafter's Cafe - Challenge #136 - Inspired by a Song (Santa Claus is Coming to Town)
Brown Sugar Challenge - Challenge #172 - No Patterned Paper
CAS-ual Fridays - Challenge #145 - Precious Metals

I decided to create an iconic Christmas scene for my third card...

I masked the hill and the moon with post-it notes and blended the night sky with purple inks, and with the mask still in place I stamped the fence and trees.  I stamped the deer and added a little shading at his feet, then stamped the sleigh image and sentiment. As a finishing touch I applied some glue to the brow of the hill and sprinkled with some fine glitter.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Card-io - Christmas Scenery 1, Christmas Scenery 2; Penny Black - Wonder Collection (sentiment)
• Ink: Versa Color - Hyacinth, Heliotrope, Sky Gray; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Accents: Stampin' Up Glitter - Dazzling Diamonds

Challenge entries:

Fantasy Stampers - Challenge #49 - Winter Wonderland

Cute Card Thursday - Challenge #399 - Birds/Animals

Penny Black and More - November Challenge - Anything Christmas

The Friday Mashup - Challenge #234 - Baby It's Cold Outside

One Layer Christmas Card Challenge - Challenge #21 - Anything Goes (twist of Reindeer)

My teamies have made some lovely creations this week so please pop over the the Less is More challenge blog and pay them a visit if you have the time.  One layer cards don't have to be difficult, I think they just take a little more planning beforehand.  We would love for you to join us this week, I'm sure you still have Christmas cards to add to your stash, I know I certainly do!

Thanks for visiting today, I hope to see you again soon.

To The Best Mum

Hiya

Well, I'm back as promised with the card I made this morning.

This is for my mum's birthday next week but I had to get a wiggle on as it had to be mailed to France.  Mum very rarely accesses the internet so hopefully she won't see this before her special day!

I've used more new products on this one too, I'm having great fun playing with my new goodies!

I used my Ink Dusters (yes, again!) to blend the ink through this fabric effect stencil onto some white cardstock and then stamped the flower image over this in black before die cutting the panel.  I adore this flower stamp, I've seen it used a few times in blogland so when I saw it at one of the craft fairs I just had to have it.  I then combined two stamp sets, both from Clearly Besotted, to create the sentiment and finished off by popping up the panel on 3D foam strips and adding some Doodlebug Sprinkles.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Dutch Doobadoo - Fabric
• Stamps: Penny Black - Dreamy; Clearly Besotted - For Everyone and The Best
• Ink: Memento - Grape Jelly; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Inkylicious Ink Dusters
• Die: Spellbinders Nestabilities - Reverse Wonky Rectangles
• Doodlebug Sprinkles - Lilac

Challenge entries are as follows:

Addicted to CAS - Challenge #49 - Stencil

Fantasy Stampers - Challenge #20 - 'Here Come The Girls ' (feminine/girlie project)

A Gem of a Challenge - Challenge #129 - Clean and Simple

613 Avenue Create - Challenge #91 - Anything Goes

Time Out Challenges - Challenge #15 - Stamping

{PIN}spirational Challenge - Challenge #125 - Any kind of project

Right, nothing more to share at the moment and I really must get back to sorting out my stash as it's gradually taking over my flat! :D

Take care

Feel Better Soon

Hi guys

Well, I'm finally back on my blog following my weekend away with the girls last weekend to celebrate my milestone birthday.  I went to Center Parcs at Longleat Forest with six of my fabulous friends and I can honestly say I had the best time EVER!  From relaxing in our lodge (with a few glasses of fizz), leisurely strolls in the sunshine (we were SO lucky with the weather!), fantastic meals, fun activities, total relaxation at the spa and laughing so much it hurt!  Doesn't get better than that does it?! 

So, I was back to reality and work on Tuesday and this is the first opportunity I've had to sit down and make a card.  There are numerous challenges out there at the moment with a floral theme so that's the direction I went in.  I also decided to make a Get Well card as my stock is lacking and there's nothing better than flowers to cheer someone up when they're feeling low.

I kept this one very simple but nice and bright and cheerful...

I started by stamping the sentiment in the centre and then surrounded it with three flowers, all the same stamp but in three bright colours.  I added some co-ordinating Doodlebug Sprinkles to the centres of the flowers and that was it! 

Materials used:

• Stamps: Paper Smooches - Chit Chat; Penny Black - Salutations
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Versa Color - Marigold, Opera Pink and Heliotrope
• Doodlebug Sprinkles - Bumblebee, Lilac and Bubblegum

Challenge entries:

Less is More - Week 172 - Flowers

CASology - Week 96 - Flower
The Paper Players - Challenge #196 - Clean and Simple Floral (oops - took so long writing my post I missed the deadline for this one! Oh well!)

One Layer Simplicity - Challenge #5 - Fabulous Flowers

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Here are a few pics taken with my lovely ladies last weekend..

On the Azalea Boardwalk (I'm second from left, the big birthday badge makes me easier to spot!)

 Me and my bestie by the lake

Birthday meal out at Cafe Rouge

That's all for now folks, hopefully I'll manage to fit in some more crafting this weekend as we have an extra day with bank holiday! 

Have a fab weekend and I hope to see you very soon x