Penny Black Critter Party, Concord and 9th and Pinkfresh Studio Birthday card

Hello friends,

If you are in the UK, I hope you have enjoyed the lovely weather we've been having for the past week or so. I love the light in autumn before the clocks go back, and the changing leaf colours I see on my walks are just gorgeous. I'd like to introduce the new challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More, where we would love to see you Make Your Mark.

I chose to make my mark with my Zig Clean Colour Brush markers.

For the background panel, I cut a stitched rectangle of card and then stamped the semi-circular sentiment from Concord and 9th Rainbow Sayings in black ink. Once the ink had dried, I passed the panel through the die-cutting machine with my new Memory Box Pinpoint Burst Plate, before matting it onto some red card. I dug out an old stamp set from Penny Black called Critter Party which I've had for @ 10 years, as I'm trying to give some attention to my older stash. I keep my stamps in clear pockets with a card insert and I made a note of the date on this to show when I used it. I read about this idea online somewhere recently, and I'm hoping that when I next cull my stamp collection I will be able to see how often I actually use a set to help me decide what to keep. Anyway, I stamped, coloured and fussy cut the birthday mice and raised them on the panel with foam tape. The lower sentiment is from Pinkfresh Studio and I stamped the top layer and stacked it on 2 further layers to add some more dimension.

We have the talented Stef as Guest Designer this month, and you can see her design as well as lots of inspiration from the team over on the ATSM blog.

I'd like to play along at

Crafty Sentiments Challenge - anything goes

Passion for Markers Challenge #613 - make it cute

Retro Rubber Challenge #169 - anything goes 

Penny Black Saturday Challenge October - anything goes

Stay well and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Carol x

 

Crafters Companion Sparkling Tree, MFT Santa's Elves and Sue Wilson Christmas Tree Greetings Christmas cards

Good morning everyone!

It's good to welcome you back for the ABC Christmas Challenge for October and it's hard to believe that after this one, there will only be two more Challenges before the big day! 

Thanks to everyone who played along last month. We had some great entries and if you entered, don't forget to check the post on the ABC blog to see if you were a lucky winner. 

We have two fabulous challenges for you to choose from or combine this month
 and they are:

U - Under the tree

and

V - Vocabulary ( use words)

Julie is our lovely host for this challenge and she has a great prize for the winner

This is my U for Under the Tree card

I used some paper from my stash for the background because it resembled wallpaper and added a little dado rail. The tree is Sparkling Tree from Crafter's Companion and I cut it 3 times and stacked it, ink blending just the top copy. There are a couple of birds in the tree and I inlaid the wings and added a couple pearls for the eyes. My favourite elves from MFT are coloured with Copics and are gathered around the tree ready to decorate it. I cut an oval to make a rug, stamped and embossed the sentiment, and added a glittery star to the top of the tree to finish it off. My little Granddaughter is having an elf on the shelf for the first time this year, so this card is destined for her.

V for Vocabulary 

For this card, I went with a very simple design. I cut the Sue Wilson Christmas Tree Greetings die from a stitched rectangle panel of mint coloured satin card and then placed the panel on a scalloped rectangle of holographic card. I die cut the word tree again 4 times from white card and stacked all the layers together before inlaying them into the aperture. All that was needed was to cut a tiny red star and coat it with glossy accents. The raised word tree gives lots of dimension and the holographic card shines through with lots of different colours that are very pretty irl.

I'd like to play along at

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #102 - anything Christmas goes

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #55 - make one for a loved one. (Granddaughter)

Crafters Companion Diesire Shooting Stars and Papertrey Ink masculine birthday card

Hello friends and welcome to another challenge over at Addicted to Stamps and More.

This time we are looking for cards with die-cuts and/or stencils and I came up with this card.

I rarely make cards for men but I needed a card for John's birthday today so I examined my stash to see what I could come up with. I found some navy satin card and holographic silver card that I thought looked good together against a white background. The die is called Shooting Stars from Crafter's Companion and as it only cuts half a frame, I cut two and pieced them together to create the square frame and you can play find the join lol! 

The sentiment is Think Big Favorites #24 from Papertrey Ink and I stamped and embossed it with silver powder. I cut the tiny red heart to dot the i, glazed it with a glaze pen, and finished off by scattering a few silver stars that were waste pieces from the frame. I like how the holographic silver card picks up the light and colours depending on which direction you are looking at it but that is heard so show you in photo.

There's a lot of inspiration for you over on the ATSM blog and I know that my very talented teammates would love it if you drop by.

I'd like to play along at

Cardz 4 Guys # 280 - add some metal

Dragonfly Dreams September Challenge - Happy birthday

Watercooler Wednesday #325 - all things masculine

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Carol x

 

 

My Favorite Things Harvest Mouse autumn birthday card

 

Hello everyone and welcome to the new challenge over at Simply Create Too,

Now September is with us and the leaves will soon start to change colour, we'd like to see your fall leaves cards.

I came up with this birthday card

I smooshed a few shades of blue ink to create the sky background. I placed it behind the MFT Peekaboo Wonky Window after I stamped and embossed the little greeting with white embossing powder. The images are from MFT Harvest Mouse set and I stamped, coloured with Copics and fussy cut them before arranging them on the frame. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches.

I'd like to play along at

Double D Challenges - anything with a tail

The Card Concept #159 Inspiration photo - I chose the autumn leaves

Crafty Gals Corner #223 - Hello fall

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Carol x

Simon Says Stamp and Apple Blossom Holly Christmas card and Altenew Warm Heart Christmas card

 

Hello everyone and welcome to another challenge at ABC Christmas Challenges which will run from the 1st to 30th September. We had so many gorgeous entries last month so if you entered last time, I encourage you to pop over to the blog to see if you were a winner.

Our lovely host this time is Wei and she is kindly offering a prize for the winner.

We have two themes for you this month and they are 

S for Stencil

and/or 

T for Two.

I came up with these cards:-

S for stencil

For this card I used a snowfall stencil from Simon Says Stamp and inked through it with white ink onto a red die-cut square card. Once the ink was dry, I sprayed it several times with Crafter's Companion Spray and Sparkle and although my photography was not up to showing it, the panel looks really sparkly irl.

For the holly sprigs, I smooshed some card with several shades of green ink and then die-cut them with a die from Apple Blossom. I layered them onto a second white layer, offset them slightly, shaped them a little, and glued them in the corner. The bow is from PTI and the sentiment is from SSS. I added a few Nuvo Drop berries to finish the card off.

This is my T for Two card

I embossed some navy satin white core card with a snowflake embossing folder and then sanded back the surface to show the snowflakes in white. I cut a snowbank from some card, applied double-sided adhesive tape, and then stuck on some faux snow. The penguins from Altenew are called Warm Heart, and I shaded them with some grey Copics before placing them on an oval of white card which I shaded as well. I finished off with the die-cut sentiment from PTI which I stacked three times to help it stand out.

If you need some festive inspiration, you will find lots of it from my lovely teammates over on the ABC Christmas Challenges Blog.

I'd like to play along at

Christmas with the Cuties #52 - anything Christmas goes without the option

Christmas Card Throwdown August - Stencil

Pinkfresh Studios Hanging Florals Birthday card

 

Hi everyone and welcome to my blog. 

Do you ever think that you need to press a reset button on your crafting habits? I have been giving it some thought lately because I've got into the habit of letting other things take precedence and that leads me to feel less creative when I get around to taking some time for crafting. I often only sit down to make a card when I have a DT deadline and have to apply my bottom to the seat because I hate to renege on a commitment. This gives rise to a pressured and rushed session that leaves me feeling unsatisfied. It isn't as if my time is being spent in other ways that feed my soul. I'm usually busy and love seeing people again, but find that this tires me much more than it used to after staying home so much in the last 18 months. And I've been following watching/listening/reading the news much more than is good for me with all the horrific things that are happening to my fellow human beings and the planet we all share. Don't get me wrong - I think it is important for me to be informed about what is happening so I may help where I can and place my vote where I think it should go. However, it is not helpful to feel overwhelmed by things I have no control over, and it is time for me to reconsider how I am choosing to spend my time. So, I need a new start where I include the things I want to do in my day like crafting, reading, and walking. September always seems like a good time for starting again - I suppose that's a throwback to starting a new academic year, and I hope the enjoyment and relaxation of these activities will return when I prioritise time for them again. After all, at one time it was hard to get me to do anything else lol - and that was a whole different issue! 

Anyway, I'd like to share my card for the new ATSM challenge - and this time we are looking for your birthday ideas.

I needed a card for a friend who is about to celebrate a big birthday, so I turned to this lovely Pinkfresh Studio stamp and die set called Hanging Florals. I cut 3 sets so I could stack them and just coloured the top one with Copic markers.

I used a Sue Wilson die set called Classic Adorned Squares for the backing layers and used the embossing die to add a little extra interest. The sentiment used Pinkfresh Studio's Perfect Sentiments stamps and dies.

You'll find lots of inspiration from the Design Team over on the ATSM blog and I know the team would love it if you visit them.

I'd like to play along at

International Art and Soul Challenge #116 - birthday

The Paper Players #556 - tic tac toe - I used the left row down

Sweet Stamping Challenge - lots of layers

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #323 - All things feminine

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Carol x

Memory Box Country Church Frame Christmas card

Hello everyone and welcome to another challenge at Addicted to Stamps and More.

This time we are looking for your Christmas cards to help you get a head start for the busy season.

I came up with this card.

For the sky background, I smooshed some watercolour paper in a few shades of blue ink and then stenciled some snowflakes on. 

I cut everything out using the Memory Box Country Church Frame dies and stacked the circle, church, roof and trees three times to give them some dimension. I added some yellow card behind the church to give some lights in the windows, and added glitter to the roof, fence, trees and foreground to show some twinkle in the snow.

The sentiment is from a Simon Says Stamp pre-printed sheet.

I'd like to play along at

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #99 - anything goes

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #53 - photo inspiration - I used the church and trees on the mantle

Happy Little Stampers Christmas August Challenge - anything Christmas goes

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs

Carol x