Buon Natale

One of my last Christmas cards this year.  

My Brother-in-law's wife Rosa, is Italian and this year I decided to do a special card for Carlo, her father.

I designed a special card for Carlo.

Inspired by a sketch over on Freshly Made Sketches #516

Watercolour baubles printed onto glossy cardstock, foiled bauble and border added with 'Buon Natale' (Merry Christmas in Italian).  Topper is then mounted onto red leathergrain cardbase.

There is still a bit of a 'learning curve' with foiling on a Minc, but I am enjoying the challenge of learning a new craft and working with graphics in Photoshop.

Linking with Freshly Made Sketches #516

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, Buon Natale, Joyeux Noël, frohe Weihnachten, Selamat Natal, Nollaig Shona, god jul, Wesołych Świąt and Feliz Navidad

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Hi everyone,

I am on a roll ............ here are some more Christmas Cards

Using up scraps of Christmas DSP from my stash cut into squares and inked with green along the edges, mounted onto a white square card base with foam tabs.

LOTV James Bear Pile of Presents - foiled in red, edge of topper inked with green along edges.

Linking with Color Hues #31 - Red & Green (I am not sure if it meets the challenge, but it did inspire my DSP selection and choice of inking around the edges) Anyway, it is always fun to play along!

I have a friend who doesn't celebrate Christmas, as such, but I wanted to send him a card, so I chose 'Happy New Year' - he has had a rough one, so I hope it cheers him up just a little :)

Drinks silhouette icons were printed & foiled in Red, edge of topper inked with red along edges, topper mounted onto Red Leathergrain cardbase using foam tabs. 

Linking above card with ModSquad Challenge - It's a Celebration

I really enjoyed making up this next card - colouring in is soooo theraputic LOL

Meljens Designs Christmas Tree, foiled with green, hand coloured with copics and highlighted with Kindy Glitz.  Topper edges inked with green, mounted onto green cardstock, which is then mounted onto white cardbase with foam tabs. 

Linking the above card with Time Out Challenges: #203 Inspirational (with layers) - since getting my Mini Minc, I have been inspired to make cards ..... which is really nice timing!

Watercolour image highlighted with kindy glitz, circular sentiment foiled in green, inked along edges with red, mounted with foam tabs onto red leathergrain cardstock.  A simple card, but I found myself singing the song while I was making the card LOL  

Linking with As you Like it Challenge: Favourite Christmas sentiment - "Merry Christmas" is usually my go to sentiment, but when I have the room, I like to use 'We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year' ....... I bet you sang that, didn't you LOL

Speaking of As You Like It ....... one of my previous cards, 'Jingle Owl the Way' was picked as 'Top 3'  my card HERE  such a thrill being selected - thank you!  I will wear my badge with pride :)

That's it from me for now, I have some more cards to finish off and hopefully get in the mail - stay tuned for more pics.

Cheers

CathyC

Christmas Blues

Another Christmas card finished

Digital watercolour image, highlighted with Kindy Glitz/Stickles, printed with a foiled sentiment.  Edges sponged with ink, then topper has been mounted onto blue cardstock.

Linking with Sparkles Christmas Challenge #131 - Non Traditional colours

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I Finally got some inspiration and motivation (at the same time) to make some Christmas Cards ..... cruising around the various Challenge blogs I follow and having a new toy to play with, certainly helped!

So, first up is a card inspired by a sketch on Freshly Made Sketches #515

I ended up not including a sentiment, as no matter which one I used, I didn't think it looked right.

LOTV digital image 'Jingle Owl the Way', printed & foiled, then hand coloured with Copics and embellished with Kindy Glitz/Stickles.  Mounted with 3D foam dots onto white cardstock embossed with Cuttlebug musical notes folder and Christmas DSP from my stash - all mounted on Red, Leathergrain cardstock.

Linking this card with As You Like it Challenge: Favourite Christmas Embellishment with my FAVE embellishment for anything really being the Kindy Glitz/Stickles. 

Next up, a card for Winter Wonderland - Anything Goes

This is a new 'circle flip' card base from Blue Edge Crafts (well new for me!)

'Tis the Season to Sparkle' foiled with green and placed on the circle opening, which just happened to fit the Spellbinders nesting circle dies I have !

Merry Christmas foiled in Red, cut out with Spellbinder circle dies, then mounted with double sided tape.  The Burgundy Bazzill cardstock on the front circle and the striped DSP I have had in my stash for absolutely AGES!  It is so good to use it up!

I was on a roll, so I made another one with the sentiments being flipped - Merry Christmas on the front, and Tis the Season to Sparkle on the inside - this time foiled with Gold (I think this is my fave :) ).

Linking these projects with:

NBUS #33 (never before used schtuff)  I have had these digital sentiments for quite a few years and now I have finally got around to using them!

Cut it Up Challenge #240 - Holiday cards

Well, that's it from me for now .......... more cards to come soon!

Happy Birthday x 2 & Happy Anniversary

It's getting to the pointy end of the year, LOL

November .......... it will be Christmas in a matter of weeks ....... where does the time go?

My Sister In-Law & Brother In-Law celebrate birthdays and their wedding anniversary in November & December, so we all usually get together for the triple celebration!

I am still playing with my Mini Minc and getting to know the various different settings to use when using the different cardstock.

So, first up, we have a birthday card for my Sister In-Law, inspired by a card I saw in a Newsagency ....
I had a play in Photoshop and came up with this ....

A mix of digital graphics printed on an ink jet, and shapes & text printed on a Laser, then foiled.  Layered onto patterned scrapbook paper, on white 300gsm card.  There are a few minor spots, but overall, I am pleased with the result.

Linking this card with:   Addicted to CAS: #21 - colourful

Next, we have a birthday card for my Brother In-Law, inspired by a card I saw online ....
I had another play in Photoshop and came up with this ...

Another mix of graphics printed on an ink jet, and shapes & text printed on a Laser, then foiled.  The foil finish is much nicer on this one!  Layered onto 300gsm cardstock with patterned paper as a background.

Linking with:

 Seize the Birthday: Anything Goes/Hobbies & pastimes

Then, after reading some more, and watching a few videos on YouTube ......

I tried something different ......

Anniversary card printed on Glossy Photo paper using an inkjet, then put through the laser printer for the text

Look at that foil finish!  just beautiful!

I tried all sorts of backgrounds for this card, then settled on gold foil cardstock - looks very speccy!

Linking with:  Inspired by Challenge: Photo&Colour

I think I am going to play more with this idea ..... it can still do with a bit of fine tuning!

Now to work on my Christmas Card stash.

Cheers everyone, stay safe, stay healthy!
Cathy

Happy little vegemite!

I have been having some fun in the Girl Cave this last few days!

A while back, in September 2018, I did some experiments with foiling using my printer and a laminator, and whilst there was a reasonable level of success, I was never really completely happy with my results.

Fast forward to October 2021, and I came across a 2nd hand Mini Minc on Facebook Marketplace that was in a suburb fairly close to me, so I bit the bullet and got it.

After watching some videos from Nancy Stamps YouTube, I realised I had been using the wrong foil!!!  I had the 'heat reactive' foil (GoPress) and I should have been using 'toner reactive' foil. 

Well, I did a quick trip to Spotlight and got me some lovely Heidi Swapp 'gold' foil and had a bit of a play!

This was my first attempt with the right foil ..... nearly there, I forgot to 'dusty, dusty' LOL

I had a few ideas running though my head where I wanted to have colour graphics with foil highlights.

The following image is my fave  :) 

So, now that I have figured out my Mini Minc and am using the correct foil for the system I am using, I am about to start on some Christmas Cards - stay tuned!

With Sympathy ... Thinking of You

Sadly, my Sister-in-law's mother, Nella, has passed away - she just missed her 86th birthday :(

For Carlo (Husband/Father)

The first card is a new technique (new to me) and card I saw on Splitcoaststampers

For Sister-in-law & Brother-in-law & nephews, Liam & Peter

For other family members

For other family members

The other cards were made using a simple layout, with some of my fave Stampin Up Two Step stamps Botanical Blooms & Flower Fancy.  

Sentiment stamps are from Ultimate Crafts Ooh La La Collection.

Layers & Tags have been cut with Spellbinder Dies.

Ribbons in my stash for ages, & cardstock is a mix of Blue Edge Crafts & Stampin Up.

The Funeral service is today, we are hoping the weather will be kind to us.

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Happy Birthday Liam!

the nephew is turning 19 today ............... where did that year go!

I have been just waiting for the opportunity to use the Kaisercraft 'happy birthday' stamps - nice big letters! 
Sentiment was heat embossed with gold, and I love the idea of a shaker card, so I used one of my balloon dies, and filled with sequins & stars.

Nice and simple, not too girly! but has the obligatory 'CrafteeCC bling' style!

Linking with:

Addicted to Stamps & More: #410 Die Cuts

CAS Colours & Sketches:  #430 sketch

NBUS - #28

Watercooler Wednesday - All things Masculine  WWC321

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Have a Happy Birthday

It is my Cousin Sue's birthday today in the UK.   Sue was a Bridesmaid in my wedding in 1982 and came out again for a holiday just before Covid hit - in February 2020.

The only thing she wanted to do was to hold a Koala again, as she had done in 1982.  So now, whenever I see a Koala, I think of Sue 🐨

So it was perfect opportunity to use that stamp set I came across last year for the first time - Sugar Pea Designs: Koalaty Time. 😍

I stamped the image on the front of folded cardstock, made a mask, then die-cut a circle out of a scrap cardstock and used that to sponge the 'sky'.  I coloured the image in with chalks on cotton buds and then sealed the image with a quick spray of hair spray.  I then added a topper layer, die-cut with a circle window and stamped with the sentiment, then finished off with the obligatory Kindy Glitz.

Another CAS card - a style I am liking more and more.

Linking with:

Addicted to Stamps & More #408 - Birthdays

Daisy Chain Challenges #53 Cute Animals

NBUS - #27

Happy Little Stamper - Anything Goes with Dies

Stay Safe everyone!

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Happy 30th Anniversary!

Our long-time friends celebrate their 30th Wedding Anniversary this coming weekend.

A perfect opportunity for me to use some new stamps & dies I bought last year.  

I stamped the bottle & wine glasses on silver cardstock and die cut them out, then stamped sentiment & 'bubble bursts' on lavender cardstock.   Wine glasses & Bottle were added with 3D foam, with the number 30 from a silver sticker sheet added to the bottle.  

Highlights of Kindy Glitz around the outer edge and sequins were added, then I placed the topper on white cardstock using 3D foam.

All in all, a simple but effective card, which the happy couple loved as we gave it to them during the week.

Linking with:

Happy Little Stampers: Anything goes with dies

Watercooler Wednesdays : WWC316 All about occasions

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Do you read my blog via email subscriptions via FeedBurner?

Hi everyone

It seems there are changes afoot for people who subscribe to my blog using the FeedBurner email service.  From 1^st July 2021 this email service will no longer be available.

So, this post is for those people who currently get my blog posts via email .......

If you would like to continue to follow my blog, and I hope you do :), then there are a few options available to you.

You can:

·         Follow my blog with ‘Feedly’

·         Follow my blog with ‘Bloglovin’

·         Follow my blog using the ‘Blogger reader (if you have a ‘Blogger a/c’)

I’ll try to keep an eye on things for any new developments for those that prefer to receive an email.

In any case, thank you for reading & following my blog so far ....... I hope we can continue to keep in touch.

And, because I like to include at least one photo with each post, here is something I prepared earlier :)

Cheers for now

Cathy

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Happy Birthday

Time for some more crafting :) and inspiration from Freshly Made Sketches.

During my 'tidying up' I came across this lovely textured cardstock in DL size and a pile of beautiful patterned papers (from Blue Edge Crafts if memory serves), I also came across some quilling supplies ..... and a plan formed!

 

Of course, it wouldn't be a card made by me, if it didn't have bling!

 

It was fortuitous that 30 candles fit nicely on the DL card within the context of the Freshly Made Sketches sketch ..... I nearly ran out of 'teardrop' bling for the flames.

Now to find someone who is turning 30 to give it to LOL

Linking with the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #482
Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #WWC314

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Long Time Friends

We had a bit of a cold snap here in Adelaide yesterday - so it was a good excuse to hunker down, put on Masterchef Australia and do a bit of crafting.

Last year, I came across some second hand stamps - they were in great condition :)   

I stamped the image on white cardstock and coloured in with chalks, layered topper on green shimmer cardstock.

Card inspired by this photo from The Card Concept

and

Stamps Used:  Stampin Up Long Time Friend (2006)
Ink:  Black, Stazon
Coloured in with:  Francheville Soft Artist Pastel Chalks & highlighted with Kindy Glitz
(Card topper finished with a quick spray of hair spray to set the chalk)
Cardstock:  White cardstock & Shimmer card from Blue Edge Crafts

Linking with:
The Card Concept #153 - Loads of Lavender
Addicted to CAS #195 - Flower
Retro Rubber Challenge #156 Pastels

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Sweet Birthday Wishes

I was inspired to craft today ...... I didn't want to do any housework LOL
I had recently tidied up my craft room (well part of my craft room, I can see carpet now!)

I got some new stamps a little while ago, and I was eager to use them up.

I stamped the images twice - once on the card front to mark their positions, then again on another sheet.  I coloured them with Copics, cut out using the matching dies, then mounted on the card with 3D mounting tape and highlighted with Kindy Glitz.

Sentiment stamp is from Inkadinkado Cupcakes set I have had for many years!

I was inspired by a sketch on Freshly Made Sketches :)

linking with

Freshly Made Sketches - #481

Addicted to Stamps and More! - Birthdays

Cardz 4 Guys - #268 new stash

Happy Little Stampers - Anything goes with dies

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.

Birthday Cheers!

Greetings All!  I hope you have had a great Easter!

We had a very quiet one:  We had a friend visit for a few hours & a coffee on Saturday, and on Monday, we went to Brother-in-Laws' for Nibbles & Coffee & Hot Cross Buns.

It was a nice day weather wise, in fact the whole weekend was lovely - a bit hotter than previous years, but that was OK by us!

I made a belated birthday card for Brother-in-Law using some 'new' stamps :)

I used my Couture Creations 'stamp platform' to line up the glasses and the 'cheers' sentiment, then inked them up using Paint Box rainbow ink pads.  I coloured the drinks with watercolour pencils, then added some 'clear embossing' and to finish off, added just a touch of bling!  

A simple, restrained card for me - not too much froo froo ;)

Linking with the following challenge:

NBUS #25 - Never before used schtuff

Thank you for visiting my blog today - I hope you have a good day.
Remember, any day doing something you love makes it a good day ;-)

Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.