Joy - Peace - Love

It's decidedly not very Christmassy here in Adelaide today ..... lots of rain and thunder & lightning ..... the last thing our river system needs right now.

 

Here is another of my latest Christmas Cards to be sent out.  Final food shopping has been done and I hope I don't have to go out to the shops again until after Christmas Day/Boxing Day.

 

 

Once again, the Christmas Craft Creations current Challenge theme of 'Gnomes' provided a starting point for my card.  

 

 

The Sparkles Christmas Challenge of 'non traditional colours' influenced my colouring and cardstock choices.

 

I stamped one of the Gnome images from Stampendous Holiday Gnomes and hand coloured with copics, then die cut twice and layered.  

 

I then stamped the sentiment repeatedly and multiple times to form a backdrop and mounted die cut image with foam dots and some blingy holographic snowflake stickers added straight onto cardbase.  Using the Couture Creations Precision Stamp Press made easy work of stamping the sentiments to get a nice clean impression before repositioning the cardstock for the next level.  This makes for a 'non-bulky' card that is great for putting in the mail.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy, Safe & Prosperous New Year.

Cheers!

Linking With the following challenges:

Christmas Craft Creations - December - Gnomes

Sparkles Christmas Challenge #143 - Non Traditional Christmas Colours

Items Used

Cardstock:  210gsm white cardstock, 300gsm Orange Cardstock

Inks:  Versafine Claire, Copics

Stamps:  Stampendous Holiday Gnomes

Tools: Cuttlebug, Precision Stamp Press

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.

Be Merry

It's beginning to feel like Christmas now - just the last lot of Christmas Cards to send out and some final food shopping on Wednesday, and I am done!  Looking forward to celebrating with family on Christmas Eve.

 

  

 

The Christmas Craft Creations current Challenge theme is 'Gnomes' which gave me the starting point for my card.  

 

 

The Perfectly CAS style (using 1/3rd or less) is a challenge for me and I hope I have pulled it off.  'Happy Holidays' is the theme for Cupcake Inspirations 

 

I stamped one of the Gnome images from Stampendous Holiday Gnomes and hand coloured with copics, then die cut twice and layered.  Gold cross grain ribbon was attached to card topper, image placed on top with foam dots and some blingy holographic snowflake stickers added. Card topper was then mounted onto dark blue cardstock.

 

 

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy, Safe & Prosperous New Year.

Cheers!

Linking With the following challenges:

Christmas Craft Creations - December: Gnomes

Perfectly CAS - #34 Christmas

Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #559 - Happy Holidays

Items Used

Cardstock:  white, blue

Inks: Copics, Versafine Claire

Stamps:  Stampendous Holiday Gnomes

Tools: Cuttlebug

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.

Deck the Halls .....

with boughs of holly, fa la la la la .......

 

Another Christmas Card, surprise, surprise!  :)  

 

I ordered a stamp & die set (more of that to come later) from Uniquely Creative, an online craft store right here in Adelaide!  I like to support local where I can. There was a stencil included as a 'thank you' so I just HAD to have a play.

 

I grabbed a couple of inks and daubers and placed the stencil on the left hand side of a card topper.  I quickly realised that my daubers were way too big, so I settled on a 'rustic' finish.  To cover up an 'oopsy' I inked up the edges of the topper with both the brown & the red  Cardtopper is 210gsm, layered onto 250gsm cardbase (White) from Blue Edge Crafts, another local Adelaide online craft store.

 

The large snowflake was diecut from silver foiled cardstock, the centre circle was cut then the sentiment was stamped with Versafine Black Onyx & clear heat embossed.  The snowflake was mounted to the card topper, with the sentiment raised on 3D foam.  Additional holly was stamped, heat embossed and coloured in, then mounted onto circle.

I am normally a 'gold' person, but I quite like the silver snowflake on this card!  The other colours used were inspired by the Card Concept challenge

 

Linking With the following challenges:

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #69 - anything Christmas

The Card Concept #185 - Christmas Greetings

Fab 'n' Funky Challenges #563 -  last minute Christmas

Merry Little Christmas Blog Challenge #47 - anything Christmas goes (oops too late!)

Winter Wonderland - anything Christmas goes

 

Items Used

Cardstock:  White 210gm & 250gsm

Inks:  Distress Inks Mowed Lawn, Candied Apple, SU Chocolate Chip, Versafine Onyx

Stamps/Dies:  Lawn Fawn Magic Holiday

Tools:  Cuttlebug

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.

Merry Christmas

not long to go now ............. and it will be Christmas Day!

Today's card is a CAS card ... well, CAS for me LOL

Two Gingerbread Characters stamped with StazOn, coloured in with Copics and highlighted with Kindy Glitz & scattered stars.

I spied the Gingerbread people in the background of the Peace on Earth Christmas challenge and it fits in with the current AAA Cards Challenge :)

 

The 'Merry Christmas' sentiment is from an unknown Stampin Up set.  I bought a heap of loose SU stamps from Marketplace.  If anyone can let me know which set it belongs to, that would be great!

Linking With the following challenges:

AAA Cards - Game #229 - small & few & baked goods

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Blog #47 - Anything Goes

CAS on Friday - #245 - Greeting Card

Peace on Earth Christmas - Photo Board

Items Used

Cardstock:  200gsm white cardstock

Inks:  StazOn

Stamps:  Stampin Up 'Merry Christmas', Gingerbreads unknown brand

Tools:  Copics

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.

Merry Christmas

Working on some Christmas Cards and once again, the various Challenge Blogs provide lots of inspiration!

I am loving working with these really cute Gnome stamps!

  

Gnomes were stamped with StazOn and hand coloured with copics.  Backgrounds were hand blended with Distress Inks and cut out with Spellbinders deckle edge dies, then mounted onto white leathergrain cardbase.

Hero Arts 'Merry' Sentiment die cut twice & layered, then 'christmas' stamped directly onto cardbase with StazOn black ink.

I am pleased with how this little experiment of a card worked out.  Now to work out who to give them to ..... they need to be extra special recipients LOL  and I need to work on some more!

Linking With the following challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge - #47 - anything goes

Christmas with the Cuties #65 - anything cute

ABC Christmas Challenges W &/or X - Xtra Special

Items Used

Cardstock:  White Leathergrain cardstock (BlueEdge Crafts)

Inks:  StazOn black, Distress Inks, Copics

Stamps:  HeroArts 'Merry & Bright', Stampendous 'Holiday Gnomes'

Tools:  Spellbinders Deckle edge 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.

Thinking of You

Another sympathy card for my friends.

Randomly stamped flowers on cardbase with VersaMark and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  Stamped a white card topper with two step stamps from SU Heartfelt Thanks.  Sentiment is from Ultimate Crafts Ooh LaLa - Happy Lives.

Items Used

Cardstock:  SU Cardstock

Inks:  SU Cameo Coral & Olive Green (I think), VersaMark, StazOn Black

Stamps:  Stampin' Up Heartfelt Thanks & Ultimate Crafts Ooh La La - Happy Lives

Tools:  Edge Distresser

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.

Heartfelt Sympathy

Another Sympathy card - this one for a friend to give 

Sandy coloured Cardbase was randomly stamped with flowers from Stampin' Up Heartfelt Thanks, once with VersaMark then again with SU Really Rust.  White Card topper two step stamped with Stampin' Up Really Rust & StazOn black.  Edges distressed, then a ribbon tied up then mounted onto darker brown cardstock, then layered onto front of card.  Sentiment stamped with StazOn black.

A fairly monotone card ..... shades of brown, with simple black & white features/details added.

Linking With the following challenges:

Color My Heart Color Dare: shades of brown

AAA Challenge #227 Anything Goes

ITEMS USED

Cardstock:  SU Cardstock

Inks:  SU Really Rust, VersaMark, StazOn Black

Stamps:  Stampin' Up Heartfelt Thanks & paperCraft sentiments

Tools:  Edge Distresser

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.

With Sympathy

Sympathy cards are always hard to make, but sometimes, the challenge blogs can help with inspiration.

One of my camera club friends, Donna, passed away unexpectedly ..... she was only 64.  I needed a card for her partner & soulmate Michael.  Donna had a wonderful laugh, always greeted everyone with a smile and will be sorely missed.

I experimented a little bit with this card.  I used a Spellbinders Die as a stencil - not the die cut, the actual metal die.  I quite like how the slight overflow on the edge of the die creates a white frame without adding extra layers.  I also kind of like that the blue looks like sky with the dandelions blowing in the breeze :)  so it fits with the Just Add Ink challenge of Day/Silhouette.

Linking with:

Addicted to CAS: #232 - Sympathy

Happy Little Stampers October Stencil Challenge

Just Add Ink #627 - pick 2 - Day/Night/Silhouette

Less is More #476 - use a stencil

Cardstock:  Leathergrain 300gsm cardstock.  

Background:  Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Chipped Sapphire, Wilted Violet blended with brushes.

Dies:  Spellbinders Deckled Edge  

Stamps:  Dandelion stamped in Versafine Onyx Black & heat embossed with clear embossing.  With Sympathy Ultimate Crafts Ooh La La - Happy Lives stamped with StazOn black.

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

I created a fun shaker card for the niece's birthday.

First up I made up a handmade background - with inking/smooshing and blotting - I think it has become my favourite technique this year - such a versatile technique being able to chose particular colours; some of which were chosen from the Just Add Ink #625 Inspiration Photo.

I then used one of my big balloon dies and cut out from the card front & the front layer of the card base.

Acetate was placed on the front, added 3d foam around the aperture and placed some gems and sprinkles in the well of the shaker section.  I added acetate to the back of the card front and placed over the top of the card base.

Sentiment 'happy birthday' stamped & die cut 3 times then layered together before being placed over the balloon.  A nice gold ribbon to add the final touch.

I forgot that the verse would show through the card, so I added a verse on the back :)  

I am having a lot of fun with figuring out the best way to make shaker cards .... some ways are more successful than others.

Linking with:

AAA Birthday Challenges - #42 A Favourite technique

Happy Little Stampers October Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies

Just Add Ink - #626 - Photo inspiration - colours of flowers

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 Anniversary

It will be the Niece & her husband's 11th Wedding Anniversary on 22/10/22.

I struggled to come up with an idea for their card ..... it didn't help that I miscalculated the date and thought it was their 13th Wedding anniversary so my initial ideas and thoughts have been filed away for when they do celebrate the 13th!

I have had some miniature mulberry paper flowers in my stash for absolutely ages.   I came up with this Clean & Simple design

11 roses tied together with an organza ribbon and a metal heart embellishment.   Happy Anniversary sentiment is a peel off sticker, all mounted on Kraft card which I have also had in my stash for ages .... I accidently ordered some when I didn't know what it was ;) but I am glad I have it now.

Actually, all of these items have been in my stash for as long as I can remember .... I initially got the metals hearts for my beading but never actually got around to using them.

Linking with:

NBUS - #43 - Kraft Card & Metal embellishment

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.

Naughty or Nice?

Working on my Christmas Card stash .....

I was quite taken with a card by Karen McKibbin I saw on the Paper Rose Blog - so I thought I would try a 'new to me' technique with Acetate.

I stamped and coloured in a Christmas Tree, then cut out two trees with the matching dies and layered the two trees together.

I stamped some 'pine branches' on spare cardstock and used them for the top and bottom.

I attached some Go Press Foil on the top & bottom edges using double sided tape, then attached them to the acetate.  For the inside of the card, I embossed some white cardstock with 'Swiss Dots' embossing folder, the very first embossing folder I bought way back when I got my Cuttlebug.

I highlighted the tree with some kindy glitz and Dimensional Magic, then added the sentiments using 3d foam.

It was quite a challenge making up this card, and I would like to make another one, but this time take a bit more care with my measurements LOL

Linking with:

ABC Christmas Challenge "S or T" - T for Tree

Time Out Challenges #223 Photo Inspiration 'Christmas Tree'

Winter Wonderland Christmas Animals

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.

Sending You Hugs

My friend is recovering from surgery, so I wanted a card that would make her laugh, or at the very least make her smile!  She is a cat lover and will see the funny side ...... I hope!

I have had this Penny Black Stamp for what seems like forever, and was quite happy finally to use it.

Penny Black 'Squeaky Clean' stamped in black and watercoloured with Distress Inks.  Dimensional Magic added to the water and gems added for bubbles.   Image die cut with a Spellbinders Circle die and layered on blue cardfront with 3d foam tape.  

'hugs' from Honey Bee Bitty Buzzword die cut & layered with black & white cardstock, mounted with 3d foam tape.  Entire cardfront trimmed down, then added to a white A5 card, with a tent fold.

I enjoyed making this card, and I am looking forward to visit my friend in a few days and give it to her in person.

Linking with:

Happy Little Stampers:  Anything Goes with Dies

Addicted to stamps & more - any occasion

Less is More:  Friendship

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes

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.

Thank You

I am the Secretary of a Photography Club and I needed some 'thank you' cards for 2 members who have gone 'above & beyond' in assisting the Committee throughout the year, even though they are not 'on the Committee'.

Card #1 - Handmade background - using ROYGBIV colours & Distress Inks as watercolours, dabbed & sprtized.  Embossed with Darice 'cameras', then raised bits & edges were inked using a Ranger Ink blender.  'thank you' sentiment stamped & die cut three times, layered then mounted onto cardfront.  Cardfront then mounted onto Blue A5 Cardstock - my goto size Cardbase.

Card #2 - Cardfront is a Handmade background - using ROYGBIV colours & Distress Inks; this time with blending brushes to get a softer, more subtle effect.  Embossed with Darice 'cameras', then raised bits & edges were inked using a Ranger Ink blender.  'thank you' sentiment stamped & die cut three times, layered then mounted onto cardfront.  Cardfront then mounted onto Blue A5 Cardstock - my goto size cardbase.

Not sure if these cards really fit the Just Us Girls Challenge, but I will link them anyway - the repetition of the background and the multi layers of sentiment just might count  LOL

I enjoyed making these cards and I am very much looking forward to giving them to the recipients real soon!

Linking with:

As You Like It Challenge:  Fave card base

My Fave card base is the A5 (half of an A4, folded in half)

Can You Handle the Pressure? :  use an embossing folder

Time Out Challenges #222 - Inspired by words "rainbow" 

Just Us Girls Challenge #649 - repetition (background & sentiment)

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.

Naughty or Nice?

Time for a Christmas Card - I am slowly building up my stash ready for November.

A new stamp set for me ..... loved the cat in the tree and I have several friends who have cats, so it will be perfect for them!

Stamped in StazOn and hand coloured with Copics, highlighted with Plaid Dimensional Magic.  I think I referred to it as 'French Dimensions' in a previous post, but that was incorrect.  French Dimensions was a technique in my ceramics .... LOL  An early senior's moment sneaking in there!

The background was watercoloured onto some lovely leathergrain cardstock that has been in my stash for ages.  It is lovely and thick and has such a lovely texture, I like to use it on special cards.

Linking with:

Happy Little Stampers August - Christmas Challenge

CAS Christmas Card Challenge - Pine

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 Brett

Another birthday card, this one for the niece's husband - it's a biggie ...... 40

I have really been taken with Natasha's techniques ..... and here is new one for me!  I was really impressed with her 'bubbles' video  

I even made my own stencils with acetate!

I have used Brett's fave footy team colours - red, blue & yellow.  

Linking with:

Happy Little Stampers August - Stencil Challenge

Addicted to Stamps & More - DieCuts &/or Stencils

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

It's the nephew's 20th Birthday this month ....... I know I say it every year, but WHERE has that time gone?  Next year will be the big one .... 21 and I just hope & pray that COVID is well and truly gone so that we can have a fitting proper celebration, since his 18th was curtailed due to COVID restrictions!

I used LOTV Candles Digi Set to put together 20 candles, then added the sentiment and printed using Laser Printer.  The Sentiment was then foiled with Red using my Minc.

I hand coloured the candles with Copics, then added Plaid French Dimensions for a raised enameled/3D effect - it really made the lovely colours pop!

I then trimmed the cardfront and mounted on to an A6 black card.

Linking with:

Happy Little Stampers August Challenge - Birthday

AAA - #40 - Anything Birthday Goes

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 Shaker

Slowly getting my cardmaking mojo back again :)

I started making a birthday card for my nephew, but I think this one turned out a bit girly, so it will go in my stash.

I used up another one of my handmade backgrounds .... ink smooshed & dabbed with water.  The cardstock has a texture to it, so it made for an interesting result.

Spellbinders Circle die used to cut out centre, clear acetate placed behind opening.  Various sequins & scatters added.  I love the cheeky smiley face!

Happy Birthday sentiment stamped with Distress Ink, Mowed Lawn & die cut 3 times, then layered and placed over aperture.

Linking with:

Addicted to Stamps & More #434 - Any occasion

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies

Seize the Birthday #243 - Anything Goes

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.