Love Ya!

Another new stamp for me.  Although, in my search to find more information on the best way to line up these particular stamps, I have discovered that they were first released in about 2019. 

 

 

 

I had fun playing with these stamps, using about 4-5 different shades of my favourite colour - purple. 

I stamped according to the layering instructions included in the set and then set about to cut them out with the co-ordinating die.  I did find that the instructions in this set were not quite as helpful as the Build-a-flower Coneflower set, hence my search on the internet for some more information. I found only a few videos out there offering hints & tips on aligning the stamps correctly so that they die cut properly.  If you are just stamping directly onto a card front, the alignment is not as crucial :)

 

 

I made up a background using some unbranded Diamond Dies (very similar to Altenew Fine Frames Diamonds).  I cut some diamonds out and inked them with Distress Ink Wilted Violet, and added them to the cardfront with glue.

Whilst laying out the flowers, I thought the background was a little stark, so I did the 'splatter' effect with some inks and a wet brush.  It was either that or I was going to emboss the background, but I thought that an embossed background would be too much!

The flowers were layered up over 3 different layers using foam dot.  I die cut the small tag from Spellbinders, stamped one of the sentiments, inked the edges, and added gold twine, positioning the tag over the stems.

 A final touch of  'bling' (it should have been enamel dots for the Tic Tac Toe challenge, but I didn't have any, so gems will have to do).

--oo0oo--

 

I have been inspired by several challenge blogs for this card.

 

TicTacToe #194 - I chose Diagonal - Die Cut, Flowers & Enamel Dots (I didn't actually have any enamel dots, so gems will have to do!

 

As You Like It  Favourite (mostly one) Colour & Why

My favourite colour is purple, and has been for as long as I can remember.  I don't know 'why' I gravitate towards purple in card making (& quilting) but I do.  With this card, I got to play with several different shades of purple, including using my fave purple cardstock.

 

 

Try Stamping on Tuesday - I used the Technique as inspiration as this card has several different layers.

 

 

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Beautiful Blooms - I find I am drawn to florals for my stamping at the moment.  

Cut it Up Challenge #270 is 'Love'

 

Paper Craft Crew Challenge #503 is 'Love'  (oops, their challenges are limited to 4 other challenges) but I thought I would leave the link anyway.

I discovered a new Challenge Blog - Beautiful Blossoms - their first challenge is now live.  I don't think my card qualifies as it is not in the colours of the Mood Board, but I will include a link here anyway.  So many blogs have closed down during 2021/2022 it is nice to see a new one pop up!

ITEMS USED

Stamps/Dies:  Altenew Build-a-flower Lavender

Inks:  Distress Inks, Color Box

Tools:  Cuttlebug, Couture Creations Precision Stamp Press, Couture Creations Mini Guillotine Trimmer, Couture Creations Mini Score Board

 

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

Today, we have a birthday card - with the idea of using up scraps/snippets for the Snippets Playground Challenge #446 as the starting inspiration.

 

 

On sorting through my snippets, I did notice some lovely primary colours and a plan started forming in my head.

 

 

I cut up some strips, and embossed them in the ProvoCraft 'happy birthday' embossing folder.  I then die cut some 'happy birthday' sentiments from HoneyBee 'itty bitty buzzwords', stamped 'Happy' directly onto the front of the card and raised the 'birthday' on foam dots.

 

 

It looked a bit 'unfinished' so I scoured my embellishments and came across these great puffy sticker balloons.  This is the last of my supply and I hope I can find some more.

 

This is a new technique for me, and I think I like it!

 

--oo0oo--

 

Linking With the following challenges:

Snippets Playground #445

Try it on Tuesday Challenge - In with the New (new technique)

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.

Sorry for your loss

More time to play with my new stamps ...... this time with Altenew Paint A Flower - Poppy set.

 

 

I stamped the flower on white blending 250gsm cardstock using Versafine Clair Onyx and heat embossed with clear.  I then coloured in the flower & leaves with Distress Inks using a waterbrush.

 

For the background, I mixed up a 'slurry' of gold Delicata ink and using a brush I flicked it onto the cardfront. I picked up some of the remainder green from the leaves and flicked that too!

 

Sentiments were stamped using StazOn Ganache (not black - more of a browny/black) -- 'sorry' from HoneyBee Stamps 'Miss You Big Time' die cut 3 times, then layered together and placed on front of card.  'For Your Loss' single layer was stamped and the strip manually cut then layered with 3D foam.

 

A final touch of black hearts bling added.  The Cardfront had warped a little bit with the water colouring so I added another 210gsm layer using double sided JAC paper to add some structure, then placed that onto a Dark Maroon cardbase.

 

All cardstock in this project is from Blue Edge Crafts and the stamps were purchased from Auzz Trinklets N Crafts  I have no formal Affiliation with these stores, I include their links because I like to support Australian craft stores where I can, and I have always had a positive experience with these stores in particular!

Thankfully, this card is not needed right now, so it will go in my 'stash' ready for when I do need a sympathy card.

 

--oo0oo--

 

Linking With the following challenges:

 

Inspiration Station #45 - I was inspired by the flowers on the window sill

Cardz4Galz #190 CAS  - A clean and simple card (well, clean for me LOL)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Fabulous Flowers

PRODUCTS USED

• Stamps/Dies:  Altenew Paint A Flower: Poppy, HoneyBee Stamps 'Miss You Big Time'
• Inks:  Versafine Clair Onyx, Distress Inks, StazOn Ganache, Ranger Embossing Powder
• Tools:  Cuttlebug, Couture Creations Precision Stamp Press, Couture Creations Mini Guillotine Trimmer, Couture Creations Mini Score Board, Heat Tool
  
• Cardstock:  250gsm Blending Cardstock, 210gsm white cardstock, 300gsm Coloured Cardbase

 

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

This s my first time playing with new stamps purchased from Auzz Trinklets Crafts - Altenew BAF Coneflower (Stamps & matching dies).

 

 

I wasn't actually intending to make up a card .... I just wanted to have a play so I used the first inks I could put my hands on. 

 

I even forgot about 'conditioning' the stamps first, so the stamping is a bit 'iffy', but I think it actually works on this card.  Flowers were stamped with Versafine Black Onyx & clear heat embossed.  Then the various layers were completed using different shades of orange/brown and then die cut.  In the end I chose to layer 3 flowers at different levels using 3D foam dots.

 

The background was 'handmade' by 'smooching' black/silver/gold inks to bring out the texture of the white cardstock.  The background was trimmed & layered onto a black card, then placed onto white cardbase (300gsm).

 

The step-by-step instructions that came with the stamp set were great.  I made a slight mis-alignment on some of the petals, but for a first attempt, I am happy.  I just love the way the leaf at the bottom of the flower turned out. 

The foiled birthday sentiment has been in my stash for quite a while - it was one of those pre-cut A4 sheets which I think I got at one of the craft shows many years ago.  See, I never throw anything away!

I am really looking forward to having another play with this stamp set - I have been searching the internet for 'colours of echinacea flowers' for inspiration!  There are pinks, purples and yellows and there is even a white one!

--oo0oo--

Fitting with the Seize the Birthday Challenge, I made this a birthday card, and it will most probably go to the Sister-in-Law :)

The As You Like it Challenge asks us to nominate which card we like to send and why.  For me, it would be Birthday Cards, as I usually make them with a specific person in mind so that each card is unique.

This is my 2nd card linking with AAA Birthday Game #45 - Anything Goes

Linking With the following challenges:

Seize the Birthday #253 - Anything Goes

As You Like it Challenge - Fave reason to send a card

AAA Birthday #45 - Anything Birthday Goes

ITEMS USED

Stamps/Dies:  Altenew BAF Coneflower

Inks: Versafine Onyx, Ranger Distress Inks, SU inks

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.

Thanks .... So Much

Am loving the hot weather ....... NOT    LOL 🤣🤣

We have solar panels and while the sun is shining, at least it is covering the electricity bill so we can freely use the air conditioning, and over the last few days, we needed it!

So while it was too hot outside to do anything, I was supposed to be tidying up my craft room, but I got distracted and made up a card!

 

 

I came across some very old handmade papers that I have had since I first started cardmaking in 2003 and as I 💖 Purple, I just HAD to have a play!

 

The card came together in a matter of minutes ..... don't you just love it when that happens!

 

I had a stamped element left over from a previous play date - a flower from the SU Hand Penned Petals which had been heat embossed using white ink AND white embossing powder - and was coloured in using Distress Inks & blending brushes.

The flower element was mounted onto a gorgeous die-cut that I received in a Swap (my 'something new' for the Creative Inspiration Challenge), then that was mounted onto the purple handmade paper (my 'something old'), which had been mounted onto the white cardbase.

 

 

Sentiments 'thanks' (from Honey Bee Stamps Bitty Buzzwords) was die cut from scraps in black & white, layered & mounted with 3d foam dots to background.  'so much' (from Honey Bee Stamps Miss You Big time) was stamped in StazOn black onto white cardstock scrap pieces, then mounted onto front of card.  It pays to keep all those smaller scrap pieces!

 

I am really pleased with how quickly this card came together. 

 

This one will go in my stash for future use :)

I am linking with a few newly discovered challenges for this card, as well as one of my Fave Challenge blogs, Cut It Up :)

Birthstone Challenges BSC#1 - Anything Goes (Amethyst)

Creative Knockouts #485 Anything Goes 

Cut It Up Challenge #269 - Anything Goes (with a die cut)

Creative Inspirations - January - Something Old, Something New

Items Used

Cardstock:  White 250gsm, purple handmade paper

Inks:  Distress Inks, Memento White Versamagic, White Embossing powder, StazOn

Stamps/Dies:  SU Hand Penned Petals, HBS Miss You Big Time, HBS Bitty Buzzwords

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.

Happy Purrthday!

A fun birthday card for my BFF today

 

 

Purrfect (stamps & dies) from Uniquely Creative Stamps were the purrfect choice for this card! and the colours from Color Throwdown were the purrfect colour inspiration!

 

Color Throwdown #724 

 

Stamped & die cut a selection of cats, then shaded very softly with grey copics.  Using the circle from Lawn Fawn Magic Holiday set, two circles were cut away from Card topper, and two circles were cut from silver foil card and placed underneath.  Cats were strategically positioned with 3d foam.... you have no idea how many combinations I tried! 

 

 

 

AAA Birthday Challenge #45

 

 

The sentiment was stamped and diecut twice, then layered, with some bling added as a final touch.

 

 

The Critter Crazy Challenge #70 is 'Anything goes' with a featured critter - I think this counts! :)

 

 

Items Used

Cardstock:  Black 300gsm, burgundy 300gsm, white 210gsm

Inks:  Versafine Clair, Copics

Stamps/Dies:  Uniquely Creative Stamps & Dies "Purrfect", Lawn Fawn Magic Holday Circle Die

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.

Happy New Year!

It's really hot here in Adelaide today, so I am inside playing in the Craft Room.

 

I made a Happy New Year card ........  something fun and light-hearted to lift the spirits!

 

I started with a freebie digital image from Gerda Steiner and played around with colouring it, then I added some Dimensional Magic to the stars, some Kindy Glitz to the hats & scarves.  I printed 'Happy New Year' with the laser printer, then foiled it in Gold (it doesn't show up very well in this photo, but it is really shiny!)

Cardfront was then mounted onto black 250gsm card .... simples!  No layers, no flowers, clean lines.

 

Inspired By challenge is 'happy new year' and it has gold bits in the photo

 

Also, sharing my card with the artist, Gerda Steiner :)  This image was great to work with, I will have to have another look at what else is available :)

 

This card is also a card for Creative Crafters Challenge on Facebook :)

 

Linking With the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge Blog - Week 708/9 - CAS

Inspired By Challenge  - photo

Items Used

Cardstock:  white & black cardstock

Stamps:  Digital Stamp Gerda Steiner Designs

Tools:

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.

Good Bye & Good Riddance 2022!

2022 has ended with a thud with the news of another very dear friend passing away.

 

My friend Gary, who I have known since 1975 passed away on 16th December 2022, he was 62 years old. Far too young!

 

I really struggled to make a card for Janine (his wife and also my friend), as I wanted it to be perfect!  I also wanted to write a letter and include it in the card ..... that took a moment or two to collate my thoughts.

 

 

 

I had made up some backgrounds and hand stamped elements earlier in the year using the SU Hand Penned Petals stamps.  So I just had a play around with combining different elements and settled on this final layout.  

 

Background was made by stamping multiple times in the pink, the border section on the left was stamped multiple times using the two-step feature of the stamps. The feature element was die cut and mounted on 3D foam dots, with some gold twine circled underneath, then highlighted with Kindy Glitz.

 

 

Linking with:

Cardz for Galz #189 - choose your fave challenge from 2022.

My fave challenge from 2022 was the June 2022 - die cuts

the card I submitted for that particular challenge is HERE (the flower in the top right hand corner is the element I used for this new card)

 

Items Used

Cardstock:  White 250gsm, purple scraps

Inks:  Distress Inks, Kindy Glitz

Stamps:  SU Hand Penned

Tools: Cuttlebug, dies

 

 --00Ooo--

 

Sadly, I couldn't physically attend the Memorial Service as it was too far away, but I was so very thankful for modern technology which meant that the service could be viewed via Zoom.  It was such a lovely service too, so 'Gary' like ..... the music selection was very moving and my heart nearly burst when one of my old photos came up on the screen

there we were, back in about 1976... I can still hear us all laughing and giggling... there are so many good memories of our teenage years.  We often chatted via Messenger and I am so thankful to have been able to catch up with them in 2017 and make a few new memories.  I will treasure each and every one of them.  

 

--ooOoo--

 

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.