Thinking of You, Happy Birthday

I got some time in the Craft Room, yay!

Card #1 

I used my ProvoCraft Happy Birthday embossing folder - one of the very first embossing folders I bought back in the 90's - to make the background, inked the edges and then attached to the front of 300 gsm card base with 3d foam tape. 

Die Cut some balloons out of snippets of DSP in my stash and added to the cardfront with foam tape.  I then hand drew the streamers.

 

Linking with  

Snippets Playground #540 

 

AAA Birthday   Use patterned paper

 

Card #2

For my next card, I used a handmade stencil with circles cut out and ink blended some circles, and stamped some Kaisercraft Butterflies in black ink.  

The cardfront was attached to a cardbase that was inked around the edges.

A final addition of black gems for a touch of bling!

Allsorts challenge - All Creatures Great & Small

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.

Best Wishes, To My Friend

Time for another card swap - CM June swap cards – Christmas & Sketch (once again, I was extremely late in making and sending these cards)

Card #1 – Black & White + 1 colour

I knew which direction I was going to go with this one - black & white + Gold

 

Thanks to my swap partner for taking the photo :)

 

I die cut a selection of flowers, leaves and stems from the Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms die set using my Cuttlebug.

 

I die cut a black cardfront using my Waffle Flower A6 Nesting Rectangles.

 

I played with the layout of flowers for a while until I was happy, then proceeded to attach flowers using a combination of glue and foam squares.

 

I attached the black cardfront to the white cardbase, then finished with gold sticker 'best wishes' sentiment.

 

No added bling for this card.

 

Linking Card #1 with the following challenges:

 

AAA birthday #88 - flowers 

 

 Just Us Girls #835 - Die Week

 

 

Card #2 – Tic Tac Toe

I went with the middle column - Bright Colours, Friend, Gems

 

 

I settled on the 'bright colours' option and knew I wanted to utilise a rainbow and as I was browsing through my stamps, I came across my Altenew Mini Delight Mini Paintbox .... perfect!  I have had this stamp in my stash for a little while, and I don't think I have used it yet!

I positioned the paintbox and sentiments then stamped using the Couture Creations stamp positioner so that I could stamp twice and get a good impression.

 

I coloured in the 'paint pots' using Altenew Inks and then stencilled the background using the same Altenew Ink colours, then added Crystal Accents to the paint pots.   I then trimmed and attached the cardfront to the cardbase.

 

I added gems with glue, the final element in the Tic Tac Toe.

 

This card came together quite quickly, and I am very happy with the way it turned out.

 

Linking Card #2 with the following challenges:

NBUS Challenge #89  - 'stencils'  I have had a huge pile of stencils in my stash for quite some time now and have only used 2 or 3.  I am aiming to use each stencil, at least once before Christmas!  LOL

Neglected Stuff Challenge - August 2026 

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.

Guest Designer Post - CAS on Sunday Challenge #329

The card I submitted to a recent CAS on Friday Challenge #327 was selected as a Top Image, and I have been invited to be a Guest Designer for their next challenge - which is Challenge #329

 

We were provided with a sketch for this particular challenge and here is my take on that sketch.

 

I confess I do struggle a little with 'CAS' ...... I always wonder whether a card looks 'finished' enough LOL

 

aNYWAY .......

 

I recently purchased some new Spellbinder number dies - 'Classy Numbers' and was looking for an excuse to use them.  

 

As soon as I saw the sketch, I knew I wanted to use some lovely ribbons I have had in my stash for as long as I can remember, so I pulled that out.

 

I also came across the last of some lovely 'red mirror/foil cardstock' and die cut several copies of numbers from it.  I layered those numbers three times, and mounted onto a circle die cut. 

 

I cut some 210 gsm white cardstock with Waffle Flower Nesting rectangles, then embossed using the ProvoCraft 'Number Collage' embossing folder, and smudged some Candied Apple Distress Ink along the outer edge of the cardfront and across the top of raised numbers.  I then applied the two strips of red crossgrain ribbon and glued to the back of the cardfront.  The Cardfront was attached to 300 gsm white A6 cardbase with foam tape, and the white circle with the '60' was placed on the front with foam tape as well.

 

this is the sketch we were provided:

 

I would like to thank Janneke Dijkstra - de Jong  & Team for picking my card as a winner and for the invitation to be a Guest Designer.  I look forward to seeing the other Design Team's cards.

 

Please visit the CAS on Friday blog to see their new challenge.

 

Linking with:

AAA Birthday #83 - Use Die Cuts 

Can you Handle the Pressure 2/2026 - Anything goes

Allsorts Challenge #844 - Ribbons & Bows
 

 

 

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!

Another family birthday, this one for the Nephew, Liam.

 

I made the card using his favourite football team colours - Port Adelaide (Black, White & Teal)

 

I have wanted to try the 'split circle' technique for quite some time and I figure now was a good time to try.

 

I made a background using Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder and splattered with Distress Inks, then cut the cardfront with Waffle Flower A6 layers die.  I diecut several different size Spellbinders circles from offcuts of black, white & teal cardstock and set out having a play.  I discovered that cutting a circle in half is not as easy as it sounds  LOL but I managed. 

 

Circles were cut, glued together then arranged accordingly, but I made a mess with the ink somehow, hence the 'extra' bit to the left of the 'Happy Birthday' to cover up a blob.  Happy Birthday sentiment is from Stampin' Up, Voila! stamped onto another circle, then positioned accordingly.

 

Birthday balloons were cut from teal and placed on the cardfront. (unknown brand, bought at an Op Shop)

 

Cardfront was then attached to a 300gsm white card base.

 

I was not completely happy with the card, but time was against me.  I think I will have another play with these split circles at some stage in the future and see what I can come up with.

 

 

Linking with the following challenges:

 

 

 

AAA Birthday #76 - Sports (Fave Sports team colours)  Not sure if this qualifies or not, but will give it a shot!

Seize the Birthday #311 - no flowers

Snippets Playground #513 -  offcuts of black, teal & White

All Sorts Challenge #830 - I Spy with a "B" - Balloons 

 

 

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, Happy Anniversary, Happy Birthday

It's time for the in-laws birthday & anniversary celebrations.

 

Card#1 - Birthday card for Sister-in-law Rosa

I had a play with my Uniquely Creative Cake Builder Stamp & Die Set.  Cake elements were stamped on 210 gsm cardstock in Versafine Ink, hand coloured with watercolour pencils and cut out with matching dies.

 

The background stamp is Couture Creations 'Star Burst' stamped on 210 gsm cardstock with Versamark Ink and heat embossed with Holographic Embossing Powder that I have had in my stash for as long as I can remember - I don't use it very often, as it doesn't always stick very well, and tiny specks of glitter come off if you handle it too much :( The background was trimmed to make the cardfront, then added to 300gsm cardbase using foam tape. 

 

The cake elements were then layered strategically on the cardfront with a combination of foam tape & double-sided tape for added dimension.

 

Linking Card#1 with the following Challenges

AAA Birthday #68 - Lovely Layers

 

Allsorts Challenge -Week 812/3 - use your dies

Card#2 - Wedding Anniversary Card

I used up some more of the gorgeous Spellbinders Be Bold Blooms die-cuts I had pre-cut in a previous crafting session.  I am loving this Blue/Yellow/White combination.

 

Card#3 - Birthday Card for brother-in-law Greg

I had some fun cutting out records and squares from my stash of colour cardstock and placing in a fun layout.  I love the sentiment .....

 

Linking Card#3 with the following Challenges

AAA Cards #280 - sketch - I have rotated the sketch

 

 

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.

You're not old ... you're vintage!

I had a lot of fun making this card.

 

 

I stamped the TV and die cut several times, making a shaker window for the screen. I placed TV onto background SDP, then used a Stampin' Up Marker to define the edge.

 

 

Sentiment was stamped using Stampin' Up Marker Bravo Burgundy - I am amazed they still work after all these years!

I just love these layering stamps & dies - they create such interest in an otherwise clean & simple card. #Altenew

 

Linking With the following challenges:

 

Happy Little Stampers:  Anything Goes with Dies

AAA Birthday Game #48 - Layer it up

The Male Room Challenge #173 - Stencil &/or Dies

Sweet Stampin Challenge - Use Dies &/or punches

Fab 'n' Funky Challenge #570 - Use die cuts

 

ITEMS USED

Stamps/Dies:  Altenew Vintage Vibes

Inks: Stampin Up:  Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Bravo Burgundy; Distress Inks, Versafine

Tools:  Cuttlebug, Couture Creations 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.

Let's Celebrate

It is incredibly hot here in Adelaide this week - we have had several days of  between 35C-41C (95F-106F) so we have been inside, with doors and windows/blinds closed.  Mr Fixit has been on his computer researching a new bed for us and I have been in my craft room, having a play.

 

It was quite fun making a card with no specific person in mind .....  this card has been inspired by some of my favourite challenge blogs.

 

 

To make the background, I used a stencil I had made myself with Spellbinders Circles & Acetate, and used a blending brush & inks to make 'bubbles', randomly positioning the stencil.  Each bubble was highlighted with a white gel pen.  Background was then trimmed and placed onto Burgundy cardstock, which was then placed onto a white A6 cardbase.

Using StazOn Ganache (a nice dark brown/black ink, less harsh than black) I stamped the Champagne bottle & glasses on white cardstock and coloured with copics.  Bottle & glasses were die cut 3 times and layered together, then placed on cardfront and highlighted with Kindy Glitz/Stickles, Dimensional Magic & Dew Drops.

 

Sentiment 'Let's celebrate' stamp is from Ultimate Crafts (Magazine)

 

I am quite pleased with how this card came together, it was just so nice to sit and have a play.

 

Top 3 Winner AAA Birthday

 

 

--oo0oo--

 

Linking With the following challenges:

AAA Cards Challenge has asked us to use circles.

 

AAA Birthday Challenge is to use a stencil.

 Just us Girls Challenge has a mood board (I was inspired by some of the colours) 

 

As You Like It Challenge is your 'favourite stencil or freestyle background'   I have started making my own handmade backgrounds of late, and I must say I am enjoying it!

 

ITEMS USED

Stamps/Dies:  Champagne bottle & glasses, Spellbinders Circles, Sentiment

Inks:  Distress Inks, Copics, white gel pen, StazOn Ganache

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 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.

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.