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.

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday & Happy 35th Anniversary

Another family gathering, another round of birthdays - this time for the November & December birthdays.

 

Brother-in-law & Sister-in-law celebrated their 35th Wedding Anniversary in November, so an extra special card was made.

 

It's not an original idea, but I did consult the internet on just how many days, weeks, months etc were in 35 years! 

'35 years' anniversary is Coral (Traditional) or Jade (Modern) anniversary.  I didn't have any Jade cardstock, so Coral it had to be LOL  I even searched to find the right RGB code for the font colour (MV Boli).  The Champagne bottle & glasses were purchased from ETSY back in May 2025.  The cardfront was printed with an inkjet printer on 210 gsm cardstock, trimmed down to suit the A6 Cardbase using the Waffle Flower A6 Layers die, then highlighted with just a touch of Kindy Glitz/Stickles.

 

The inside of the card says 'but who's counting?'

 

Linking the above card with the following challenge:

Word Power - December 2025 

 

Next is a card for the brother-in-law, Greg.

 

I diecut a heap of diamonds out of my stash of cardstock (snippets), printed a sentiment with the computer and cut out by hand.  I then 'splashed'  a white background with black ink and placed the diamonds in rainbow order (ROYGBIV) with foam tabs on the front.  I strategically placed the sentiment and added some black bling as a final touch.

 

The white cardfront seemed to disappear on the white cardbase, so I edged the cardfront with black Copics to give it a rough edge.

Quite happy with the way the card turned out.   I have CASED a card I saw on someone's blog a few years ago - I can't find it now, but it had 'handmade by Tasha'.  They used several dies from the Altenew Fine Fames set, but I have chosen the centre diamond, and I used bling/gems whereas I think they used sequins.  I love working with the rainbow colours, and I love any opportunity to work through my snippets stash!

 

Linking the above card with the following challenges:

Cut it Up Challenge #345 - from your stash 

Snippets Playground #521 - use up snippets 

Allsorts Challenge #838 - Anything Goes 

 

I also needed a card for the Sister-in-law, so I duplicated a card I made earlier for a swap, this time using different DP, but everything else was done the same.

 

Colorado Craft Company Sundae Funday image stamped and heat embossed, then hand coloured with Copics.  Spellbinders Circle Dies and offcuts/snippets layered on the background from my stash, and a touch of bling. 

 

This is about as CAS as I get.  I did use an old FMS sketch for the layout.

Linking the above card with the following challenges:

Critter Crazy Challenge #105 

 

 

It felt good to be in the craft room making card for my family :)

 

 

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.

CraftMad Card Swap - August

I was so VERY LATE with my card swap for my partner for August .............  
I just couldn't get motivated

When September hit, I knew I had to pull my finger out!

 

The theme for August was 1 card using TIC-TAC-TOE and 1 card using 'INKS'

 

I have been a bit 'forgetful' lately, so the card is fitting.  Once I settled on which stamp set to use, the ideas came fairly quickly.  

 

Card #1

 

Image of elephant was stamped, coloured in by hand, then fussy cut.

Background row of circles ink-blended with home made stencil using Spellbinders circle dies, highlighted with Kindy Glitz/Stickles.

Small balloon diecut, coloured and highlighted with Kindy Glitz/Stickles.

Gold fine cord added to hold balloon, and 'unforgettable' stamped on vellum then cut to form a tag and attached to cord.  Elephant and balloon were then mounted to cardfront with 3D foam tape to add dimension.  Image 'grounded' with the addition of grey shadow, then final touch of bling/jewels added.

 

Inspiration for the above card was found on Pinterest, but I found the original author's blog TaeEun Yoo using My Favourite Things Adorable Elephant stamp set.

 

Card #2

 

Handmade background - 

Technique:  Emboss Resist - Couture Creations Star Burst - stamped with VersaMark and clear embossed.  Background rainbow created using blending brushes and Altenew inks.

Background was cut to size using Waffle Flower A6 layers die and added to cardbase using 2mm foam tabs.

 

Uniquely Creative Cake Builder - Birthday cake stamped with Versafine Onyx Black pigment ink & clear embossed, then die cut.

 

Cake was then assembled and mounted to card front using 3D foam dots.

 

Thank you so much to my partner for being so very patient with me!

 

Also included, was another one of the cards I made previously especially for swapping partners - see my post in June on how they were made

 

Stay tuned for my September Swap ......... it was so very late as well!

PS:  Cardstock & Couture Creations stamps purchased from BlueEdge Crafts  (no affiliation arrangements with this store, I just want to let fellow Aussies know of a good store :) )

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 New Year to you all!

Time for some NEW Birthday Cards.

 

 

I made my own background by lightly ink blending a few colours and stamping some musical notes several times in Black ink, which was then trimmed to size.  I have had the musical notes stamp for quite a few years, but this is the first time I have used it.

I die cut 'happy birthday' words & shadows from alternating black & white layers - layering the black shadow twice to add more dimension.

Background was attached to the 300 gsm card base using double sided 'jac' paper, then the sentiment was mounted with 3D foam.

 

I am quite happy with the way the card turned out, as this is a new technique for me. 

 

--oooo0oooo--

For the Card #2, I made my own background by ink blending a few different blues, spritzing with water and letting dry.  The I randomly stamped the cake from Stampin Up Voila in Versamark, then heat embossing.  It is amazing the difference a new stamp pad makes!  Now I just need to keep a look out for the refill bottles and not let the stamp pad dry out :)

 

I die cut 'happy birthday' words & shadows from alternating black & white layers - this time using the black words on a white shadow.

Background was attached to the 300 gsm card base, and the sentiment was mounted 3D foam.

 

I quite enjoyed my first 'real' crafting session for 2024, and I hope to spend more time in the craft room...... how about you?...... what are you hoping to do in 2024?

 

 

Linking with following challenges:

 

Card1

NBUS: Musical Notes stamp

Time Out Challenge #254:  New technique

My Time To Craft #525 - Use something new in your stash

All Sorts Challenge #763 - make your own background

 

Card2

Sweet Stampin Challenge: New 

Cardz 4 Guys #338 - Use something new from stash

All Sorts Challenge #763 - make your own background

 

Linking both cards with 

Cut It Up Challenge #295 - New Product/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.

Happy 21st Birthday

The nephew Liam celebrates his 21st birthday!  Where does the time go?

 

I made a card using his favourite football team colours - black, white & teal (Port Power)

 

For the Cardfront, Bubbles were stenciled using my home-made stencil with Spellbinders Circle Dies and randomly placed & coloured using blending brushes with Blue, Grey & Black Distress Inks.  The outer border was coloured with Copics.

Sugar Pea 'Champagne bottle & glasses' were stamped & die cut, then coloured in with Copics and highlighted with Kindy Glitz & Dimensional Magic, Extra bubble blended & handrwitten '21' added to the cardfront with 3D foam dots.  

 

Honey Bee 'Bitty Buzzwords' Sentiment 'happy' stamped directly onto front of card, 'birthday' die cut from black cardstock, mounted onto white shadow, then added to the cardfront with 3D foam dots.

 

Gems added for a final touch of bling!

 

Inside the card I made a pocket for some money - stamped with VersaMark.

 

Linking With the following challenges:

 

Happy Little Stampers - July - Anything Goes with Dies

My Time to Craft! #513 Shades of Blue (not sure this REALLY fits, but will include the link anyway)

Inkspirational #295 - Use Stencils

Color My Heart Color Dare #559 (used blue, orange, yellow, green)

UPDATED:  Emerald Winner in Color My Heart Color Dare #559

 

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

A birthday card today, inspired by a sketch on Freshly Made Sketches and Colour selection from Just Add Ink

 

 

 

I used my own handmade circle stencil, made with Spellbinders Circle dies & acetate, to make the 'bubbles' using blending brushes on a white 210gsm cardfront.

 

'Happy Birthday' from MFT 'Adorable Elephants' stamped directly to the cardfront in Black, trimmed to suit with a blue border added to define the edge.  Cardfront was then added to 300gsm cardbase using 3D foam.  

 

Two cocktail glasses & umbrellas from Sugar Pea Stamps 'Cheers to You' were stamped, die-cut & coloured in with Copics then layered onto the cardfront with 3D foam ... and a finishing touch of Kindy Glitz/Stickles & bling.

 

I used Distress Inks - Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass & Mustard Seed - they are the closest to the Just Add Ink colours I have.

 

 

I am quite pleased with this card - I hope you like it too!

 

**UPDATED**  Oooh - My card was chosen Princess of Clean by Judy for Freshly Made Sketches!

 

 

Linking With the following challenges:

Freshly Made Sketches #587

Just Add Ink #654

Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies

 

ITEMS USED

Stamps/Dies:  MFT Adorable Elephants, Sugar Pea Stamps & Dies

Inks: Distress Inks

Tools:  Cuttlebug, Handmade Stencil, Blending brushes

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 Sharon

It's my Sister-in-Law's birthday during February, around the same time as our Wedding Anniversary.  

We usually get together to celebrate as a family, and this year was no different other than it was a little bit later than normal!  But hey, we got there in the end!

I have been really trying to be more creative with my cards and trying new techniques - one such technique from Natasha Foote caught my eye :)  

In her video titled We can use WHATEVER you have Natasha shares a technique of placing multiple diecut stamped images close together then cutting them out in a heart shape using a heart die.  I don't have a heart die, but I was quite taken with the end result.

So using what I have on hand, I stamped and coloured in my images with Copics and then die cut them.  

As I didn't have a heart shape, I used an oval Spellbinders Die as my shape and placed all the die cuts accordingly.  A little touch of Kindy Glitz here and there and the empty spaces were filled in with some bling (of course).  As the card seemed a bit bare, I sponged the background to give the oval a bit more definition.

The sentiment is from Inkadinkado 'Cupcake' stamp set.

The sweet goodies are from Lawn Fawn 'Sweet Plushies'

Cardstock from BlueEdge Crafts.

Linking with:

Time Out Challenges: #208 Birthday Challenge

Happy Birthday

Hi everyone

back again with another card using a 'new technique'.  I have been concentrating on using my stamps & dies that I have recently purchased .... and not packing them away so that they become NBUS (never before used schtuff) :)  

This is 'Take II' of a card made after watching a video from Natasha Foote on embossing vellum.  My previous card worked out okay, so I thought I would do another one.

First up, I ran vellum through the Cuttlebug using a Darice 'Ranunculus' embossing folder, and swiped all the raised bits with VersaMark Embossing Ink, then heat embossed with Gold embossing powder.   To attach the vellum without any noticeable 'sticky tape', I used some 'jac paper' (double sided sticky) to mount the vellum to the cardbase.

I stamped 'happy birthday' from 'Miss You Big Time' and diecut 3 layers, added a few bits of 'bling' in the center of the flowers, then gave the topper a black edge, like my previous card.

I used a lighter touch for the VersaMark ink this time, so the smudges & overflow was much less! 

Now I have a birthday card for the Sister-in-Law :)

I am quite pleased with this technique, although I am not sold on the black border :(

Cheers for now!

Happy Birthday x 2

Two more cards for you today :)

Our oldest, dearest and closest friends celebrate birthdays close together, just like my hubby and myself!

Chris' birthday was on 26th January and his wife, Cathy (yes same as me) her birthday is on 4th February.  Our birthdays are September & October, and we have similar food tastes!

We had a lovely catchup last Friday, wherein we sat around the table eating, drinking (only a little) and solving the problems with the world ...... as you do!

Anyway, here are the cards I made for them.  I'll start with the birthday card for Chris.

For a change, I went with a DL size card, in portrait mode.  I have been having a lot of fun with a new way of making my own backgrounds lately, so I used this lovely green & gold combination.  Inks 'smooshed' onto a surface, spayed with water, then place the cardstock over the inks.  The edges were inked with Dark Green to define the outer edge.  'happy birthday' sentiment stamped in Black Staz On and die cut layered with 3 layers to give it substance.  Balloon die cut from a scrap piece of Holographic foil cardstock, all mounted on a DL size card.  Die Cuts layered with 3D foam.  The string on the balloon was hand drawn with black fineliner.

Over all, I was quite pleased with the card and Chris loved it!

Now, onto the card for the Birthday Girl (which was the main reason for our get together).  Cathy is celebrating a 'big one' ....... 60!

I stuck with the DL size card in portrait mode, and used another handmade background.  For the balloons I created some text in Word, prnted on purple cardstock (Cathy's favourite colour) and foiled with gold, then die cut the balloons and actually tied up the balloons with black cotton.  Balloons placed in staggered layers, then Penny Black Hedgehog from 'Party Time' stamped and hand coloured in with Copics, cut out and positioned with 3D foam.  Little butterfly with a present stamped directly onto the front, hand coloured with Copics & Kindy Glitz added.  A final bit of bling added with some sequins.

I am quite pleased with the foiling and the bonus is that Cathy loved the card!

I am linking the above cards with the following Challenges:

Happy Little Stampers: Anything Goes (backgrounds were made with inks & water)

Penny Black Saturday Challenge:  Anything goes/Something New  (new technique)

Seize the Birthday: Anything goes as long as it is birthday (oops, too late for linky)

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 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.