Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday & Anniversary

Time for some more 'family' birthday celebrations.

 

We meet up in October to celebrate September & October birthdays.

 

October is niece Lauren's birthday & wedding anniversary - I usually do a combined card. 

 

Background was stamped with Couture Creations 'sunburst' and Clear Heat Embossed, then a selection of ink blended rainbow colours were added. Sentiment  'happy' was die cut 3 times - 1 from rainbow foil cardstock & 2 from white, then layered together for dimension and added to front of card with Foam strip.  Sentiment 'birthday' and 'anniversary' stamped directly onto cardfront.   Fishishing with a few stripes of Stickles.

 

Next up is a card for Great-Nephew, Lucas (11)

 

 

Background was stenciled  with Blue Distress Ink, '11' was stamped & clear heat embossed, 'birthday' was stamped - all directly onto cardfront.  'happy' was die cut from 'gold' mirror cardstock.

 

 

Next up is a card for Archie (9)  - I had some fun with this card!

 

 

 

I have had this set of Uniquely Creative Stamps & Dies (Summer) for a little while now (since August 2024), but have never used them before.  So I set about stamping out some elements and colouring in with Copics, then die cutting several times and mounting in layers to create dimension.  'happy' was die cut from Gold mirror card, layered and added to cardfront with foam.   

 

I played around with the different placements for a little while.  I decided to add a layer of DP from my stash, and a 'white' frame layer to help make the elements stand out a bit better, and once I was happy, stuck everything down. 

 

I really enjoyed the way this card came together and can see some more coming using this stamp set in the future.

 

Linking above card with the following challenges:

NBUS #79 

Cut it Up Challenge #341 - add embellishments 

Addicted to Stamps & More #504 - Any Occasion 

Seize the Birthday #316 - Anything Goes 

Neglected Stuff Challenge 10/25 

 

  

Items Used:

Stamps & dies:	Uniquely Creative – Summer, Hero Arts Stamp & Cut - Happy
Dies:	Waffle Flower A6 Layers
Ink:	Versamark Embossing Ink, Ranger Distress inks, Copic Markers
Card stock:	Blue Edge Crafts 300 gsm cardbase, Blue Edge Crafts 210 gsm cardfront, Mirror cardstock, rainbow foil cardstock
DP:
Tools:	Cuttlebug, Print Blocks Emboss It Heat Tool, Couture Creations Precision Stamp Press, Couture Creations Mini Guillotine Trimmer, Couture Creations Mini Score Board,
Embellishments:	Stickles/Kindy Glitz

 

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.

Enjoy .....

Your retirement!

 

 

 

My friend Mandy & her husband have decided to retire and I thought the occasion worthy of a card!  They ran Blue Edge Crafts for 23 years and I have been a customer for at least 20+ years.  We became friends over that time.  Apart from our love of papercrafts, we also shared an interest in quilting although, I confess, I haven't touched my sewing machine of late.  

 

I am a member of a Facebook Group, World of Creative Crafty Challenges and this month, I was asked to be a Guest Designer by Kerry, who is also a friend I made through Blue Edge Crafts :)  Knowing I wanted a retirement card, an idea was brewing ....... I knew I wanted something fun and light hearted.

 

Some NBUS .....I have had the Car & Road (unbranded) dies for quite a while now - I got them for some children's cards but never got around to using them.  The same with the stamp set 'Islandia' from Creative PL - I have had it for so long, I can't remember where I or when I got it.  The packaging says it was made for Aldi Stores, so that makes me think I got it on one of my trips to an Op Shop, as I haven't ever been to an Aldi Store.

 

The background sky was blended using Distress Inks in 2 different blues, the sun & palm trees were stamped directly onto cardbase.  Inspiration Station Challenge inspired me to use Orange for the sun.  The Road was cut twice out of grey, then the green layer was cut and strategically placed.  

 

All of the small die cut items were cut from left-over scraps (SNIPPETS) which shows that it is good to never throw away your off-cuts!

Sentiment 'enjoy' from Honey Bee 'Bitty Buzz Words' die cut & layered, then placed on front of card with foam dots.

The car was cut out of Blue cardstock 3 times and layered together.  Blue is Mandy's favourite colour!  Wheels were cut from Black 3 times & layered together, with a gel pen detail in silver for hub caps.  

I love this little car...  My first car was a 1960 VW Beetle 💗 and I love the way this card turned out!

 

Linking With the following challenges: 

 

Time Out #241
Cut it Up Challenge #281
Shopping Our Stash SOS499
Inspiration Station #50
NBUS #51
Snippets Playground #457
 

ITEMS USED

Stamps/Dies:  Creative PL 'Islandia', Honey Bee Bitty Buzzwords, Car & Road Border Dies (Unbranded)

Inks: Distress Inks, Memento Tuxedo Black

Tools:  Cuttlebug, Blending Brushes

And one more photo to finish off :)

Here we are in 2014 at our QLD Craft Mad retreat
Front Row:  Mandy, Jan, Kerry
Back Row:  Me, Therese, Ruth, Kaye, Tracey

Our Craft Mad retreat in QLD was the highlight of my year
and I loved every minute of it!

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.

With Sympathy

I got to spend some more creative time in my 'Corner' :)

Handmade backgrounds using Natasha's 'four panel' layout came together beautifully for this sympathy card.

Handmade background made using water reactive inks 'splooshed' onto cardstock, then run through Cuttlebug using four different embossing folders.  Inks rubbed over raised bits and edges inked as well, all mounted with 3d foam onto crisp white cardbase.

With Sympathy sentiment die cut 3 times and layered together, then heat embossed in black 3 times to give an 'enamel' look. The flower is a thin wooden die cut I have had in my stash for ages .... I wasn't sure how to use it, but I have given it the same heat embossing treatment.  I had to leave them both overnight for them to harden properly!

Linking with:

Cardz 4 Galz #177 Get Inky

Can You Handle the Pressure? 

NBUS #30 (Wooden flower die cut)

Happy Little Stampers (with Dies) July

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 another card inspired by a few challenges!

 

Inspired by Freshly Made Sketches #518 and Colour Hues #33 - Silver & White

I embossed a white A6 cardfront with happy birthday folder using the Cuttlebug, then lightly inked all the raised bit with silver ink.  I then stamped & heat embossed a birthday cake (Snag 'em Stamps) in silver, cut out with Spellbinders circle die and raised on foam dots.

Cardfront was then mounted onto silver cardstock, and final touches of bling added!  It wouldn't be a 'Cathy' card if it didn't have bling!

Also linking with NBUS - I have had the above stamp for so long, I can't remember when I got it .......... it must be at least 10 years and by the way it was so difficult to come off the plastic, I don't think I have ever used it before!  (the linky link up does not seem to be working, so I will try again later - updated: working now :) )

Cheers for now!

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 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.

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.

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.

A little pick-up

Time to do some crafting!

Some friends have moved after having their home on the market for quite some time, and as is the way of 2020, things did not go smoothly :(  but they eventually got where they were going and the unpacking is finally underway!

I got inspired to make a card - while I was tidying up, and ended up making more mess!  LOL  You know how it is, right?

Anyway, here is my card:

I have some really old Stampin' Up stamps "Loads of Love" (2004 according to SU) but I can't recall ever using the "Loads of Love Accessories" that I managed to find in an Op Shop.  I always figured it would be a good set for 'moving house' cards :)

Image was stamped and using the "The Stampers Buddy" I was able to line up the accessories stamps.  Image was coloured in with Copics, highlighted with clear & Silver embossing and a splash of 'Kindy Glitz'.

Layout was sort of inspired by Sketch Saturday #650 (with a slight change to proportions) using Spellbinders Squares & Circles.  

The As You Like It challenge asks us for 'our fave way to cut' - I do a bit of fussy cutting around special images, but when making a layout, I just love the precision of using dies versus hand cutting, especially when using the 'nesting' sizes.

Linking with the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More #400 - Die Cuts

As You Like It - Fave Way to Cut

Anything Goes - with Dies

NBUS - #24

Sketch Saturday #650  

(I was a bit late to link my project, but will include the link anyway :) )

It was good to be crafting again :) but now I really need to do some sorting & tidying up, as I made such a mess rumaging through my stash - most of the card was made with off-cuts from my stash.

Cheers for now!

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.