Naughty or Nice?

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 – Christmas

I struggled a little bit for this one ...... not quite in the Christmas spirit just yet LOL

 

But I went through my Christmas Stamps/Dies & papers and very slowly a plan came together.

 

I stamped up some images got from Facebook Marketplace (I think) and hand coloured with a soft watercolour using my inks, then added a touch of Kindy Glitz/Stickles.

 

The centre panel was trimmed, then affixed to some Christmas DP using double-sided tape, which was then attached for the 300gsm cardbase, again using DS tape.

I quite like the 'rustic' fun feel to this one.

 

Linking Card #1 with the following challenges:

Christmas Crafts All Year Round - July Challenge 'M, N, O'  - I chose 'N' Naughty or NiceCritter Crazy Challenge Blog #112  - cute reindeer & snowman critters

 

 

Card #2 – Sketch + Christmas

 

This card came together quite quickly, once I was in the Christmas mood :)

 

I have used some DP that came with my 2025 Secret Santa present - it has been such a great paper pad to have on hand.

 

I stamped up the Santa and sentiment from the MFT Jingle All the Way set and hand cut the Santa out.  I was going to just place the Santa on a diecut circle to fit with the sketch, but I remembered I had some 'wobbles' somewhere in my stash ....... 30 minutes later, I finally found them after putting them away somewhere safe  LOL

 

None of the usual bling for this card ...... but I am quite pleased with how this card turned out.

 

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 Candles

Time for another card swap - CM May swap cards – Candles & Sketch (I was extremely late in making and sending these cards)

Card #1 – Candles

I knew what I wanted to do for this theme :)  

I printed some candle digital images from LOTV and foiled them on gloss card, and cut the cardfront with some A6 dies.  I then coloured the candles using Copics.  I mounted the cardfront onto some coloured cardstock, then mounted the cardfront onto a 300 gsm base.

The gold foiling worked beautifully and I was very happy on how it turned out.

 

Linking Card #1 with the following challenges:

AAA Colourful: #29  (all the blues/pinks/greens)

 

 

Card #2 – Sketch

We had a sketch provided – although I did not stick to it precisely …

I used some Kaisercraft designer paper & stamps.  I was going to stamp the cupcake, but decided to fussy cut it from the DP, then mounted to front with 3D foam.

I used the other side of the DP for the background panel and stamped 'birthday wishes' onto coloured cardstock.  

I finished the card with my usual bling!

I am quite pleased with how this card turned out.

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.

Swap Cards - April - Fun Fold & Sketch

Time for another card swap - CM April swap cards – Fun Fold & Sketch

Card #1 – Fun Fold

I struggled to decide on which ‘fun fold’ I was going to use, but then settled on a ‘Z-fold’.

I utilised some more the DP & embellishments received in my Secret Santa swap.

I used black cardstock for the base, and white cardstock for features.  I die-cut ‘hello’ from Honey Bee Bitty Buzzwords in white (x2) and black for the shadow.

The sentiment and butterfly were mounted to the front with 3d foam tape and a final touch of bling added.

I think this card is ‘CAS’ …. Well it is for me!  LOL

I kept the two inside panels blank for writing a personal message.

Items Used:

Stamps &/or Dies:  Honey Bee Stamps Bitty Buzzwords

Adhesives/Tapes:  Double sided tape, Gina K Connect Glue, 3D foam

Card stock:  Blue Edge Crafts 300 gsm cardbase, Blue Edge Crafts 210 gsm background and die cuts

DP:  American Crafts – Vick Boutin ‘Bold & Bright’

Tools:  Cuttlebug, Couture Creations Mini Guillotine Trimmer

Embellishments:  American Crafts – Vick Boutin ‘Bold & Bright’

 Linking Card #1 with the following challenges:

Triple B: April Challenge - Butterflies 

 

Card #2 – Sketch

We had a sketch provided – although I did not stick to it precisely …

I used a die set I have had for quite some time now, but don’t seem to reach for it very often.  I thought it might work for this sketch.

I cut up some DP to suit the background (once again using my Secret Santa present) and die-cut the BBQ & sentiment from coloured cardstock, the food & flames from white cardstock and the tools & wheel from silver mirror cardstock.  I then coloured the flames & food items with Copics, finishing with Kindy Glitz on the flames.

I die-cut several different sizes of circles from vellum/parchment paper and placed according to sketch layout.  I then attached the BBQ elements to front of card using Gina K Connect Glue.

I am quite pleased with how this card turned out.

Items Used:

Stamps &/or dies:  Creative Expressions – King of the Grill, Spellbinders Circles

Ink:  Copics, Kindy Glitz

Adhesives/Tapes:  Double sided tape, Gina K Connect Glue, 3D foam

Card stock:  Blue Edge Crafts - 300 gsm cardbase, white 210 gsm cardstock, mirror cardstock, vellum

DP:  American Crafts – Vick Boutin ‘Bold & Bright’

Tools:  Cuttlebug,  Couture Creations Mini Guillotine Trimmer

Linking Card #2 with the following challenges:

Crafty Calendar Challenge April - Dies/Punches 

Neglected Stuff Challenge April  

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.

Swap Cards - With Sympathy & Handmade Hug

It was time again for some more swap cards.

 

Card # 1 - Easel Card

 

I struggled to come up with an idea - but landed on a 'crafty' feel.  I actually started following the sketch before I came up with a suitable 'easel' idea.

 

I stamped, hand coloured and die cut several elements from the Stampin Up Crafting With You.

 

The various elements were added to the front of the cardbase using foam tabs to provide added dimension.

I forgot to take a photo of the easel bit ..... but the front of the card folds up, to reveal another raised element of the designer paper.

 

Card #2 - Sketch 

 

Once again, I followed the sketch, with the basic elements being added to the front of the card with foam tabs.  Spellbinders 'Little Blooms' were diecut, then ink blended with Distress Inks, leaves trimmed & glued together to form a 'bunch', then added to the square panel cut with Spellbinder Square die.

 

The background paper came from the paper pad I got from Secret Santa - it's funny, because I am not normally a fan of green, but I do like this particular shade of green.

 

The 'With Sympathy' element was printed and foiled, then die cut with Spellbinders Circle die.  Both the square and the circle were added to the cardfront with foam tabs to add dimension.

 

 Linking Card #2 with the following challenges:

Pick 3 challenge #2 - I chose Embellishments, Flower, Circle

 

Allsorts Challenge #844 - 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.

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.

Card Swap June

2 new cards from me today, this time swap cards for CraftMad Swappers

 

I was extremely late with my cards for June .......

 

 

At first, I struggled with deciding which 2022 card to case, as they were all so good!  but in the end, I couldn't go past this one by fellow swapper, Tracey.

 

 

Card #1

 

I set about making my own background with sponging varying shades of purple/pink inks, then I randomly stamped my Kaisercraft butterflies and heat embossed in gold.  I also heat embossed the edges of the cardfront with gold, then attached to cardbase with double-sided tape.

 

I die cut sentiment out of white cardstock, mounted onto a black shadow then attached to the cardfront with foam squares to add dimension.

 

Card finished off with some randomly placed bling!

 

 

Card #2

This card followed the sketch, and I took the opportunity to have a play with my Penny Black Stamps - Party Time set.

Images were stamped with black Versafine ink, then clear heat embossed.  I coloured them in with Altenew Crisp Dye Ink (Dusk) using a watercolour brush, and then inked the edges of the boxes.  Waffle Flower A6 layers dies were used to cut the different sized boxes :)  

 

 

The most perfect background Scrapbook DP came from my stash ..... I don't know how long I have had it LOL.  The text 'happy' was diecut twice from white cardstock and coloured with same ink used to colour my images, then mounted with foam squares.  

 

 

The boxes were placed according to sketch and layered with foam squares to add dimension.

 

I also made a 'thank you for being my swap partner' card :)

 

 

When you open it up, the image of the die cutting machine stays on the inside :)

 

I just 'love' the die cut of the paper trimmer!!

 

'Thank You' card was made entirely with offcuts/snippets of white & silver cardstock and some leftover scrapbook DP

 

Linking 'Thank You' card with the following Challenges

Snippets Playground Challenge #485

 

Linking Card#2 with the following Challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - July - Anything Goes/Food 

Cardz 4 Galz #229 - Shades of Blue  (oops!! Too late!)

TicTacToeCallenge-#252 (Middle Column - DieCut(s), Free, Any Sentiment) 

tttc#252

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.