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.

Love You ......

It's that time of year for us ........ we celebrate our 41st Wedding Anniversary on 13th February, and of course, 14th February is Valentines Day  ... 

 

Here is the Anniversary/Valentines card I made for Mr Fixit

 

On the inside of the card it says "I think I will keep you!"

 

Sentiment (font: Finesse) printed with laser Printer, the heart shape was foiled in Red with the MiniMinc.  Centre panel was die cut with Spellbinders, then background was ink blended with a brush using Distress Ink (Candied Apple) while still inside the die, giving another border effect, without adding an extra layer.  

Centre panel was then layered onto red cardstock, then mounted onto black leathergrain (300 gsm) cardbase using foam dots.

Red Gems and Black Bling hearts added as a finishing touch!

There are so many challenges with a 'love' theme at the moment :) it is a real love fest out there!

 

The 'InspiredBy' challenge inspired the placement of the two overlapping heart shapes I used.

The 'Inspiration Station' challenge inspired the use of red hearts.

The 'TicTacToe' challenge, I chose Across Middle Row: Red/Free/Love Sentiment 

The 'Try it on Tuesday' challenge theme is 'all you need is love' ......

 

-oo0oo-

 

Linking With the following challenges:

Try it on Tuesday - All You Need is Love

Tic Tac Toe Challenge #196

 

Inspiration Station - Photo Inspiration (inspired by the Red & Hearts)

Cut it Up #271 - Have a Heart

Inspired by Challenge - Hearts

 

Creative Knockout - Love is in the Air

Cardz 4 Guyz - valentine for a guy

Allsorts Challenge #715 Anything goes with hearts

ITEMS USED

Stamps/Dies:  Spellbinders large rectangle Die

Inks: Distress Ink Candied Apple

Tools:  Cuttlebug, blending brush, Heidi Swapp Mini Minc

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.

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.