Thank you card

So this is the last of the bunch of cards I made since March (well, a selection from the bunch of cards!). I made it for a colleague who was leaving the organisation. Very sad day!

I kind of knew how I wanted the card to look, then made a few hasty decisions and stuck some elements down before checking they were actually in the right place. No matter, a slight adjustment in the design and it ended up okay. No quite how I wanted, but presentable! :)

Altenew Amazing Day

Another Altenew card to share. This one unfortunately didn't photograph as well as it looks in real life - it's actually more peachy than orange.

I did a bit of masking on this one so the flowers would overlap slightly. I made a few mistakes with the leaves but hey, it adds to the 'one of a kind' aspect!

Crafters Companion Pocket card

Crafters Companion had a Design Team call in September and I thought I'd have a go and apply. Unfortunately I didn't get selected, but you never know, one day it may happen :)

This is one of the cards I submitted to show some different styles of cards I have made. All but the 'Congratulations' die are Crafters Companion products.

Altenew Cross-card

OK, I don't actually know what kind of card this is. It probably does have a name but I can't think what it is!

I used Altenew Vintage Roses on this card and Waffle Flower sentiment stamps. As you can see the card is made up of two parts that cross into each other. A suggestion though if you do try one - keep an eye on the front frame as mine was slightly flimsy. I think next time I'd either double up on the front frame or try making the frame smaller.

Edited Purple Penguin

Just wanted to share the change I made to one of my cards. Originally this had a piece of purple vellum under the topper but it was bugging me, I didn't think it quite looked right!

I decided to remove it and created a poinsettia from Crafts Too dies and added an extra gem.

I'm happy with it now! 😊

Pastel embossed Christmas card

Oooh it's one month today! Excited! I love Christmas, especially the build up to it after Halloween.

I made a card using a new technique for me. A family member had given me a load of art materials that I just haven't got round to using. I had embossed a Christmas background onto white card but thought it needed something to bring it out a bit, and remembered about the oil pastels.

I gently rubbed some colour into the background to bring it to life a bit and thought the effect was quite nice. I reckon it would look really good if you had a candle and wanted to add a glow to it.

Leafy wishes

Eek, almost just a month before Christmas! Possibly a bit late to post an autumn card but it is one I made a while back!

This is using the Crafters Inspiration magazine die and paper (where the sentiment is), and Crafters Companion Textures embossing folder. I distressed the cardstock a little with an orange ink pad.

Simple snowy scene

Okay so this card is actually one my favourites, and the funny thing is, I hardly did anything to it!

I made my card using a Hunkydory kit but the scene is from the patterned paper and not a topper.

I cut down the paper (which was A4 size) added some diamond Stickles for the snow and added a border and sentiment onto foam pads. It is mounted on silver mirriboard and a white card base. Simples 😊

CAS Mam birthday card

If you're not from the North of England, you may not call your mother 'Mam'. It used to be quite difficult to find cards with Mam on rather than Mum, however more card shops seem to be selling them now.

My card is a CAS card using all white cardstock which has been inked up using Tim Holtz Distress inks. I like the pop of these colours, not usually two colours I'd put together but they remind me of pansies and violas :)

Sweetie Gift box

I have seen these gift boxes on Pinterest quite a lot and have been wanting to try doing one for ages!

I created it in stages at different times - first the shell, then the papers, then added the image and flowers. Sometimes I get a bit carried away and do something on a card or piece that I then regret and should have taken a time to think about it. I didn't want to rush this and not like it by the time I finished it! I'm pleased with the result, it would be perfect for a Christmas gift... might give that a go...

Christmas Angel of Joy

Good morning, I am slowly making a batch of Christmas cards, but I still have a list of people I need to make them for!

I thought I would share one of the cards I made, following the layout for challenge #439 over at Sketch Saturday:

The image is printed from a CDrom and sentiment is from a Humphrey's Corner set from Crafters Companion. The papers from "The Night Before Christmas" pack by Helz Cuppleditch.

Oh Christmas tree!

A card using a different kit from Hunkydory to show you today. This one makes me think of handmade Christmas decorations because of the stitched hearts and buttons 😊

The border pieces aren't actually the pop out borders from the kit. The good thing about Hunkydory kits is the fill the pages with patterns and foiling on the edges of the pieces so you can easily make them into something else!

50th birthday

On this card I tried something different, a bit of stencilling. I do have a few stencils which I tried for mixed-media pieces but decided I'd go with inking up a bubble type stencil in the corners of this card:

I liked the way this card turned out. I was making it for a family member so I turn into a perfectionist if I am making a card for a reason (rather than just for fun). I also made a back-up birthday card just in case...

Shaker snowy scene

Another fab Hunkydory kit to show you today. I used one of the toppers and frames to create a shaker card:

I really like this scene and you get paper to match. I wanted the topper to be the focal point so didn't want to use patterned paper - it means I can stretch my Hunkydory stash!

Altenew Birthday Card

On this card I used Altenew Vintage Roses set.

I added some low-tack tape near the top so I could get a clean white line underneath the roses. I took a bit of time over the placing of the flowers to make sure I didn't overlap them. A quick card to make!

Leafy birthday wishes

Another Autumn card today mostly using the freebies from the Crafters Inspiration magazine from Crafters Companion:

I did enjoy making the background for this one and adding a bit of gold embossing for a bit of bling. The leafy die-cuts are lovely, I can see these being used throughout the year to add interest to cards.

Hunkydory Sleigh Ride

This morning's card is one I made on the weekend - I was quite productive, 4 in one day!

I made it from a Hunkydory set and added Memory Box poinsettia and Crafters Companion holly diecuts:

I do love Hunkydory products, you don't need to use much from the kits to make pretty cards :)

In the frame...

I tried something a bit different a couple of months back instead of making a card. This time I thought I'd have a go at making some home décor.

Still using Sara Davies Signature Collection flower dies, I die-cut lots of different sized and shaped flowers from some Crafters Companion paper and arranged them into a heart shape onto pearlescent embossed card (also Sara Davies Signature Collection). Each flower has a pearl centre, and I added some white ribbon to embellish.

I really liked how it turned out, especially as I didn't really have a plan in mind, I just went for it! I was so chuffed when I got a 'like' on Twitter from Sara Davies herself! :)

Ornate Holly card

This card was a bit of an experiment, I knew that I wanted to use the Tonic Studios background die but that was about it. After umming and ahhing for a while I added Sara Davies Signature Collection 'Merry Christmas' and holly dies.

It was kind of the effect I wanted, but I think I'll change the layout slightly next time - of course it meant I needed some more crafty stash to allow me to do that...

CAS Birthday card

I have a 'clean and simple' or 'CAS' card to share with you today. For this one I used Tonic Studio pinhole die to add some interesting edging, and die cut a circle aperture using Tonic Studio die.

There is glittered background paper and the white frame is mounted on foam pads for dimension. The Happy Birthday die is a Sara Davies Signature Collection die. Quite a useful layout to do for male and female cards :)

Altenew Roses

When I make a card, either I've planned in my head exactly what layout I want to do, or I have no idea when I start. This one was a 'no plan in mind' kind of card.

I would like to say that I am quicker at making cards if I have a design planned, but I'm not. I spent absolutely ages making a card, I'm an over-thinker! :)

Snow bears

We had some snow in the early hours of this morning, Hubby had to clear about 12cm off the car before we could leave for work. There wasn't any sign of snowfall by the time we reached the city, funny how much difference ten miles makes!

Following the snowy theme my card today using "Dear Santa" Christmas papers:

The layout is Creative Inspirations challenge #261 sketch. I interpreted the sketch as being layers, and added glitter card in between to add interest :)

Angel Blue

Today's Christmas card is using Hobbycraft Christmas papers and image I printed from a CD:

I used rainbow mirri in the background which is what you can see reflecting in the photo!

The scalloped circle die and holly are Marianne Designs, and poinsettia is Crafts Too.

The layout is from a challenge over at Sketch Saturday #437.

Balloon birthday!

Today I have a card which I made for my Dad for his birthday:

I used Dovecraft balloon dies and then Memory Box letter dies in the middle of each to spell 'Happy'. I then stamped the birthday and added some stripy paper. That's it, simple! :)

Purple Penguin

I am starting to feel more Christmassy now, and there is only something like seven weeks to go! Yay!

I made a Christmas card in more contemporary colours to go with the cute little image I found:

The layout is following The Sketchy Challenge blog, sketch #107.

Birthday Gift Box

I like making gift boxes and had a go at this shape:

A good size for a small packet of sweets or chocolate. I wish I had chosen my paper better those, I think it looks a bit busy and the purple embellishments look a bit lost. However I'll plan better next time!

Snowy Bunny

I love this little cutie stamp! It does make me feel a tad more Christmassy:

Sorry for the poor photograph, I am struggling to find good light to take the pictures for my recent cards!

Forsythia card

Hello!
Back with another card I created a few months ago:

I love Altenew stamps, I think they are really clever and the result is always amazing!

This card is using Altenew Vintage Flowers set, and I tried to create Forsythia, one of my favourite shrub (is it a shrub?). You can get a really nice card using these stamps with little effort. If you have ink pads in various shades of the same colour you're already half way there!

For anyone who hasn't tried layering stamps before, you start with the largest and biggest surface area and stamp in your lightest shade, then gradually build up the image with darker shades to get the depth.

Star birthday

I look on Pinterest a lot for inspiration and there are many cards where the background has been created just using one stamp in various colours. So I thought I'd give it a go...

The die cut is by Dovecraft, and star stamp is from one of the Daisy & Dandelion sets. I have quite a few coloured inks to play with now so just dived straight in and started stamping - roughly clustering stars into a central point. I then cut down the background into the size and shape I wanted, and thought looked the best section.

Autumn thanks

Good morning!

Continuing with my plan of posting some of my favourite cards I have made over the last six months or so, here is another:

Autumn is my favourite time of year, I love the colours you see in the trees - especially when it's a beautiful sunny day too.

The car has die cuts from different crafting companies - the scalloped circle and square with pinholes are Tonic Studios, the turquoise flower is Sara Davies Signature range, the leaves are Marianne Designs. The small orange flower is a punch from Hobbycraft.
The image was free from either Cardmaking & Papercraft or Quick Cards magazine and I coloured it using Promarkers. All have been mounted on My Minds Eye papers.

Christmas Stockings

I haven't actually made that many Christmas cards yet... I better get a wiggle on! I tend to get more motivated when it starts to feel like Christmas, which I hope now that Halloween is over it will spur me on!

This card is using a free stamp from either Cardmaking & Papercraft or Quick Cards magazine. In future I will need to jot down where I got them from!

I coloured the image using Spectrum Noir pencils and added a little Stickles for some sparkle.

Back from a break...

So I haven't posted anything for a while, although I have been more active on Twitter and Instagram. I was considering whether to continue with my blog, and now decided I will pick up blogging again. I have been creating so I will post some of my favourite cards I have tweeted/posted since March...

Starting with this card:

I am usually quite critical of my cards, however quite liked the result on this one. I actually made it for a competition Case This Card by Crafters Companion, and was fortunate to have been chosen as the winner! It gave me the confidence boost I needed :)

The embossing folder, flowers and foliage are from Sara Davies Signature ranges (Crafters Companion), the stamp is by Sheena Douglass (Crafters Companion) and frame is a Sizzix die.

Embossed Best Wishes

I still have new stash that I haven't used yet, so I thought I would get some out to play with. I'd seen a card on Pinterest where the front had been divided in two and the pretty pretty paper peeking through. I liked this idea but wasn't sure whether it might look a bit plain if I just used plain white card, so picked out my new Crafters Companion Sara Davies embossing folder and then inked the card once embossed to bring out the lovely pattern:

I might try inking the folder first before embossing the card next time and see how that looks :)

Snap happy birthday

I made this card a couple of nights ago for the new Sketch Saturday challenge #402 (click blog name for direct link). The card sketch is really clean and simple so it gives you the option of dressing up you card or keeping it minimal. I went for a male minimalist card!

I stamped Happy Birthday and Uncle and then heat embossed the wording. You could do so many different variations with this sketch though!

Thank you Tulips

I have finally got round to playing with my new Altenew Brush Art stamps! I love them! They give such a lovely clear print. For this card I used the tulip stamps from the set:

I would like some new ink pads in lots of colours so I can create different versions! Can't wait to try the rose stamps too...

I have entered this card into the challenge at the cardmakingandpapercraft.com - Think Pink

Birthday stars

I made this card a while ago for my brother-in-law. It was quite fun to make, putting together the different layers for each letter:

I thought it was a good layout for a card for a male :)

Mothers Day Blooms

I always think of beautiful Spring flowers for mothers day. There's nothing like a big bunch of daffodils or tulips to brighten a room.

I didn't quite go for the feminine pastels that I usually make for mothers day cards, but it does still beautiful blue blooms:

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges (click blog names for direct link) -

Crafty Catz - Special Lady

Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog - Mothers Day

The dies with the stitching are part of the new Tonic Studios range 'Sew Pretty' which pierce pinholes into the cardstock so you can faux or add real stitching to. So pretty! :)

Niece Shaker card

I own Crafters Companion Ultimate Pro, but I don't use it as often as I should! I used it to make the box envelope for this shaker card:

I heat embossed the image and sentiment with a pearly black embossing powder. The flowers (which I love!) is a Crafters Companion die which you roll up once cut.

Happy birthday bear

Wow, so unlike me to make two cards in one night! My second is for the challenges listed underneath:

Challenges - 

Creative Inspirations #345 - anything goes + sketch (I used no. 6)

Cute Card Thursday #414 - florals

Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog - glitter and sparkle

Birthday Wishes - Gorjuss Poppies

I have been practicing with my Spectrum Noir pencils recently, and I just happened to come across the Spectrum Noir monthly challenge that they also run. This month it's using pinks and/or reds - colouring with any Spectrum Noir range. I only have the Primaries but it still has all the colours you need for an image:

You can't really see the colours of the pencils in the background but they are:

024, 027, 033, 035, 052, 065, 084, 087, 096, 099, 104, and 107.

The layout is from Sketch Saturday, with my own twist :)

You make me smile

Inspired by the thought of Spring, I wanted to try and create my own daffodils for cards. I don't have a daffodil die, but the sets from the Sara Davies Signature ranges by Crafters Companion can be coordinated to make a flower that looks pretty similar.

I inked the middle of the flowers before adding an orange gem. The sentiment stamp is from a set by Sheena Douglass which was free with a magazine.

Just for you bear

I am soooo looking forward to Spring. I love it when you see a burst of colour popping through along the roadside. At the moment I am busy planning my gardening tasks for this year, hoping to add more flowers to the lovely green shrubs we have.

I have had the paper on my card for a while, wondering how to best show it off. I thought I would try layering and matching up the pattern, to add a bit of interest and dimension:

Hunkydory Happy Birthday

I have a few Hunkydory sets that I received free with magazines. I have had them for years - mostly because I thought they were so pretty I didn't want to cut them up! However I have been watching Create and Craft TV a lot recently and loved the demos from Hunkydory.

Here's one I made just using the paper and a sentiment:

Bright butterfly

I love using social media to get inspiration. The only thing is, I find so much I like and want to recreate with my own spin!

I saw a card by Stampin Cards and Memories (click for direct link) and got my thinking cap on for what materials and supplies I had to try my own version. It's bright!

Valentine's

It's a snowy Valentine's day here. I think more flurries are on the way. Good reason to stay warm indoors and eat Valentine's chocolates!

I made a card for my hubby using Sara Davies Signature range Love and Romance stamps and papers. I tried not to make it too girly!

Mother's birthday card

After the colour pink, purple is my next favourite. And for some reason whenever I go to make a card for my mother, I always reach for the purpley hues.

I recently bought some products from Sara Davies Signature 'Love and Romance' collection by Crafters Companion and thought the new heart die was so pretty as a little doily:

Thank you shaker

The card today is one I made just after Christmas. It was a bit of an experiment, there are things I would change about it but that's the good thing about having a hobby...learning more about it.

It's a Thank you shaker card -

The bit I would change next time is maybe putting a less busy design paper behind the shaker bit so you can read the sentiment die more easily :)

Cupcake apron

I subscribe to 2 cardmaking magazines which I love so I can try different products and get ideas. However... I do end up reading them and putting them on a pile of older issues, then forgetting all of those ideas!

Every now and then I get that pile and go through the pages, selecting which projects to try... And I came across an apron card. I would like to do more different shaped cards and styles so thought I would give it a go.

It was quite good fun to make!

Getting back into it...

Bit of a break from blogland, but I have been crafting now and then. I have also been scouring social media for new ideas and inspiration. Loving Crafters Companion Sara Davies Signature ranges at the moment so I will be sharing cards with elements from those collections :)

Before that, I have a card I made for my Father in Law:

Sorry for the blurriness, I need to work on my photography skills!