Someone cares

Hi and welcome to the blog today.

I've been on a mission to make some quick and easy cards whilst having a short break from prepping. 

I've used Distress Oxide inks for the background on this card with a little touch of stencilling here and there for added interest.

The image (from Studio Light's Romantic Botanic range RB221) was stamped and heat embossed to add texture and the bird element stamped again and cut out for some depth. 

The sentiment is from Tim Holtz's Snarky comments collection but I've cut off the snarky bit. LOL 😃

I've edged the panel with black soot distress ink to draw attention to the focal point of the card.

It's finished off with some Ebony Nuvo drops and a punched strip of card.

On the close up you can just make out where I lifted the ink using a floral mask but you have to know it's there as it didn't pick up quite as much as I hoped. 

The sentiment strip is actually white but came out a funny colour in the light. 

It's just so much fun having a play with no pressure. 

Hope you are enjoying these quick cards as much as I've enjoyed making them. 

Have a great day!

Hello!

Good morning. I hope you had a super weekend.

I'm sharing a variation on a theme today with a piece of negative foiling coloured with Distress Inks. This dulls the sheen just a little but with this iridescent pigment foil you can still see the rainbow streaks when you move the card.

I've kept it ultra simple to show off the gorgeous background. I didn't want to cover it with stuff!

Crafter's Companion Pretty Peonies background hot foil stamp

Black iridescent pigment foil (from vendor on FB)

Hello strip die sentiment from Tonic

Distress inks - Picked Raspberry, Mustard Seed, Shabby Shutters

I love the way the pink and yellow combine to give that hint of orange too.

Thank you for calling in today.

Have a good one! 

Don't fit in, stand out!

Good morning and welcome to the blog today.

I bought a set of Tim Holtz's Crazy Dogs stamps and dies a wee while ago but hadn't found time to play with them. I already have the Crazy Birds and they always make me smile so I couldn't pass up on the dogs as they are just as amusing.

I've made 7 x 7" card and kept this one very simple using layering and a distress ink background as a mat.

I've coloured the dog using distress ink and the sentiment is from Lindsay Mason's Quips 'I know the voices' stamp set. 

I've used a stencil from Dutch Doobadoo called Faded Dots and lifted the colour with a damp cloth to leave the shadowy white spots. 

I finished the card with three large black pearls and I'm hoping I find an excuse to send it to someone soon! 😃

Thank you for joining me today.

Have a good one! 

Crazy bird birthday card

Hello and welcome to the blog today.

I've been on a bit of a go slow over the holidays but I'm hoping to get started soon and back into the saddle,

I began by making a couple of birthday cards for my daughter and her hubby whose birthdays are just days apart.

I made Jan's using some of my Hunkdory stash (my guilty pleasure) but didn't take a pic.

David's was made using the hilarious Crazy Birds by Tim Holtz.

I just have to chuckle every time I use these stamps.

I scored an A4 sheet at 4" and 8" and folded over the excess to form a pocket for his gift voucher.

(His preferred gift - so I wasn't being lazy!) 😉

Products used - 

Tim Holtz Crazy Birds and accessories, matching die sets

Distress inks - Spiced Marmalade, Mustard seed, peeled paint

Tonic Nuvo Crystal drops - Ebony, white gloss

Sentiment - Set 61 Lily of the Valley

Kraft card - Craftwork cards

I've 3D'd the hat and tie and coloured all the elements using the distress inks.

I hope he likes it! 

Bird crazy

Good morning and welcome to the blog.

It's my wonderful son-in-law Jonny's birthday tomorrow and this is the card I made for him.

I love, love, love these birds from the Tim Holtz 'Bird Crazy' set and I've ordered the accessory stamps as well, mind you I did order them two months ago! Still patiently waiting but getting a tad irritated now. Never mind, these little guys filled the bill for my card today.

I made a card base 5 x 7" and inked the front of the card with distress inks in salty ocean, peeled paint, scattered straw, dried marigold and a hint of tattered rose. 

I stamped the corners with two Hero Arts stamps - Envelope pattern and Grid pattern in Versafine Olympia green.

The branch die is from Marianne designs

The sentiment is cut from a Heartfelt Creation's stamp - 'All Seasons Sentiments' HCPC3544 that is full of all sorts of useful words that you can cut out to form loads of different greetings. Just genius!

I've coloured my birds with an assortment of inks (that is short hand for saying I can't remember exactly) and the eyes are made using Tonic's Crystal drops in Pearl white and ebony.

As Jonny has a really quirky sense of humour I'm sure these wee guys will have the desired effect and raise a smile.

Thank you for joining me today.

Have a good one! 

Home Sweet Home

Good morning. Thank you for stopping by today.

I have another of the Sentiment Strip dies to share with you and this one says what we all think - there's no place like home. :)

I've gone with Kraft card and gingham for a homely feel so I hope you like it.

Tonic - Home Sweet Home Sentiment Strip die

Affections First Crush scallop heart die

Essentials Someone Special plain heart die

The card measures 61/2" x 8" to give an idea of scale and the size of the die when it's cut out.

I've die cut the kraft card and inked with gathered twigs distress ink through the die.

I've cut the background and embossed it through the die, then inked it through a stencil made with another die cut using barn door distress ink. 

I cut a second roof top and 3D'd it onto the die cut for a bit of dimension.

The die cut and embellishments were applied to a piece of card stock slightly smaller than the main card base. I inked round the edges of this mat and then 3D'd it to the card base, again to add some dimension. 

Join me tomorrow for another peek at these amazing dies.

Have a good day!

You deserve the best

Good morning!

Hope this finds you well and thank you for calling in today.

I have a slightly different sample to share today and it's a tad picture heavy so I hope you can bear with me to the end of the post.

I have a little wall hanging in a decorated box to share today.

I love these colours and the papers and on the plus side it's a guy thing!!

Tonic - Deco Geometric Layering Dies

Man about town - Kraftyhands 6 x 6 paper stack

Images from Kraftyhands About Town die cut set; Man About Town postcard stack

Tim Holtz 'The Journey' Visual Artistry stamp set

Hessian ribbon and jute from the Ribbon Girl

Gathered twigs distress ink

The finished box measures 6 x 5 1/4" and is 3/4" deep

I've used the Deco Geometric layering dies for the base of the wall hanging - they cut through medium weight chipboard that I used for the base of my panels.

Tonic - Live the Life you Imagined Frame sentiment die set

Dream - Inspiration word die set

Numbers from the Advent Squeeze treat box die set coated with Glossy accents

Tim Holtz Adage tickets

Close ups of each of the panels

I managed to sneak in the littlest star from the Star Layering die set too. :)

I finished off the panels with a backing of plain chocolate brown card stock to hide the gubbins!

The strange and wonderful plastic pieces were from my stash and were attached to the panels with glossy accents.

I hope you have enjoyed this little departure from my normal cards today.

Have a great day! 

Happy Birthday Art Deco style

Good morning and welcome to the blog today.

Happy St David's day to all my Welsh friends and colleagues. 

I have a Clarice Cliff style card to share with you today.

As she was one of the most famous ceramic artists of her day I thought it would be fun to use the style of image and colours that she was so renown for. 

Tonic - Art Deco Collectables - small corner die

Tonic sentiment from the Happy Birthday Pansy topper die set

Rubadubadoo stamps - style of Clarice Cliff

Distress inks in Mowed Lawn, Shaded lilac, Worn Lipstick, Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade

I cut the corners twice, popped the complete corner behind the main image and then echoed it with a matching portion on the front.

I stamped the two separate images by inking the first, masking the image and stamping the second to form the 'scene'. 

I then masked both images and used my distress inks to colour the background.

It is certainly eye-popping! :)

I hope you enjoy this fun card today.

Thank you for joining me.

Have a good day! 

Just Because

Good morning. I hope you are well and coping with the snow and all that means in getting safely around.

Each day has seen new followers join me on my card making adventures and I just want you to know you are very welcome and thank you for taking the time to call in. :)

Today's card uses a Lili of the Valley topper from one of their Art Pads - set 27 'Beautiful Blooms'

Tonic - Deco Oval Trellis die base set

Just Because sentiment

Victoria embossing folder

LOTV topper

Aged mahogany distress ink

I double embossed the insert to match the card front but I didn't get time to take a pic of it I'm afraid but it did help finish off a very straightforward card and make it a bit more special. 

You can't get a simpler way to make a card than using a topper so don't think dies can't be used to enhance your stash of toppers. This one cut beautifully with the smaller matching die shape and it helps add a bit of interest as well. The edges have been coloured using the aged mahogany distress ink to help bring out the detailed pin prick edge of the die. No way could I sit and do that evenly all the way round! 

Have a good day and take care in the snow!

Just for you

Good morning. It's really cold here with a layer of fine ice everywhere or so it seems.

The sun is trying to get through but is wearing it's winter coat, so not much heat.

I hope the roads have been well gritted for the journey up to the boys' school today!

Today's card is another simple one using the Just for You Essentials die set and accents.

Tonic - Just for You Essentials die set

Rusty hinge distress ink

The sentiment is die cut and embossed and I've hugged it with the gorgeous wee floral accent also in the set.

The corners make a lovely dainty frame with a few pearls added to embellish.

The frame is recessed into the die cut apertures and the sentiment is lifted onto 3D foam for added interest.

I've just used the two colours in this card with the edges of the top layer softened by the distress ink.

I love the outer edge of this set with it's gentle scallops like little brackets - it really leads your eye into the centre of the card. :)

Thank you for calling in today. Have a good one and take care on the roads!

Two for One today

Good morning and welcome to the blog today.

I'm sharing two cards today featuring the new Family Sentiments 2 die set and one of the beautiful new strip dies.

My first is a gift wallet that could be changed to suit many occasions.

Tonic - Victoria embossing folder

Daughter - Family Members die set 2

Elements from Windsor Widebrim Millinery die set

Inside the gift wallet

Stamped with Hero Arts cling stamp in black Memories ink and offset with Picked raspberry distress ink

Computer generated sentiment

My second card features the gorgeous Splendid Screen strip die as the main decorative panel.

Tonic - Splendid Screen strip die

Happy birthday - Pansy Topper words

Flowers and leaves from the Floral Frame topper die set

Silhouette bride 

Niece - Family members die set 2

The strip die was cut four times and the edges kept narrow to fit the aperture.

I attached the strips inside the front of the card and trimmed them to fit. I then covered them with a piece of acetate to stabilise the front of the card

The sentiment was cut from the Pansy topper die and applied to the top of the card.

I cut the word Niece from it's oval and placed it at the bottom of the card. The Silhouette bride was cut out of her frame and backed with gold card stock. 

The flowers were assembled and sprayed with Crafter's Companion Spray and Sparkle in gold.

Hope you enjoy these cards today.

Have a lovely relaxing day!

For a special friend

Morning all! Where is this week going? The days are rocketing past and here we are in October already.

I think because I've been really busy and enjoying my Tonic dies etc that I just haven't noticed the time passing. I do come up for air occasionally but it's not long before I'm back in the craft room and having a play. 

This card is another sample from the recent Idyllics launch and features the gorgeous Jasmine Dream die and embossing set.

Tonic - Jasmine Dream Idyllics die set

Petal Pairs punches for the flowers

Leafy sprig - Viceroy vines butterfly set

Spun sugar distress ink

Diamond dust for the glitter on the flowers

Lots of pearls! :)

I love these sets - they are so versatile and you needn't just use them for A5 cards. They can be resized to fit a 6 x 6" just as easily. Here is a wee example:

I made a matching card for my gift box. The strap die was also used to decorate the gift box. Did I say I love these dies? :)

Thank you for calling in today. 

Little Girl

Good morning and welcome to today on the blog.

I've been having a bit of fun with some new papers and a lovely Julie Nutting stamp called 'Little Girl'. 

I love these doll stamps by Julie but generally they are too long for the format of the cards I usually make so I was delighted to come across this wee beauty in Forget-me-Not in Belfast.

She just suits being paper-pieced to a T.

Main image - 'Little Girl' - Julie Nutting

Papers and sentiment from this month's Members Gift on Create and Craft. I've used papers from the Spring textures collection and the sentiment is from the accompanying Embellishments and Sentiments pad.

The orange glitter card is from my stash

The punched heart is from Martha Stewart

The leaves are Tonic's Verdant Vines

The flowers are paper ones from my stash

The tiny bow is cut from a Die-Namics die (I think)

I've also used Wild honey and Gathered twigs distress ink

The swirly stamp is from ArtyCrafty and is a very old one from my wooden backed stamp collection

                                                  

I've used Promarkers for her skin and hair and Prisma pencil for the shading

The spotty paper is from the collection

A sideways view to show the layers

I've punched a series of strips from the Tonic Romantic vine deep edged punch for the background though most of it is covered up! 

The scalloped mat is a Spellbinders mega rectangle die.

Thank you for calling in today and for all your comments. My thanks to the lovely ladies who have joined up to follow the blog this week. You are most welcome and I appreciate your visits. :) 

One of those bits and pieces cards

Hi and welcome today.

I'm sure you have already read my update on the cycle race. Jonny made it - 90 miles! Phew! even the thought makes me sore. Well I am equally delighted to report that Karen completed her stint in the Belfast marathon today and is one tired but happy bunny. What a week end for them and well done too.

Onto today's very plain card. I had these papers printed out and lying in my odds and ends box. We all have one of those don't we? 

I added the Hero Arts silhouette grasses stamp in gathered twigs distress ink which I then embossed with clear ep. The sentiment is a freebie from the DoCrafts Creativity magazine which got the same treatment.

I've used a Crafter's Companion plaid Embossalicious folder for the bottom panel and inked the pattern to make it stand out a little. The buttons are from Basic Grey. All in all a very simple card but it might do a dad who likes bird watching! You know the sort of bird watching I mean. Steady on now. :) LOL

I hope you have had a great bank holiday. We've certainly had a busy one that's for sure.

Take care and I'll see you soon.

I've made about nine other Father's day cards using my Hunkydory Fan-tash-tique kit but forgot to take pics before I added inserts and packed them up. Oops!  Maybe next time.