Who's Turning 40

Hi guys

Back to share another make, this one being the card I made for a wonderful friend who turned 40 last month.

This was my first use of this stencil set by Birch Press, I love it!

I started with a die cut panel of white cardstock.  First I stamped all the images in black ink, and left the stamps in my MISTI ready for restamping later.  I stamped the WTF and the 40 onto post-it notes and cut these out to use as masks.  The stencilling was next, building up the layers one by one using Distress Oxide inks.  The masks were then removed and I restamped the images to sharpen up the black lines.  I mounted the panel onto a card base using fun foam then added some shimmer to the white sections using a sparkle pen.  I managed to pick up the sparkle in the next photo...

Materials used:

• Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays - WTF 2
• Stencils: Birch Press - Mandala Stencil Set
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Oxides - Spun Sugar, Picked Raspberry, Wilted Violet, Peacock Feathers
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Accents: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #381 - Anything Goes
STAMPlorations - March Stencil Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Stencil Fun





I appreciate your visit, thanks so much :)

Winter Bunnies

Good morning

I was a awake at silly o'clock this morning with no hope of getting back to sleep so I thought I'd come on here and share another card with you.


This is the Christmas card I made for my next door neighbour.  She has house bunnies so I knew exactly which stamp I wanted to use...

On a die cut stitched rectangle panel this image was simply stamped and I coloured it with ProMarkers.  I did try to colour the bunnies to look like her actual bunnies, fairly unsuccessfully due to my lack of markers!  Oh well, the thought was there and she loved it!  To finish I used a glitter pen to add some shimmer to the snow.

Materials used:

• Stamp: Lili of the Valley - Bunnies Ho Ho Ho
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Accents: Spectrum Noir Glitter Pen - Clear

Challenge entries:

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge - Challenge #470 - Anything Goes

Christmas with the Cuties - Challenge #34 - Christmas Cuties

CASology - Week 358 - Branch

Passion for ProMarkers - Challenge #523 - Mega Christmas Challenge

I still have a handful of Christmas cards to share and these will all be up between now and the New Year :)

Perfectly CAS - October 2019 Challenge

Hi there

It's time for the second challenge of this new challenge blog, Perfectly CAS, specifically aimed at creating CAS cards, keeping the design to one third of the card or less.

I'll get straight to it, here's the cue card, a super easy one for you...

For my sample card I used a super cute stamp set from Lawn Fawn which I've just inked up for the first time...

I began by softly ink blending a section towards the top of the card with pale blue ink, just so my focal point had a backdrop.  I then stamped and coloured lots of images from the stamp set and die cut them with the co-ordinating dies.  It was then a case of adhering all the images, some popped up on 3D foam.  I finished by stamping the sentiment directly onto the card base and added sparkle to the party hat and gloss to the specs.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Be Hap-pea (with co-ordinating dies)
• Ink: Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Accents: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear; Glossy Accents

Challenge entries:

Happy Little Stampers - October Anything Goes with Dies Challenge

Dream Valley - Challenge #211 - Clean and Simple

The challenge linky will remain open for a month, so plenty of time to join in.

Thanks so much for popping by.

Happy Little Stampers October 2019 CAS Challenge

Good evening, guys

As it's the beginning of another month we have fresh challenges starting over at Happy Little Stampers.  Right now the new CAS challenge is starting so here's the cue card for this month's challenge...

I decided to go with a cute Christmas card, it's always great to get another Christmas card made (of course I'm way behind with my festive makes AGAIN this year!)...

I chose this adorable stamp called 'Sledging Buddies' for my adventure theme.  I stamped the image in grey ink and added minimal colour with coloured pencils.  The scene was then die cut using a pierced square die and popped up on the card base using fun foam.  The sentiment was stamped alongside in black and I finished by adding some shimmer to the snow with a shimmer pen and some fine glitter to the penguin's hat.  It's not Christmas without a bit of sparkle!

Materials used:

• Stamps: Lili of the Valley - Sledging Buddies; Happy Little Stampers - Christmas Joy
• Ink: Memento - London Fog; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Pierced Square Stax
• Coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos
• Accents: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear; Cosmic Shimmer Diamond Frost - Frosty Dawn

Challenge entries:

Crafty Cardmakers - Challenge #242 - Add a Critter
Try it on Tuesday - Animal Magic
Addicted to CAS - Challenge #169 - Creature





Thanks so much for visiting today.  Please do check out the main blog post, my teamies have some great examples to inspire you using the adventure theme.  And as with all the HLS challenges, the linky will be open until the end of the month.

Designing for Honey Doo Crafts - Introducing Big Bold Blooms and Chrysanthemum

Hi there

I'm thrilled to be designing again for Honey Doo Crafts.

Amanda will be showcasing many of the brand's existing products on Hochanda this coming Friday, 12 July 2019 (Sky 673 / Freeview 85) at 10am and 3pm. 

As well as lots of the fabulous existing stamps and dies, Amanda will also be introducing two new large stamp sets: Big Bold Blooms and Chrysanthemum.  If you can't wait until Friday, these can be purchased direct from Honey Doo Crafts right now.

Here are my sample cards using these two new sets.  First up is Big Bold Blooms...

I began by stamping the three different sized flower images onto some clear vellum and heat embossed in white.  I then coloured these on the reverse using Zig markers, blending with a darker shade towards the centre to create some depth, and fussy cut them out.  The leaves were stamped and heat embossed in white onto some pale green vellum, and also fussy cut...

I stamped the sentiment on a white cardstock panel and ran this through my Big Shot with a wave effect embossing folder before adhering to the card base on fun foam.  I used the handle of a paint brush to curl the petals of the flowers before gluing the layers together.  Then finished by adhering to the panel and slotting in the leaves using glue dots.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Big Bold Blooms, Birthday Sentiments
• Ink: VersaMark; Versafine - Onyx Black; Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers
• Embossing Powder: Altenew - Pure White
• Embossing Folder: We R Memory Keepers - Next Level: Wave
• Vellum from stash

Challenge entries:

Penny Black and More - July Challenge - Summer Colours

Stamping Sensations - July Challenge - Earth Laughs in Flowers

Creative Moments - Challenge #172 - Anything Goes

Time Out - Challenge #139 - Inspired by Words

STAMPlorations - Summer Theme and Sketch Challenge - Stamps and Anything Goes

Next up is another card using Big Bold Blooms...

I began by diagonally masking a section of the card base.  I then stamped the leaves in grey ink, masked these and then ink blended out from the masked edge with Distress Ink.  I then roughly coloured the leaves with ProMarkers.  Next I stamped the three flowers and coloured these with ProMarkers before fussy cutting, adding some shimmer and layering up.  The card was completed by adding the sentiment stamped in blue.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Big Bold Blooms, Happy Times
• Ink: Memento - London Fog; Distress Ink - Dried Marigold; Versa Color - Neptune
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Accent: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear

And now my sample card using the stunning new Chrysanthemum set...

On a white cardstock panel I stamped the largest of the flowers and then masked it before stamping the two smaller blooms.  All three flowers were then coloured with ProMarkers.  I then cut away part of the panel on the right hand side and fussy cut around the petals.  The panel was then adhered on 3D foam onto the card base over a strip of black textured cardstock.  I added a heat embossed sentiment on a black strip and finished by adding some dotted details to the flower centres with a white pen.

Materials used:

• Stamps: Honey Doo Crafts - Chrysanthemum, Just in Case
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Accents: Signo Uniball Pen - White

Challenge entries:

Inkspirational - Challenge #190 - 3 or 5 of something

If you can't wait until Friday to see the two new sets, you can find them by clicking the logo below...

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'll be sharing more samples over the next few days using existing stamp sets from Honey Doo ahead of the Hochanda shows on Friday.  I would love for you to pop back and take a look.

Enjoy your Sunday :)

Skull and Cross Buns April/May Release! - Spring Scene

Hi guys

Popping, or should I say, hopping by today to share the first of my makes using the fab new April/May product release by Skull and Cross Buns.

The release includes:

• 3 new clear stamp sets
• 4 new stamp set bundle
• Happy Stamping Card Making Kit - loads of Spring themed goodies
• Bundle of 5 stencils

You can find all the new products by following this link, here.  These are also feature on the Skull and Cross Buns Facebook page, here.  I've included a collage of the new products at the base of this post.

For my first card I've made a Spring scene for an Easter card combining three products form the new release...

I ink blended the background with Distress Ink and a cloud stencil and a little green along the base.  The rest is just stamping and colouring of all the little individual elements.  And for a little bling I added some sparkle to the bee's wings...

Materials used:

• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Spring Motifs, Spring Sentiments, Spring Friends (available in the stamp bundle or kit)
• Stencil: MFT - Cloud
• Ink: Memento - Tuxedo Black; Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Mowed Lawn
• Die: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Accent: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear

Skull and Cross Buns April/May Release:

Challenge entries:

Uniko - Challenge #52 - Spring: optional twist Easter

Inkspirational - Challenge #183 - Cloud

I'll be sharing lots more over the next few days so I'd love for you to pop back if you have time.

Magical Day

Hi guys

Popping in today to share a birthday card I recently made for my bestie.

I've always loved this little stamp set so was thrilled when I managed to get my hands on it, and the companion dies, when the lovely Michelle of The Card Grotto was having a destash sale :)

Here's the little scene I made...

On the card base I used Distress Inks to blend the background grass and the clouds using a stencil.  I then cut the frame using two stitched rectangle dies, stamped the sentiment and popped the frame up on 3D foam strips.  I stamped lots of images from the stamp set, coloured with ProMarkers and die cut with their co-ordinating dies.  All that was left to do was build up the scene, keeping some images flat and some popped up on 3D foam.  The stars from the wand were stamped in grey ink and I finished by adding some sparkle to the stars and the fairy wings with a sparkle pen.

Materials used:

• Ink: Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Mowed Lawn; Versafine - Onyx Black; Memento - Tuxedo Black; Versa Color - Sky Gray
• Stencil: MFT - Cloud
• Stamps: Lawn Fawn - Fairy Friends (and companion dies)
• Dies: Create a Smile - Cool Cuts Double Stitched Rectangles
• Coloured with ProMarkers
• Accent: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear

Challenge entries:

Seize the Birthday - Challenge #159 - Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations - February Challenge - All Things Bright and Beautiful

Thanks so much for visiting.

Less is More Challenge #389

Good morning

After a few busy posts this week I'm back this morning with my regular introduction to the new Less is More challenge. 

Of course it's still our birthday month...

and we're continuing with our regular sequence of challenge themes, which brings us to the one for the next fortnight which is the 'dreaded by many' One Layer Challenge!  Here's the cue card...

Please remember to check out our guidelines, here, if you're unsure of our One Layer rules.

And joining us as our generous birthday month sponsor is...

And for the duration of this challenge CAS-ual Fridays are offering our participants 15% discount with the code FEBLESSISMORE.

CAS-ual Fridays have a fantastic selection of stamps, many of which are sentiments so they're perfect for this challenge, and I've used the awesome WTF 2 set for my DT card...

For this one layer card I stamped the two parts of the sentiment on the card base in black ink and left the stamps positioned in my MISTI to come back to later.  I stamped the 'WTF' again on a post-it note and carefully cut the letters out to create masks, I wanted to keep the lettering white with the colour in the background.  I placed the floral circle stencil over the top and blended through it with three shades of Distress Oxide inks.  I then removed the stencil and the masks then placed the card back into my MISTI and re-stamped the sentiments to sharpen and brighten up the images.  To finish, I added some shimmer to the white space within the letters with a sparkle pen.

Materials used:

• Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays - WTF 2
• Ink: Versafine - Onyx Black; Distress Oxide - Picked Raspberry, Shaded Lilac, Peacock Feathers
• Stencil: Funky Fossil - Round in Flowers
• Accents: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear

Challenge entries:

Inkspirational - Challenge #180 - Word Prompt: Text

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Typography

Apologies for only having one sample card for you again this week, I was so busy with my Honey Doo samples and sharing that I completely ran out of time.  However, please do pop over to the main Less is More Challenge post as my teamies are sharing their wonderful makes, and they may have more to share over on their individual blogs.

And, we also have even more talent once again for this challenge in the form of some of our 'gone but not forgotten' former LIM teamies, who have joined us as awesome Guesties!  If you have time, please do pop over and say hi.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope you can join us.

Less is More Challenge #387 - Sketch

Good morning

It's new challenge time over at Less is More and, as we haven't had one for a while, we have a Sketch challenge for you...

Skull and Cross Buns continues as our fantastic sponsor for the month of January, so don't forget, by playing along you're in with a chance of winning our monthly prize!

I have two sample cards for you today, the first uses a stencil and sentiment stamp from our sponsor...

I used masking tape to depict the shape of the sketch and blended with one shade of Distress Ink, before placing the hexagon stencil over the top and blending with the darker shade, adding more ink in some areas.  The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed in white onto yellow cardstock and die cut with a sentiment strip die.  This was then matted onto black cardstock and trimmed before adhering to the card base.  The bees were then stamped, colour added using coloured pencils and some shimmer added to their wings using a sparkle pen.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Skull and Cross Buns - Hexagon/Chevron Pattern
• Ink: Distress Ink - Scattered Straw, Wild Honey; Versafine - Onxy Black; VersaMark
• Stamps: Skull and Cross Buns - Retro Sweeties (sentiment); Craft Sensations - unknown name of stamp set (bees)
• Die: MFT Die-namics - Stitched Sentiment Strips
• Embossing Powder: Wow! - Opaque Bright White
• Bees coloured with Faber Castell Polychromos
• Accent: Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen - Clear

Challenge entries:

Addicted to Stamps and More - Challenge #324 - Clean and Simple

And my second card...

I inked the background through a stencil, but stayed away from the masks to avoid any harsh lines.  The images were stamped and die cut using their co-ordinating dies.  The flower was adhered flat to the base and the vase was popped up on 3D foam.  I finished by stamping the sentiment, nestled under the leaf.

Materials used:

• Stencil: Tim Holtz - Mini Stencil Set 14
• Ink: Distress Ink - Shaded Lilac; Altenew - Lavender Fields, Evergreen; Versa Color - Neptune; Versafine - Onyx Black
• Stamps: Clearly Besotted - Just Fabulous (and co-ordinating dies)

You can find more inspiration over at the main challenge post, where my fellow teamies are sharing their creations.  There, you can also reach their blogs where they may be sharing even more great projects.

As usual, the challenge will run for two weeks, so there's plenty of time to play along and link up.

Thanks so much for visiting :)