First of the big birthdays

This year you will be seeing a plethora of big birthday cards, I have a lot of friends and family celebrating big birthdays and the eclipse and shaped cards will be my go to. Unless of course I discover a totally new technique lol. 

This isn’t the first big birthday card I needed but it is the first one I made lol. I used this image on a shaped birthday card last year so it seemed fitting that I try it with the eclipse technique.

Waggedy Tail

I bought this set in Florida as I fell in love with their happy faces and I really want to use all the images now.

The design of the card is simple as I wanted the image to stand out and I do love a bit of white space

Penny Black Cat

I am not sure what made me make this card but now I’m looking at it months later I want to make more like this. 

It’s such an effective design and would work with almost any small/medium image. In fact I might have made another one almost the same lol.

Ingredients

Image: Penny black clear old set

Sentiment: MFT stamps

Dies: MFT stamps

Card: aqua from recollections at Michael’s 

Inks: salvaged patina distress oxide

Stencil: Paw print from Gina Marie Designs

Fresh Cut

Another big birthday and another eclipse, I have no idea what I would do if I didn't have these large number dies they make making a significant number so easy to do.

This time I went with a large penny black cling stamp and it took so much longer to colour than I expected even though I used less colours. Its not one I see myself reaching to colour often, which is a shame as its lovely.

Not much else to say except I hope the recipient enjoyed their lockdown big birthday.

Ingredients
Image: "fresh cut" from Penny Black
Sentiment : Hunkydory
Dies: xxl stitche squares from crealies
Paper: tiny hearts from MFT

Copics
Green - G46, 24, 43, 40
Blue - B02, 01, 00, 000
Pink - Rv99, 69, 66, 54, 63

Penny Black Bear version 2

I made this card at the same time as the other one, I just coloured the present differently. I think I prefer this colour way but I think its because I really like bright lime green lol.

Hope everyone had a fabulous new year and that no resolutions have been broken so far.....I am not sure if I said this before but I don't make any....I try to add another thing to my blogging/card making but its not a resolution. Last year I added that I wanted to try two cards in a sitting and I'm pleased that this continued all year, not every time but most so what to add this year......well so far the list is below

1. Blog every three days or thereabouts
2. Blog everyday in December
3. Make two cards similar/same rather than one
4. Get better at using what I have rather than buying new for every card (the new one - might already be broken by the time you read this lol)

Ingredients
Image: Present Bear from Penny Black
Papers: Studio G
Dies: Frilly Lace Nested rectangles from Gina Marie Designs
Card: "smoky shadow" from Papertrey Ink

Copics
Bear - N6, 4, 2, R21, 20
Present - BG15, 13, 23, YG17, 25, 03

Penny Black Bear

Another image bought because of Therese Calvird - Lost in Paper, she may have made me buy another set too lol. Of course once I got it I had no idea what to do but then I just decided to colour them and see where that took me.

I have used one of the sketches from the "one sheet wonder" again, I am loving these as they are so simple yet effective and I get to use up some of my paper mountain.

I have been collecting paper pads for years and with my more simple style they have been gathering dust but no more, this has given them a new lease of life.

Before I go I do want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and to wish Kay a very happy birthday xx

Ingredients
Image: Present Bear from Penny Black
Papers: ""mft stamps
Dies: Frilly Lace Nested rectangles from Gina Marie Designs
Card: "smoky shadow" from Papertrey Ink

Copics
Bear - N6, 4, 2, R21, 20
Present - BG15, 13, 23, V28, 25, 22

Penny Black So Much Love

These two cards were made at the same time as the girl holding balloon cards, I had the stencil out on my desk and thought why not make a few with the same look. I did mask these as well but I could have achieved the clouds without masking just as easily. 

Ingredients
Image: "so much love" from Penny Black
Stencils: mini cloud and drifts and hills both MFT
Sentiment: "birthday balloons" from Penny black
Card: "grape jelly" from MFT and "hibiscus burst" from Papertrey ink
Inks: twisted citroen, mowed lawn and tumbled glass distress oxide inks
Dies: A2 stitched rectangle stax from MFT

Penny Black Birthday Balloons

This stamp was my only purchase from Violettes Scrapbook store in Lakeland Florida on my recent trip, it is a huge stamp and as you can tell completely fills an A2 and i have even cut her legs off lol.

I enjoyed making these cards and using different card and hair colours broke it up quite a bit too.This year I have managed to continue the two cards one sitting quite a lot, not every time but on more occasions than not. I hope it is something that continues in my card making journey.

Ok on to the card, its fairly simple as its a large image and has lots of colouring so I just stencilled the background with the mini clouds that were already on my desk, it did mean cutting a mask which was time consuming but worth it.

Ingredients
Image and Sentiment: "birthday balloons" Penny Black
Dies: A2 stitched rectangle stax from MFT
Card:
Stencil: Mini cloud stencil from MFT and tumbled glass distress oxide ink

Hello Gorgeous

This set of stamps by Penny Black was one I desperately wanted and I used three of the four before it went away, of course this isn't the one I hadn't used previously but I do really like these images, they are small enough but also make a big impact.

This was a last minute card needed before a night out so I didn't have a lot of time to sort it but Im pleased with how it turned out.

Ingredients
Image: Hello Gorgeous from Penny Black
Sentiment: Label sentiments from MFT stamped with hibiscus burst Papertrey ink
Paper: Isabellina from Bo Bunny
Card: dark charcoal from Recollections at Michaels

Copics
Skin - E11, 00
Hair - E34, 31, 30
Trousers - T8, 6, 4
Top - R85, 83, 81

Penny Black Number Bears Again

Sometimes I think if it ain't broke don't fix it should be my mantra lol, it certainly is in the case of the big birthday cards for ladies, I used this design for two 40 cards two years ago, a 30 card last year and now 2 more 40 cards. it of course doesn't work as well for guys but still having something that I can go to for these occasions certainly helps.

Not much else to say except I used papers that had fallen out when I was looking for something else, they were loose as they were a free gift from lawn fawn, whenever you order direct from them they include a small stamp and a few papers, normally 12x12 cut down. I don't think I have used them before but I might be mistaken, they were lovely quality just like you expect from them.

Ingredients
Images: "birthday bears" from Penny Black
Dies: Blueprints 29, circle shaker window frame and happy birthday circle frame all MFT
Sequins: sparking clear, marshmallow, rose gold, spring mix, pink mix all Pretty pink posh and gold from the dollar tree
Paper: "polka dot" free samples sent from lawn fawn (free with an order from last year)

Copics
Bears - E35, 34, 31
Sky - BG11, 10
Grass - YG03, 25, 17
Yellow - Y17, 15, 13, 11
Pink - RV14, 13, 11

Penny Black Birthday Bears Again

I used this design and even this paper pack last year to make some 40th birthday cards and I thought why am I trying to reinvent the wheel for a 30th card when I already have something that works, looks nice and the recipient hasn't seen before so here we go.

Not much else to say except after the fairy garden card I am loving making grass strokes lol.

Ingredients
Image: "birthday bears" from Penny black
Dies:"circle shaker frame" and "happy birthday frame" both MFT
Sequins: sparking clear from pretty pink posh, aqua from dollar tree
Paper: "Party patterns" from MFT

Copics
Bear - E44, 43, 42
Signs - BG57, 53
Ground - YG01, 03, 25, 17
Sky - BG11, 10

Hello Gorgeous

Well my mojo is still missing and I am still addicted to the Mod Stitched Rectangles from MFT but other than that no change. I did think by now my mojo might have returned especially as I attended a Copic class run by Faye (which was amazing - she is such a wonderful teacher) and also had a trip to Snazzy with my friend Kathy....but alas it still remains elusive.

It hasn't stopped me making cards but it has stopped me liking them lol.

Ingredients
Image: "Hello Gorgeous" Penny Black
Sentiment: "basic numbers" from Clearly Besotted
Dies: Mod stitched rectangles from MFT
Paper: "birthday blowout" from MFT

Copics
Skin - E11, 00, 000
Hair - E34, 31, 30
Dress - N8, 6, 5, 4
Bag - R59, 56, Y26

Penny Black Birthday Bears Again

You might recognise this design from one I made in October, in case you were wondering yes I made them at the same time but I waited to show this one until after the recipients birthday.

It was a fairly simple card to construct and the shaker pouches are so easy and effective, I have the heart ones and now I might buy them all.

This one has more sequins, it was the second one I made and I realised you could add extra so of course I did. Nothing remains except to wish Cheryl a very happy 40th Birthday xx

Ingredients

Image:  "birthday bears" Penny Black

Sentiment: "happy birthday circle frame" MFT

Paper: "Party Patterns" MFT

Dies: Blueprints 13 and shaker pouch dies all mft

Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh

Penny Black Birthday Bears

I have been watching a lot and I mean a lot of youtube recently and I discovered Therese from Lost in Paper, she is based in Australia and her laugh makes me giggle too. I saw a card she made with the bears and circle sentiment and I immediately thought I could use that idea for my friends 40th Birthday card, I have two friends turning the big 4 0 this year so I made two but I won't show that until after her birthday.

This was day 2 of the colouring challenge in September and woohoo more made into cards.

Ingredients

Image:  "birthday bears" Penny Black

Sentiment: "happy birthday circle frame" MFT

Paper: "Party Patterns" MFT

Dies: Blueprints 13 and shaker pouch dies all mft

Sequins: Neat and Tangled and Pretty Pink Posh

Birthday Message Bears

I seem to be harking back to the start of my crafting journey more and more recently, I wanted these bears when they were only available in wood but I was useless at stamping so I knew they would sit in a draw unloved.

Ok so how have I used them.....well.....Penny Black just released them in clear. I do struggle to find penny black in the UK my main supplier closed last year and the other suppliers don't tend to carry the full range, I am hoping that changes but I am not looking to open a store myself lol.

Onto the card, I had an idea after seeing a card made with keys by the MFT design team and I have made a card with white on white die cuts before so I thought I could marry the two together. It actually worked better than I hoped and I am pleased with the results so maybe I should make more lol.

Ingredients
Image: "birthday bears" Penny Black
Dies: Blueprints 29 and "cause for celebration" both MFT and Alphabet soup from Memory Box
Card: "blu raspberrry" MFT

Copics
Bears - E40, 41, 42, 43, 44

Happy Birthday MUM

This is another of the huge cards I make for my Mum's birthday. I wasn't intending using these papers as I used them a few years ago for her but I had already coloured the image and they matched perfectly so it felt the way to go.

I actually coloured the image way back in August as part of the first 30 day challenge I took part in so I don't have a list of the copics and that determined the way the card was going to go lol.

I wanted to wish my MUM a very happy birthday and let her know I was thinking of her xx

Ingredients
Image:" Tutu Sweet" From Penny Black drawn by Mo Manning
Paper: "giddy up" Carte Bella from Jessica Sprague
Card: "blu raspberry" mft and "raspberry fizz" Papertrey ink
Sentiment: "happy birthday" die from Simon Says Stamp
Dies:Oval stax and Small scalloped oval stax both MFT
Punches: Martha Stewart

Great Outdoors - Penny Black

There was another 30 day colouring challenge in November and I decided to colour mostly Christmas images this time, this is one and I have been trying to get them made onto cards so expect to see lots more during the month of December.

I enjoy the colouring challenge more than I can say, I was more organised in July though and used different companies each day. This challenge started after I had just arrived home from a Florida trip and my jet lag was horrendous and any sort of organisation was way beyond my abilities lol, still i took part and enjoyed it and thats the most important part.

Ingredients
Image: "great outdoors" Penny Black transparent set
Sentiment: Creative Stamper
Dies: Blueprints 13 from mft stamps

Copics
Skin - E000, 00, 11
Hair - E79, 77, 74
Coat and Hat - R89, 39, 37, N7
Scarf - B26, 23, R39
Snow - BG000
Reindeer - E49, 59, 57l, 55, 34, 31, R39, 37
Reindeer Scarft - YG17, 25
Baubles - B26, 23, YG17, 25, Y15, 11

Get Well Soon

At the last bristol payday I coloured two images with Jane's zig pens, the rose from a previous blogpost and this one. I have no idea what colours I used but I know I enjoyed myself immensely.

After a playday it takes me ages to unpack and do anything with the images I have coloured but not this time, both were made into cards the very same evening.

Ingredients
Image: "dahlia" Penny black
Sentiment: "brushed Greetings II" clearly besotted
Card: "summer sunrise" Papertrey ink
Dies: Blueprints 24
Dots: "dewdrops" Michaels

Hello Gorgeous third times a charm

I can't believe I've stayed true to my statement to use the remaining stamps from this set before putting it away, of course there is still one left to use but I'm almost there lol.

This is a little unusual colour scheme for me but the paisley paper was the inspiration and I liked the dress coloured gold so I went with it.

Most of my layouts are following a similar theme, when I feel stuck in a creative rut I go with the familiar and what worked previously. As usual my rut isn't colour or colouring but layouts, I might need to find a sketch challenge to help.

Ingredients
Image: "hello gorgeous" Penny Black clear set
Paper: "moonlight" stampin up
Card: "harvest Gold" Papertrey ink
Dies: Blueprints 1, 2 and 18
Sentiment: "sweet little sentiments" clearly besotted, "nightshift blue" ink from MFT
Other: "clear" sparkle pen

Copics
Skin - E000, 00, 11
Hair - C9, 7, 5, 3
Dress - YR24, 23, Y26
Bag - B97, 95

Hello Gorgeous Again

When I bought this stamp set it was for the lady with the faux fur trim, I didn't really look at the other stamps. I am trying something new in that I have to make a card with all the images from a set before I put it away, so in this case you can expect to see at least another two cards from it.  I am guilty of buying and using once so I am trying my very best (insert might fail at the first hurdle) to not keep doing this, I have natural hoarding tendencies and with a very small room this is becoming an issue, so if I'm not going to use it maybe someone else will. OMG I think I am suggesting getting rid of some of my stamps, my heart is pounding a little just typing this lol.

Anyway onto the card, nothing exciting of fancy but I am pleased with how the image is coloured. Before you ask no I didn't match her hair to the paper I had already coloured that bit before I found the paper pack, a happy accident if you will lol.

Ingredients
Image: "hello gorgeous" Penny Black
Sentiment: "label maker" MFT, "lost lagoon" stampin up ink
Card: "basic grey" Stampin Up
Paper: "Moonlight" Stampin Up
Dies: Blueprints 1, 2 and 3

Copics
Skin - E000, 00, 11
Hair - Y21, YR23, E34
Trousers - T7, 5, 4, 2
Blouse - BG78, 75, 72