You Slay Me

Good afternoon!

I know, it's been a while again, but sometimes life just seems to get in the way.

Well, I'm back and I have an adorable card to share with you today. It's fun, quirky and full of sass. The image is taken from a fab stamp set called Mythical Grumplings by Taylored Expressions. It's packed with mythical creatures with attitude and sassy sayings.

I decided to use the cute dragon and here he is in all his glory...

What you need...

Stamps:

Mythical Grumplings (#TEMD179) - Taylored Expressions

Dies:

Mythical Grumplings (#TE1422) - Taylored Expressions

Small stars

Embossing folder:

Multi Circles - Darice

Ink pads:

Black Soot Distress Ink - Tim Holtz

Carved Pumpkin

Squeezed Lemonade

Twisted Citron

Onyx Black - Versafine

Card stock:

White

Extras:

Adhesives

Masking paper - Altenew

Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray - Imagine Crafts

Tools:

Big Shot - Sizzix

What you do...

1 Cut a piece of white card stock 2¼" x 4¼" (5.5cm x 11cm). Stamp the dragon towards the right hand side with Onyx Black ink.

2 Die cut the dragon from masking paper and mat over the stamped image. Die cut three small stars from masking paper and place around the dragon.

3 Starting from the left hand side, blend the Carved Pumpkin, then the Squeezed Lemonade followed by the Twisted Citron inks.

4 Smooch some Black Soot ink onto a surface, such as an acrylic block. Add a drop of water and use a paint brush to add spatters of ink over the blended surface. 

5 Stamp the sentiment at the lower left. Spritz shimmer spray over the surface, allow to dry and carefully remove the masks.

6 Emboss the circles onto white card, trim to 4¼" x 5½" (11cm x 14cm) and mat onto a white top fold blank the same size. Add the dragon panel across the blank, just below half way down.

I have had this embossing folder for many years, but you can use any you have in your stash. A star or spotty themed background would look good.

There are a few stamp sets in the Grumplings range and they are all as sassy! Why not pop on over to Dies to Die For and have a look? Click here to take you to this wonderful site.

I am now thinking of starting my Christmas cards. I have so many stamps and dies that I haven't played with yet, some of which I've had for quite a while (even years). I do promise myself every year that I'm going to start around July/August, but I never seem to get round to it. This year I am determined.

As always, thank you so much for stopping by. I'll hopefully be back soon with a Christmas card, if not it will be a normal card from my stash of recent makes.

Take care! 

Celebrate!

Hello again!

I'm back with another colourful card. This one features candles....and lots of them! I came across a gorgeous die by Sizzix and well, I had to have it. 

The die set is so versatile and there are a few ways that you can use it. I made two cards using two very different techniques, I will share the other card with you in my next post.

What you need...

Stamps:

Sentiment Sampler - Paper Smooches

Dies:

Birthday Candles (665071) by Kath Breen - Sizzix

Ink pads:

Dried Marigold Distress Oxide - Tim Holtz

Kitsch Flamingo

Squeezed Lemonade

Twisted Citron

Onyx Black - Versafine

Embellishments:

Over the Rainbow Crystal Collection - Little Things from Lucy's Cards

Card stock:

White

Extras:

Adhesives

Tools:

Big Shot - Sizzix

Blending tools

What you do...

1 Cut a panel of white card to 2⅞" x 6" (7.5cm x 15.5cm). Die cut the candles centrally within the panel.

2 On a slightly smaller piece of white card, blend the inks starting with Kitsch Flamingo followed by Dried Marigold, Squeezed Lemonade and Twisted Citron.

3 Mat the die cut panel onto the inked panel. 

4 Stamp the sentiment onto white card with the Onyx Black, trim and adhere to the centre of the candle panel.

5 Create a white blank 3⅛" x 6¼"  (8cm x 16cm). Add the candle panel with foam tape.

6 Add some gems to some of the candles, matching with the colour of each candle.

I kept all the cut pieces of the candles, these could be inked for a future card. I think this is such a fun card and would be ideal for any recipient, young or old.

As I mentioned before, I made another card with this die and I will be back soon to share it with you. Until then, please take care and happy crafting!

Cute Elephants

Hello there!

I'm back again with another card...well four actually. I have a cute elephant die set by Sizzix/Craft Asylum in my stash. It's a few years old now and I thought it was about time I played with it again.

I wanted to make a thank you card using the die with four colours. I love the Concord & 9th card stock and inks so I put them to use. I wanted the main card to be a light grey elephant with pale pink, dark pink and dark grey details. I used the Ballet Slipper, Honeysuckle, Dove and Mushroom shades of card. Rather than waste the extra pieces or put them in a baggy to forget about, I decided to make another three additional cards.

For the speech bubble, I used the Ballet Slipper ink, which matched perfectly with the pale pink detailing.

What you need...

Dies:

Elephant Duo (660496) - Craft Asylum/Sizzix

Stamps:

Sketchy Thoughts - Winnie & Walter

Ink Pads:

Ballet Slipper - Concord & 9th

Onyx Black - VersaFine

Card stock:

Ballet Slipper - Concord & 9th

Honeysuckle

Mushroom

Dove

White

Extras:

Adhesives

Tools:

Big Shot - Sizzix

What you do...

1 Die cut the large elephant in Ballet Slipper, Honeysuckle, Mushroom and Dove.

2 Back the detail apertures of the elephant with low tack tape and infill the apertures with Ballet Slipper, Honeysuckle and Mushroom.

3 Mat the elephant onto a white 4¼" x 5½"  (11cm x 14cm) blank.

4 Stamp the speech bubble above the elephants trunk in Ballet Slipper. Stamp the sentiment within the speech bubble with Onyx Black ink.

These would make a great little gift set if you teamed them up with some matching envelopes and either tied them up with pretty ribbon or placed in a gift box. You can never have too many thank you cards.

Before I go, a wonderful store based in London reached out to me the other day. They are called Joel & Son Fabrics and they sell high end, designer and luxury fabrics. 

I've visited their website and there are truly some gorgeous fabrics to choose from. Perfect if you are making a special gown, outfit or wedding dress. Maybe you want to make some luxury soft furnishings to spice up your home decor. 

They sell everything from good quality cottons to luxurious designer silks. As someone who does sew occasionally and collects fat quarters 'just in case', I did ooh and aah over some of the fabrics.

Joel & Son Fabrics also carry the Royal Warrant from H.M. Queen Elizabeth. 

Why not pop on over and have a look ? Click here to take you to their store. I will also have a link in the Craft & Digi Stamp Shops page.

Thank you for popping by and I'll be back soon. Take care!

Balloon Celebration

Good afternoon!

I hope you are all well. Sorry I haven't posted sooner, but I have quite a few magazine projects to get in before the deadlines. Can you believe I am designing for Halloween and Christmas? Yipes!

Moving away from halloween and Christmas, I have a lovely, bright card to share with you today perfect for a celebration or birthday and it features balloons!

I've used a lovely rainbow palette and the techniques used are ink blending, stamping, die cutting and layering.

Here it is...

What you need...

Stamps:

Birthday Bash - Paper Smooches

You Said It - Doodlebug Designs

Dies:

A2 Layers - Waffle Flower

Say Cheese, Again - Lawn Fawn

Ink pads:

It's a Girl - Catherine Pooler

Garden Party

Pixie Dust

Cantaloupe - Memento

Buttercup Make Art - Wendy Vecchi

Garden Patina

Onyx Black - Versafine

Embellishments:

Pearls Glossy Porcelain Mix - Little Things from Lucy's Cards

Card stock:

White

Extras:

Sparkle Crystal Clear Shimmer Pen

Adhesives

Tools:

Big Shot - Sizzix

Blending tools

What you do...

1 Die cut the large photo frame from white card. Cut a panel of white card slightly smaller than the frame.

2 Blend Garden Patina ink at the bottom of the card panel fading to white.

3 Use the aperture of the frame as a guide and stamp the trio of  balloons twice. Use the solid balloon stamp to fill in the colours. Stamp dots above each balloon in the same colours.

4 Die cut the 3¾" x 5" layer in white card and blend the six colours in rainbow order.

5 Mat the rainbow panel onto a card blank 4¼" x 5½". Attach the balloon panel centrally at the top.

6 Stamp the 'Celebration' in black ink across the base of the photo frame and attach to the blank with foam tape, making sure it lines up over the balloon panel. 

7 Add some shimmer to each of the balloons and add some pearls to the blank.

Even though I do use some new products, I am trying to use some of my older stash too, hence the Paper Smooches and Doodlebug stamp sets. Of course you can use any balloon themed stamps in your stash to re-create this card. 

Top tip: If you don't have any balloon stamps, but you have solid balloon dies, cut balloons from foam sheets. Attach to an acrylic block/stamp platform with glue stick or double sided tape, apply ink and stamp!

I have used the A2 Layers die set which is measured in inches. The metric equivalent of the rainbow panel is approximately 9.5cm x 12.5cm and the blank is 11cm x 14cm.

I hope you like this pretty, cheerful card. You can of course change the colours for a card suited to a male recipient.

Thank you for popping by and I'll be back soon.

miss YOU

Hi there!

As promised I'm back with another make. I decided not to share the remaining cactus card with you today, I will share it at a later date. I wanted to show you another card instead.

I purchased the You Confetti Cuts die set by Reverse Confetti some time ago and thought it was about time I used it.

As it is a large word die with a shadow background, I wanted it to be the main focus of the card and team it up with some other lettering/wording. The good thing about this die is that it can be used with many other words for different themes/occasions.

What you need...

Dies:

You Confetti Cuts - Reverse Confetti

Bee Bold Lowercase Honey Cuts - Honey Bee Stamps

A2 Layers Die Rectangles - Waffle Flower

Stencil:

Splash (TESN28) - Taylored Expressions

Stamps:

Chit Chat - Paper Smooches

Ink Pads:

Turquoise Gem  - VersaMagic

Onyx Black - VersaFine

Card stock:

Black - Concord & 9th

Grapefruit

White

Extras:

Adhesives

Tools:

Big Shot - Sizzix

Blending brushes

What you do...

1 Lightly blend the Turquoise Gem ink over white card. Secure the stencil over the inked card and blend the Turquoise Gem over the stencil creating a heavier tone. Remove the stencil and allow the inked card to dry.

2 Die cut the 'you' in black card along with letters form the Bee Bold set to spell 'miss'. Die cut the 'you' shadow in white and the little heart in Grapefruit. Assemble the 'you' dies and add the heart with foam pads.

3 Use the second largest die from the A2 Layers set to cut a rectangle from the inked/stencilled card.

4 Line up the letters/wording onto the stencilled panel and using these as a guide, stamp the 'so much' in Onyx Black.

5 Create a 4¼"x 5½" white blank and mat the stencilled panel onto it. Attach the 'you' with foam pads and stick the 'miss' directly onto the panel above the 'you'.

There we have it. The photo of the card doesn't really show the true colour of the ink, it is certainly more of a greener turquoise hue in real life.

I am so pleased with the way this turned out. I am planning to keep on using older items (such as the stamp set) along with newer items in future projects. I have recently discovered some really old stamp sets/dies in my stash that I would like to use again. Watch this space!

As usual, thank you so much for popping by, I really appreciate it. Take care and I'll be back soon.

Looking Sharp

Hi there!

I hope everyone is keeping safe and well. 

I mentioned in my last post that I have been making a few cactus themed cards lately. The card I want to show you today is a mix of stamping, ink blending and Nuvo Glimmer Paste. So, without further ado, let's get to it.

What you need...

Stamps:

Multi-step Cacti Stamps- Reverse Confetti

Stuck on You (ST-18-42) - Avery Elle

Dies:

Multi-step Cacti Dies - Reverse Confetti

Stencil:

Square Extraordinaire - My Favorite Things

Ink pads:

Honeysuckle - Concord & 9th

Parsley

Sea Glass

Sprout

Walnut Stain - Tim Holtz Distress

Carved Pumpkin

Onyx Black - Versafine

Glimmer paste:

Moonstone - Nuvo

Card stock:

White

Extras:

Black/white Washi

Adhesives

Tools:

Big Shot - Sizzix

Stamping platform - MISTI

Media spatulas - Nuvo

What you do...

1 Create a top fold white blank 4¼"x 5½" (11cm x 14cm) and place the stencil onto the blank, securing with some low tack tape. Blend the Sea Glass ink within the stencil so it is darker at the top and fading to wards the bottom. Allow to dry.

2 Spread the Moonstone paste over the blended area, allow to dry. (Remove the stencil immediately and place in a bowl of water or wash, along with the spatula). 

3 Stamp the solid parts of  the three cacti onto white card along with the flower. Over stamp the detail with black ink.

4 Stamp the outlines of three pots. Blend some of the Walnut Stain and Carved Pumpkin together to create a terracotta colour, add some water and paint the pots.

5 Die cut the cacti, pots and flower and assemble. Attach to the card blank overlapping the Moonstone section.

6 Add a strip of Washi across the base of the blank and add the sentiment above, towards the right.

I had such fun making this little cutey. It was great building up the cacti. You can add as much or little detail as you wish to each cactus.

I do have some more cacti themed cards, these are slightly different in that they are created using the Silhouette Cameo, so stay tuned for those.

I am going to enter this card into the Crafty Creations Challenge #420 - Anything Goes. Click here to take you to the challenge.

I am also going to enter it into the Creative Finger Challenge #206 - Anything Goes. Click here to take you to the challenge.

Thank you for popping by and I'll be back soon!

Floral Heart

Good afternoon!

I hope you are enjoying the lovely spring weather. I popped out this morning to get my annual tomato plants ready to put in the greenhouse. I also picked up a sweet yellow pepper plant and a hot chilli pepper plant. 

I think everyone else had the same idea, as the garden centre was packed. The garden centre had a really good system in place and luckily everyone practiced social distancing and wore their masks. 

Talking of garden centres and plants, I have an adorable little card to share with you that has a floral theme. This is created by using a stunning stamp set by Concord & 9th. I did do a card back in October (click here to take you to the post) that used this stamp set, but I did it as a new home card and with a different colour scheme.

I do believe that this stamp set is still available at Seven Hills Crafts and Bumbleberry Papercrafts (click on the shop name to link you to the product).

What you need...

Stamps: 

Floral Print Silhouette Stamp Set - Concord & 9th

Dies: 

Halftone Hearts - Altenew

Additional Circles - Waffle Flower

Ink pads:

Onyx Black - Versafine

Grapefruit - Concord & 9th

Sprout

Embellishments:

Droplets Crystal Clear Hearts - Little Things from Lucy's Cards

Card stock: 

White

Tools:

Big Shot  - Sizzix

Stamping Platform - MISTI

Extras:

Foam sheets

Adhesives

What you do...

1 Use a stamp positioning tool to stamp the first layer of the floral image with black ink. Next, line up the flower section and stamp in Grapefruit. Line up the foliage layer and stamp in Sprout ink.

2 Die cut the stamped panel with a circle die (approx. 3⅜" or 8.5cm diameter). Die cut the fourth largest heart from the centre of the circle. 

3 Die cut the the fifth largest heart from within the larger heart.

4 From a piece of foam sheet, die cut a slightly smaller circle than the stamped section; then cut the larger heart from the centre of it, making sure it lines up. Glue the printed circle onto the foam.

5 Die cut the smaller heart from a foam sheet and glue the printed heart to it.

6 Create a 4¼" x 5½" (11cm x 14cm) white blank and adhere the stamped circle panel at the top. Add the smaller heart to the centre of the larger one.

7 Stamp the sentiment underneath and finish with some heart droplets.

I love this stamp set, I think it's so elegant. I think a colour scheme where the flowers are stamped in red with bright green foliage would make a wonderful and different Christmas card.

I have been having an obsession with making cacti themed cards lately, so I'm looking forward to sharing those with you soon.

Thank you for popping by, take care and keep safe!

Sparkly Hello

Hello there!

As promised I'm back the second of three cards made using the Moonstone Glimmer paste by Nuvo. The card is very similar to the Hey! Friend card but it uses a different colour scheme and sentiments. Well, without further ado...

What you need...

Stamps: 

Loads of Hello ST-21-11 - Avery Elle

Dies:

Loads of Hello D-21-11 - Avery Elle

Stencil:

Rectangle Trio - My Favorite Things

Ink pads:

Picked Raspberry - Tim Holtz Distress Oxide

Tumbled Glass

Wilted Violet

Onyx Black - Versafine

Glimmer paste:

Nuvo Moonstone - Tonic Studios

Card stock:

White

Embellishments:

Crystal Confetti - The Stamp Market

Extras:

Adhesives

Die cutting machine - Sizzix

Blending brushes - Picket Fence

Nuvo Media Spatulas - Tonic Studios

What you do...

1 Cut a piece of white card 10.5cm x 13.5cm, place the stencil towards the top and secure in place with low tack tape.

2 Start at the top of the stencil and blend Picked Raspberry ink, Tumbled Glass followed by  the Wilted Violet. Allow the ink to dry.

3 Using a spatula, spread some of the Moonstone paste evenly over the stencil. Scrape away the excess and place back in the pot. Remove the stencil. Put the lid back on the pot and wash the stencil and spatula immediately. Allow the paste to dry.

4 Stamp the 'hello' and 'just a note to say' with black ink. Die cut the 'hello' and die cut again twice more in white card. Stack the die cuts lining up each layer. Trim the 'just a note to say'.

5 Create an 11cm x 14cm top fold blank and attach the stencilled panel onto it either with foam tape or some layers of scrap card stock. Attach the 'hello' with the 'just a note to say' above, to the left. Finish with some of the Crystal Confetti.

And there we have it. Another super sparkly card. I have one more in this set which again uses a different colour scheme and wording.

I am going to enter this card into the Creative Fingers Challenge #205. Click here to take you to the challenge.

Thank you so much for popping by, take care and I'll be back soon.

Easter Bun Buns

Hello there!

I can't believe Easter is upon us already, it only seems like yesterday it was Christmas. Speaking of Christmas, I'll be starting Christmas projects for Crafts Beautiful and PaperCrafter soon - eep!

I would like to share with you today, a card I made for my mum. We were chatting on the phone as I made it, so I thought it only fair to post it to her. She loved it. 

This card is slightly different from the usual cutesy, pastel Easter cards and is a more fresh, modern, bold card.

What you need...

Stamps:

#51 - AALL & Create

Dainty Swiss Dots - Altenew

Bunny Hop - Newton's Nook

Dies:

Peek-a-boo Pets - Avery Elle

Heartfelt (660233) - Sizzix

Ink pads:

Mermaid Lagoon - Tim Holtz Distress

Tumbled Glass

Onyx Black - Versafine

Promarker:

Baby Pink

Embellishments:

Black pearl

Washi tape:

Black/white striped

Card stock:

White

Pale pink

Extras:

Masking Magic - Gina K

Adhesives

What you do...

1 Cut a piece of white card 3⅛"x 6¼" (8cm x 15.5cm) mask off 1½" (4.5cm) across the bottom.

2 Stamp the first bunny above the masking in black ink, stamp again onto masking paper and cut out. Apply the mask over the bunny.

3 Stamp the second bunny so he sits just over the first, stamp again on masking paper and cut out. Apply the mask over the bunny. 

4 Die cut a speech bubble from masking paper and position above the bunnies.

5 Blend the Tumbled Glass ink from the top of the card followed by the Mermaid Lagoon. When dry, stamp the Dainty Swiss Dots over the inked surface with black ink.

6 Remove the masks. Use the Baby Pink marker to add colour to the bunnies ears, nose and cheeks. Stamp a sentiment in the speech bubble.

7 Trim the panel to 2⅞" x 6" (7.5cm x 15cm). Add a strip of Washi tape across the base of the blank, under the inked section.

8 Die cut a small heart in pale pink card stock and add to the lower right, overlapping the Washi tape. Add some black pearls to decorate and mat onto a white 3⅛"x 6¼" (8cm x 15.5cm) blank.

As I have quite a lot of American products which are in imperial measurements, I am finding that by making my blanks/panels in inches they are more aesthetically pleasing and easier to work out. If I do use imperial measurements, I will always try to add the nearest measurements in centimeters.

I must admit I do prefer working in imperial anyway. It think this stems from being brought up by my grandparents. Even now, if I do any baking I work in pounds and ounces.

The stamp set with the bunnies unfortunately doesn't have a name. It is packed with the cutest images from the two bunnies, to a panda, racoon, elephant and a bear. It also has some fun sentiments and little add-ons such as party hats, presents and a balloon. The AALL Stamps all seem to just have numbers and not names

I hope you liked this 'different' Easter card. I have one more to share with you which also includes a cute bun bun, but uses mainly dies.

I am entering this make into the Crafty Creations Challenge #419 - Anything goes. Click here to take you to the challenge.

I am also entering this make into the Creative Fingers Challenge #205. Click here to take you to the challenge.

Thank you for stopping by! 

Winter Christmas Trees

Hello friends!

I'm back with another card to share with you, this one being Christmas. This is a card I did for my Mum and was inspired by one that Jennifer McGuire created. It is a trifold card where the sides open outwards and uses a beautiful die set by Hero Arts.

What you need...

Dies: 

Winter Pine Fancy Dies - Hero Arts

Stamps:

Silent Night - Concord & 9th

Ink pads:

Chipped Sapphire - Tim Holtz Distress Oxide

Blueprint Sketch

Salty Ocean

Onyx Black - Versafine

Embellishments:

Glass Crystal Collection - Little Things from Lucy's Cards

Extras:

Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Craft Spray - Imagine Crafts

Crystal Clear Sparkle - Spectrum Noir

Titanium White Acrylic Ink - Amsterdam

Adhesives

What you do...

1 To make the trifold section, click here to see the project by Jennifer along with the instructions and measurements - she can explain it better than I ever could!

2 Set the assembled trifold section aside. Cut a piece of card 4¼" x 5½" and blend the three blue inks over the surface. Spritz with the Sparkle spray and use a paintbrush to flick white ink over the surface. Allow to dry.

3 Fix the inked panel to the back of the trifold section. 

4 Add some Crystal sparkle around the edges of the trees and add plenty of the Glass crystals. Stamp the sentiment on the back panel between the trees.

I'm so sorry that the photo doesn't do the card justice, plus it was difficult to position due to the nature of the blank. The best thing is my Mum loved it.

Jennifer did her card with a pink/red/purple background which looked stunning, but I thought I would stick to the traditional blue night sky.

I hope you like my little make and thank you so much for popping by. I'll be back soon with another, until then take care and keep safe.

Mwaahaahahaaa!

Good morning!

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. The weather here in Norfolk was beautiful and I finally managed to get out in the garden and do some tidying up. I did have a lot of help from my chickens. They had a field day. they just constantly followed me round and scattered all the leaves I had raked up. It's so funny to watch.

As promised, I have another Halloween card I made for a friend, I just adore this one.

What you need...

Stamps:

Ghoulfriends - Paper Smooches

Spooky Sweets - My Favorite Things

Ink pads:

Picked Raspberry Tim Holtz Distress - Ranger

Ripe Persimmon

Seedless Preserves

Onyx Black - Versafine

Masking paper:

Stamping Mask Paper - Inkadinkado

Stencil:

Circle Extraordinaire (ST122) - My Favorite Things

Embellishments:

Crystal Confetti - The Stamp Market

Sparkle Crystal Clear - Spectrum Noir

Glossy Accents - Ranger

Card stock:

White

Extras:

Adhesives

Foam sheet

What you do...

1 Cut a piece of white card to measure 4¼" x 5½". Lay down the circle stencil onto the card and secure in place with low tack tape.

2 Stamp the ghoul in the lower right of the circle. Stamp the ghoul onto masking paper, cut out and place over the original image.

3 Start to blend the Distress inks within the stencil working from Seedless Preserves to Picked Raspberry ending with the Ripe Persimmon.

4 Remove the stencil and mask. Use the stars from the Spooky Sweets set to create a cluster of stars in black ink above the ghoul. Highlight the stars with the Crystal Clear Sparkle.

5 Stamp the 'Mwaahaahahaaa!' below the image panel.

6 Trim the panel to 4" x 5¼", back with a smaller sheet of foam and attach to a 4¼" x 5½" white blank. Add some of the Crystal Confetti to decorate.

The Sparkle Crystal Clear doesn't photograph very well and gives the black a dull greyish tinge. In real life it looked great.

As with a lot of my makes I try and use some older stamps sets such as the Ghoulfriends and newer ones such as the Spooky Sweets. I think it's fun to go back and look in your stash and as there is now more choice now of inks, stencils, dies and embellishments you can give those old stamps a new lease of life.

I have one more Halloween card to share with you and then it is onto the ol' Christmas cards.

Thank you for stopping by and I'll see you soon!