Stress Free Cardmaking Summit - Oct 25

 Got a few hours this afternoon to watch some more sessions of the SFCS - I watched Justine Hovey's Live presentation - on replay as it was too early in the day for me - and played along with her.   And then watch Juliana Michaels session - using precise smooshing.   All just using 5 items!

Justine did some masking and ink blending to make a lovely clean looking one layer card - I followed her placement of the masking stripes as I liked the design. 

I chose to use a green/blue background - blending with Altenew inks - Mountain Mist, Volcano Lake and Lagoon.   I used Mint tape to mask off areas to stay white.   Then stamped two flowers from an older CASual Friday stamp set called Pretty Posies.  I then stamped and fussy cut from masking paper before blending.  Used Emerald ink with a 2009 Hero Arts background stamp (Antique Background) to add some extra texture.  Once I removed the masking, I added some little sentiments from Altenew's Sentiment Strips 2.  And finished with some iridescent drops from Pinkfresh Studio.

My second card is more of a mixed media card - inspired by Juliana's session.  Included using a couple of homemade ink smooshers.   I already had a flat one, but made the bubble wrap one.  

Very different from my first card today.   I used light blue and purple inks to make my smooshed background.   Use the light blue with the flat smoosher and the bubble wrap one with the purple ink.   I then used a stencil from Ranger to added the purple.  Splatters of black, white and blackberry acrylic paints (Dina Wakely paints).  My focal butterfly is from Memory Box and I used an Ultramarine ink to smoosh the bottom layer.  I used Catherine Pooler Grass Green and Eucalyptus inks to smoosh onto white card and then die cut two of the leaves from Pinkfresh Studio Curvy Leaves die set.  Added the leaves behind the butterfly and added a teeny tiny sentiment - stamped with black and a Mama Elephant stamp set.  Added some holographic dots to finish.

Had a great afternoon crafting.  Can't wait to finish watching the summit presentations. 

Friday Fun

Today was my first Friday of not working - started 4 days a week from this week.   So after a bit of a sleep in, I breakfasted and got onto the house work - dusting, vacuuming, floor washing, clothes washing and hanging out - so by lunch time a nice clean house.   Sat outside in the sunshine for a lovely salmon salad for lunch and then - into the craft room for some play time.  

I finished off a card that I had initially started with the idea it would be for hubby's birthday yesterday, but ran out of time to get it done and gave him one I already had in my box of cards.  

   The patterned papers is from a Couture Creations paper pack called Sea Breeze.   I used Gina K Master Layout 1 to cut the paper and matting layer.  Stamped a sentiment from Gina k Birthday Sparkle set and cut it with the matching die.  Quick in the end. 

I've got the VIP bundle for the latest Stress Free Card Summit - 5 items or less - and have watched a few of the tutorials.   Today I Case'd Ardyth's card - using Post It notes to make a stencil.   Ardyth provided a template to use to cut out the shapes - I used it but my printer made it a bit bigger so my card looks quite different from hers. 

I cut out my stencils from Post It and then used two different greens, reds and blues of Catherine Pooler inks.   I die cut 2 Post It note with the side of a rectangle scalloped die - it had holes so loved how the two toned ornaments turned out.   I added sparkle pen to the bottom half of ornament.  Looks really sparkly in real life.   Used a gold pen to make the toppers.  The sentiment is from an older Hero Arts set called Color Layering Wreath.  Matted the panel onto some glittery gold card stock before adding to my top folding white card base. 

Spend an hour or so watching some more of the tutorials and other crafty videos.   Lots of ideas in my head for projects.   Should have a bit more time over the weekend, now all the house work is done!

One die - two different cards

I'm back... we had the most amazing 12 days with Emma, Andrew, Archer and Finlay... full of adventures. Went to Kings Park on King's Birthday Monday holiday and saw the wild flowers and watched the 21 gun salute... Boy was it loud!   Visited Caversham Wildlife Park, which was awesome- patted Kangaroos, saw Koala in trees, farm animals and lots of amazing birds and other wildlife.  Spent a day at the Royal Perth Show - animals, watched Polo Cross, and the kids had rides and played on the side shows.   Lots of playgrounds visited, watched Finn's swimming class.  Took an adventure into the city with Archie to see the Dinosaurs Alive exhibition and did a tour of the Perth Mint.  Visited two of the Giants in Mandurah for the day.  And took Archie to play Mini Golf, 10 pin bowling and spend some time in the Arcade!  All in all, a busy but fun time. 

So after 2 weeks no crafting... I managed to spend some time in the craft room this afternoon.   While I was away I purchased Crafting Inspiration #9 magazine.  It came with some Crafters Companion goodies - a stamp set, a die, an embossing folder and a stencil.   Today I CASED a card from the magazine - changing up the colours mostly...

I chose a grey-blue card for my base.  I die cut the little square die and trimmed it into three pieces.  I layered them onto a panel the same colour as the card base and added white strips down each side.  I die cut an oval for the focal point to sit on.   I stamped the vase and orange tree from the stamp set and coloured with markers and fussy cut it.   Added to the oval and finished with a little white embossed sentiment from the set.

I love the look of splitting the die into three and adding to the card so decided to try it for a Christmas card.

I die cut the square from gold card and trimmed it into three pieces and added to a red panel.  Added this to the white base and then added a focal image of a Poinsettia.  This is a Hero Arts stamp which I gold embossed onto white and dark green card.  I fussy cut the centre part of the white one and after fussy cutting the green one, layered it on top.  Cut some dots from the same gold card and added to the card. 

As first one was the first time using these dies and stamps, I am adding it to the October NBUS challenge. 

Star Flower Cluster - Anything Goes with Birch Press.

 Hi there.... it's the last day of the month so I'm sharing my card for Die Cut Divas.   I'm currently overseas in Perth, Australia visiting with my family.   So I got myself organised and made my card early...

Our lovely sponsor this month is Birch Press. 

Our sponsor will be giving away a $20 gift card to the winner of our challenge.  *Note: Challenge winner must have US address.

I die cut my cross stripe die from some dark blue card and added to a die cut panel. I die cut the Star Flower dies from white and used blue inks to add the colour.   I stamped and die cut Altenew Baby Breathe and added a touch of yellow with a maker.   Sentiment is a die cut one from Couture Creations.   Added a few Ranger Enamel Accents to finish

Anything Goes with Die Cut Divas.

 We have a great challenge this month at Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes.   

Our lovely sponsor this month is Birch Press. 

Our sponsor will be giving away a $20 gift card to the winner of our challenge.  *Note: Challenge winner must have US address.

I have used a circle slatted die to cut out from the panel.   I added a green watercolour background that was a mop up of some green blending the other day.  There is a touch of gold paint on it which in real life you can see.  I used Birch Press Prima Peony Duo Contour Layer die set to cut out white flowers and stems.  I then used the first three inks from the Woodland Escape Fresh Dye inks plus some yellow ink to colour the flower layers.   And Jade and Eucalyptus Fresh Dye inks for the stems and leaves.  Added them over the circle with a little string bow.  Finished with a little sentiment from Elizabeth Craft Designs - Build your own sentiments 1 and some little pink dots. 

Do come and join us at Die Cut Divas... just remember you must use your die cut machine to die cut/emboss on your card. 

Santa in September.

 The challenge at Christmas Kickstart this month is Santa in September.  Such a fun challenge. 

I'm slowly coming right - still a bit tired and lacking in energy.   Finally spent some time yesterday afternoon in the craft room.   And pulled out a Santa die (Die Cutting Essentials magazine September 2021) and went through some of my large stash of Christmas papers and here's what I made.

I die cut the Santa and layered him up.   Cut the circle from the green card and layered it onto some gold card.  Did the same with the background.  The card base is a 5" square. The sentiment is from a Tim Holtz set - Snarky Cat Christmas.   

Die Cuts at Sweet Stampin' Challenge.

 Time to share my sample for Sweet Stampin' Challenge.   Our challenge is to use Die Cuts....something that is right up my alley!

For this card I used a Sizzix die set called Geo Frames.  I got it a while ago from Spotlight here in NZ.  I die cut from a variety of card stock.  The frames are very narrow and most difficult to get on straight.  I off-set two of the frames and then added the flowers around the frame.   I used a little sentiment from Altenew's Summer Wishes.  Added splatters of Distress Spritz in Fossilised Amber.   

Tiny but Mighty...

 The Altenew Challenge Live this week - Tiny but Mighty - make a card 3" x 3" or smaller....  today I have been feeling a little better and decided to give the challenge a try. 

I pulled out a few of my Altenew Mini Delight stamp sets and had a play. 

I started by making the background panel.... used some blue and green Altenew inks and a large blending tool.   Took the Bitty Botanicals and some Jade ink and added some subtle leaves in the background.  Added some watercolour splatters with Altenew paints.   Stamped Adorable Anthurium stamp after having die cut the image.   Used Green Fields and A Pocketful of Sunshine alcohol markers to add the colour.    Used a sentiment from the Adore You Added on stamp set.    Finished with some of my homemade enamel dots.   I trimmed the panel down and matted on some dark green card and then onto my little 3" square card base.   Love the pop of the yellow pot with the gorgeous greens of the leaves.   Had great fun making this one....