Embrace the simple joys of Nature

 Well… it’s Friday again! It feels like one of those weeks where I’ve been busy creating, but nothing has quite been ready to share publicly—until now.

My latest card for my local swap group has safely arrived with Maxine, so I can finally show it to you all. This month’s challenge was set by Carol, with the theme “Animals Framed.”

I chose to work with some sweet little birdies—because birds definitely count as animals in my book! For the framed element, I used my Tim Holtz diffuser with a Swiss Dot embossing folder to create a soft oval window. I really love how this technique adds interest while still keeping the focus on the centre of the card.

The birds were stamped using a Mangocraft set, then die‑cut and coloured with Prismacolor pencils. A sentiment from another Mangocraft stamp set tied everything together, and I added a touch of soft ink blending around the centre to give the design a little extra depth.

To finish, I popped the die‑cut birds up on 3D tape for some subtle dimension—simple, but effective.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope your creative week has treated you kindly. 

Make your own background.

 I got to choose the challenge for February for my local swap group... and went for an easy one... Make Your Own Background.   We got some great backgrounds.

My card panel combines ink smooshing with elegant gold foiling. I began by smooshing the Warm Lipstick and Wilted Violet Distress Oxide inks, then spritzed the panel with Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide Spritz for added interest. Once everything was completely dry, I added gold foil using the Altenew Exquisite Marble foil plate, which gave the background a beautiful, deluxe finish.

The panel was die cut with a Gina K Master Layout die and matted with textured gold cardstock to enhance the shine. For the focal point, I used a floral image from the Altenew Build‑A‑Garden: Morning Asters stamp set. It was gold heat‑embossed, coloured with the coordinating stencils, and die cut before being added to the card. Finished with a Spellbinders foiled sentiment. The combination of foiling, soft colour, and gold accents makes this design feel both elegant and fresh. 

I can finally share as my recipient had been away and only recently got to see the card.   

Cosmos Thanks

The day after returning from our short break, I received a package of cardmaking supplies from Scrapbook.com, including the Altenew Dreaming Cosmos embossing folder and coordinating stencil. I used them to create a thank-you card for our tour guides, Chris and Nicola.

Inspired by the stencil packaging, I embossed white card, added ink blending through the stencil, and finished with subtle blue and green background blending using leftover ink. The panel was matted onto dark pink card, with a simple sentiment from the Altenew Versatile Greetings die set cut in the same colour. I kept the design clean with no embellishments.

I dropped the card off at the travel agency on Friday, and they really appreciated it.

Die Cut Divas - Hello Friend

Can you believe it's the last day of February.   Where has the month gone?   It's time to share my sample for Die Cut Divas. We have Pink and Red Challenge this month - asking for predominant colors of red &/or pink (neutrals & a bit of a non-neutral are ok). 

Remember to use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your red/pink creation.

 Hero Arts as our sponsor this month! 

Hero Arts has generously donated a $25 gift card for our 

February random winner - thanks Hero Arts!!

I started this card with a gorgeous pack of two-sided patterned paper from the Scrapbook.com Watercoloured Collection. One side features a soft, pale pink, while the reverse is a deeper rosy shade. I trimmed the lighter side to create the main panel, then stamped florals from the Hero Arts Delicate Blossoms stamp set (now retired) onto both patterns.

To add a little extra depth, I shaded the images with a red marker before fussy cutting the darker blooms and paper piecing them into place. Added a dark pink mat.  For the sentiment, I die cut a silver “hello” using the Altenew All About You dies and paired it with a stamped “friend” from the Hero Arts Hello There set. A scattering of silver die-cut dots finished the card for a touch of shine.

Do come and join us.  You have till 9.00pm US Pacific Time to get your card into our gallery for a chance to win the gift voucher. 

Red and Pink Love You

 Hi Dawn here to share my Pink and Red card for this month's Challenge at Die Cut Divas, asking for predominant colors of red &/or pink (neutrals & a bit of a non-neutral are ok). 

Remember to use a die cut &/or embossing folder in your red/pink creation.

We have the wonderful Hero Arts as our sponsor this month! 

Hero Arts has generously donated a $25 gift card for our 

February random winner - thanks Hero Arts!!

I started by white embossing Hero Arts Cling Heart Pattern Background stamp (circa 2016 - retired) and then using some Distress Oxide Picked Raspberry to blend all over the embossed hearts.  I used a Gina K Master Layout 2 to die cut the panel and a white matting layer.  I took the DO ink and did a ink pad to paper to colour my card base.  The love you heart is another retired Hero Arts set - Stamp & Cut Yes. (circa 2014) stamped and clear embossed with the DO Picked Raspberry ink and cut with the co-ordinating die.  The ribbon is a Poppy Stamps die called Grosgrain Ribbon.  Added some white and Rose cold foliage from Altenew's Branches and Berries.

We hope to see you in the February gallery by 9pm Pacific Time on Feb 28th.

Thanks for visiting & happy crafting!!

Card Maker Success Summit - Feb 26 - inspired by Ardyth

 Yesterday I found a couple of hours to play in my craft room.   I'd packed my bag for our 4 days away, finished the housework and hubby was off at the swimming pool with Kieran and the girls...so play time for me. 

I have purchased the VIP All Access pass for the upcoming Card Marker Success Summit that starts on the 26th.   The advantage of getting the VIP pass, is you can access the classes early!  I decided to start by watching Ardyth's class - all about Masculine cards.   She gives 5 steps on how to achieve masculine cards.   Things like colours, design, sentiments.... 

Here's what I made...

Ardyth is the Queen of geometrics... and aren't they perfect for those cards for the men.   I used Altenew's Cube Builder stencil in blues and yellow/orange colours.   I used Sapphire for the blue and then Snapdragon for the first square.   I then used a lighter colour - Chamomile.  However, I must not have completely cleaned my stencil as it picked up the blue and made a sort of olive green colour... which ended up looking really cool.   I used the Sapphire ink to make a panel to mat the stenciled panel.  Cut the Scrapbook.com sentiment out of the panel before I matted it - Die cut the shadow layer from white three times for dimension.  Added some honey gold satin dots. 

For my second card I used a Newton's Nook stencil (Argyle) in a monochromatic look,

I used some light grey card and then played around with the two stencils.   I used a technique that Ardyth uses a lot... to mask of half of the diamonds and added a darker colour.  Added the back dotted lines by using a black marker pen with the stencil.   I trimmed the panel in a square panel. matted with dark grey and added to a 4.75" card.   Originally I had a black sentiment, but it sorted of blended into the background so added a white one slightly off set.  

Looks much better having the higher contrast.  The sentiment is a lovely large on from Elizabeth Crafts.

By the time you read this, I will be arrived in New Plymouth for the start of our holiday. 

No Designer Paper at Sweet Stampin' Challenge

 Great challenge this fortnight - No Designer Paper ....

I chose to make my own background using stamps and inking

I decided to make a vintage looking mixed media background.  I stared by stenciling Altenew's Floral Garden stencil using Chamomile, Snapdragon, Lime and Fresh Leaf ink on to some cream card stock.  Next was some background inking with Grey Denim ink with Hero Arts Antique Background Cling stamp.  Added some extra distressing  with Altenew Misty Meadows and Marshlands and deepen the edges and corners with Marshland ink.   Die cut the birdcage from Altenew Butterfly Dreams from various card stock colours.  Added a foiled butterfly from my stash. 

Do come and join us from at Sweet Stampin' Challenge - no designer paper challenge.  

Time Out challenge #306- Sparkle, Red, Heart and Twine.

 Today I was scrolling through my blog feed and saw the Time Out Challenge.   I entered recently and was super excited to see my card (here) had won challenge #305.   And checked out challenge #360.  It was perfect for what was sitting on my desk.  I had been working on my DT card for Die Cut Divas where out challenge is Red/Pink.   

Lots of choices for this one....  I chose Red, Sparkle, Heart and Twine!  I had a Hero Arts Background Cling sitting on my desk and some WOW Clear Sparkle Embossing powder.  Red card was close at hand...

The Hero Arts Leafy Vines (2012 - retired) looks amazing in real life - the embossing powder sparkles and shines in a variety of colours as you tilt the card.   So hard to photograph!  I got out an older Spellbinders die set - Lace Hearts.  Included in the set is the gorgeous key.  Cut it from some textured rose gold card and tie a twine bow.  Created the sentiment on my computer and printed it then die cut with Altenew Featured Sentiments dies.  Added sparkle crystal gems.